In Appreciation

I've been asked by leadership at my church, The Grove, to share with our church body about my trip to Africa last summer. Taking into consideration my aversion to public speaking a couple of staff are going to interview me on video tape soon. I've known about this for a couple of months and have given much thought to the series of events that led to the trip. In the forefront of my mind are several people who I owe a great deal of gratitude for their role in this amazing opportunity for traveling and serving in Malawi.

• To Kent Hodskins, for challenging us almost four years ago in Community Group to take a 10 day trip to serve in the Tarahumara Mountains in Mexico; for leading that group and showing me that it really isn't that difficult to go to a strange land, where the language is foreign, the culture intriguingly different--and serve. Thank you for your challenge and your leadership.
• To Kristen Hodskins, for your constant encouragement and affirmation of my plans; for your financial support and for finding me a place to stay in Atlanta so I could start out the trip over the ocean well rested; for your prayer with me the day I left; For praying specifically that I would have a good seatmate (see Divine Encounter post).
• To my family--to Dad for beaming with pride and encouraging me when learning of my desire/plans to go. To Mom for letting me go--while your mind thought that it wasn't safe enough... To Randy and Melody, for your support, constant prayer and trust that I was safe in the Father's hands. Mel, I KNEW that you were thinking of me and praying for me without ceasing while I was there. Thank you, Sis.
• To Adam, Stephanie, Jordan, Jessie and Jamison Maass, for your prayers for me, your encouragement and your financial support. Jordon, I'm sure sorry I couldn't get those pictures of the pyramids for you. We didn't fly that way.
• To Keith Warford, for hosting Community Group in your home-- which led to my meeting the Grahams who would provide a connection with the missionaries at Grace Farm when all my other options for service in Africa that summer were dead-ending. I'm sure the broken leg was connected somehow...
• To my bosses at the Children's Shelter, Jack Eaton and Shannon Campbell, thank you for giving me the summer off. Obviously without that freedom the whole trip possible would have been impossible. Thank you!
• To Mrs. Thurman, for your financial support and emotional support in sharing with me your own desire to serve in Africa.
• To Cam and Laura Gentry, Malinda Mayo, Tessa Nalley, Jack Eaton, Shannon Campbell, Jeremy and Aleasia Weathers, Scott and Ashleigh Sutton, Jake and Amy Van Lear, Chris and Catherine Hoyle, Amy (Hanson) Roberts, Mom, Randy and Melody Miller, Uncle Jerry Filson and Aunt Jennie, Uncle Bud Filson and Aunt Bobbie, Uncle Ralph Henselman and Aunt Judy for your financial support and prayers.
• To Jared and Kelley Graham for connecting me to the Edens at Grace Farm and for all the International travel tips and advice, for providing a comfortable home and tours of the land for me in South Africa while I processed the time in Malawi. Thank you for introducing me to Frederick and Abby Blignaut.
• To Frederick and Abby Blignaut for taking this unknown American girl into your home and church and letting me learn from you and see all sides of the city of Port Elizabeth.
• To Chloe McGrath and family, for your generous hospitality in Blantyre my first night in Malawi. I did not expect to find a kindred spirit in Blantyre, but am so grateful I found that in you. Keep your passion for correcting injustices and loving the people the way Jesus does. I look forward to hearing of your accomplishments in His Name toward that end.
• To David Nixon for your friendship and inspiring story of your life and the NOAH Project on that long flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg; for finding a place for me to stay the night in the City of Gold; for providing an escort so I could experience some of it sites in safety; for your prayers with sincerity and passion for the work of God in our lives and ministries.
• To Gerrit and Hannelize Kleynhans for allowing me to come to Grace Farm when allowing outside visitors was not the norm.
• To Keith and Bronwyn Eden, for taking me into your home for two weeks, for sharing your room, your provisions, your heart and passion for the gospel and your time. It was such a joy to learn a bit of what it is like to live on the mission field. You are an inspiration to me.

Those are red-letter days in our lives when we meet people who thrill us like a fine poem…people whose handshakes are brimful of unspoken sympathy and whose sweet, rich natures impart to our eager, impatient spirits a wonderful restlessness which, in its essence, is divine…In a work, while such friends are near us we feel that all is well. Helen Keller