“I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen."When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."
Jeremiah 29:11-14

There are two rooms in my house that are literally covered with piles of things that I have considered bringing with me this summer. But after much consideration I have decided to downsize. I have always had everything that I have needed, I have been comfortable my whole life and this summer, starting tomorrow, I will be living in a way that is very foreign to me. And even though I know that I will be way out of my comfort zone, I am BEYOND excited and so ready.

This summer is going to challenge me like I have never been challenged before. I am spending my summer in Mozambique Africa!!! I leave tomorrow for a journey of a life time and the fact that I am sleep deprived with butterflies in my stomach doesn’t even matter! Tomorrow I begin the next season of my life and I am so thrilled that God has taken my hand and led me to Africa.

To be honest, I am a little nervous. This is the first time I have been away for a long period of time without the option to easily fly or drive home. For the next 10 ½ weeks Iris Ministries is going to be my family. I am going to be living with children who do not have what I have here. I am going to be living with people who do not have running water or a CVS down the street to get what they need whenever they want. I am going to be living with beautiful people who are hungry for something bigger than themselves. I am going to be living with children who were once broken but now healed. I am going to be living with people who have nothing but EVERYTHING at the same time. I am going to be surrounded by others who feel similar callings on their life as I do. I am going to be living right next to the Indian Ocean. I am going to be living in a place where everyone and anyone is accepted. I am going to be living in a place with no airconditioning and only possible showers. I am going to be surrounded by children who have only what is on their back. I leave tomorrow to live with a community of people who strive for love, a community that understands what it means to love. I pray that I learn from the beautiful people of Mozambique. This summer, I am living in Africa.

I might not come back the same...who am I kidding? I will not be the same. Just thinking about what I am leaving to do tomorrow stirs something up inside of me. I have never felt this much overwhelming JOY and I haven’t even left yet.

When you are in the will of the Lord and when you do what He calls, nothing can stand in your way. I know that fear and anxiety are not from God and even though I am taking the next step in the plan set aside for my life, I do believe that prayer is essential. So please keep my in your prayers this summer.

Tomorrow begins something new, something different and something right. I AM READY.

From: Chicago O’Hare IL, US 27May10 4:20pm Thursday
To: Amsterdam, Netherland 28May10 7:05am Friday

From: Amsterdam, Netherland 28May10 10:30am Friday
To: Johannesburg, South A 28May10 9:25pm Friday

From: Johannesburg, South A 29May10 10:30 am Saturday
To: Pemba, Mozambique 29May10 1:40pm Saturday

Here is it!!! My next post will be from the beautiful soil of Africa. Keep me updated on your life as I keep you updated on mine. God is good.


“Here is my heart, Here is my heart, Here is my heart, YOU can have it ALL.”