Updates from Nigeria

(from
earlier this month)

Our squad arrived safely
in Nigeria in the beginning of the month. We had a squad debrief with
our leaders. During this time, we found out that our teams were
changing. This definitely came as a shock. My former team (team 180),
was doing very well. We were very healthy, and there was a lot of
love between us all. Seven months of intense experiences, trials, and
successes knit us very closely together. Apparently, the way we
worked as a team was pretty special, and not everyone on the squad
was experiencing what we were. Some were struggling, and some simply
couldn’t challenge each other any more than they had. So we all were
moved around into new teams. My former team was completely scattered,
so we each are on separate teams now. Two of the girls, Kelsi and
Melina, are now team leaders. I know they both will be awesome
leaders and a huge blessing to their team. Josh is no longer a team
leader, but he is now one of the logistics leaders.

 (today, May 17th, 2010)

In officially 15 days I will be on a
plane to Eastern Europe! I am very excited for this. Another
continent shift! With it, new challenges I am sure, but also new
blessings! I have been looking forward to Eastern Europe for awhile,
and pumped about it. For now we are still in Africa, here in
Nigeria. I have been trying to make the most out of every day. Each
day has it’s challenges, but I want to be a faithful steward with
every day here!

Today we did some gardening. The
ground was hard, and our hoe broke, but it was still sweet. We got a
lot of work done, and I hope we can finish the garden before we
leave!

 here are some gems from my
journal…

– may
10^th
2010, Nigeria, WR Month 8

today
is difficult. Some days on the race are easy. Some are brilliant.
Some are exciting. Some are amazing. Some are adventurous. Some
are full of blessing. Today is difficult.

Today
I am tired, lonely, low on hope.

It
seems as though I have no control.

There
are things I need to do, that I can not do.

There
are things I need to fight, that seem impossible.

I
haven’t been eating well. I haven’t been sleeping well. I have no
comfort.

Everything
seems so challenging.

–saturday
may 15^th
2010, WR M8 Nigeria

If
we know we are destined for greatness, why would we even consider
abandoning that course or not living up to that potential?

Issues that once felt like
mountains in my life will become mere stepping stones in place to
demonstrate my character.

Sunday
may 16^th 2010, WR M8 Nigeria

– 
dang.  power just went out.  wait… it’s back again! 
wait… now its out….  Jesus, please let the power come back! 
( no power means no fan and losing sleep and sweating through the
night )

–  I
officially have transitioned to my third and hopefully final
toothbrush for the WR. I am excited for the new brush, and also for
the fact that it welcomes in the last leg of the journey. In three
and a half more months I will be buying a new toothbrush somewhere in
the states. Wow, how shocking will that be! …being in the states. 
I must say, I have set quite the toothbrush pace.  I brought
four, gave one away, and have transitioned to a new one every three
and a half months.  That is simply impeccable timing, all things
considered.

Here is what
today’s post would read:

Monday
may 17^th 2010, WR M8 Nigeria

I am at an
internet place just outside our village. I am excited to post this
blog. Life is good. God is continually faithful. I am thankful for
this World Race, thankful for the support that got me here, and for
the supporters who sacraficed to make it happen. I am thankful for
every email, every comment, and every time I get to hear from people
back home. While I look forward to being home again and everything
that goes into that, I appreciate every day on this race. Praise
God!