Wednesday, October 20, 2010

"Hey ho let's go!"

Tomorrow evening, I hop on a plane for Denver, Colorado, where my lovely friends Kate and Jordan Egli will pick me up and take me to Colorado Springs for a few days (to see their new home). THEN, on Sunday, I will go to Littleton for training. There I'll meet up with 9 other folks, plus a few leaders, who will be my new family for the next year. And THEN we will all travel to Cote d'Ivoire on October 28th! That's 4 flights and at least 1 bus in my near future. Oh what an adventure it will be.

Yesterday my brother and I cleaned out my whole car. This may not sound like such a feat, but it was. Man, we're a pretty awesome team. In fact, if careers don't work out for either one of us, perhaps we could just clean cars together... no, I'm not banking on that, and on second thought, I'd rather not. I also sent out a large stack of prayer postcards and successfully sent in all of my preliminary grad school application items (for fall of 2012.. I have always been a plan ahead type person.. even if God does change plans closer to the date). Feeling pretty on top of all that.. packing is a whole different animal though. I have bought all that I need (save a few things), said goodbye to Walmart (happily), and now it's down to 2 suitcases and ziplock bags (lots and lots of them). My first flight to Colorado limits me 80 lbs, which isn't hard. Clothes wise, I'm not taking much and it's pretty light. It's the liquids, really - the year supply of deodorant, toothpaste, my mini medicine cabinet, etc. Tonight, as I look at my larger suitcase, I am realizing that I need to get rid of a few things.. maybe I don't need the febreeze or the pack of markers.. no, probably not.

I've been thinking about what I'm most excited for in Cote d'Ivoire. The list starts with food, go figure. My friend Rebecca spent some time in the Peace Core, and lived near Bouaké, where I'll be, and she's super excited for me to try the food. Beckie, our french teacher on the base, just went over a week or so ago and wrote this blog that made my mouth water. You can read it HERE. Subject A:
"Attieke - its like sticky couscous, made from a root plant, served with a salsa sauce with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. You make it into balls with your hands and eat it with fresh killed chicken."
Ok, maybe that's not gourmet or anything, but I'm really excited to try it. I'm also excited to live without a car for awhile - to rely on walking, bikes, and taxis. To live without buying new clothes, unless I pick out the fabric, go to an African tailor, and have them made. Sweat shop free, and I LOVE fabric. I used to spend hours in Joan Fabrics, looking for the perfect print to make a bag out of. No joke. ULTIMATELY, I'm really excited to devote this year to God's work. Not that I don't do that anyway in America, but this feels different. Maybe it's because I am a missionary. Any way you look at it, my time and energy is His and when we give our lives to Him, our efforts are so much more fruitful than when we do things without Him. I am guilty of this, just as much as you are. It's hard to give up our own desires and follow His.

I've got an analogy for you. Elizabeth Elliot talks about the acorn that becomes an oak tree. When it's planted, the acorn only feels the splitting and breaking, not the grand tree it will become. But when you look at the oak tree, the acorn does not feel like a loss, it's a part of the process, a reminder of how God "works all things together for the good of those who love Him," (Romans 8:28). Even the aches and longings that come with trusting in His way, when we don't understand why our situation is so hard or why it's trying our patience. He needs to trim the branches of the vine so that it will produce much fruit, and we (the branches) get our nourishment from Him (the vine) so we must abide in Him in our waiting (John 15).

That's a little of what He's been showing me lately. I hope it speaks to you as well.

It's also my mom's birthday today, happy birthday, mom! Couldn't have done this without you.

The next time you hear from me, I'll most likely be in Africa. That being said, Au Revoir!! "Until we meet again." And thank you for reading this. It truly means a lot to me that you want to be a part of this with me. I love writing and I also love sharing my experiences with others. And I love comments, so comment away, please!