safe in South Africa!

I landed yesterday in South Africa and was picked up by two AIA'ers at the airport here in Johannesburg. My second flight was great. I had the chance to converse with an Indian man named Anu for a good bit of the flight who was headed to Joburg on business. I shared with him why I was headed to SA and I pray that I planted some seeds in his life.

Today I woke up about 9:30am local time and for the most part I slept fairly well. I did wake up for about an hour in the middle of the night but anothe Ambien knocked me out! (thanks Dad).

today I will be waiting on my second bag as one didnt arrive but will be here later today and I will be getting some time with Chris Dirks who is the AIA Director here in SA. We had a good chat last night and we will be out meeting people today most likely.

thank you all for your prayers and support. I will be back on the blog to update you all again as soon as I can!

Throwing of all that hinders...

Dubai babaaaaay

I arrived in Dubai safely this morning after a 12 hour flight from New York. I couldnt have asked for a better flight really. I actually was sitting at the window and neither of the 2 seats next to me were taken so when I slept about 4-5 hours of the flight I was laying flat...how about them apples! I also watched Goal!III (a cheesy soccer movie), read some from Phillipians 3 and started a new book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan...which is a grrreat book so far.

As we flew over Iraq this morning I thought about my brother John and the sacrifice he made to serve a year there with the US Marines. He is a baller. And I really cant imagine what a year like would be away from family and in the face of danger everyday. I am so thankful that guys like my brother will go anywhere to protect our freedom.

So I have one more flight to Johannesburg. I will be arriving around 10:15am EST Tuesday. I hope I can hop on my computer again and update my blog once I settle in to let yall see some photos from there. Thank you for each one of you reading this. May His truth go out to all nations...

An Iraqi sunrise....

here is the sunrise from my window. This picture was taken just south of Baghdad and as you can see one of the oil flames in the distance.

leaving new york...

well I just saw Al Gore board the flight so maybe since he invented the internet there will be free wireless! ha.

I am waiting to board my second flight from New York to Dubai and Im anxious to get on the plane and see how good or bad my seat is. I am on a window so I think thats a good thing since this is the longest of my 3 flights at 12 hours.

God has allowed me this morning to have some great conversations with friends and family as its the last chance to call them before I go. It has been great to pray with them as well. And this morning it was a great goodbye with my dad. He prayed for me and we had a great conversation full of confidence in what God is going to do. I am so blessed to have a great dad who loves the Lord with all he is and who supports me 120% with what I am doing with Athletes in Action.

here is a live look from my camera of the aircraft I will be flying in this morning

at the airport!

It was no coincidence that when I arrived at Richmond's Byrd International Airport this morning that Toto's "Africa" was playing over the sound system. I think it was a great reminder for me from the Lord that God is here. Right here in this airport and there is a journey He is taking me on that didn't just begin today but a long time ago before I even knew He loved me.

What is most amazing is that I am blessed by His grace to be able to take a step in to a deeper part of my relationship with Him by going to South Africa. There are many challenges immediately facing me in this year such as working with new people, becoming acclimated to a new culture, and turning Johannesburg in to my new home. But I know that with Christ this is all possible to achieve this and so much more.

On my way to New York City to catch the next flight...

a new look

I have redesigned the website to make it look for Africa-like. I hope yall enjoy the new look. 10 days until I leave!

October 26th!

This morning I recieved confirmation from the AIA team in South Africa that the 27th was a great day to arrive and so I booked my ticket soon after their email response. I will be leaving from Richmond on the morning of October 26th then heading to New York then Dubai and finally Johannesburg. I am excited to arrive and begin serving others and building in to lives in South Africa.

My first newsletter will be coming soon...