home sweet africa.

one trip down, one to go! i can't believe my first trip is already over! i have a limited amount of internet access and i just wanted to check in! i can't wait to start posting my pics and my journey! hope all is going well! here is a little picture to describe how i feel so far!

Hello from Africa!!

I had Mom be my messenger to let everyone know I made it safely since I didn't know about the Internet situation here!  I made it safely! Yes, and I survived (including everyone else) sitting in the SAME seat for 16 hours!!  Impressive, huh?  I thought so!  I'm so pumped to be the hands and feet of my Savior for 20 days!!  Can't wait to share with everyone.  Hope you are all great.  Sending my LOVE from all the way across the world!!

packing for 20 days

i feel crazy with all the things i need/want to pack, but 20 days is a long time! it's not like i am going to be able to run out and grab something at the local walmart. my suitcases are sitting in the hallway and my room is a disaster (just the way my mom likes it). i am definitely a person who likes to pack last minute because i might need some of the things i packed, again. oh well. i started last night and as i look thru my door to the hallway, they are starting to fill up. pray i don't forget anything essential! haha. all joking aside, that really would be awful! lol.

i have so much to get done today! some last minute thank-you notes, packing, probably another run to the store, the bank, ahhh so much to do so little time to do it! i better get off of here! just trying to start my journey early so when i get back i can remember how much i stressed and for no reason at all....i hope:)

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." 2 corinthians 4:8-10

mixed emotions.

i have said many times before how much i adore the blogging world. i love keeping in touch with the ones i love as well as finding new blogs and making great friends. i am excited today for a whole different reason. i am so glad that i am going to have this blog to track my every thought and emotion as i embark on the trip of a lifetime. i can't believe it's here. africa. i have waited for what seems like years, and tomorrow i will drive to st. louis and i will fly out bright and early on friday. i have my journal and pen in hand. i am ready to write everything down not only so i can remember every detail, but so i can share my experience with the whole world (or atleast my little part of it anyways).

i can honestly say, that today i am nervous. don't get me wrong, i am excited, but the feeling of nervousness (if that's even a word) has taken over. i will be gone for 20 days. i have never been away from "home" for that amount of time and i am freaking out a little. i know God is going to take over completely as He has already done, but my human flesh is psyching my mind out a little.
  
 things i am nervous about:

•  being away from home (that's a problem, right? ha)
• the food
• not having a cell phone or internet (i know, ridiculous.)
• not connecting with people
• the three days i will be there "by myself" during the transition period (in between the two trips)
• many more. i could go on forever. 

i hope as i look back on this post i will see that God prevailed thru all of those "issues," which i know He will. 

i have so much to get done before i leave. i have been working this week and i underestimated the time i would need to get all my errands done. of course i have ran out of everything i need to take, so a walmart trip is a must (boy, do i dislike that place).  as far as packing goes, i have lots of clothes to pack. i need an outfit for everyday because i won't have a facility to wash clothes in. i am sure i will re-wear a lot of my clothes, but i want to make sure i have plenty. i plan to leave my clothes in africa, so that will make the packing for the way back much easier! 

well i will start my journey tomorrow! i can't wait to share with everyone! i may not be able to write on here while i am there, but be excited for when i get back! (i will be atleast! ha) i will have my camera and flip camera in hand at all times, so there will be many memories to be shared! 

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." acts 20:24

amazed.

i can't believe i am five days away from the trip i have been counting down to for what seems like forever! i will be on a plane to swaziland, africa on friday and i am stoked! i have so much to do before i get there, but hopefully everything will fall in to place like it has up until this point! today, after being commissioned at church a man, whom i love dearly, was talking to my mom. after i finished my conversation i walked over and he grabbed me by the shoulders and said "mom says you need $400." after i went into the talk of how i am fine with it because that was God's planning, he said "not any more." i glanced over and his wife was writing me a check for $400 dollars. oh yeah. i went in to the ugly cry. i bawled my eyes out. God is SOOO faithful! well i have lots to do and only five days to do it! i better get going! sorry the posts have been so few and far between! here in a few weeks i will be writing so much you will wish i was gone!:) have a blessed week!