So I'm starting to feel just a *little* bit overwhelmed at the 800 million things I seemingly need to do before leaving .... I leave in 7 weeks from today (July 9th) and I know it will seem like it's here tomorrow.... So if I come to mind, I would LOVE your prayers for me as I make all preparations to leave.... for peace, wisdom, guidance, maximum/efficient use of my time, and just to get everything done!! And some of those "preparations" include making sure I spend good, quality time with all of those that I love, which I am SO SO blessed to have way too many of!!! :-)
Thank you!!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Common Threads...
It's amazing to me how God works in our lives and prepares us for the plans He has for us. Many memories have been coming to my mind in recent weeks and months as I prepare for this next step in my life.... ways He's uniquely created me and prepared me and common threads He's woven throughout my life to bring me to this point.
I remember one day in college, 10+ years ago, pulling over my car on the side of the road as I had an intense urge and pull on my spirit.... not even sure what the urge was about at the time but knowing it was so strong that I had to listen to it.... and as I sat in my car, the words came out of me: "OKAY, Lord, I'll go to AFRICA." Granted, at this point I knew very little about Africa. I'd never been and had not spent very much time or energy thinking about it (though I always somehow had a little feeling it had a special role in my life....). It seemed like a very scary, foreign place to me where the lifestyle was equivalent to traveling back in time.
When these words came out, literally as if prophetic, they came from almost no where and were so strong on my heart that I could barely keep them in. They were hard to say. Tears came out, and I was somewhat terrified at the thought of being called to AFRICA.... a scary unknown place that most people (at least myself at the time) hope is the last place in the world they are called. I also had a sense of comfort and relief, though. Now that I had given God this "Ok" I knew that He was in control of ALL of my life and that I could fully trust Him with that. I knew that wherever He would lead me, He would take hold of me and direct me and keep me in the palm of His hand as He does anywhere and everywhere else He's placed me.
In years since this moment, I have looked back on this instance and thought it was simply a symbolic gesture.... that God was pulling on my heart in order for me to give all of myself to Him.... to make sure that I was holding nothing back and that I would go anywhere and do anything for my King. Yes, in this moment and in many ways, it was symbolic. I was declaring to God that I would go wherever He asks me- no matter how scary at the time it may seem and whether or not I can see the "big picture". Yet I am also seeing now that it was very literal. He has called me to Africa. It has been years in the making.... a lifetime in the making.... yet the call is on me now. And I am going to Africa.
And although 10 years ago this thought was pretty terrifying to me, God is so good that in the years since He has prepared me in such ways that I now could not be more excited about this call. I've fallen in love with the people and children and beauty of Africa (I know that's a very general statement for a very diverse continent.... just trying to keeping it simple here for sake of length :)). Yes I know there will be hardships as I live there, but there are hardships in life no matter where we are. I also know that I can only be blessed and used as fully by Him as He would like to bless and use me when I am saying "yes" to where He asks me to go. And for me, right now, this is in Tanzania, Africa.
One more cool way He's worked out this thread in my life.... In high school, when I was learning French and Spanish and realizing my love for and knack at foreign languages, I used to say that the next language I was going to learn was Swahili (and I was serious). Not Italian, not German, not Chinese.... Swahili. There are literally hundreds of languages spoken in Africa (1500-2000 actually), and you know what the national language of Tanzania is? Swahili. Swahili originated in Tanzania (out of 54 countries in Africa). Pretty crazy, huh? Looks like the next language I'll be learning is Swahili.
God is SO good. He has good plans for us- plans for a FUTURE and a HOPE (Jeremiah 29:11)- and He prepares us and leads us into those good plans that He has for us. Our only responsibility in the process is to make sure we are saying "yes"... in spite of our fears and even when we can't yet see the big picture.... and He will work out the rest.
I remember one day in college, 10+ years ago, pulling over my car on the side of the road as I had an intense urge and pull on my spirit.... not even sure what the urge was about at the time but knowing it was so strong that I had to listen to it.... and as I sat in my car, the words came out of me: "OKAY, Lord, I'll go to AFRICA." Granted, at this point I knew very little about Africa. I'd never been and had not spent very much time or energy thinking about it (though I always somehow had a little feeling it had a special role in my life....). It seemed like a very scary, foreign place to me where the lifestyle was equivalent to traveling back in time.
When these words came out, literally as if prophetic, they came from almost no where and were so strong on my heart that I could barely keep them in. They were hard to say. Tears came out, and I was somewhat terrified at the thought of being called to AFRICA.... a scary unknown place that most people (at least myself at the time) hope is the last place in the world they are called. I also had a sense of comfort and relief, though. Now that I had given God this "Ok" I knew that He was in control of ALL of my life and that I could fully trust Him with that. I knew that wherever He would lead me, He would take hold of me and direct me and keep me in the palm of His hand as He does anywhere and everywhere else He's placed me.
In years since this moment, I have looked back on this instance and thought it was simply a symbolic gesture.... that God was pulling on my heart in order for me to give all of myself to Him.... to make sure that I was holding nothing back and that I would go anywhere and do anything for my King. Yes, in this moment and in many ways, it was symbolic. I was declaring to God that I would go wherever He asks me- no matter how scary at the time it may seem and whether or not I can see the "big picture". Yet I am also seeing now that it was very literal. He has called me to Africa. It has been years in the making.... a lifetime in the making.... yet the call is on me now. And I am going to Africa.
And although 10 years ago this thought was pretty terrifying to me, God is so good that in the years since He has prepared me in such ways that I now could not be more excited about this call. I've fallen in love with the people and children and beauty of Africa (I know that's a very general statement for a very diverse continent.... just trying to keeping it simple here for sake of length :)). Yes I know there will be hardships as I live there, but there are hardships in life no matter where we are. I also know that I can only be blessed and used as fully by Him as He would like to bless and use me when I am saying "yes" to where He asks me to go. And for me, right now, this is in Tanzania, Africa.
One more cool way He's worked out this thread in my life.... In high school, when I was learning French and Spanish and realizing my love for and knack at foreign languages, I used to say that the next language I was going to learn was Swahili (and I was serious). Not Italian, not German, not Chinese.... Swahili. There are literally hundreds of languages spoken in Africa (1500-2000 actually), and you know what the national language of Tanzania is? Swahili. Swahili originated in Tanzania (out of 54 countries in Africa). Pretty crazy, huh? Looks like the next language I'll be learning is Swahili.
God is SO good. He has good plans for us- plans for a FUTURE and a HOPE (Jeremiah 29:11)- and He prepares us and leads us into those good plans that He has for us. Our only responsibility in the process is to make sure we are saying "yes"... in spite of our fears and even when we can't yet see the big picture.... and He will work out the rest.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Where I'll be and What I'll be doing
For those of you who don't know, here's some info on what I'll be doing in Tanzania:
I'll be teaching Art for K-12 (which I'm soooo excited about!) at a Christian school, Haven of Peace Academy, an incredible school that builds up leaders in Africa (40% of the children are missionary students, a third of the students are Tanzanian, and 30+ countries are rep.'ed in the student body). Here's a link to the school's website:
www.hopac.net
I'll also be working with Young Life as a part of their team, helping with the AMAZING work they are doing in Africa. (The mission trip I went on last summer to Liberia was with Young Life, where I was able to witness first-hand and be a part of the incredible work they're doing all across the continent.) Here's the Young Life Africa website (watch the awesome video on it to get an idea of where I'll be and what I'll be doing):
www.bridgethegapafrica.com
And lastly, if you want to know some of my heart and WHY I'm moving to Africa you have to check out this blog.... It's a 21 year old girl who moved to Uganda at age 18, has since adopted 14 (yes, 14) children and started a non-profit where she feeds hundreds of otherwise starving children among many, many other things.... I could go on and on but just please go read some of it yourself- specifically the 2 posts in February 2010- and you can get a glimpse into why I'm going. Jesus loves the poor and needy, the orphans and widows, the "least of these".... so I'm going to go do the same because I love Him. (and ohhhhh how I love those African children too!! :) )
www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
Wish I had a proper way to sign off in Swahili (though I did learn some this weekend from a Tanzanian at my church!) but that will have to come later.... So, the Texan in me will just say Adios. :)
I'll be teaching Art for K-12 (which I'm soooo excited about!) at a Christian school, Haven of Peace Academy, an incredible school that builds up leaders in Africa (40% of the children are missionary students, a third of the students are Tanzanian, and 30+ countries are rep.'ed in the student body). Here's a link to the school's website:
www.hopac.net
I'll also be working with Young Life as a part of their team, helping with the AMAZING work they are doing in Africa. (The mission trip I went on last summer to Liberia was with Young Life, where I was able to witness first-hand and be a part of the incredible work they're doing all across the continent.) Here's the Young Life Africa website (watch the awesome video on it to get an idea of where I'll be and what I'll be doing):
www.bridgethegapafrica.com
And lastly, if you want to know some of my heart and WHY I'm moving to Africa you have to check out this blog.... It's a 21 year old girl who moved to Uganda at age 18, has since adopted 14 (yes, 14) children and started a non-profit where she feeds hundreds of otherwise starving children among many, many other things.... I could go on and on but just please go read some of it yourself- specifically the 2 posts in February 2010- and you can get a glimpse into why I'm going. Jesus loves the poor and needy, the orphans and widows, the "least of these".... so I'm going to go do the same because I love Him. (and ohhhhh how I love those African children too!! :) )
www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
Wish I had a proper way to sign off in Swahili (though I did learn some this weekend from a Tanzanian at my church!) but that will have to come later.... So, the Texan in me will just say Adios. :)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Blogging....
In my previous experiences in Africa, words have basically poured forth from my soul yet I didn't often have a platform for them..... so this time I plan to change that! This blog will be my place to record funny instances that could only happen in Africa, share inspiring stories that I know I'll be blessed to be a part of, and hopefully give a timely word or two based on what I witness halfway around the world. I would love for you to keep up with me on this journey and laugh and cry with me through these experiences, both of which I know I'll be doing a lot of.
I still have a couple months until I've truly "gone Tanzanian" (shout out to Mel :) ) but I'll update this a few times before then to keep y'all in the loop as I prepare for the big move.
Thanks for joining me on this journey! :-)
I still have a couple months until I've truly "gone Tanzanian" (shout out to Mel :) ) but I'll update this a few times before then to keep y'all in the loop as I prepare for the big move.
Thanks for joining me on this journey! :-)
Hello!
This is basically a test post so I can figure out how to blog. I'm really just saving this blog address so I can start documenting my experiences once I get to my new home in the Motherland.... Tanzania. :)
I just heard the Alan Jackson song "Dallas" on the radio (lyrics: "I took her out of Texas when she was just a girl, but old Tennessee in me couldn't take Texas out of her... how I wish Dallas was in Tennessee... if I could move Texas east, then she'd be here with me...") and it inspired my blog title, knowing Texas will never leave my heart and I'll always be a Texas girl... though I'm soon to be an African as well.... :)
I just heard the Alan Jackson song "Dallas" on the radio (lyrics: "I took her out of Texas when she was just a girl, but old Tennessee in me couldn't take Texas out of her... how I wish Dallas was in Tennessee... if I could move Texas east, then she'd be here with me...") and it inspired my blog title, knowing Texas will never leave my heart and I'll always be a Texas girl... though I'm soon to be an African as well.... :)
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