Hey ya’ll!!!
I have been at training in Richmond, Virginia since May 11; I will be leaving here on June 27, and going to the field on July 10. I have really enjoyed my time here at FPO. I have been learning so much, but the best part is definitely the people. I live in a quad with three other units (families), and there are about 15 or 20 different quads full of people about to go out ALL over the world. At home, it was as if I was unique because of my desire to leave the US and move thousands of miles away, but not here. Everyone here has the same heart; we are all in this journey together, learning how to share our faith in culturally appropriate ways, experiencing our own fears of learning a new language, leaving everything familiar to us, and learning how to eat whatever is placed in front of us. We have had several cultural worship services, a Spanish one, African, Russian, and Arabic service. I helped lead the African service be learning a few songs in several different African languages and singing them with my quad; it was such a blessing. However, the Arabic service was the most touching for me; even though I could not understand the songs or the message in Arabic, the house church setting, gender split seating, and heads covered made the experience very powerful.
Thank you for everyone who has been praying for me during my time here. God has answered prayers in a very personal way....I hate shots, but I was able to get all of my shots…a total of 10 with a TB test, without passing out! That is a miracle! A lady from Fayetteville, GA who I met here at interviews in January went with me every shot day on Fridays and held my hand encouraging me the whole time. She is such a blessing! We get icecream, stickers, and face painting on shot day (it’s mostly for the kids, but it is for grown ups who act like kids too). On Sunday, I had my first stick-shift driving class; it went fairly well, although I have trouble going from clutch to gas on a hill without rolling backwards, but I am getting extra practice this week. Hopefully, I will have a good grasp of the driving by the time I get to the field. I have also been able to learn how to quilt; there is an amazing volunteer couple here from Texas, Mr. Reagan and Mrs. Bobbie, who pour into us. She is teaching about 20 or 30 of us how to quilt, and he is always available to chat or to hang out and watch Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy; there quad feels like home whenever we need to just get away. It has been amazing to see how God puts people in my life while I have been here. He knows exactly what I need!
I am in my final full week here at FPO. I have ordered my prayer cards, finalized my plane tickets to the field, and made my final to-do list for my last 2 weeks in the States. I am almost a RLM (Real Live Missionary)! Please pray for the people of Johannesburg and the violent xenophobic attacks that have been occurring the past couple of months in and around the city. Please also pray for the people that I have become attached to while at FPO who will be going all over the world. Will see ya’ll in a couple of weeks!
I have been at training in Richmond, Virginia since May 11; I will be leaving here on June 27, and going to the field on July 10. I have really enjoyed my time here at FPO. I have been learning so much, but the best part is definitely the people. I live in a quad with three other units (families), and there are about 15 or 20 different quads full of people about to go out ALL over the world. At home, it was as if I was unique because of my desire to leave the US and move thousands of miles away, but not here. Everyone here has the same heart; we are all in this journey together, learning how to share our faith in culturally appropriate ways, experiencing our own fears of learning a new language, leaving everything familiar to us, and learning how to eat whatever is placed in front of us. We have had several cultural worship services, a Spanish one, African, Russian, and Arabic service. I helped lead the African service be learning a few songs in several different African languages and singing them with my quad; it was such a blessing. However, the Arabic service was the most touching for me; even though I could not understand the songs or the message in Arabic, the house church setting, gender split seating, and heads covered made the experience very powerful.
Thank you for everyone who has been praying for me during my time here. God has answered prayers in a very personal way....I hate shots, but I was able to get all of my shots…a total of 10 with a TB test, without passing out! That is a miracle! A lady from Fayetteville, GA who I met here at interviews in January went with me every shot day on Fridays and held my hand encouraging me the whole time. She is such a blessing! We get icecream, stickers, and face painting on shot day (it’s mostly for the kids, but it is for grown ups who act like kids too). On Sunday, I had my first stick-shift driving class; it went fairly well, although I have trouble going from clutch to gas on a hill without rolling backwards, but I am getting extra practice this week. Hopefully, I will have a good grasp of the driving by the time I get to the field. I have also been able to learn how to quilt; there is an amazing volunteer couple here from Texas, Mr. Reagan and Mrs. Bobbie, who pour into us. She is teaching about 20 or 30 of us how to quilt, and he is always available to chat or to hang out and watch Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy; there quad feels like home whenever we need to just get away. It has been amazing to see how God puts people in my life while I have been here. He knows exactly what I need!
I am in my final full week here at FPO. I have ordered my prayer cards, finalized my plane tickets to the field, and made my final to-do list for my last 2 weeks in the States. I am almost a RLM (Real Live Missionary)! Please pray for the people of Johannesburg and the violent xenophobic attacks that have been occurring the past couple of months in and around the city. Please also pray for the people that I have become attached to while at FPO who will be going all over the world. Will see ya’ll in a couple of weeks!
