Goodbye Africa, Hello Ireland

So tonight is my last night in Zambia for the year. I cannot believe how fast this last month has gone! I'm still sad about leaving so early. Most of you know that I usually leave at the end of November/December but this year is much earlier. Why? Mainly, support raising. I am focusing and believing God to be fully funded in January. After that I'll be in the UK for 6 weeks to train volunteer to run our new remote office and then back in Zambia in March. 2010 is going to be a busy but fruitful year!

On my way home I'm going to be visiting a friend in Ireland for a few days. I've never been there before and it was free to extend my layover in the UK. I'm excited for the chance to relax, unwind, and enjoy the beauty that the Lord has created.

I'll be back in the USA as of Sept 22nd. Please feel free to give my cell phone a call, the number is still the same. Blessings!

Made it home!

Sorry I didn't update this sooner but I made it back to Zambia safe and sound. I had 10 days on the island of Zanzibar and spent those days visiting friends that I hadn't seen in 3 years, helped build a chicken coop, and reassessed how our expeditions are running on the island. God is doing a mighty work there and I'm so excited to see what God is going to do through the believers.

The base is quiet at the moment. There are about 20 of us now on the base, but soon the september amt class will be arriving. Expeditions are pretty much done for the year, except for one team in Malawi in November. It's a pretty cool team as it's in partnership with Joyce Meyer Ministries, who is holding a conference in Blantyre. Unfortunately I won't be there to help run it as I am leaving africa on september 15th. That's right, 3 weeks. Am I excited? No. Why am I leaving? It's time I finally focus on my support raising and get fully funded in order to do the work I'm called to do. I know that many think that this is the worst year to support raise because of the economy. However, my God is greater then the economy! I have no choice to be back here in March and in order to be back I must be fully funded. Let's believe together that God is going to provide miraculously. :)

Look for my august update this week!

The Spice Islands of Africa

Off the coast of Tanzania are the Spice Islands of Africa, associated with the Spice Islands in Indonesia. They are made up of 3 islands, Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia. They were once ruled by Arab sultans who ran the spice trade in this area. Spice trade is still a main source of income for the local people, as well as tourism. The islands are predominately Muslim, and only about 1% being Christian.

I share this with you all as I prepare to travel to Zanzibar on Monday. I was there for 3 weeks in 2006 and have been invited back to stay with the pastor and his family that Overland Missions works with. I will be traveling with Kelly, one of the AMT graduates, and our plan is currently in God's hands. We have an invitation to preach at one of the churches on the island, but other then that we'll see what God has in store.

I'll try and update while in Zanzibar and keep you all posted on what God is doing. Please pray for us as we embark on 54+ hours of travel (one way).

African Lullaby

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana for an overnight safari with the AMT students. Who wouldn't want to go sleep with lions?! Yes, I am that crazy. :)

We spent the day driving through the park and seeing tons of elephants, giraffe, cape buffalo, zebra, kudu, and impala. No signs of lions though but we pressed on in hopes of even a glimpse of them. The evening came so we headed to our campsite, which was in the heart of the game park. When we arrived at our spot, we noticed that we'd be having some company duringthe night. In front of us were hundreds of elephants. As you looked farther down the road, you could see hundreds of cape buffalo heading towards us also. The sunset was beautiful and as we settled down for dinner around the campfire, we were surrounded by the noises of Africa. The crunch of the elephants and buffalo as they passed us by were our evening lullaby as we went to sleep.

The next morning we headed out early still in hopes of seeing lions. We were told about the area that they claimed as their territory and went there in hopes that they were around. About 30 meters away from our campsite we saw their tracks from their travels during the night. Most likely hunting the animals or getting water from the river. Unfortunately, that's all we saw of them on this trip. Maybe next time we'll have better luck. It was an awesome experience though and once I won't soon forget.

Christmas in June!

Last month our USA offices shipped a 40 ft container jammed packed with all sorts of goodies. Today, it finally arrived. I arrived back to the base after picking up my western zambia team from the airport to find our main center packed full of couches, tables, chairs, bins, etc. We even got a whole new industrial kitchen shipped over! It was like Christmas had come early!

I'm heading out with my team on Sunday and will be gone until July 3rd, without internet contact. I'll be updating the blog and writing a newsletter when I return. Please keep the team in your prayers as we minister in areas that are in desperate need for the Gospel.

The Whirlwind

They came in like a whirlwind and were gone before I knew it. My June VF Team has officially ended and all 21 of the team members have returned back to their homes. It was an amazing time of ministry, both within the team and in the villages. I saw such an awesome change in the lives of these young adults, as well as within every person we ministered to in Sikachapa Village. My newsletter will be going out tomorrow with photos and testimonies. I also hope to update my website with photos as I go through the thousands (literally!) of photos I received from the team members.

June Vic Falls Expedition Begins!

My team has finally arrived (minus 1 who arrives tomorrow)! Right now I can hear them laughing together on the couches as they get to know one another. 20 people from the USA and UK all united for one purpose: preach the Gospel! How cool is that?! Tomorrow is orientation, seeing victoria falls, and preparing the trucks. On Friday we'll leave for 8 days in the villages. Please pray for us and for the ministry that we'll be doing. I'll update when we return. Blessings!