So I have these two friends...

Abby and Sarah.

I've known them for less than a year, but it feels like FOREVER. The good kind of forever.

Yeah, they're those kind of friends.

We met last June before spending 6 of the most hilarious, challenging, and valuable weeks I've ever had. Where are they now, you ask? Well, headed right back to Namibia for another 6 weeks, but this time on their own... I wish so badly that I could be in two places at once, doing the things I need/want to being doing at home and being back in Namibia with my sweet friends and the sweet people that were so welcoming while we were there.

Remember when I talked about Katima here and here? Well, that's where they will be until the beginning of July. They'll be staying at the Cheshire home while Abby works with the children there and in another orphanage nearby and Sarah does research for her thesis on HIV/AIDS in connection to high infant death rates and maternal care. They are going to do amazing things and I can't wait to hear/read about it (Check out Sarah's Blog and Abby's Blog). As of right now, they should be on their way to their Katima home, so pray for continued safety as they travel and that they would get there when expected.

Skype

I love it.

It let me catch up with this girl in Nebraska:

(believe it or not, I couldn't find a normal picture of just the two of us)

And this girl whose in South Africa doing her student teaching:

I love them, you know. Can't wait for another reunion in September with TWO weddings!

Chicago

Happy New Year!

The last 4ish days were spent traveling and walking and talking and laughing and then walking some more. 6 of us Namibia travelers from the summer (and one who is living in Chicago) were able to get together for few days in Chicago to catch up and hang out. It was fantastic!

We spent a ton of time walking in downtown Chicago, and since one of the group lives in Chicago we had a perfect tour guide! I've got to say, even though it was FREEZING while we were there it was a blast! I'd never been to Chicago and being able to see some of it was so fun. The never-really-been-to-a-big-city girl in me came out. I've spent a little time in Denver, LA, Portland, and few other places but not a lot of time in downtown areas with so many skyscrapers. I couldn't have looked more like a tourist, BUT I did get a few goodish pictures!

We walked through Millennium park, where I must say I would love to see a concert, and that lead us to the much talked about "Bean" (I confess, I'd never heard of it before).

 Here it is, the much anticipated "Bean"

So great to see them again and be able to, in a sense, pick up where we'd left off almost immediately. Aside from filling each other in on all that is happening in our lives, it was like we'd spent a week apart rather than 5 months. We talked about our lives, relationships, the things the Lord is teaching/doing, plans for the next summer and coming years, and a good portion of time reminiscing about Namibia. I know I've mentioned it before in my earlier Namibia posts just how much community the Lord blessed our team with while we were there, and it was still as strong while we were in Chicago. Our only complaint was that the whole team couldn't have been there.

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

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!