On your mark...

Get set...
Go!

That's right! Tomorrow I leave for Swaziland! I can't believe the time has actually come! It seems like this last year we've been planning and planning and we'd never actually be getting on a plane, but here we are getting ready to leave on a plane at 8:30 in the morning on Saturday!

As we're on our journey, I don't know what internet access will be like, so I don't know for sure if I'll be able to communicate with everyone about what's happening. However, each day, our team will be doing a devotional together, and I have scheduled a post with that devotional to come up each day we're traveling or in-country. Please do read them and pray along with us.

While our team is in Africa, please pray for:
safe travel - we'll be going by plane and bus, through Malaria zones, and in a country with high rates of HIV
the kids we'll be ministering to - that their hearts would be open, and their needs met
the team members - that we would mesh well and be blessed by the kids and carepoint staff
our families and friends at home - that they would provide the necessary support so the team can come back knowing there is not chaos at home.

Specifically for me:
pray that my professors would be patient with me as I work to catch up after returning from Swaziland
pray that I would be receptive to everything God wants to speak to me while we're there
pray that I'll wake up on time! :-)
that I would be able to minister to these kids in a way that they will understand and receive - and that they will do the same for me.

Thank you all for your incredible support as I've prepared to leave with our team. The time is finally here, and I can't wait to share everything we do with you - either as it happens, or upon returning to the U.S.

Saying Goodbye

My Grandma Loene went to be with Jesus today. I will miss her so much. She always brought people together, and even as she passed in the hospital this morning, she was with people she loved and who loved her. She was an amazing, amazing woman who genuinely loved others. She never missed a birthday or special occasion if she could help it. I always got a card on my birthday, at Valentine's Day, Easter, sometimes even on St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving. She just loved to connect. And she did it well.

I love you so much, Grandma. I'll see you when I get to Heaven.

Africa is Happening.

Yesterday, at our first team meeting of 2012, I was informed by the team leader that we officially have 40 days and 40 nights before we depart for Swaziland. WHAT?!?! 40 days and nights. Oh. My. Goodness.

Sometimes, I think about it and wonder, "is this REALLY happening? Am I REALLY going to Africa?" And then I remember: "Oh yeah...God IS Faithful...and he likes to prove it."

That's really what Swaziland is about for me. It's about God showing me just how faithful he is to bring me through anything in order to fulfill his promises. Now, there are a few things that I know without a shadow of a doubt that God has promised he would do for me. But going to Africa was never one of them. Sure, it has been on my heart for years and years, but it was never something that I KNEW God was saying "Jackie, you're going to do this".  Until May.

Each and every moment I've spent getting ready for Swaziland has been another moment for me to realize how incredibly loving and faithful God is. It's another moment for me to recognize His hand of blessing on my life and how amazing it is when I decide to give everything and be led, rather than trying to lead blindly. Each obstacle to going has been just another obstacle that He's held me tightly and bounded over to arrive at this place where I am truly in awe of the wonderful, wonderful love of Jesus.

At first, I thought "oh, they're going in the middle of the school year". But then I checked the dates: It's during my spring break. The next issue was "how could I ever raise $3,000? I don't know that many people who are financially able to help." And I won't lie, this one was hard. I called a good friend after the initial interest meeting in May, and she told me that she would find a way to commit to supporting me each month from June through February. I was floored. The amount she had pledged was enough to lower the total significantly, but I still worried about being able to find friends and family willing to give the rest. In fact, I had received a call from my team leader wondering if I would get the money necessary in by the deadlines set for us (read about that here). Within three days of that phone call, God came through and more than made up the difference between where we were asked to be and where I was.

I was fully funded approximately a month before our final due date for funds...which is completely amazing...everyone I talk to about the experience is totally in awe at how quickly and faithfully the funds to go arrived. All I can do is smile and remember God's faithfulness.

Look for more posts in the coming weeks about the Faithfulness of God and how it relates to Africa. I won't make any promises, but I'm going to try to post more often between now and when the team leaves.

2011 In Review

What a year 2011 has been! It has contained so many new experiences, new friends, and wonderful adventures, and just remembering them has been quite fun! Let's revisit the best parts of 2011!!!

Firsts:

Visiting St. George (January)

Visiting Las Vegas (March)

Date (February)

Ice Skating (January)

Marriages/Engagements:

Kirsten, Married (July)

Jessica, Married (July)

Melissa, Married (August)

Brittany, Married (December)

Amie, Engaged (November)

Britni, Engaged (December)

Shawn, Engaged (July)

Time with Friends:

Holi Festival in Spanish Fork (March)

Movies on the Capitol Green (July)

Music Goodness:

Aaron Gillespie, AJ Cheek & The City Harmonic (October)

Steven Curtis Chapman, Andrew Peterson & Josh Wilson (November)
Final Chamber Singers Holiday Concert (December)

Travel:

Road Trip to Las Vegas/ Disneyland (March)

UTA/UMEA in St. George (February)

Phoenix, AZ for NCHC (October)

Corbett, OR for SDS (August)

Ketchum, ID (October)

Fun Stuff:

Stage Managing (February)

2011 Walk MS Utah (April)

My 21st Birthday! (April)

Biggest Fan: Amie

Today, I would like to introduce you to a member of the "Three Musketeers", a fabulous woman of God, and a great friend.

This. Is the beautiful, talented, and completely wonderful Amie.

Don't be alarmed by the gun and busted CD in the picture...she's really quite tame.

This gal is one of the most awesome, amazing, sweet, caring individuals I have ever met. 

Seriously. I don't think there are enough adjectives in the world to describe just how wonderful and amazing this woman is.

We met at the beginning of my freshman year of college, and together with her now fiance, became the Three Musketeers. She encouraged me to audition for Chamber Singers again in the spring, and we had the privilege to sing together during her last semester at Westminster. She loves music so very much and it's not uncommon to hear her bouncing around the house humming a tune, singing a song, or otherwise having a crazy dance party on her own (oh, did I mention she's also my roommate?!).

I can't tell you the number of nights I've spent sitting on the floor with her, both of us a weepy mess, and still attempting to converse. Or even standing in the kitchen, doubled over and unable to breathe because of something that probably won't be funny in two years, but certainly was in the moment. She is a strong prayer warrior and loves Jesus with all her heart, and she shares that love with everyone around her. All she has to do is say hello, and suddenly your day feels a little bit brighter because Amie has sent some of her sunshine your way. She is engaged to one great guy, and I am so excited to see how they continue to grow together as an engaged, and then married couple. Sometimes she doesn't know what she's doing with her life, if she's going the right direction or if she is really up to the challenge of being a Navy wife. Amie, you totally are. You are so strong and you bring comfort in times of heartache, I know you are going to be a huge blessing to everyone on base when you arrive.

It's such a great thing to have amazing friends in - Amie is one who I'm going to keep around, whether she likes it or not! :-)

My dear Miss Amie, you are an incredible blessing in my life and I cannot wait for our friendship to blossom and grow even deeper as we get older! (You know we're probably going to be those old ladies in the nursing home laughing at something completely stupid). I LOVE YOU!

umusa nekuthula

 

As the time to go to Swaziland gets closer, and the months move more quickly, I am continually reminded of the purpose for this journey. Ten years I've been ready to go, and ten years I've waited for an open door to go to the continent of Africa to minister to the children who have been abandoned by a disease that was not their fault. 

I am saddened by the circumstances of these children, but at the same time, I cannot wait to go and show them hope and love. I received a note from a friend today that said "As you will soon learn, Swaziland is a beautiful country full of beautiful people who are in desperate need of God's love and His mercy." Her note truly encouraged me and reminded me of the reason I desire so strongly to go.

 One way I keep feeling the blessing of God on this endeavor is through the support He continues to bring in. I received an update today, and there were donations sent on my behalf that I was not aware of - combining these new donations with another just received today, I am $135 from the total support that I need to go to Swaziland in February!!!!!  There are not sufficient words to express the joy in my heart knowing that I really do get to go and touch the lives of the kids at the Mkhombokati carepoint.

Now as I write, a song is running through my head, the first part seems especially pertinent:

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give his only son

To make a wretch his treasure

Wretched. This is what I am. Without Him, I cannot love, I cannot live. Yet, he places desires deep within my heart, and asks me to wait on his timing. He asks me to trust that when his plan comes through, that it will be better than I ever could have imagined. And it is. He takes me in my mess, my wretchedness, and blesses me beyond words. He places joy and passion in my heart to do what He has called me to do, and walks with me through open doors. I am still struggling to comprehend his love for me, and that He would choose to use me to bless the children in Swaziland. I'm humbled and honored by this opportunity.

If you'd like to keep up to date with what's happening with our team, check out the website for our mission at www.swazilandmission.com/. Your continued prayers and support are highly valued.

Umusa Nekuthula (Grace and Peace)

 

I Hear (Wedding) Bells

Amie and Josh at the Josh Wilson concert last week

These two lovebirds, Amie and Josh, are two of my best friends in Utah. Seriously. You'll be hearing more about both of them in the coming months because....GUESS WHO'S GETTING MARRIED?!?!?! They are!

Josh had me in on the whole plot for the ring and the proposal, and I got to be sneaky with Amie, who is not only one of my best friends, but also happens to be my roommate! Josh would tell me things about plans he was making, and then I'd hear from Amie about how she was freaking out because Josh had just pushed dates back again...and all I could do was smile, laugh inside, and attempt to convince her to keep appointments, or stop crying. :-)

I am so honored to be part of their special day, and was so excited when shortly after being proposed to, Amie took me downstairs, knelt (proposal style), and asked me to be her Maid of Honor! What a great honor to walk the wedding road with a pair of great friends, and one fabulous roommate. Next weekend, you'll hear about our adventures in dress shopping, wedding talk, and venue appointments!  Get ready to hear about wedding stuff non-stop for the next 6 months! Hooray!

And if you're interested in the proposal story, you can read about it here, on Amie's blog!