Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jog!

Well...I'm back!  It's been a little over a week and I think I have finally settled back into the routine of life here in good ol' Kentucky.  I arrived in Cincinnati last Friday December 13th and was very happily greeted by the most wonderful welcoming committee I could have ever imagined.  I could see my mom waving very dramatically a long ways off, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I rounded the corner and saw Matthew, Kassidy, and sweet Maylee Jean also waiting for me.  I was so overwhelmed with happiness at the sight of my precious family that all I could do was cry.  How silly I must have looked!  A couple of minutes later, my lovely sister Lauren came with her boyfriend Luke.  I am constantly amazed at how blessed I am to have such a loving family.

Here is Lauren and me with the fabulous sign she made for my return home!

 Lauren, Luke, and I

My beautiful family

Notice the blue suitcase in the background?  You wouldn't believe the miracle it was to see that suitcase there in the airport with me.  My plane left an hour late from Pemba, Mozambique on Wednesday the 11th. When we finally arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, my next plane was already taking off...so needless to say I was not on it!  After speaking with the manager of the airline, I was pretty bummed to learn that they refused to accommodate me, although they did re-book all of my flights for the following day.  They said that since the delay was due to weather and not some sort of technical issue, they couldn't provide accommodation.  Little did I know, God had been providing accommodation for me all along.

There were two other girls that I knew from Pemba who were in the same boat as me.  So we banded together and began to search for somewhere to stay.  The airline had told us it would be easier to leave our bags there at the airport instead of picking them up and checking them in again the following day, so we only had our carry-on bags.  We ran in to another girl from Pemba who said she had booked a room at a hotel and that we could talk to the driver and see if they had extra room at the hotel.  He graciously allowed us to ride with them to the hotel so we could ask the manager.  When we arrived we were so surprised to find that when booking her room, the hotel had gotten mixed up and reserved a room for three!!!!!  How PERFECT! They apologized for the confusion, gave us the room of three, and gave her another single room.  God's provision is so amazing!  We had a wonderful time there which included eating McDonalds, taking lots of showers, and going to the shopping mall with our new-found South African friends!

The following day when we checked in, the airline couldn't find our bags because they said they had been rushed ahead.  The bags would be waiting for us at the airport in JFK just like everyone else's and we would need to pick them up to go through customs.  I was slightly apprehensive but didn't know what else to do, so we went on to the gate.  Upon arriving in JFK, I watched as everyone else picked up their bags (including the two girls who had been with me the previous night!) but mine was nowhere to be found.  I was so frustrated.  I spoke to the staff there and they said I would need to file a claim once I reached my final destination in Cincinnati.  So I boarded a plane to Washington, D.C., and then another to Cincinnati.

After lots of hugs and tears, my family and I made our way to the information counter so we could file the claim.  While we were waiting my mom said, "why don't we just go check and make sure your suitcase isn't with the rest that came off your plane?"  I responded by telling her there was no way my luggage would be there because it hadn't even been in JFK with me.  So Lauren and Luke went and checked......and returned with my bag!  It was so ridiculously crazy that all I could do was laugh.  I'm sure people thought I was nuts, but that's alright because I totally am!  Once again, God's provision is so good and never what we would ever expect.

After leaving the airport we went straight to Skyline Chili per my request.  As you can see, it was a very happy reunion.

It was so nice to be home and just relax with my family.  Here is one more picture that I just had to put in my blog.  When I got home and opened my suitcase, I was so surprised when this adorable baby popped out! It's my sweet niece Maylee Jean Wisecup.  I call this picture Suitcase Baby. :)

Seriously...what a wonderful welcoming committee I had!

If you are interested in reading up on some of the other crazy experiences I had while in Africa, then keep coming back and checking this blog.  Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

Internet is Gold!

Hello all!  I am so sorry it has been such a long time since I have written an update.  Getting into town to the internet cafe is quite a challenging feat, considering how everything here takes about 3 times as long as it does back home.  And when you do make it to the internet cafe, there is really no gurantee that the internet will be working!  My friends and I have just started saying TIA (This Is Africa) and getting a good laugh about it.  Needless to say, life here is very different than what I am accustomed to.  While these adjustments are difficult and challenging at times, there are so many blessings to be found in a simpler life. 

One thing that has been a challenge here is the heat.  The sun rises at about 4:30 am and it is already hot hot HOT by 7!  But unlike the midwest, there is not nearly as much humidity and finding a good bit of shade can do wonders. :)  The other thing that has been quite challenging is the language barrier.  While the official language here is Portugese, very few people in the villages in the bush bush speak it.  The heart language of most of the people here is known as Makhua and it has been fun to try and learn.  Most often, we just accept that we can't communicate and laugh with the Mozambicans.

Two weekends ago my color group went on outreach in the bush bush to a leper colony.  It was an 8-hour drive in the back of a covered truck on dirt roads, if they could even be called roads.  No one from the mission had ever been there before, so we were able to be pioneers!  The kids in the village were absolutely lovely and so sweet.  At first it was difficult to see so many people who were so sick, but then God helped me see through their sickness into their hearts.  It was wonderful.  While a few of us were going around praying for families in the village, I saw the most heartbreaking thing I have ever encountered.  It was a little boy around the age of two whose entire body was covered with leprosy and some staph infection.  Thankfully we were able to take him straightaway to our clinic where our doctors treated him with medicine.  At the end of the outreach, 30 people ended up accepting Christ, and the chief of the village asked us to come back and build a church.  I felt so incredibly blessed to be a part of God's Master Plan!

I also joined a team that goes into the village every Friday to build houses for widows.  It is such a beautiful ministry, and this past weekend I was able to become good friends with the Mamas at the house.  I can't wait to go back next week!

God has been doing so many amazing things both here at the school and in my heart.  I am so unbelievably privileged to be able to be here in Mozambique at this time, and I can't begin to imagine what the next few weeks will hold.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! 

Made It!

Hello all!  I am finally here in Zimbabwe and it is so exciting!  My friends Stephanie and Rob Davy picked me up from the airport last night in Harare and we stayed at Rob's brothers house.  Today we are simply spending our day here in the city awaiting the arrival of our friend Kate, whose flight will be coming in this evening.  First thing in the morning we will be leaving for Chiredzi, which they have assured me is where the real culture shock will truly set in.  I very much look forward to seeing their hometown, which I have heard so much about.

It feels so nice to finally be here after so much preparation.  Everything has been very smooth so far, so God is definitely taking good care of me!  I can already tell that Africa is going to be very different from anything I am used to.  I just really hope I get to see some elephants before I leave (Rob will make sure that I do).

I must keep this update brief because I only paid for a certain amount of internet time, and also because we are getting ready to go eat Sadza!  Hopefully I will be able to give another, more detailed update at the end of the week before Kate and I head off to Mozambique.  So...until next time!

Across the Pond

After a beautiful prayer service with my church family this morning, my mom and I are off to the airport. This weekend definitely hasn't been without hangups. From luggage weight limits to paper routes and car wrecks, we have had our share of stress. But my God is all powerful and so, so good. He promises to take care of those who love him and follow Him whole-heartedly, and I know He is always true to His word. 

Lately, I have been feeling very unworthy to be an advocate and a witness for Jesus Christ. However before I was fooled into believing the Devil's lies, God spoke to me and gently reminded me of something: we are all unworthy. That is what makes the story of a loving, self-sacrificing savior so wonderful. It is, after all, called the GOOD NEWS!!!

I want to thank all of you for your support through this time.  I feel encouraged and strengthened knowing I am surrounded by such a wonderful body of believers.  Your prayers will be what makes the difference during this ministry and learning experience in Africa! Thanks again and God bless!!!

Believer

Yesterday on my way to church, I heard a song on the radio that brought tears to my eyes.  If you know me (and my mom) very well, then you should know this is not a very difficult thing to do.  It was a song I have heard time and time again, but only yesterday morning did the meaning finally sink in.  These words are very true and can be extremely powerful if we will learn to believe what they are saying.

                                                                Believer

                                           by: Audio Adrenaline
                      

I want to live this live unsafe, unsure, but not afraid
What I want is to give all I got somehow
Giving up letting go of control right now

‘Cause I’m already out here, blind but I can see
I see the way You’re moving
God how I believe that

I can push back the mountains, can stand on the waves
I can see through the darkness, I’ll hold up the flame
Take me to the ocean I want to go deeper
I’m not afraid no, I’m a believer

And so I lose this life to find my way and come alive
They can try to deny what’s inside of me
But there is more, can’t ignore all the things unseen

Oh I believe I can walk on water with You, Lord

When I walk through the valley of the shadows
When I’m trapped in the middle of the battle
I will trust in You
‘Cause trouble comes, but you never let it take me
I hold fast ‘cause I know that You will save me
I will trust in You, I will trust in You

Oh here I stand all alone waiting on you, Lord
Waiting on You

This song has really moved me.  Of course we cannot physically "push back a mountain" or "stand on a wave" because that is impossible.  However, if we can learn to surrender to the all-powerful King of the Universe, every seemingly impossible thing CAN become a reality!

Six months ago, I had absolutely no idea what God had in store for me.  I had come to a place where I realized that it was time for me to give up my own plans for my life.  You see, my plans rarely ever worked!  And even when they did, I was still left feeling completely dissatisfied.  Humbled and broken, I began to pray that God would lead me into the path that He had laid out for me.  The next thing I knew, doors were being thrown open from every direction making it very clear that something magnificent was awaiting me in Africa.  I decided to answer the call.  

Since then I have seen God answer many prayers, shattering any doubts I still had about the power of my Creator.  Everything that has simply fallen into place since my decision to go to Africa has only solidified my certainty that God has called me there for His bigger purpose.  

So in 6 days I will be getting on a plane and flying to the other side of the world, and I feel no fear whatsoever.  God's promises are true and I know that through Him I will be able to accomplish immeasurably more than I could ever even dream of on my own! 

I'm a believer.

Audio Adrenaline - Believer