If so, I am so stoked.

According to the new date that I am planning on leaving for Mali (January 26th), today is day 57 in the countdown. :) I can barely believe it is getting so close! These pirogue boats are in Mali, and I have heard that in order to get to a village (that I may be visiting sometime next year) you must take this boat there - one hour there, one hour back. To say I am excited doesn't cover it in the least. This is in Segou, Mali, about 3 or so hours from Bamako, the capital.

“18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43.
I am a new thing. This thing that so many perceive as a desert for me is You making a way through something that should break me. I should not be able to do this, but with You and through You it is being done. It will be done. Now and in the future. Forever You will be with me. Where I should be thirsting to death according to the world, there will be streams of You, and Your grace, strength and love. You are my stream, You are the way.

[picture courtesy of Google Images]

I'm

longing for warm weather. What is wrong with me?! I’m a cold weather loving person, or used to be. I cannot believe I am seriously wanting 80 degrees right now. Or, maybe I can. Africa is where I want to be. Mali, West Africa to be exact. I want to be in that apartment where I am learning a new way of life. I want to be amongst the Malian adults and smaller people. I want to see and experience the move of God there. I long to eat that food, and add some recipes to my stash. If I could go tonight, I would. I just want to be in this place I feel like my heart’s residing in right now. I want the dirt, and the dust, and the messy feet. I want dirt underneath my fingernails and no makeup. I want a little person’s hand clasped in mine, and the laughter to abound. I just want Africa. Please, come soon. But most of all, I just want to breathe in that warm air, and know that I am there - that I’m at home on this Earth,and preparing to meet You in my eternal Home forever. Oh gosh, I so just made myself even more homesick for a place I’ve never known.

I'm Very, Very Thankful for You, and this past year.

This year has without a doubt been the best year of my life. And I am never going to be the same because of it! I am purposed and feel Hope in my life. As my friend Kylee has done, I am going to make this post month by month what I am thankful for, as this year has sooooo much packed in. The first part of this post will be just that.

December 2009
I am thankful for You continuing to stir my heart for Africa, and for allowing me to fall in love with You like I never had before. I wanted more of You, and I was NOT disappointed in my seeking, for I truly found You. :)

January 2010
I am thankful for God placing missionaries Glen and Karen Smith in my path, and finding out about an opportunity in Mali, West Africa to serve You. I truly surrendered my life to You, and will forever remember the hard nights I spent crying my eyes out, and just wanting to do what You wanted me to. I'm thankful for the time You clearly spoke to me and said, "What I've Shown You, Go". You even placed a West African professor in my life two days a week!

February 2010
This was the month I left everything behind and followed Your lead. Enough said :)

March 2010
I am thankful for You being there with me in my time of need. I knew I was leaving everything behind, but for how long I did not know. I had a choice, and I didn't want to make it, I wanted You to make it. I wanted only to follow You. Throughout this time You were faithful to me and never left my side. This could've shook me so hard, but I had peace throughout, amazingly enough.

April 2010
I felt in my spirit that I wasn't giving everything I personally had to give until I gave that year for Mali. I was so scared of it, and yet I knew You that's what You wanted me to give. I'm so thankful for you confirming that in a sermon right after I told one of my very good friends. I could barely believe all the loving ways You were showing You were in this. I was truly falling in love with You more each and every day.

May 2010
This month I was thankful for you sustaining me through all those difficult times before, and being with my Mom during her surgeries. I remember being amazed, and still am, at how Izzie the cat gave birth to those kittens. Thank you for that amazing opportunity to see little ones grow up, and just how awesome Your creation really is.


June 2010
This was one amazingggggg month! There was an awesome revival that took place in my own soul. One I will never forget. I fell even deeper in love with You through the weeks of revival, and You gave me some amazing new friends as well through it (and I get to spend more time with them in January before I leave! How thankful I am!!). There were nights where I stayed up and cried, thinking of how long a year was and the unknown that came along with that, but You calmed my keeping-me-awake-all-night-long-fears and gave me a peace that passes ALL understanding.

July 2010
This was the month where You broke my heart for all the people who don't know You through a children's class I was working with at church. I hope to be able to go back before I leave and see just how that one little girl who inspired all of this is doing.

August 2010
I'm thankful that You let me reach my last semester in my BA degree, and that You placed the West African professor once again in my path! I prayed about a new campus ministry to attend weekly, as the one I used to attend wasn't in session this semester, and boy did You ever confirm which one! I am very thankful for Victory Campus Ministries and the amazing friends You have given me through it!! Also, I was praising You big time when I was officially accepted into the program to go to Mali next year!

September 2010
This month marked the first speaking opportunity You placed in my path, and I truly cried out to You, not wanting to be like Moses and say I was unable to do what You had given me to do. And You were so faithful in giving me every bit of courage I needed to stand in front of that crowd, and I loved it! Also, I was sooooo thankful for Your faithfulness in provision. It was coming in BIG TIME. And something I had prayed for happened. My sister and her sweet little family were able to come visit me before I move. Thank You so, sooooo much for that one. (And stayed tuned in a couple of weeks, for I think I have exciting news to tell soon! Oh, how He is gracious!)

October 2010
I was so thankful that You kept remaining faithful, and the provision for next year kept pouring in. How awesome just to see it! Yard sale, donations, etc.

November 2010
This month has been awesome! I am just floored by generosity and faithfulness of Him. He has strengthened me beyond anything I EVER thought possible. I am so thankful for You, and my family and friends. I am almost about to graduate from college with my BA in English ( in 20ish days, people!!), and celebrating. I am very thankful for this holiday season, and being able to spend it with a whole bunch of people that I love so much. I am so blessed in every part of my life. And this marks the countdown in 2 months 'til Africa.


P.S.
Oh my goodness. You know what?! I'm going to be in Africa next Thanksgiving! I'll definitely have to post what that is like when the time comes!!
Here is some of my Thanksgiving this year:


My Mom's very yummy coconut pie that I'm not sure what I'm going to do without!! :D
My wonderful parents who I have come to love so much these past 23 years!

And last, but definitely not least, one of my (4) nephews, six year old Holden. I was talking with him earlier tonight, and said, "Holden, can I take a picture of you so that I'll have one in Africa when I go? I'm going to miss you." And he said, "Yeah!", much to my surprise! This is the kid who never likes me taking his picture anymore. We then went on to take like 15 more!! :) So this is my Holden picture for Africa. You've gotta love this little boy to pieces!

Okay, so I'd better go! I'm going out with Holden's mom, my oldest sister, Stephanie, to Walmart and maybe Belks for Black Friday at 12am midnight eastern time! :D This will be my first time ever doing this, and I am so excited! I just had to do it before I leave for Mali! :) I hope everyone has enjoyed an awesome Thanksgiving with family and friends, and have realized just how thankful they are to Him. Love you each and every one of you guys! Happy Thanksgiving!

So thankful & a countdown day.

I am very thankful for today, and tomorrow, and the days to come. I have my parent’s house to myself today. I’m watching Adoption Stories right now (which is totally making my heart happy for the years to come, and it’s been too long since I’ve watched it), and then I am planning on making an old pair of jeans into some capris :) This should be fun.

Tonight, my sister and her boy are coming over to my parents house, and we’re all spending the day together tomorrow as well. These moments are so special, and I’m beginning to realize just how thankful I am, once again. Tomorrow will be a day of great food and amazing relaxation. I hope to get everything squared away today with the flights for January (the date may have changed for departure lol once again, but all's good! Only maybe a day or two difference), and apply for my Malian Visa, and register (meant to last night, but we all know I’m forgetful) for the SALT Conference in Jacksonville.

Gosh, I love today.

Oh!! And today is 50ish something in the Big Countdown 'til Mali. It could be day 58, 59 - I think you get my gist. :) Anywho, here is Day 50-something :

Timbuktu!! You guessed it! Timbuktu (or Tombouctou) is a REAL place and it is in Mali, West Africa. Oh yes. And, I hopefully get to travel to this far away magical place next year! Yes, God has sent me to the land of Timbuktu. I so often get a kick out of that :) In this map (from Google Images, as all the other photos in this post as well) you can see the distance from Bamako, the capital city where I will reside, to Timbuktu. It's quite a long trek. :)
Here is a picture of life in Timbuktu. And yes, I am very excited, but nervous too, about riding a camel.

I also wanted to explain the racial differences in Timbuktu. There are a more Arab-looking people living there (called the Tuareg people) who are nomadic. Also, there are the Black Africans living there as well. There is a history of the Tuareg's enslaving the Black Africans, but I'll leave that for another post.
So, there you go. He has sent me to the land of Timbuktu. :) You've gotta love it!

day 64.

Yummy. Fo sho. This is supposedly some type of okra sauce with rice and onions and stuff in Bamako, Mali. Seriously, if that was in front of me right now, I would eat it without hesitation. Okay, I’m officially starting the daily countdown until the day I leave (to hopefully be carried out every day, but maybe just a couple days a week, not sure). Consider this day 64.

I’m seriously craving that now.

My Mali Missions Video (the other was just to get you familiar with the people)

Please feel free to share.

a new look for the African heat.

The temperatures in Mali can easily get to 112 degrees. So yeah, today I...

got 8 inches cut off my hair!! :DD Ahhh!! and. I. loveeeee. it. Here I come, Mali!

there’s just this piece of my heart that is connected to dogon country, mali. i can’t explain it. i pray for the precious people who make their dwelling in this gorgeous land. i just want to be there.

Psalm 55

16 As for me, I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.
17 Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.

my Mali missions video

** You'll want to pause the music at the bottom of the sidebar.
Can we not give them a home with Him?

Please feel free to share.

you're about to get some sweet, precious little owners.

i had to look through my overflowing Africa trunk once again :) these clothes have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting - but soon they will have owners! beautiful little people that will love them and play in them.

this little set of five onezies has an owner, or five.

these two little pairs of pants have an owner that’s like six months or under.

and, oh, this little onezie has a special little girl waiting just for it.

i can’t wait to meet these sweet, precious little owners. thank you, Target for making such cute clothes and for having that awesome clearance sale last year. i’m sure these new little owners will thank you, too.

You know, I’m so glad that at twenty three my life doesn’t consist of getting the perfect white picket fence; but, instead this. my heart is tied to this place. it amazes me how You have placed me here. oh, am i glad. i thank You for making me alive with Your love, and for giving me the strength when i am weak to continue this race You have set before me. You know where my steps will go, and for that, I am thankful. i think this birthday has been the best birthday ever just simply because i am found in You and know Your love so deeply. i can only imagine how much greater it can grow from here…

gosh, this twenty third birthday was just perfect. :)

Thank you guys sooo much for praying. My mom still knows nothing of me putting the need up here (hehe), but she came to me this morning and was like she slept wonderfully last night. great news because of prayer :))

i humbly ask for your prayers.

today’s been a crying day for me and my mom. but Jesus never said following Him wouldn’t take everything. tomorrow will be better. :)