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!

Renovations!

We've completed the updates to my condo and will be listing it with ReMax next week! I think it looks fabulous. Thanks to my parents for all the help, and our friend Sherri for the paint:

Painting the cabinets! They were light oak which you can see in bottom right corner

New "antique white" kitchen!

If you know anyone who wants a 2 BR/2 BA condo in Warrenville, IL, send them my way! And please pray for the right buyer at the right time!
Also, I'm sending my first email newsletter today (much more detailed updates), so if you want to receive it, please comment "add me to the list" below or send me an email and I'll send it along.
God bless! ❤

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.

"Staring at the edge of water"

Well, after 12+ hours of travel (boo, thunderstorms), I'm here at SIM USA headquarters for training. Please pray for my next 8 days of preparations!

Hello again, O'Hare!

So I've been reflecting on my calling and convictions in anticipation of this week. One of my favorite methods of self-reflection, of course, is watching Disney movies. 😆 My new favorite is "Moana." (If you haven't seen it yet, drop everything and find it immediately.) I have watched this movie three times and I cry every time. I realized that this is because "I. Am. Moana." Her story and her passion totally resonates with me. Here is a sneak peek in case you're not familiar: "How far I'll go"
There is an even more powerful song at the climax of the movie, but I don't want to ruin it for y'all. Just go watch it! And then pray and consider: does God want me to stay on this island (comfort zone), or is He calling me out there somewhere? It doesn't have to be overseas, it could be to encourage a coworker, make more time for relationships, share with a neighbor,  or change jobs. "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat!" (John Ortberg)

To conclude, here's my favorite OT joke:

Praising God for provision

I want to thank God and my church family for many blessings in the past week!
Last Sunday, Pastor Wil interviewed me onstage at TriVillage Church about my recent short term trip and my commitment to return to Niger in 2018:

On Wednesday, I was offered a job with another home health company, which includes medical benefits, and I will start on July 24! I will be based in the Naperville area. Huzzah!
And thanks to my parents, I might have someone who is interested in buying my condo even sooner than expected, so we have been a frenzy of painting, cleaning and packing this week.
I also participated in my last church meeting as a member of the Missions Personnel Team, an advisory committee of WBC members, on Monday. From now on I'll be on the other side of the table, applying as a missions candidate! 😊 It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve on this team for 2.5 years.
Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me...keep it up! I will be at SIM headquarters from July 7-15. Please pray for safe travels, a spongy brain (ready to absorb all the learning), and some refreshment, too!
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3)

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. 

Garage Sale Remix

We had terrible weather at my first garage sale a few weeks ago, but I'm praying for great weather on June 10!! My parents' subdivision (Maple Hill) has their garage sale from 8-3 on Saturday and all of my stuff has migrated to their garage:

Meanwhile I've been busy catching up with the online financial management course that SIM requires for long- term applicants. It will require about 4 hours/week for the next 6 weeks, and then I will attend an orientation at SIM headquarters in Charlotte in July. Please pray that I can keep up with the coursework, as I continue to work 3 jobs.

Speaking of jobs, please pray for a new placement with Supplemental Healthcare ASAP as my current contract ends June 9. I'm disappointed to be leaving a job I love in home health and I'm a little anxious to be facing an unknown new position.
And immediately following the garage sale, I will be traveling to Philadelphia to see Tyler receive his Master's degree from Drexel. Please pray for safe travel!