31 May 2010

Support Raising

We have permission to raise support!!! An update from each of us will come soon, but we are now in the process of fundraising!  We each have to raise roughly $2100 monthly plus about $7000 in departure expenses.  It seems like a lot to do in a short amount of time, but we are so thankful for the people who have already committed to supporting us even when we couldn't give specific details.  Look for an email soon and if you don't hear from us, leave a comment.  You will have the opportunity to give either through PIONEERS International or Palmetto Medical Initiative.

Thanks for being so invested in each of us as we prepare to spend a year in Uganda.  We know we can't do it without you!

08 May 2010

Wonderful Day

It's Saturday! I slept in till 7:45 and enjoyed not getting up at 5:30 to drag myself to take care of three babies.  It's a beautiful day and I enjoyed the Turner's view from the kitchen while I made oatmeal bread and drank coffee.  I was not excited about working on Perspectives homework, but the Lord met me as I answered questions about seeing the purpose of God in His covenant with Abraham. I was gripped by it in a brand new way.  I am so blessed to be adopted into the seed of Abraham.  It's Saturday and I'm in love with the day. :)

07 May 2010

Update from Rachel

This is an email update I sent out a few days ago.  If you didn't get it, here it is. :)

One would think with planning to leave for Uganda in August I would do a better job of keeping you updated.  I haven't though...so here's a long overdue update.

Our plans are to be sent to Uganda by PIONEERS International, the agency that sent me to China, in partnership with Palmetto Medical Initiative, the organization building the hospital.  The good news is that Mandie was accepted to PI in March as an appointee.  The bad news is that it's now May and we are still waiting for final approval from the PI Africa leadership to move forward with support raising.  As August, our hopeful departure date, gets closer and closer, Mandie and I grow more and more nervous about raising support and have gone from reminding ourselves daily to reminding ourselves hourly that the Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is not bound by time or space.

So, in the last month and a half, as we've been waiting to hear, PMI has found us an already renovated place to live!  We are so excited about not having to do renovations ourselves.  We'll be able to move in almost as soon as we get there.  PI has also given us a budget and PMI has looked over it to make sure it's accurate for Masindi.  On the academic front, Mandie and I were both accepted to the MUSC Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program!  Due to the expense and to changes in the logistics of doing it over in Uganda, we both declined attendance.  Mandie has decided to pursue an online counseling program through Liberty and I'll continue working on Bible credit requirements for PI.  Hopefully someday in the future I'll be able to pursue a graduate nursing degree, but it was clear for now that the timing was wrong.

Thank you for all of your encouragement and support in this crazy adventure.  Please be praying with us that PI Africa would give us permission soon so that we can start raising support and moving forward with leaving in August.  Pray for clarity and unity of mind and purpose for Mandie and me.  Pray for our families and relationships here and the time we have with them before we leave.

Thanks for loving me well!

Rachel

04 May 2010

my heart is sad

My heart is sad for the earthquake victims and their loss and their hopelessness without Jesus.  Please keep praying.  Please look through the pictures of the area 12 days after the quake.