Thanks to You!

Thanks to you, those who supported me in my travels to Africa, I have come back loaded with awesome.  God's awesomeness.  It wouldn't have been possible without your support and prayers.  There was a lot that happened in the past 10 days that I want to share with you.  I will try to do my best.  I know...it's a huge responsibility.   God happened. God showed up.   God moved in the hearts of those we encountered. God...

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Merciful Footprints

It's about a week before we leave.  Wow...I remember when this time was months away.  I didn't realize that it would go by so fast.  All of a sudden I feel so unprepared.  This is really going to happen.  I have been traveling to distant lands for a while in my mind and prayers. There's a verse in scripture that gives me reassurance this week.   Isaiah 52:12 "But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for...

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Ordinary Missions

One of my recent memory verses really defines my idea of missions.    Ps. 82:3-4 "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and the oppressed.  Rescue the weak and needy, deliver them from the hands of the wicked." It speaks of helping, serving, reaching with action words like defend, maintain, rescue and deliver.  Everywhere I look there are mission fields full of the poor among us.    Jesus...

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His Big Picture From the small

I pray that we can be one as a team.  There is not one thing I can bring. I am not skilled.   I only have a willing heart to follow... With eyes on our big God....He leads.... As seeing Him I am able to see a small slice of His grace. I can't comprehend why He would want to send me.   I only follow.   ...

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Packed

I have been away for a while...this life I live for Christ is consuming.  As the mission preparations are being made in regards to fundraising, selling "This Is Africa" t-shirts, gathering supplies for VBS, being on-the-ground ready, God is preparing my heart to be on-the-ground ready too.   With all the things that need to taken or packed in my luggage I am leaving pockets of emptiness that can only be filled by Him once I arrive. Filled...

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Whispers

I was visiting with a good friend about our trip to Swaziland.  She's traveled there before.  She remarked it is a hard place.  She said that she has left a piece of her heart there.  I told her I felt like my heart was already there as God has been planting His seeds of love deep within. It's interesting how God will plant the seeds of His desires and they quickly become your own.   One of the activities that we know...

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God Doesn't Really Need Me To Go

I had this thought this weekend....God doesn't really need me to go to Africa.....It's true.   When I was first asked to go, I didn't hesitate to say yes.  I recognized the opportunity to go and see the work of Children's Cup in Swaziland.  I couldn't wait to see the kids they reach and teach.  I still can't.  I can't wait to hug them with love.   But God doesn't really need me...to go.  It's not about feeling...

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Beautiful Feet!

This past couple of weeks I have been reading Romans. Paul has a way with words and I found this nugget of power that I just had to share. Romans 10: 14 - 15 - "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean...

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My Why!

So what does the picture of that bear have to do with my reasons for going to Swaziland?  Absolutely nothing....but it made you come over here and read my post now didn't it?   My reasons for going are numerous but really nothing says it better than the chorus of the song by Josh Wilson "I Refuse" ... Check this out... I refuse. 'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care. I don't want to say another empty prayer. I refuse to Sit...

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Prayer Circles

When preparing for  a mission trip, I start praying the day I know that I am supposed to go. My list of prayers covers a variety of topics from safe travel, to providing enough funding, to bringing the right team together, to being used by God. There are so many details that need to be in place before one steps foot out the door. The one of the biggest prayer circles I present before the Father is to accomplish His work in my heart. I don't...

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The Broken Road

When preparing for a mission, if you seek God, He will prepare you for what is ahead.  Sometimes though I don't know that anything could really prepare me for what His real is. I have been reading some blogs lately of missionaries on the ground in Swaziland.  There have been heart wrenching stories that have come out of that small country.  It makes me pause.  It makes me broken. I pray for the broken lives there and for those...

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This is the team shirt for our mission to Swaziland.  The words in the center mean a lot to me. Be.   Be who God called you to be.  You are special, unique and He has given you gifts to share with others. Go. Jesus met people with compassion right where they were and showed them the truth.  He went with a heart loaded with mercy and grace.  If we don't go, sharing the same, who will? Love. The reason for our being,...

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Something I Can't Get Past...

I can't get past this story.  But God can.  He is bigger than the pain and the scars leftover from such a violent act.  I am thankful that we have a God who cares, and knows.  And the end of the day, and at the end of this story, God is still God.  And that is enough. Of course this story brings up the age old question of, why God?  Why did you allow this young precious girl be violated in such a way?  Because...

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Heavy Heart

When God calls you to something, it's interesting that He also plants a passion in your heart that can't be quenched.  It's like he backs up your dreams with his.  Sometimes the fire burning inside my heart is so strong... that I can't see past stepping off the plane and hugging kids.   that I wonder if I could ever learn the language.   that the return trip home will be twice as long and what about the "what-happens-next?" Today...

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Missions Horizon

God continues to deepen the impact of missions daily in the folds of my heart.  He is filling crevices that I didn't know existed.  I see this as a good thing.  I think about the mission trip to Swaziland, Africa everyday.  I also think about the days after I return home. How will I make a difference then? Just in time for your summer reading list.  Mission of Mercy, an awesome organization, has posted two of my blogs on...

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Swazi Slice

A slice of Swazi life I found this blog from a missionary couple who just moved there several months ago. This post speaks of an emotion that I have felt since returning from the Dominican Republic last year.  Read this post about conflict. The Stephen and Krista Prince have been in Swazi for a few months as well.  They have a different view of life in Swazila...

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Call of the Wild

There are a lot of wild things in Africa.  And when I think about traveling there I think about how my "wild" soul will fit in.  I don't know that it will.  God is taming the wild beast that rears up within me.  One of the ways is through my quiet times.  I think about how a person, a Christian and a follower of Christ must have to operate  without a group of believers, that accountability surrounding them.  That's...

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This is Africa!

Hippos are the 3rd largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos "This is Africa" or TIA for short. I don't really know or understand what this means....yet. I have an idea that this phrase is a blanket statement that envelopes or encompasses all things that happen in Africa that don't make sense or for which there is no explanation. I expect it is something you have to see rather than be told. I will find out soon. When...

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New Website for the Swazi Team!

Andy and I have started a new website that will be used by the team to post our thoughts, post updates and prayer requests, and photos and travel updates.  It's a place that we can post and keep in touch with our families and others up to the time of the trip and while we are on the trip.  Feel free to submit and post as well. Check it out, follow, and be a pa...

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HopeForSwazi.com

HOPEFORSWAZI.COM Here's a way to support my mission trip to Swaziland. For just $6.00 you can have your own brightly colored reminder band to pray for team, keep updated on the latest mission trip adventure, see prayer requests of those who are traveling and photos of God working. What a deal!!!! You might need two for this price! Get your HOPEFORSWAZI.COM band here. &nb...

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My Heart Is Not Ready For This

The Response (by Elton Veals Jr.) from Children's Cup on Vim...

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Shot...to the heart!

One of the things that must be attended to is travel vaccinations.  The CDC has recommendations for the areas where you are traveling.  Plus it is a good idea to ask your doctor what he thinks you need.  Always good to protect yourself from sickness.  The last thing you want is to bring something back home or be sick while you are there.  God's got plans!   When Andy and I were talking about the recommended shots and...

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Why Go?

People ask me why I want to go to Swaziland. I have one answer. I want to go to love on the kids. Plain and simple. I have no personal agendas, no personal goals. Just to love them.You say, that's a long way to go to love on kids. Yes, it is. They need to know too.You say, there are missionaries there already. Can't they just do it? Yes they love. We bring love for the missionaries on the ground too.You say, what difference can you make...

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Building Bridges

"We welcome Janelle, a regular guest blogger, who shares with us how she prays for her sponsored girls, and what that has done in her heart since meeting Eskarlin in the Dominican Republic." ~ Mission of Mercy.I'm so excited to meet my new little daughter Nomphilo in Swaziland.What an honor to be a Mission of Mercy sponsor and volunteer. Not only is it a privilege to support my little girls through Mission of Mercy with my financial monthly gifts,...

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High Fives!

It is not possible to embark on my Swaziland faith project without the support of many believers. The gifts of grace I have received are investments in this trip, not only financially but also spiritually. Your belief in what God can do in and through me speaks volumes and I humbly say thanks.My Thankful High Fives go to:Christy & Eddie RiddlePat & Kali BellBrandon & Megan ArmstrongTeresa RichmondAnonymousMy son ShayneMichael YousoBrian...

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The Hard Part

When Justin, our trip leader, told me about the trip my heart said yes right away. And I didn't even know the dates or how much it cost. Common sense reigned me in. I started asking questions. I remember texting him and asking,"Hummm...raising $3000 is the hard part". Is this the hard part?" He replied, "YOU CAN DO THIS!" I smiled at his confidence in me. But really I hope it was his confidence in God to work through me.When you dangle an...

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Seeds for Swazi

I have been thinking about going to Africa for a while now. Actually God planted the seeds for this trip on the day I returned from the Dominican Republic. The DR was where God first broke my heart for missions, for the poor among us. As we were waiting on our final flight home and saying goodbye to some really good friends, I knew then that I would serve with these people again. We were a team after all. Some really close friendships had formed....

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