Season of Refinement

So I've begun to read through Psalm 119 over this break from school on the suggestion of a dear friend and mentor, taking 8 verses every few days. I must say that this chapter is so rich with the Lord's promises and true of the desire of my heart. Jesus has been using this time in my life to convict, refine, and shape me. He has made Himself more real and evident to me in the last 6 months than I can ever remember happening before. Truly showing me what my attitudes, goals, relationships look like when He is put on the back burner of my life. Preparing me to be the person He would have be and being available for whatever He would use me for.

The first 8 verses have convicted my very core and left me unable to pray anything else concerning my walk with the Lord for the last week or so.

"Joyful are people of integrity,

who follow the instructions of the LORD.

Joyful are those who obey His laws

and search for Him w ith all their hearts.

They do not compromise with evil,

and they walk only in His paths.

You have charged us

to keep Your commandments carefully.

Oh, that my actions would consistently

reflect Your decrees!

Then I will not be ashamed

when I compare my life with Your commands.

As I learn your righteous regulations,

I will thank You by living as I should!

I will obey Your decrees.

Please do not give up on me!"

Psalm 119:1-8 (NLV)

This prayer, this plea has been burnt into my heart, and for a season I think the Lord is going to use it to continue to refine me. I want this passage to mirror my life or for my life to at least strive to mirror it.

A Christmas Post

Merry Christmas, blog-readers! I hope that you're day was wonderful, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed mine. A days spent eating, movie-watching, and hangin' with the fam was fantastic (having parents that are consistent in keeping their children focussed on the true meaning of the holiday isn't bad either!).

Here are a few highlights from the day:

Girls!

Family photo!!

Yeah, I think our parents are super proud of how we turned out... ;)

And this guy is the bees the knees. He's taking me to see Wicked when it comes to town in February. What a lucky gal I am.

Amazima Ministires

I stumbled across this blog a few months ago and it's incredible. This girl is 22 years old and an unbelievable woman of the Lord. This is her blog here and this is the site for the nonprofit ministry she has founded here.

Seriously amazing stuff happening in Uganda because of her obedience to the calling of the Lord on her life.

Winter-ish Weather

I must say, the weather the last few days has begged for a cup of coffee, a warm blanket, and a good book.

I'm diggin' it.

Granted, the temperature itself does not reflect winter (staying around 50 degrees most of the time), but the look of the day has winter written all over it. These overcast days are among my favorites and I'll soak them up, hoping and praying that the next day brings the same.

Not having class has left me with a little more time on my hands, and when I say a little I mean kind of a lot. Working a little more has helped with that, but I can't shake that during-the-semester feeling that there's a paper to write or test to study for! Thanks goodness there's not.

Now with Christmas just days away, I'm working on getting into the spirit of things while not getting carried away by the commercial aspect of it at the same time. I plan on having a little night of driving around looking at Christmas lights and drinking carmel apple spice, courtesy of Starbucks, checkin' out the River of Lights, and with any luck making a crazy gingerbread house. It should turn out to be spectacular if even one of these things is put into action! My older sister is coming to town for a few days over Christmas and the madness that is 6 people over 18 getting their schedules to match up shall commence. Christmas Eve will bring Mahon family traditions of church and dinner out to be followed by watching A White Christmas and hoping that Albuquerque has changed it's mind and decided to join in the holiday fun by having a white Christmas as well. Here's to hoping!

Oh Christmas Tree

Even though it's not the clearest picture ever, it's still there! I'm a big fan of Christmas trees, and although our little tree is nothing to brag about I'm still pretty excited for it and its big, red bow.

Lesson learned... again.

A long day, to say the least, and as I'm prone to negativity and complaining I did my fair share of alone-time ranting... I'm a natural.

After I threw my hissy fit and people in the car next to me laughed (as I was clearly not singing, but griping to no one), I felt ridiculous. No matter how irritating or difficult or frustrating or upsetting my morning has gone I am left without an excuse for my ridiculous reactions, whether they are internal or external. It was a moment of embarrassment that left me convicted.

Lesson learned... until the next time I need to relearn it... and the time after that. Probably in the next week or so. Thank goodness for the grace of Christ!

"You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." 
-Nehemiah 9:17

Howard & Ludafish

'Tis the Season

Fall weather is FINALLY in full force (and when I say "full force" I mean it hasn't gotten over 70 in about a week).

I. love. it.

I used to have an unnecessary aversion to the warmer months of the year, but I've learned to appreciate them as of late. However, send that crisp fall air my way and I'll turn my back on summer in a heart beat. Fall's arrival means that it is time to enjoy an obscene amount of delicious food, that Christmas lights and other decor will be up soon, that hot chocolate will taste even better than normal thanks to that chilly wind. Mmmmm, yes. AND there is no beating the turning of leaves along the river or in the mountains. I've gotta say, if trees could look like this all year round, you wouldn't find me complaining.
(Photo Courtesy of Searchihng for the Light Photography and Design)

For whatever reason, the dark evenings and cold air make me morph back into the bookworm I once was... back before growing up took over and graduation was just only a semester away. I head to my favorite coffee shop with my most recent book of choice (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, at the moment) and proceed to spend at least an hour sipping coffee and feeling cozy, all the while knowing there are projects to finish, papers to write, and textbooks to study. Prioritizing at it's finest, ladies and gentleman. Yes, it's true. Responsibility takes a backseat to my hour or so of wanting to feel like Fall. I stand by my choices.

Fall and I are meant to be.

Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way. Walk in it."

Nostalgia

nos·tal·gia (noun) : a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life Sitting in my cozy apartment under my fuzzy blanket, my mind wonders back to my time in Namibia. Having heard from a few of my dearly-missed team via phone and facebook, I cannot help but reminisce. I think of the hilarity that took place as my sweet friend, Sarah, and I tried to cook for at least 12 after 10pm as the power went off and on... mostly off. But was such a sweet time of long conversations and honesty with someone I felt I'd known for years. Or the inevitable insanity that took place once Abby, Jodi, and I turned off our light to go to bed and then stayed awake for 3 hours singing off key and quoting You've Got Mail. Let it be known that Jodi rarely, if at all, said anything during those hours but I know she loved it... because this is how hilarious we are. I miss the sweet times spent with those precious Namibian children and a fantastic team leader who led as a sister in Christ and was a needed friend when hard things came. So quick to guide me to the cross and offer words of wisdom that come from the Lord... Not to mention, a sarcasm that was an instant connection found in a tree house off the beaten path. Literally. Mostly, I miss the precious friendships that came together so quickly and have stuck so tightly. I cannot wait to see them again. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." -Proverbs 27:17

Because roommates are allowed to be ridiculous

...and publish it for others to see.

Moving Day

Saturday was moving day, and what a great day it was!

Do not be fooled, I loath moving. I hate packing things up and moving boxes and unpacking things I don't need and often didn't even know I had, and then finding a place for them. However, once moving day has come to a close I have all my things out of storage and with me once again and two amazing roommates to laugh at ridiculous things with. I get the exciting privilege of continuing living with my sweet little sis and now my dearest friend, Amy, who might as well be my sister... I'm excited!!!! I love them dearly, and Amy is quite possibly one of the most hilarious people alive (if you don't know, you should probably go out of your way to meet her). So after moving an obscene number of boxes and pieces of furniture and staring at the large number of broken down EMPTY boxes in our living room (and yes, there has been talk of fort-buidling...) we are in and settling nicely, thanks to A LOT of help from our families and a few close friends.

So that has been my weekend, and I'm glad to say that I'm feeling less stressed because I do not have to move again for at least a year. The dozens of lists I've made on things to remember to pack, to buy, to ask can be thrown out and we'll not pay attention to the mess of things out of boxes in my room and the organization that needs to happen because we are in! How lucky. :)

Work, School, Work, School, Work... this is my life.

School has started and is now in full force, I'm still working part time, and have started an internship at the UNM hospital in their public affairs department... it's going to be a busy semester! It's fantastic to have a routine back, and even more fantastic that this is my last year of school (hopefully!). I can't believe how quickly college is going by, and my life in general. Things have gotten so busy lately. I feel so tired all the time, but am always wanting to add "one more" thing to my schedule... how very practical. I was able to talk with 3 of the amazing girls I went to Namibia with this morning and hear how life back in the states is going for each of them. It reminds me of how much I miss them and how much the Lord worked in our individual hearts and our friendships with one another over the short weeks we were together. I can't wait to hear from them again, and hopefully see them again! To share the precious community that was so cherished while we were in Africa. At the same time though, I feel the Lord reminding me that He is my All in All. No person or group of people at home or across the country could take His place, could satisfy like He does. As life has gotten a little more hectic with being back to school and continuing to help with family things and work as well, it's occurred to me how skewed I allow my priorities to become without even noticing. I'm grateful to have a God who graciously and lovingly takes my hand and pulls me back to Him, especially when I've so carelessly put Him on the back burner of my life as things get busy... a bad habit I've develop over the last few years. BUT He is always faithful to call me back to Him.

"Then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there." Hosea 2:14

What an amazing Savior.

Psalm 34

"I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the LORD, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; He saved me from all my troubles. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the LORD, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need." -Psalm 34:1-9

This passage was my heart's prayer for the time I spent in Namibia and even the time spent back home since I've returned. "Taste and see..." An invitation to the highest joy and satisfaction. I don't know about anyone else, but discontentment and I tend to spend a lot of time together. I have been known to seek it out and spend a lot of energy hanging out there. The conviction this passage brought me through the Word itself and the truth it presented in the lives of the Namibians I interacted with and my own American team was so very clear. "...for those who fear Him will have all they need." Such a sweet promise. The Lord has given me and will continue to give me all I need. Having come home to more struggles and trials and fears than I know what to do with, this passage fills me with the overwhelming peace we're promised in God's Word. My heart and my prayer would be that through all things, Christ would be lifted high. Through all things, I would be content and satisfied with the Lord. Through all things, I would be an encouragement to others and an example of the Lord giving overflowing peace and joy in times of pain and heartache. I miss Namibia. I miss the people. I miss my team. I can't begin to express (although at this point with the number of times I've mentioned this I'm beating a dead horse) the different ways the Lord has and is using them in my life. Taking 12 strangers and turning them into the closest friends. There is no other explanation than Christ Himself, that we could all come together and love each other the way Christ designed us to love. Incredible. The Lord has used them in great ways in my life to challenge and encourage me. What an incredible display of the Lord's soveriegnty... putting 12 sinful people together and creating a brotherly love between each of them.

A lot to digest

(Movie night with the team!) I've been back for exactly one week. The rest of the team came home today, arrived safely in the states and went their separate directions home. It seems like so long ago that I was in Namibia, but it's only been a week. I still miss the precious friends I made, but I'm starting to see now that I've been back for several days that the Lord is going to start helping me to digest everything I learned, saw, and heard while I was there... it's a lot of stuff. Going over journal entries from the last 6 weeks and quiet times, the Lord answered so many prayers and revealed Himself in so many ways. One in particular was in our team, as I've mentioned before, and how the Lord so enabled us to work together in an amazing way. Another was in the response the people had to us. Not every time, but more often than not each of us had a story at the end of the day of one person who we were really able to spend some time with and share the Lord with them. It was so encouraging to be able to see people be receptive to the Gospel. On top of that though, I felt like the Lord was really revealing more of the depth of His sacrifice to me in giving me opportunity to share it's Truth with others. The true relationship He desires with each person really came to light on this trip. It was a sweet time of refinement and refreshment in the Word. Not the easiest 5 weeks I've ever spent, since no one likes to see sin revealed in their lives but such a nice time of hearing from the Lord and being reassured of my life in Christ. (More stories and lessons learned to come :)).

More Pictures!

I'm terrible at updating this when I say I will, but I've got some more pictures today! My team should be on there way out of Johanesburg at this point, headed for DC. Pray for a safe trip for each of them! It's been a week since I left Africa and I miss my team so much. I can't wait to get to talk with some of them once they are back in the states. They've been so sweet sending me e-mails and messages telling me they are thinking of me and praying for my mom. And on that note, she's home! Hooray! :) She's recovering really well from her surgery with no complications and the incision is healing well. Praise God for that! Anyway, on to pictures! :D Our fantastic van that literally could take us ANYWHERE. We were able to take 14 people with all there luggage to Katima with this little speed racer. We stayed one night at Ngepi camp on our way to Katima... in a literal treehouse... hilarious! I was always on the lookout for these :D Once we got to Katima, we decorated the children's ward of the hospital there. Our contact there was the pediatrican. The Cheshire Home in Katima that doubled as a home for disabled children and a hostel (Our home in Katima). That's all for now, but I'll get more up as I can! :D

Change in Plans

The last 3 or 4 days have been CRAZY. I've ended up back in the State a week early because my mom got crazy sick and the doctors ended up doing surgery to remove a pretty hefty sized tumor they'd found from her intestines/colon. Once I found out what was going on my amazing team leaders stuck me on a plane and sent me back to be with my family. The surgery went well and they were able to remove the tumor. We still have a ways to go, so please continue to pray for healing and a speedy recovery from the surgery. With that said though, I had such a great time in Namibia and was sorry to cut it short. I loved everyday spent with the team and had so much fun while I was there. I'm going to keep this blog short so that I can FINALLY post some pictures! :D I'm going to post a few at a time because I have a lot! This is Fumane, a girl in Johanesburg who let the 5 of us stay the night at her apartment until we could fly to Windhoek the next morning. The guest house in Windhoek we stayed at. Our first shopping adventure... This is from a meat market we went to our first week in Windhoek, Namibia called Single Quarters. They slaughtered, butchered and cooked the animals right there. Parliment Park in Windhoek More to be posted in the next couple of days, with stories and the like! :D

Hope Village

Yesterday we continued our campus ministry at Poly Tech. After spending the morning there we left for Hope Village. It's a small orphanage in Katatura (a very poor part of Windhoek). I have to say never before has my heart been captured quite like it was with a sweet little 2 year old girl named Sta. She woke up from her nap, stuck her bottom lip out, walked over to me, and with big brown eyes insisted that I hold her for the next two hours or so. She is precious. There are about 30 children at this orphanage right now. Not all of there parents have died but all of them that haven't are unwilling to take care of them. They were so precious and so trusting. We will go back tomorrow to spend the day with them. The Lord has really used the children here to bring humility to us in different ways. They have so little but have so much joy. Truly an amazing time (again, pictures to come but probably not until I'm back in the States). I can't believe that we've got less than two weeks left here. It's gone by so fast, but at the same time seems like we've been here for much longer. I've been so blessed by the community God has given me here with my team. I think I mentioned it before but the girls here have been so great. He's really developing friendships here totally based on our faith and strengthened by Him. I'm so so grateful for each of the people on the team and the time we've gotten to spend with each other. My internet cafe time is running low but I'll try to post more stories/happenings this weekend! :D

Half Way!

We are back in Windhoek and all together again! Two of our team spent the last week and a half in Otjiwarango while the rest of us were in Katima. It was so great to see both of them again. We’ve been able to take yesterday and today and just recover from travelling and being so busy. I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until we were given time to rest. It’s been so great spending time with the team, but some down time and less than 13 people time was so needed and enjoyed. We’ve all spent some really good quality alone time with the Lord and been able to refocus and get ready to do campus ministry on Monday. We took two days to travel back from Katima, and on the second travel day we went through Etosha Game Park and saw a TON of animals. Giraffes, kudo, wildebeests, zebras, and ELEPHANTS!!!! (my personal favorite, obviously) :D It was such a great time and so much fun to see all of those animals so close to our car. Loads and loads of fun!  Another great thing about the time we’ve had here has been getting to know the team. It’s truly an answer to prayer to see the people that the Lord has put on this team and how we all are able to work together without any drama or arguments. It’s amazing to see how all our different strengths are able to work together so fluidly. It has been a testament to Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls the other can reach out and help. But people are alone when they fall are in real danger.” It’s been great to spend time with all of the team, especially the other girls, and know that with each of our different struggles the first place the other takes us is to the Lord through scripture or prayer. It’s an incredible community that the Lord has given me for this six weeks. I can’t believe I’m already a little more than half way through the trip. It’s unreal how quickly it’s going by. At the same time though, as time goes on it is easier to miss people at home. I do know, however, that the Lord orchestrated this trip and brought me here and is going to use every minute of it for His glory and to refine me. I’m excited to see how He’s going to use the next three weeks on campus and among us as a team. Again, I thank you for your prayers while I’m here and I’m so excited for all the stories I’ll be able to tell once I get back! :D (*Still have picture issues, but I promise I’m working on it!)

Back to Windhoek

Today is our last day in Katima. We spend the morning in a Secondary school teaching the abstinence program (Choose to Wait) that I think I had mentioned before. The students here are so hungry to hear about the Lord and so shocked to meet 13 young people who are committed to saving themselves for marriage. It's encouraging to talk with them and see how receptive they are to what we are saying. We've all really enjoyed Katima and the people here, and are so sad to leave all the kids at the Cheshire Home where we are staying. A lot of us are torn, wanting to stay and spend more time with the people we've connected with here rather than going back to Windhoek but are excited to go to the Universities there. BUT the Lord has a plan and we know that He'll do great things there. On our way back tomorrow we're going through an animal reservation and hopefull we'll come across some elephants, lions, giraffes and the like. I saw my first African elephant the other day and it was fantastic! :D I still don't have my camera cord so I can't post pictures yet, but I'll get on that once back in Windhoek. Again, thank you for praying and thinking of me and sending encouraging notes my way. I'm so glad to get them. I'll keep you posted on the latest African happenings... at least in Namibia!

Katima

I'm currently sitting in an internet cafe in Katima, Namibia. It's about the farthest north east that you can go in the country! We don't have the same cell phone and internet access that we have in Windhoek, so you'll have to forgive how little I've been able to update. We head back to Windhoek on the 13th or 14th so things should even out then and I can put up some pictures! :D After about 20 hours of driving over the course of two days we made it to Katima. We're staying at the Cheshire Home for physically disabled children for our ten days here. It's an incredible place! The kids are so sweet and love to play with us. It's a Catholic home that doubles as a hostel for travelers. We were so happy to have somewhere to stay. Yesterday was our first Namibian church experience. It was FANTASTIC! They didn't know that we were coming but were so welcoming. They had each of us stand up and give our testimony (which was nerve-wrecking bu awesome), and since there were 13 of us with the Namibians that are on our team now it took a while and that replaced the planned sermon. We'll teach our abstinence program at the same church tomorrow night. Please pray for that and that they would really hear from the Lord. The HIV/AIDS rate here is unbelievable, they really need to hear the program we're teaching on Biblical relationships and marriage. Also, pray that we'll be able to go to at least one school for the program while we're here. It's hard being here without a plan but that's faith, right?! We're just kind of calling around and waiting to see who will let us speak. My team is so great and getting along really well. Please continue to pray for unity amongst us and for the language barrier. Most know english, but African english and American english tend to be a little different. Thanks for keeping up with me on this trip and praying for you! I can't wait to update you again with pictures!! :D

Washington D.C.

The Team! I've met my team and they're awesome! We're having a ton of fun getting to know each other and getting ready to Namibia. We leave tomorrow for Johanessburg, South Africa and get there Monday evening, then Tuesday we leave for Namibia. Once we get there our team splits into two groups and my group is going to head north to Katima and Rundu. We'll get to do some work in schools and a few orphanges. I don't think I'll have computer access until the 15th or later, but I'll do my best to keep everyone up to date! Thanks again for the prayers and support! :D

Packing

Packing for six weeks has proven to not be an easy task. I've been putting it off until the last minute because I hate deciding what to pack and what to leave. Because of this, I spent the day running errands spending time with my sweet friend, Amy, and making lists. And now I have to get all of this into one suitcase and one carry-on... However, an hour and half later with A LOT of help from Daniel (who I have to say is just fantastic), mission accomplished! With that done, I'm ready for my parents to pick me up at 5 tomorrow morning and take me to the airport where I'll be on my way to Washington D.C. to finally meet my team! I've been able to talk with them a little via e-mail but now I'll get to hang out with them! We'll spend the next couple days getting to know each other and then on Sunday we'll be on our way to Namibia! I'm not sure how often I'll be able to blog (hopefully once a week) and pictures are going to be tricky but I'll do my best! :) Thanks again for all your prayers and support. I can't wait to share all the amazing things I know are going to happen!

And so the countdown begins...

I can't believe how quickly the 25th is coming up. Two weeks from right now, I'll be on a plane headed to Washington D.C. to meet up with the rest of my team and get ready to go to Namibia! It really does feel like just yesterday I had 6 months before I need to "really" be ready to go, but it's upon me. Now is the time where my crazy list-making tendencies show up in full force! Shopping lists, to do lists, packing lists, question lists and on and on. I got to talk with one of my team leaders this last week, which was hugely encouraging as I was getting more and more anxious about leaving. I still know very little about the specific things we'll be doing but will find that out when I get to D.C. and will let everyone know! Thanks again for everyone's prayers and support. It definitely makes me way less nervous to have the kind of support that you all have given me, so thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Shots are not fun

BUT luckily for me instead of the anticipated 10 I only had to get 2! Woo!! I have one pill vaccination I'm taking for the next few days for Typhoid and I have two prescriptions to fill for anti-malaria meds and some infection antibiotics, but other than that I'm set! Thank the Lord that I was up to date on my shots, that saved me from 5 others. The lady who gave me the shots and the information I was looking for on some of what to expect when I get to Namibia was so helpful, and gave me some bugs repelent for my skin and clothes. There should only be about 2 weeks that I'm in the malaria "hotzone" at the beginning of the trip, so hopefully that won't be an issue the whole time we're there. I also found out that I'll be there during their flu season... Eek! That's definitely a prayer request, hopefully no one on our team will get sick with anything while we're there. That's I think the last big milestone before I leave in 7 weeks (can you believe it?!), but I'll keep you all updated on the latest happenings up until I head out. Thanks for your support and prayers, the Lord is definitely providing in ways that I couldn't have imagined!

No more fundraising!

I'm all done with fundraising! Thanks so much to everyone for your prayers and financial gifts! I've raised all of my $6,400 for Namibia and a little extra! Now any more money that comes in will go toward any of my teammates who are struggling to get funds together, so if you were planning on giving it will still be used for the Namibia trip. I'm so excited that the monetary part of the trip is taken care of and that I'm that much closer to Namibia... only eight weeks until I leave! Ah! Being able to raise the money is not only an answer to prayer, but also an affirmation that the this trip is from the Lord and the it's definitely where He wants me to be for part of the summer. It was by the far the most overwhelming part of the preparations process, probably because I've never had to raise money for a trip and certainly never thought I'd have to raise quite this much! My faith is so small in these things but His provision is incredible!

The next step is an appointment at the Travel Center for all the crazy vaccines I need before leaving. I'm set to get them on Tuesday, the 4th. They'll have a list of what I need when I get there so I don't need to find them self (thank goodness), but they said there could be up to 9 or so that I need to get... Ick! Hopefully all will go well with that too and that won't end up being more than what was planned in my budget. Thanks again for everyone's help and support. It's a huge comfort and encouragement to know that I have so many people thinking of me and praying for me, so THANK YOU! :) "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will be done. Nothing will be impossible for you." -Matthew 17:20

Gettin' close...

Wow! What a huge blessing! I'm excited to say that I'm more than half way there on my fundraising at almost $4,300! Thank you all so much for your financial support and your prayers for me in preparing for Namibia. Please continue to pray that I'll be able to raise the rest of the money needed by the middle of May. I also just got an e-mail giving me my travel itinerary so I'll be heading to Washington D.C. on June 25th for an quick orientation with my team and leaders and then we'll all be heading to Namibia on the 28th. We'll be leaving Namibi on August 3rd and I'll be arriving back in Albuquerque August 4th... those are going to be some long plane rides. :) I'm so excited to meet my team, and honestly, a little nervous since I wasn't able to meet any of them earlier this year at a conference preparing us for fundraising and certain specific travel guidelines. I'm sure that the six weeks we spend there are going to be so great, and completely blessed by the Lord. Thank you again for all your prayers and support as the Lord is preparing me and my team to represent Him in Africa. I can't wait to share all the things we'll get to do and experience while we're there!

I'm headed to Namibia!!

Hello! Thanks so much for reading up on my trip for this summer. I'm hoping that through this blog I'll be able to update you from Namibia once I get there, but until then I'm asking for your prayers and support. For now, I'll be able to keep you posted on my fundraising and all the preparations that are being made for my team and my arrival!

If you received a letter from me, you've already read this but just in case... :)

Over the last 6 years, the Lord has given me a heart for Africa and its people. In doing small projects here in Albuquerque with organizations like Invisible Children and Compassion International who work to help the African people, I’ve felt a huge calling on my life to travel there and spend time with the people sharing God’s Word with them and ministering to them. After a lot of prayer and encouragement from Proverbs 3:5-6 (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths”), I was accepted by the Navigators, along with 10 others, to travels to Namibia for 6 weeks on a mission trip this summer! We will serve in orphanages, teach Biblical abstinence at youth camps, and lead Bible studies on university campuses.

The Lord has been so gracious in opening and closing doors in order to ready me for this trip. I ask that you would pray for as I prepare to leave on June 25^th. Will you also consider financially partnering with me? The total amount I need to raise is $6,400. Donations of $75, $100, and higher would be extremely helpful and an answer to prayer. I need all funds by May 5^th, and ask that you would seriously consider supporting me in this way. Any size donation would be a huge help!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” I’m can’t wait to see the Lord work in the plan He’s laying out for me in this trip and for the people my team and I will be working with and serving.

I’m so excited to continue to keep you up to date on how the Lord moves through this trip! I look forward to hearing from you!

** If you’d like to financially support me, you can write a check payable to The Navigators and mail it in the enclosed envelope with a commitment card, or you can go online to www.navigators.org and click donate. There you can enter in my account number (23789605), and donate directly to my missions account. Thank you for your prayers and support as I seek the Lord in this incredible opportunity!