south africa.

I made it!! So sorry that I haven't been able to update...I haven't had access to the internet until now. In South Africa, they pay by bandwith instead of paying for something more like WiFi, so it's really tricky trying to buy it...

But enough about technology (though those who know me well know I could talk about it for a long time...)-I'M IN SOUTH AFRICA!! The South Africans I work with tell me that about 20 times a day-"Emily is in South Africa!" and I just kindof laugh in disbelief. I arrived a little ahead of schedule, and Russell (the general manager here) was there waiting for me in the airport. I know that some were worried about me being attacked/captured/stolen from/killed in the Jo-burg (everyone here says that) airport, and I am happy to report that I only have a few scratches and bruises. No, kidding, I got out of there alive, safely, and everything still in my luggage and backpack.

My flat is so cute! I haven't thought about how to upload pictures of it yet, since this isn't my personal laptop, but I'll find a way. I am living with four other people-Beth, Rachel, Kat, and Leigh. Beth took me grocery shopping as soon as I unpacked everything (yeah, okay, WAY too much stuff. Somehow I fit it all into my three drawers. That's right, three drawers.). It was a little bit like a marathon trip, but I warned her that I would need LOTS of help because I don't know how to cook anything. I got some good things (I even got CHICKEN. No idea how to cook it, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.). Here's a good example of my incompetency in the kitchen: we walked past the eggs, and Beth asked me if I wanted any. I looked at her with a sheepish look, then dropped my head to my chest and said, "I don't even know how to cook EGGS!!" We both laughed, and she's promised to help me become more domestic. I'll update you on how that goes, or if I burn anything down (I just knocked on the wooden desk). Leigh is Beth's friend that has been here for a few weeks, but actually leaves tomorrow. Kat and Rachel are both from the UK and have wonderful accents. They say "petrol" instead of "gas" and "the loo" instead of the "bathroom." It's awesome. Before I went to bed last night, we all watched about five episodes of Friends (LOVE THAT SHOW) and one episode of Grey's Anatomy. It was so nice to be able to chill with all of the girls!

My first day of work is TODAY (the babies are napping from 10-12, so right now is "tea time" and some free time). I'm working with six beautiful babies (two boys, four girls) that have special needs. I got here at 8:00 and bathed four children first off. It reminded me of bathing my little brother David back in the day! My shirt got very wet. One of the babies is really into splashing...haha. We played all morning, fed them some milk in bottles, and then a therapist came over to do some gross motor exercises. After learning about a lot of those exercises in my Early Childhood Education classes, it was really cool for me to actually see them done, learn them, and help two children with them! Think a lot of bouncing on balls, feeling different textures, and helping them move their hands and feet across their midline. It was pretty cool.

The only sad thing is the privacy law here. Because of that, I am not allowed to mention any child by name, post any pictures publicly of their faces, or tell any stories that can directly be linked to one particular child. I will do the best I can to update you on the children, but because of that privacy law, I can't be too specific. However, I can talk about it in person all I want, show pictures in chapel or to my friends, etc., I just can't publicly post anything over the internet.

Tonight, I think Kat, Rachel, Russell, and Stephanie (the baby manager) are going out for karaoke. My only real experience with that is being embarrassed on vacation with my family (I sang a song by Britney Spears, and from then on the staff called me Britney...yeah) and a little bit in Italy (I was a failure at trying to sing a song I didn't know in the first place, not even counting the different language haha). We'll see how that goes. We're just trying to leave the flat for a little while since Leigh is leaving tomorrow (we're giving Leigh and Beth a little time alone before she leaves).

Thank you all for your encouraging emails and comments!! I so appreciate all of them. I will try to answer as many as I can, but if I don't get back to yours as soon as you would like, please know that it is not from a lack of wanting to talk to you! :) I am loving taking care of these beautiful children. One little boy is so cuddly, and it just melts my heart when he toddles over and flops onto my chest. Another girl always gets really jealous when she sees that, though, so she'll crawl over and try to push him aside. In about two minutes, I end up having that first boy in my lap, her on my knee, and another little boy on my other knee. It is so fun being covered in children! Yes, I get drool and remnants of milk and snot all over me, but I don't really care anymore-I just want to be Jesus. If this is what it means to have His love in me, then I never want it to leave.

I love you all.

All to Him,
Emily

it's actually here.

So, I'm sitting in the airport right now, and my flight to London is boarding in about 15 minutes. I am sitting slouched in a chair looking out the window, and I just still can't believe that this is my life right now. I. am. going. to. AFRICA. I almost had a little panic attack after I checked my two bags and started walking to the gate-I was thinking, "What the HECK am I doing?? This is crazy!!" I am so excited, though, to just trust that God knows and that I really only need to know one step at a time.

Right now, that one step is making sure I didn't lose my ticket already (don't worry, Dad, I didn't-that was a joke. My ticket is right next to me on the seat.) and finding my aisle seat (YES!). It is a little bittersweet leaving home, but I am so much looking forward to what is ahead.

I'll update as soon as I can when I arrive in SOUTH AFRICA!!! I land tomorrow at 9:00 AM (SA time...so that's 3:00 AM in the US). My flight is calling me...

All to Him,
Emily

victory.

Unlike yesterday, today I actually studied, and very hardcore at that. After my final this morning, I studied for about 12 hours (minus breaks for lunch and dinner), then went to a worship thing in the chapel.

Worship was AWESOME!! I was so overwhelmed by the sense of God's presence. There weren't many of us there-just the team going to Uganda (including my brother) and a few other friends and me, but the Holy Spirit's power just really showed up. There was a thunderstorm outside, and anytime we declared that God was our "Jehovah Nissi," which means "The Lord is my banner" or that He is the victorious one, the thunder would go crazy!! What a testimony of God's might and victory in our lives. I am just so humbled to live a victorious life, for God has already won my battles! He has fought the fight, and all He asks of me is to walk forward, knowing my identity as a princess in His court! Wow, what a gift. God is so good to us.

Final exams demand my time once more, but step forth in victory as you go through your day today, and be blessed.

³ He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. ⁴ For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

Deuteronomy 20:3-4

All to Him,
Emily

holy spirit, set us free.

Today is "Study Day" at my school, a day they specifically set aside so everyone can begin to study for finals. How many hours of said "Study Day" have I devoted to studying? One and a half. Should I be studying right now? Probably. Am I deciding to write about what God is doing in my life instead? Absolutely.

This semester, I have been learning so much about freedom in Christ. I am so blessed to have an amazing church family here at college (Victory Christian Center), and one thing that we've been talking a lot about in the college group time before regular church is the Holy Spirit. He is constantly speaking fresh words of revelation to each of us, but sometimes in our busy lives, we forget to continue to listen with our spirit. I have been trying to remember to do that lately, and during Warriors (a Thursday night student-led worship service at school) last week, I got this picture in my mind that I was led to pray over. I got a picture of looking down a tube, and I was trying to see down the tube, but there was all this crap on the insides of the tube. Think of a Plavix commercial or something, when they show you blood clots forming on the side of an artery, and you get the picture. I heard God say that this crusty tube represented a lot of Christians out there, including me. In my attempt to "live life to the fullest," I crowd myself with all of these things that are so unnecessary and distracting. I focus on things that are not of God, and I lose sight of what really matters in life. Sometimes I get so busy that I convince myself that God would appreciate me sleeping instead of doing my devotions or praying, because I would "probably just fall asleep anyway." How often I fall into that trap of substituting the good for the best. Then when something bad happens in my life, I turn around to immediately blame God, asking, "Where were you when I needed you?!"

I really should be hearing "Emily, where were YOU?" I have all of this junk crowding up my tube that seems like it should be good, but the only purpose it's really serving is to hold me back from what God has. Just like an artery gets clogged, this spiritual tube the Holy Spirit desires to flow through and fill can get clogged up with things of the world. God cannot fully work in and through us if we do not allow Him to make us clean! I just was so overwhelmed with the sense of being held back from whatever God has that I couldn't help but pray, "God blow away this chaff in my life-make me free to worship you with all that I am, for You are so worthy!" All I desire is for the Holy Spirit to sweep through that spiritual tube, and brush all of that stuff away so that I am empty and clear for Him to fill up and flow through. I prayed that for myself that night, but also for those worshipping around me, that we would just be able to experience the freedom that comes from being empty of ourselves, giving the Holy Spirit control to do whatever He wants with our surrendered hearts. That is what I pray right now more than anything, that Jesus would just take control and use me. Holy Spirit, set me free.

As I go back to studying for finals and listening to some random marching band drum past my window, be blessed, and be set free.

All to Him,
Emily

He is strong.

Today marks three weeks until I leave for South Africa. That's three short weeks, or 21 days! It gets more real each day that I will soon be in a country I have never been to, with people I have never met, doing who-knows-what in an inner-city orphanage. As I type this, it sounds crazy!! When I have told people about where I'm going and what I'm doing at Door of Hope this summer, I get all kinds of responses. Some ask me why I didn't choose a safer place, or if I'm nervous to be there "by myself." Some lightly suggest that it might be a better idea to get a job so I can pay off college loans. While these things are all pretty valid comments, and while I know I really should be scared of them...these things are what THRILL me about this upcoming mission trip. I have no idea what I'm doing or how I am even going to succeed, but I truly believe that this is the best place to be. If God works through my weaknesses, as I know He does, just IMAGINE how much He could do through all of the unknowns surrounding my time in South Africa!

As I pray and prepare for the road ahead, I look forward EXPECTING God to do mighty things this summer and ANTICIPATING how He will show His glory!

²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

All to Him,
Emily

Door of Hope Website