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?

Bienvenue en Niamey

Stormy and I arrived in Niger as planned on May 30^th, with all of our luggage. Stormy protested being in his carrier for the 8.5-hour flight to Paris…apparently 5 hours is his limit. We are settling into our new home-away-from-home, our 1-bedroom apartment in Niamey. 

We live on the 2^nd story of a 4-unit complex. I have been busy unpacking, and Stormy has been getting over jet lag and adjusting to the heat. (You’d think he would offer to help with all these bags!) I’ll admit it has been challenging, with major power outages during our first 48 hours. After 2 nights of sleeping with wet towels on us, we’ve made it through the last few nights with power. And power = air conditioning! WOOHOO!

I’ve already accomplished some major things, like cooking eggs and rice and chicken on the stovetop (gas range)! And washing laundry (seriously, mom!). And hooking up the wifi! And I take Stormy for walks outside our compound to get to know the neighborhood, so we’ve befriended some of the kids on our block. At first they were afraid of him, but now they like to greet him and pet him.

the friendly kids

the unfriendly kids

There is a mosque within a stone’s throw from our front gate, so I hear the call to prayer when I’m at home and it reminds me to pray, too. I went to the tailor last week with some fabric and expect to pick up my first outfit today! I also walked to the market at the Stadium (le Stade) and found a shirt that will go with my black skirt in cooler weather. On Friday night I attended my first French film (okay, it was dubbed): SOLO, A Star Wars Story, which of course I saw with some awesome friends at home just before leaving. It was worth seeing it again! The cinema here is brand new, and has both an outdoor area like a drive-in, and an indoor stadium complete with air-conditioning.

Me, Gina and Crystal (fellow SIM workers) at the cinema

On Saturday I wasn’t feeling well, so I took it easy. On Sunday I attended a French/Hausa worship service in the morning, and an English service at Sahel Academy at night. Everyone welcomed me warmly. The morning church was an open-air event. Then I accompanied the church members to visit a sister whose young husband (maybe 40) passed away unexpectedly on Friday. All of us women sat quietly with her as the pastor talked to her—it reminded me of sitting shiva, like Job’s friends did (before they opened their big mouths!). The church will look into providing for her needs and supporting her 3 small children, since her family is unwilling to support her. Please keep her in your prayers.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the range of things available at grocery stores in Niamey (last year I was in Galmi, a rural area where “stores” don’t exist). There is cheese, and Nutella, and ground beef, and potato chips, and I found a strawberry sorbet I can eat (I’m gluten-, corn-, and dairy-free)! Unfortunately, after suffering another long power outage, I had to throw away the spoiled beef and I was left with sorbet soup… but we are surviving! I even ate falafel at a local restaurant that specializes in Lebanese food, and I learned that the Indian restaurant is within walking distance… dangerous! This week I will start to replace the borrowed furniture in my apartment with my very own, and finish unpacking, and get a second air conditioner installed. I will start language classes this Thursday!

walking through the market at le Stade

Prayer Requests:

•           For a good balance of introvert time, time with God, and time with people
•           To quickly learn basic French phrases so I can develop friendships with neighbors
•           For no more power cuts
•           For physical stamina

Recovery Update

If you didn't hear, I injured my right knee on December 28th (subluxed patella, or dislocated kneecap). This is the 3rd time it has happened on the right knee (twice on the left). The doctor said that if it keeps happening, maybe we should consider surgery. Not the words a 31-year-old wants to hear. I've been resting it since then, to control pain and swelling, and wearing a brace as recommended by the doctor. I started physical therapy (PT) today. I found out that my anatomy is a little goofy, with both kneecaps tilted to the side instead of lying flat, and a tendency to hyperextend both legs, which is probably why I have a proclivity for this type of injury. I will continue PT for at least 4 weeks, 2x/week, in an attempt to compensate by strengthening different muscle groups in the core and legs, and to return to normal functioning. Please pray that surgery is not necessary. My next doctor appointment is January 29. If all goes well with recovery, I should be able to be on the field in Niger by May 1st.

Praise Report:
Thank you for praying with me about the need to reschedule my cross-cultural training in North Carolina. I notified the training center right away after my injury and they changed my registration to their spring session, March 18. Then I called American Airlines and a very nice customer service agent pulled all the strings to change my basic economy flights from January to March--what a blessing to not lose all that money! I am also looking on the bright side and enjoying additional "down time" to focus on theology classes, French language learning, support raising, and spending time with family. I've already talked to 2 friends who are prayerfully considering joining my support team! God will work it all out in His timing, for His glory!

New Year's reflections

As a new year approaches, I love to reflect on the changes that have taken place in the past 365 days--both internally and externally. I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but sometimes I make goals or just write down my expectations for the new year, and then release them all to my Loving Father.

2017 was certainly a time of momentous changes for me. Here is a summary of the hills and valleys I've seen this year:

January:

• Resigned from Genesis Healthcare 
• Traveled to Kenya with group from Wheaton Bible Church  (WBC) 

February:

• Traveled alone to Niger to work at Galmi Hospital 

March:

• Returned to USA 
• Started job with Supplemental Healthcare/ Northwestern Medicine 
• Began long-term assignment process as a missionary with SIMUSA 

April:

• Stormy was very sick; multiple trips to vet 
• Roommate moved out 

May:

• Finished my first 5K!

• Started gluten free/ dairy free diet for my health 
• Attended a family wedding and a friend's baptism 

June:

• Last day with Supplemental Healthcare 
• Attended my brother Tyler's Master's Ceremony in Philly 
• Attended my cousin's improv show in Chicago 
• Celebrated my 31st birthday 

July:

• Attended one week orientation at SIMUSA headquarters in Charlotte 
• Started job with Residential Home Health
• Visited winery in Iowa with a friend 

August:

• Started job with Brookdale Senior Living 
• Saw the best musical ever, HAMILTON, in Chicago with all of my best friends 

• Sold my condo in Warrenville
• Celebrated my friend's graduation from CNA school 
• Took family vacation to Philly and the Jersey Shore 

September:

• Line dancing fundraiser for my trip 
• Celebrated the one year anniversary of my church, Tri-Village Church (TVC), a sister campus of WBC 
• Moved in with my parents and put my things in storage
• Visited NYC with Tyler (first time) to watch our cousin's play

October:

• Attended one-week training at SIMUSA headquarters in Charlotte 
• During weeklong Missionsfest celebration, was presented at church as the first missionary to be sent overseas from TVC
• Attended my cousin's baptism
• Chick-fil-A fundraiser in Wheaton for my trip

November:

• Began Second Language Acquisition course through Wheaton College 
• Attended annual Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities benefit dinner with my dad
• Attended PAX Unplugged convention of board games with my brother in Philly

• Celebrated Friendsgiving with high school friends (class of 2004!)

December: 

• Saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi on opening weekend in Minnesota with my friends from college
• Last day with Residential Home Health 
• Celebrated a white Christmas in Chicago with friends and family! 
• Dislocated my right knee for the third time (today...breaking news...)

Please pray with me that these trials and triumphs will work together for God's glory!

Into the darkest season, comes The Light

It's been called "the most wonderful time of the year." And while it is certainly special, this December for me has been especially difficult emotionally. I get very involved in my patients' lives, especially as I treat some of them for several months, and almost all of them have had setbacks this month: whether from illness, rehospitalization, a devastating prognosis, or just general idiopathic decline. One even passed away suddenly. And friends and neighbors are dealing with their own health struggles, loss of beloved pets, and family upheaval. It just seems like no one is very merry nor bright!

Surrounded as I seem to be by grief and sadness, I could be tempted to despair. However, as I am reminded by my favorite movie series (above) and book series (below), darkness allows you to see the light that much more clearly:

My happiness in this season has been found in everyday moments with my family, in a road trip to Minnesota with my college friends, in serving at church, in snuggling with my dog, in playing board games and going to the movies, and in buying Christmas gifts. But these things will pass away. My hope and my joy are found in The Light of the World:

One of my greatest blessings in this season is sharing with my current patients and coworkers that I am moving overseas. Although this means that I must say goodbye to them soon, they have been very encouraging about my new endeavor, and this news has opened up many spiritual conversations as they question my reasons for leaving my family and comfortable suburban life. One patient with chronic pain asked me several theological questions this week, but what she really wanted to know was, "Why is God so mad at me?" I reassured her that her chronic health problems are not a judgement for something she has or hasn't done, pointing her to passages about Paul in the New Testament and Job in the Old. She invited me to come back just to visit after I'm done working with Residential. We will pray together for her upcoming surgery (in late January) to be successful.

Let us be light and love to each other! Have a Merry Christmas! 

We are not done

I got my 2nd tattoo today. It has significant layers of meaning for me. Here's what it looks like:

I substituted the Arabic letter "ن" (pronounced noon) in the word "not" in order to show solidarity with my Middle Eastern brothers and sisters.
The motto "We are not done" comes from my Pastor, Wil Franco, at Tri-Village Church in Streamwood, who gave an impassioned (I mean, more than usual) sermon on this topic several months ago.
Here is what this means to me, in the context of the Gospel which I believe in:
1. I have been saved by Jesus, but I am not done; I am in a process of sanctification until I meet Him face to face (Hebrews 10:10, 14).
2. No one else is perfect, either, so I should extend forgiveness as He has forgiven me (Colossians 3:13).
3. We are commanded to go out and proclaim the Good News, and this won't be done until all have had a chance to hear and believe (Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 7:9-10). Everyday, I have a part to play in that, no matter where I'm living at the time.
4. Including the Arabic letter reminds me that many people will try to kill us or imprison us, in order to stop the Truth, but ultimately, God will prevail over the enemy of darkness (Revelation 12:10-12, 7:16-17). What an encouraging hope to have!

I got the tattoo so that these important reminders will be always before me, everywhere I go!

**Edit: I should give credit where it's due: my brother in Christ, the wonderful Chris Baker, who runs Ink180 Ministry in Oswego, which helps former gang members and survivors of sex trafficking by covering their scars or tattoos without charge. I brought my idea to him and he made it into art! Thanks, Chris!**

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:

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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!

Recalculating...

I've completed my week of pre-field training at SIM USA headquarters, and I have to report some recalculations in my plans for ministry at Galmi. All good news, though! I am no longer required to study French before arriving in Niger, since the French-speaking therapy assistant, Barnaba, has been accepted into school for additional training. It is now more important that I complete 6 months of Hausa language study, in Niger, because the remaining apprentice only speaks Hausa.

Oumarou, on left, speaks Hausa and I will participate in his training at Galmi; Barnaba, second from left, is now in school in northern Niger! Please keep him in prayer

I now have the following timeline:
>>Ongoing: theology classes online
>>October-November: language learning class online (Wheaton College)
>>January 14-February 9: Cultural Training Institute in North Carolina
>>March 15-18: CMDA orientation for medical missionaries in Virginia
>>April?: depart for Niger; study Hausa for 6 months in Niamey

I need your support now more than ever, as each of these trainings require registration fees and some require travel. With your help and if it's God's will, I will be on a plane overseas by April!

So here is an update on my support raising:

I have currently received pledges totaling 68% of my monthly budget! THANK YOU to everyone who is giving and who has pledged to give!!! If you are interested in joining my team, you can click here to be taken to my SIM donor page. You may start your giving at any time, but as I mentioned above, it will make a big difference in registering for all of my trainings/ classes if you can start before the end of the year. Please pray about it and let me know if I can pray about something specific for you, too!

The Potter's Workmanship

Beautiful pots formed by hand by skilled artisans in a Nigerien village

While at SIM SendOff (pre-field training) in Charlotte this week, we were asked to consider the following passage of the Old Testament from Jeremiah. I thought I would share some of the wisdom and insights I gained as I reflected on it:

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.”  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there [s]he was, making something on the two stone slabs.  But the vessel that [s]he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so [s]he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." 

-Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NASB)

I imagined myself in the prophet Jeremiah's place as I meditated on the passage. Every sight, sound, and smell of that Nigerien village, which some of you might remember me visiting in February, came back to me. The dust in the air tickled my nose as I walked through the village. I had to duck to enter the door of the mud-and-straw hut of the potter. It smelled of donkey dung and it was humid and cool inside. Several of us crowded around to watch. I recalled the potter's leathery skin and her pop-bottle eyeglasses as she crouched on the floor and demonstrated her skills for us, and heard the THWACK of her paddle and her occasional shouts at the curious children to clear the doorway so that she could see by the bright light of the desert sun. 

One of the potters at work; she uses donkey dung to make the clay and water to mold it, beating the shape into being with a flat wooden paddle. She works by daylight since she has no electricity

Asking God what lessons He wanted me to take away from this object lesson, I reflected on the following:

• the potter/God makes beautiful vessels for her/His use out of the available materials; dirty things (like donkey dung!) have a purpose (see Isaiah 1:16 & Romans 6:13)
• when the vessel comes out imperfect or lumpy, the potter/God doesn't throw it away; she/He reshapes it into something beautiful again (see Colossians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• the way to reshape it is by adding more water; in the Bible, water is the wellspring of life, or a symbol of the Holy Spirit (see John 4:10-14, Revelation 22:1-6)
• as the potter shapes the pot, she/He molds it firmly with her/His hands, and sometimes a good THWACK! (see Deuteronomy 8:5, Proverbs 3:11-12)
• the potter pulls off any unnecessary bits and tosses them away, until the pot is perfect (see John 15:1-3 for a similar analogy)

Pretty cool, right? Feel free to comment with your own insights!

One who is "cent"

Someone shared this with me recently and I thought it was great:
Every time you reach for a penny in loose change or find a stray one on the ground, I want you to look at One Cent and stop to say a prayer for me...One who is "Cent" across the world as a missionary! (And for any other missionaries you know, too!)
😆😆😆
Here are some of my current prayer requests:
*Praise God that my boss let me take off for the SIM training in Charlotte, October 1-7; please pray for my focus and clarity during this time
*Pray for my application to Medsend, a student loan repayment program for medical missionaries, to be approved
*Pray for my time management as I work part time, meet with potential partners and take online classes in theology and second-language-learning skills

Thank you for your support! 

Awesome Party & A Lot of Packing & Answered Prayers, OH MY!

First, a HUGE THANK YOU to my friend Dazzlin' Dawn who hosted my line dancing party/fundraiser last weekend! It was so much fun and I loved cheering for everyone who walked away with a raffle prize, especially my Aunt Mary who won the grand prize getaway to Nashville!!! 

Big thanks to all who donated goods/services for the prizes, including Megan and Sherri at Heidi's Salon and Spa in Warrenville, and to those who helped set-up, clean up, take charge of the money, and mostly everyone who came out to support me and my ministry in Niger!!!

 

If you missed the party but would still like to donate to my launch fund, please use this link. 

ANSWERS TO PRAYER:

Thanks for everyone who has been faithfully remembering me in prayer, as September has been a whirlwind (is it over yet??). In addition to the success of the party, I'm grateful for many friends who have pledged additional support toward my monthly goal of $3,248. I'm also excited to announce that I've been approved by the Board of Elders at Wheaton Bible Church as their newest supported missionary! Altogether, this means that I'm now 51% supported!

Grateful for the blessing of my condo for the past 6 years!!

I closed on my condo on Friday, so thanks for praying for that, too. It's been a stressful time of packing, selling furniture, donating thousands of things and storing some important stuff that I couldn't part with. Stormy and I now live with my parents (still in Warrenville). If you need our address, please email me! 

PRAYER REQUESTS: 

*For grace and patience during the transition to living with my parents once again 

*Energy to sort through the rest of my belongings

*Wisdom about when to leave my part-time job (started July) without burning bridges
*And for an affirmative response on my MedSend application, a student loan repayment program for medical missionaries

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!

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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!

Prayer Request: Visas

I can't believe that it's January 7th! In 2 weeks we'll be in Kenya!! That is, assuming the team receives our Kenyan visas. :/ Some of us applied as early as Dec 22nd, and we haven't received them yet.  So that is our biggest prayer request right now!
A recent answered prayer is that my replacement as Director of Rehab has been hired and I am training her before I leave (my last day is Jan 16). Cheers to Rosa in her new role!
By the way, here is more about the organization we'll be working with in Nakuru, Hope for Life Kenya.
Thanks for praying!
-Justine for the Kenya GO Team (Rhonda, Jeff, Jill, Barb, Lilia & Erica)