Hello! And I'm saying that from Georgia!! I will be spending time with my friend Liz until Wed. when I drive into training camp and meet my team and then one week later touch African soil!! I'm excited. It hasn't completely set in that the trip I applied and prayed for a year ago is actually starting. Anyone that talked to me the week before I left probably heard a stuffed up nose. If you could please pray for my health. I have a cold and it is getting better and better, but still no fun. Also for my stomach, just motion sickness from the plane and such, but I have a much LONGER flight to Africa and really don't need to become aquainted with the bathrooms. Sorry if that's too much info haha. I apologize for not posting more. My home computer doesn't allow me to type in the text box, who knows why.

The week before I left was an amazing one, so guess what? I'm going to tell you about it. First off, my church prayed over me and sent me off at every service. That's 5 services plus 3 Upper Room services. I was walking on clouds. I mean how humbling to be surrounded by your brothers and sisters in Christ all supporting you? As they were laying hands on me I was almost afraid that my knees were going to buckle and I was going to fall. Besides the fact that it would be a slightly funny story in the future, as I was being covered in prayer something hit me about the power of laying hands on people and pryaing for them. Yes, I know we lay hands for many reasons, but when so many have there hands on your shoulders and back they are pushing you down. They're pushing you down to your knees. It's almost like when we send someone off for the Lord, by laying hands on them we place them on their knees in the presence of the Almighty. How cool is that? Prayer is something between a person and God, unless they're speaking and everyone is praying in accordance etc. But when people are praying silently they are honoring you by entering you in their time with God. I feel so blessed to be sent out by my church and humbled that they see what I'm trying to do and affirm it and encourage it with an open heart. I may not have known everyone's names but I want to thank CCC and everyone that has lifted me up in prayer.  

Another amazing part of the week (there were many) was a nifty little surprise on Tuesday. So the cold had kind of hit me hard and I was at home cuddling with my couch. I was supposed to meet my friend Tirza for coffee but felt horrible so I called her and asked if it could wait or if she could come over to my house. But she was like "take a nap and you'll feel better, see you at five." That was odd... So then Brit calls me and they convince me to meet at Caribou Coffee at five. I get there and I knew something was up (hehehehe) but then I was sent on a scavenger hunt all throughout  Southlands, the mall by our school. First to Caribou, then Barnes and Noble where they gave me a beautiful journal. Then onto Bath and Body works so I smell good, and onto Claires where I got some funny stuff and some really cute stuff, and then a candy store, I mean who can go wrong in a candy store? So Tirs pulls up in my truck (she can't drive stick by the way ;) and "needs to go to Walmart." Then we go to her house and to my surprise there were all these people and balloons and food! It was pretty sweet, so thank you to everyone who helped make that an awesome night. I have some amazing friends. :)

I wanted to let you know where I am and how everything is going. Oh, I almost forgot, the Lord always provides and at church many people partnered with me and I have in all of my funds to AIM and then my plane ticket to Georgia!  Praise the Lord! I still have to cover another flight to Africa, but I know that God will show up. Thank you so much again for supporting me and even just reading this. Peace!

Chels to the EA!