Friday, December 26, 2008

It's Here...

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

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have a great time in Africa and take lots of pictures. Believe me when I say.... It will be a time you will never, ever forget!

Love you,
Aunt Chrissie

Michelle ~ said...

dear friend Jillian, I'm anxious to read your thoughts after the trip. I hope school is going well, and you were able to re-enter without too many glitches. I miss you all so much. have a great day

Anonymous said...

Hey Jillian,
It is time to post a blog...people want to hear about your trip! I have had people ask me. So you need to let them know. Also have you thought about a letter to the ones who supported you with $ and prayers? Think about it!
Love ya,
Mom :)