...just trying to chase lions

transitions

2009-04-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

A little story of this past season of my life:

I am on a dirt road with thick woods to both sides of me. The trees are huge evergreens that make me stretch my neck out as far as I can to see the sky above them. I am afraid of wild animals and prickly bushes, so for the most part I have no problem staying on the dirt road where it's safe to me. To my right is my Father...my Dad...Papa...the one who knows what is absolutely best for me...whose ways and thoughts are higher than I can even imagine to think of on my own. We walk and talk and hang out, kicking rocks as we stroll along. I find myself hanging on to every word that comes out of his mouth because I admire him so much--I can't help but want to be like him. As he speaks I feel so alive...it's a feeling, a wholeness, I have never been able to find anywhere else but in His presence.
He continues to speak, but I tune him out for a moment as something catches my eye; it's a fork in the road just ahead...it's so close I could run to it! And then I do exactly that: I take off running, forgetting the wonderful conversation I was completely submerged in just a moment before, and sprint to the fork in the road. "But what next?" I find myself thinking as I stand looking out at the two roads. I've had the best of the best up to this point on the path, but I don't know which way is best now. I quickly realize that the only reason I've known the best roads to take up to this point is because I walked w/ my Dad and He nodded in each direction to take, and on some occasions just telling me that either way is great, just pick and go! But not this time, I felt an uneasiness in the decision. All of the sudden I am anxious, nervous, stressed out and just want to know what I'm supposed to do! I sense that there is a particular road that my Father would choose to be best for me, but I just can't figure out what it is. I turn back and see Him walking towards me...He's just strolling along at the same pace he was before I took off sprinting.
With my head held low I turn and walk back to where He is just thinking to myself "duh, Emily...how many times does it take for you to get this concept?" But Dad doesnt' allow my head to hang low for long. He grabs my chin and lifts it up to His face and tells me that He loves me. The anxiety and stress I was feeling quickly disappeared...I feel whole and complete again. We chatted about why I ran ahead of him, what I was thinking, what I was fearing, and how my head and heart were feeling, then all of a sudden we were up at the fork in the road--this time I was not alone. I looked up and asked for some of His wisdom. He hasn't been nodding a particular way to me lately, but rather teaching me how to see as He sees, and to use the wisdom and discernement I beg for in making the decisions that affect my life.
For some reason I still sprint to the next decision to be made, then find myself stressed and anxious about what to do. I'm waiting for my Father to simply grab the back of my shirt as I try to run ahead, but he never does seem to stop me...he just lets me go. I guess he knows that I will eventually stop and realize that I can't do it anywhere near as good as Him.
I have learned that He knows best...and not in a prideful way, but in a way that He is so passionate about His daughter knowing what is best, and understanding what matters most, and doing whatever it takes to get the point across. I trust Him. He has proved himself time and again to think of things so much bigger and grander than my mind would have ever come up with. I am very mediocre...really, I just am. But my Dad has a love for His daughter that is so passionate that mediocre just won't do--He shows me greatness and glory. He shows me eternal things when I focus on earthly things.

So with all of that said, I'm coming up to a fork in the road...and trying my hardest to pay attention to the conversation my Dad's trying to have with me...but yet again, my heart is racing and I want to run up to the division to see what it looks like and check things out for myself...

the countdown is on...

2009-03-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's true--I know exactly how many days until I walk across the stage at the Georgia Mountain Center and receive my Bachelors of Science in Nursing diploma: 56!!! This journey to be a nurse began in November of 2005, and will come to completion in less than two months...thank you Lord! This semester has been somewhat surreal; a race to the finish if you will. I notice each day I am in class all the stress and burnout the majority of my fellow students feel, but in all honesty, I'm not one of them. I love what I get to do. I love pursuing this degree to do what God has called me to do and given me an immeasurable passion for. I know with 100% certainty that I would not have made it through even the first year of nursing school if it was not for the passion and purpose God placed in my heart for this adventure. Now, I'm not going to say that I don't get a little irrational and stressed out at times too, but it is nothing to the degree which I used to get stressed out and overwhelmed in the first year at Brenau.

I look back on this past year and simply can't believe how different my life is right now than it was just 12 months ago. This time last year I was still working at Starbucks, freaking out about Med/Surg I and Pharmacology, and simply lost in so many ways. God was digging as deep in me as He possibly could to bring about some major healing that I didn't even know I needed. By July He had done a huge work in me and I can't put it any other way than that I am a new person. I know who I am. I know how to be loved. I am worthy of the best love. The greatest of it all, as related to school, is that I don't stress out nearly as much, but I get much more done than when I used to overly stress. That release allowed me to be open to more relationships and to just do more with my time.

Almost immediately after this "deep dig" through my soul (that's what I like to call it), I met this guy who grabbed my attention. I dismissed him pretty quickly seeing that he was younger than me...and well, I just don't date younger guys. But needless to say there was just something about him I couldn't get past, and long story short, it's been a wonderful 6 months. I have learned so much relationally and have grown as a person in ways I could never do on my own. We (Alex and I) spent a week in Colorado with our friends Matt & Rocio last week:

Matt & Rocio

Me & Alex

That trip was phenomenal and rejuvenated me to sprint to the finish line at school. I begin my Senior Preceptorship at Scottish Rite in the Children's Inpatient Rehab Unit tomorrow. I'm excited about it, and nervous of course, but it is a different area of nursing that I will probably never be a part of in the future, so it will be a great learning experience.

My biggest prayer request right now is about finding a job after I graduate. For some reason I have a huge desire to work at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. I've found a love for Cardiac and hope to get placed in an RN Residency on either a Telemetry Med/Surg Unit or in a more acute cardiac unit. In applying for the RN Residency you have to put your top 3 unit preferences, and I would be happy to work on any of my top 3: Cardiac, Mother/Baby, or Intermediate Care. I continue to seek direction for where God would have me go. He knows what's best for me and I love when I get His best...it's always something I would have never come up with on my own.

Well, needless to say this has been another rambling from the tips of my fingers...

I just can't help but sit back and reflect on this past year and look forward to the unknown of this next season of my life.

Peace.

Well, I went to Liberia!

2009-01-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

I've been home about a week and can now finally process the trip. So much happened in such a short time that when people asked "So how was it?!" I simply didn't know how to answer. My team's blog was updated each night, so if you didn't get a chance to follow that, here's the link: http://weliberia.blogspot.com/

The first couple of days were without a doubt a culture shock to me. It took us about 2 days to figure out why we kept hearing people yell "wymo!"..."wymo"="white man". haha. It was a big struggle to be stared at everywhere we went. All I wanted was to blend in and build relationships, but that just wasn't going to happen. It was the strangest feeling having people yell at you and wave at you as if they knew you or you were some kind of celebrity.

The second biggest struggle when I got there was that I simply didn't feel safe. I was scared and absolutely hated feeling that way. Why couldn't I just walk the streets, mingle with the people, and shop around the redlight district? There were two times I found myself alone or with Belynn and no one else, and immediately we were surrounded by a crowd of people. As the days went by, it got better. That was my prayer each morning--that I would not have fear. The truth is, though, that I needed that bit of fear to keep me in line and to not go off on my own. Those who know me well know that I'm "little miss independent" and don't like to have my hand held in order to get something done. I like to go and go quickly! For the entirety of the trip I had to wait on someone--the theme became "hurry up and wait!". That's Liberia...a lot of waiting.

After the culture shock began to fade I began to see and feel the hearts of the people. The only way I can describe the feeling I got in many parts of Monrovia was darkness. With bullet holes scattered across every other building and bridge crossing I couldn't help but remember what these people have been through. Then the realization hit me that I'm walking side by side with some of the rebels who murdered countless people, tortured them and took their children. Not only did they take their children, but they placed guns in their hands, taught them to murder and on top of all that they forced drugs on them so that even to this day they are battling the ugliest of addictions and fighting for a new life.

The amazing picture of new life and restoration for me came in a man named Dixon. Dixon lived at the compound we stated at. He's 21 years old and will be graduating high school this year. He was one of the kids forced into the rebel army and made to take drugs or be killed. He fought for a new life, and after writing a letter to Christine Norman pleading for help and an education, he got what he had only dreamed of. She took him in her home, gave him a job and paid for his schooling. He is living his life for Christ and showed me what the hope for Liberia is--the hope for Liberia is the younger generation whose hearts are for God. It all comes down to the heart, and their is a great need for heart-healing in every person in that nation.

So, I've spent a couple of hours just writing the above paragraph. I cannot put into words what this trip was like and what it did in me, especially in a blog...I think I could write a book. But to
give just a little summary of some of my highlights, I'll tell stories in pictures:

This was our first full day in Liberia. I found myself in a dance circle of mostly older ladies banging on "drums"
...and yes, I danced :)

This is Diana Davies. She founded and runs the Diana Davies Orphanage. I've never met a person that I have desired to say "God Bless You" to more than her. She is raising 35 kids whose parents were killed in the war as her own. These kids are so well behaved and are receiving an amazing well-rounded education including the arts.

This little man will be "the one" I remember for the rest of my life. He has a huge vision for his life and fully understands that with God, all things are possible. His name is James, but on the trip we called him "Kevin Queen Jr." KQ is one of the pastors at my church, and if we didn't know better we'd think he had visited Liberia about 11 years ago. James' smile alone will melt your heart, but his love for all of his "brothers and sisters" at Diana Davies captured me. He is a young servant and I hope that someday I'll get to meet him again as a man.

You may have noticed this in the picture above, but I got my hair did! The teenage girls at Diana Davies had a blast with my "white girl hair". All I could do to keep myself in my seat was clench my teeth and try to make as few "this is killing me!" faces as I could...man, it hurt! I got laughed at a lot for being so sensitive ...apparently I'm not a real Liberian girl afterall :(

On Saturday I got to spend the day with some friends I met randomly through Facebook who work with an organization called Orphan Relief and Rescue. The healthcare coordinator, Debbie Dezutter, called me over to look at some of the kids' feet. There is an insect that lives in the dirt and sand that gets underneath your toenails and skin and lays eggs. The only way to get rid of it is to dig the eggs out. We washed several of the infected feet, but there was little we could do beyond encouraging them to wash their feet with soap and water daily and to help the kids keep their "slippers" on at all times.

Later that day, Stacey and I, along with Andrew from ORR, helped make pipes for toilets. I have never felt so handy in my life. Using dirt from termite mounds we made clay and molded the piping. After the clay was molded we cut it in half and poured cement over them. Once they dry the clay will be knocked out leaving the two halves of the pipe to be put back together...and then you've got plumbing! Check out ORR: http://www.sharingonline.org/orphan-relief/blog/

This was by far the most random day. We drove 3 1/2 hours to Blue Lake so that we could go swimming and baptize Alam. Alam is a former muslim who is now a Christ Follower. She had never been baptized, so her husband asked Pastor Miles if he would do the honor. When we finally arrived at BlueLake we were greeted by the United Nations Military refusing us entry. The first guard was Nigerian and he was very nice, but firm with his answer of "no" because we could not reach his boss. Then along came a guard from Pakistan. This guard immediately welcomed us in to swim with him and his friends. The Nigerian guard again said "no", so the Pakistan guard began to go up the ladder in command of the UN military to ask for permission for his "friends" to come in and go swimming with him. After about an hour of playing soccer and waiting, we were granted entry. Baptizing Alam was the primary reason we were there, so we did that first--Miles baptized a former Muslim in the name of Jesus Christ in front of a handful of Muslims from Pakistan...and they all applauded her baptism. That's a day I'll not soon forget.

Then there's just the wonderful feeling of sweating non-stop every moment of the day for 10 days.

"Why do girls look so different without make-up?"
-Jose Quinones

last update before departure

2008-12-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

This is it. I leave for Liberia in 5 days. This Saturday at 5pm EST I will be on a plane headed across the Atlantic Ocean fulfilling a calling that was placed on my life nearly 2 1/2 years ago. Many of you know that my prayer life used to be "okay, Lord, I'll do anything and go anywhere...except for Africa." I'm so thankful He intervened and helped me get out of my own way to see plans for my life that I love the best, but in my head I thought I would hate. How boring and uneventful I feel my life would be had He not intervened and helped me to get over the mind set that I knew what was best for my life.

Since school has been out I have began to re-read IN A PIT WITH A LION ON A SNOWY DAY for the 3rd time. You could say I like the book ;-) These are just a few things that have jumped out to me this time around:

"I'm concerned that the church that has turned into a bunker where we seek shelter when we're actually called to storm the gates of hell."

"The alternative to fear is boredom."

"Our biggest problems can be traced back to an inadequate understanding of who God is."

"[Jesus] didn't try to avoid situations where the odds were against him. Lion chasers know God is bigger and more powerful than any problem they face in this world. They thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know that impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles. That is how God reveals his glory--and how He blesses you in ways you never could have imagined."

"So why do we assume that what we pray for is always what's best for us? If we could see what God sees, we would pray very different prayers."

And lastly..."Many of our prayers are misguided. We pray for comfort instead of character. We pray for an easy way out instead of the strength to make it through. We pray for no pain, when the result would be no gain. We pray that God will keep us out of pits and away from lions. But if God answered our prayers, it would rob us of our greatest opportunities."

I want to be a "lion chaser" of sorts. Not with real lions, of course, but in life in general. I want to tackle impossible odds and life a life worth telling stories about as I age.

Keep up with my team's blog here: http://weliberia.blogspot.com/

And also, a final prayer request: we have just found out that one of my teammates, Matt Elsberry, will be leading a Crown Financial teaching day to the Minister of Finance of Liberia along with a few other of the nation's leaders. We have seen this lady in documentaries of the current President and Liberian Government, and now we get to serve her and share Godly financial principles so that the nation may thrive! Crazy big, huh?

I am excited to write when I get back and share the stories I can only imagine await for me.

Peace.

2 1/2 weeks!

2008-12-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

(...Just because I love pictures!)

That's right...17 days and I will be on a plane to Liberia! With life starting to slow down as finals are coming to an end, this trip is becoming more and more real. My heart gets a little...hmmm...I really don't even know how to describe it--antsy? nervous? anxious? excited? I think those words all combined describes the little jump in my heart that happens when I truly think about being on Liberian ground. I don't really know what to expect...it's the unknown that makes my mind and heart a mess, but a good mess :)

God has provided every step of this trip thus far, and with these final weeks rapidly approaching the only thing lacking is the remaining funds. I personally have $1,273 left to raise to fulfill my financial commitment. As a whole our team has raised about 70% of our total costs with the remaining 30% being about $15,000. We need this raised by Dec. 19th! Jehova Jirah--my Provider. I really don't have big doubts about this being accomplished. We've seen God come through in crazy (to me, not God) big ways thus far; to doubt now just seems kind of silly when I think about it.

If you're interested in contributing to this mission, please feel free to do so ;-)
Make checks payable to:
12Stone Church
memo: Emily Liberia
Mail to:
12Stone Church
Attn: Stacey Belflower
1322 Buford Dr.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043

I'll leave you with some pictures of the cutest little man in the world...my nephew, of course!

~Merry Christmas~

*And one with the little man wide awake*

Hope

2008-11-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

I've got to start off by saying thank you to everyone who came to the Awareness Event and made it such a success! Here are a couple of pictures, but if you want to check out more go to my team's blog page: http://weliberia.blogspot.com

And if you want to check out the video the team put together for the event you can check it out on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uwWlFHhB2o

The evening was great and we had a wonderful turnout. Rodney Edwards was able to give a wonderful picture of Liberia to all of us who have never been there, and Dave Bearchell brought the evening all together with our vision...with God's vision...for Water's Edge Ministry in Liberia. Based on the feedback I've gotten from several people who attended the event, God did what we knew He would and people's hearts were pressed for Liberia. It's not a simple matter of just Liberia, but God transforming hearts to see the world, and love the people in the world, as He does. My biggest prayer daily is that God would give me eyes to see as He sees, and a heart to love others as He loves them-"break my heart for what breaks Yours", Lord!

I have recently been going through the book of Romans, and just the other day I read the verse that marks my mission for going to Liberia.

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

The people of Liberia lack hope. I'm sure I would too if I lived through what they have had to battle. But as we go, we pray that we will overflow with hope so that it may pour onto them. That they may know the mighty God we serve and then they will overflow with hope to everyone around them...We are going!

Last Saturday we spent a 12 hour day building a cinder block shed around a generator, so that we can know how to do it once we get to Liberia. Let's just say it took a lot longer than we had originally thought! I think we got better at it as the day went on, so hopefully once we're in Africa we'll be more efficient w/ the building process :-O Here are a couple of pics from the day:

So that's just a little update on where we are right now. We leave in one month and one day!!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone :-D

New Life

2008-11-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

Well, Nursing School officially took over my life last week, but I'm back! And first and foremost, I'd like to introduce you to the most handsome little man in the world: my nephew, Liam Elijah Kirk. I didn't know I'd be so joyous over this child, but I love him to death and can't wait for him to come home! He is in the NICU at Gwinnett Medical Center, but doing amazing and we think he should be home within a week.

The Awareness Event is Tuesday night, November 18th @ 7pm...6 days away! I would love for you to come and share in the vision. If you have ever had a thought of doing missions, this is an excellent opportunity for you to learn about what we're doing and to see if the next Liberia trip is for you! We will be serving some delicious Liberian foods as well as other appetizers and desserts, and you will get to hear from a missionary who has been active in Liberia over the past few years. Christine Norman, the late President Tolbert's daughter, has also prepared a personal video message that will be presented to us that night. Come and meet my team. Come find out why I'm so crazy about this trip to Liberia!

Well...back to catching up on life:)

GOOD is just not good enough...

2008-10-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

8 weeks 3 days until we depart for Liberia! 8 WEEKS?!?! I'm so ready to be on that plane crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Preparation for Liberia is coming together wonderfully. We have a work day scheduled in a couple of Saturdays to learn how to install/fix the generators we'll be putting in the three orphanages near Monrovia. This should be interesting. lol.

At our most recent weekly Liberia Small Group meeting we had a guest speaker named Will. Will is in his early 20's and a Liberian himself. He took a few moments to share just a small picture of what his life was like in Liberia, as he lived there during the civil war. If you've seen the movie BLOOD DIAMOND, it gives a decent depiction of what the war was like...but no where near the realities of what Will had to tell. His story was difficult for him to get out as he fought back the tears. Stories of seeing people brutally killed. Children taken captive and given guns and ordered to kill others. He shared stories of bullets flying past him within centimeters of his ears causing him to lose hearing in that ear for weeks. Stories of hiding in half full water barrels for hours until no more gunshots could be heard, then getting out of the buckets with his feet twice the size of normal and his skin so broken down and in so much pain, but still had to get up and walk for days...walking for his life...trying to reach a bordering country only to be shot at when he arrived there and not allowed to flee his home-sweet-home turned nightmare. I cannot imagine. It doesn't seem real to a girl who grew up in safe Suburbia with no needs unmet and never in any real danger.

That was Sunday and my heart has not stopped being stirred since then. I've wanted to go to Liberia since I applied for the trip back in March, but never have I truly felt this desperation to GO...to go NOW.

I was in between classes on Monday, catching up with e-mails, when a professor of mine just stopped to talk with me. We began talking about furthering my nursing education, and a lot of me was just smiling and nodding, but not really taking it seriously. When I graduate in May with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, that would be plenty for me...it will be a huge accomplishment and I'm so excited! But as we talked my heart began stirring. My Father gave me a gentle reminder that for me, my BSN is "good"..."but Emily, is it great?" were the words He spoke to me. I've been called to greatness...whatever that looks like. Not that I will be great, but that I will strive to master the skills and passions God has placed on my heart. I am to work as if everything I do is for the Lord...and I have this strong feeling that I will continue my education in the near future to be a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). If my calling really is to someday to international medical missions like I have this feeling it is, then being a FNP would be the best route for me. Being an RN would be good help in the mission field, but being a FNP would be great help.

So that's been my week thus far. A lot stirring in my heart. Excited about life.

*Side note: Liberia funding is coming along! $150 more received this week. See updated thermometer at the bottom of the page for my status. As a team, we still have around $35,000 to go! 8 weeks, 3 days. Jehovah Jirah...God will provide.

A day of perfect weather...

2008-10-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

If I could describe my perfect day, today would be it. It was in the upper 40's as I left for class this morning, and it's a perfect 65 degrees outside right now with the trees beginning to turn shades of yellow, orange and red--PERFECT! Living in Georgia, we know that we will be teased at least a couple of times with the coming of fall weather. It will be in the 60's one day feeling every bit of autumn, then a day later it will shoot back up in the mid 80's and it's back to tank tops and flip-flops instead of the classic, comfy UGA sweatshirt.

This weekend, though, it was no tease...fall, I believe, is here! I spent Saturday with a small group of ladies from Water's Edge (12Stone's College/Young Adults Ministry) hiking Panther Creek Trail in north Georgia. The hike was beautiful, but the most memorable parts of the day weren't the waterfalls or the bright yellow leaves floating to the ground, but the conversations I had with my friends. It is a bigger blessing than I can put into words to be surrounded by people who want to do whatever it takes to further the Kingdom; people who dare to take God seriously and follow His extreme adventures. As we hiked and talked I became so overwhelmed with passion, but I'm honestly not exactly sure what that passion looks like lived out yet. What I do know, though, is that this first trip to Liberia is God's plan and not mine. I was created with a purpose to do something that no one else was created to do. Each of us has a unique purpose to do things that no one else was created to do...let's go do it!!!

So, as I was thinking about Liberia, and daydreaming about what it will be like to be there...wondering if my heart will really be broken like I hear others say theirs has been...I remembered Michael. Michael is a teenage Liberian boy who Rodney Edwards (Service to Servants-the organization we are pairing with) came across one day who was selling crosses. The boy was in much need financially and, as many Liberians do when they see foreigners, he asked Rodney for money. Being a man with much international missions experience, Rodney knew that just giving the boy a financial handout would do him no good in the long run, so he made a deal with Michael--Rodney saw what Michael was making...they were crosses made out of bullet shells that litter the streets, buildings and churches throughout Liberia. He put in an order with Michael for 50 crosses and negotiated a price. He told Michael he'd be back at a later date to inspect the work he had done, and if they were made with the utmost quality, he would purchase them.

This is the cross given to me from Rodney when he returned from that particular trip when he first met Michael. It is a simple reminder to pray for the nation, and to pray for God to continue to lay out the path He has planned for us on this trip.

The AWARENESS EVENT FOR LIBERIA being held on November 18th at 12Stone will share more of this story from Rodney himself. It is an event you will not want to miss, and just a fair warning...it may completely ruin you for life--I've been ruined...and it's pretty great!

Well, everyone...I hope you are enjoying your fall as much as I am enjoying mine. Life is not slowing down for one second, so keep running with fervor after the plan God has set out for you...and if you're not sure what that is...well...just keep asking and running anyways!

Much Love,
em

It's been a while...

2008-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

I absolutely cannot believe how quickly this semester is passing by, and yet there is still much to be done before it is time to depart for Liberia.

Right now we're in the process of planning a LIBERIA AWARENESS NIGHT. This will be held at 12Stone Church on Tuesday, November 18th from 7-830pm. Anyone and everyone is welcome! This night is to spread awareness about the current condition of Liberia, and to share our vision, as Water's Edge Ministry, of what God has laid on our hearts to do in order to bring about restoration in the war-stricken nation. Save the date and make sure you come! This team that I am on is just the first of many to come over the next 10 years...maybe you will be on one of those teams some day!

I want to thank those who have so graciously given to support myself and this ministry. I know how rough our economy is right now, but so many of ya'll have chosen to bless me anyways...I am simply grateful. I am about 1/3 the way to my goal with 48 days to go before my final payment is due. At the bottom of my blog is a "fundraising thermometer" to keep everyone updated on my status.

I'm new to the blogging world, but I'll be updating this hopefully weekly. ALWAYS feel free to shoot me an e-mail or give me a call with any questions, or even just to chat!

:)em

Update 2

2008-10-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

August 15, 2008

To my family and friends:

I'm finding it so hard to believe that it's already been one month since my first letter!

Summer is ending too soon and life is not slowing down in the slightest. Since I last
wrote to you I began working at Gwinnett Medical Center within the Children's
Emergency Center. I'm absolutely loving it! My position allows me to experience and
practice many skills that I wouldn't get in nursing school. I get to see a variety of
illnesses and injuries every hour, and can't help but realize that this is preparing me for the mission field in Liberia!

This Sunday, the rest of the Liberia team and I will be meeting with Christine Norman.
Christine is the daughter of the former assassinated President of Liberia, President
William Tolbert. I am humbled and excited to hear about what she has been through. I
believe conversations with her will begin to break my heart even more for the people of
Liberia. Also through this meeting we will continue to narrow down our vision and
direction of this trip. As I mentioned in the previous letter, this is our first trip to Liberia out of a ten year vision to restore the nation.

Through the most random connections (random to me, not God), I have been able to
talk with some people who have been in Liberia and worked in their orphanages, or
who are in Liberia currently. One woman in particular, Debby, will be the interim Health Care Coordinator for Orphan Relief and Rescue starting this Fall. She is from Tacoma,Washington, and through our brief e-mail communication we found out that we both
worked at Camp Berachah in Washington, possibly once during the same summer! Coincidence? Maybe...but I don't think so☺ She has been to Liberia once before, so I
picked apart her brain with questions about the major health concerns in Liberian
orphanages. Her response was as follows:

"My impression after spending just 2 weeks there is that the main health concerns of the children in the orphanage homes are very basic. Malnutrition, malaria, worms, skin infections. Mostly things that can be prevented with proper education and prevention."

It breaks my heart knowing that children are dying every day over there because of such
simple things. As Debby said, these things are preventable with simple education and
minimal prevention efforts. This is why I am pursuing my bachelor's degree in Nursing.
I refuse to just sit back and continue to watch people die. Attacking complacency,
Hudson Taylor said:

"I do not envy the state of mind that would forget these, or leave them to perish, for fear of a little discomfort. May God make us faithful to him and to our work."

I praise God everyday for this opportunity, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that
He has called me to this. I would be honored if you'd join me on this adventure, and
there are two ways you can help:

1. Pray for me: I will need people joining me in prayer from now until the trip is over.
Please pray specifically that God will give me focus where it is needed; that I will
continue to be a diligent worker at school work and at the hospital. Please pray for my
Liberia awareness and fund raising, while balancing time with my family and friends.

2. Financially support me: the total cost of the trip is around $3,500, plus the cost of my visa and immunizations.
I've calculated that if only...
• 10 people give $45 a month for three months
• 8 people give $50 a month for three months
• and $1,100 in one time gifts..
..I would meet my goal! I ask that you prayerfully consider joining me in this
ministry, financially and/or in prayer. God has huge things in store and I would love for you be a part of it.

Thank you so much for reading my letter and please contact me if you have any questions!

Update 1

2008-10-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

July 9, 2008

Dear Family and Friends:

I hope this letter finds each of you in good spirits. I am writing you to simply update you on what God is doing in my life, and to ask you to join in on the fun!

A little background to my current story: After high school I found myself seeking God in a way I never had before. I was purposefully choosing to follow God rather than asking Him to follow me; I had done that enough and it led me nowhere. This journey took me across the country to Washington state where God began to grow me in ways I didn’t think possible. After a few summers and 18 months living out there God called me home to Georgia. It was in this difficult decision to move back home that God began pressing Africa on my heart. For quite some time my prayers literally looked something like this: “Lord, I’m up for anything. Lead me on and I’ll run after you! But God…please don’t let it be Africa.” I was scared of going somewhere that was so extreme to me. I didn’t want to go over there and get Malaria, and in all honesty, I know myself enough to know that I didn’t want to go for a long time without a hairdryer and hot showers! J Well, you guessed it! God did call me to Africa, and from that moment of I have had a passion growing inside of me for the continent of Africa that is now bursting out of my heart. I can’t explain it any other way except that it was just God working in the awesome ways He always does.

It is now, two years after God began to grow my passion for Africa and instilled a great desire in my heart to do medical missions, that I am going to Africa! Myself, along with a team of ten others from 12Stone (my church) are going to Liberia, West Africa from December 27th-Janurary 8th. Each of us on the team will be working in various ways, mine being the medical aspect of this trip. I will keep you informed in letters to come as to what exactly we will be doing, but for now, here is a brief overview of our mission and vision: We are going to serve five orphanages. After living through one of the bloodiest civil wars in history, the people of Liberia have little, if any, hope. They have bought into the lies that they are defeated and that they are of no value. As a child of God, I know this is a lie. God has plans for good and not for disaster, and to give them a HOPE and a future! (Jeremiah 29:11-14). I also know that this trip will grow me in ways I have yet to imagine. My greatest desire out of this trip is that I will begin to truly see the world as God sees it.

In preparation for the trip, I have been given the role of “Event Coordinator” on the team, which simply means I oversee fundraising and awareness events, and keep everyone on schedule! I will also be raising $3250 on top of the funds I have already invested myself for this trip. I hope you will join me on this adventure by keeping me and the team in your prayers. So, get excited! I’m going to have some amazing stories to tell and can’t wait to share them with each one of you. If you have any questions, please call or e-mail me at any time. I would love nothing more than to share more of what I’m doing with you!