The next 3 years

Change in plans

For the first time in my life, I'm going to be a city dweller. After some changes in personnel at Galmi Hospital, my plan for the next 3 years has been altered slightly. But many faithful friends have reminded me, "God is not surprised by this change in plans!"

So instead of studying Hausa language in Niamey (the capital city) and then moving to Galmi Hospital to work in their rehab department, I will now be working with therapists in Niamey, associated with Clinique Olivia and CURE Hospital. The timeline has not changed; I still hope to depart in April with faith that I will be fully funded very soon! (See previous post below for budget update.) I will be studying French in Niamey for 6 months full-time and then begin taking on OT responsibilities as I continue studying for another 6 months part-time.

Language learning continues

In the SLA (Second Language Acquisition) course, I am learning about fully voicing my fricatives and removing my emPHAsis from the wrong syLLAble (apparently in French there is NO emphasis). I am now meeting with my instructors online (long live Skype!) 3-4 days/week, in addition to doing the coursework. The struggle is real. 

Have you heard about Niger in the news? 

After the attack that killed 4 American and 5 Nigerien troops on patrol near the Mali border, the US issued a travel warning for Americans in the northern region and the southeastern region of Diffa. I want to assure you that SIM takes this warning seriously; however, these regions do not affect the ministry in which I will be serving. Niger is about 3x the size of California, and the areas under warning are about 600 miles and 900 miles (the distance from L.A. to Portland, OR) away from Niamey. But I definitely appreciate everyone's prayers for safety!

Prayer Requests

• Another SIM hospital in Niger, CSL Danja Fistula Center, is facing a change in leadership as their interim medical director is leaving. Please pray for wisdom for SIM Niger as they fill this position, and for the staff of the hospital during the transition.
• The malaria season in Niger has just concluded, as the season turns drier and cooler. Please pray for those recovering from this disease (you may remember the young girl we treated at Galmi last February who had contracted cerebral malaria and could no longer walk nor sit upright) and for the ongoing efforts of medical teams from SIM, Samaritan's Purse, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF/Médecins sans Frontières) to become increasingly effective at prevention education.
• Pray for the medical staff treating patients in the southeastern region of Diffa during the recent Hepatitis E outbreak, which is being managed by Doctors Without Borders (MSF/Médecins sans Frontières). Mortality rate is down from 29% to 1.2%, but there is always more to be done. You can read about the progress they have made here.
• Please pray for me, regarding the relationships with my boss and coworkers, as they continue to ask me to take on more than I can handle due to a surge in patient caseload. 
• Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful to spend this holiday season with friends and family. Please pray that we can enjoy it together with joy as I look forward to my departure. 

Looking for a few good men & women...

Support Update

I'm at 71% of my monthly support goal! Huzzah! I'm looking for 23 more people who could join the team at the following levels of support:

If you're interested, please click on the Donation Page at the top right.

You don't have to begin giving immediately, since it will prompt you to enter a start date (and end date, if you so choose), but please keep in mind that I have 2 major pre-field preparation requirements coming up: January 14-Feb 9 is cross-cultural training in North Carolina, and March 15-18 is CMDA training in Virginia. Thank you for anything you can give!

Already giving?

Could you host a dessert reception or invite me to your small group, in order to give others a chance to consider partnering with me in my ministry? If so, please contact me!

Personality Testing

Have you heard of the Myers-Briggs system for classifying personality types? Do you know what your type is? SIM and Wheaton College are both proponents of knowing your type so that you can play to your strengths in teamwork, ministry and language learning, so this subject keeps coming up. I happen to be ISTJ. (If you want to take a simple version of the test to find out yours, click here.) But here is another way to think of the personality types: in Bible characters! Which one do you most relate to?

Prayer Requests

• Please continue to pray for Niger, one of the least-reached countries in Africa:

• Please pray for my last 19% to be raised so that I can be fully funded!
• Please pray for my time management as we are being asked to work more hours at my primary job, and I'm trying to prioritize my online classes 

Back to School!

On October 30th I started my next phase in preparation for SIM: the online class, "Second Language Acquisition," through Wheaton College. This requires 1-2 hours of coursework/day and Skyping with my instructors at least 2x/wk. I am also continuing my theology classes online and just completed Theology II. The current class is called "Studying the Bible for All Its Worth." Contrary to what I was hoping, this season of studying has corresponded with increasing requests from each of my employers (I am with 3 rehab companies) as occupational therapy is always in demand. Please pray for my time management and sanity.

In addition to the success of Chick-fil-A Spirit Night (see previous post below), I have more good news about support: my MedSend grant application has been approved! They will begin paying my monthly student loan payments once I go active with SIM, which is a huge burden lifted off of my shoulders! Thanks be to God! They will also subsidize my registration for the CMDA orientation for new medical missionaries in March (bonus!). Thank you for praying for this!

Sometimes in my daily activities, the fact comes up that I am moving to Africa next year. When I am asked why on earth I would want to do that, I explain that I love God and that He has shown me that I can use my skills as an OT to serve people who otherwise would not receive any rehabilitation services. To help keep perspective, this is why I do what I do:

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

By praying for and supporting me, you are ALSO part of something bigger! THANK YOU!

If you haven't yet heard my presentation, and would like to meet me with me, or if your small group could benefit from hosting a "real live missionary" :) please email me to set something up.

Chick-fil-YAY!!!

On Monday, Oct 30th, I held my "Spirit Night" fundraiser at Chick-fil-A of Wheaton. Thanks to everyone who came out to support my trip to Africa!!!

At peak hours, there was a huge line through the restaurant...it was mostly people to support me! 

Between food sales and the spin-to-win prize wheel, I raised $509.65 in just 3 hours! Whether you are family, church family, new friends, high school friends, or we just met-- whether you dined in or drove through-- THANK YOU! 

If you didn't make it out to Wheaton, but you'd still like to support my trip, 

you can click here to go to my donation page.