From a Happy Heart...

A week ago, I got the following email...

Very few people knew that I was even applying for the trip, but now that it's a done deal and since it's Thanksgiving, I thought I would take to the internet and say a few things about what will hopefully be happening in my life in the next few months. 

Today is Thanksgiving, a day set aside to express our gratitude for the many blessings in our life. I have so much to be grateful for. So, so, so very much. I am in a very small percentage of people in the world that have food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof overhead, a mostly reliable form of transportation, and a bed to sleep in each and every day of my life. I also have a tribe that takes care of me...my amazing family, my sweet friends, awesome co-workers, and a church congregation. So sure, my bank account is usually pretty close to empty, but my life? It overflows with goodness and love. Lately, money has been a bit of a concern for me (I had an expensive root canal and other things popped up that made my finances a little tighter than usual), but in this season of penny pinching, God has shown me how beautiful and blessed my life is and how much I have compared to so many. The desire to give back and fight against the "American Dream" mentality that tells me that I need more has been so strong in my life as of late. "Enough" doesn't exist. We will always want more. So, my prayer has been for contentment, for God to show me every day just how much I do have, and for gratitude for each and every lovely thing in my life. 

Which brings me to the email...

Why Africa? Why PMI? Why March 2014?

My heart has always been broken for the African people. When people talk mission trips, I have always felt a pang of sadness when people were going to Africa and I couldn't join them. I've supported charities that build wells in Uganda. My Compassion child lives in Uganda. I've never really felt the same type of pull to another place...which is not to say that I don't feel for the plight of people that live in other places or that I don't think it's important to minister to people in your own neighborhoods and community, but as Gareth from Rend Collective Experiment said Sunday night, "God has called us to unity, not uniformity." God puts different people, places, and passions in our hearts. It takes all of us working together to accomplish His plan for the world. He invites each of us into His story, but we have different roles to play. You may not want to go to Africa. You can't even imagine why I would want to go. That's cool. I don't have a problem with that. It's not for everyone. However, currently nothing excites me more than spending 10 days in Africa and getting a front row seat as God changes lives. The idea of getting to be a small part of God's plan for the people of Uganda? My heart explodes at the thought. 

As far as PMI (Palmetto Medical Initiative) and March 2014, here's the deal: I love the band Needtobreathe probably more than I should. I also love my cousin Melissa...an appropriate amount, I think, considering she is both family and one of my best friends. In March 2012, we saw NTB for my 24th birthday. They support PMI and talked about going to Uganda at the concert. Melissa felt God sending her to Africa at that concert and went in December 2012. I had just started working in Winchester and the timing was all sorts of wrong or I would have tried to be right by her side. When she got back, she immediately told me I had to go...and being the adventure seeking, bucket list attacking (a trip like this one is on my 30 Before 30 List...# 17 and #18) duo that we are...we set March 2014 as our date of departure. PMI goes for 10 days which is long/short enough for me. As much as I want to go to Africa and love and minister to children there, I would not want to be away from the kids in Winchester for too long. Going in December or the summer would be very difficult for me given my line of work, however, March is not an especially busy season for church work (especially since Easter is in April this year). I will turn 26 on March 4th and, if all goes according to plan, I'll fly to Uganda on March 7th. It might just be the best birthday gift ever.  

I've always been fiercely independent and very introverted. As grateful as I am for community, I sometimes have a problem relying on community as I should. I absolutely, positively HATE asking for help. I really despise the thought of inconveniencing people. However, the simple truth is, to chase this dream of mine, this desire God has placed on my heart, I will need help. In Africa, God working through the entire PMI team will cause great things to happen. For me to get to Africa, it will take God and a team of people that love me and believe in me. The trip is not cheap. In fact, it is more than 10% of what I make annually. I'm a firm believer that most of the worthwhile things in our lives are not easy. I'm trusting that God is going to teach me some big things about the importance of community and dependence on Him through this experience. When I applied for the trip, I had just enough in my bank account to pay for my passport and the application fee...and then I held my breath for the rest of the month. All my bills got paid and I didn't go hungry, so...success! I believe going to Africa is something I'm supposed to do. I believe God already knows how the funds are going to come together. I have faith. I have a few questions and concerns as well, but I know that God has never led me somewhere and left me all alone. He has a plan and it is all going to come together and at the end of this, I will marvel at His grace and provision...because that's what happens. Every. Single. Time.

In the next few weeks, I will be starting my fundraising efforts. I will have an online link where you can donate to the trip and a mailing address...the funds will go to PMI directly and will be 100% tax deductible. For now, will you join me in praying? Pray for my heart to be prepared. Pray for the December 2013 PMI teams traveling to both Uganda and Nicaragua. Pray for the March teams, which are still in the process of being formed. Pray for people all over the the world that are struggling for whatever reason. 

This Thanksgiving, I have so much to be grateful for and my suspicion is that you do, too. I hope this has given you at least a small idea of how excited I am that God has given me this opportunity. Now that the cat is out of the bag, I hope you will join me in my excitement. This is going to be a life changing experience and my prayer is that I am open to all that God is going to be teaching me over the next few months. Thank you for reading...I'll have more updates soon!