T-1

Can't wait to hold babies like these in my arms!!!

Africa, here I come! Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts! I'll try to write/email whenever (or if) I have internet access. Love you all!

T-3 Days

Every time I go on a trip like this, there's always a child that steals my heart. 

In Ghana I fell in love with several specific children but Afua (Af-wa) definitely stood out and won me over by her mischievous ways. Whether she was causing trouble or being sweet and kind, I immediately took a liking to her.

She was also quite the little dancer and the most athletic little kid I've ever seen. She beat all the boys her age in whatever sport we were playing (maybe that's why I took a liking to her so much :) ) and was quick as lightening. I remember standing in shock watching her run circles around everyone else.

This little video makes me smile every time I watch it and takes me back 6 years to the wonderful 2 weeks I stayed with these kids. Afua is the second one from the right, wearing a white shirt. She's really the one dancing the most (especially at the end) so you definitely can't miss her! Where does a 5 year old learn to dance like that?!?!? Cracks me up!

And some of you may recognize the Sunday school song... "The Lord is my shephard, I'll walk with Him always... always... always... I'll walk with Him always"

A trip of a lifetime...

This has been a long awaited post for me to write, as I’ve been planning this little adventure for 3 months now. As most of you know, a piece of my heart was left 6 years ago on the other side of the globe and it’s been my desire to get back to that continent ever since.

On Friday at 7:30 AM, I will be headed out of OKC and traveling to Uganda, Africa!

It’s so crazy to realize the trip is right around the corner. With all the other “seasons” of life I’ve been going through the last six months, it’s been very easy for the trip to completely sneak up on me.

I’ll be going with my Grandmother and cousin which just makes the trip even more special because I’ll get to share it with people that I love and hopefully will become even closer with. Grandma took me to Ghana 6 years ago and I’ve been very blessed to be invited once again to join her and my cousin this time around. Plus with my wedding less than 2 months away, I think the 10 day absence will be GREAT for my heart, soul, and mind.  A perspective change is for sure in order!

We are going with an organization named “Rafiki”, which means “friend” in Swahili. While you never know exactly what to expect when you travel anywhere (let alone overseas), it helps that this is the same organization we went with 6 years ago. If the trip is anything close to my 2 week experience in Ghana, I’ll be playing with lots of babies, teaching school, eating all kinds of interesting things, (I’m MOST looking forward to eating the fruit there! It’s amazing!!!!) and serving however I am able.

The Rafiki Training Village in Uganda where we will be serving is located in the rolling hills of southern part of the country. About one hour travel by car from the nation’s capital of Kampala, the Village is situated on fifty-five acres in the primarily agricultural district of Wakiso. The Rafiki village provides living, medical, and educational facilities to orphans and vulnerable children. Also, the onsite staff trains African churches to care for their orphans and to support their widows. We will be helping the staff accomplish these purposes as well as just loving on these babies and children and giving the hard working staff a hand with all their daily responsibilities.

It’s going to be quite the trip and I can hardly wait! No, packing hasn’t begun yet and mentally all I can think about is work, weddings, and check lists…. but as the week progresses, I want to prepare by using this blog as an avenue. I’ll be uploading media and posting more about the trip so that I can get excited and also share with you what I’ll be experiencing. It’ll also be a great trip down memory lane for me, as that is where I left a piece of my heart six years ago with several adorable orphans and teenage girls that changed my life forever. Feel free to travel back with me as I dig up those memories and as I travel to Uganda.

A Prayer for Mavis

I received the saddest news the other day which has left my mind to wander and my heart to ache for a little girl on the other side of the world that I only had the privilege of knowing about for a few short months.

I got a letter from Compassion, telling me that MAVIS has moved from her home in Accra and can’t be a part of the Compassion ministry any longer that they offer and I support. L While I first received the letter from Compassion letting me know of her move, they also invited me to call them to receive more details - which I immediately did. Turns out Mavis’s family was having some difficulty with their current living arrangements (I assume financially) and as a result are moving to live with Mavis’s Aunt in a town named Koforidua, Ghana. I Google Mapped the trip and it looks like it’s an hour and a half north and inland of Accra, Ghana where they lived previously on the coast.

The move left me with so many feelings and my heart immediately went out to this family. Moving is never easy and the little experience I’ve had with it myself has been in a wealthy nation where I knew all my needs were going to be met. I moved knowing that it was what I wanted to do or moved on my own terms- not because I needed it out of survival. I’ve started over in new schools and had to meet new people, leaving close friends behind, and it just is never easy. Yet, I also know that God is in control and He has plans for little Mavis, as He does for me. That He’ll take care of her and provide for her needs even when I can no longer give and provide for her on a monthly basis. He is bigger than all of it and has her best interests in mind.

As if this didn’t tug at my heart enough, I received the following in the mail just yesterday from Mavis’s social worker. The prayer just about did me in.

So now I’m left with one job to do: to pray for little Mavis and her family on their new adventure. If I know anything about moving, it brings many new opportunities and could be the best thing for her in the long run.

Compassion has also sent me information on supporting a new child. I’ll keep you posted. And if you’re interested in starting a relationship and supporting a child, please visit Compassion’s website. A little girl overseas may have you to thank as a result!