Hello from San Francisco!

Well I made it from Charlotte, NC to San Francisco, CA! Uneventful for the most part, which is fine with me! It still surprises me how little you get on domestic flights. I flew clear across the US and I only got a drink...interesting! One time I flew domestic in Australia from Brisbane to Cairns, about an hour and a half or so flight and I got to watch sitcoms, a snack and an ice cream!

Traveling is such an interesting experience. I ended up sitting next to a lady whose father is a pastor here in California, but she does not seem to believe. I shared some about being a missionary and how my parents are missionaries. We talked about growing up and every time we talked about faith, I would say "faith" and she would say "religion". Believing in God and that He is the only way to heaven is not a "religion" to me...it is the TRUTH. It surprised me, again, how careful I was not to offend her by saying I was going to share the TRUTH with the people in Papua New Guinea. Sitting there I was kicking myself. Why am I so hesitant to "offend" someone when they are wrong? I should be screaming it from the roof tops! This is their life at stake. But there I sat.

We try so hard to be "politically correct" that we forget the urgency of salvation and eternity. God forgive me for my fear and hesitation.

I just recently received this picture from a friend of mine. A few weeks ago I visited a church family in Greensboro, NC where they allowed me to share with them and they prayed for me. I was so blessed by this experience. What was even more meaningful was that I was prayed for in English AND Spanish! How truly symbolic of my life so far. Confirmation!

Hope you are all well. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment or add what you are thinking.

Here I Go!

Well folks, this is it! My house is cleaned, my bags are packed, and my toes are freezing! Not for long though. Soon my sandals will be a WONDERFUL thing!

The last few days have been a whirlwind but very very good. My friend Elizabeth threw me a goodbye party. It was nice to relax and see everyone. Mks know how to say goodbye!

I also received a goodbye party from my friends who I use to teach with at Metrolina Christian Academy. It was nice to see them again and share a little more about what I will be doing. Thanks MCAers. I will miss and love you! I learned so much there and have great memories! My friends from my church small group took me to Buffalo Wild Wings. If you've never been...GO! It's amazing. Thanks guys. I will miss you very much. Thanks also for your encouraging letters. Thanks for challenging me in my faith and living life with me!

I love this picture of me with my car. My last time with my car filled to it's limits! It's probably very happy about that actually! In my car is all my stuff (except 2 things that my friend took) for my shipment to PNG. Oh boy! I know, it's weird for a single gal to have a wagon but I LOVE my wagon. She has done me well. Taking this picture I thought of all the things that could "bust" or "burst" like...my tires, my tears, my heart! Anyways. All that to say...let's go!

I love you all. I will do my best to put up more posts. Won't have pictures up for a few months cause it takes a long time to get them up and to download. Thanks for understanding!

Amanda

Pushing on

Well hello again!
I am in the midst of the hustle and bustle of leaving, which has never been a favorite thing for me. It always amazes me how much STUFF I accumulate over the years. Not sure I would be considered a pack rat though for a time everything is important and sentimental. When it gets down to crunch time is suddenly starting looking more like JUNK than "treasure". All that to say...my storage is shrinking and my trash cans are overflowing! haha.

It really is an emotional thing to leave a place. Someone asked my how I was feeling and I said "Depends on the hour!" Which is so true. A few days ago I was crying and frustrated because I couldn't figured out how to fill out retirement papers or how to even FIND it online. Not sure why people think online is the answer to all solutions! Not if you are computer-challenged. Yep, admit it...you can be too! But hey, you found my blog so cutos for you! Yes, my emotions are all over the place. I remember when I graduated from high school (while we were in Papua New Guinea) I cried for the first time when I gave a little four year old a hug! haha...you never know when it will come. For those of you reading this, please don't be offended if I don't cry when I am with you...it's hard for me to control when I am emotional, I will probably end up crying later. I still love you though!

I officially have 1 suitcase "packed". Yep, because that basically means the things are sitting in the suitcase...made me feel better. Lots to ship, that I will probably sort through a fourth time and lots to store.

In my devotions I have been reading about the Israelites. I started with Moses and moved on to Joshua. Today I read Judges 2-3 where the people have disobeyed God and are now going to live with the people they were suppose to destroy. It said "they will be thorns in your sides". I guess I wasn't so surprised that they disobeyed but more so that they walked away so quickly. It says in vrs. 10 "another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel". Wow.

I share this with you because this actually encourages me. Weird, right. It encourages me that I am doing the right thing with my life. Missionaries are highly ex halted among believers even though they are still sinners. And their children, missionary kids, feel the pressure to be this Outstanding believer. I have seen many Mks rebel under this pressure. I am encouraged because of these things. One, I can be an example for them through the way I live my life and two, I can be there as they decide how they want to live their lives.

Well, back to packing! Thanks for following.

Appreciating the "last" times

Well as my title says, I am learning to appreciate the last times for a while. The last colorful fall, the last sinus infection from the fall :) , the last snow fall and late night sledding, the last snuggles with nieces and nephews, the last drive to visit friends in Greensboro, and Christmas cookie making, the last Black Friday I can work for my brother, and the list goes on.

I was warned that emotions will begin to surface especially since I have less than 2 weeks left. When I become productive with paperwork and packing I miss out on fun times and when I enjoying fun times my mind wanders back to what still needs to be done. This is the stage of life I am in right now. I guess I can be thankful it is a "normal" stage for missionaries. Please pray for these transitions.

In the midst of all of this I have been reminded to RAFT, which stands for:

Reconciliation

Affirmation

Farewells
Think Ahead

In the "thinking ahead" I have recently received some OH so Sweet suitcases. These are so neat especially since the wheels turn all the way around so you can just push the bag rather than having to pull it! LOVE THEM!

Not always the easiest to do but very helpful!

Thank you for your prayers as I move through this time and for your support as well. Many of you have offered to help and I very appreciative! You are so kind.

JEHOVAH JIREH!

Jehovah Jireh, my provider

His grace is sufficient for me

Do you remember this song from childhood? God is our provider!

Look how God has shown over and over again how he has provided for my needs. Here are some ways:

- I received 48% of my monthly support in 7 days

- My PNG visa came in only 3 weeks (usually takes 2-3 months)

- My flight and training are paid for

- A friend bought me a new computer

- Someone has offered to buy my car

- A friend told me to get prescription for Malarone (malaria medicine), take it to Walmart along with my insurance card and it will be free. IT WAS! Saved me $750!

- someone bought me a rain jacket

- another friend printed off my prayer cards and gave them to me a gift

- a GPS was given to me

- I received a grant that will pay off my college loans for the next two years! It pay all my loans but will certainly be a great help for those two years.

- I have 37 monthly donors, 33 one-time givers, and MANY prayer partners...so many that I don't even know them all!

- Provided me with flexible jobs during this time, and the payments I have had on a monthly base were not required of me to pay!

- I have found great deals on items I have been searching for and people have been so generous!

God said His name was JEHOVAH JIREH....which means, "the provider"

May I never forget!!