Reconnecting

I returned to Gainesville Sunday night after spending 4 days home in Boca. I was so blessed by my time at home.

I got to reconnect with many of my former teachers, friends, family friends, and others. Each encouraging word spoken to me helped spur me on in this effort. I also got some great donations of books and teaching materials from some of my former teachers, including my third grade teacher and my Spanish/Physics teacher from high school.

There were two gatherings in Boca where I got to share my heart, the work of Hananasif and how I am partnering with them in the upcoming year. One was at my former school Boca Christian. I got to share with many of my former teachers and with others that have seen me grow up and watched how God has worked in my life and my family over the years. The community of people at Boca Christian really provided amazing love and support to me and my family while my dad was sick with cancer and when he passed away in 2001. It is so neat to have people who cared for and loved me when my father passed away supporting and praying for me as I go to serve, love and care for the fatherless in Tanzania. There is a short news article on the Boca Chrisitan website about my time of sharing.

The other was at the Ransan home. The Ransans have been like a second family to me over the years. I am so thankful for their presence and influence in my life. It was neat to have them host a gathering in their home for me to share. It was also really neat to share about my upcoming trip with Brazilian friends, including the Ransans. It was in Brazil in 2004 that God really showed me His heart for the nations and developed a heart for international missions within me. It was studying Protuguese at UF that led me to take an intro to Linguistics class, which led me to study Swhaili, which led me to go to Tanzania in 2008. So, there is a special connection between my connection to Brazil and Brazilians and my upcoming year in Tanzania.
I will always love Brazil, Portuguese and the Ransan family!

Thank you to everyone who spoke words of encouragement to me and prayed over me and showed their support for the work I am doing with Hananasif.

Check out the donate page to see my fundraising status. I am almost to my goal of 25% by the end of March. Thanks to everyone who has made donations to help me reach this goal.

I am heading up to the Atlanta area on Friday to connect with other friends!