Thursday, August 21, 2008

Our Tickets are BOOKED!!!

40 days left. . .
40 more days here in the USA. . .
then AFRICA!!!!!
Uganda to be more specific!!!!

We are thrilled. . yep, jumping out of my skin! I know you are thinking "What the Heck? Back up a bit Brandi!"

Ok, ok. . breathe (I'm telling myself, not you!) Let me start from the beginning. This all goes back to our conversation with Tom Davis a couple months ago. Actually, I guess I could scroll it back to first reading about the book Red Letters on my friend, Jamin's blog. Anyways, at that lunch, Tom invited us to consider going to Africa WITH HopeChest. We initially didn't think their planned Uganda trip would work. So, we scheduled a new trip with Tom to go to Ethiopia and Uganda. Those trips took on lives of their own and had to be 2 separate trips. Well, as much as I'd love to visit Ethiopia, my heart is in Uganda. Why? No clue! There are a few places that God has laid heavily on my heart and Uganda is one of them. So, we talked to Dan, the Outreach Director for HopeChest and the team leader of this trip. Dan and I brainstormed and prayed and considered lots of options before coming to this actual trip REALLY happening! Now, here we are. . .E tickets in hand! aagh!!!!! Whoohooo! Oh my dear, I'm going back to AFRICA! And not only to Africa, to MC and Jackson's homeland and the heart of my dear friends Scott and Erin. The land of Kisses from Katie and our sweet Rapha kids. Soon to be the home of my friends Katie and Charity.

You're probably wondering WHY. The purpose of this trip is to identify orphanages / orphan care programs that HopeChest would possibly work with if they open this as a country. We get to be on the ground floor of God opening a whole new country to HopeChest and their ministry. When they work in a country THOUSANDS of orphans are sponsored and poured into! How amazing that God may allow me to be a tiny little part of that? How absurd! In fact, we are going to bring HopeChest and the team directly to Jinja so that they can see Katie and Rapha / Bethesda all for themselves. Please join me in major prayer for this. Pray that God will lead us to exactly the children and orphanages that need our help. Pray for clear direction and an awesome team trip.

Speaking of team, guess who's going? Ok, you may not know him, but my pastor is going!!! Jon is one of my favorite people in the world. I am so blessed to serve under his leadership. In fact, all of this amazing Africa stuff has left me in a bit of a funk at times. While I love the areas that God is allowing me to be a part of. . I've really wanted it to be under his leadership and a part of our church stuff because I am absolutely committed to all that God is doing in our amazing body. Ok, that is a whole blog in and of itself, but I am Thrilled that Jon is going with us. God works amazingly in Jon and when he catches a vision, it can't be stopped! I'm excited for him to be on the ground floor of this movement in Uganda and excited for what it brings to Westwood and to HopeChest and Uganda! We also have 2 more friends possibly going. One has a blog, so I'll wait till he announces it before sharing his news here and the other is praying about it.

Can you tell I'm giddy? When I counted it up and realized that it's in 40 days. . wow. . freak out a bit. Especially since most of my free time is going into planning women's retreat which will take place 4 days before Uganda! agh. Pray for us!

Also, pray for our kiddos. I have been leary of leaving them and praying majorly about it. I feel confident that God has called us to go on this trip and I know that HE makes no mistakes. What He calls me to, won't be good for me and bad for them. He works for the good of all of us! Thankfully, my inlaws have asked to keep ALL THREE kids the whole time! This relieves my heart so much. Especially for Davis. This also frees the rest of my friends up to get on the schedule and pick my kids up just for a play date (hint, hint. . let me know! ha ha)

hey, did I say that I'M GOING TO AFRICA!!!! Someone pinch me!

22 comments:

Danielle said...

WOW! How completely and totally awesome:) Uganda...(sigh)

I hope to see plenty of pictures and updates on what God is doing. Right now I have to live vicariously through you when it comes to African missions!

Blessings...and praying.
D.

Cassie - Homeschooling Four said...

I look forward to hearing all the details!

Andrew said...

Fantastic news! Congrats and good for you!

Jman's momma said...

This is so exciting!! I will be praying about the trip. Hope you get to update while you are away.

I can't wait until we get Chris back to normal so we can get back in adoption/mission mode.

~anne

Christi said...

I am pouting over here. I am so jealous that you are getting to go to the place that I now love! Please have a great time and love on those precious people for me too! I can't wait to hear all of the details about the preparation. I am very happy for you!

Created For His Glory said...

CONGRATS!!! I haven't read far enough back into your blog- I assume you didn't go to Liberia to get Davis? You are in for the trip of a LIFETIME! Africa... well is... AFRICA and definately not the US! LOL! As I was reading your post, I felt led to share that you may want to pray/fast during these 40 days ... a 40 day fast of sorts.
Blessed to follow along!
K

Anonymous said...

Wow Brandi-that is exciting to be going with Hope Chest and able to show them Katie's kids as well!
I can't wait to see what God is going to be doing in Uganda!
Julie L

Jeremy and Kamina Johnson said...

This is fantastic news! YEAH!

Tanya said...

This is so exciting. I have given my copy of Red Letters to my pastor and hope that our church can become involved more. I have felt led to Uganda now also. I would love to spend some time there this summer. Be sure to blog all of the details. I will be much in prayer for you. I told you God led me to AOH for a reason.

Blog Shmog said...

How awesome! Uganda is an incredible country! I spent a bit of time in Jinja as well, meeting children sponsored by Food For The Hungry. I can't wait to hear how it goes. :)

Lisa said...

I'm so excitd for you and can't wait to hear ALL about it!!! Wow!!!

steffany said...

Are u kidding me? Where have I been. How awesome. I know this is bad, but I'm insanely jealous.

lifelaughterchaos said...

now i have to comment twice! that is so wonderful! i LOVE when God gives us such incredible passions!

mama becca said...

I'm slightly jealous :).
Keep us posted on your preparations!!
praying for God to do mighty work through this trip...
becca :)

Brother Frankie said...

CONGRATS!!! can you fit Pastors jons scooter in "carry on"?

Stacie said...

I am so excited for you! I can't wait to read more about it!!

mommy zabs said...

that is awesome brandi!

WhitneyR said...

I'm so excited for you. It's a good thing you won't have youre kids to look after if you're going to have to babysit scooter-boy...he's always getting into trouble!!
Love you!

Lindsey said...

Yay Brandi!! That's wonderful news :-)

Brother Frankie said...

scooter-boy... lol hahahahahah lol hahahahh.


good one sis... that made my night. im going to take scooter boy to bike night at an outlaw bar....now that would be fun...

Kari said...

YEAH!! So excited that it all worked out - God seems to have a way of doing that:) I'm sure you will have many posts on your trip that will continue to challenge me. Love you!

annNEE said...

AAAAH! I'm giddy too!! I am so excited to hear that Pastor Jon is going too. Wow. PLEASE take tons of pictures and update this blog like crazy... you have so many people reading that want to know exactly what you are doing!

I hope I still get to see you befor you go. I hope to be back there soon.

AAAH! I love you, Brandi!