off to sudan!

so, now the holidays are over, it is a new year and new things are happening.

i am so excited about the adventure the Lord has for me at this time. i am leaving in approximately 12 hours on a long journey that will lead me to sudan, more specifically to a town called yei and an area called terekeka.

i am going to work with the ministry that i have worked with in the past on trips, harvesters (hrtn.org). in the past, i have traveled with medical teams and we have run clinics and served however we can, but this time it is just me! i had originally planned to go again with a team, but as things progressed with lance and i, we decided it would be good for me to go and just be there and spend time together. i will be helping with the building projects, doing some health care and basic hygiene teaching in the surrounding village, and building relationship with the local people.

local girls the terekeka village

as i have prepared for this trip, there has been a vast range of emotions. i am thrilled to be going to sudan again. there have been some recent difficulties in my family, though - and that has made it extra sad for me to leave. for those of you who know me, you know i love my family and am always wanting to help when i can. at this time, there is not much i can do but pray and solicit the prayers of my friends:

-please pray for my cousin and their 4 girls who lost her husband, my sister, theresa and her husband as they navigate their way out of the army, my mom as she deals with and makes decisions about back troubles she is having, and my grandmom who is fighting sickness at this time.

while i am putting up prayer requests, let me add a few specifics for my trip:

-pray for safe traveling as it will take 2 days to get to yei, then another 10 hrs drive to terekeka.

-pray for my luggage to make it safely through, because i am taking gifts for others there

-pray for lance and i as we navigate our way through this relationship and see God's best for both of us.

on a side note, God has been teaching me so much about relying on Him through this new relationship. as lance and i attempt to communicate from across the oceans, i have had to look to Jesus to be all that i may look to someone else to be. The bible says that Jesus is THE ONE we can look to for anything we need. i am learning to trust Him more each day as i take steps to open my heart to another....i'll keep you posted.....

i am planning to return on march 12th. i am hoping to be able to update this blog and send emails a few times while i am there. thank you for taking the time to read and pray. please keep me updated on you and your family's life as well as prayer needs.

take care, kim

Christmas and a New year

2008 ended well as i celebrated Christmas with my family. the wii was the hot item and we actually were all sore from playing after a few days. it was good to have most of my family together (theresa, brian, and wyatt were unable to come) to share in the festivities.

this is a chrstmas eve picture of my sisters: jewel, maggie and bethany, and my niece, alexis.

on to new years....i was at the boardwalk, actually on the beach with my sisters and other niece, brianne, watching a fireworks display. we then returned and toasted to the new year with sparkling cider of course. i love the joy in the girls that comes out when we are having an adventure. the only problem is that it never comes out quietly - so they end up in trouble.

i hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday season, filled with peace and the knowledge of God's awesome love for you.