Returning Home

July 11, 2015

Jambo!

I am safe and sound! Just landed after 30 hours of traveling. It has been long, exhausting, and uncomfortable (if you have ever had to sit upright for 9 hours and try to sleep, then you know how I'm feeling). 

With each new plane I board and every time my legs become stiff, I have to remind myself that I will not be sitting on this plane forever. I will get to sleep comfortably and stretch my legs again. 

As much as I despise long plane rides, I know that I'd take this long journey again in a heartbeat if it meant I got to see my kiddos again. And that's what I'm doing! 

I'm going back to the place I fell so in love with a year ago! I get to wrap my arms around orphans who have been through unimaginable circumstances. 

I get to hold children who were never held by their own parents. 

I get to see the love of Jesus constantly on display. I get to help set up a new medical clinic and remind 230 orphans that Jesus is our ultimate healer. 

I get to go home!

I have so many butterflies in my tummy, and I just can't believe this is happening! 

In a couple hours I will be reunited with some of my best friends in the entire world! And I would not be on my way right now if it weren't for all of you who sacrificed your time praying for me and listening to me talk for hours about my experience here last year. 

If you hadn't sacrificed financially, I would not have been able to purchase my plane ticket. I cannot express how grateful I am for each and every one of you.

 

Please continue to keep my team and I in your prayers as we head to the orphanage in the morning and spend the next 2 weeks there.

Asante Sana (thank you very much)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21

I still can't believe it

"Rejoice in The Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!"-Philippians 4:4

Thursday-- April 30th

I woke up in need of an additional $1,400 to buy my plane ticket to Africa. I already felt so blessed to have had so many donors and to have raised the money I had so far. However, $1,400 is not something I could just pull out of my pocket. I needed help. So, I turned to The Lord. I spent Thursday fasting. Every time I felt hungry, I prayed that the money would come through and that He would give me faith to trust that He would provide.

Friday-- May 1

Donations were pouring in. I had people texting me every hour saying they made a donation. People I did not even know were reading my blog and felt led to give. I ended up going to the beach for the weekend with one of my best friends. We were sitting in a little coffee shop studying for finals when I got a message from our team leader saying that our fundraising pages were up to date. Everything was in. All of the money was there. The amount left over after everyone's generous donations was the exact amount my parents and I planned to pay for the trip. My ticket is purchased and I am officially going back to Africa. So, THANK YOU to everyone who has helped me thus far! You kindness and willingness to give has helped me be one step closer to making a difference in the lives of these children I am going to see!

Saturday/Sunday -- May 2/3

I still have a couple hundred to raise, and got kind of nervous about raising the rest. Surely God can't do something like this again. HA. I'm still getting donations. He has called me to go and He will make sure I get there.

Today-- May 4

I am in awe of The Lord and His faithfulness. Throughout everything this semester, I knew that God has specifically called me and so many others on this trip. I always had complete confidence that The Lord would provide, but I didn't truly understand how much He would until I saw the amount that was raised in one day. And I didn't even do much. I posted a status on Facebook and God did the rest.

Earlier today I got a Facebook message from one of my African friends and I just had to share it with y'all:

You are loved. Outrageously loved.

You are seen, and understood. 

You are not abandoned, and He is not far off. 

You are liberated from the lies and insecurities that hold tight to you. 

Jesus would rather go to hell and back, would rather die than live without you! 

He is not mad or angry at you! He is no longer counting your "sin" against you. 

No condemnation or separation. You are perfect! Radically beautiful! 

His eyes are fixed on you. 

Be loved today. Live free. Laugh a lot. 

Jesus is the most fun person I've ever met!

Take this truth and do not ever forget it. God loves you and cares about the smallest details of your life. Whether you are anxious about fundraising or nervous about a test, He is eager to help you through your troubles and He loves you amidst it all.