Flight Time (Day Five)

June 15th, 2012      Qatar & India
     When I write this, it is technically Saturday an 2:33AM, but my body is still on Kansas/Texas time and I am not asleep. All day I have been on planes. At 7:15 PM, Doha, Qatar time, we transfered to a new flight in one hour. We rushed off of our plane, found our TAG and headed for our next gate, and went through security again. Then we boarded our flight to Dehli, India! I am thirty minutes away from landing in India.
     Then we have a layover until we fly to Kathmandu, Nepal! For the past eight months I have been waiting for this moment! Our hard work and God's perfect faithfulness has brought us to this moment. I am so glad to be sitting on a plane next to people who love the Lord and getting ready to spend the next two months doing ministry together!
     We form a bond that is deep and born of a need for great Christian fellowship. I absolutely love the people I am with, but we have to give up what is most important to us and what we lean on to find true dependance on Him. He is so faithful and being where I am right at this moment confirms much in my heart. I am EXACTLY where He wants me!
     I feel a sadness for Dove, one of the girls in my MAG who didn't get what was needed for her Nepal visa and ended up on GE campus for the next month, in hopes that she can come with the India B team.
     She had such a great attitude when she found our and we know God has great things for her, but we will miss her! May the Lord bless her abundantly.
     I am about to land in India!!!

     Highlights of the day:
     *Laughing about swollen feet and eyes and praising the Lord for His faithfulness, and booking it with my TAG through the Qatar airport, and getting on our next flight with little time to spare.
     *Talking with the flight attendant and even though it wasn't mentioned that we are missionaries, she said it sounded like we were going to help people! They will know us by His love...

Oh my, I wrote this right before I landed in India and had one of the most insane airport expieriences of my life! But, more on that later. As I type this out, I remember Dove and am so sad she didn't get to come to Nepal and India with us. She ended up getting to go to Panama, which is great! But she was in my MAG and we would have been SO close! Well, God is faithful and I know she is exactly where she was supposed to be. I trust Him and I know she did too! It was a GREAT reunion when I got back to Texas, two months later, and saw her. I gave her a big hug and asked her how everything was. She ended up going to Panama for a month, and just staying on campus while we were in Nepal. What an amazing, flexible follower of Christ!

 

Our progress! We were on that plane for a very long time!

 

Everytime we were asked what we wanted for a meal on our flight, the three of us would ask for the same thing, even getting the same drink. This was a lovely breakfast and great Columbian coffee. (Or at least I think that's what the flight attendant said it was...)

 

Before I left on my trip, I promised a dear friend that every time I saw a butterfly I would pray for her. This is the first butterly that I saw.

 

First sunrise on the other side of the world...

 

Finally! (Day Four)

June 14th, 2012               Houston, Texas
     'This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on the earth!' -Keith Green
     I am finally GOING! I am sitting on a plane right now and the feeling is surreal! For the last eight months, I have waited for this and now it is here! god made the way and sent my whole team- Individually, we all needed about $5,000-$6,000 for this trip, and  there are 53 people on my project, going to Nepal. The Lord provides, and He is faithful. He hasn't brought us this far to leave us now.
     Today has been long and full of crazy mixed emotions. I started the day with food and my Quiet Time, and then packed up. I called home and talked to my family before eating lunch and getting the bus loaded. On the four hour drive to the Houston airport, I slept, talked to my mom and ate PB&J.
     When we got to the airport, we grabbed our luggage and got in our TAGs (Travel Acountability Groups.) Sierra is our TAG leader for the whole summer, even though she is only seventeen. She has been to India twice, and Nepal once before this trip, along with many other places. She is a great leader. Marissa told us to come up with a fun TAG name or theme. So, Sierra named us the Yeitis. A little crazy, I know!
     When we finally made it through security and to our gate, I called my mom for the last time in the states. I was ready to cry when she said, 'I love you.' She was at my senior class meeting, and my whole class shouted, 'We love you Leigha!' I am definetely going to miss them, but this is the Lord's work and I am so certain that I am in the perfect place.
     When I got on the huge plane and realized that I was sitting next to Beka and Michelle from my team, I was overjoyed. Praise the Lord!
     We sat down and enjoyed our 'gifts' that were given to us. Blanket, pillow, giftbag with the Taj Mahal on it ;) and headphones. Then they brought us candy and wet wipes. We feel so pampered and extremely blessed before we dive into mission life in Kathmandu.
     I slept for a long time on the fourteen hour flight, but the food was great and the company even better!
     Praise the Lord for His blessings!

     Highlights of the day:
     *Getting ready to board the flight and crying with Beka, Julia and Daniel, but laughing through it because we didn't want to cry. But the reality of 'leaving everything we have to follow Jesus' hit us hard. We are ready to follow Him with all we have, to give ourselves up for it, but saying goodbye is so very hard.
     *Sitting down on the flight and picking up the things in our seats, squeling 'We got gifts!' We slept in style with our eyemasks and earplugs. Good sleep! Jet lag to come...

I sit here at home, whe I have grown up and I just think of how crazy it is that just two months ago I was on the other side of this planet. It is so hard to fathom! But I am so thankful that God sent me! It is hard to remember exactly what it felt like to be standing in line with my boarding pass getting ready to get on my flight to go to the other side of the world. I know I was a little scared and a little but overwhelmed, but I was also so excited. This was what I had worked so long and so hard for! Praise the Lamb for bringing me to where I am. =)

 

Packing to leave Texas and fly to Nepal!

 

 

Our housing! The longhouse or dome. Actually pretty nice place to stay!

 

Outside of our little dome. Number 12

 

Those are all of our suitcases, going on the bus as we get ready to head to the airport. Sliced bread style.

 

Everyone on our project, headed to Nepal!

 

I told you we were excited about our gifts!

 

Michelle and I couldn't believe that we were actually on our plane, leaving the country.

 

Fear NOT! (Day Three)

June 13th, 2012 - Garden Valley, Texas


     'Prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work.' -A.B. Simpson. Prayer is so powerful. Today was a day of evangalism training, but without prayer we would be nowhere.
     I was taught how to share the Gospel in other cultures and I know that His truth is for EVERY Nation! I am seeking the Lord, but today I began to fear. Fear being away from my family for so long. Fear speaking to people I do not know. My heart was fearful.
     My team's name is 'First Responders' because we will be the first to come with the powerful word of god where it is so desperately needed! Our verse is Dueteronomy 31:6 - And it commands me to FEAR NOT for He is with me! But I let myself get so upset inside because I lost sight of this important truth!
     I met my MAG, which is three other girls, including my MA (missionary advisor) wo I will be spending the summer with, reading the word of God and praying together. We will be rooming together in Nepal. I already love my MAG and I trust that God is going to do big things in us and through us!
     We were comissioned tonight, to GO, to preach the Gospel. Candace, my PD (Project Director), told us that 'God has not brought us this far to leave us here.' And He hasn't, He has bigger things for us. Tomorrow we are headed to Nepal!
     At our commissioning ceremony, we lifted our voices to the LORD. We are all begging God to EXPLODE our hearts with love for these people we haven't even met yet! Not a love of ourselves, because I cannot love the way He does. But I asked the Lord to give me a love I have never known for people He loves enough that He DIED for them! I asked that the Lord would show me how to love them and care for them as I care for my own family.
     Then we went out, and my TL's (team leaders) prayed for each of us. When my TL, Andy, came to me, I asked him to pray for boldness, that I would fear not because the Lord is with me whereever I go. Andy asked me, 'Do you believe it?' 'Yes!' I answered. And he repeated the question, 'Do you believe it!?' 'YES!' I shouted. And he prayed for me and as he did, my tears fell and the fear that had wrapped itself around me melted and left. Satan is trying to distract me but when I recognize it, and call upon the Lord, He ultimately wins.
     Fear not! For He is with me.

     Highlights of the day:
     *Discussing Chapel with girls from my team. Their insight is encouraging and so good to hear. When we speak, God moves. that is key and nothing we try to do without the Lord will ever suceede. When we speak, GOD MOVES.
     *Dancing to learn how to share the Gospel! Candace teaching us a dance with the words, 'Two, Two, Two, Rock, Wages, Cancer, Chair, What!?' I can share the Gospel by just remembering our crazy dance! There is good news and bad news. Two, Two, Two, Rock, Wages, Cancer, chair, WHAT!?

     Ah what a beautiful day this was! I remeber sitting in Chapel, worshipping the Lord, everyone raising their voice to the Lord, different words, and being so washed in the pureness of our Lord! I was so overwhelmed by the fact that hundreds of people my age stood in that room, every one of them caught up in their own relationship with our Lord.
     When Ron Luce (the founder of Global Expeditions) got on stage to speak to us before sending us out, I listened to him ask us to beg God to explode our hearts for the people. How all of this time and effort and fundraising will be worth it. He spoke of how his heart exploded after each of his children was born, and urged us to ask God to do the same with the people we were about to minister to. At that moment, I asked God to give me the same love for the people I would minister to that I have for my family. All day I was so fearful about going off and leaving them for two months, but if I could feel that same love for the Nepali and Indian people, I knew my ministry would be so much better.
    Overall, I know how blessed I was and looking back I see just how beautifully God orchestrated every day of my summer. I am so thankful that He does the same thing with my whole live! Praise Him, for He is good!

 

Eating lunch and spending time with the Nepal project.

 

Comissioning Ceremony. Each country is represented, and as each person with your county's flag leaves the building, you follow.

 

At the cross, getting ready to be comissioned.

Pressing on... (Day Two)

    
     June 12th, 2012 - Garden Valley, Texas Day Two

     The quote I posted yesterday about how the missionaries 'died before they got there' seems more appropriate for today.
     all day was drama training. We worked hard and prayed for grace when we fail. Hours upon hours of doing an 8-count and nailing out steps because THIS is our tool to share the Gospel! The ground in the pavillion, where we spent our day training, ahs fiber glass in it. After rolling around, kneeling in it, and 'falling' into it, we itch. But because of God's grace, we didn't spend our afternoon complaining. Instead, we focused on the true prize- christ. When I felt my thoughts were becoming unkind, I prayed for Grace. Grace. Grace. Grace. And God met me and covered me with His grace. It is incredibly hard, but I am not doing it through myself- God is in strength seperating me from my human selfishness and ultimate sin. I can't love like He does if I seek to do it on my own.
     This work I get to be a part of, not only this summer but for my whole life, it is His work. I am not reliable or dependable, and I cannot change hearts. But I trust that everything God tells me is completely true. And He says He is a miracle worker- I believe it! Therefore I don't have to have the right words or perfect drama, because it is God who does the work. But I MUST put the effort in, do my ABSOLUTE best because I am representing Christ! 'God's work done in God's way will never lack supply.' - Hudson Taylor. God supplies ALL of our needs and the needs of others!
     God uses the willing. I am willing. My hope is that God will completely wreck me during this trip. That He will change me to the point that I am never the same.
     I have so MANY failures. But praise the Lord, because He is faithful and righteous to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness. Even my thoughts. My judging, unfocused, corrupted thoughts.
     Even though this day was incredibly long, it was completely worth it! We are going to use our drama to share the Gospel! We had drama training until 11:30 as night, but it is so worth it. This is the Gospel and we are representing Him! A-S-I-A, Asia! I am going to Nepal so very soon and I am bringing the good news to those who have NEVER heard! Praise the Lord!
     Acts 14:7 - And they were preaching the Gospel there.
     May I preach the gospel EVERYWHERE because this is truth! Amen.

     Highlights from today:

•      Being with the team all day and joyfully praising the Lord 'just because'. Rolling in fiber glass and practicing our drama over and over until our 'miracle man' rises from the dead. My team loves Jesus!
• Our projects chant- 'A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! LOVES God

                                    A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! NEEDS God
                                    A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! OBEYS God
                                    In the Nation of Asia, Theres a new generation,
                                   Designed from creation, Jesus Christ our motivation!
                                    A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! A-S-I-A, Asia! LOVES GOD

• Worship was amazing! God speaks to me and I get to worship Him with all that I am! He is worthy of all prause and my heart just sings because of Him- ALL He has done! Reading His word breathes life in me because it is truth and wisdom- good stuff!

This day was so hard because of all of the training, but obviously every second was worth it! From sun up to sun down, I was loving it. The day kind of felt like a summer camp, yet I knew that I was not at camp. I was getting ready for a whole new kind of summer. God definetely breathed peace and joy in my soul even through a day that seemed it would never end! I loved getting to know my team better and learning what we were going to be doing all summer, but it wasn't easy. Drama training. Ah.

 

The Pavillion where we Drama Training was held.

 

Inside the pavillion... fiber glass.

 

Drama training! We will finish this...

 

 

Eating lunch with the Nepal project, taking a break from training.

 

PB&J! Yes, this is what we ate for lunch all summer. Can I get a 'yummy!'?

Just the Begining (Day One)

     When James Calvart went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying 'You will love your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.' To that, Calvart replied, 'We died before we came here.'


     June 11th, 2012 - Garden Valley, Texas 
     I have seven minutes to explain all that happened today! I flew to DFW from Kansas City, met Brittany from Georgia who is on my project. We hung out together in the airport and then rode on a two hour bus ride to campus. Worship was amazing- wrecking! I'm getting ready to be wrecked. Registration was quick after worship, and then off to the Village for bed! The day has been a whirlwind! Meeting people, worshipping, smiling, laughing and giving myself completely to Jesus! God cares for me and calues me and wants every part of me! Best of all, I get to sacrifice myself for others.
     Being a missionary isn't glamorous, but it is so worth it. I am just getting used to the thought that this is day one of fifty three! God's gonna do so many amazing things! He gave me over $5,000 to be here and it is NOT about myself! It is ALL about Him and bringing praise to HIS name!
     Even when I am sweaty, covered in dirt and don't feel like I could possibly handle being kind for another second, He takes over and covers me with His grace. I do not rely on myself but Him. I am so glad to be here.

This journal entry seems like it was so long ago! I can't completely remember how I felt that day, and how crazy it all was and kind of overwhelming. When I got to the airport, I went to baggage claim and was met be GE staff and then taken to wait in the airport for such a long time. But during that time, I was able to meet people who were going all over the world! Romania, Russia, South Africa, Panama and so much more!
Most of all, I was so very excited to see all that God had in store for my team and for me.

On my flight to DFW for training!

 View from my plane.

Time with Jesus on my flight!

    

     Global Expeditions Headquarters! (Teen Mania Campus)