...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.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, September 19, 2008
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...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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/
Kim's website- http://www.kimdeloachphoto.com/
Kim's blog- http://www.kimdeloachphoto.blogspot.com/
Friday, September 12, 2008
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?
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?
Monday, August 25, 2008
It's official!
I got my official paperwork on Friday... and Uganda it is! It's been a huge relief to know for sure where I'm headed and what I'll be doing. Now, because I'm such a task-oriented person, I feel like there's so much I need to be doing and preparing for, and I really don't even know where to start. So I cleaned out my make-shift closet (again!) and bought some electrical adapters. That's about as far as I've gotten.
God has been so good in the past couple of weeks. My sweet friend, Ruth, works at North Greenville University and connected me with Jamie, who just got back last month from Uganda. We had lunch last week, and it was such a blessing! Turns out that Jamie did the same job I'll be doing, just in a different town, so she had some great insight and advice for me. I still feel really overwhelmed about the whole thing, and it's just surreal, but it's a good thing, and God is reminding me to go slowly, and in His grace. Isn't it just like Him, to put the people we need to encounter right in our path, at just the right time? I love the way He composes this amazing symphony of humanity!
This week should be interesting-- I'm subbing at my old school tomorrow and Thursday. Not sure how that will be, but at least it's a (small) paycheck. Sidenote- can I just say how much I've enjoyed not having to go back to school? Working is SO overrated! :) The family's all heading to the lake on Friday for Labor Day weekend. I'm looking forward to some good, laid-back family time... I'm trying to get as much Zeke/Fred/Charlie/Stan time in as I can!
God has been so good in the past couple of weeks. My sweet friend, Ruth, works at North Greenville University and connected me with Jamie, who just got back last month from Uganda. We had lunch last week, and it was such a blessing! Turns out that Jamie did the same job I'll be doing, just in a different town, so she had some great insight and advice for me. I still feel really overwhelmed about the whole thing, and it's just surreal, but it's a good thing, and God is reminding me to go slowly, and in His grace. Isn't it just like Him, to put the people we need to encounter right in our path, at just the right time? I love the way He composes this amazing symphony of humanity!
This week should be interesting-- I'm subbing at my old school tomorrow and Thursday. Not sure how that will be, but at least it's a (small) paycheck. Sidenote- can I just say how much I've enjoyed not having to go back to school? Working is SO overrated! :) The family's all heading to the lake on Friday for Labor Day weekend. I'm looking forward to some good, laid-back family time... I'm trying to get as much Zeke/Fred/Charlie/Stan time in as I can!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Everyone tells me I should blog...
So I am. Or at least I'll try. In all honesty, this is probably something that I'll start and do very well with at the beginning, but then I'll get slack and let the whole thing just fall apart. But until that happens... here goes.
If you haven't heard lately, I spent 4 days at the end of July and beginning of August (July 29-August 1, to be exact) in Richmond, Virginia at the International Learning Center. In the course of these 4 VERY intense days, the Lord took me through the gamut of emotions. I have never cried so early in the day or so often, I have never been so overwhelmed, I have never had my heart broken so many times as I did that week. It was so amazingly clear that there is so much work to do, so many people who need to hear, so many wounded hearts that need to know there is a Great Physician and a Savior. And I don't think I've ever been so torn between a job that I knew I was called to do and the desire to allow my flesh to be a little more comfortable... Ok, so a city in southern Sudan or Tanzania is still in Africa and not comfortable or easy by American standards, but it's a lot better than a remote village in the Ugandan bush where the electricity is on for no more than 18 hours a day (if you're lucky!).
My last task for the week was to request my top 3 jobs, anywhere in the world, in order. Two hours before my request was due, I was still uncertain about where I was supposed to go. God, like He had been doing all week, put people in my path who confirmed yet again where my heart was being called. So unless I got it all messed up and the Lord fixes it (which is entirely possible!), I will more than likely be going to Uganda. My partner, Kelly, and I will be living in the town of Arua. Each day we will bike to the villages that surround Arua (usually 5-10 miles away) to teach True Love Waits curriculum in the secondary schools there. 50% of the Ugandan population is under 15 years old, and these students desperately need to know and understand the AIDS crisis and how they can protect themselves from this disease that has decimated Uganda. As we build relationships with our students, we will begin having Bible studies and discipling the students we work with. Amazing how I'll be able to do in Uganda what I can't do in the US!
Right now, I'm waiting for everything to be finalized within the International Mission Board (IMB). I should have clearance by August 20, if not before. In October, I'll go back to Richmond to begin 8 weeks field orientation and training, which will end the week before Christmas. I'll be home for a couple of weeks, and should leave around the first week in January. Please pray for me as I try to get all my many ducks in a row (pesky ducks... they just can't seem to stay lined up!) and get my mind wrapped around the fact that in 5 months I'll be living in AFRICA!
...And I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among other Gentiles. Romans 1:10-13
If you haven't heard lately, I spent 4 days at the end of July and beginning of August (July 29-August 1, to be exact) in Richmond, Virginia at the International Learning Center. In the course of these 4 VERY intense days, the Lord took me through the gamut of emotions. I have never cried so early in the day or so often, I have never been so overwhelmed, I have never had my heart broken so many times as I did that week. It was so amazingly clear that there is so much work to do, so many people who need to hear, so many wounded hearts that need to know there is a Great Physician and a Savior. And I don't think I've ever been so torn between a job that I knew I was called to do and the desire to allow my flesh to be a little more comfortable... Ok, so a city in southern Sudan or Tanzania is still in Africa and not comfortable or easy by American standards, but it's a lot better than a remote village in the Ugandan bush where the electricity is on for no more than 18 hours a day (if you're lucky!).
My last task for the week was to request my top 3 jobs, anywhere in the world, in order. Two hours before my request was due, I was still uncertain about where I was supposed to go. God, like He had been doing all week, put people in my path who confirmed yet again where my heart was being called. So unless I got it all messed up and the Lord fixes it (which is entirely possible!), I will more than likely be going to Uganda. My partner, Kelly, and I will be living in the town of Arua. Each day we will bike to the villages that surround Arua (usually 5-10 miles away) to teach True Love Waits curriculum in the secondary schools there. 50% of the Ugandan population is under 15 years old, and these students desperately need to know and understand the AIDS crisis and how they can protect themselves from this disease that has decimated Uganda. As we build relationships with our students, we will begin having Bible studies and discipling the students we work with. Amazing how I'll be able to do in Uganda what I can't do in the US!
Right now, I'm waiting for everything to be finalized within the International Mission Board (IMB). I should have clearance by August 20, if not before. In October, I'll go back to Richmond to begin 8 weeks field orientation and training, which will end the week before Christmas. I'll be home for a couple of weeks, and should leave around the first week in January. Please pray for me as I try to get all my many ducks in a row (pesky ducks... they just can't seem to stay lined up!) and get my mind wrapped around the fact that in 5 months I'll be living in AFRICA!
...And I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among other Gentiles. Romans 1:10-13
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