Weather

I received an email from Carol (the other lady from VA who is in S.A.). She reports that it SNOWED in Johannesburg last night. This is the first time they have had any snow accumulation in 20 years! What happened to the 60 degree days I was expecting? :-)

Many Details

Paige and I spent most of Monday packing my clothes. God blessed me with an organized friend because He knew Id never be able to get this all done on my own steam. After hours of packing, most of my clothes are packed in 2 LARGE suit cases. I get one more suit case weighing less than 70 pounds. Im sure I will fill it....but now Im at the point where I have to seriously prioritize the rest of my possessions....What books do I take, jewelry, favorite pillow, blankets, etc??? And this will be the hardest for me.

On top of these decisions, I also have what seems like a million errands to run....and every time I try to be organized and get them done, there is a kink in the plan and I get NOTHING done. I hope to get these knocked out tomorrow, so I will have Thursday and Friday for any other last minute details that may pop up. Please pray that God take care of all the details, because Im not sure Im gonna be able to on my own!

Chapter Closed

Today was my last day at my school. I have worked there for 6 years, and will miss many of the people I have worked with. They have become close friends and family to me. Leaving was hard, but I know its the right thing. Pray for the person who will replace me. They deserve a good person on the K-team. Now that I am closing that chapter in my life, my departure seems to be so much closer.

I have a trip to visit my mom (June 19th-23rd). And a week of packing and such...then June 29th I leave!

Please pray for safe travel for my brother and I as we drive to Oklahoma. Also, pray that I will be able to prioritize my packing. Im excited about the new chapter in my life that is to begin soon.

Emotions

Many people have asked me in the last few weeks...."Are you excited? Are you scared? Are you sad to leave?" I have to admit that I am not excited, scared or sad.

I know, without a doubt, that I am supposed to go to South Africa. I cannot imagine staying in the US....it is just so right to go.

I am not excited yet...there is too much to do right now that I cannot begin to see into the future. And I think it may be best to show up with no expectations. I'll just take things as they come. I am eager to go and see how I can help those children. I am eager to get started so there are answers to all of my "what will it be like" questions.

I am not scared. You can read many things about Johannesburg that are not encouraging or positive....but I have no fear. I know God has called me there, and I know He will protect me while I am there.

Am I sad? I think a part of me is sad....but not like I expected to be. I think the sadness comes from knowing that I will never be in the US and see it as I see it now. None of my favorite places will be the same when I get back. Although things may change physically, I think things will be different because I will be looking at them with different eyes.

But more than sad, I think I feel lonely. I know my friends and family in the US will miss me....but they still have their life, their family and their friends. I'm one small factor in their life that will change. But I am going off by myself. My location, vocation, and daily life will change....AND I will not have my family and friends close by....ALL factors of my life will change. I think this feeling of loneliness is a normal part of leaving. But its pretty tough.

Please pray for me. Pray that God is preparing good friends for me in South Africa. Pray that I will be able to pack everything I need and stick well with in the baggage limits. Pray that the flights be smooth. Pray that I will adjust to a new time zone well.

Thanks for your prayers!! I know they are working.

My Heritage

As I embark on this journey to South Africa, I am well aware of the heritage that has gotten me to this point. God has placed many people in my life to encourage me and guide me along the way. Here is a poem I was inspired to write about the wonderful godly heritage of faith that I have.

Heritage

I have a heritage of faith that is so very deep.

The love and joy its given me, I will always keep.

My parents raised me in the church. They taught me how to pray.

Mom read me stories from the Bible that I remember to this day.

She also taught VBS and sang in the church choir.

Dad was a deacon and he lit the missions fire.

My daddy was the one who went so far away.

He went to Africa to build and teach and pray.

When he came back, I saw a change I couldnt understand.

Now I know, and I cant wait to tread that distant land.

My grandma lead the G.A.s and taught many how to give.

She has always been a model of how I want to live.

She knows her gifts and uses them to serve the Lord each day.

She loves and cares for children in a special Godly way.

My grandpa, with his quiet ways, taught me so much too-

He had a gentle, humble spirit and a loving attitude.

My Aunts and Uncles taught me too, in many different ways.

The prayed and laughed and loved and gave in ways I cant repay.

My siblings and my cousins shared this walk with me.

They saw the love of God passed through our family tree.

Through choir rehearsals, missions trips and fun vacations too--

Family troubles and family joys were shared through and through.

But I dare not forget my friends, for they are family too.

They often saw what God wanted before I even knew.

They prayed and laughed and cried with me over big and little things.

They too are all God's princesses--Daughters of the King.

My church family has raised me up. My foundation feels so strong.

They have encouraged me and prayed for me for ever so very long.

I want to share my heritage with others in the world.

With little African boys and precious African girls.

I want them all to know how blessed they truly are,

and that they are being prayed for by people way off far.

For God has built a strong support to surround me as I go.

His loving careful preparation I want them all to know.

My heritage of faith is better than a family tree.

Its not just names and dates, its relationships you see.

Relationships with people who have always prayed for me.

Their love and hope and endless faith I can always see.

I thank my family, friends and church for all the things that you do.

But most of all, I thank my God for giving me the gift of you.