WOW!

What a week! It has been a week since my visa arrived, and a lot has happened!

I HAVE MY PLANE TICKETS!!!!!

...AND, I've finished my Christmas shopping! Two nice accomplishments, if I may say so myself! I've given notice at my job, and my last day of work will be January 7, 2011. I leave for the Congo on February 5, 2011. Finally! I can't begin to describe the tumult of emotions... I'll leave that for another post!

I GOT MY VISA!

...and my youngest left for Hawai'i today... no, not for a vacation, TO STAY! So, ups and downs today, excited for her and for me, though!

Really?

Finally? Really? Are you sure?

Yesterday I filled out my visa application for the Republic of the Congo! I just need a couple more items, then I can send it in! The wheels are turning, approvals are finally on their way, and so am I! We are projecting a February departure date! This will be a great Christmas! I still need more monthly support, but I'm approved for the first year of my assignment! When the support comes in, I'll be given a one year extension... I have faith!

What is Faith?

Interesting question, isn't it? Mine is being stretched, strained and strengthened these days. God has placed many wonderful people in my life who are encouraging me, praying for me and mentoring me through this process, and I thank Him every day for those who have "made it through" the types of struggles I am facing... with faith as their shield...

So, back to my original question, what is faith, anyway? There is an old acrostic I learned in Sunday School, Forsaking All I Take Him, but that doesn't really tell me what faith is, it tells me what I must do that shows my faith...

Then there is the biblical definition, Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) In this case, I suppose I do have some measure of faith, because I am sure of Christ's return (what we hope for) and certain of the existence of things I cannot see...

How then, does FAITH make people well? (Jesus told several people that their faith had healed them...) Are there different kinds of faith? Does my faith in things I cannot see really extend to the unseen hand of healing? ...or the miraculous provision of needs? ...or the restoration of a lost sheep to the fold?

Lord, continue to strengthen my faith, even though this time of testing is difficult and painful... I do have faith that all will work out according to your plan... help me to properly wield the shield of faith to defeat the attacks of the enemy... give me strength to persevere... and wisdom to know when to move on...

A Lovely Day...

They really are sweet together... My youngest daughter and my new son-in-law!

I wish them much love and happiness, forever...

Once upon a Happy time...

My VERY BEST friend... ever...

One More Time....

OK, this is getting old, but what can I do? The much anticipated departure date for Africa has been pushed back again, this time to January, 2011. I'm not good a dealing with rejection, even if it's not personal... All I'm asking for is five minutes and a "love offering." That's not so much, is it? The ministry speaks for itself, and people respond when they hear about it... I just need a chance to speak... Father God, I can't do it on my own, I need a miracle...

Just Thinking...

On the edge of the world...

Moving Targets...

While it's good to have goals, one must be able to adjust them as situations warrant... such is the case with my much anticipated departure date for working in Africa... getting there and staying for two years is still my goal, but the anticipated date has now been "shoved back" again... We are now "aiming" for September, 2010... yes, I know it is a long way from my original goal of January, 2010, but these things take time... besides, God knew I was going to need to be in Austin, Texas on August 15, 2010... something wonderful is happening that day, my youngest daughter is getting married! I can only hope that I'm packing my bags by that time, and that my departure date has been confirmed...

A short history of Nouvelles Créations

Missionaries Gary and Janice Dickinson have been living in Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo, since 1994. After their two daughters left the Congo to attend college in the United States, Janice felt led to contribute her time and effort towards a new ministry to young women. Due to a prolonged civil war, severe poverty and 80% unemployment, hundreds of young girls have been forced into prostitution, just trying to earn enough money to feed their families one meal a day. These are not hardened, sensual women but young girls who are surviving the best way they know how. Many of these girls will prolong their lives just long enough to contract AIDS or some other deadly STD. Janice decided to spend the rest of her time in Pointe Noire to tackle this issue head on.

Janice began by forming close relationships with young girls who were on the brink of entering the prostitution industry or who were already in it. She knew she was doing the right thing when one of these girls told her: “Maman (mother) Janice, if I’d had a mother like you I would never have become a prostitute”.

Her next, “more formalized” effort took the form of a Bible study group for young girls that were at risk of becoming entangled in the prostitution industry. The girls were very receptive to what she was teaching, but during these meetings Janice noticed that the girls were hesitant to participate and refused to read out loud. She found that many of them were illiterate because they had never been able to go to school. Janice thus realized that it was essential for her to start a school for these young girls. So, Nouvelles Créations was born...

Our vision
Our aim is to provide our students with the opportunity to gain skills for a better future for themselves and their families. We also hope to create an environment where the girls are constantly reminded of their value and worth. Essentially, we want to kindle a flame of hope in our students by showing them the love of Jesus, and providing them with a safe place to learn and advance new life skills.

Janice is now passing on her sewing and embroidery skills to young women from Pointe Noire. She is attempting to “catch them before they fall” into prostitution, rescuing these young ladies from a life of danger and despair. Nouvelles Créations provides the girls with an opportunity to learn how to read and write, basic math, and additional skills, such as health, hygiene, and nutrition. The school is still in its beginning stages and is only able to help a small group of girls each year. A new building has recently been completed to house the school and a small boutique where the girls sell their creations. With the completion of the new building, we hope to increase enrollment each year as funds allow.

Criteria for accepting students
Any girls who have missed out on gaining a formal education are eligible to attend Nouvelles Créations. The only prerequisite is that they are interested in learning and willing to work hard to improve their future.

Products

All the products created by the girls are for sale in the school boutique. Some of our current products include children’s clothing, home décor items such as pillows, curtains, bedspreads, quilts, duvet covers, tablecloths and napkins, and various other household and gift items. The girls also learn basic business skills as they run the boutique.

My Part / Your Part
My assignment as a Missionary Associate will be to assist Janice in this vital ministry. I will live in Pointe Noire and work with these young ladies for two years, beginning in the summer of 2010. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my sewing skills and business knowledge with these young ladies. You can help by committing to support me financially, either by a one-time gift, or a monthly pledge. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to follow God’s leading, and thank you in advance for your support.

Numbers....

Sometimes numbers are just numbers... but sometimes numbers are unfeeling, unwavering, unyielding tyrants scheming to rob us of our dreams.... an emotionless reduction of tangible needs and intangible wants to a list of simple digits... some on this side, some on that side, depending upon their source and destination... they move in and out, up and down, with military precision, 2+2 ALWAYS equaling 4, no matter the weather, mood or circumstance.... the only digit with any flexibility is the lowly zero - in some places it is merely nothing, while in other places it becomes a place-holder, a representation of more than nothing, but still nothing of itself... but I digress...

When the numbers represent dollars, and the numbers aren't big enough, it REALLY gets me down... my fundraising goals have not been met, so I decided to get creative with the numbers...



Here are the GOOD numbers! (...if numbers can have moral attributes... hmmmm... but I digress again...)

Pre Field Budget Raised - $22,013.04

Pre Field Budget Need - $4754.96

Now for the OTHER numbers...

Monthly Pledges Raised - $830.00
Monthly Pledges Needed - $2270.00



SO, if 227 people will pledge just $10/mo each...

OR, if 151 people will pledge just $15/mo each...

OR, if 90 people will pledge just $25/mo each...
(I think you get where I'm going with this... )

Looking at it in a different way, $60,000.00 in cash will meet ALL my goals, and finish my support needs for two years on the field... (so, if any of you know anyone with an extra 60K sitting around that they NEED to donate to a worthy, tax-deductable charity, point them my way!)

I've got a long way to go, and a short time to get there....

New year, new goals...

What is it about the turning of the year that compels us to set new goals? My goals have always been moving targets, not stationary objects... My goals change as I change... The ultimate goal remains the same, but the intermediate goals need to be adjusted from time to time... So, some of the goals I have set before me have changed a bit... I am still preparing for a two-year mission to the Congo, and I'm more convinced than ever that this is God's will, and that He will provide exactly what I need, exactly when I need it... The timing has now been pushed back to early June, to coincide with the travel plans of the missionaries there... That will allow me more time to work and save money in preparation, as well as to prepare myself physically and spiritually. When my dad asked me what my New Year's Resolution was for this new year, I said, "It's not about me..." That has become my new theme, and perhaps even my mission statement... I have been blessed with so much I don't deserve, I just want to share it with those in need... Whether they need a hug, someone to hold their hand, listen, teach, or just be a friend, that's what I want to be... To quote a famous person, "Mankind is my business...", one person at a time...