5.30.2011

church & master planning

Yesterday (Sunday) was church.  If I had to sum up the day in one word (which I just did), I'd use the word church.  We left the guest house and drove 45 minutes to downtown Libreville a CMA church.  The service started about 9:00am Africa time.  We walked in and were seated in the front row.  There was lots of worship, with some sitting breaks because everyone was tired from the football match the night before.  Henry, our team leader gave the message which would have been better if it hadn't been translated into French.

After 3 hours of church, we went to Antoinette's house.  Antoinette is a Gabonese engineer (along with many other degrees).  She's an amazing woman and it was so cool to spend some time with her.  When lunch was done we went to the largest CMA church campus (the sanctuary seats 2000 people) and met with a whole group of Gabonese engineers.  It was pretty cool, to hear from them, but after awhile (probably 2 hours later) it was getting a little dry and Henry let us girls (Lauren, Molly, and me) leave.  So we walked around the campus a little bit.  There were some kids around, some playing soccer, and some swinging sticks around playing ninjas :)  We ran into a group of college students and talked with them for a bit, which was cool.

Today, Henry and I started master planning.  There isn't an architect on our team, so Henry (the project leader and structural engineer) are working on it together.  It was fun, drawing a ton of conceptual site plans.  We still don't have a really good idea of the topography of the site yet, so the plans are all based on concept and program.  Tomorrow we'll head to the site in the morning, to try to get a better feel for it.

Dinners are one of my favorite times of day because all of the team members are back from their various tasks and we usually have a few guests, too.  We talk about everything that's happened throughout the day, try new and exotic fruits and play some Africa trivia.  It's fun :)

Photos are here, on my facebook album.  

5.28.2011

photos on facebook

I was able to upload my photos to a facebook album.  You can view them by clicking on the "Gabon Photos" link at the top of the page.

site visit & interviews

It's hot here in Gabon, but things are good.  We've had a busy and tiring first couple of days.  I slept really well the first night, mainly because I didn't sleep at all on any of the plan rides.  Last night was harder.  I woke up, expecting it to be the middle of the night or early morning, yet I looked at my watch and it was only 11:50pm.  Dang.

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon walking the site.  Basically, it's a jungle.  There are some really tall trees, lots of undergrowth and a few banana trees.  We walked the entire perimeter, as most of it is too dense to walk, unless you have a machete.  I asked one of the guys if there are monkeys... but he said it is too close to civilization and people have hunted all of them in the area.

Today was all interviews.  Six different meetings with the different ministries, hearing all about their visions for the PK27 site.  It was an exhausting day, but we learned a lot.  Luckily we had a translator so I wasn't responsible for understanding everything they said.

Unfortunately the internet here isn't strong enough to upload photos :(  But trust me, it's beautiful!  I'll upload some when we get back to the states.

5.26.2011

we made it!

We made it safely to Gabon. After a long day traveling and a bit of waiting around in multiple airports, we've arrived at the CMA bible school base.

It's so exciting to be able to understand a lot of what people are saying. I want to talk to people, but I'm shy :)

More later!

5.24.2011

gabon tomorrow!

Orientation has been so great and I am loving life in Colorado Springs.  All of the interns are awesome (along with our two leaders) and we've already created tons of inside jokes and memories.  I've laughed so much in the last four days, it's crazy!  Even though I just met all of them, I'm going to miss them for the next three weeks.  Because our project trip is leaving early, we won't all be back together again until the middle of June.

Along with laughter, we have been so in the word this week.  And it's been so encouraging.  Towards the end of this past semester, I'd been so discouraged, forgetting and doubting God's love and care for me.  I was so wrapped up in serving and leading, and following Jesus had become so normal that I began to take for granted God's heart for me.  It wasn't fresh and new in my heart.  Yesterday we spent a ton of time looking at God's heart for the nations.  We went over passage after passage from the bible that describes God's plans and purposes for us.  In order to fully serve and love people in Gabon and show the people what God feels for them, I needed to be reminded of what he feels for me: "For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  Ephesians 2:10  This isn't new.  God made me and he figured everything out long ago.

We are leaving for the airport at 5:30am tomorrow morning!  It's so exciting, but I'm also nervous.  I'd love it if you would join me in praying for myself and my team:  for health, safe travels, meaningful work with the ministry, good weather, safety in Gabon and peace.  I'm also just under $500 from my fundraising goal so please consider supporting me financially if you haven't yet and are able.


"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have this power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is"  Ephesians 3:17-18

I love this verse and I really feel like this is what God is promising for me this summer.

Hopefully I will be able to post some updates and photos while I'm in Gabon.  Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!

5.20.2011

first night in colorado springs.

We made it!  After 2 long days of driving and 1190 miles, my mom and I made it to Colorado Springs, CO.  Today we drove through sun, pouring rain, sleet, rainbows and misty fog.  It was a rather uneventful trip.  Our main source of entertainment was running baby cows.  So cute.

I was inspired to tell a funny story by one of my fellow interns, Lauren (who is going to Gabon with me!).  Here goes: as we approached Denver, the GPS (in her ridiculous British/Australian accent) told us to take E407.  So we did, even though it said "Toll way."  I pulled $1.60 in coins out and we were set...  or so we thought.  We started to get a little worried when we saw the first exit sign, stating $1.20 and "Do not stop."  If the toll is $1.20 after 2 miles, how much will it cost after 35 miles?!  And how do you pay?!

Luckily I have an android, so I used the Google.  And after using the toll calculator, we discovered we would be charged $11.20... somehow.  Anyway, we decided to bail.  So we exited for 70 West.  Expecting a toll booth or camera or something we cautiously took the ramp towards Denver.  But nothing happened.  We still have no idea how we escaped and got so lucky.  And we are half expecting the cops to find us... my car is pretty hard to forget.

Don't know if that was funny or not... I think you maybe had to be there.  Haha.

Tomorrow I move in with my host family and orientation starts on Monday!

We also stopped at the Colorado Welcome Center and I battled it out with a buffalo.

Colorado! We made it!

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5.18.2011

packing



I'm back from Cedar Campus after an awesome week!  It was so great, building relationships with my classmates and teammates.  We even had a few days of sun!  It was such a growing experience and I feel like I learned a lot.  Including this: God wants to use me to lead my fellow students in tangible ways.  I know, crazy, right?!

After returning home, rather sleep deprived, I've spent most of my time packing and getting everything in order.  I've been able to connect with a few high school friends as well as spend even more time with my IV friends from IIT.  They have provided so much encouragement and blessing in my life.

Last night a group of us from IIT met down at the International House of Prayer in Elkhart Indiana... more on this later!

5.06.2011

chapter focus week

This week, I will be heading up to Cedarville, Michigan for an InterVaristy camp.  I'M SO EXCITED!  Chapter Focus Week is easily the best week of the year.  Last year, God worked in so many different ways in my life.  It was awesome.  I'm so excited to see what he has in store for this week.  

I ask for prayers for the week.  I'll be heading up north with 27 other college students from IIT, as well as hundreds of students from schools around the country.  Pray for  safe travels, deep friendships and changed lives.  

After CFW, I'll be heading to Colorado in 2 weeks!  I cannot wait.  

5.03.2011

financial support

I'm getting close, but I still need to raise $1, 018 for my internship with eMi this summer.  Please consider making a financial contribution towards my trip.  All donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small.

If you ever have questions, or want to know more about my trip, please email me!

I got all of my vaccinations for Africa, now all I need is the money to get there!