God's Providence

Most believers can recite Jeremiah 29:11, although they often take it out of context as a splashy platitude to mark an occasion such as a graduation, anniversary, etc. They might be surprised to learn that the context of this passage is the beginning of the exile of the Israelites to Babylon. Go back to verse 10, where God promises that the exile is going to last for 70 years. Let's put that in a greeting card... "I hope you suffer for 70 years, and then enjoy some benefits at the end." (#adulting) Why would a benevolent God subject His people to such a thing? The answer lies in His providence, His pre-planning and provision for the fulfillment of His ultimate goal. And what is that goal? Americans might be discomfited to realize that the plan is not for us to be content with a fulfilling career, a loving spouse, 2.5 children, 2 luxury cars, and an annual trip to the beach. Reality check: "...God our Savior, ...desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3b-4). So how does God accomplish His plan?
My US pastor gave a great message on Romans 8:28 on June 17th that you can listen to here ("The Promise of Providence"). It brought up both self-reflection and interesting discussion with my French language teacher, Ibro. Here are some of the things we have been discussing:
Do we believers think that we deserve only blessings? Do we say to God, somewhere deep in our hearts, "I gave up half of my Sunday to go to church, so I really deserve for you to bless this project at work on Monday"? Do we lose our faith when prayers aren't answered the way we expected? Do we missionaries count our "sacrifices" in moving to hard places and expect mounds of blessings in return? I admit that missionaries are not immune to pride and comparison--we struggle in varying degrees with the temptation to think to ourselves, "Well, not only did I move to this Third World country, but I can survive here without an air conditioner! Look at these other "soft" missionaries, with their modern appliances! Not me! I'm REALLY COMMITTED to the Lord's calling!" Reality check: all believers are required to be self-sacrificial (Jesus called the disciples away from jobs, family, homes in Matthew 4) and all are required to go through trials (John 16:33). Thousands of believers are suffering and dying around the world today.

Can we trust that ALL THINGS work together for good--for God's plan? Even in discomfort, in grief, in pain?
What we have to remember is that God is never absent--silence doesn't mean absence. John the Baptist and 11 of the 12 apostles, except for John, were violently martyred. Does that mean that He abandoned these faithful ones in their final hours? I don't believe so. God's answer is not always the one we want nor expect, but He is the only omniscient one. He often uses martyrdom as a catalyst for church growth, as we have seen in modern-day Iran following the death of Pastor Haik Hovsepian. Please pray especially that the recent outbreak of violence against Christians in Nigeria will somehow be turned to glorify God. My heart breaks for my Nigerian brothers and sisters who are living in fear, and I pray for the steadfastness of their faith, their hope, their trust in God.
To trust in God's providence in the midst of trials is the refining fire of faith. The verb "to trust" in French is "avoir confiance", literally, "to have confidence in." I am reliant on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to wake up each morning and place my confidence once again in God's hands, not finding any confidence in my abilities, education, position, family, etc., but only in my identity as a daughter of the King.
What do you have confidence in?

Cardboard Carpentry & Church Commissioning!

From Feb. 26-28th I had the privilege to attend a class in NYC by Adaptive Design Association, Inc., which taught me the basics of working with cardboard and how to design and produce my own adaptive equipment. It was fabulous! Deb and I had lots of fun learning the tools of the trade and building our own projects, including a scaled-down model of an infant chair that we hope to reproduce in Niger. It will be a huge asset to be able to make things from our own hands in our resource-poor context.

Using power tools!

Our scaled-down model of a toddler seat

My project from conception to (almost) finish

Mom's new lap desk, in final stage- - she picked out the patterned paper to cover it (decoupage style) 

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Last Sunday, March 11th, I was commissioned by my home church, Tri-Village Church in Streamwood, IL (a campus of Wheaton Bible Church). TVC is only about 18 months old and I'm the first missionary to be sent overseas from this congregation. It was awesome to have Pastor Wil and everyone in attendance pray over me to send me out!

*******

This weekend I'm at the medical missionary training by the Christian Medical and Dental Association, in Abingdon, VA, and on Sunday I move on to the Center for Intercultural Training in Union Mills, NC. I won't be home again until April 14th. Please keep me in your prayers and come back for updates! 

"So how do you become a missionary?"

This is written mostly with medical workers in mind, because that is what I am, and because I struggled over many months to compile resources that apply to medical missions, and I'm hoping to pave the way for future workers! This is everything in my own experience that has been formational over the last several years in shaping my now-career as a missionary.

"So how do you become a missionary?"

1. Pray! Talk to the Lord about whether or not He wants you to serve in this capacity.

2. Talk to people in your church (leaders, others who have served overseas) about any opportunities, either to go somewhere short-term or to volunteer cross-culturally right in your own community.

3. Pray about each opportunity! When you pray, if you don't hear a clear "NO," then move forward with the next step (send the application, contact the agency, etc). Keep moving forward until God says, "STOP." **Feeling uncomfortable due to the anticipation of being pushed outside your comfort zone is NOT the same as God saying "STOP." Fear does not come from God, it comes from the enemy! (2 Timothy 1:7) If you are dithering and making excuses about not following through on the thing that scares you,  it's probably because it's going to be AWESOME and it's going to bring GLORY TO GOD, and Satan wants nothing more than to prevent you from doing that thing!!** Keep praying about it, and take it one step at a time! (P.S. I've found that God rarely says, "Stop completely"; it's more often, "wait" or, "let's take this detour!")

4. Get a mentor. Ask around your church for mentorship opportunities (ideally someone who has served overseas in the same capacity or the same area of the world) or use the website by Medical Missions to find an experienced worker, a mature Christian of the same gender. They should be willing to meet up to once a week, but at least once a month, to offer guidance and support.

5. Critically assess your finances. My greatest resource was Dave Ramsey's book, "The Total Money Makeover." Many churches offer his Financial Peace University seminars (for a fee) and you can check out Ramsey's website for advice and resources. Whether you're going to go on short-term trips or are considering long- term service, you need to assess your financial stewardship and pay off as many outstanding debts as possible Between my car loan, student loans, credit cards, medical/vet bills...when I added all of those together, I owed hundreds of thousands of dollars at one point. Imagine my dismay when ilearned that most mission agencies require you to repay your debts before you can depart overseas! But by sticking to a budget, taking baby steps, and working multiple jobs, I reduced my total debt to under $37,000, which is my student loan balance.

6. Speaking of student loans... MedSend is a non-profit organization that offers grants to medical missionaries in order to continue repaying their student loans while they are serving overseas. Once you are accepted with a mission agency, check out their website for the next application deadline (usually 4x/year).

7. Learn about missions. When I thought that maybe God was calling me to go overseas long-term, my two biggest influences, the things that confirmed I was on the right path, were the Global Missions Health Conference (held annually in Louisville, KY), and the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course (13 weeks long, ongoing basis).

8. Read about missions. Look for books on cross-cultural ministry, evangelism,  missiology, biographies of missionaries, books written by believers in your region of interest, etc. You can start with my recommendations, which are posted on Goodreads under the heading "Missions Resources," but your church, mission agency, and mentor probably have great ideas, too. If you prefer learning by listening, or if you spend a lot of time in your car, try audiobooks; check out christianaudio.com, audible.com, or ask your local library if they participate in hoopla emedia.

9. Study theology. You can't tell others what you believe if you don't know what you believe! My favorite authors are Liz Curtis Higgs, C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Boenhoffer, Elyse Fitzpatrick, Priscilla Shirer, Brennan Manning, Lee Strobel, and Beth Moore. Read their books. Listen to good sermons online (in addition to attending church). Be a student of the Word. Enroll in the FREE Dimensions of the Faith program, a series of courses from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Make use of their study guides and stay on track with their quizzes.

10. GO!!! You'll never know until you try... so the best thing to do is to get experience in a new culture on a short-term trip, either with your church or one of hundreds of organizations that need medical workers. Go with open heart, open mind, and open hands, ready to serve and ready to learn. When you come back, debrief with your mentor or other cross-cultural workers.

11. Keep praying! 

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. 

MissionsFest & Prayer Requests

I've had a busy month so far, and it's not letting up! It has been my privilege to be presented before the congregations of Wheaton Bible Church and Tri-Village Church, their sister church in Streamwood, as part of MissionsFest 2017. During this week I also presented my ministry before 4 small groups. This was the theme verse:

We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

--1 Corinthians 3:5b-7

This particularly strikes a chord with me as I am gathering my support team, because I may be going out to work in the field of Niger, planting seeds of God's love as I meet physical needs, but I can't go without being sent--by YOU! So thank you for your encouragement, enthusiasm and support!

Here are some things you can pray about for me and the hospital:

I sent a newsletter out a few days ago, so check your spam boxes if you were expecting to receive it but didn't get it yet...otherwise, click to sign up:

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Finally, if you're near Wheaton, MARK YOUR CALENDARS for October 30th!

From 5-8pm just mention "SIM" at the counter or drive thru and Chick-fil-A will donate back up to 20% to SIM! The address is 301 E. Loop Rd, Wheaton, IL. The COW and I hope to see you there!

Fundraising Update

I'm thankful for all of your support thus far! I've met with many of you to share my vision for Niger & Ethiopia, and the response is awesome!

Mom, me, Tyler (surprise!) and Dawn at a last-minute planning session

My parents have helped me stage the condo and sell it, my friend Dawn is throwing a big fundraiser for me this weekend, my brother flew in from Philly just to be here for it, friends are taking some of my stuff to store it for free, and every Sunday more people at church ask how the preparations are coming. I can't do it without all of you!

Did you know that the motto of SIM, my sending agency, is "By Prayer"? I value your prayers for me above all! Sometimes I can get bogged down in packing up the house, planning the fundraiser, and juggling jobs with 4 companies, and I'm in danger of losing my JOY. But your prayers and encouragement keep me lifted up.

Here's the fundraising update: I still need $2,682 in monthly pledges in order to be fully funded. Once I'm at 80% funded, I can purchase airline tickets and be ready to launch in January!

Prayer Requests:
-for my fundraising party on Sunday, for good turnout, for opportunities to share my ministry with new people, and for everyone to have fun!
-for the church Elders' meeting on 9/12, where they will vote on supporting me financially
-for the condo closing on 9/15 to go smoothly
-for the next step in my ministry training, called SIM SendOff, which is a week-long training in Charlotte, NC from Oct 1-Oct 7

I hope to see many of you at the fundraiser on Sunday from 2-5pm at the Emerald Green Clubhouse, 29w370 John Bardeen Dr in Warrenville! We'll have line dancing, 30 raffle prizes and crafts for sale. If you can't make it but are still interested in supporting me financially, you can use this link. I'm blessed to be your bridge to serving and raising up Christ's disciples in Africa! 

Moving out, moving on!!

SOLD!!! I listed the condo last Tuesday, got 4 interested buyers, and signed a contract on Friday! PRAISE GOD for a quick and painless process, and for His provision above and beyond what is expected (Ephesians 3:20, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think").
I will close on September 15th, which means that I will be moving back in with the parentals quite soon. Thanks for all your prayers and support in the process!

What's next??
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We are in "Defcon5" planning mode for my big fundraiser party in Warrenville on Sunday, September 10th! Please save the date and invite your friends! View evite

I have my first deadline for SIM coming up on August 31, so if you've been praying about/considering/debating financially supporting my ministry in Niger, I could really use a "vote of confidence" in order to get off to a great start! The goal is to be 50% supported in order to attend SIM's pre-field training in October. Could you be one of 20 people needed to start giving $80/month?
You can use this link to give online, or send a check made out to SIMUSA with my account #044178 in the memo line, to: SIM USA, PO Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241
Even if you can't commit to $80/month, what about $20/month? $10/month? Every gift is appreciated and will go a long way in Niger!!

And most importantly, THANK YOU for continuing to pray! THANK YOU for joining me in serving the needs of people in Niger through Galmi Hospital!

It's getting real...

Hi all! I'm pleased to say that my gorgeous 2BR/2BA condo is now listed for sale...and I'd say it's been a great first day of showings, since I got an offer about 2 hours ago! Please pray that they'll accept the counter offer. Or maybe more interested parties will come forward in the next few days! We were planning an open house for Sunday, but we might not need it!!

Things are moving forward with SIM. I am meeting with as many potential partners face-to-face as possible, while still working 23-30 hours/ week. If I haven't contacted you yet about getting together, and you'd like to know more about my ministry, feel free to reach out to me. If you have already been praying about how you can support me, now is the time!

1. You can comment below or email me to join my mailing list for newsletters and prayer updates. My goal is to have at least 100 faithful prayer partners. I just sent out the first newsletter last week, so check your inbox, and let me know if I missed you! 
2. You can setup an ongoing (monthly or annual) financial gift with SIM by clicking here. My goal is to have at least 40 monthly financial partners, at an average of $88/month. 
3. You can also send a check, made payable to SIMUSA, with my account #044178 in the memo, to: SIM USA, PO Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241. In addition to the monthly support, I need estimated one-time support of $26,500 for several types of expenses such as pre-field training, travel, setting up my house in Niger, and my tuition and living expenses for French language study in Quebec (for the first year).

Here's how you can pray for me:

• for the right buyer for the condo (at asking price)
• for the anticipated transition to living with my parents once again
• for good balance between work and theology classes and the meetings I need to keep up with
• to be 50% supported by September 1

THANK YOU for considering how you might continue to partner with me as I serve the needy at Galmi Hospital! Please let me know how I can pray for you, too!

Target: January

I've completed one week of SIM training and I have a plan for the rest of my pre-field preparation! Hallelujah! I'm waiting for approvals but I'm hoping to go to Quebec in January to begin French language school.  I hope to speak to most of you individually about joining my ministry team; please pray about how you might support God's work in Niger!

I have a potential buyer coming to look at the condo on Sunday; please pray for favor in her eyes! 

There was some time for R&R at SIM training, which was refreshing. 

Please pray that I can keep a good balance of things moving forward. Please pray for all of the classes that I have to complete. I'm starting a new part- time position next week so I hope to concentrate on those after I've settled in at Residential Home Health.

On assignment!

On Monday I received my assignment from Niger as an occupational therapist at Galmi Hospital! 😊😊😊
The plan is to complete a year of language school in France and then move to Galmi (Niger is a French-speaking country).

Please keep praying for me as I am preparing my house for sale and looking for a new job. The only prospect I have right now involves relocating (for 13 weeks) to Urbana-Champaign.