My Visa Waiver is Ready

I got my visa waiver today!!!  Watch out Benin 'cause here I come!

There is a lot of paperwork required to read through and bring along when volunteering with Mercy Ships.  It is almost like another job to try and get it all sorted out!  Although I was quite overwhelmed with it all, I have been able to read most of it now.

Throughout this summer, it has been so neat to see God's provision in the whole process of applying to serve on the Africa Mercy.  God did not have to provide the time off work, but He has.  He also is providing through other people who have given me financial support.  It has been encouraging for me as others have taken part in my journey.  Some have given gifts to take along for my patients, others have supported me financially, some have had words of wisdom and Godly advice, and still others have been there for me and taken an interest in what I am doing.  I am also extremely grateful for those who are praying.

Without God, this whole trip would be nonexistent and unimportant.  Oh, of course there is physical good that Mercy Ships does, but if God is taken out of the picture, they are only humanitarian efforts.  Humanitarian efforts are necessary, but when the spiritual aspect of every human being is not addressed, that we need Jesus and He loves us, then there really is not going to be a lasting impact.  I desperately hope to share, somehow in my limited French, that Jesus loves these people and desires for them to believe in and follow Him!

Too many people with the diseases and deformities shown in these videos, are outcasts in society and have been spurned for looking different, or are thought to be cursed.  Too many people do not know what it is to be accepted because they are human.  From videos and blog articles I have seen, many of the Mercy Ships volunteers say they come back changed, even though they were expecting to go to Africa and make a difference.  I hope this will be the case for me.  Right now, when I see people in the videos with incredible deformities, it can be hard to look past that.  So if you are praying for me, please pray that I will have and show love for these people regardless of physical appearance.  Pray that Christ's love in me would overflow to others (if you know me, this does not always come easily!).

I am becoming very excited for this journey, and hope to have much to share with you all.  Please keep me in your prayers.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Photo credit to http://stopemailfraud.blogspot.com/2015/08/ambassador-to-republic-of-benin-email.html