AUGUST 10th

Hi;

It's Wednesday night, I'm leaving tomorrow. I have butterflies in my stomach. I am nervous and excited. S. Africa was presented to me 2 year in a row. This year was the third time and I really prayed to hear from the Lord on this. I turned in my application for this mission to start the footwork. Since then, it has been such a journey before the journey. All the reasons I had for not being ready for doing something like this, He has showed me how much GREATER He is than all of anything I have ever done in my life. I am blown away by the circumstances, events and situations that have taken place in these last few months. There have been many obstacles before I received concrete confirmation that I would actually be going. It started like this, He said "GO", (that should be enough confirmation), I said, "okay Lord, I'll turn that vacation request in, but I don't think they are going to let me go." I turned in my first request in April and it got denied because I didn't have enough vacation hours. Let me go back 10 months, I was out on sick leave in Oct., Nov. And Dec of last year and returned to work in January without any accumulated vacation. I ended up in the hospital about 3 times from Feb. to May. My performance wasn't good at all last year. If I was management, I would have plenty of reason not to go over and beyond to grant this time off. But, I remained obedient and waited until I accumulated more time and resubmitted. "DENIED" Bottom line, it got denied 3 times up until 3 weeks ago in July. It was amazing, I heard things from my Director that were so encouraging and uplifting. It was more than I expected. All of a sudden, this was more than a mission trip to S. Africa, it was a new working relationship at work. I felt set free from the residue of last year. I feel like a productive employee, no hang-ups! That is just one of the things. I had to raise 2600.00 for the trip by sending out support letters and doing a fundraiser. That was the thing dreaded the most. Where I come from, I had misused money, not only my own, but other peoples money. I have taken advantage of many people in my life and felt that He surely couldn't use me ona mission that required me asking for money! In anycase, the money came in. Then, there is the most hardest thing for me to do, that is to leave my granddaughter for the first time since she was born for such an amount of time. She is 5 1/2 years old and our journey these past few months regarding this trip has been beautiful. The bottom line to this story is that I go in ABSOLUTE FAITH and TRUST in our LORD JESUS CHRIST, that He has provided ALL for this trip. Money, protection, consolation, love, patience and healing to all who are experiencing this trip with me and through me. My family, friends, co-workers...I am taking you all with me. You all have been such a blessings and God has extended His love to me through you and the loving way you have sent me off!!!! I asure you that love will be extended to the far reaches of the earth!!!! I hope to have more posts from S. Africa w/pictures....
Blessings,
Adelina