The Rest of the Story

Some people I haven't been able to talk with personally or even much via email so I wanted to let you all know the "rest of the story". I have written a blog already explaining a little bit of how all of this moving to Malawi got started so I'm going to cheat and just copy it into this blog... the original post is here (and there you can also read other things I wrote this spring) but you can read it below ---

MY FLAME (written 4/20/08)

I’ve been trying to figure out the most clever way to write a blog about my “flame” and what has happened in my life since Ignition. At this point I’ve decided to give up being creative and just let you all know how God is leading. This blog has been such an encouragement to me over the past couple of months so I first want you all to know that…

I’ve hinted in previous posts about things happening in the Chicago-land area with prayer houses and a more defined calling to prayer at my church here (Hinsdale, IL). All of this still needs much prayer and is moving at various speeds. At Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital we will be holding a week of 24/7 prayer starting April 28 in the hospital chapel which I am very nervous about but excited too. (Please pray and I’ll post more about that as it goes.)

The biggest change for me though, is that I have accepted a call to go to Malawi, Africa and work with Adventist Health International as the Director of Finance and Systems for AHI-Malawi. Wow!! I can’t even type that out without being amazed!! Not at myself but at God who has orchestrated everything. For those who know me you may not be surprised, for those who don’t I’ll explain that doing full time mission work has been a dream of mine for probably 3 or 4 years. I’ve always been interested and after college (8 yrs ago) I spent a year in Zambia, Africa as a student missionary. This (along with short term trips) whetted my appetite and in 2005 while on a trip to Peru I realized that missions and service is my PASSION!!! Thus began my praying and seeking and waiting for God’s timing - and now it is 3 years later!

I will be living at Malamulo hospital near Blatnyre, Malawi (google Malawi to see where) but will be working with all three SDA hospitals in Malawi as well as the 18 rural clinics spread throughout the country. I will be living with my dear friend Cristy Shank who is an MD at the hospital and moved there in November of last year.

Sooo what does all of this mean?? I’m wrapping up things here and as I do that it is starting to settle in that I will not be part of Oasis here in Chicago or GODencounters now all over the country. However, these as well as Deeper and other experiences I’ve had have served to teach me so many things and give me invaluable relationships and encouragement that will be an enormous resource as I venture out. I’m already trying to think if there is a way I could do a 24/7 prayer event in Africa?? hmmm - not sure

In the meantime I feel like I’m in the midst of a hurricane where things are flying through the air and I’m supposed to keep up with them. I’m praying for continued peace and God’s leading as I move forward in a surrendered position.

I am continually praising God and hope that you can join me in thanking God for his faithfulness and compassion. There is so much more I could say — my heart overflows.