Happy Thanksgiving!

I LOVE Thanksgiving!  I love the time with family and friends without the distraction of presents (though I do love Christmas too!!).  I love that we have a whole day set aside to remind us that what we have is not from us but from God.

PSALM 95

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the LORD is the great God,

And the great King above all gods.

In His hand are the deep places of the earth;

The heights of the hills are His also.

The sea is His, for He made it;

And His hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture,

And the sheep of His hand.

 

I have so many things to be thankful for!  I have a God and Savior who loves me unconditionally and sacrificed everything that He might be glorified through me.  I am married to a godly man who desires to lead his family with love toward God.  He challenges me and makes me laugh in the same breath.  He is my best friend and I am so blessed by him everyday.  I have the most amazing little girl who I absolutely adore.  She brings more joy and laughter to our home than I could ever have dreamed.  I have learned so much about my relationship with God through her in the last two years.  I have the best parents who have supported me through everything and the coolest sister who is also my best friend.  I have lovely girlfriends who have added so much fun to my life and a kind of relationship I didn't even know I needed.  Wow...with all of this, how much more could I possibly ask for??

Home Again

It's taken me way too long to get something on here about my trip but I'm having a hard time figuring out what to say about it.  Besides that, my flight landed in Tampa at 11pm on Sunday and I was back at work at 7am on Monday.  I've been slightly tired this week.  But it was totally worth it.

My trip ended up being totally different that I had imagined.  I think I didn't really know what to expect.  We landed in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire on Friday night and spent the night at a pastor's retreat there.  We got up early on Saturday morning, had breakfast there, and then made the 5 hour trek from Abidjan to Bouaké by bus.  The countryside is beautiful...it actually reminded me of Florida.  They're just coming out of the rainy season so everything is very green.

Pastor's retreat in Abidjan

Houses along the highway in Abidjan

On the highway to Bouaké

Church on Sunday morning was a couple of hours earlier than normal because of the presidential election.  They also usually have separate services, one in French and one in Dioula but they combined into one service for the same reason.  They wanted people to have time to go vote on Sunday.  The service was amazing.  There were actually four different languages represented and they sang songs in each language.  There was so much life and energy throughout the service.  There was clapping and dancing with every song.  It just seemed so genuine and joyful and heartfelt.

 Just before church started

  Beckie (Journey Corps French Teacher), Jessica (Journey Corps Staff from Denver), and me after church

The most significant experience I had was visiting the orphanage.  While it was fun to get to play with the kids, it was also incredibly difficult.  Angelika (the missionary in Bouaké) took Jessica and I to play with the younger kids (it's hard to guess their ages but most of them who Jess and I were with were probably around 2 or 3).  The whole time I was there, I couldn't help but think about Parker and how much she thrives on love and attention from Dan and me.  It absolutely broke my heart that these kids don't, and may never, have that.  They would light up when we would touch their hand or pick them up.

 Angelika showing the kids how to jump over the ropes

 Eating yogurt ☺

  

There's so much more I could tell you about my trip but I don't really know how.  There was many times and ways throughout the week that God showed me how desperately I need Him, how I am nothing without Him.  He showed me (certainly not for the first time) that my whole life should be lived to serve and glorify Him.

The Journeyer's are awesome!  I just fell in love with each one of them and did not want to leave them.  They're so anxious to see God work in their lives through their year in Côte d'Ivoire.  The first several weeks, they'll be focused on learning French and learning about the culture.  Once they have a sufficient grasp of those two things, they'll go live with families that Rod and Angelika (the coolest missionaries ever!) know through the National churches they work with.  There are many different areas for the Journeyer's to serve in based on their skills and desires.  I would encourage you to check out the "members" section of myjourneycorps.com.  The "featured members" are the Journeyers who are there now and who I have the amazing privilege of getting know.  I feel so blessed to have been part of their journey in Côte d'Ivoire and I hope I get to see them again.  God is going to do incredible things in and through them this year.

Thank you so much to those of you who helped me get there, both through financial gifts and prayers.  My experiences and what God did would not have been possible without you.

The Journey Has Begun!!!

Today has been an amazing and exhausting day.  I arrived in Denver yesterday and spent today in training with the Journey Corps team.  They are a great group of students who are anxious and excited to experience God in Africa.  There are some nervous emotions as some program changes have come about but God is in control and is not surprised by the changes.

We leave tomorrow morning for Africa!  I can't believe it's here already.  I'm so excited to see what God is going to do in and through me.  I'm missing Dan and Parker desperately already.  I don't know how much I'll be able to communicate with them while there gone and that's what I'm struggling with the most.

Thank you for your prayers up to this point.  Please continue to pray for me and the team as we start our travel tomorrow and arrive in Ivory Coast.  Pray that we don't miss what God wants to teach all of us.  Pray that He would be so real to us through this experience.

I hope to be able to blog some while I'm there so check back!!!

Parker's 2!!

Today is Parker's 2nd birthday!  I can't believe I have a 2-year-old.  We were going to do a small party with a few friends over the weekend but I was so fried by the end of last week after somewhat unexpectedly going back to work, I didn't get anything together...great mom, right??  PLUS, Parker started running a fever Friday afternoon and did off and on all weekend.  Poor girl is getting all 4 eye teeth in at the same time and they're really hurting her...more than any of her other teeth have seemed to bother her.  Anyway, we ended up just doing dinner and cake at my parents house last night.  

Parker loves butterflies so I decided to make her a butterfly cake.

Me and my girl!

The present opening process went very fast.  Parker went from one bag to the next, pulling the gift out and dropping it on the floor.  

"Happy birthday to Parker!!"

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Life in the Lyle household has changed drastically in the last few days.  I suddenly find myself a full-time working mom and Parker is going to school!  It has seriously been a whirlwind the last 5 days or so.  Dan and I had kind of been talking about me going back to work but hadn't really decided for sure whether or not it was going to happen.  Last Thursday, I decided to just look online and get an idea of what was out there.  All I did was Google "Executive Assistant Positions in Tampa, FL" and found a listing for a position with Construction for Worldwide Evangelism.  When I opened it up, I recognized the name of the manager as the gentleman who our church does a lot of mission trips through.  Construction for Worldwide Evangelism didn't ring a bell because it's familiar to me as CWE.  This was way too coincidental for me to ignore so I sent my resume.  I got a call Friday asking if I could come in Monday morning for an interview.  I interviewed yesterday, they offered me the position yesterday afternoon and asked me to be there this morning at 7:00am.  It was pretty crazy.  I still can't get over how fast it happened!

In the midst of this, I was having to figure out what I was going to do with Parker in the event I was to go back to work.  I visited a few different preschools in the area and decided on one that I think is going to be great for Parker.  When we went back last night to drop off the paperwork to enroll her she said, "my school!!"  She was so excited, which made me feel a little more at ease about the whole thing.

So today was my first day back in the working world and Parker's first day of school!  I'm exhausted just thinking about all that has happened the last few days...not to mention the fact that I had to get up at 4:45am!  So not use to that!!  It'll probably take all of us a few days...or weeks...to adjust to this new season but we're all excited about it.  It was hard to drop Parker off this morning knowing I wouldn't get to spend my whole day with her.  But I can't deny the fact that God was fully instrumental in this whole thing.  He provided in so many ways that we were not expecting and really couldn't even have dreamed of.  He truly is a good God!

So close...and still so far!

First of all, I have to say a huge thank you to all of you who have given to me financially to help get me to Africa.  I know I've already said this, but it has been truly amazing to see God provide from some of the most unexpected places.  I've received checks from people I haven't seen or spoken with in many years, some of whom have little money themselves.  But they were sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit and I praise God for that obedience!

Earlier this week, I was really concerned about the financial side of my trip.  I could not see how I was going to have enough money to go.  I even emailed a few of the pastors at my church seeking guidance...do I keep "pressing on" as if I'm going and trust the funds to come in or do I put what I've raised so far towards a future trip?  I NEED TO LEAVE FOR DENVER IN 20 DAYS AND FOR AFRICA 2 DAYS AFTER THAT!! (Can you hear the panic in my voice??) The responses were exactly what I thought they would be:  that I should not let money get in the way of going on this trip, that I need to keep moving forward and making preparations to go and to trust that the money will be provided.  

After that email correspondence (and a little bit of freaking out on my part), I received two checks in the mail totaling $125.  I had been waiting to send my paperwork in for my visa because in my mind, it doesn't make sense to send in for my visa when I don't even know if I'm going to have enough money to go.  But in light of the advice I received and praying about it (imagine that!), I went today and did the check request I needed to do in order to get my visa.  When I got home from doing that, I had another $200 in the mail.  God is so good!!

Now I'm just a few hundred dollars away from what I'll need to cover my whole trip.  I still have to purchase a ticket to Denver to meet up with the team for training before we leave and I need about $200 to cover my room and board while I'm in Ivory Coast.

Will you be the one?  Will you fill in the gap and provide that last little bit?  Some of the most amazing gifts I've received had the smallest dollar amounts on the check.  They're amazing to me because I know the heart and sacrifice behind them.  Please don't let not being able to give a large amount stop you from giving.  God can use it all!  I know that you will be blessed by joining me in this ministry as we help to train missionaries to spread the Gospel to the Ivory Coast and beyond.

For information on how to give, please send me an email at sclyle@gmail.com or leave a comment below and I'll contact you with the details.

For more information about Journey Corps and the training facility in Ivory Coast, visit www.myjourneycorps.com.

Heartbroken

I just watched last night's episode of Glee online.  How heartbreaking.  If you didn't see the episode, it was all about spirituality, God and whether or not He exists.  I cried through most of it because I know people who believe the way Kurt and Sue believe: that there is no God and people who believe there is are crazy.  

One of the great things about our country is that we are free to express our beliefs, regardless of what they might be.  However, as Christians, we are often looked down upon for what we believe.  The episode starts out with Finn making a grilled cheese sandwich that he thinks looks like Jesus.  He calls it "grilled cheesus" and starts praying to it.  If that's not making fun of Christians for what we believe, I don't know what is.  The whole show wasn't like that - Mercedes invited Kurt to go to church with her and encouraged him that he has to believe in something sacred because this life is too hard on our own.  And Sue's sister asked if she could pray for her.  Sue said "that would be nice."  Even people who don't believe in God want prayer.

We need to be aware of what people outside our little Christians circles believe.  Thoughts and feelings like this are real and it should absolutely break our hearts.  If it doesn't, we should be examining our own hearts very closely.  When we hear people talk about God the way Kurt did, it should drive us to our knees in prayer for these people.  Then we have to get up from our knees and do something about it.  We have the Truth and we have to share it.  The group Go Fish has a great line in their song "Gotta Move" that says, "The Gospel is the Gospel, you don't have to sell it.  It can change the hardest hearts, you just have to tell it."  Jesus has already done the work for us, we just have to tell it.

Africa Planning Has Begun!

I've received the go ahead to start planning events for while we're in Ivory Coast.  I'm so excited!  I've started communicating with a couple of the people on the team there via email to start putting stuff together.  I've also been informed by my brother-in-law that he volunteered me to make chocolate chip cookies while I'm there.  Anything for Kingdom of God!! 

We leave in about four weeks.  I can hardly believe it.  I'm still in the process of raising funds to get there but God is faithful and providing every day and from some unexpected places.  I know that he will provide everything I need in order to serve Him.

Please be praying for our team.  I believe that the closer we get to our departure, the more acutely we will feel the attack of Satan in our lives.  He wants to discourage us from trusting God in any way he possibly can.  We need to be focused on God more than ever.  We received an email from the Director based in Ivory Coast about this.  Here's what he said: "We want to emphasize the importance of preparing spiritually. You will be entering a spiritual battleground. This is one of Satan’s strongholds and he is not giving it up without a fight. Remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12)."

This has been a crazy journey so far and I cannot wait to see what else God does in me and through me and through the team.  Waiting expectantly on the Lord is a thrilling place to be!

Do Over??

I need to a do over today!  It has been one of those days where not much has gone the way I'd like it to.  I woke up late...actually turned off my alarm because I was so tired.  As soon as I got up, I got hit by the day.  I started thinking about all the things I needed to do...clean house, go to the grocery store (I had 2 diapers and none of Parker's milk).  I have a project for church that I've barely started.  I'm getting a little concerned about the money for my trip to Africa...still quite away from being able to pay for it.  And then, if all of that running through my head wasn't enough first thing in the morning - pre-coffee I might add - Parker decided that she is going to push her boundaries and try my patience in every way possible.

Satan definitely knows my weaknesses...taking on too much so I'm too busy and my lack of patience.  I feel like I'm being hit from all sides.  He knows that if I get busy enough I'll neglect my time with God.  He also knows how down I get on myself when I lack patience with Parker.

Now that the grocery shopping is done and Parker has eaten lunch (the absolute most trying time with her is meal time) and is napping, it's time for this mommy to take back control over this day...or rather, relinquish control over to the One who can actually handle it all.

Thank you, Lord, for do overs!

Time keeps on slippin'....

Ever have one of those moments of slight panic as you realize that time is slipping through your fingers?  I had one last night when it dawned on me that I leave for Africa in just a month and a few days!!  It kind of took my breath away and I'm slightly freaked out.

I'm reminding myself that God is control.  He is in control of the funds to get me there, He is in control of my health and safety while I'm there.  He is in control of Dan and Parker's well-being.  None of these are things that I have any control over.  When I was working for Western Union, I had a trainer who told us that we should only be worrying about the things we can control.  He was coming from a completely secular point of view but he was right on spiritually as well.  His point was that we waste time and energy worrying about things that we'll never be able to impact in any way.  Worry is exhausting.  I don't want to worry about all of these details that I know God is ultimately in control of.  I can't do anything about any of it.  When I truly hand it all over and let Him control it, I have nothing to worry about.  How freeing is that?!?!

"Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  Matthew 6:31-33 (emphasis mine)

My greatest prayer as I prepare to go to Africa and while I'm there is that God would reveal Himself to me, draw me closer to Him; that I would know Him more deeply and intimately through this experience.  I don't want to go to Africa for myself.  I want to go for His glory.  He get's the glory through every step of this.  None of it is happening because of anything I've done.  Every time someone tells me they want to give me some money for my trip, no matter the amount, it makes me cry because it is evidence to me of God moving, God providing, God working in my life.

It's all for Him.

More Africa

I hope you're not sick of hearing about my Africa plans.  Not really a lot has changed since my last post on it but it's just constantly on my mind.  It's so amazing to see how God works.

I was really worried about asking for all of the time off from work.  I've only been there a couple of months and I'm VERY part-time so I don't really feel like I have any pull to be asking for 10+ days off of work.  The protocol for asking for time off is to email the manager (who I love!).  I explained to her that the time was for a mission trip to Africa and that I knew it was a lot of time and didn't want to mess up the scheduling.  Her response to my email was, "I want you to go!!"  I worked with her for the first time since that email last night and she was asking me all about it.  I don't know if she's a Christ-follower or not but I know that she was raised in the church (Methodist, I think...don't remember for sure).  She started telling me about all the various trips her son and his wife have done with YoungLife all over the world.  It was really cool to be having this kind of conversation with my boss!  She was telling me how excited she is for me and what an amazing experience it will be.  I was really blown away.  I didn't expect that level of support there!  God is so good!

I spent a lot of yesterday working on support letters, visa paperwork, figuring out my immunizations (which I am SO not excited about).  I feel like there is a ton to do but not much that I actually can do right now...that feeling kind of drives me crazy! :)

Here's some photos of the center we'll be working at.

Find more photos like this on Journey Corps

Post Conference Blah's

Ok folks...I am dragging this week!  This past weekend was our Women's Conference at FBC Lutz and it was a fantastic weekend.  I ran all last week trying to pull the final details together, finishing up my talk and trying (rather unsuccessfully) to keep my house together.  Now I just feel run down!  I usually try to get up before Parker to have a quiet time...haven't done it once this week.  I just can't seem to get back into my normal routine.  Even Parker seems worn out...poor girl, I ran her ragged over the weekend.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend...

My girl at breakfast...this is what she looks like when I tell her to smile. :)

Carmen and the band leading worship.  They were awesome!

Eliza and Annie sharing on obedience.  Love them!

We recorded all of the teaching sessions and I'm trying to get them put on the church website.  Once we get that worked out, I'll post the URL and you can check them out if you're interested. 

Still Trusting...

As I was getting ready for work this morning (yes, I had to work on Labor Day!), I was thinking about why I want to go to Africa.  I say "I want to go", and that's true, but I really feel that God is calling me to go on this trip.  This morning I was remembering back to what seems like a lifetime ago to our days at Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, CO.  Rick Ferguson and the rest of the ministry staff there really cast a vision and set a fire for missions in that church.  

Dan went on his first mission trip with Riverside before we were married and then two others shortly after we were married.  One in particular, to Burma, was life-changing.  It was life-changing for both of us, even though I didn't go.  It made the extreme suffering and persecution that goes on in much of the world a reality for us.

Then my sister married Aaron, a missionary kid who was born and grew up in Rwanda.  His family was evacuated during the genocide in Rwanda in the '90's.  Knowing this gave me a desire to learn more (I was 14 when it was going on and don't really remember it happening).  I read several books and watched a couple of movies (Hotel Rwanda and a documentary) about it and was just amazed and horrified by the brutality and by the fact that, as far as I could tell, we in the United States are completely blind to similar conflicts around the world.

The world needs Jesus.  There is no other answer to the suffering in this world.  Praise God for missions sending organizations like World Venture and Journey Corps (and so many others out there!!).  It's because of them that people have hope in Jesus.  We must be willing to go.  We must, as American Christians, be willing to put feet to our faith.  People need Jesus!!

In one week, God provided almost $1000 towards my trip to Africa.  Support has come in from some of the most unexpected places...people that I haven't seen or spoken with (other than of Facebook) for many years, some since high school.  It's so amazing to watch how God moves in peoples hearts.  Thank you is not enough for those of you who have given.  Your gift will have an eternal impact.  Your gift will help get Jesus to people who might not otherwise hear!

I'm still about $1200 away from my goal.  I have no idea where this money is going to come from but I'm still trusting that God is going to provide one way or another.  I want to encourage you again to pray about and consider giving.  Again, all donations will go through my church, First Baptist Church of Lutz, so you'll get the tax benefit.  Please post a comment below if you would like to give and I'll send you my address.

Yummy Tilapia

I have to share this "recipe" because I'm always looking for a new way to cook fish and this was a big hit tonight.  We eat fish usually once a week and I get bored doing it the same way all the time.  I put recipe in quotation marks because I don't have measurements or anything.  This was one of those "wing it" things.

Tilapia

Miracle Whip

Emeril's Original Essence (or your favorite seasoning mix)

garlic

I mixed the Miracle Whip, seasoning and about 1/2 a tsp of garlic (jarred).  I put enough seasoning in it to turn the Miracle Whip orange.  I then stored it in the fridge for about an hour to let the flavors all mix.  When I was ready to cook it, I dried the fish on a towel (I always do this, keeps it from popping so much when you put it in hot oil on the stove) and spread the mixture over the top of the fish.  I put the fish top down into hot oil (about medium high heat) and spread the mixture on the other side.  I let it cook until it was brown and crispy on the edges (this is the way we like it but you can take it off sooner).  The Miracle Whip made a brown crust on the outside and had a great flavor.  

Parker loves Tilapia but she devoured it tonight.  I served it with baked potatoes and steamed broccoli.  It made for a very simple but yummy meal!  Give it a try!

Starting the Anti-Aging Process Early

File this under "Tales From a Mom of a Toddler":  I had to go to the bathroom a little while ago and Parker doesn't think I should be able to go anywhere without her, so of course, she followed me in there.  I have a drawer in my bathroom that has a bunch of costume jewelry in it that I don't wear.  She loves pulling it all out and getting as much of it up her arms as possible.  She's very much a girly girl. :)

But today was different...it was too quiet for her to be playing for jewelry and I couldn't see her but I knew she was still in there with me.  In my best mom voice I said, "Parker Abigail, what are you doing?"  Here's what I found....

She came around the corner with a small tub of facial "firming" lotion in one hand, a finger that had obviously been dunked in the lotion and lotion all over her face and hair.  She was very proud of herself.

After we got the lid back on the lotion, her next words were "washy hands!"  She does not like having messy hands.  Silly girl!

Please notice her rocker girl jammies...we love them!

A Step of Faith

Wow...I'm a little overwhelmed right now.  I just got of Skype with Aaron (my brother-in-law who is organizing the trip to Africa).  They need to purchase the tickets for the team next Tuesday.  That means I need to have $1600 to them by next Tuesday or some kind of guarantee (like my credit card) in order to purchase my ticket with the group.  My other option is waiting until I have the money raised and purchasing my ticket on my own...which means traveling by myself.  Not real excited about that prospect. 

I know God will do this if I'm to go.  I'm praying that he'll move in the hearts of 16 people to give $100 each by next Tuesday.  In the grand scheme of his plan for my life, raising $1600 is such a small thing.

Will you give?

Africa!!

Well, it looks like things are moving forward for me to go to Africa with the Journey Corps team.  Plans are being made, dates are being narrowed.  God is being sought.  My only hindrance now is the finances.  But God is so much bigger than financial needs!  I believe that if He wants me to go on this trip, He will provide the money I need.

I believe that He will provide it through people like you.  If I had the funds in the bank to go on this trip, it would make my life so much easier.  But I don't...and I believe that was part of God's plan.  It was in His timing that Dan's job fell apart.  It was in God's timing that He provided a new job.  It was in God's timing that the opportunity for me to go to Africa came about.  He knew all the details long before it had even crossed my mind.  He knew that I would have to rely on Him to provide the funds for me to go (and the short window in which I have to do it!).

I need to raise $2200 for the trip.  It looks like airline tickets are going to be about $1600 and then I'll need roughly $600 for additional expenses such as a visa, food and lodging and shots.  All gifts will go through my church, First Baptist Church of Lutz, so they will be tax deductible.  Checks should be made out to the church but mailed to me so if you want to give, please leave a comment below and I'll contact you with my address.

Please pray about what God would have you to give.  Allow your money to be used to spread the gospel to the furthest reaches of the world.  God bless you.

Focus!

I have no focus today!  Our annual women's conference is coming up in a few weeks and I'm teaching one of the sessions.  Can I just tell you how much this freaks me out?!?  I've never done anything like this before...teaching in that kind of setting, putting together that kind of talk...none of it.  But I believe it's something that God has called me to do so He is going to have to do it through me!

Parker's napping right now so I'm trying to get some study/writing time in and I seriously cannot focus at all.  I have ideas of what I believe God wants me to share and of the direction I'm going to go but I've written basically two paragraphs in two hours.  Not a lot.  I keep thinking about Parker's allergies or going to Africa or what's for dinner and on and on and on.  Everything BUT my talk.  I'm so distracted!

What am I doing about it??  Allowing myself to be distracted and writing a blog, obviously!!

I want to share something from the Bible study I'm doing that really spoke to my heart yesterday and I have a feeling I'm not the only person who could use these words right now.  This is from Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself:

"Today some of your who are trying so diligently to complete this study, to stay focused, to be victorious in the face of ever-increasing odds, are completely exhausted.  My heart aches for you.  I have been there.  You keep working and trusting and still you don't see any change in your husband, in your teenager, or your circumstances.  The striving is exhausting.  Please hang in there and remember two things:

1.  God brings results from your obedience; you do not.  Let Him do His job in His "proper" time.  He'll do it, all right.  His name depends on it and He cannot lie.  Keep waiting because:

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and, not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isa. 40:31, KJV).

2.  You have everything you need by virtue of the Holy Spirit within you to bear your load.  If He had energy enough to speak the worlds into being according to the Father's will and the Son's Word, He has the energy to carry your through your burden.  You've got the Father's will and the Son's Word on it.  Keep in mind, when we power walk in the Spirit, it is He who carries the weights."  (pg. 49)

Isn't that good??  And haven't we all been there?  There is always some kind of burden in life, whether it's a trying relationship, financial difficulties, depression, loss...the list goes on and on.  If I'm not the one suffering at this particular time, I probably know someone who is.  Isn't it amazing to know that we do not have to bear the burden on our own and that if we are faithful and obedient to Him, He will bring results in His own time??

So that was not really where I intended to go when I first started typing this post but there it is!  I hope it blesses someone today.

Here Goes Nothin'

Well, here I am.  Entering the world of "mommy blogs".  I've blogged some for our Women's Ministry website but this is just mine...more personal.  A friend suggested I start a blog to chronicle my journey as I pray about going to Africa on a mission trip with Journey Corps.  I loved the idea but thought I would incorporate every day life, also.

Who am I?  My name is Sarah, I'm married to a wonderful man, Dan (10 years next year!!) and we have one daughter, Parker Abigail, who I am simply obsessed with.  These two people are my life.  But, before I am a wife and mom, I am a Christ-follower.  I am daily striving to be more like Him.  Some days I feel successful in this endeavor, other days are complete and utter failures.  But as Paul says, "I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)

So this whole Africa thing....  It kind of came out of the blue (for me at least).  My mom went on a trip to Kenya the year I got married and I think since then, I've wanted to go.  My brother-in-law grew up as a missionary kid in Rwanda.  Spending time with his family and hearing about their experiences in the mission field there gave me even more of a desire to serve in Africa at some point.  I have not had any idea when or how this would come about but have just trusted that God knew my heart and would open the door at some point.  

Earlier this week, my sister, Alison, posted something on Facebook about going on a mission trip to Ivory Coast, Africa with Journey Corps, the missions organization that her husband, Aaron, works for.  My first thought was, "I want to go!!"  I shared my desire with Aaron but also told him that if he, or anyone on his team, said no or not right now, I was totally fine with that.  I only want to go in God's time.  But his whole team seems excited about the prospect so we're taking steps in that direction!

At the end of October, Journey Corps will be sending their first group of Journeyers to the training facility in Ivory Coast, Africa.  Aaron and Alison will be going to help get them acclimated their first couple of weeks there.  My role (still to be refined some) will be to plan and execute events of different varieties during those first couple of weeks.  I'll post more details about this as we get them worked out.  I'm really excited about this prospect because event planning is something I love.  I love having an idea or vision for a great event (a wedding, banquet, meeting, whatever it might be) and bringing all the pieces and details together to make it happen.  Doing this in Africa will certainly present new challenges that I haven't experienced before but I think that's part of what makes it exciting.  But beyond all of that, I'll have the opportunity to serve God's people, the people who are daily working to spread the gospel to every corner of the world!

What can you do?  Please pray.  I need all the prayer support I can get.  I need God's direction and wisdom as we work through details.  I need to know FOR SURE that He is calling me to go on this trip.  I firmly believe that doing something like this without His calling would be a huge mistake.

Thanks for joining me on this journey!

For more information about Journey Corps, check out http://myjourneycorps.com/.