The next hurdle cleared

Hey guys, time for an update! In the words of Professor Farnsworth: "good news everyone!" I received my visa from the South African Embassy! (This makes three exclamation points in a roll! (Or, four now.)) The speed that this came about made my head spin (right round.) It was something like a week and a half from when I sent off my application to when I got my passport back with said visa stapled to it. Prolly woulda gotten it sooner but I received a very courteous phone call from a very friendly individual at the embassy saying that I had forgotten something and could I send it to them ASAP? Needless to say that I FedEx-ed (the first part AND the part I forgot) it to them post haste.


I am not sure if I have permission to use the man's full name on my blog currently so I shall just use his first name Joe. Joe, this guy of whom I wish to speak, is a wonderful man, from Scotland and one of the most prophetic people I know. He and his wife spoke at our church last Sunday and prayed for peoples after wards, it was a ton of fun. I happened to hear that he will be with us at CPx for a whole week, in March I believe, very exciting. I talked to him briefly and asked him to pray with me after church and he heard a fun word from God for me. The relevant part is that he heard God say that "hope and freedom" are kind of the theme for me on this trip to South Africa. Not only will I experience hope and freedom in my preparation to go but that it will be something I release to others as I minister. This is totally confirmation as that a friend of mine, Bill, felt God say something similar a few weeks ago. Bill just heard God say that there are things about me, the way He made me, that He is going to use to build up the team at CPx and the fun peoples we will be reaching with the gospel.

I have learned that when God says something more than once it is important to listen. Am I right?

I would like to take a time out and say that I am really and truly trying to move and live and speak in humility. I am not someone who can do something without God. Everything that God wants to do through me will be through His power and by His grace. If I come across as arrogant or something I apologize in advance and ask say that that might be a good opportunity to lovingly confront me on the issue and at least hear where I'm coming from.

Anyhoodle, I have a couple of fund raising opportunities in the works. One of these being I may be able to sell long sleeve t-shirts as a fundraiser. Honestly, who doesn't want a cool shirt supporting a good cause? I was reference to someone who does shirt design and I'm hopeful about it. I've been trying to come up with a design to put on the shirts but nothing is really coming to me. I'm sure something will hit me.

Work has been a bit stressful. Getting back in the groove has proved a challenge, I freak out easily about not having enough time to get to the amount of stops that I need to get to on time. I can do it if I buckle down and work, it's just a matter of confidence. The ol' hip injury is kind of a roller coaster but no where near as painful as it's been in the past. There is a wonderful, beautiful, grandmotherly woman who I get to interact with occasionally on my route who totally rocked my world this past Monday and prayed for me while I was picking up packages at her stop. Every time she speaks you can hear her character in her voice. She is a woman of integrity, grace, love and humility. Seeing her from time to time these three years on the job has been a huge blessing. She considers me better than something simply human, often I get treated as something significantly less than that by some I serve in a day. If you have the opportunity to, tell a delivery man or woman bringing something to you thank you. I don't mean throw out a "oh hey thanks;" your point will be driven home if you look that man or woman in the eye and say from the bottom of your heart "thank you very much." That will definitely make someone in my line of work feel good.

Long entry this...I shall sign off to you my assumed and imagined audience by saying that you are loved, God is fun and that Truth is a freeing thing. Often when I see truth with a capitol "T" I get a sinking sensation because I think of rigid rules and regulations. Then I remember that God is a God of freedom and He "breaks the heavy yoke."
A friend of mine recently said "Judgment is not a fruit of the Spirit."

First post...FTW!

Ok guys, first post! I figured since I sent out my support letters with this address in them I might as well get something in here to read.
I'll update you as to what is going on currently in the process of going to South Africa and all that kinda thing.

I have sent in all (well, most) of my paperwork to the South African Embassy. They only require a couple more minor things more from me. So I will get those in the mail (er, Fedex) so they will get there tomorrow so they can get the ball moving for my visa! I am trusting God for finances for this trip. He has spoken pretty strongly regarding this trip and I have no doubt that I am called to go and since I don't have all of the resources for it on my own I know that He WILL make a way. (I will probably spend more time next time explaining a little about this trip is and why I'm going and just giving background and context to everything.) :)

If you don't know already my hip was injured on the job back in July and I have been unable to work (and sometimes unable to walk) because of it. Workers comp is doing good at keeping me afloat, it's just not what I usually make in a week. I am happy to announce that in the last two weeks I have been doing much much better overall. I had an appointment with the doctor this morning and he said that it looked like I can return to full duty now. This is good news because it's been a four month process of not working, going to doctors, going back to work, then not being able to work again and more doctors. During this process I asked for people to just pray for me for healing. A lot of the time the people praying would hear God say "it's not time to be healed yet," and "this is more to this hip thing than it simply being an injury." As you can imagine that was a little frustrating to hear but encouraging at the same time. All that to say that although I don't feel 100% yet I feel good enough to start back on the job.

That, I believe, is that. If I could ask you guys to be discreet about the whole me going to South Africa thing on facebook for the time being. I will have to give my employer a two week notice when the time comes and they don't know anything about me going anywhere currently and I just want to honor them and keep my job secure for the last couple of months that I am there.

Quick prayer points:
1. That God will provide the funds for this trip that He has put on my heart
2. Smooth process to get my visa
3. Continued healing in my hip
4. Favor and energy at work, 4 months of not working will take a toll on me
5. That God will continue to reveal His heart to me as I prepare to go to South Africa

Thanks guys, more to come...