It's official! We leave in 6 weeks!!!! We are so excited and know that God has opened the doors for us to go to Malawi this year. We didn't have any set-in-stone plans for vacation this year and about 3 weeks ago our Pastor Ed asked us if we would consider going to Malawi with him and another young married couple in our church who we have become friends with. In the days leading up to Pastor Ed asking us to go, God had really been putting Malawi on my heart for some reason. When we were asked, it was almost like I was expecting it, and I think that was God's way of letting me know he was opening up this door for us. We will be going to an orphanage run by a missionary couple from our church, Will and Pam. They started an orphanage from nothing and now have a full staff of workers and hundreds of children to look after. I haven't been overseas in about 5 years and I've never been to Africa. I've been to Asia and Europe, but not Africa. Steven went to Uganda about 8 years ago, however, we've never been on a mission's trip together. I am very excited and expectant for how God is going to use this experience to bring us closer together and to use us as a married couple in whatever way He chooses. I haven't posted about this until now because we wanted to tell my parents in person first (my whole family is here visiting right now). Why you may ask? Here's the kicker... My orientation night of Master's Commission in 2000 up here in Washington was the first night Pam came to our church too. That is where my parents met her for the first time and over the year of Master's Commission and the years since I've lived here, my parents would reconnect with Pam whenever they were visting. Pam met Will and they were married a few years ago and they both felt called to Malawi, Africa to start an orphanage. On one of their visits back to the States, they shared at our church service. It just happened to be a weekend that my parent's were visiting. Will and Pam showed a video of the orphans they were working with and the kids were all singing and smiling huge smiles and waving. looked over at my Dad and tears were streaming down his face. From that point on, he wanted to go to Malawi with my mom. About 6 months ago or so, my dad had a ton of flight miles that he had to use up so he decided to buy tickets for him and my mom to go see Will and Pam. He chose the dates of May 15-31st. And guess when Steven and I will be there? May 12th-24th!!!!!!!!!!! How amazing is God???? I will get to meet up with my parents in Malawi at the same exact orphanage!! What are the chances that the dates would have overlapped?? And this is my mom's very first mission's trip, so I will get to share the memories with her. I am extremely grateful to God for his goodness and I can't wait for what He has in store for us in Malawi! Africa, here we come!
Friday, March 28, 2008
We're Going to Malawi, Africa!!!
It's official! We leave in 6 weeks!!!! We are so excited and know that God has opened the doors for us to go to Malawi this year. We didn't have any set-in-stone plans for vacation this year and about 3 weeks ago our Pastor Ed asked us if we would consider going to Malawi with him and another young married couple in our church who we have become friends with. In the days leading up to Pastor Ed asking us to go, God had really been putting Malawi on my heart for some reason. When we were asked, it was almost like I was expecting it, and I think that was God's way of letting me know he was opening up this door for us. We will be going to an orphanage run by a missionary couple from our church, Will and Pam. They started an orphanage from nothing and now have a full staff of workers and hundreds of children to look after. I haven't been overseas in about 5 years and I've never been to Africa. I've been to Asia and Europe, but not Africa. Steven went to Uganda about 8 years ago, however, we've never been on a mission's trip together. I am very excited and expectant for how God is going to use this experience to bring us closer together and to use us as a married couple in whatever way He chooses. I haven't posted about this until now because we wanted to tell my parents in person first (my whole family is here visiting right now). Why you may ask? Here's the kicker... My orientation night of Master's Commission in 2000 up here in Washington was the first night Pam came to our church too. That is where my parents met her for the first time and over the year of Master's Commission and the years since I've lived here, my parents would reconnect with Pam whenever they were visting. Pam met Will and they were married a few years ago and they both felt called to Malawi, Africa to start an orphanage. On one of their visits back to the States, they shared at our church service. It just happened to be a weekend that my parent's were visiting. Will and Pam showed a video of the orphans they were working with and the kids were all singing and smiling huge smiles and waving. looked over at my Dad and tears were streaming down his face. From that point on, he wanted to go to Malawi with my mom. About 6 months ago or so, my dad had a ton of flight miles that he had to use up so he decided to buy tickets for him and my mom to go see Will and Pam. He chose the dates of May 15-31st. And guess when Steven and I will be there? May 12th-24th!!!!!!!!!!! How amazing is God???? I will get to meet up with my parents in Malawi at the same exact orphanage!! What are the chances that the dates would have overlapped?? And this is my mom's very first mission's trip, so I will get to share the memories with her. I am extremely grateful to God for his goodness and I can't wait for what He has in store for us in Malawi! Africa, here we come!
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12 comments:
awesome awesome awesome!
this is really exciting! we just finished a mission emphasis week at school and i really would love to go on one soon. you are going to have a great time and God WILL use you and Steven!
i will miss my family but i know that awesome things will happen! elijah will be so old then!
How Exciting!!!! Crazy how God worked that out! I know, don't you miss those trips?!?!? 5 years ago - I guess your right! little bungalows in Laos! Wow...5 years! It's gonna be amazing! You must have loved having your family with you over Easter!
I love it! Thats wonderful Alison! I miss you and can hardley believe we live in the same state and go to the same church. Well, I would see you more if I came to Young Adults but I'm not a young adult anymore...What am I? An old married? Just kidding...I'm being corny. Love you!
My jaw was dropped the entire time I was reading this post. For one thing, I'm jealous! In a good way, NOT in a bad way :) I'v been to Africa, but I want to keep going back and going to work with an orphanage is something I really want to do. But how cool is that how God orchestrated it all???? And to be going with your family and your husband?! I mean, c'mon...God is awesome!
I can see you and Steven coming back with an addition to your family :) I know I would! I would not be able to resist bringing a kid home with me.
I want LOTS of post while you're there with LOTS of pictures, OK?
How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear about the trip!
WOW!!!! What an experience of a lifetime that will be for you AND your family!!! Ben and I are hoping to take our kids to Africa (Uganda) when they are older. He has gone there 3 times and has a huge heart for that place.
HAHA...I don't know yet! I might cry a little if its more than one only because my hubby won't be here with me...but I'll still be happy! We weren't trying...we wanted to wait until he got home in 2009 but God has a much different plan obviously...and we are super excited about it! I go in on the 7th for my first appt...I think I will hear the heartbeat(s) that day but if not they will schedule an appt for that and an ultrasound! I'm going to get one of the 3/4-D ones done since they are free for military with deployed spouses so I can send some to Paul...but I will definitely keep updating! Africa sounds like its going to be a blast...I can't wait to see pics!!!
Hugs,
tif
What an amazing story! I'm so excited for you guys!
I am so excited for you guys! Mike and I talk about Will and Pam and their orphanage often. We would love to go there someday too!
How exciting Alie!!! You're going to have such a great time together! I'm so excited for you! And that's awesome that your parents are going pretty much the same time too! God is amazing!
Wow. So excited for your trip! What amazing ways God has! Enjoy...Africa is additively beautiful! God is so good a planning!
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