Desire of my heart...

It is our final day here in Tenerife and we sail tomorrow! Hopefully everything goes well with the drills and all the final details before we sail. Our captain predicts 9-10 days... praying for calm and safe seas. I will probably be in a dramimine induced coma those days.

Today I finally got to join in the ship's activities helping my friend Sarah in housekeeping. There are a lot of stairs to sweep! Next week I will in more orientation meetings and in the OR getting ready for the outreach. We had a tour of the OR last week and I can't wait to be back to work! Also, the commute is not bad- just a few feet from my cabin. :) See the link to my pictures to the left (port) side of the screen.

I am so excited to be here and thank God for giving me this opportunity.  It has been my heart's desire to serve God in missions and nursing for a long time. Thank you for being a part of this mission with me. A dear friend encouraged me with a verse I remember often... 

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Send Me

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

I finally made it to the Africa Mercy in the Canary Islands! I still can't believe it myself! I slept last night in my bunk just fine and will be unpacking today and doing orientation. Lots of meetings and things to do! Thank you for all your support and prayers! I'll write more and pictures later!

Encouraged, Emotional, Exhausted

I know it has been a long time since I've posted on here. I promise there will be more to write about once I am in Benin for the year with Mercy Ships. I can't wait for it- 5 days and counting! I don't think it will actually "sink" in until I arrive at the ship. I'll make it the Canary Islands next Tuesday night with my friends waiting on the gangway for me. I thank God I already have a loving family on the ship to ease the homesickness. So let me explain my title of this blog...

I have never felt more encouraged by everyone's well wishes and prayers for the year ahead in Africa. The past month I have been spent time with family in Chicago and Indiana. I had a great time with my sister in Lubbock. Fun times in Houston with best friends and to top it all off, a long weekend in Tyler. Time in Tyler was full of meals with friends, commissioning services, bon voyage party, zoo trip with the boys, quilting my bedspread for the ship, visit to Mercy Ships HQ, but most of all it brought me back to my focus on God. Now that I'm home, I still have a "to-do" list- mostly packing now. I pray that I keep my heart and mind on the One who brought me this far and will continue to use me for His Renown.

So I thank you all for your emails, calls, and prayers for my mission ahead- I am encouraged daily and I thank God for your partnership. I am emotional because I have had to say goodbye to many for the year, but I look forward to reuniting. Finally, exhausted because I have been running 24/7 and now I have a cold to get rid of before I leave. After packing, I believe REST and quiet time with God is on my list of things to do.

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

New Year's Resolution

Happy New Years! Its hard to imagine it is finally 2009! I have been looking forward to this year with much anticipation- can you guess why? I can't wait to see what God has in store for me this year as I leave what is a familiar life for the unknown future. I know I am going to serve on Mercy Ships in twenty-something days, but still it will all be new to me, but I am bursting with joy and gratefulness for the opportunity to do mission work "to the ends of the earth".

I was reading in my quiet times today... finally had some after the craziness of traveling over the holidays and seeing family. Which was great, but glad to be home and rest some. Anyways, while reading the Bible- I found a great New Year's Resolution. I usually don't make one, but I hope to strive for this everyday of 2009.

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV) bold mine

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

And he will be called...

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-

The people walking in darkness 
       have seen a great light; 
       on those living in the land of the shadow of death
       a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation 
       and increased their joy; 
       they rejoice before you 
       as people rejoice at the harvest, 
       as men rejoice 
       when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian's defeat, 
       you have shattered 
       the yoke that burdens them, 
       the bar across their shoulders, 
       the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior's boot used in battle 
       and every garment rolled in blood 
       will be destined for burning, 
       will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, 
       to us a son is given, 
       and the government will be on his shoulders. 
       And he will be called 
       Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace 
       there will be no end. 
       He will reign on David's throne 
       and over his kingdom, 
       establishing and upholding it 
       with justice and righteousness 
       from that time on and forever. 
       The zeal of the LORD Almighty 
       will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:1-7