transatlanticism.

So I'm in London right now. Landed at 7am here (aka 2 back home)--next flight at 9ish. Bah. I was supposed to meet up with some other interns and then go into London and meet Crystal Hutcheson...but I can't find anyone anywhere. London is crazy huge. The interns were supposed to meet up at the gates...but London doesn't announce the gate numbers until 2 hours before the flight--that means i have like 7 hours til I know where to go. I think 4 others should have arrived by now...but I heard some flights have been late and I don't know if they fall under that. It's crazy...and let's just say I'm really struggling right now...

Nothing has been smooth since I have left Jacksonville. My flight from Jax to Miami was delayed an hour and a half...wasn't too big of a deal considering I would still have a 3 hour layover before flying to London. It rained in Miami. I ended up sitting in the plane on the runway for 2 hours waiting for them to let us in. I ended up having a bit under an hour til my next flight boarded. Getting around Miami sucks...I had to go through security again even though I never left the airport (and then I had to go through it again because I forgot I filled up my water bottle in Jax bah). So it ended up being a rush. On my two flights I've mostly slept and cried. I'm exhausted. It's ridiculous. I just feel like I'm going to collapse. It's been hard lately. It's hitting me how long two months is and how I won't be able to talk to/see my family or my best friend. A group of my friends got together and wrote one letter for everyday I'm gone...so that has been really encouraging. It's just been tough. I feel really alone. And I know Satan is a punk and is really trying to get to me right now. I'm in constant prayer pretty much, which isn't really a bad thing ha. Psalm 62 is something I'm repeating over and over to myself. I just really need His strength right now.

On a good note--I got football tickets for the gators! Go Gata!!

find rest, o my soul, in God alone -psalm 62:5

this is it. don't get scared now.

So I'm leaving for the airport in a matter of minutes. Crazy. It hasn't hit me yet, and it probably won't until I land in Malawi. Please keep my travels and all of the interns travels in your prayers. This is also the last time I will be able to get online until the first week of July. They say the first 2 weeks are the hardest, so please keep us all in your prayers during this time. We won't have contact with anyone back home and so it's going to be a tough few weeks. I'll definitely post when I can though!

On another note...thanks for all the calls, emails, and texts that I received yesterday. It was comforting to know that I'm in your thoughts and prayers. Have a good 2 months. 

See you in August!

oh and I hope you know what movie the title is from.

i love the recklessness of faith. first you jump, and then you grow wings.

matter of time.

Well, it is Sunday, June 14...so that means I'm leaving for Malawi in a matter of days--5 to be exact. Friday is getting closer and closer, and with it, I'm getting more nervous and excited. It just seems so unreal that Africa is so close. I've been in a constant countdown since March, and I'm finally able to count the days on one hand. Crazy. In one week, I'll be standing on African soil. That blows my mind.

During my time in Malawi, I will be living in a village called Chiwengo with 5 other interns and 2 intern leaders. It was originally built by a former president of Malawi for visiting friends and relatives. Chiwengo is a western-style neighborhood with paved roads and western-style homes, complete with running water and electricity. However, both are usually off during the day--that means bucket baths and using restrooms outside. Oh boy. The rest of the interns (11?) and intern leaders are staying at Njewa Mission Center. Conditions are a bit tougher at Chiwengo and even though we were told that we could try to get on the internet once a week, that is no guarantee at Chiwengo. 

COTN has been sending out a lot of stuff lately to all the interns to make sure everyone is good to go. I got an email this week that explained in more detail what exactly I will be doing in Malawi. I am just so excited about our assignments. Here is part of the email:

Interns at Chiwengo have three primary ministry activities: tutoring, outreach, and sports tournament. 

Our children lead outreaches to nearby villages. Interns will be assigned to teach the Gospel, organize sports and games, and encourage COTN children to be active in sharing their faith. Some activities might include: scripture memory, Bible stories with puppets, soccer, frisbee, contests (fastest runner). This is not only a chance to teach the Gospel, but also to encourage COTN kids to be excited to share the Good News.

The sports tournament is a week-long event near the sixth week of your internship. You will organize a soccer tournament and a netball tournament for teens. The most important aspect of the tournament is preaching to the crowds that will forms. As many as 400 spectators may come out for the final soccer match. That will be a huge opportunity to show the light of Christ to a village that needs the light of Christ.

How sweet is that?!

You might have noticed some links on the right hand of the page. Let me elaborate on these:

-children of the nations: main website for COTN

-cotn malawi interns site: blog/website for the interns in Malawi--another way to keep updated on what is going on in Malawi

-cotn global interns blog: Blog for all the interns with COTN this summer in Malawi, Sierra Leone, Dominican Republic, and Uganda. Every intern has access to this blog and can post updates.

I mentioned in the last post that God is really using preparation for this trip to show me how blessed I truly am. I went to Atlanta on Friday to see the Fray and Jack's Mannequin in concert with Amy Scott and Sarah Joseph. When we got back yesterday, I walked in to my house to find a surprise 21st birthday/going away party with some of my favorite people. It was amazing and I'm so thankful for it. It meant so much since I'll be spending my birthday in Africa (June 25!). No communication with the outside world at that time so that means no "happy birthday phone calls" from family. Sad day. I definitely don't deserve it, but it means to world to be so supported and loved.

I feel like I have a lot that needs to get done before I leave Friday. There's a list of errands to run and things to get. This is stressing me out a bit, and I don't want to head into Africa being frazzled and stressed. If you could pray about that, it would be awesome. My nerves are also getting worse. Yes, I'm excited, but the fact that it's 2 months makes me scared sometimes. I pray also that God would calm my every fear and that I will trust in Him. I know He's got my back.

so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe -philippians 2:15

hey june.

So it's finally the month of June...the month I will be finally leaving for Malawi. It seems so unreal that I will be leaving in a little over 2 weeks--crazy. It still hasn't hit me yet. 

I have been blown away by the support of everyone lately. Just to know that I have so many people praying for me and pulling for me is amazing and something I can never really repay. To those who have been following me, praying for me, encouraging me, and especially those who have been with me from the start, thanks so much. It means the world to me--YOU mean the world to me. God has really been using the weeks up to the trip to show me how much I am loved and supported. And that to me, is simply amazing. 

With it being a little over 2 weeks out, my nerves are really starting to get to me. I've had times where I'm just like "What the heck am I doing?" I know it is going to be an awesome 2 months, but it is still crazy to think about sometimes. I've never done anything like this, and it freaks me out at times. So if you could really just pray about my nerves and to fully trust in God in the days leading up to Africa and while I'm in it, that would be swell.

One of the things I'm really nervous about is the fact that I will not be able to really talk to anyone for 2 months. Yes, I'll be able to post weekly updates after the second week, but I can't call my family or my best friend up if something comes up. That's really hard for me to even comprehend. However, as hard as that will be, I am so stoked to be able to rely on God in a way we don't really have to here in the States. I will be forced to call Him up first, and I'm so excited for that. I'm excited for my relationship with God to grow and get stronger. While it is going to be ridiculously hard for me, I know it is worth it and I am stoked about it. I know He'll help me get through it, but man, is it going to be tough.

In addition to having a hard time with not being able to communicate with people really, I know that there are going to be times when I struggle with things in general. I pray that God would give me the strength to stick it out. I know He can help me with anything. He can get us all through anything. And that's amazing.

I've been feeling really inadequate lately--like I'm so unprepared and not ready. I know that God is not going to give me something I can't handle. I know that we're perfect for whatever He throws in front of us. The thing is, I have to trust that. "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." It's one of my favorite quotes, and something my good friend reminded me of last night. I know He'll take care of me and provide for me, and I take comfort in that, but I also need to trust in that. That quote will probably stick with me the next several weeks. Thanks, friend, for reminding me.

I feel like there's a lot to do before I leave so that is kind of freaking me out. It is also really hard because I come back August 14, and classes start August 24. Not only will I have to adjust to life back in the States, but then I have to adjust back to life at UF. Crazy transitions. 

I think that's it for now. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Run down on what to pray for:

--My nerves, that God would calm them and that I would trust in Him through it all

--Getting everything done before I have to leave

--For God to be preparing my heart for this journey

--To really rely on God when I'm in Malawi; That my relationship with God would just get even stronger and to know that He is the source of true comfort; That when I miss people, I turn to God and He helps me get through it.

--To trust in Him that He will provide and equip me

--For His strength to get me through things when I struggle

--This is far in advance, but for my return and the transitions back to the U.S. and UF.

i will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. -isaiah 49:6