GOD IS AMAZING!

I'm reminded of this truth daily. I'm so excited at all He is doing in my life. He keeps throwing opportunities in my face to share about Africa and the passion that He's given me. Next week, there's the GO (Global Opportunities) week at my school. I'm so excited! I get to be a representative of Vox and share their mission. Then Tuesday night after the conference, I get to share how God has created a passion for Africa in my heart and what He's doing with that passion. I'm so excited! Please pray as I prepare for the coming week. Pray that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel (Eph 6:19) and am able to share the great works of God. Our God is amazing!

Whoa! Four months? How'd that happen?

Slowly it's hitting me that just four short months from now I'll be half way across the world. Whoa! It's definitely evoked an array of emotion: excitement, anxiety, fear, apprehension, anticipation, hope, concern, yearning, zest, overwhelmed, the list goes on. I realize how much I still need to do to be ready, and let me tell you, it's a lot. I was reading a South African newspaper yesterday, and I scared me a bit. It seemed every headline dealt with murder, rape, and political scandal. I looked up from my computer and prayed, "God, why are you sending me here again?". Then I saw information about orphans and brokenness and remembered why. God's sending me to love one those who may have never known love, who have lost hope. He's given me a compassionate heart that I may show His character to the forgotten. I was really struggling with fear yesterday, doubting God's ability to protect me. But then God filled me with His incredible peace at Evensong (a campus wide praise service at CU) while we were singing "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman.

"And I will fear no evil,
For my God is with me.
And if my God is with me,
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear? "

As these words left my mouth, I was reminded of all of the times (and trust me, there's a TON) that God has protected me and provided for me. He's never let me go. As the song says, if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear? God casts out all fear. A saying that my mom has posted on our fridge at home kept going through my mind: The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. God’s peace, a peace that surpasses all

understanding, simply overwhelmed me. It’s amazing! Learning to trust God is a constant struggle. I don’t claim to be an expert, but I pray that God leads me more and more each day. He has proven Himself over and over again! I’m learning to surrender my plans and my understanding to His. His plans are so much more than mine could ever be. Look what He’s already done! Like a said, the whole trust thing is still a process; there are still times that I worry about the details of South Africa. Please pray that I learn to trust God entirely. Pray that I seek His will in all that I do, that somehow my feeble acts bring glory to Him.

Please also pray for this transition period. Not only is it hitting me that I’m going, but it’s hitting me that going means leaving. This semester has been so different than the last two. I can honestly

say that I LOVE it here. I love the amazing community that I have here; I know that I’m surrounded by people who love me and are here for me. It amazes me the relationships that

God’s provided me. He’s strengthened relationships from last year and given me some awe

some new relationships. In a nutshell, I don’t want to leave! It’s hitting me that I may never see some o

f these people again come January, like my roomie and my RA. I love them dearly. It’s hitting me how my relationships are going to change with me being gone for a semester. Even those who will return to CU in the fall will change with me being gone for six months. I’m trying to enjoy the time I have without dwelling on leaving, but it’s in the back of my mind. I’m praying to God that the incredible relationships He’s given me will last despite my absence. I’m also struggling to find balance between

planning for South Africa and living life now. I’m here at CU this semester for a reason. I want my focus to be here, but I know that I also must prepare my heart for January. Please pray for wisdom in these matters.

Pray also as I wait for the rest of my support to come. I hate to admit this, but my financial support worries me. I’m trying to trust God, to rely on Him to provide, to believe wholeheartedly that nothing is impossible with Him. Please pray that I can have this faith and that God will continue to provide for me. I’m also praying for more spiritual support. This is HUGE! I’m hoping to find 200 people who will commit to praying for me weekly, as well as 15 people who will pray for me daily. The spiritual battle is raging, my friends. Please join me in the fight.

Cool news! I’ve been planning to lead a CU spring break trip to South Africa and recently met with the man in charge of planning student missions trips. He has an incredible vision for missions! Rather than sending a random team here and there, he wants to establish a partnership with local organizations that are also involved in local churches. He said that Vox is a perfect candidate. Thus, he wants to start a Vox chapter on campus, expand the prayer team from last year, have Vox represented at the missions’ conference starting September 29, and have me as a CU representative, meaning giving the entire campus opportunity to pray for me and stay updated on all God is doing in South Africa. Wow! What an answer to prayer! God is so good! Pray for the development of all these things.

Prayer requests:

Learning to trust God

Spiritual maturity

Transitions

Health and safety

Friendships

Discerning God’s plan

Finances

Prayer support