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!