The First Week in Jordan

My first week in Jordan has been very full and very good. This time last week, I was getting off my 2nd plane, having being up 34 hours, and going through a hour of questioning at the airport I was met with my nephew running into the air port (against the rules) into my arms. This was beyond amazing and made everything worth it! I spent the night and morning in Eliat, Israel with my sister-in-law and nephew. We went down to the beach and I could look over the water and see Jordan to my left, Egypt to my right and Saudi Arabia straight ahead. It was truly awesome! We WALKED across the Jordan-Israel border which was about a block of sand with high fence on either side and on the sides men in towers (with guns) guarding the border. To say the least , it felt very surreal.
My first day in Jordan ended with going to the LIFE Center, where my brother works, and getting to help with one of their programs. It is a coffee shop night where the English students can come and practice their English in conversation. I talked with 2 different groups of woman and enjoyed it so very much! They even helped me a little with Arabic which they love.
Last week I got to visit at an Arabic woman's house as part of my work, also. It was a great time to experience their culture and see these woman more relaxed in a setting outside the center; they can let their hair down....literally. I am so excited to further the relationships with the woman.
My coming has been "for such a time as this" my sister- in-law told my mom. Because of all their responsibilities, I am able to help bring a load off with all that I am able to do. The prayers are called out over the city (on speakers) as I write. I am reminded of the bondage that is here and what a hold it has on the people. I have never experienced it to this extent before. This country is truly in need of our attention. It is 9:00pm where y'all are and 4am here so I better write more later!

Ok go...

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes."
Isaiah 58: 6-12

This has been my favorite passage in preparing for Kenya. It is written on my heart. I am ready to go rebuild the deserted ruins. I have an early flight tomorrow morning to Indianapolis for training. After six days, my team will be hopping a plane to Nairobi. The adventure has thus commenced and I hope to share it with you as much as possible.

Ready? Yes. One, two, three.

Ok, go!

Digging support...

Support:
(1): to promote the interests or cause of
(2): to uphold or defend as valid or right : advocate
(3): to argue or vote for
(4): assist, help
(5): to act with
(6): to bid in bridge so as to show support for
(7): to provide with substantiation, to pay the costs of, to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of
(8): to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for, to maintain (a price) at a desired level by purchases or loans, to maintain the price of by purchases or loans.
(9): to keep from fainting, yielding, or losing courage
(10):to comfort,to keep (something) going

I have experienced a lot of irony and surprises in terms of my support (spiritually, emotionally, and financially) for Kenya. One ironic thing has been receiving my support. The individuals and families that I expected to support me the most have not. And the individuals and families that I never expected to support me have done so abundantly. Maybe ironic is not the best word.

This is what I know... I have felt an overwhelming crowd of people surround me in this adventure. There are faces in that crowd that I have known for years. There are faces in that crowd that I have just recently met. And there are faces in that crowd that I do not know at all. And more, there are faces that are missing from the crowd; faces that I wanted to be a part of this adventure that took no interest.

But nevertheless, I am in no lacking of support. I cannot express my gratitude to the people who have decided to journey with me to Kenya. My supporters: You have promoted my interests and causes for this summer. You will be my advocate while I am gone. You have assisted and helped me get there. I can act in Nairobi because of you. You have bid in bridge so as to show me support. You have provided for the basis of my existence in Kenya. You serve as my foundation. You have kept from me fainting, yielding, or losing courage. You have been my comfort which has kept me going these past few months. ACC has contributed much to all of these things.

Support. I thank you endlessly. Can you dig that?

My future pictures...

My CMF recruitment officer Phil just got back from Nairobi last week. He went over there with his wife to help set things up for my team. His pictures make me excited.

Only five more days until I leave for training!

How I spent my summer "vacation"...

Vacation? Not this summer. I left school before most were done with finals, got two day at the beach then started my internship May 12 at Christian Financial Resources, Inc., in Lake Mary, FL. I had been hired just two weeks prior and was excited to have a job that I could actually put to use all the craziness that I had just "learned" in the past year.

I walked into the building monday morning, met the boss Darren, who instructed me to follow him to "my office." I followed expecting to go to some dinky desk cubicle or something, but oh no I have a REAL office. Definitely a good start. For those of you that dont know what CFR is, its a non-profit financial company created to help churches get loans to expand or build. We also do IRAs and CDs for Christians all over Florida... and beyond. On Sundays I travel around to different churches in the state, promoting our business, and helping fellow Christians invest their assets, while at the same time, helping build Gods Kingdom. Pretty cool business.

Im also taking three summer classes at a community college here, so "summer vacation" does not apply to me. Sad thing is, Im actually looking forward to things slowing down when I get back to ACC!

Gifts, gifts, and more gifts...

I am quite possibly the worst over-packer you would ever meet. Seriously, it can be bad. A one weekend trip translates to seven outfits for me. I mean, you never know what you will be doing while you are away right?

Let me break down my trip to Kenya for you a little bit. The trip is ten weeks long. The first week I will be in Indiana for training. Weeks two through eight (and a half) will be in Nairobi. My last four days will be spent being debriefed in Indiana. If I were to pack my normal amount, I would need at least ten suitcases.

That certainly is not possible with this adventure. I am allowed one fifty pound suitcase, one twenty pound suitcase, and a backpack. In addition to my clothing and basic necessities, I need to bring gifts. I have gifts for my host missionaries. I have gifts for my national family. I have gifts for my language assistants. And I have gifts for the children in the city. I have started putting my gifts in my suitcase, as you can see.

You can call me a wise woman, because I am coming bearing gifts ;)

Going native...

One of my goals for the summer is to become a little less American (after helping people of course). My teammates and I will be staying in a guest house for 80% of our
trip and the remaining 20% will be with a national family. It is safe to say that we are going to be roughing it compared to what we are used to. There will not be standard American accommodations such as air conditioning or even toilets. My electric usage will be limited as well as my internet and telephone capabilities. I am leaving my technology at home, and I am going to take different approach to life these next few months.

Basically, I am getting ready to go native; heart, soul, and hair!

Piles of peace...

Life has been moving in the fast lane since school ended. You may be aware from my previous posts that I am going to be spending the summer in Nairobi, Kenya. There is a lot to accomplish before I leave for my big adventure... in eight days!

I have been spending these past two weeks in preparation mode. So far I have successfully gotten all of my required immunizations. I have also bought gifts for my host missionaries, my national families, and my language assistants. In addition, I have a big pile of toys, games, and candy for the children in Nairobi. Yesterday I took care of my banking information to make sure I could use my Visa card in the city. Today I had a paper notarized with instructions regarding my remains should I pass away on my trip. There are still some details I need address before next Wednesday.

Other than preparing logistically for leaving, I have been spending a lot of time preparing my heart for Kenya. I realized when I got home from school that I was not at peace about my trip yet. Therefore, I have been meditating on peace daily. Like it says in Ephesians 6, I have been putting on the shoes of peace. Already I feel myself gaining immense peace about this summer.

I am not sure how consistently I will be able to post on here this summer because of the limited internet access I will have in Nairobi, but I can offer some glimpses of what preparation looks like for me. This is the beginning of just one pile of things going to Kenya. The piles are growing, kind of like my peace.

sweet summertime

so it's been a week and a half since my last final, and i think i'm busier now than i was before! :) all of last week was consumed by helping with the golf tournament to raise money for our student mission trips to Cincinnati and Kentucky(which i'm going on). the tournament went off without a hitch, so now my sights are set on my first trip of the summer-First Timers Camp at Woodland!

it's funny-i never imagined that i would be where i am today. it's been a hard year, but i know this summer holds something big for me. God's been all over my life lately; making things make sense and just reminding me that there's something bigger going on here than just me. i'm getting to impact the community, and it's pretty cool; getting to see God's hand in the happenings around me.

i'm excited; i guess that's the only way to put it :D

Welcome to the ACC Summer 2008 Blog!

This is the place for students, faculty and staff to post about what they're up to this summer. If you have any questions about the blog, contact the Student Development Office!