I can't wait...

[http://www.2canadiansonbikes.com/photogallery/2008%20Mali1/Mali%2020080063a.JPG]

I can't wait to just sit there, I mean really just sit there in the Malian dirt and hold an HIV+ kiddo, hug on them, whisper in their ear how their Savior loves them dearly, and kiss them on their forehead. I can't wait to just sit there and melt. To just keep on cuddling them because it's moments like these that let them know someone really loves them like they are. Then they can understand the love of their Savior. To teach that little one that GOD has great plans for their life, and how He is the GOD of the impossible. I can't wait to see that bright little smile. Those words that'll ask, "Really?" And how I can answer a million times over, awo. Yes. He is THAT good, little one.

and there it was. :))

if you could've just heard me scream when i saw this african potato on my plate. haha!

He's just TOO good. and that's true. :))

love.

holden-buddy

this aunt is very happy.

my little holden-buddy's graduation is today. he is six and almost no longer in kindergarten. he's a beautiful little person. what a kid. he keeps asking me, "when are you going to ackrafa?" haha. you've gotta love little kid's pronunciations. congratulations, holden! i'm so proud of you. love you to the moon and back :D

advocating for the orphan

Please, please, please read this post about sweet, adorable "T". is she your daughter?

it's difficult knowing...

There were an estimated 4300 street children in Bamako in 2002. That is almost ten years ago and that's only in the capital city alone, not even taking into consideration those kids in Mopti, Segou, Timbuktu...

To say that it breaks my heart would be an understatement. Those are KIDS out there living ON.THE.STREETS. Alone. Terrified. Hungry. Just for a second, will you imagine this with me? Put your son or your daughter, or a kid you know, in their place.

The same study that came up with those astounding estimates of the #'s of these kids, says out of the numerous cause of why these kids end up alone on the streets, a big factor plays into the way their Koranic school tutor forces them to live and beg on the streets, and then their tutor taking what they've earned. Some of the other mentioned reasons why are because of abuse/neglect, and poverty.

Those estimated 4300 kids are subject to child trafficking.

They range from around four years old to fifteen.

Just imagine your son or daughter alone, on the streets. They beg for their every meal. And sometimes they don't get anything. Sometimes they're taken advantage of. Other times they feel unloved and completely alone. They have no one to tuck them in at night, and may have never heard the words, "I love you.". Never. And they might never hear them. Ever.

Will you pray with me for the street kids of Mali? I'm falling in love with these precious little people, and it's difficult.

It's difficult knowing.

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." -- Helen Keller

oh wow. haha. fact about africa #122 - swahili is not the name of a country. i couldn't stop laughing at my sister either.

went apartment hunting for August-December. i think it's fair to say i just can't get into it. nothing can quite compare with moving to africa. haha. so yeah, i'll just let my sister pick one she likes. i mean, hey, i'll only be living there for like 4 months with her anyway, right? :D

oh wow. so how about i was introduced to a eight year old girl's blog about HIV. She herself is adopted, and HIV+, but she's advocating for all those kids with "different blood". What an inspiring girl! Please go read her blog.
It is very important for people to understand that kids with HIV are not untouchable, unlovable, or unkissable, and that they can live life just like any other kid and should be given the chance to do so. Like Olivia says, they've just got different blood is all :))
One day - when i do adopt - my plans are to take one or some of these kids in as my own. So, GO Olivia! GO!

i've never cried so many happy tears in my life. what love. my life has forever changed since Feb. 27, the day i finally said, YES GOD. I'll go out of my comfort zone for You. I trust You with my LIFE. :)) Jesus wants all of you, not just Sunday morning or a "yeah, He's my Savior" but inwardly saying "That was for Daniel in the lion's den. not me." Please, i beg you, love Him with everything that is within You. Take a giant leap of faith. You'll never regret it. YOUR life can be full of happy tears too :D

OH.MY.GOODNESS. This adoption story has Him written all.over.it. I am so thrilled for Andrea and her family, for their new son Isaac, and for what they are stepping out to do. Please go read their story and how they are following His plan! :D

living out of your comfort zone for Him is where it's at! :))

i hunger for things that are deeper. could You take me beyond, could You carry me through? if i open my heart, could i go there with You? i been here before, but i know there's more. oh, Lord, i need to know You. what do i have, if i don't have You, Jesus? what in this life could mean any more? You are my rock, You are my glory. You are the lifter of my head. -- starfield

i'm in love with this new bambara phrase i've learned.
ne bε shεsogo fε. i want chicken.

what Love...

mali...

what love. what beauty you are. yet, there's one beautiful Love that'll make you want to jump for joy when you find it. i can't wait to tell you, to let you taste and see just as i have. you'll never be the same once you hear about it, once you ask Him to come into your heart. you'll wanna live because of it. you'll wanna dance. you'll wanna let the others know that they too can have this joy. that joy you wont' be able to contain.
you, the 5th poorest nation on Earth, you'll have it all.
you already have a few million miles on most of us. you don't put your happiness in superficial things. money isn't your god. you've got nothing great according to the world, yet you know you don't need that other stuff. the cars. the houses. the things people live their whole lives to obtain and then find out it didn't make them happy. they still missed something.
so you, Mali, will have it all when you have Him.

-- the girl who can't wait 'til the day that you taste and see


16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[a] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[b]"

20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 19:16-24

What beauty - GOD's creation...

little Miss Izzie before she was Lil' Mama Izzie :))

Miss Lexi June

Very pregnant Izzie.

Due to some forgotten things about fundraising rules that I just thought of, I don't think I'm supposed to put up the Paypal yet. Sorry :( But, I'll let you guys know when I can get it up here. It'll be a few weeks. LOL. Sorry for the inconvience. Gosh, I forget so easily lol. Haha.

I am just so blown away by His provision for Mali. It's only half way through May, and I already have 10% of the budget. And I haven't even really begun to fundraise yet. No car washes, dinners, nothing. I've just put my need out there on this blog and through Crazy Love (& a couple of people from back home) and He's provided. Gosh, I can't wait to see what else He is going to do. I'm planning on having the Paypal on here by tomorrow afternoon, for those of you who have asked. GOD bless each and everyone of those who have given either through monetary gifts or prayers! You're such a blessing :))

though it is painful, patiently i will wait. i will move ahead bold and confident, taking every step in obedience. i will serve You while i'm waiting, i will worship while i'm waiting. i will not faint, i'll be running the race even while i wait. it's not easy, but faithfully i will wait. -- john waller

I don't know how to explain it, but lately when I look at a picture of Mali, it looks like home:)) I feel so in love that I just want to sit here and weep. When I hear African drums, I feel alive. So alive that I could explode - because it finally feels right, like home...
Come to find out, there are bunches of djembe drummers in Mali. I cannot wait to hear them. Listen HERE to get a taste of djembe.

I've found myself just sitting and listening to songs from The Lion King on my Zune just so I can hear the music.

Gosh, love is overwhelming yet peaceful at the same time. How is that? I don't know, it just is.
I heart Mali, West Africa.

budget for mali miracle

my memorial box bulletin board :))

Okay, I have a wonderful Memorial Box Monday!

I just want to give praise to GOD! What an awesome GOD we serve. When He says He's gonna provide, HE IS GONNA PROVIDE :))

Last week, two people (who are a couple... haha) have given me a monetary gift for my move to Mali of around $900.

I knew miracles would happen. So, there's another miracle. Just waitin' and watchin' for the rest, and giving GOD the glory every step of the way :)) Thank you so much for those of you who have already blessed me so much with your gifts toward my move to Mali in January. May GOD bless you abundantly for doing something crazy for Him in the name of love. There are many of you that I have never met, yet you chose to give. Thank you so so SOOOOOO much!!

So ready to check the mail for any surprises this week when I get back in town:))

If you guys have any ideas for what I could put on my memorial box bulletin board, let me know. Because I can't really think of anything.

And if you don't know what a Memorial Box Monday is, please visit Linny's blog.

I'm sorry. I have to get this out. No, moving to Mali next year is NOT easy. Of course, I'm estactic about it! :)) But it's also the most challenging thing I've ever done in my life. And I'm not even in Mali yet. I want people to understand that just because I'm going doesn't mean that I'm comfortable with it. By NO MEANS am I in my comfort zone here.

I'm gonna miss so much while I'm over there. One of those things could be the wedding of my best friend, my twin sister, Allisyn. It tears me apart to think that I won't be with her on that happy day, but I know that I can be there in spirit, and that it won't make their wedding any less official because I'm not there. As much as I try to be strong, I'm human. It's just plain hard sometimes, and tears have to be shed because they're a part of the process. I can't let everything be locked inside. So, I'm letting it all out with this post. When you step out of the boat and take Jesus' hand, it's going to be challenging and out of your comfort zone, but just know through Him you'll make it.

I asked Him to speak, and BOY.DID.HE.EVER.

I'm telling you guys... oh.my.goodness. GOD is so so soooooooooo good. I prayed before I left the house for church this morning that He would speak specifically to me in the service today. I said speak to others too, but specifically to my spirit, please.


AND.BOY.DID.HE.EVER.


Let me back up and say that I've been thinking of Zechariah and Elizabeth so much the past few days. Their biblical story of GOD telling Z that his wife Elizabeth is going to bear a child in her old age, and how Z didn't believe GOD and GOD made him silent until the birth of his son John (who would prepare the way for the Messiah). I didn't know why I kept thinking of this, but now I do. He was preparing for this morning's sermon. He does stuff like that you know? :))


I did the same thing months, weeks before the day at the Chi Alpha Retreat where GOD used Peter and the boat to speak to me OH SO LOUDLY at the retreat that weekend. Oh, how He loves us, people! He prepares your heart so that you'll say, Oh, that what that was. That's why I was thinking of that.


This morning in service we had a guest speaker, Wally Odom. We're having him for revival this week through Wednesday night. I am SO excited. I'm jumping up and down inside just thinking of all the people that are going to FINALLY GET OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.


This morning the message he preached was all about Z and his wife, and how GOD uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That he challenges us and stretches, brings us out of our comfort zones. And how when GOD speaks a word into our life, how we as humans tend to question it, even when it comes from an angel as in Z's case. And how you're SCARED.TO.DEATH because you feel so incapable of the word and what He has for you. The preacher brought up a very interesting thought. Everytime an angel came to someone in the Bible, they would say, "Do not fear." The preacher make a point when he continued on to say that when given their assignment in Heaven before they go to earth to complete it, the angels are probably told, tell them not to fear, because He knows what is about to happen to that person is going to challenge them and take them WAY beyond their comfort zone.


Bro. Odom also spoke of how things happen in our life for a reason, coidcidences that lead to the next one and so on and so on. How GOD orchestrates things just so. Like for example, in my life, the SFE (Sahel Formation Experience) that I'm going on next year, things happened to make that happen. Very specific things. Providential things.


He also spoke of Africa (which I totally about stopped breathing when he said Africa and mentioned Kenya because just yesterday or the day before was thinking of Kenya quite a bit), and how this insurance man named Bob picked specifically Kenya to pray for. Didn't know why, just did it. He prayed for about six months. Randomly met up with someone from Kenya at a dinner, that person invited him to Kenya, he went and saw an orphanage. He then went back to the States and told this pharmaceutical company that he knew this orphanage needed medicines, and that the pharm. company threw out a lot of meds a year, and that they could send them to this orphanage. So they did, and the lady from the orphanage called and said that they received over 1 million dollars in meds. And then the orphanage had a BIG celebration and invited Bob back to Kenya to celebrate with them. The president of Kenya was at the celebration. The president and Bob then went on a tour of Nairobi, Kenya and rode by a prison. Bob asked the president what that was exactly, and the President told Bob that it was a prison where they kept all the political speakers, etc. at. Bob told him that they should free them. Bob gets back to the States and a while later he gets a call from the US govt. asking is this Bob the insurance guy. Bob says yes it is. They rejoice with him that Bob talked the President of Kenya into releasing those people, for Congress had been trying for a long time and was unsucessful. Bob then was invited to come and fast and pray for the President of Kenya for the President needed guidance in what to do next with his country. WHAT A STORY. And it's all because Bob obeyed. That he said no to his comfort zone. He changed the lives of so many. Just because of a simple, I'm gonna pray for Kenya.


Please, just say YES. There is no doubt He will challenge you and take you out of your comfort zone, but one person can change the world when they do say YES. Keep pressing on. Don't EVER doubt the word GOD gave you.

an old picture of my youngest nephew, josiah. gosh, i miss you, little buddy. i hope i get to play with you again before i move to africa. that would be a must.

Haha, it hit me not even a minute later that I forgot to tell you guys about...

Little Mama Izzie and her five brand spankin new kittens!! My sister's young cat, barely a year old, gave birth yesterday to her babies. And, boy, are they gorgeous! Yesterday started out by me saying, hopefully I'll help Izzie deliver her kittens today, and before I knew it I heard soft meows out on the back porch. She'd had them without me!

So yeah, these babies are gonna have to be given away when they get a bit older, but I don't know how I'm going to do it. The little guy in the third picture I named Ike. He is cute as a button. He looks like a baby bear, and has very special markings. He's half black, half gray tabby. For real! I'll have to get a picture of him by himself later, but boy is he MY baby right now. Haha. And the babies' umbilical cords are still long. I read somewhere that they will fall off within the first three days. Oh, but it makes them look so babyish with them on...

Izzie is being real good about me rubbing her and the babies.

I told her yesterday, they're beautiful, Izzie.

It is SO amazing how she knew what to do just as soon as she became a mother of five. She knew to lay there and let them feed, even when she could've attended to her own needs first. She knew exactly how to lick around their tails so that they could use the bathroom (sorry if that's TMI lol). It just blows my mind - GOD's creation. He has created everything to work perfectly. Think about it. New little mommies like Izzie have never, ever done anything like this before. Izzie has never even seen another cat do that to her kittens. Yet, somehow it kicked in and she knew what to do, just like every other mommie cat will do. Who told her to lick their little behinds because they won't be able to use the bathroom on their own for weeks? The instinct that GOD gave her. Gosh, I'm just so in love with a Creator that just happened to know this longing in my soul, for Africa. He planted it there. He gave me an instinct to worship Him. To cry for Him to rescue me. To love those babies of Izzie's. To love those beautiful brown African babies. My "instincts" He has given me for a reason.

He's saying, Natali, I placed a love for Africa within you through loving whispers years ago. In fact, even before I started whispering Africa to you, you loved them. Remember that brown baby you asked for from Santa one year? That was ME. Even then you knew something. Those babies needed loving too. You loved them. Years later you grew to hate them, but I, your Father, still loved you and pursued you. I whispered to you, and sent my Holy Spirit to convict you about your hate. When you allowed me back in, you saw that love for them grow, flourish, explode into your life. Fight with everything you have. Fight. For them. For you. For a chance to share that love I've shared with you so that they too can taste and see my love. GO. Fight your way to Africa. I never said it would be easy, but the freedom you find in ME is worth it. The power you now have in Jesus' name. That power that heals, brings the dead back to life, it calls you now to rise. Rise to your calling, daughter. Rise and fight. With everything you have, rise and fight.

So yeah, I found something to write about. And had a conversation with my Father in the process. I wasn't meaning to write that last part of the post, but it just flowed from me. And I wasn't about to stop it :)) He loved me in my most unlovable state. My heart was so ugly, yet He loved it just the same, and said, Come, let me clean it up for you. I've shared my heart. And I'm not ashamed, because I see where He has brought me from.

I've been MIA for a couple of days. I couldn't really think of anything to write about, so I visited other's blogs and made new friends :)) Well, I'm still at a loss of words of what to blog about. Hopefully it will hit me later today or tomorrow.

where's the paypal?

And just in case you're wondering... I'm gonna set up that Paypal. Right now I'm with my mom at home, she had knee surgery last week, sooooo... yeah, next week for sure I'll have it up here.

David said to Goliath, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty." 1 Samuel 17:45
:))

God speaks yet again :))

I'm telling you people, GOD is so so so SO good! Okay, so I'm human and, once again, I failed. I could feel my previous fears and doubts slowly creeping up again - and let's be honest, it was because I was allowing them to. No?
Well, I was on facebook just looking at pieces of flair(buttons) to send to different people, typed in missions, and what do you know but a button stating "Assembly of God World Missions" pops up. How unexpected! Yet, I should know by now to expect the unexpected from Him :))
Very rare that that button saying that should come up when type in a broad category of missions. I think He's trying to tell me something... lol. I should just trust Him and let Him lead. :))

can't wait to see those little smiles. hold those little hands. kiss those little cheeks. and whisper sweet words into those little ears. and say i cé kanyi. you're beautiful. I'm eat up with 'em. just plain in love.

Advocating for dear "Daniel"

This is "Daniel". A precious little boy who just wants a family. He needs love. Could you be the one to give him his wish? Take a long look at his picture. His eyes speak to you, don't they? His smile too.

I can't explain it. I know I'm supposed to write about "Daniel". For someone. For "Daniel".

I saw "Daniel's" picture and read his story on Holly's blog, A Purpose Driven Life. I know that one of you out there feels it. Feels that he is your's. I don't know who you are, or why I feel this way, but I do. Please, for Daniel, don't make him wait any longer. His 5th birthday is this weekend. If it's finances you're worried about, GOD moves mountains. I've seen it with my own eyes. If it's HIV, read up on it and educate yourself about it. HIV does not make him unhuggable, unlovable, or unkissable.

He's just a boy wishing for a family. Everything within him tells him he'll get one. How can you say no, I'll just let someone more capable take care of him? Please, go read more about Daniel at Holly's blog. The link is above. I'm sure she would be more than happy to give you the information about him.

Please, please... I'm begging YOU - whoever you are - stop and pray. "Daniel" will be glad you did.

And for the others, please pray for "Daniel" and for the family that is supposed to say YES, "Daniel", we are your Mommy & Daddy.

new look around here...

Noticed anything new? My blog! :))
My friend, Ashton, from Princess Blog Designs volunteered to make over my blog. Her family has brought home two precious little ones from China, and she is an advocate for the orphan. Her and her friend, Anna, have a blog together [http://iamone143million.blogspot.com/].
What a fabulous thing for her to do! And she did it SO quickly, like afewhours quickly.
So, if any of you are looking for blog makeovers, shoot a email to Ashton!

it's eatin' me up :))

I have the desire to work in an orphanage and with street kids. I mean, it's eatin' me up. Mali's beauty and little faces, hands, and feet...

Gosh, I just wanna love 'em like He loves them.

I'm praying about it, real hard. I don't know exactly what I'll be doing next year while I'm there, but I do know GOD has awakened my soul and everything I am to the orphan. He has shown me their hurt, their pain, but also the joy they still have within them. He has placed this love for the Malian orphan in my heart for a reason. I'm not sure yet why He has and what that means, but I do know something is going to come of it.

So, I'm just waiting to see what it is. Waiting and praying.

I know I'll have a day when I'll look back on this and I'll say, "Thats why..."

random, but there's only approx. 236 days left until Mali! :))

I just want to weep for you, Mali.

I can't help it. I just want to sit here and weep for Mali. I wouldn't call it a burden - like as in the bad sense, but a burden to have them see and experience the fullness of Him. It's a blessing to feel this way about them,but I just want to weep for them. Weep for their not yet knowing Him. Weep for when they will. Weep for my heart is attached to theirs, I think.

Mali, you've got my heart, and I'm in love something fierce. I just wanna spend time with you, talk with you, share things with you. I don't think you'll mind if I cry.

don't you wanna get in on the power of Him?!

"There is nothing in the world or the Church — except the church's disobedience — to render the evangelization of the world in this generation an impossibility." — Robert Speer

think about that. are you gonna sit back and watch or will you get in on the action and be the church Christ died for? do you want to watch others reveling in the power of GOD and His Son Jesus, or do you want to experience it for yourself? go for it! you will never regret it :))

I'm in love with dogon country, mali. period.

Dogon country. what love. I hope I will venture there while in Mali. It is so beautiful. The people, their architecture, their history, their life. Ahhh... take a deep breath with me. I can hardly wait...

what breathtaking beauty.

what precious little breathtaking beauties.

it radiates from their person.

from who they are.

and where they call home.

Dogon country is permanently stamped on my wish list. Maybe GOD will grant this desire? I'll have to wait and see :))

They need love too

It's World AIDS orphan day today. They're not untouchable, unhuggable, or unkissable. They need love and a family just as any other orphan does. Spread the word.

do you?

Will someone tell them about Him? Do you care enough to make it happen?

Compassion for the lost.

A heart to give them what You've been blessed to know.

A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. - Luke 12:48

ne tɔgɔ natali. kalo segi. an ka taa yen.

translation = my name is natali. eight months. take me there please :))

I heart Mali

How am I homesick for a place I've never been to? A place I've never seen with my own eyes?

I'm not sure myself.

Mali - you have my heart. You're taking it slowly, piece by piece, and somehow I know I'll never get it back to its former state.

When I see a picture of you, my eyes fill up with tears. Happy tears and sad tears. Tears because I long to be there with you. Tears because my life will never be the same once I am.

I didn't really know that you existed before this year, yet somehow you've always existed in my heart. GOD reserved a place for you, because He knew I'd need it - a BIG space at that. He knew that at 22 I'd give everything over to Him and allow Him to send me to you.

GOD has given me a burden for you. I asked for it, and I've allowed Him to flood my heart with your story, your people, your heartbeat. Your beauty is unlike anything I've experienced before.

I can't wait to smell the dirt, to see the Niger River. To experience the feel of camel's fur between my fingers. To cry with you, and love on you, and tell you how He can change your life - forever.

I cannot tell you why my thoughts are consumed with you, or why I feel a certain way about the question "what are you going to do when you get back from there?". I hope I never have to leave you.

When I think of times when I was a little girl, I can see how everything led to you and to Him sending me to you. It's incredible. He's incredible. His plan is incredible.

He has immersed me in a river of Mali, West Africa. Ever since the night before my first African literature class, when I was introduced to you and the proposition was given to me to GO, I knew you were it. You were what I had been waiting for. What I had been asking for for years. For the next few months my professor in African Literature class spoke nonstop about you. You were always singled out. Never did she speak about any other country (other than her own country) more than she did you. The stories I read about you - amazing. My favorite Disney movie - based on one of those stories about you. How could I ever doubt that He led me to you. It's plain and simple - He has orchestrated everything so that I couldn't miss you. So that I wouldn't want to miss you. So that I would feel like I was missing something major, something profound if I didn't say YES.

There is something GOD-speaking about me even agreeing. I said no so many times. SO MANY TIMES. There are other places I could go, other places I still want to go to, yet I'm saying YES to you, because GOD is saying GO THERE. He has something in store for me there, just like He did for Jonah in Nineveh. Jonah wanted to go to Tarshish, and he followed his wants. It didn't get him very far. Just in a heap of trouble and misery. I was also running from where He was telling me to go. Over and over again He whispered Africa. Africa was far beyond my comfort zone, far away from my safe dwelling. I almost arrived at Tarshish, but He allowed the whale to spit me onto to dry land. The dumbest mistake of my life was about to be made. I was just about to say YES to the world. But He spoke again, telling me, LOUDLY this time, "What I've shown you, GO".

So, with everything I am, I'm saying YES, LORD, I WILL GO WHERE YOU WANT ME TO. Even Africa - the least likely place EVER for me to have wanted to say YES to. I'm saying YES. YES to stepping beyond my comfort zone, past questioning eyes and discouraging thoughts. I'm stepping up to meet You, and stepping over those standing in my way. I'm not going to allow them to trip me up. I'm holding Your hand, and I'm gazing into Your glorious eyes, and I'm never letting go. You're holding me. With all I have I'm following You. Even to Mali.

Mali, the other day I found myself thinking about you again, and as doubt began to creep up in my mind, I passed our Church sign on the road, and get this, you'll never believe what was on it. CHOOSE TO BELIEVE.

Remember, He gave me a license plate not too long ago that said BELIEVE GOD.

He is just TOO awesome for words!! :))

Mali, I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are where I am supposed to be next year. He has shown me over, and over, and over again how you are IT. Faithfully, He has given you to me, and I embrace you with all I have within me. I'm ready. Flood my senses, Lord. Bring the rain and let it soak my life. I want everything you have to give to me. I'm making myself ready to receive, I'm putting myself in position to catch what You're giving to me.

At the end of this post, my eyes are tearing up again. But this time, it's because I'm in awe of Him and how He has given me this awesome opportunity, this amazing second chance to say YES and to follow Him where He is saying He is.

Everything within me cries out to You, Lord.

Thank you.

8 months to go! & a paypal/chipin button

i'm loving the fact that today marks approx. 8 months until africa :))

I'm sure it'll fly by, because the last 2 months have!

Oh, and by the way, I'm going to get a paypal/chipin thing set up later this week for those of you who have asked.

:))

It's gonna feel somewhat more Mali-like today - a high of 89 degrees :)) YES!! Haha, although the average high temperature in Mali is 100 today,the past few days in Mali, it has been 106-110 degrees :))
I know one thing about next year... it's gonna be HOTTTTTTT. lol.