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! 

Sharing news of God’s provision

Some of you knew that my family was blessed with a prize of AA miles last year. I was very grateful to be able to use these miles for some of the return flights during my trip, which kept my overall costs low. We really saw this as God's provision. Well here is an account "straight from the horse's mouth"!

This was published in the AA magazine, American Way. Look for it on your next flight! 

You'll remember Deb, the OT I was assisting in Niger? Her mom found the article on her flight and asked Deb, "Do you know this girl?" 😊 And she sent it to me!

Small note: in the picture is Robert; you may recall from my earlier posts that he is a PT at Kijabe Hospital (not a doctor). 

Other updates: I've been busy reapplying with SIM as a long- term missionary so that I can return to Niger in 2018. The idea is to learn from Deb and develop skills as a therapy department manager in a developing country before replicating what Deb has done in Ethiopia. 

I'm enjoying my new job as a home health therapist (thank God for this job which I secured 2 days before my trip). Sometimes in the car I listen to French 101 lessons  (Niger is francophone). 

Meanwhile I am preparing my house for sale; my roommate has moved out (praise God that she found a nice apartment quickly), my windows will be replaced soon and there is a huge garage sale in my subdivision this weekend (May 19-20), at which I'll be selling as many household items as possible. I'll also be selling the greeting cards that I've been designing. Here are some examples:

Please keep me in your prayers as I wait for an acceptance letter from Niger!

Back home again

I'm finally back home in Chicago, brrrr!

Stormy is happy to see me.

I was comfy in my own bed and enjoyed making coffee this morning. I spent the rest of the day unpacking and looking at pictures. 

Harrod's in London (my layover)

I hope you can tell from this record that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Kenya and Niger. I already miss the warmth, the pool, the chipatis, the chai, the smiles, the scurrying of the lizards, the mangoes, the therapists, the prayer times, and my daily siestas, to name a few.

And I'm grateful to all of you that have joined me on the journey. 

Here is a lovely poem that I read while on the plane home, which captures many of my feelings about that great continent:

"Africa" by Kerry Lovering 

Africa, Africa! 

Delightful land, endearing earth

Over your age-old coasts are sunshine, clouds and gentle breezes

On the other side of the ocean are steep mountain ranges

Immense deserts, rapid rivers

And quiet plains. 

Your greatest beauty is your lovely people:

Fulani, Bariba, Somali, Amhara

And many other tribes

With names that sound like music.

Your people are gifted poets, legendary figures, 

Players of long flutes and round drums, skilful craftsmen

Incomparable are the brass utensils of Benin and silver ornaments of Ethiopia. 

Your enthusiasm and friendliness,

Love for children, bond with your land. 

Jesus has long known of your beauty

In his childhood years he came to your shores

Learning to walk on the sandy road of Egypt. 

Later he left. 

He has returned to you now, no longer a child, 

He is the Savior of the world. 

And because you welcomed and received Jesus

You have become far more beautiful and lovely, 

Manifesting the glorious beauty of the Son in you.