I have arrived!

I have arrived!! Safe and Sound!

Tired and need a shower

more to come in the coming days

Ready or Not Here I Come!!!!

This time next week I will be on my 22 hour flight to Africa. All the paper work is done, all the supplies are bought, all my belongings are moved, air plane ticket is bought, malaria medication is stared, mail is forwarded, job is no longer, good byes are coming more frequent, vacation is over, no more bills to pay, no backing out and no looking back. Here I come and I am READY!

A year ago this was a thought, another one of my CRAZY outlandish ideas and now 12 months later here I am moving to Africa. I am ready and can't wait to live this adventure out as opposed to planning, preparing, and dreaming of what it might be like. I would be lying if I told you I am not nervous or that I am not going to miss certain luxury's that I posses here in the United States, but with all that put aside I am ready to start down this path the Lord has lead me on. I have little to no idea what life is going to be like living in West Africa on the Africa Mercy, however I know that this is where the Lord wants me and I also know that when it is all said and done, I wouldn't change a thing regardless.

Continue to pray for myself and my family. We are trying to enjoy are last few days together. Saying good bye is bitter sweat. We are all really excited to see the Lord work over the next several months, but deep down there is this tiny bit of our hearts that is selfish and not wanting to say goodbye.

Pray for easy transition for me and my new life

Pray for safe travels and that everything goes smooth

Continue to pray for my Aunt Kay/ forwarding agent. Her pet scan results showed cancer in other parts and she started chemo today. Her doctors are VERY enthusiastic and positive with her overall prognosis. I am thankful for strong Christian influences like her. Christians who embrace suffering and instead of turning on God for "dealing" them this hand, they give Him the Glory He deserves. They thank Him for loving them and giving them breath. I can only pray that I would face hardships with an attitude of gratitude like this. I can only pray that when the going gets tough that my Faith gets stronger.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2,3

Pray that Kay can lean on God for all her strength and that she can consider this trial in her life a pure joy that will develop perseverance and shows others what faith in God is all about. Pray that this trial can bring others to the love of Christ!!!!

PRAISE: My biopsy on my suspicious moles came back negative. The moles were benign-no further treatment needed!!!!

PS: Sunday a drop in going away party starting @ 4pm at my parent's house in Beardstown. Stop by if you want I would love to see everyone before I leave.

Next blog more than likely will be posted on African turf....stay tuned for pictures and video of Liberia and the Africa Mercy.

Blog to you all once I get to the other side of the world! :)

Welcome to the Dental Team!

Last Wednesday I received an email titled Welcome to the Dental Team. It was from the Dental Coordinator on the African Mercy. In the email was some need to know info including my weekly schedule. Just thought you all would like to take a look at my Monday-Friday schedule:

6:30 - 7:30 Breakfast
7:30 - 8:00 Mon./Thurs. Morning Medical Dept. devotions
7:45 - 8:30 Tuesday All Crew devotions
7:30 - 8:00 Wednesday Dental Team prayer on board
7:30 - 8:15 Friday All Crew sharing time (optional)
8:00 - 8:15 Everyone help to load vehicles
8:15 Be in vehicles to depart for clinic
8:45 Set up/brief team communication/prayer
9:00 - 12:00 Clinic time
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch break
12:30 - 16:00 Clinic time
16:00 - 16:30 Clean up
17:00 - 18:00 Dinner on the ship
19:30 Thursday night community meeting


2 weeks in counting!

Last day of WORK

Today is my last day of work. In less than 24 hours I will be unemployed and I feel GREAT!!!!!!! Crazy I know but I am so ready to get this adventure started.
After today I am just one step closer to departure.

However, In case my mood changes throughout the day( which it probably will) keep me in your thoughts and prayers today!

xoxo jess

RoAdTrIp To CoLoRaDo !

This weekend My brother and I took a Road Trip to Colorado. Nate has a summer job at a state park in Rifle Colorado. Friday we left from my place around 8:30 am and headed to the BEAUTIFUL state of Colorado. We arrived in Denver around 9:30pm Friday night. We stopped 4 times for gas and food, and we split the driving/sleeping time up.

We were both dead tired and in bed by 11:30pm Friday night and we did not wake up till Saturday morning around 11:30am. haha We both agreed that was one of the best nights sleep we had had in a long time. Saturday we spent all day in downtown Denver. Eating lunch at Breckenridge Brewery yum yum, taking in a Colorado Rockies game for 4$, shopping at the world largest REI i swear, and just simple taking in the beauty and enjoying each others company.

Sunday morning I headed to the airport to fly home and Nate headed for Rifle about 3 hours West of Denver. We both made it to are final destinations safe and sound. I already miss not getting to talk to him when ever I want. He has no Cell Service, TV, or Internet at his home. The only time we get to talk to him is when he makes the 15 min jont into town, and then if I am lucky after he calls Mom and Kristen ( the girlfriend) he might call me......but I am finding out I am not at the top of the phone tree.

When I left him on Sunday I was a bit sad..... not because I won't get to see him till I get home in late Dec ( b/c I will mom dad and I are leaving Tuesday to head out there for the week) but because I realized my baby brother is growing up, and I am so proud of the way he has chosen to live his life. My prayer is that God and Nate will really connect this summer. That Nate will be able to vast in the Splendor and Majesty of our God. I pray that he not only has a safe and successful summer, but that he will also grown and strengthen his relationship with the Wonderful Creator who spoke the magnificent mountain he is enjoying into existence. I pray he can grasp just even a little tiny bit of how BIG God is and how REAL and in CONTROL He is.

All in all we had a FANTASTIC trip, with lots of quality bonding time. The memories we created will forever be with me. I am so blessed to have a brother like Nate in my life and oh how I am going to miss him, but "distance makes the heart grown fonder"....so I hear and I will be holding on to that thought the entire time I am gone....all along thinking and wondering how my heart could be any fonder of him. :)

20 day Countdown!/things you can be praying about

1. Nate

2. my last day of work is THIS Thursday

3.Family Vacation to Colorado-Safety

4.Packing

5. I had a biopsy done on two moles this week....they looked odd. Pray for good results on the biopsy

6.my sanity/comfort/strength/ anything else you want to pray for, for me.

7. MyForwarding Agent/Aunt Kay results from her Bone Scan That they come back A-OK and if not that God can/will recieve the Glory!!!!!

Here are a few pics from our adventure:

MOVING ON OUT!!!

For Christ’s love compels me….. That has been my main thought for the last 6 months, but especially the last week. Friday and Saturday were big days for me. I packed up my belonging, carted them into a U-Haul truck and drove them back home to my parent’s house/grandma’s house in Beardstown for storage. I must admit that my emotions and strength were very week this weekend. I can’t count how many times I whispered and prayed "God give me Strength and Courage." I had such a hard time packing up my life here. I had been trying to figure out all weekend why this move amongst all the other moves I have had over the years (I have moved about 6 times in the last 6 years, my family and I are becoming professional movers :) ) was so difficult and I came to this conclusion. I have no IDEA what I am getting myself into, my plans and my future is so unknown. I have no clue what Africa is going to be like and come January I have absolutely no idea what or where I am going to be or be doing. I think the thought of not being in control or having even a rough edged plan has totally freaked me out. I try to remember that God has it under control and that the next year of my life is going to be way exciting just seeing how He moves and works.

Well you will be glad to read that after I placed the last box in my little corner at my grandma’s house I had this sense of everything is going to be ok…… and then my emotions switched from scared and freaked out to TOTALLY READY TO GO!!!!!!!!!! I am super excited to see how God is going to change my world starting in less than a month…. And I am even more excited to know that I have absolutely no control from this point on and that God is in the drivers seat. I am going to forced to give up control and let go, I am nervous but excited all at the same time.

Photos of my Apt pre move:

Photos of the move:

90% of my earthly belonging are in this little corner in my grandma's basement

Post move....how I am living for the next 3 weeks

My itnerary for the next month

One month and 7 days. WOW! My elders always told me to never wish time away because it will be here and gone before you know it. I always thought they were crazy and had no clue what they were talking about..... Well I was once again wrong. I guess wisdom and knowledge comes with age :) My time here in the US is quickly coming to and end and I am jam packed with things on the calendar. I thought I would share with you all what my next month looks like. Here we go:

This weekend
May 2 Agape Fest aka David Crowder Concert with some dearly loved friends
May 3 Cards vs Cubs game with Nate Dawg

Next weekend
MOVE OUT OF MY APARTMENT/ Unpacking my belonging at my parents house/mothers day/my good friend Alaina graduates with her MBA and moves home :(

I was setting around the other night thinking hmmm I kinda like this place......when I moved in here a year ago I told my mom I am staying here until I A. buy a house or B. move away from the area. I guess God had plans for option B when I said move away from the area I was in my mind think oh I don't know maybe move to St.Louis or Denver CO ( A city I would love to live in) I was never thinking a year later I would be packing up and moving to Liberia..... oh how God can be rather persistent......... :)

Monday & Tuesday May 12,13 OFF!!!!!! I took 2 vacations days

Friday May16- Sunday May 18 Road trip to Colorado with Nate. My brother has been given an amazing opportunity to work at a National Park in Co this summer....and I being the big sister that I am didn't think it was a good idea for him to drive all the way there by himself. So Friday the 16 we are leaving really early in the morning driving 13 hr to Denver. Saturday we are going to Denver things and then Sunday morning he drops me off at the airport I fly back to Stl and he heads another 3 hrs ne to rifle.

I am really excited to get to spend some QUALITY bonding time with the brother I am not sure if he is as equally excited..... I think deep down he is :)

Monday May 19 VACATION DAY!!!!! and dr's apt

Thursday May 15 Work party for me

Thursday May 22 LAST DAY OF WORK!!!! & dinner with Kacy :)

Monday May 26-June2 Family Vacation in Colorado

June 2-9 Home in Beardstown

June 8 Last Sunday @ FCC

June 10 Back in St.Louis to fly out

as you can see my coming days are super busy, please be praying that I am able to get all the things that need to be done, done between now and June. Also be praying for me as I wrap things up that I can be excited about this new adventure and not get down and discouraged by all the "change" that is taking place in my life. I know with out a doubt that this is where God wants me at least for the next 7 months....but it is REALLY hard to pack up my life here.

Thanks for the support! Love you all
~jess