12 More Days....

It's hard to believe that after all my preparation and anticipation, my trip to Africa is only 12 days away. I'm filled with so many emotions! I'm so excited I can't stand it, but at the same time, I'm anxious about the unknown.

My Nashville travel team met this week to discuss and finalize our details. Our team is responsible for throwing a costume party for the kids and having a penny carnival for them. We have been collecting donations for both, and we're almost ready to pack. Erica talked to us about our feeding program in Kroo Bay and the children's hospital. I think these two experiences will be amazing an heart-wrenching, at the same time. On our first day, we will be providing food to 5000 orphans in Kroo Bay. Kroo Bay is a slum in Freetown where malnutrition and sanitation are affecting the lives of thousands. We will cook and serve hot meals for the first 250 kids, and then we will bag meals for the remaining 4750. I can't even begin to comprehend what this will look like, but I know that God has provided this opportunity for us, and I'm ready to tackle it. Later in the week, we will be visiting a local children's hospital. Although the center is called a nutritional facility, it cannot afford to provide meals to the patients or mothers. The children are dying of malnutrition and simple infections. Hundreds go through the hospital, but only about two a month leave alive. We will be delivering food to these mothers and their children, and we will be providing the funds needed for formula.

Although Kroo Bay and the hospital will challenge me mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, I think the trip will be balanced with the joy of seeing the kids in the orphanage. I can't wait to meet Fatmata and Umura! I can't wait to spend the week with them worshiping, singing, and playing. These kids have there basic needs met but are in desperate need of love, affection, and attention. A huge part of this mission is to just be present with the kids, to be there rock to lean on for a few days and to strengthen my relationship with my sponsored kids.

I talk as if I have everything figured out! :) I honestly feel that am as ready as I can be for this trip, but there's no way possible to know what to expect on a journey like this! What a challenge for me! My life is so planned and organized, and I'm so ready to just throw it all to God and see how he wants to use me!

This song has been very important to me while preparing for this trip. I hope the lyrics will touch you, too.

"An image flashed across my TV screen
Another broken heart comes in to view
I saw the pain and I turned my back
Why can't I do the things I want to?
I'm willing yet I'm so afraid
You give me strength
When I say

I want to be your hands
I want to be your feet
I'll go where you send me
I'II go where you send me

And I try, yeah I try
To touch the world like
You touched my life
And I find my way
To be your hands

I've abandoned every selfish thought
I've surrendered every thing I've got
You can have everything I am
And perfect everything
I'm not I'm willing,
I'm not afraid
You give me strength When I say

This is the lifetime I turned my back on you
From now on, I'll go so
Send me where You want me to
I finally have a mission
I promise I'll complete
I don't need excuses
When I am your hands and feet"

-Audio Adrenaline