decisions.

a blog.
definitely never thought i would be a blogger.
but i feel that the next few months of my life will definitely be blog worthy!
{shout out to my best friend, kelli, who was in town this weekend and helped me set this up.}
i figured this would be the best way to keep everyone updated on my African adventure.
hopefully i will be able to update on a semi-regular basis while i am in Benin.

_________________________________________

over the past few days i had to make a rather difficult decision. i have not talked to anyone about this because i knew this had to be reached on my own accord. after praying about it and really sitting down and thinking about it all, i think the best decision was made! i was tentatively set to leave for Benin on monday, march 19th and stay there for 4 weeks and then travel down to Swaziland in southern Africa. i was then going to spend 3 weeks ministering with The Luke Commission and return back to Benin for another 2 weeks. unfortunately, the cost of flying from Benin to Swaziland was astronomical and it did not seem entirely logical to spend that large amount of money for travel, lodging and ministry expenses for 3 weeks. i have traveled to Swaziland before and absolutely loved my time there! the people and the country are beautiful. i was anxious to be able to work with The Luke Commission and help however possible! it was a tough decision to make but i truly believe that staying in Benin with Arbre de Vie for the entire 9 weeks i am overseas will be best.

_________________________________________

it is absolutely unbelievable to think that two weeks from tonight i will be flying over the ocean on my way to Benin. the "to do" list seems never ending and to be quite honest, i am still needing quite a bit of financial support for this all to happen. just typing that makes my heart swell with anxiety. but that is silly, right? i have never in my life been more confident that i am doing exactly what the Lord desires me to do. it is not coincidence that any of this is happening and i am continuing to believe daily that every single piece of this puzzle will fall into place. it just is so easy to get concerned with the details, isn't it?

in other Africa news, i got my typhoid fever shot today. and anti-malaria pills.
hoping they don't give me crazy dreams.
and i was so brave and didn't even cry when he shot me.
how can a pediatric nurse be such a pansy about needles? ridiculous.

if you think about it over the next few days, say a prayer that everything gets processed smoothly with my visa. it is being mailed to washington DC in the morning and i will need to have it before i leave the US in two weeks. TWO WEEKS!!!