2 Weeks and Counting...

I can't believe that we leave TWO weeks from Friday!  Several people from the mission team left on Monday and a few others leave in the morning (including my dear friend Dwight who got me interested in this wonderful trip) so please keep them in your prayers as they are traveling!  It has truly been amazing to me these last few weeks as I have been helping the team get ready for the trip how much there is to do that I never imagined.  I would have never guessed in a million years that I would have been able to feel God's presence while counting out aspirin and packaging it for other people.  It is crazy how several weeks ago we were so short of items that we were going to take on the trip and suddenly they all started pouring in and we have almost met most of our goals now!

One of the things I am most excited about taking to Africa is something that has personal meaning to me.  My wonderful mother agreed to knit some scarves for the women who are AIDS patients in Africa that we are going to visit.  I could tell she was a little worried at first about time when I told her that we needed 15-20 scarves in about 2 months time but sure enough before I knew it she was giving me 19 beautiful hand made scarves that she poured her love into while making each one!  I can't wait to take them over and get some pictures of the women in Malawi wearing the scarves.  Here are a few pictures of them before they got packed...

I also got a list of items that I need to pack to take to Africa (in my 15lb carry on and back pack...yikes that's not a lot of space)!!!  So...I am going to take a moment to beg and borrow here becuase my thought is that some of you may have the things that I need and maybe would let me borrow them so rather then spending money on buying these things I can take more money on the trip with me so here goes!!  If anyone has any of the items below and you are willing to let me borrow them PLEASE let me know, it would be greatly appreciated and might even get you a little gift from Malawi (yes I'm willing to bribe you)!!
* A "carry-on" size suit case
* deet (bug spray) wipes
* money belt that will fit under clothing
* blow up pillow for the plane
* baby powder
* eye drops
* light weight flashlight
* small bottles of hand sanitizer
* a plug convertor
I realize that some of these things are things you may not want me to return but thought if anyone has them laying around the house and are not using them they could go to a good cause!!

Africa!

Just over one month from now I leave on my mission trip to Africa.  As many of you know I am so excited to go but yet so nervous at the same time.  I am going with a group of about 20 amazing people that are all part of a mission group called Missions 4 Jesus.  God definitely played a huge part in leading me to learn about this group after my life long dream of going to Africa.  It was one of those things that I had thought about for years and talked about over and over but was always to scared to go.  Well this time when the opportunity came up my wonderful husband decided that he wasn't going to let me take no for an answer and before I knew it I was signed up and on my way raising money for my trip! 

I have already learned so much about myself through this process of preparing physically and spiritually to go on this trip.  I go back and forth between feeling nervous and down right scared but every time I feel that way I am relieved to know that I am a child of such a wonderful God who will watch over me and take care of me while I am gone.  And as Dwight (one of the men on our mission team who lead me to go on the trip) told me the other day..."we haven't lost anyone yet"...so i'm sure i'll be OK! 

It seems like forever ago that I was having to think about getting my shots for this trip...with four shots complete and one more to go tomorrow I am so happy to be almost done with that!  I know that this next month is going to fly by and before I know it November 5th will be here and I will be getting on the plane to start what will surely be one of the biggest life changing experiences I will ever have.  I am so thankful to know that I have had so many people supporting me and praying for me and know that those love and prayers will continue while I am gone.  I can't wait to get back from the trip and share with everyone what I lived and experienced while I was there!

I appologize for kind of skipping out on the blog the last two months but there has honestly been so much going on that I just didn't know where to start!  I will do my best to update more as I prepare for this trip over the next month and will definitely have LOTS to share afterwards!