Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Tomorrow...

I'm leaving for Kenya. It's weird because everyone keeps asking me if I'm excited. And I am. It's an exciting trip, an adventure I've never been on, a place I've only read and dreamed about. I could see lions and giraffes and huge expanses of desert.

But I really don't know what to expect. I don't know who I will meet, what I could see, where we will even go. I don't know what God is going to have to say to me through all these people, these new experiences. He works in different ways in a country where people have to FULLY depend on Him. For more than just paying the bills. For more than just safety in travel on vacation. For more than emotional stress in a relationship. For a bigger car and a better home.

Please don't hear me saying that those things aren't important to us, or important to God because they are important to us. They are, but they are not living and breathing.

To depend on God to get at least one meal a day. To depend on God through horrible illnesses, physical abuse. To depend on God for breath, for a scrap of clothing, for a smile once in a while.

So I am excited. I will be overwhelmed and challenged and encouraged and blessed. And I am terrified. I will be overwhelmed and challenged and saddened and troubled.

Please keep me in your prayers while I am gone. Maybe even post a prayer for me here every other day or so. I don't know what to tell you to pray for. Our itinerary is pretty fluid. But you'll know. You'll all have something different on your hearts that will be just what we need at the right time. So thank you in advance. And I hope I'll have much to share when I return.

17 comments:

heather said...

Anne - this is a beautiful post (i saw no trace of "flipper" :). I will definitely be praying for you - that your heart would be soft and receptive to God's voice and movement in you in this time. I am of course also praying for safety and health.

Have a great trip!

heather said...

p.s. I got the best salad tongs in Kenya - they are wooden with a giraffe on the top. if you see some, grab them...you won't regret it. i swear the salad tastes better when it's tossed with my African salad tongs. :)

Anonymous said...

You're going to Kenya? Awesome! Have a wonderful trip with great new experiences and understanding. I'll definitely drop a prayer or two for yas! Take care and have a great trip full of blogging material!

Anonymous said...

have a safe trip anne.

Jen said...

What an amazing post. I can't wait to hear the stories when you get back. It might make someone else try to make a difference and get out there and do something.

Buffy said...

God Bless.

heather said...

I'm praying for your safety and health today (9.14) as you travel.

Thanks for the gigantic zuccini! :)

Kat said...

Have a great time Anne! What a wonderful opportunity to be able to travel to Africa!

Cheeky said...

Dan still talks about Africa, but there's so much more than he can't even put into words or keeps pondered in his heart. I don't begrudge him or you the memories that are just between you and the land.

Your Mother said...

Good luck with that. It sounds awesome. I am excited for you.

Jean said...

For some strange reason I didn't see this until today (Sunday). Silly Blogger.
You're there right now, probably getting ready to go to bed soon. I've been praying for you (and the group) daily and will continue to do so. I agree with you, that total dependence on God to live through every hour is foreign here in the place we live. I miss you and can't wait to see you, hear your experiences, witness how God has changed your heart and how you will impact me and others around you in the days to come.

heather said...

praying for your health today.

Anonymous said...

I'm so! excited to see what God has in store for you in Africa, Anne. I know it will be an amazing experience. When I went to Russia with a mission's group two years ago, I was hit with what you wrote about in this post: their complete and utter reliance on a God who can and does provide for them daily.

Will be praying for you.

And heather-my aunt brought home those salad tongs from Africa, too! Awesome. :)

Jean said...

praying for you as you're on your way home soon. can't wait to see you!!

heather said...

welcome home!! you were missed! :)

BeckyD said...

I see you checked out my Xanga site so I am assuming you must be home! Can't wait to hear how the trip went!!

Anonymous said...

Is it just me, or does that flag look like Strongbad?