Former AU Swimmer and friend in the Olympics!

I wanted to point out a great blog you call follow during these next few weeks of Olympic activity. Jeremy Knowles is a former AU swimmer who will be swimming for his home country of the Bahamas in this year's Olympic games. I have known Jeremy and his wife Heather for the past several years through my church in Auburn. I actually co-taught my 3 year old preschool class with them a few years ago and Heather was a part of my awesome Bunko group! Their blog is: http://jeremyandheatherknowles.blogspot.com/ - it is so interesting to hear about the olympics from an actual athlete! Heather is leaving today to join Jeremy in Beijing and his first event is Monday night. She will be updating the blog during their trip so check it out when you get a chance!!

Off to Texas!

This is my first post from work... in which the first week has gone well. I am working at a consulting office here in Birmingham for my 'drug information' rotation. So far I have spent a lot of time on the computer doing research and writing articles for a newsletter they produce. So far I have written, "Does depression cause heart disease?" "You and Your Hives" and one on all the specialty drugs out there (those costing over $500/month). It has been interesting, but I am glad my weekend is about to begin.
I am flying out this afternoon to Texas for Sarah Lundeen and Adam Garner's wedding. I'm so excited about the trip and I have never been to Waco (Sarah's hometown) before. I'm meeting 3 of my college girlfriends at the airport in Dallas to ride to Waco for the kickoff cookout tonight. The weekend will be full of wedding events! I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures to post...stay tuned.

Campbell

I was able to eat dinner over at The Compton's last night along with Kimmie and Steven Sprayberry. I had brought Campbell back a little outfit from the market in Africa - so we had a fashion show... isn't she is SO precious!?!

Pray for the Allison family

I received the following email today:
Kaylee Marie Allison (10), died early this morning unexpectedly following a very brief virus. Please lift up the Allison family in your prayers: Rodney & Tammy and Kaylee Marie's siblings, Lily(8) & Sam(5). Kaylee Marie's birthday is also today. They live in Auburn and are members of FBC Opelika. (Brother Steve was with them during the night.)
Please also pray for Tammy's brother and his wife, Tim & April Speaks, as they are telling their sons, Jackson, Harrison, Griffin & Sullivan about their cousin. Please lift up grandparents, Mike & Carolyn Speaks and Rodney's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Allison, also.


This news is so terribly sad! I am very close with the Speaks family and have babysat their family for the past 7 years. I can't even imagine what they are going through and I don't know quite what to say, but I ask you to lift them up. I pray the Lord will provide comfort and joy through this tragedy.

Support Orphans - Support AnNi

My friends and directors of Kanakuk Colorado, The Braners, have started a neat clothing line called AnNi - AnNi is a company dedicated to designing cutting edge clothes to help orphans around the world. See their website for more details and for how to order these great clothes! http://www.annifororphans.com/ Here are a few AnNi shirts that I have...

And Miss Jordin Sparks proudly displaying her AnNi shirt

Official Birmingham Resident

Even though I moved all of my stuff up to Bham 3 months ago, between Kanakuk and Africa I haven’t been here for longer than a few days at a time. I am glad to finally be here for good (for at least the next 9 months)! I’m excited to start my internship tomorrow and thankful I have one of the more “laid back” rotations for my first 5 weeks.

It was such a blessing to worship at my home church today (Lakeview) since I hadn’t been there in the last 3 months. I went a little early for the service so I could stop by my old Sunday school class – the 3 year olds, who are now 4 and about to promote to the next class. They were so excited to see me as I was them. They all ran up and gave me a hug and started telling me a million little things like, “I lost a tooth!” and “I’m taller now” and “My brother did this and that.” They were SO cute! When I told them that I had been in Africa one of the little girls said, “I’ve been to Africa!” I asked when and she replied, “Oh a couple of weeks ago…” No, she hasn’t been, but it was still cute. They had just gotten ready to have their snack and Mrs. Christi (my co-teacher) asked who wanted to pray for our food. Instead of just one person praying they all one-by-one wanted to say their own prayer…I think they were a little excited to have a visitor…it was precious and I’m glad I got to say hi to them. Tuberville and the Auburn football team were also at Lakeview today which was neat...it also reminded me that we are only 27 days away from kickoff!! :-)

It was fun to share more Africa stories with my roommates today and Amy P. over dinner tonight. My body is still not completely adjusted from the trip, but I know it just takes time… I heard from some of the missionaries today and they had to wait 2 extra days to fly from Cote d’Ivoire to Senegal! I’m so glad we made it through smoothly without much delay.

My brother, Will, is playing in a qualifying round tomorrow for a chance to play in the US Amateur tournament. They will only take the top 3 of 65 players tomorrow! Good luck Will - play your best!

Reflection

This blogging thing is a little bit addictive! I am exhausted but couldn't let the day end without posting something...
The last 36 hours at home I've spent reflecting on the trip...but I know that will continue for a long time - there are still so many things from the experience that are just starting to come to the surface. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I do hope I can use my medical training to do this type of trip again as well as working with the actual people groups. I'm so thankful the Lord has given me a heart for Africa and I can't wait to see how He can use me in the big picture of reaching the nations.
I'm happy to report that I went to sleep at 9pm last night and slept until 7:30 this morning without the help of Ambien or Benadryl!! I felt much better today but am still quite dizzy from the Mefloquin, my GI system is still a little "off" and I think I am coming down with a little cold...but I cannot complain - I am so thankful we had no illnesses within our medical team during the trip. I just pray I am up to speed before I head to Texas next weekend for Sarah and Adam's wedding!! :-)
It's been good to be at home with my family, but tomorrow I must head to Birmingham to get settled before I start my first stateside rotation Monday morning...

Tribute to Mrs. Alford

I am sad to report that one of my PPE patients, Mrs. Mary Alice Alford, passed away on Wednesday. I am so thankful that I was still in Auburn today and able to attend her funeral. She was a really neat woman that I had the privilege of meeting with about every week or two for the past two years in pharmacy school. She loved the Lord and made her faith known despite the many health hardships she faced. The service today was a true testimony to her faith and certainly glorified the Lord. I pray for comfort for her husband and other family members as they grieve. I also pray her legacy will carry on for her future generations.

Jesus draw me ever nearer

I just found the words to a great song we sang several times at the Conference this past week. This song seemed to represent the cry of the Missionaries heart and should be the cry of all of our hearts - for the trials we encounter and throughout our short journey on this earth. I could go on and on about why I like it, but I think the words speak for themselves...

"Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.


"Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer"
Music by Keith Getty; Words by Margaret Becker
Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music

Home Sweet Home!

We made it home safely today without much trouble. We left Senegal shortly after 3am (10pm here) and flew 9 hours to the states. I am very thankful for my Amiben pill I took right after boarding...because I do not even remember taking off and woke up about 7 hours later! Dad didn't sleep as well as it is hard for him to be comfortable on the plane b/c of his height. I watched a movie and dozed off and on for the last 2 hours and before I knew it we were on the ground. We made it through customs fine and Mom was waiting at baggage claim for us. We drove in the driveway around 9:30am today - about 27 hours after we had left the hotel...no too bad.
I'm glad to be home and I'm sure it will take me a couple of days to adjust - both to food and sleep. I've loaded some more pictures today - so enjoy these last few. I'm sure I have a few more stories to share about the trip on the blog so keep watch! Have a great weekend!