Where are we?

Can I just say that I love it here?  I have made some great friendships with fabulous, Godly women (and a few fabulous, Godly men, too!), and have had some really wonderful class sessions.  But, for the international traveler in me, the best part is just how international these 50 acres in Virginia really are.  Twice now, we've had "special" meals... code around ILC for "international food you have to eat with your hands.  Our first meal was Middle Eastern- great meatballs with flatbread, olives, hummus, and cucumber-onion relish.  Number 2 was Indonesian- a ground turkey curry with rice and lots of toppings, including a mildly spicy chutney that was awesome.  Honestly, the special meals are really better than the regular ones!  Side note: when you eat with your hands, you're only allowed to use the right hand... In countries without "facilities," your left hand is your toilet paper.  Pretty gross, huh?

Today I went to check mail and got a surprise.  Our lovely mail team decided we're in another country.  There was a sign on the mail room door saying that mail would only be available from 4:30 to 5:30.  It was almost 4:30, so I decided to stand in line. (Yes, there was a line by this point.)  At 4:30, one of the guys came out and said that he needed one person from each household, but only one person could come in at a time, and that we needed a photo ID to check our mail.  The guy in front of me went on in, and I'm waiting, but I started thinking... I don't have my ID with me.  I don't usually carry my ID to walk around campus.  Crud.  About this time, another guy comes out.  "I can get you in," he says, rubbing his fingers together, basically asking for a bribe... which I gladly would have paid, IF I had cash on me.  But I didn't.  Double crud.  Customer #1 comes out, and the first guy comes to the door to bring me in.  I am wearing my nametag, which lately has been a rarity, and I ask him if that will work, but he says no.  (About 4 people behind me get out of line at this point to go get their IDs, which they also left in their rooms... good to know I'm not the only one!)  So I got out of line without my mail... still haven't gotten it, and I'm debating whether or not I'm going to get it today, since that means going to the opposite end of campus to get my ID, then hiking all the way back up here.  I really don't need my mail all that badly!

But I really do love it... sarcasm aside.  I know, when it's real life and not just an "exercise," the novelty will wear off... but it just goes back to the whole American convenience issue.  We are, by far, the most convenient society on the planet.  And I'm not really sure that's a good thing.

When is it ever?

When I was in high school and college, I always felt like I got cheated. I had grown up in a Christian home, came to know Jesus when I was young, and fell in love with Him early. I didn't go through some of the traumatic experiences and phases other people my age did: I didn't get involved with the wrong crowd, didn't use drugs, had a fairly stable home life... you get the picture. I was grateful that I had been spared from those things, but still felt that my testimony was, well, boring.

As I went through some "adult trauma," my testimony evolved. The pain that I was spared in my youth I have now experienced... and by God's grace, I have made it through to the other side. He has brought me to a place I never would have been if I hadn't gone through these pains. I have experienced the passionate, amazing, can't-get-enough love of the Creator God. I have seen Him faithful to me in so many ways in the past few years, and He has truly been my Savior, my King, my Husband, my Everything. I focused on how He has provided for me with mercy and grace in the past few years. If you asked me to share my testimony, I would breeze right through coming to know the Lord as a child and tell you more about who He has been to me recently. I still thought my childhood testimony was boring.

When is the salvation of a soul BORING? The holy God of the universe rescues me from an eternity in Hell, and I call it BORING? A sinful child is still a sinner... and believe me, I was one! The Lord has shown me, once again, that I have no right to minimize His grace. He did not NEED me. He had no reason to take me in, even as a child, except that He LOVED me! Almighty Father, please forgive me for taking Your amazing sacrifice lightly. When is the Cross EVER boring???

I have arrived...

...in Virginia, anyway. The weekend was full of difficult goodbyes (lots of family time again, "Thanksgiving" dinner after church on Sunday, and Pizza Inn with my cousins). I went home Sunday night from dinner and was in really good shape packing-wise. Dad and I had packed and loaded the car during the afternoon, and stuff was really just down to what I needed late Sunday night and Monday morning. I went to bed feeling really wierd- not sure what to feel. I've been excited and looking forward to everything that's coming, but at that point in time, I was torn. All the goodbyes got to me, and, in all honestly, I really didn't want to hit the interstate in the morning. Didn't sleep well Sunday night-- was wide awake by 5. (Mom, Katie, and I had planned to meet for breakfast at 8, so I definitely didn't oversleep!) I had plenty of time to check and double-check everything I needed, but still managed to leave 2 cakes (!) that a friend had made for me to take with me, so after one tearful goodbye in the Stax Omega parking lot, Mom and I had another one in the driveway before I really left.

The drive to Rockville was pretty uneventful. From the driveway to the ILC (International Learning Center) gate was right at 6 hours, including two short stops. Checked in and started to get settled in. Kelli (my partner for the next 2 years) got in right after dinner, and we got settled in to our temporary home. We're in a quad with other families who are going to Central, Eastern, & Southern Africa (CESA). We 're in 4 mini-apartments with our own bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchenette, and we all share one big greatroom. We've already had some great fellowship time in the greatroom- I'm looking forward to building some great relationships with this new Africa family!

The enemy started attacking me almost immediately... while I was working on an online assignment, my computer had a seizure- all kinds of internet windows started popping up faster than I could close them. I tried to stop them, close them, shut down the computer... nothing worked. Talk about freaking out! Finally, I just turned the computer off. Evidently, the seizure sent my computer into a coma, because I haven't been able to get into it since. I looked for the Windows installation discs, and as it turns out, they were the one other thing I left at home. :S So I had to get Mom to FedEx the discs up to me, and took my machine to the IT wonders here on campus... hopefully it will be healthy soon. But it amazes me how Satan attacked me in that area... trying to frustrate me with my ability to contact home and one more way I can be independent.

Classes started on Wednesday... the first couple of days were more long and exhausting than anything... legal and medical briefings... fun. But Friday took the cake. I went on a personal spiritual retreat, just me and God for 3 hours. And man, did He have a lot to say! Funny how, when you're struggling, like I've been struggling with some things for a while, God can open you up and show you what the real root of the issue is. And it's not at all what you thought it was to begin with. He really dealt with me on some things I've been carrying that I shouldn't have been... hopefully I'll be able to leave them behind.

Overwhelmed...

I am amazed and humbled by the wonderful believers I am surrounded by. This past weekend was completely overwhelming... in a good way. First of all, on Saturday evening, some sweet girlfriends held a "Missionary Shower" for me. After a fun gift time where I was showered with chocolate, Band Aids, Orbit gum, and Bath & Body Works hand soap, among other things, they led the most unbelievable prayer time. They lifted up me, my team, my family, and the people that we'll be working with in Lugbara. I felt so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who have been by my side through some very difficult times, and who have seen the LORD work in amazing ways in my life. Knowing that these strong, Godly women are praying for me here at home make me even more confident that God will be glorified in Arua.

Sunday morning was a whirlwind. During both services, Taylors 1st Baptist held a commissioning for me and for the other girl from the church going to training in a couple weeks. They presented us to the church, asked the church family to pray for us as we go to Richmond for training and as we get into the field, and then prayed over us. After each service, church members had the opportunity to come and speak to us... what a blessing to get to see so many people who have poured into my life since I was a child, to know that God used them in shaping me into the woman I am today, and to know that they will continue to pray for me in the future. Needless to say, I was a wreck!

Since our commissioning was at the end of each service, I was asked to speak to The Connection, a large Life Group, during the first part of the second service hour. The Connection is a cross-generational class, with members from ages 20 to 80; I've been attending this class for the past few months, and it has been a huge blessing in my life. During my talk, I tried to explain how my life has come to be on the path of international missions. I also described my team, our mission, how we will be addressing this mission, and how they can pray for us. Their response in their willingness to pray for us and support me in this journey was simply overwhelming. I do not feel worthy to be blessed with such an amazing body to lift me up and encourage me.

Lonely at home

It's weird. One of the things I've been struggling with lately is a feeling of loneliness... and I haven't left yet. Between not working and not being as involved as usual at Grace, I feel more cut off from my friends than normal. I know people have their lives and responsibilities, and I have things I have to be doing to prepare for Uganda and Orientation, but I still feel lonely. (Reminds of the first year after I graduated from Winthrop...) In a weird way, it feels like people here have written me off, like I'm already gone... but I'm not. And I don't mean to be griping or complaining. It's just what I've been struggling with recently. Ok. I won't whine any more. At least not today, anyway...

Thanks, Kim!

Good friends are such a blessing! A couple of weeks ago, my sweet friend, Kim DeLoach offered to do a photo shoot for my prayer cards. We met in downtown Greenville one evening, and she just sent the pictures to me- they turned out great! You can see the slideshow by going to her blog and clicking on "Alissa." She's a great local photographer here, and the shoot was the most fun, relaxed shoot I've ever been on! (Which is saying something, since we were shooting in the middle of Hurricane Hanna's winds!) Check her out... and thanks again, Kim! You rock!

Kim's website- http://www.kimdeloachphoto.com/
Kim's blog- http://www.kimdeloachphoto.blogspot.com/

God's laughing at me!

Every now and then, I can be sure I hear the sound of holy laughter... and I'm pretty sure I'm the butt of the joke! I am SO not the wilderness chick... but the highlight of my day yesterday was pulling my toiletry bag and SteriPen water purifier out of the box. I can't believe I'm getting excited about trail shoes and CamelBaks and mountain bikes! What's even more unnerving is knowing that I haven't even left for Uganda yet... who knows how far out of my comfort zone God's going to get me over there!

On a side note... I have decided that if I ever live in the States and am in a situation where I don't need a job with health insurance or a guaranteed minimum salary (i.e., if I'm married to a husband with a great job!) I will DEFINITELY work as a substitute teacher. Gotta love a job where you show up at 8, go home at 3:30, and have nothing to do to get ready for the next day. A girl can dream, can't she?