Africa Bound

A week from today, I will be heading to Africa.  To say I am excited is an understatement.  To say I am nervous is an understatement.  It has been a dream of mine for YEARS to go to Africa and serve the precious people there.  Now, I finally have the opportunity.  I am going with about 26 other people from my church, NewSpring to Kenya (more specifically, a little town called Segera) from August 19-August 28.  We will be helping teach in the schools, do some construction, make home (hut) visits to share the gospel, and pretty much anything asked of us.  I am sooooooo excited to meet the beautiful people of Segera and so excited to love on them.  I plan on taking tons of pictures and I will be sure to add some of them when I get back. 
I do not think I will have a chance to call home (which really makes me nervous) and I am praying for comfort through that.  The hotel we are staying at does have an internet cafe so I may be able to check my email a few times.  One of my prayers is that I will completely embrace this opportunity and not let my homesickness interfere with my experience.  I do not want to come home from Africa bummed out b/c I did not fully give myself over there due to being homesick and counting down the days until I returned home.  I have been on mission trips out of the country before and LOVED it...however, that was prior to being married and having a child.  I know that I am going to miss them soooo much, but I have faith that God will comfort me and allow me to block out my homesickness for this amount of time (I hope so atleast).  I want Jesus to use me to my full potential while I am in Africa.  I mean, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I have wanted to experience for YEARS!

I ask that you please pray for our safety as we travel and as we stay in Africa.  I ask that you pray for me (and others) to experience Jesus in a whole new way.  I want to come back a changed woman.  I ask that you please pray for lives to be changed in Segera (for the people there and those on the trip).  I ask that you please pray for opportunities to share the gospel and for open hearts to receive Him.  I ask that you please pray for boldness.  I know there will be many opportunities when I am out of my comfort zone, but I just pray that I embrace it.  I want to embrace EVERYTHING!  I ask that you please pray for peace and comfort as I am away from my family for so long (and the same for them as their routine will be completely rocked since Mommy will be away).  I just ask that you pray, period.  :)  I know God will do amazing things there and I look forward to sharing it all with you when I get back...all three of you that read this.  ;)

See yall when I get back!