15 Days and Counting

I cannot believe we are only 2 weeks away from leaving. In two weeks from today we will be meeting up in Indianapolis to stay at a hotel for a night. At twelve we leave from Indy to Atlanta and (after a 7 hour layover) we go straight to Johannesburg (we leave at 8 p.m. and arrive at 5 p.m.). One of the most comforting things to realize with the whole idea is that even though the flight might be long the trip will be absolutely worth it.

I have been praying lately that God can provide me with a few young men to share the gospel with that are from another country within Africa. I dream of seeing men come to Christ that are from another country who will go home and share the gospel with their family and see a gospel movement in their city, town, or tribe! What an amazing opportunity! This is a HUGE prayer in my life and I want you to pray along side of me about this.

Another thing I am praying about is developing a close relationship with my team. One of the most common reasons missionaries go back home aside from lack of support is the inability to get along with their team. I pray that our team will be bonded together by the Blood of Christ (blood brothers). I ask that you continue to pray our team that we will continue to be in a grace environment (not a condemning one) and we love each other far more every day we are there.

Finals Week
The reality has hit-- I have only one more week of my junior year... Yes, just a week and a year away until graduation from Indiana State University. I am in my last week and therefore finals are becoming a very real thing to me right now (I should be studying right now instead of writing this!). 4 finals and 1 paper away until my Junior year is behind me.

I want to encourage you to what my last week composed of:

1. Jesus- Last week I was reading through 1 Thessalonians 1. I encourage anyone to read it if they want to see the effects of Discipleship and the power of the Spirit (SPOILER ALERT: The lives of the body is so powerful that it reaches EVERYWHERE!)

2. South Africa- Getting excited about where we will be living during the summer. We are staying at a place called the Tower Lodge in Auckland Park. Below are pictures of where we will be staying.

I encourage anyone who wants to read about other people do in South Africa to read my sister's blog. She is on staff with Campus Outreach Johannesburg at a campus called Pretoria. http://www.journeytojohannesburg.blogspot.com/

3. Discipleship- I had my last discipleship group meeting on wednesday night with my leader (brett) and the guys I am in it with. Below is a picture of us after a retreat in February

(From Left to Right: Zach Chike, Zach Hamil, Ryan Teppen, Brett Barnes, Julian Chike, Derek Hayes)

4. Bittersweet- Julian Chike (2nd to the left) is graduating this semester and we had a senior send off on friday. What is crazy is that a year ago he and I were not the closest of friends and yet God reconciled our relationship through Christ that he is one of my best friends. I say it is bittersweet because even though he is leaving I know that he will be making disciples as he leaves. He is still making Jesus his priority!

"In you presence there is fullness of joy"

Psalm 16:11b