Getting ready to head home!

As my time here

in Virginia draws to a close, I really cannot believe I have been here for almost eight weeks! I am pretty ready to head back to Louisiana for some good southern cooking before I head to Senegal. Mainly, I'm ready for some of my Mom's chicken and dumplins, my Dad's jambalaya, my grandfather's turkey and ham, and my grandmother's dressin'! I really missed spending Thanksgiving with them, but I am very excited about Christmas.

We had a good Thanksgiving here. The cafeteria fixed us a really good meal (with stuffing instead of the southern style cornbread dressing I'm used to) and then that evening some of us West Africa people went to Cracker Barrel. I got breakfast food instead of their special Thanksgiving stuff, though. It was a special day of games and fun.

Then, that Friday, all 250+ of us piled into charter buses and went to Washington D.C. for an evangelization trip. It was a fun time of sightseeing and telling others the Good News. I had a really exciting moment. We were taking the subway to the National Mall area, when we met up with another group (we all split up into groups of about 5). One of the guys began talking with a woman and I heard him say, rather loudly, "She speaks French." I made my way over there, introduced myself in French, and began talking with this lady from Cameroon. She has been in DC for about 8 years and was so excited to get to speak French with someone. I asked her if I could pray for her and her face just lit up! She told me that she was also a believer and was so excited that someone was not ashamed to be a bold witness. She told me her testimony and I shared a little of mine with her. She told me that I was a great encouragement to her and I told her that I would pray for her. So please pray for Alice* (name changed). Pray that she would live out her faith boldly and that she would find encouraging, believing friends.

In all, I am excited to get to spend three weeks at home. I am going to stuff myself with red velvet cake, fudge, Martha Washington balls, and home-cooked southern dressin'. I cannot wait! Enjoy my DC pictures!

Piercings and needles

Living with no TV on a campus with about 300 other people can be interesting at times. My life is filled with classes (sessions as we actually call them), eating (the cafeteria food is pretty good - most of the time!), reading, studying, quilting (there are ladies here who teach you how to do it - I just finished my second one!), and finding things to do when you are not consumed with the previously mentioned activities. Well, this weekend, a couple of us girls were out shopping for clothing on sale to take to West Africa with us. While we were in Wal-Mart, I thought to myself, "I have been wanting to pierce my ears again for quite some time." So I did. (At least I didn't get my nose pierced like many of the other girls! It looks cute on them, but I don't think I could pull it off!) I walked up to the jewelry counter and got a second hole in each ear. The earrings are actually quite cute too - little crystal flowers.

I also survived my first round of shots - hep. A and polio. The hep A. booster was the only one that hurt - but I am having an allergic reaction of sorts to the polio. I get a second round of shots Friday, so pray for me!

I also got my airplane tickets (or at least the official reservation) this past week. I fly out Jan. 5 and arrive in Senegal Jan. 6 at about 5:00 am Senegal time! At least my body will be telling me it is 11:00 pm America time!

Every Sunday night we have worship from a different part of the world. The first Sunday night was East Asia. I was sick, so I missed that one. The next Sunday night was Africa. We danced, sang, and had a blast! Everyone loved it! Tonight is South American worship and we have to wear our Sunday best. I have a dress all picked out and ready to go. It should be interesting because they conduct the worship in whatever languages are spoken in that region. Considering that I don't know a lick of Spanish . . .

Depending on the Lord

This weekend, as a regional assignment, we used no electricity (except for the stove) and cooked West African food from scratch. I was fun, but quite eye opening as well. For one thing, I had forgotten how long it truly takes to cook from scratch. There are no Lean Cuisines in Senegal! Also, I couldn't go to the movies with my friends, couldn't eat with them, and couldn't even work on my quilt! I realized that I am preparing to go to Senegal without my friends and family. It upset me at first. Being single and moving that far away is somewhat terrifying. But then I remember who I get my strength from. With God, I have no reason to be lonely. He is always with me. He is my Father and my best friend. Besides, I'm going to have some great new friends in Senegal!

On another note, I am feeling 100% better after my sinus and ear infection. Thanks to many prayers and great antibiotics. It is still somewhat hard for me to hear out of my right ear, but it is improving. I feel like an old lady having to tell everyone to speak up because I can't hear them!

Begin praying for everyone this week - shots and immunizations begin next week! Aaaggghhh! I am preparing myself for sore arms and temperatures (shots always make me run a fever).

Sinus Infections - Yuck!

Today here in Virginia the weather was beautiful and sunny with a high of about 72. It doesn't get more perfect than that! There is only one problem - I'm sick. Quite sick. I'm not really running a fever, but I absolutely cannot breathe through my nose. I am so congested my ears hurt. I have to blow my nose every three minutes, so I look like Rudolph. (At least Christmas is coming soon!) I'm taking Day-quil, but I think I might need a more powerful decongestant. Please pray for me because Monday is going to be another long day here at training and orientation.

Things have been really good so far. They sure are keeping us busy though! I had my prayer card pictures taken today, so I will have those ready for when I come back south Dec. 18. If you want one, but you won't be seeing me in person, I will gladly mail you one. I'll send out an email to everyone on my list reminding you if you want one to send me your address.

Last night was Halloween and the day before that was my 26th birthday. I remember for my birthday as little kid having costume parties and dressing up like a ballerina. It's hard to believe I'm already in my late 20s. Time moves a little too fast sometimes. That's why it is so important that if God is calling us to do something, we not wait. I waited three years before I answered my call, and God has truly blessed me since I have obeyed Him. Is there something He is calling you to do? Do not wait to do it! He is calling you to serve Him! What a blessing it is to serve such a mighty God!

Freedom from fear

This morning, during my devotional time, I was reading todays entry in "Voices of the Faithful" by Beth Moore. The story was about a village in Central Africa. They had put ash on the roads leading into and out of their village because they believed it kept out a demon that killed people. The verse for today was Hebrews 2:14-15 -- "He himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage."

Jesus frees us from the fear of death! Because he came to Earth and died, we have no reason to fear death. Please pray that the people of Africa would come to know that Jesus can free them from their fear of spirits and death. Pray that they would realize that through Jesus and a saving relationship with him, they have no reason to fear. Jesus tells us in John that he is the resurrection and the life and that if we believe in him we will never die!

Flying and friends

I just wanted everyone to know that I arrived safely in Virginia and with all my luggage! All my flights were smooth - practically no turbulence. None of my bags were over 50 pounds either - they were about 49 pounds though!

I've gotten settled into my room and have met many new people. Everyone is very supportive and friendly. It is really great to be around like-minded people - people with the same goals and calling as me.

The only thing that is not agreeing with me is the weather. It is so cold! I turn the heat on in my rooom at night and when I walk to breakfast in the morning there is frost on the ground. In Louisiana and Mississippi, we don't see frost until January!

I've been staying pretty busy, but I will try and post again. Keep praying for everyone and for me!

air conditioning and electricity

For the past few months, I have been crashing at my parents house. It has been quite an experience, seeing as I have lived on my own since 2005! Anyways, the air conditioning has ceased to work today. Now, may I remind you that we live in southeast Louisiana, just north of New Orleans. In October, the temperature can reach up to the high 80's. (I wear flip-flops until December!) I figure that God is just preparing me for the heat of West Africa where air conditioning is scarce. I think that I got plenty of no air conditioning practice when the hurricane hit earlier this summer and left us with no electricity for three days.

That's another thing God has been preparing me for. In Africa, electricity can be pretty unreliable. I will never forget my first night there when I was ten. We had just flown in from France and we were staying with another missionary family. My brother, sister, and I had just settled in to go to sleep, when the electricity went out. This was a darkness I had never experienced before. I could literally not see my hand in front of my face.

Now, years later, as I think about this story, I think about the other kind of darkness that Africa is in. I got to experience that darkness at a young age when my family and I lived in Togo (which is not far from Senegal). Ever since that time, my heart has been burdened for the people of Africa. God has been preparing me my whole life for this one specific time period in my life. Please pray for the people of Africa - that they would see the light in a dark world.

Anyways, I enjoy sharing pictures and I thought I would share one of my pictures from France with everyone! I love anything and everything French and getting to return there early in June was a real treat. This is one of my very favourite places on this planet - Mont St. Michel. It is a beautiful abbey set on an island. The neat thing about the island is that there is a village that surrounds the abbey. There are shops galore and cafes with yummy sandwiches, crepes, and coffee. Oh, and I can't forget about Orangina! Yummy!

Space bags

I have a new love - space bags.

These things are amazing! You can pack, like, six sweaters in a medium sized space bag, suck all the air out of the bag with a vacuum, and watch your sweaters shrink to take up half the space they did before! Amazing!

I'm hoping these space bags will help me condense the clothing I need for eight weeks in the varying climate of Virginia into one large suitcase. For those of you who know me quite well, you will know that this will be quite an achievement. I am not known for being a light packer! Plus, the weather can change quite a bit from October to December. And one more thing, I am from southeastern Louisiana, where it never really gets that cold! Oh my!

But back to the space bags. I also have some large ones. I put a blanket, my black pea coat, and two sweatshirs in a large one, sucked all the air out, and proceeded to put it in my suitcase along with the two medium sized space bags full of sweaters. I still have half a suitcase left to pack everything else in! Can I do it? Yes, I can! I do believe that my challenge to have just one suitcase might be feasible.

Now, if my luggage can just make it the whole way. Last time I flew there, my suitcase was lost.

By the way, here is a cute picture of my new baby kitten, Buster. He roamed into my yard a week ago skinny, covered in fleas, and filthy. He is quite the spoiled baby now!

Getting started

In about two weeks, I head off to the great state of Virginia for eight weeks. I'm pretty excited. If you don't know, I havent' been working for a few months, so I'm ready for something to do!

This first post isn't going to be much, but once I head up to training and then Africa, I'll post frequent updates, prayer requests, etc here. Please subscribe to my posts and keep me updated on yourself! I am very grateful that I'll have excellent internet access in Senegal (DSL!!!), so I'm not going to be completely cut off from life in the USA.

Just in case you didn't know, I'm heading to Senegal, West Africa for two years to be a homeschool teacher.

Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated! Come back soon and I'll have another post. I'll also make sure to post fun pictures of me living in Africa (they should be interesting! Ha!).