Well I leave in approximately 23 hours for Africa! It's been a long time coming. We've been meeting for the past six months to plan and prepare for our trip. And now it is here. I am so excited to go, but I know the two weeks will go by faster than I will want them to. Is it sad that I can already say I don't want to be back in the states and I haven't left yet?
I couldn't be going on this trip without all of you. Without your prayer and financial support. I was reflecting on how I raised all of the money and am actually getting to go to Africa. But it wasn't me. I did not do this. God did this, and he used many of you. I am so thankful for everything God has done and taught me through this. More so, I am thankful for each one of you who have prayed for me and/or supported me financially.
I want to share a verse that I have been dwelling on recently.
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58
This verse has really become my motto for my trip. I know that I will be frustrated because I might not see the fruits of our labor while in Africa. But as our leader Connie continues to remind us, that we are making an eternal impact, not a temporary impact.
I'm not quite sure what my small team is doing when we get there. We were supposed to be doing puppets, but I haven't seen any scripts. We were supposed to be doing a VBS but I haven't seen anything for that. Any of you who know me well, know that I like to know what's going on and when it's going to happen. I want to know what time we are leaving the camp to go to the orphanages, what a rough schedule of our day will be, what time we will return etc. I have NO IDEA what we are doing and it scares me. A schedule is my comfort blanket and I don't have one. So I decided to come up with my own schedule and it goes like this:
Wake Up- When my alarm goes off.
Go to the orphanage- When my group does
Agenda for the day- LOVE on the kids
Agneda for the rest of the day- LOVE on the kids
I think you get my point. I'm going to love and to serve. And then to serve and love some more.
Thank you for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for our safety (hopefully our planes can leave the ground) and while in Lesotho.
Jillian
Friday, December 26, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
A Christmas Story
I want to share a story that our leader, Connie shared with us about Christmas in Lesotho.
I remember one Christmas in Lesotho, the guys in the hangar were listening to Christmas music and the song, "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" came on. Do you all have the tune going in your head? It dawned on Jason that Christmas in Lesotho was in the middle of the summer and even though the Basotho guys working in the hangar spoke English, he wondered if they understood what the song meant. So he asked Ntate Solomon what he thought. He said, "It means it is a Christmas for white people." Solly was a humble, quiet man with a great smile. But he grew up in an area of the world where Apartheid touched very close t his home (his father resisted Apartheid and disappeared one night. He was never heard from again). For Solly to say this about the song reflected his worldview."
I am so glad the God's love through his Son, is not just for the white people. I took a Minority Voices in American Literature class this past semester. We read seven books (novels) over the course of this semester regarding African American history. It really opened my eyes to how much of white girl I am. I have no idea what it is to be like to be treated a certain way because of the color of your skin. Or even if you are mulatto, you were still regarded as being "black." I'm glad I took this class, especially right before going to Lesotho. It really made me realize how even though I might not think I'm racists, it is just kind of inherited by being an American. Thoughts to ponder...
I remember one Christmas in Lesotho, the guys in the hangar were listening to Christmas music and the song, "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" came on. Do you all have the tune going in your head? It dawned on Jason that Christmas in Lesotho was in the middle of the summer and even though the Basotho guys working in the hangar spoke English, he wondered if they understood what the song meant. So he asked Ntate Solomon what he thought. He said, "It means it is a Christmas for white people." Solly was a humble, quiet man with a great smile. But he grew up in an area of the world where Apartheid touched very close t his home (his father resisted Apartheid and disappeared one night. He was never heard from again). For Solly to say this about the song reflected his worldview."
I am so glad the God's love through his Son, is not just for the white people. I took a Minority Voices in American Literature class this past semester. We read seven books (novels) over the course of this semester regarding African American history. It really opened my eyes to how much of white girl I am. I have no idea what it is to be like to be treated a certain way because of the color of your skin. Or even if you are mulatto, you were still regarded as being "black." I'm glad I took this class, especially right before going to Lesotho. It really made me realize how even though I might not think I'm racists, it is just kind of inherited by being an American. Thoughts to ponder...
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
I don't do well with shots
Yes I know, two posts in two days! I don't expect this to become an everyday occurrence, but I felt like I had written enough for yesterday. I have to get my shots this week. Typhoid and tetanus. I have the opportunity to take a five dose of liquid typhoid meds that is cheaper and will last longer, but many of my teammates have become very ill during the treatment. I guess it is a temporary symptom that makes it worth it in the end, but during my final weeks of school I cannot risk being sick to my stomach for five days. So I'm opting for the shot. I hate shots. Anything with needles and poking me actually. I had a bad experience with getting my blood drawn yesterday (it really wasn't that bad, but to me it was horrible). So pray for me because I have to force myself to do it. My mom isn't here to drag me there and sit on me to make me get them. When I was younger sometimes that's what it took. Just ask her. I could probably get my best friend Melanie to drag me there, she's a nursing major and nothing really grosses her out. But that would be even more embarrassing. Me and shots don't do well.
On the other hand we raised over $7000 for the orphanage from our Gala! This money goes directly to provide bedding and beds for the children and to buy supplies for the playground we will be building.
If you would like to watch a video about our team click on the link below. It is at the bottom of the page. The first one is a shorter version, the second is a longer version that played during the Gala. I'm trying to get some more pictures of the Gala to show you.
http://crossroadsafrica.com/
I was trying to find a good verse to close this post with, but am not finding one I like. So send me a verse!
Love to you all!
On the other hand we raised over $7000 for the orphanage from our Gala! This money goes directly to provide bedding and beds for the children and to buy supplies for the playground we will be building.
If you would like to watch a video about our team click on the link below. It is at the bottom of the page. The first one is a shorter version, the second is a longer version that played during the Gala. I'm trying to get some more pictures of the Gala to show you.
http://crossroadsafrica.com/
I was trying to find a good verse to close this post with, but am not finding one I like. So send me a verse!
Love to you all!
Monday, December 1, 2008
27 days...
I know I have not written for awhile. Sorry Ruth! :-)
Life has been crazy for most of the African team. Two weekends ago, we held our African Gala. Everything seemed to be coming together. We had 34 tables set for 8. Our whole team was there and many sons, daughters, wives, husbands and friends who had willing hands and a willing heart to serve. Almost everyone was there in the morning to set up the tables and the silent auction room. We had everything almost done so that we had a 3 hour break before needing to return at 4pm to start prepping for dinner. About 2pm it started slushing. Not really raining, but really snowing but an inbetween mixture. We weren't sure how that would affect our fundraising efforts but we were ready. We had 18 of us serving the 34 tables. So we got our directions from our coordintor and we were ready.
Within the first 10 minutes our coordinator realized that those in the kitchen couldn't serve up food fast enough to keep a steady flow of us going out to the tables serving. About 30minutes into the first course, salad, those in the kitchen realized that half of the salad they had bought had froze and then thawed and was disgusting. So we had half of our tables served salad, and the others waited another 45 minutes while someone ran to Sam's Club to get more.
Our leaders had spent weeks planning the agenda out to the minute of how everything was going to go. They knew when each course would be served, when the speaker would speak, when the drama team would perform, and when the African choir would sing. It was DETAILED. The agenda went out with the ruin salad and we all started just going with the flow. It was a great team building activity.
This was the set up of the room. We held it in the chapel building at the MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) Headquarters in Nampa.
The simple, but elegant tables.
The African choir from a church in Boise.
The dinner guests not to sure about doing the moves with the African choir.
Everything worked out in the end. I'm not sure how much money we raised. Many of us were there until after midnight cleaning up. We had to hand wash all the dishes. Multiply 34 tables, by 8 place settings, by 4 utensils each, and that is how many forks, spoons, and knives I washed by hand. (1088 utensils). I had pruney fingers for two days after.
The gala gave me a chance to work with people other than those directly on my team. I got to know some of the other girls who are a little bit younger than me. It was nice to hang out with people closer to my own age, as I am the youngest one on my small group team. I have never had so much fun working so hard. It made me realized how blessed I am by my connections and friendships with my teammates. I still struggle with the personalities on my small team, but I know that the 37 hour plane ride will be a lot of fun because we will be so tired and everything will be funny :-)
This blog is turning into a novel.... But like I said earlier, Team Africa has been pretty busy. On November 22nd, Aaron left for Lesotho. Aaron is our leader's Jason and Connie's oldest soon. He was born in Lesotho and he feels more at home there, then here. He left to visit old friends and to start getting things ready for us. Last Saturday Jason left for Pennsylvania where his father was dying, and died Sunday morning. On top of all of they lost a dear family friend their sons age to a tragic accident Saturday night. Our whole team is feeling the affects. Please pray for Aaron as he is in Lesotho and lost both his grandfather and one of his best friends in a matter of day. Pray for Jason and Connie as they go through these loses and loved ones and are preparing to lead the first team to leave on December 8th. Jason will be returning to Nampa on Wednesday to turn around and leave next Monday for Lesotho. Connie is trying to remain calm, unstressed and strong for the rest of her family and it's wearing on her.
Well I think this is enough for now. I will try to write again this week as to not disappoint my dear reader Ruth. :-)
Life has been crazy for most of the African team. Two weekends ago, we held our African Gala. Everything seemed to be coming together. We had 34 tables set for 8. Our whole team was there and many sons, daughters, wives, husbands and friends who had willing hands and a willing heart to serve. Almost everyone was there in the morning to set up the tables and the silent auction room. We had everything almost done so that we had a 3 hour break before needing to return at 4pm to start prepping for dinner. About 2pm it started slushing. Not really raining, but really snowing but an inbetween mixture. We weren't sure how that would affect our fundraising efforts but we were ready. We had 18 of us serving the 34 tables. So we got our directions from our coordintor and we were ready.
Within the first 10 minutes our coordinator realized that those in the kitchen couldn't serve up food fast enough to keep a steady flow of us going out to the tables serving. About 30minutes into the first course, salad, those in the kitchen realized that half of the salad they had bought had froze and then thawed and was disgusting. So we had half of our tables served salad, and the others waited another 45 minutes while someone ran to Sam's Club to get more.
Our leaders had spent weeks planning the agenda out to the minute of how everything was going to go. They knew when each course would be served, when the speaker would speak, when the drama team would perform, and when the African choir would sing. It was DETAILED. The agenda went out with the ruin salad and we all started just going with the flow. It was a great team building activity.
This was the set up of the room. We held it in the chapel building at the MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) Headquarters in Nampa.
The simple, but elegant tables.
The African choir from a church in Boise.
The dinner guests not to sure about doing the moves with the African choir.Everything worked out in the end. I'm not sure how much money we raised. Many of us were there until after midnight cleaning up. We had to hand wash all the dishes. Multiply 34 tables, by 8 place settings, by 4 utensils each, and that is how many forks, spoons, and knives I washed by hand. (1088 utensils). I had pruney fingers for two days after.
The gala gave me a chance to work with people other than those directly on my team. I got to know some of the other girls who are a little bit younger than me. It was nice to hang out with people closer to my own age, as I am the youngest one on my small group team. I have never had so much fun working so hard. It made me realized how blessed I am by my connections and friendships with my teammates. I still struggle with the personalities on my small team, but I know that the 37 hour plane ride will be a lot of fun because we will be so tired and everything will be funny :-)
This blog is turning into a novel.... But like I said earlier, Team Africa has been pretty busy. On November 22nd, Aaron left for Lesotho. Aaron is our leader's Jason and Connie's oldest soon. He was born in Lesotho and he feels more at home there, then here. He left to visit old friends and to start getting things ready for us. Last Saturday Jason left for Pennsylvania where his father was dying, and died Sunday morning. On top of all of they lost a dear family friend their sons age to a tragic accident Saturday night. Our whole team is feeling the affects. Please pray for Aaron as he is in Lesotho and lost both his grandfather and one of his best friends in a matter of day. Pray for Jason and Connie as they go through these loses and loved ones and are preparing to lead the first team to leave on December 8th. Jason will be returning to Nampa on Wednesday to turn around and leave next Monday for Lesotho. Connie is trying to remain calm, unstressed and strong for the rest of her family and it's wearing on her.
Well I think this is enough for now. I will try to write again this week as to not disappoint my dear reader Ruth. :-)
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