Saturday, October 27, 2012

Well the last three weeks have definitely passed me by and I have truly been blessed. When I was told that in my three weeks before I head out to South Sudan I would be going to New York to work with Brethren Disaster Ministries, I really had no idea what I would be doing but I knew it would be work. When I showed up I walked out of the van they thought I was a youth…I guess I look young. I got to work in the kitchen for a week, paint some houses for a week and back in the kitchen for the last week. I have been blessed by the people I have been able to meet while I have been here. There have been three groups of volunteers from PA and Ohio. I have also had the chance to make some new friends. I have had the chance to meet the BDM staff and have been truly blessed.  Jeff and Sandy a couple from Michigan have really been a blessing. The laughter, stories and genuine interest have truly blessed me. Their relationship with God and their faith journey are really an inspiration. Prattsville, New York is a town that has suffered a lot through Hurricane Irene but in the rebuilding process the community has really touched many people who have come in to help and walked away with a renewed spirit. The church in this town is small but mighty and they are fully supporting each other and building a community of believers. Even in the different views of people I have enjoyed Bible studies and getting to laugh and joke with people. 
I know that as the days get closer to leaving and flying off to South Sudan the anxiousness builds up. So keep me in your prayers as I fly out of DC on Monday mid-morning and arrive in the capital, Juba, South Sudan on Tuesday around noon their time. I know that God is and will continue to use me in this time of transition and protect me as I travel across the ocean and to Torit. I know that His timing is perfect and His plans are much bigger and greater than anything I can ever imagine.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Orientation and beyond

Well orientation has come and gone...I watched the van drive away as I waved. It has been really wonderful getting to know people and hopefully keeping in touch with them as our years progress and our projects start to take off. I am so excited to see where God is taking each and every person on this journey of BVS. I am headed to Prattsville, NY to work with Brethren Disaster Ministries for the next 3 weeks to help out there where they need me. I am excited to have something to fill my time before I head off to South Sudan. It is an exciting adventure before an even larger, longer adventure in a strange land. I will be headed off to South Sudan October 29th and arrive on the 30th. I am excited that I should hopefully be arriving before November 1st and be able to spend my 30th Birthday in Africa. I will be staying with a couple working with African Inland Missions for the first month and after that is yet to be all organized. I will be working at an African Inland Church School and hopefully starting some sort of HIV and AIDS education in the community. I am so excited to be able to serve God where I really feel called at this point in my life. He is really blessing me in so many different ways. From some pretty amazing other BVS unit 299 people who truly have the passions and desires to serve and be used, to being able to truly be used by God in the things I do and say. I pray that God will truly use me in ways I can not yet imagine. I know I will look back and rememebr the amazing Germans I have met and laughed with, the others from America who feel a calling to serve. I am truly blessed by all these people in so many different ways to the laughter, dancing, faith journeys, spending a weekend in a room, cooking with, staying up late unable to sleep because the stories never stop or music and videos are like ear worms in the ear, to the spiritual, emotional and intelectual conversations. Thank you God for truly an amazing group of peopel I now call friends.