Done

Packing

We are getting ready to start packing momentarily and this is a glimpse of what we are working with. We will let you know how this pans out!

6 Days and a Wake-Up

This time next week we will be in a van with the family traveling to Indianapolis for PDO (pre-destination orientation) and then off to Kenya. The past few weeks have been filled with a tremendous amount of preparation, but I think I can safely say we have all we need to go we now just need to figure out how to get it into our bags without surpassing the weight limit :)
I have been super busy at work trying to get everything done before we leave. I have recently discovered that I can be a procrastinator when I dont like to do something!! At work I put a lot of time and effort into my relationships with co-workers, referral sources, kids and their families. I can honestly say that one of the best things about my job is the people that surround me; however, I am not good at the paperwork so I just ignore it. These past weeks I have been scrambling to get things done and I am slowly running out of time. I am also trying not to get frustrated because I do not want the last fews days with family, friends, coworkers etc to be hurried. I want to really enjoy these moments but some have been challenging (I have only myself to blame)!!!
That being said I am so excited to get outta here and head to Indy as it is the final step to boarding that plane that will take us to Kenya. I cannot wait to be on African soil again. My heart has been yearning to get back there since I left Uganda last summer and it is almost here!! I cant wait for the smiling faces of the most beautiful children I have even seen to grab my hand and call me MUZUNGU!! I cant wait for Tim to experience Africa with me!! I cant wait to share the love that is literally bursting out of my heart!
As we prepare to leave I have really been praying for the preparation of my heart and my biggest prayer has been for God to just take out my eyes and replace them with his own so that I am only able to see people the way He does. To remove my hands, my feet and to replace them with those of Jesus so that every step I take and every touch will be those of Christ. Most importantly that my selfish, judgemental heart will be replaced with His so that I can just LOVE! I know God has some huge things in store for us this summer and I want all those things to be accomlished so I am just praying for me to get out of the way and let God move. I can be quite an obstacle sometimes and I really dont want that to happen this summer.
So the books have been read, reports written, forms notorized indicating what we would like to happen to our bodies should we not make it back from Kenya (little morbid) and support has been raised. Thanks for all the prayers. Please keep praying for us.
On a side note we had an encounter with another bat last night so thank goodness for the vaccinnations. Not sure we needed them as much for Africa as we did for central Illinois. I was very brave with the bat so I am not thinking the bugs will be no problem at all :)

29 Days to GO

So we have only got 29 days until we board a plane headed to Kenya! We are really getting excited and need to start packing and preparing. We have moved out of our apartment and into Granny and Gramps Stewart's house.
A few weeks ago we were able to go to Indy to a conference on the church and AIDS. The conference was hosted by CMF so we were able to meet many of the staff of CMF and one of the members of our team. We were definitely overwhelmed by the stories and statistics we heard about the AIDS pandemic in Africa. We were also challenged and excited to see how God is using all kinds of people to spread His love and provide hope throughout the world. We are glad to be a part of that. My brain certainly cannot comprehend the millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS; however, my heart can connect with the people in the stories the missionaries told at this conference. I know Tim and I will meet people this summer who will really touch our lives.
I guess all along I have know that we would be doing HIV testing, counseling, education, etc but I never really thought about what that looked like until we went to the conference. I was really struck by the fact that this summer we will probably be telling people they have HIV, we will be holding people as they are dying, we will be playing with children who are infected with HIV and/or have been orphaned by it. Are we ready for that? Is anyone really ever ready for that??
So please pray for:
*Tim and I as we prepare to go. Pray that we can get stuff ready and packed up. Pray for us to get the bills taken care of and all the other last minute things that I have probably forgotten!
*Pray for our families as they prepare for us to go.
*Pray for our team as they prepare to go. Pray that there will be unity among our team.
*Most importantly, pray for the preparation of our hearts. Pray that God will strengthen us to be able to do what needs to be done this summer, pray that we will be able to share His great love with many, pray that above all His name is glorified in all that we do. Pray for our hearts to continue to break for a world He loves. Pray that after this summer we will never be the same.