How amazing is fellowship! I was thinking this as I was driving home tonight after having dinner with the dearly loved Tittle family. The Tittles are a family from my church who took me on my first trip to Mexico. Ever since then they have been so encouraging to me in my missions as well as an all around blessing in my life. The Lord reminded me as I drove of all the families and people who have invested in my life and invited me into their families. I thought of the Kislewski family who had me over for ice cream with the family earlier this summer and we talked for hours about their upcoming departure for India as well as my trip to Africa. I also thought of the Steele's who once again invited me into their home for just a wonderful time of encouragement, or the Chases who welcome me into their home time and time again just to talk and encourage one another. Christian fellowship is something so unique, something I am so thankful that God has so greatly blessed us with.

As I sat and talked with Nicole and Chris Tittle tonight I began to feel a surge of exhilaration about leaving for Africa. "Began?", you're probably asking, "you're just beginning to get excited? For Pete's sake you're leaving in five days! How could you just be beginning to get excited?"

Well to be completely honest, I'm in total denial that this is really true, that I am really leaving in just five days to the place that I have held such an immense passion for. I'm in total disavowal that I'm going all together. For as long as I can remember Africa has been on my mind. Africa is where I've always dreamed about going and now in about two weeks I will be there! The thought baffles me.

So this coming Monday, September 8^th I will be flying to Gainesville Georgia. I will meet there with the rest of my team for a week of training. We'll be camping out there along with the team headed for South America. During this time we will be doing team building activities as well as being trained in children's ministries, cross culture awareness, spiritual warfare, drama, and evangelism. I'm sure it'll be a great time of growth and being pushed out of my comfort zone, which is always a good thing. Then the following Monday we will be off to fly together as a team to Jeffrey's Bay South Africa. The trip will take about two days as we have about a two hour flight from Georgia to Washington DC and then a 15 hour flight to Johannesburg, and then another approximately two hour flight to Elizabeth Port.

I'm so thankful to have all of you as my support team during this time and I thank you all so very much for your encouragement and prayers throughout everything. Here's how you can be praying for me.

Prayer Requests

For the Lord to prepare me

That finances and last minute preparations would be figured out

Unity and support for teammates

Peace and comfort to family and friends I am leaving

Complete reliance upon God throughout everything

To be continually taught great truths about my Lord

To be used during this time

Pray for the people we'll be working with