My Journey

 I was all set to leave this next Tuesday.  However, just yesterday, I was informed I needed to delay my trip for another 3 weeks!  I must say that my heart fell just a bit.  I have been talking with people in Chimala and they are as excited about my return as I am.  I have already requested some paperwork from them and started doing some reviewing so I am up to speed when I arrive.   When I was getting ready to update you with this delay, I was trying to come up with some interesting way to tie this update to my last post of Speed-bumps and Hiccups.  I thought you might be interested in learning that there is one main Highway which goes from the east coast of Tanzania across the country and enters Malawi.  This highway is called the Tanzam Highway.  Once you enter Malawi on this highway you can continue on this highway all the way to South Africa.  Many refer to this highway as The Great Northern Road.  When I first started in Chim...

 Don’t you just love speed bumps.  They slow down your progress, but they can’t really stop you.  You just take them in stride and continue on.  Now I am sure you have had a few really bad encounters with speed bumps, just like I have.  I mean sometimes you find a speed bump where you lest expect it and you are cruising along when you hit it before you can slow down.  “Wham!”  You hit it hard and everyone in the vehicle flys out of their seat, hitting their heads on the ceiling or on the window.  Everyone yells “OW!”. Or how about the incessant episodes of hiccups that never seem to end.  They usually come out of nowhere, last so long that you start hurting with each hiccup.  Others around you try to make you stop with all their home remedies for them.  These episodes may slow you down for a short time, but eventually they go away and you continue on with what you were doing. Well,  My plans to return to Chimala have hit a smal...

 When God is talking to us?  When I believe He wants me to do this or that, how do I know it is really Him talking to me and not me just wishing it so?  When something bad happens, is He talking to me then too?  Or could that be satan?  I mean doesn’t satan work in our lives too?  My mother and I would talk often to each other about how God works in our lives and what it feels like to feel that God is guiding you to do something and also about how satan works against us.  We enjoyed these theological discussions and going back and forth.  Recently, the sermon at church was about will power and then turned to what I would say is God power.  Will power will only take you so far….it has limitations.  We must remember 2 things.  1). We must have faith in God and 2) we must have faith in the power of God.  A statement the preacher said which hit me was the definition of a Christian Atheist.  He believes in God but not in His po...

 In His own time.  As you know, if you have been reading my earlier reports, I left Chimala pretty abruptly in November of 2018.  The over-sight of the mission changed hands and I was requested to leave.  I never truly understood the whys, but always knew without a doubt that God was in control.  We may not always understand things that happen and don’t agree with them, but God is with us and uses all things for good for those who trust in Him.  At the time, I did not see the good…but now I do. I would never had left Chimala on my own.  It was where I felt strongly I belonged.  Yes I missed back home, but I was so happy doing what I felt God wanted from me.  I was sad to leave but the last 3 years were a gift.  I was able to spend 18 months with my mother before she went to her eternal home and 3 years with my dad.  I continually prayed during the last 3 years for God to show me where He wanted me. I hoped I would be able to return ...

Today, I post my last post to this blog site.   I am extremely sad to have to do this.  Chimala Mission, especially the Chimala community, have been my family and friends for the last 6 years.  I came to Chimala believing God wanted me to help this community with the talents He has blessed me with.  Chimala Mission was an existing mission where I could help both the mission and the community.  My plans were to be there in this work for many years, even possibly the rest of my life. Unfortunately, the situation at the mission changed and my plans were then not my own.  I am back in Oklahoma where I will put my life back together and find a job.  I will also see what God holds for me next.  Even when things go badly wrong or we get knocked off our path, God is in control!  He will and can change an unfortunate event into something Great!  We, you and I, with the help of God provided much great assistance to the Chimala community....

Wow! What a week.  We have spent time in fellowship and encouragement; learning or remembering how to truly “rest” in God; and have walked in many places where Apostle Paul ministered as a missionary.  Let me try to adequately tell you a little of this wonderful trip. THANK YOU’s... . Before I continue with my story tho’, I would like to thank my Memorial Road church of Christ family for their financial support for this experience for me.  They truly care bout their missionaries and know how to do missionary care.  (I am aware that many others contributed for this retreat and to you I offer my thanks as well).  Also, Joy Crouch deserves a BIG SHOUT OUT as she has made it part of her ministry to put these retreats together every other year to make sure the single women in missions have a retreat and learn to care for themselves.  If Joy ever contacts you requesting support for this part of her mission, please help her out.  She not only plans the re...

October 21, 2018 Athens, Greece retreat notes I left OKC yesterday to come to Athens for a single women’s missions retreat.   We had our first retreat of this kind two years ago and I found the experience to be quite up-lifting, rejuvenating and eye-opening. This is such a small world that the lady next to me on the first flight knows many of the same people I do!   It was a very nice trip visiting with a new friend. This morning I arrived in Athens to a beautiful day!   The first bump in my road occurred when my luggage did not arrive.   Out of 3 bags, 3 bags decided to stay in Philadelphia! So same clothes for 3 days!   Ugh.   Arrived at the hotel and, of course, spent the afternoon napping.   At 4:50pm, I met up with some of the other ladies who had arrived, and we went to church services. What a great Lord’s Day!   There were visitors from many different places.   A couple who I knew many years ago (11, to be exact) were vis...