Delay

I have a bunch of things to tell you... unfortunately our fiber optic line was cut by the road construction, so it may be awhile before I get to expand on things and give pictures and video.
I also hit the ground running so I haven't gotten a chance to write. When I arrived there were already two nurses here, Gayla and Sharla. We did a clinic at Coco Beach (and all this time you thought I went to Africa - ha got you!) this past Friday and Saturday. We left at 10am on Thursday and got there about 4:30pm... a two hour drive. We stopped several times for bananas (trying to get a good price), and stopped and had lunch at a small village along the way. Will write more on this experience later when I have my pictures.
We came back Sunday after church and have done some touring of the Bible College and clinics/ hospitals on Monday and today. Gayla and Sharla are leaving today, but we have begged them to come back so hopefully I'll see them again! Tim said we would talk about stuff tomorrow... some kind of normal routine... maybe, doesn't sound like this place has much routine. I already am being called Mon Professeur... they've pretty much pegged me as the English teacher. I know what you're thinking... Leanne - teaching English... they must be desperate! Well I think they are, but I'm a little excited about it anyway!

Next Episode

At the end of your favorite television show, you watch to see if they will have a new episode next week.
Well it's Sunday and I'm leaving tomorrow for Africa. I will try to write to this blog by Friday of this week... if nothing else to let you know that I got there!

Why does God love me?

Can I just say that I have AWESOME friends?

One group of friends took me out rolling (toilet papering a house)! At 11:30pm! Hadn't done that in at least a few years! I love being silly and acting like a kid!

Another group of friends invited me on a WinterJam groupie weekend... see http://www.jamtour.com/ ... TobyMac, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath... three cities in three nights... had so much fun!

Then the Awana ladies kidnapped me last night and we went to Myrtle Beach for dinner and they gave me an ipod!!!

Do you ever wonder why your friends love you sooo much? I do, but it is really evident that they do! Do you ever wonder the same about God... I mean He has so many people to pick from... why does He stick with me? (Not to say that I'm His only one, but He definitely has a way of making me feel special!)

An itinerary...

So far this is my itinerary... it may vary if I do one-way versus round-trip.

MON 23MAR RALEIGH DURHAM NC WASHINGTON DC DURATION 1:12
MON 23MAR WASHINGTON DC JOHANNESBURG ZA DURATION 15:20
WED 25MAR JOHANNESBURG ZA LIBREVILLE GA DURATION 4:55

I'll be spending the night in Johannesburg. I asked the lady about booking a hotel and she said normally people stay at guest houses. So I've contacted Tim to see who we know down there.

People have been asking me are you excited/nervous yet?
I've had moments of excitement, but so far I don't think it's really hit me yet. It's still a little far off... even though it's less than a month!

March 20th

You'll be rid of me by March 20th (or about then) - still haven't made the travel arrangements but that is the target date.

ps. Hasn't really occurred to me till this point to write something other than facts, but I just had this feeling today so I thought I would share it. Despite the warnings about AIDS and the Gaboon Viper, I'm starting to get excited about it!!! I was like wow - I'll be going to Africa in a little over a month!

Here is an excerpt from an email from Meredith...
Yes, you will be living with us, but you'll be living upstairs. Our house has two levels (it's really two houses on top of each other that are identical in layout), we live on the bottom, and the top is where we house the teams and most of the other guests that come through here. You'll have the "master bedroom" upstairs that has it's own bathroom, so that'll be nice. You'll have your own kitchen to cook meals, etc..., but I'm sure we'll be eating a lot together anyway given the living situation.... it's a really nice house, I think you'll be surprised -- God's really blessed us!

To Do List in Gabon

Many people have been asking me what I will be doing in Gabon, well it's a long list and I can never quite remember so I'm going to put it on here.

• A daily connection with the nationals -- having the opportunity to build authentic and lasting relationships that will impact their souls and yours for eternity.
• You will work with the youth and children’s ministries in different churches and contexts as an intern.
• Coordinating (helping out with operations) and administrating different short-term teams from the U.S. and Canada.
• Working closely with national pastors and leaders in construction, ministry and tourism.
• A 24/7 ministry experience, as you may be housed along with the short-term teams, or in a rustic type setting.
• Hope House – abandoned children’s home run through a local church in Libreville CFTAC – National Church Bible School (Libreville) – work projects / equipping opportunities
  TESL classes
• Joining with local churches for evangelical outreaches to reach their community
• Church plants at the numerous satellite towns outside of Libreville
• Working with the national church in developing their cross-cultural missions program – maybe leading to sending a Gabonese short-term team into Cameroon where a Gabonese missionary couple is ministering
• Sports outreach ministries – soccer camp/friendly soccer matches etc.( a soccer-field is located adjacent to the short term center’s temporary facility
• Building short-term center facilities
• Developing micro finance institutions through local church
• Mobile Medical Clinic – educating, and providing primary care medicine to villages
• Working at the local daughter clinic of Bongolo Evangelical Hospital
• Anything else God may lay on your heart or opportunities that may arise when you are set up to come!
  

I love having so many families!

God has provided for me in sooooo many ways! The most recent is through my church family here in Whiteville! They have graciously offered to pay for my ticket to Gabon!!! Wow and THANK YOU!! They are also setting up a fund for me at the church, so if you would like to give to my trip to Africa - please do so through the church! (That way it is tax deductible for you!)

You can send any gifts to
Whiteville Missionary Alliance Church
PO Box 1100
Whiteville, NC 28472
(please write my name on the memo line of the check)