one love, africa love

i have to say how sorry i am i haven't written more! our internet is off and on and thats just on top of this crazy life here in africa! the trip has been absolutely amazing! its been 3 weeks and what an amazing 3 weeks it has been! i celebrated my 21st birthday here and let me tell you it was the best birthday ever! to see the hearts of students lives being changed for Christ makes everything worth it! the Lord is up to something great! but please please please dont stop praying! there are tons of spiritual warfare going on in all of us and at the same time the enemy is trying to stop us physically too! the health and safety of our team is of top priority! i will try to write more but please know i love you all and miss you tons and tons! 3 weeks from today ill be home!!!! :) i miss you all, more than you know! but please trust me when i say i am doing great! the Lord is really showing himself to me and im learning so much! see you soon! love to all! em

the love of Jesus in a different language

sharing the love of Jesus in America is difficult because its not culturally appropriate but here even in a DIFFERENT language we have some how managed to break the barrier and show the truth of the gospel!

first off i have to say I'm sorry for not writing this sooner.

but can i just tell you what an amazing time the first week was?

oh my goodness! i don't know how to express to you on here how amazing it was!

we started off in Denver for our over night briefing. then flew out the next morning and got here to Abidjan Monday evening (which to me felt like early early Monday morning, but time zone said other wise)

the first week was all about getting used to the culture and training for campus.

monday through thursday night we have a man named ramone' come in and make us traditional meals. whichhhhh i have to say are very very good! i haven't had a meal i didn't like. (surprised? i am! Lol)

friday and today were our actual first days on Cocody University campus! While it was very overwhelming with people just coming up to you and surrounding you....it was and is the most exciting thing i have ever been apart of! Today i shared the gospel with 6 people. I dont know if any decisions were made but they all seemed to be very excited about it and wanted to know more. One girl imparticular named Alexandria came up to me and we were talking....(by the way all the students we are talking too, are studying English so they are actually understanding what we have to say) and we got to talking about Jesus and she just lit up this huge smile on her face and just started going on and on about her love for Him. Then a few minutes later she said "ooh! ill be right back..." okay? i thought she was just using that to get out of the conversation but no...just a few minutes later she came back over with a friend of hers and was like..."tell him all about Jesus!" and then we would be talking and she would bring another friend over and another and another! she was just so on fire for the Lord it was crazy! I loved it! I can't wait to go back tomorrow!

To fill you in for those of you who are wondering if im home sick. i am here to tell you, no. i am not. and while don't get me wrong i miss home and my family. this is EXACTLY where i am supposed to be, and the exact moment God wanted me here...and IM LOVING IT!!!

The people on the project with me were already my family by the time we got to Paris. We have so much fun together! we can goof off and we can have a heart to heart. They already mean so much to me and its only been a week!

Prayer Requests: That the students at the university would have an open heart to the truth of the Lord. That the University continues to corporate with us and our mission. That the students on project stay healthy and safe! And for all my family and friends back home, that the Lord would do something special in their lives while im gone!

thats all for now. May God bless your day!

All the way from Abidjan Ivory Coast, Africa!

Emiley

how time goes by...

so quickly!

my dad said it right this morning...it feels like only a few weeks from the time i made the decision to go to now i am leaving.

i have always wished time away and now im wishing it to slow down! as the goodbyes start coming i am slowly realizing the time i have left. but i am so thankful i have so many encouragements and reminders that i have to take with me.

last night was the first time i think it really hit me...im leaving. for 6 weeks.

and im not gonna lie...i balled. but it was good to cry. i hadn't really cried about any of it yet. but i talked it out with mom and i just feel reassured this morning that its going to be okay. this is going to be a growing experience in every way possible ...even for my family.

i really dont know what to say except that im leaving tomorrow...i am going to try to update my blog as often as i can get to a computer. but i dont know how much that will be.

please continue to pray for me, our team, and for people over there that will probably be hearing the gospel for the first time.

i love you all. talk to you soon.