Swing Life Away, Rise Against

For those of you who have faithfully followed my blog, I have some bad news...

I will not have wireless internet in Kenya, which means I will have to use IAA's computer. I am not sure if I will be able to blog while there, but I am waiting to find out if that is the case.

Also, my address is listed under my "About Me" section on my facebook page.

You're Beautiful, Phil Wickham

Updates!

• I officially have my plane ticket! I'll be leaving November 9th and will be arriving in Nairobi, Kenya on the 10th.
• I found a great deal on traveler's insurance; that is all set in stone.
• I have been spending the last few days packing and buying everything I need to take with me for five months!
• I get the rest of my shots tomorrow, as well as the malaria pills.

Thank you everybody for your prayers and support! Eleven more days!

They Bring Me to You, Joshua Radin

I have a date set! I am leaving November 9th!

Your Guardian Angel, Vitamin String Quartet

I talked to Pat, Jane's travel agent, yesterday! I emailed her the information she needed about when I want to leave, how long, etc. She said it should be a few days before getting back to me with my options.

Other than that, I am still waiting. I can't do much until I have a plane ticket. So, the waiting continues.

"Muddy water becomes clear if you only let it be still for a while." ~Dallas Willard

Waiting on the World to Change, John Mayer

I love how everyone is contributing to this trip! You guys are so creative! I still have people sending in money to support me, thank you so much! Really, it is beyond a blessing to receive from so many generous people. I am blown away and extremely humbled by everyone's generosity.

Some of you are very sweet for noticing the small comments I made while speaking last Sunday! Today I received twenty coloring books (I said that if I could pack gifts for the children, it'd probably be that, because they're light weight)! Someone also purchased many packs of glow sticks for me to bring to the kids! That is SUCH a great idea! I am very excited for these gifts! Thank you! A women's group at my church is also interested in buying coloring books and crayons for me! I am SO excited! This is going to be great!

I am so grateful for everybody's excitement about this trip! God is going to do great things!

"Blessed is she who believed that what the Lord has said to her WILL be accomplished!"
~Luke 1:45

Follow You, Leeland

Updates:

• I spoke at PBC on Sunday. It went well; I was very encouraged afterward as several people came up to me to talk about the trip. They took an offering for me, and that was a huge blessing as well. Thanks to all who came out to hear me speak.
• There isn't really too much to update on. I'm in the "waiting" process right now. I'm still waiting to hear from Pat, Jane's travel agent. I'm in the process of getting traveler's health insurance, the paperwork still needs to be completed. I have my paperwork for my visa filled out, but can't get that until I arrive at the Kenya airport. I get my typhoid shot tomorrow and will start shopping for things to bring with me on the trip. So, there is lots to do, but I need to wait for most of it to be completed.
• I know that some of you (if the "you's" I'm referring to are reading this blog) have expressed a desire to support me financially. Please don't feel like it is too late to do so. Jane is still trying to figure out how much more I'll need to raise for the additional two months of me staying at the orphanage. Not only that, but I would really like to raise above my needs so that I can give to the orphanage for them to use the money wherever they need it most.

Thank you, everyone, for all of your prayers and support. Please continue to pray that everything works out as I prepare in these last few weeks! Also, I'd appreciate prayer that my focus is in the right place, as far as this trip is concerned. God has both convicted and encouraged me since this journey has begun. My intentions for going on this trip have changed drastically in these last two months. God is definitely working in my heart. That excites me, because I am very ready for change.

"Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will." ~Oswald Chambers

The Great Escape, Boys Like Girls

I wanted to post a couple updates, since I haven't posted anything in a while:

• I talked to Jane (from IAA) a couple days ago. She sent me all the paperwork I need for health insurance, visa, and several other necessary things. So I can finally start working on all of that!
• Jane emailed her travel agent to help me find the best plane price. It looks like I will probably be leaving the first week of November.
• I still have money coming in, thank you!
• I will be speaking at Portersville Bible Church tomorrow evening at 6pm.

I believe that that's everything for now, nothing too exciting.

I do want to say this: though I have a set amount that I need to raise, anything extra that I receive will go to the orphanage for them to spend it on their needs. What I am paying them is for my room and board, so I would love to be able to give them something extra. We'll see what happens, but I just wanted to let you know that NONE of the money I receive will be wasted.

If I Fell, Even Rachel Wood

Update:

• I contacted Into Abba's Arms, and they are allowing me to stay with them for five months.
• I currently have $1900 raised. However, because I am staying an extra two months, I now need more than $2500. I will post the amount I need when I find out exactly how much that is.

I think that is it for now. Thank you for everyone who has supported me: for those who are giving financially, I cannot express my gratitude, and I am completely in awe by your generosity. For those who are covering me in prayer and thanking God for what He is doing, I appreciate your sacrifice of time and your commitment--don't stop!!! You will see answers--I know I have. For those who are providing emotional support, I can't thank you enough. You encourage me when I need it most. Thank you so much, everybody.

"We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and CHEAT OURSELVES when we ask for molehills where He has promised MOUNTAINS." ~Vance Havner

Fireflies, Owl City

Update: If it works out, the plan is for me to leave for five months instead of three.

Story behind the update: On Sunday, September 27, I was talking to Mrs. Samuels, the woman who has made this whole trip possible for me. She asked how long I was planning on staying in Kenya. That struck me as odd, considering that she was the one who suggested I leave for three months and that her saying that was the reason I had planned it to be that way. I explained this to her, and she responded by saying (in a paraphrase),

"I know that's what I initially said, but you are a woman who likes a challenge. You embrace challenges, and I think an extra couple of months would be good for you. If you went for three months, that would be good, but you would only just be starting to adjust to the culture, just starting to learn the language, just starting to really drench yourself in what you will be doing. If you stay longer, however, you will move past the adjusting phase and really experience your purpose in being there."

When she sensed my hesitation to speak, she told me to think about it, pray about it, emphasized to search out scripture for answers, to talk to my parents about it, and see what happens.

This is what happened when I got off the phone. I couldn't stop thinking about what Mrs. Samuels had just told me. Eventually I broke down in tears, not out of fear, not out of sorrow, but out of...knowing. Knowing that this is what I want to do, need to do, and better do (for the sake of only God knows what...literally--only God knows what).

After my "tear fest", I picked up my one and only prayer journal from a few years ago. This is what I had written exactly two years ago to the day:

"Please get me out of this dump, Lord...I desperately need Your understanding! Lord, please speak! Today I pray that through Scripture [remember what Mrs. Samuels told me to do?] I would hear what Your will is for me to do about the Dominican Republic [a mission trip that i wasn't sure if I should go on at the time]. I'm so lost."

Beneath what I wrote was Psalm 119:125, "I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies."

Now, the fact that this verse was from Psalm 119 really hit me. The week I had spent praying about where I should go this year, Psalm 119 came up constantly: in my devotional time, in a text from a friend, in both books I was reading at the time, in a sermon one Sunday at church...like I said, constant. Here I was again, trying to figure out plans for this year, and what verse shows up but one from Psalm 119.

My parents are still supportive. My mom has a beautiful mother's intuition--she already expected me to be in Kenya for longer than three months and is very excited for me. My dad is proving his unbelievable patience--he's allowing his little girl to follow her heart, no matter how hard it may be on him. I couldn't ask for more supportive parents through all of this.

Needless to say, I am still planning on leaving in the beginning of November, however, I think I'll be gone a little longer than I expected.

"'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.'" ~Jeremiah 29:11

Getting Into You, Relient K

For anyone who planned on coming to hear me speak at Lower Burrell tomorrow, it was cancelled. We are trying to reschedule another Sunday evening when I can speak.

Also, it definitely looks like I will be flying alone. There were three people I tried to fly out with, but none of them worked out, for various reasons. Please pray that I find a cheap ticket for a safe airline (my nervous-ness is shining through now!)

Thanks!

Friend Like You, Joshua Radin

Hello, Everyone!

This blog is for anyone who is interested in following me on my trip to Kenya. Many of you are praying for me, and this will be a convenient way to stay updated with my plans, prayers, and praises. Enjoy!

Some updates:

• I currently have $1708 raised; I still need $710 minimum
• It looks like I will be flying alone to Kenya; I'm in the process of finding a "cheap" ticket
• Destination date will more than likely be November 3rd
• I speak this Sunday at 6:00 pm at Lower Burrell Baptist Church; feel free to come
• God is directing my focus where it should be in regards to this trip

Please continue to pray for any or all of these updates. Thank God and pray for His completion in each point mentioned.

Thank you for your support!

"Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if He wants anything of you, HE WILL FIT YOU FOR THE WORK and give you strength." ~Philip Neri