Visa!

Hello Friends~ I just received my visa for Jos, Nigeria!!! Thank you so much for praying. I will leave for Nigeria on Saturday December 5th. I am soooo excited to finally go Africa! Right now I am in Florida, serving at SIM’s missionary retirement village. I will return to Texas on Nov.24th to spend Thanksgiving with my family- an unexpected blessing! I will send a more detailed email in the short future. I just wanted to let all of you know that our prayers were answered about the visa and send some new requests.

Back in TX

Howdy from TX! Yes, I have moved back to Texas. I miss Chicago a lot, but I knew that the Lord wanted me to come home. VISA... PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!I have not yet received my visa. We (SIM and I) are not sure what is taking so long, but we must wait and not pressure the Nigerian government. Here is how it works: the Nigerian government evaluates SIM's quota of how many missionaries are permitted into Nigeria. This happens every 2 years. The quota was up for renewal in August, which is why SIM told me that I should expect to leave in September, assuming there was space for me in the quota. Well, the Nigerian officials are still reviewing it, so I am just waiting. Once they send a letter of invitation to SIM in Charlotte, SIM then sends that to Washington DC, where my visa is actually processed. The time from Charlotte to Washington to my receiving my visa is about 2 1/2 weeks. So, all that to say...the tentative departure date is October 22, assuming that I will get my invitation in the next week or so. Clear as mud, right? :) PLEASE keep praying that the Lord will open this door! I really want to go!

MINISTRY One of the reasons the Lord brought me home was to assist with a ministry to children in low-income housing in my hometown. The director of this ministry is new and has no training. She is over college students (from my alum) who are the ones who do the ministry. We meet with the kids every Tuesday and play and share a Bible lesson. We are asking the Lord to open our eyes to opportunities and that the Holy Spirit will give us creativity and discernment.

FAMILY Another reason I am home is to spend lots of time with my family! We are making a lot of memories. I visited Shane in College Station on Saturday. We went to the Texas A&M football game and had a blast. My wonderful parents continue to love on me and disciple me in the Truth.

Saying Farewell to Chicago

Hello Friends! It was a beautiful day here in Chicago- about 80 degrees, sunny. I love it! This will probably be my last week in Chicago. I am awaiting word from the Nigerian government as to whether or not they are going to issue me a visa. SIM hopes that we will hear by the end of next week. It is out of our hands. Please pray that the Nigerian official(s) will see the need for a nurse to work with the street children, lepers, and others in Jos. Perhaps my papers have been set aside and not looked at yet, or maybe a decision has been made and they have not notified SIM Nigeria. Whatever the case, pray that God will move the official(s) according to His plan and His timetable. If I do receive the visa this week, the plan is for me to leave Chicago on the 8th for Texas, where I will be until the end of Sept/early Oct to pack and say good-bye to family and friends.

I am excited to tell you that my car was sold yesterday! Thanks to all who prayed. I received the $4,000 I was aiming for. However, I owe my parents $4,200, so I just expected to have to pay the $200 out of my pocket. Well, after selling the car I opened my mail and there was a check for $200 from a Sunday school class at Moody! How fun to see God burden the class to give me the exact amount I need and to have the check arrive the day that I sold my car!

In my last letter I shared that I would be attending the tropical medicine course in Vancouver Island. It was intense, but I really enjoyed it. I learned a ton and feel more competent to serve the Nigerians in a safer and more effective way. I highly recommend this course to any missionary- medical or not who knows they will provide health care in some capacity. There was even a mom there who wanted to learn in order to care for her 3 children as they live in Malawi. Go to http://equipministries.org (click on Missionary Medical Intensive) for more information.

On my last day of work, my co-workers surprised me with a box full of things I will need in Nigeria: towels, chapstick, soap, etc. I also received almost $500 as gifts from various co-workers! I was extremely humbled that they would do that, and blessed by their interest in Nigeria, what I will be doing, and why on earth I want to go! I praise God for all of them, who have been such a source of encouragement. My roommates and another good friend hosted a going-away party for me on Monday 25th. It was such a blessing to see so many friends that I have made over the past 3 years in Chicago. Each one of them is so special to me in very unique ways.