Ninajifunza Kiswahili

     I learn by flash cards. I always have. On Monday I began language learning, and the picture above are the flashcards I have made out of the verbs, phrases, questions, vocabulary, etc. that we have been learning. It has been amazing to me how I can learn so much in a short time and understand my teacher most of the time, though I often have to ask him to repeat himself. I am still quite shy about using it when I go places because I speak so slowly, but I am working on it, and enjoying having conversations (as short as they may be with what I know) with people in their language. Please pray, as I continue to learn, that I will grow more bold.

 

     By the way, the name of the post says I am learning Swahili.

Time to Go

     Today is the day. I am heading to Kenya in a couple of hours and will arrive there Sunday evening. Will you please pray for safe travels and that everything would go smoothly? After I arrive I will send out a quick e-mail to let everyone know that I have arrived safely. It will probably be 4-6 weeks before you will here from me again as I try to get settled in, begin working on language study and as I am building relationships. You may still write to me it just might be a little bit before you here from me, as I unplug for a little while.

Last Days in CO

    

     Today marks the last full day of S.P.L.I.C.E. in Colorado. Today was a very emotional day as we talked about goodbyes and hellos, and doing them well. We talked about who it was going to be hardest to say goodbye to and why. Then we prayed for each other and ended the day sharing what God had done in us the last three weeks. I have learned so much from all of our teachers and the fellow missionaries. God has taught me a lot about myself and my relationship with Him over the last few weeks.

     P.I.L.A.T. taught me a lot about how to learn a new language. I always thought they came easy to me. In high school I took 3 years of Spanish, 2 years of French, 2 years of German and then took 2 semesters of sign language in college. I know none of them now, other than a few phrases here and there. Now I have been taught a new way to learn language and I am excited to get started. I got to practice my new methods in Russian. It was a lot of fun and I was amazed at how much I learned from our language helper in three one-hour sessions.

     Tomorrow I begin my journey to Indiana. It will be difficult to say goodbye to the people I have spent the last 3-5 weeks with, but I look forward to spending my last couple of weeks with my family before I leave. Please pray for me as I say my goodbyes and head over to Kenya. I am excited to get there. It has been a long journey, but God has been faithful and has taught me a lot about myself and what He has in store for me. Thank you to everyone who has been a support system for me, praying for me, encouraging me and so much more.

     I am not the only person headed off to the AGC Baby Centre soon. Please remember Dan and Dana Jacobs and their family in your prayers. They head out Sunday the 19th. Please pray as they say their goodbyes. Also pray for safe travels and that their bags would arrive. I am excited to be joining them in 16 days.

Hope Gets a Home

     Join me in sending praises to our God. He has provided another family for a child at the Africa Gospel Church Baby Centre. Will you also continue to pray for those who have not been adopted as of yet? That the familes God would want for these precious children would feel the call to adopt a child?

From the Director of the AGC Baby Centre:
"A home for Hope! What a happy girl our precious Hopie was as she went home with her mama today! Before leaving, she sang for us about how the enemy has been defeated and Jesus is victorious! Amen!"

Going Home

If you do not follow the Africa Gospel Church Baby Centre's Facebook page you may have missed out on the fact that three babies went home to their forever families a few days ago. Please pray for these children and their new families as they adjust. Here is the post that was written:

"Three times the joy and three times the praises today as three precious little ones have gone home for adoption! What a blessing to see Dorcas, Isaac, and Nicholas all go home with amazing new forever families!"

Reflections From the Gas Station Pump

   Today while I was driving through Louisiana I stopped to get gas. As I pulled up to the pump I noticed a group of teenagers from Texas. One was putting decorative duct tape on the car, still not really sure why, while another was writing something on their back window. I walked into the gas station and as I walked out I took the time to read what they had written. This is what it said: We are second. He must increase. We must decrease. John 3:30
   I asked them if they were on a mission trip. They told me they were on their way to New Orleans to work with Habitat for Humanity and to lead worship. They were excited to tell me all about it. This brought back memories of my very first mission trip. I went on a team from my youth group to Georgia to help people who could not afford to fix up their houses. I remember the team I was on helped this sweet lady repaint her house. The time we got to spend with her getting to know her and her getting to know us and why we would come do this for her was life changing for me. Not too long after I went on my first mission trip to Africa.
   Today was an opportunity to reflect on all that God has done in bringing me to where I am at now and where He will lead me in the future.
   If you work with youth or have ever thought about it, you can have a major impact on their future. My family played a large role but so did all of my sunday school teachers and youth leaders who encouraged me to follow after my calling or took me on my first mission trip which sparked my love for missions. Thank you to all those who have been in my life and encouraged, mentored and helped me. I thank God for each of you.

Hope

Welcome to newborn baby Hope! She was brought right to the door of the Africa Gospel Church Baby Centre on June 12, 2012.  Please pray that Jesus will help her to grow well and to know love.