Its HEEEERRRE!

Somebody pinch me. Seriously... pinch me. I am going to Africa on Monday. No matter how many times I say it, it does not seem real. I remember the night my friend Alissa and I were going to go to Heartland for worship and for some reason she ended up not being able to go, so I went by myself. Which I have never done before or since. For some reason I am weird like that... not wanting to go places by myself. But that night I did. I remember walking in and seeing Leanne Goff there. I knew as soon as I saw her that I was there to talk with her. I knew she worked for a missions agency and actually that night (at home with the kids) Brian was going to apply to Iris Ministries for us to go to their 10 week missions school. We knew Africa was where we were called to serve and Heidi's ministry was the only one we knew of there and we LOVE and respect her ministry A TON. Long story short, Leanne ended up praying for me during worship and was telling me about what GMA (Global Missions Awareness) was doing in Tanzania. She told me there was another couple our age who felt called to Africa as well and they were going to be taking a trip there in January ( this meeting was like 6 months ago ) and we should join them. That night Brian and I had already had it planned to go to our good friends Josh and Alissa's house to pray about where and what exactly God had for us in the mission field.
So later that night we went to Josh and Alissa's and I told them about the conversation I had had with Leanne. I was still talking and I looked over at Alissa and her eyes were full of tears, but I wasn't sure why or if she was crying. But she was :) . She said that as soon as I said Tanzania she had felt the Holy Spirit so intensely that she just started to cry. Brian and I were both like ... wow. So we had a great night of praying with our friends and walked out of their house feeling so confident and excited about God's leading. I remember getting in the car and just laughing and telling Brian " This is one of the most life changing days for us so far. We woke up thinking we were going to Mozambique and then go to bed knowing Tanzania is where we are supposed to be. "
All of this to say... I remember everything about the moment when Leanne said we should go to Tanzania in January. And now its here. Time goes by so quickly. I am so so so excited about our trip. There are no words to say how excited. We feel so lucky that this is what Father God has called us to do. We should have Internet access there so I will be blogging while we are there to keep track of all that is going on. Please continue to pray for peace for me with leaving the kids. I think as soon as I get on the plane I will be ok, but until then it feels overwhelming thinking about leaving them for that long. Thank you for all your prayers.... we cherish them more than you know.

Reality check

I cannot believe our trip is almost here. It seems surreal. It is really weird when you have been waiting for something for so long and then ... its here. As we get closer day by day, new emotions come up, and they are all extreme. Extreme excitement about going, extreme sorrow over leaving the kids for 10 days, extreme joy about seeing friends I do not get to see often, extreme anxiousness (is that a word?) about the 24 hour trip. In all honesty, I have been somewhat of a basket case lately. I am not even sure why. It is also weird to think that when we return from our trip that the next time we go will be when we move. After we come back ... it is real. We are taking our babies to a third world country to live. Some place they have never seen before, with no one they have ever met, new foods, sights and sounds. But... it is SO reassuring to know this is what He has called us to. When these fears creep up inside of me I just get alone with my Heavenly Father and let Him love me and wash away all anxiety.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34

All I can do it take my life day by day. So that is all I will do. I feel the peace of God just writing that. He is so good and so faithful, so loving. I am so ready for this trip and can't wait to see what God has in store for us there. To see with our own eyes and experience what life will be like there... just makes me smile so much. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness always.

My fourth child ....

No, I am not pregnant. :) Brian and I were talking the other night about what we say when people ask us how we feel about moving to Africa and everything that goes with it, especially when we have never even been there. This is the only way I know how to relate it... so bear with me.
I think of Africa as my fourth baby. The similarities are crazy to having all 3 of my other babies. I carried all 3 of my babies for 9 months, and during those 9 months fell more and more in love with them every day. I have carried Africa in my heart for over 3 years now, and fall more and more in love with the people there and having our lives there every day. I was induced with all 3 of my babies, so I knew the date they would be arriving into this world and when we would meet for the first time. I know that we are leaving for Africa 3 weeks from tomorrow and I will "officially" be meeting Africa for the first time as well. Most of all though, from the moment I found out (and even before) that I was carrying each of my children, I was completely in love with them. It didn't matter if I had never held them or seen them or kissed them. I loved them with a deep love, the way only a mother can love her child. This is how I feel about Africa. I know I have never been there, and don't really know excactley what it will be like. But I do know the love that God has put in my heart for it, and I know that it is a love that only He can stir up in me. I remember the anticipation before having each child, and knowing that my life would never be the same once they got here. I feel the same way about our upcoming trip. I feel like in 3 weeks when we get there, it will be like the first time I held any of my babies right after delivery. It will just (hopefully) be natural.
We have been getting everything in order for when we leave, but still have a few things that need to be done. Please keep us in your prayers as this is a very exciting and life changing event in our lives.