walking on campus the past two days, i could smell the fresh cut grass, and memories of bare feet, sun tans, swimming pools, and popsicles come flooding in. i love to reminisce and romanticize all these memories.

for me, summer is so lively and joyful. i’m so excited for its arrival.

the countdown is now at 33 days. 33 days until i become a resident of senegal for three months! truly, i cannot wait.

in a manner of shying away from the whole “i’m such an awesome white person going to africa this summer- pray for me!” i haven’t really told very many people about my trip. maybe i am being immature, but i just dont want to be another person going to africa. ill make it clear- i am going to two very urban cities in senegal. i most likely will be living an urban lifestyle. i’m not going to be living in a village full of naked little children and straw huts. and truthfully, i am glad for this. i like city life- so what.

but because of my fear of being just another african-obsessed christian, i haven’t asked anyone to pray for me. mission trip or not, i really need God and prayer for my trip.

if you are reading this and are interested in praying with and for me for some things,
i am praying that there will be another believer/community that i can be connected with, both in Dakar and in St. Louis (and if you know anyone, HOOK me up)

also i’m praying that I really do represent Christ well and not make any really offensive faux-pas that give either Him, myself, christianity, or americans a bad name.

that God would just go crazy with my life, give me clarity on questions and worries i have, turn me upside down, do big things, and guide me to more intimacy with Him. restfulness.

that i would be able to love the children that i spend time with during my volunteer work. children really make me uncomfortable and so i need help being loving, compassionate, and encouraging. and that i would be able to form friends and minister to others

to be lead by the spirit during my time there and for the future.

there are so many more things, such as safety, health, worry, homesickness, culture shock and all that stuff and im sure i could go on, but my spiritual life is so important to me and i am hoping for it to be nurtured while i am gone.

i really hope that i will be able to blog and post pictures on here while i’m gone. so that is something to look forward to.