Thursday, February 01, 2007

Two Months and Counting

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
- Deut 10:12

Dear Friends,

The verse above sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? Until He asks you to leave your friends and family…. Many of you have expressed how “brave” I am to leave the comforts of the USA and go to Zambia. Please know that I am really a wimp, I’m afraid of what God will do if I don’t go! It’s that “fear the LORD your God” that gets me every time! Really, I am so excited and honored to be doing this. I can’t wait to send updates and show each of you how God is working in Africa.

FYI, it’s just a two months before I leave for the two year assignment. I am traveling February 2 to Zambia to settle living and financial arrangements. I will return on February 9. Please pray for safe travel and good health during this time for me and my traveling companions, Wayne Sneed and Eric Angel. We will be meeting with representatives from the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church and World Hope International. Wayne and Eric will be speaking at the Bible College in Jembo. I’m hoping to see some of the children from the choir that performed in Memphis in October and I’m also hoping to see one of the water wells completed! I plan to purchase a cell phone so that I can distribute my phone number to everyone before I leave in April. I’m also going to check out the grocery stores so that I can see what food items I may want to take with me. It’s been a while since I have had to cook.

Update on the sale of the house:
Last Saturday, "a few good men" came to my house and loaded my worldly goods into a truck and placed them in storage. A dear old friend has generously agreed to provide this for me while I am away. I did not have an offer on the house when I did this…it was a step of faith that God would provide a buyer at the perfect time. Well, Monday I received an offer and we are negotiating the terms now. Please pray for smooth negotiations and a final contract. I’d like to leave Friday knowing that the house is sold.

Dates to consider:
February 18 – TLC (The Love of Christ Church) – this will be my last attendance at TLC and they will be officially sending me to Zambia on this day.
March 18 – CUMC (Christ United Methodist Church) – there will be a commissioning service at 12:15 in Wilson Chapel.
I am inviting each of you to attend one or both of these events. Your presence will be such a blessing to me. More details to come….

I praise God for such dear friends and loved ones. I am missing you already!

Janet