My Heart Is In Africa

I'm so glad that God led me to Birmingham. I really think that God has designed my path through Birmingham for me to really get a grasp of what I'm here on Earth for and what my life is all about. I attend an amazing church led my an amazing young preacher with a heart for the nations.

I've definitely had a heart for missions since I was a teenager but I never have had the direction to do what I'm called to do, which is make his glory known in Birmingham and throughout the world by making disciples and sharing the gospel with as many people as I can.

For a while now, I have wanted to go to Africa. Last summer, I wasn't able to go to Africa but I did go to Honduras and got a glimpse of the needs that are out there. This summer I'm hoping to go to Africa. There are several avenues through which I can go, so right now I'm just trying figure out which avenue is best for me.

Anyway, I say all that to say this. Today at church, we had the most amazing service. We had a presentation from World Help, an organization that exists to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment through partnering, training, helping and serving, especially in the unreached areas of the world. They also have a foundation called Children of Hope where you can sponsor a child. World Help works mostly with areas in sub-Saharan Africa, trying to raise awareness and garner support for the HIV/AIDS epidemic that has taken its toll on Africa and affected on more than 15 million children.

Here are some facts about the World Help and the way that AIDS is affecting Africa:
- 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS, a number that is expected to increase to 40 million by 2010. Every 14 seconds, a child is orphaned by AIDS in Africa.
- A monthly sponsorship gift of $30 provides food, clothing, education, and most importantly, a Christ-centered focus in a child's life.
- $25,000 provides one home to impact 12 orphans.
- $50,000 provides two homes to impact 24 orphans.
- $100,000 provides an entire Village of Hope to impact 48 orphans.
- Evangelical Christians are the least likely to aid efforts like these and only 3% said they would give to an organization like World Help.

Our worship today was led by the Children of the World choir, who not only were precious, but the choir was made up of about 15 orphans from several different countries. One young boy was from Uganda. His family had to leave Uganda and live in a refugee camp. Every child knows Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and that says a lot about this organization considering where thy come from. That shows that World Help is not just about helping these countries. It's about first and foremost winning people over for the sake of Christ and his desire for the world.


I encourage everyone to go check out the website. Get involved with this organization in some way. Get involved in any organization like this. Here a list of others:

- Invisible Children
- Blood:Water Mission
- Mocha Club
- Save Darfur

I know there are so many more out there. Get involved. Do something. If we don't, who will?

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

Like Aunt, Like Nephew

My Thanksgiving was somewhat surreal. It was our first Thanksgiving with our little William, Mississippi State pulled a huge fourth quarter comeback out of their hineys, and LSU lost to Arkansas (of all teams) in three overtimes. Oh, and thank goodness Auburn beat Alabama. Now the only bowl the Tide and the Rebels will be going to is the toilet bowl. Au Revoir, Coach O!

I was so excited to be there for the Egg Bowl. Thanks to my friend Tony, my mom and I got our hands on some fantastic tickets on the 45, about 30 rows up. As we sat there in the stadium, we couldn't believe what was unfolding in front of our eyes. What was going on? Who was this team out of the field? Well, finally at about the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs decided to start playing and put together some amazing plays on both sides of the ball to comeback and get the Golden Egg back in Starkville.

On the way home, my mom and I listened to the LSU/Arkansas game and couldn't believe what we were hearing. I have to say that that if I wasn't a Mississippi State fan, I'd be an LSU fan. And I guess I am anytime the two teams aren't playing each other.

Anyway, but I was so excited to get to spend a few days with my new nephew. I'm quite a bit obsessed with him and I think I'll probably start becoming like Heather and LT are with Henry.

My nephew will be a month old on Saturday and it's hard to believe it. With all the time I got to spend with my little William, I've noticed many things that he does just like I did when I was little, that neither his mom nor his dad did. Here is a small list of things that we have in common:

- He sleeps with his butt in the air.
- He's jaudiced just like I was so he's quite yellow and will inherit his aunt's dark complexion.
- He also sleeps with his hands either up by his face or covering them.
- And he sleeps unlike any other baby I have ever seen. He goes to sleep easy and is hard to wake up.

Anyway, I had a fantastic weekend and I hope yours was the same. Can't wait for my 10 day vacation at Christmas.

Thank God for Autozone

(Posted without pictures because Googling on Samford's wireless takes an act of Congress.)

So I slept in Sunday because it had been a long week and I knew I could go to the 6 p.m. service at church, which at my church is the same as the 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., just with about 200 people instead of 2,000.

Well, after I had gotten up and got going, I decided that I should go to the grocery store while I could and while I was in the mood. So I get in my car, put the key into the ignition, turn and....nothing. I press the gas and try again...nothing. Are you kidding me? My battery is dead. This has never happened to me at a time when my dad is not more than 5 miles away. Actually, it's never happened to me...ever. Plus, my roommate isn't home, the guys next door are gone, who do I get to jump me off. So, I call Dad to get his opinion. Here's how the convo went:

Dad: "Yello."
Me: "Um...I think my battery is dead."
Dad: "What makes you think that?"
Me: "Well, my car won't start and I have plenty of gas and oil and when I turn the key, nothing happens."
Dad: "Well, yeah, that usually means your battery is dead. So what do you want me to do about it?"
Me: "I don't know."
Dad: "Get someone to jump you off."
Me: "No one is home."
Dad: "No one is that Mayberry neighborhood of yours is home? Nobody?"
Me: "Well, maybe the people across the street are."
Dad: "Ok."

So thanks to making friends with the three families across the street through babysitting, I was lucky enough to find a neighbor husband at home with jumper cables.

So, he hooked his car up to mine and my car started right up. I, then, proceeded to Autozone to get a new battery and received very good help.

With that said, I'd like to say that I'm very thankful for Autozone. Actually, I'm very thankful for lots of things. So, in light of the holiday season, I'm going to take my cue from LT and list some things that I'm very thankful for.

The most obvious:
- Jesus Christ, my Lord, Savior King, Creator, Redeemer, everything
- My incredible parents who have never failed me and would do anything to give me what I need.
- An amazing, talented sister who is so inspiring it's ridiculous
- The best brother-in-law in the world; he's the brother I never had
- My beautiful nephew who I get to see in less than 24 hours.
- The bestest best friends ever, LB (Lauren), Casey, Bethany, Kyle just to name a few
- Awesome family including grandparents (living and dead) that would give literally everything they had to spoil their grandchildren
- A job I live even though it takes up every minute of my life
- The most amazing church, which I'm thankful that God has used to show me what I'm here on this earth for -- to declare God's glory by making disciples of all nations.

The little things:
- The breath of life
- ICEEs
- home cooked meals
- peanut butter M&Ms
- rainy days when you can just lay in bed
- having use of all my senses
- new friendships
- cookie cake
- mexican food
- shrimp fettuccini
- Mississippi State
- my talents
- TV
- wireless internet
- cellphones
- my car
- my iPod
- dates with my Dad
- spending the day with my sister
- going to Mississippi State games with my mom
- education

There's more where that came from but the game is starting now so I have to go.

Heidi...The Nun

“I like to read a couple books at once. I was reading the Princess Diana book. I’m reading a book about Chicago and the mob. Right now I’m also reading the Bible, beginning to end. I’m very religious. That’s how I’ve gotten to where I am.”

Very religious, huh. Engaged to your live-in boyfriend (who by the way treats you like crap and doesn't respect that you actually WANT to work for a living) and backstabbing friends. Sounds like the Godly thing to do to me.

But hey, props to the girl for being interested. Maybe something really is changing in that little heart of hers. Just get rid of Spencer. Or at least take him to church.

HE'S HERE!

My prince has finally come! My nephew, that is. He was due on Nov. 9 but he made his appearance a little after 3 p.m. on Oct. 31. He was 8 lbs., 2 oz. and is 21 inches long. He's ALL legs! He's already been declared a basketball player by his father. He's precious and I'm so thankful for the little bit of time I had to spend with him Wednesday and today before I had to get back to Birmingham for work. Thanks to all the people that were there to help out -- Uncle JoJo who helped deliver, Mrs. Tamara who helped out with the nursing staff today, sweet Rosanne Nichols (and fellow Kappa Delta) who was my sister's student nurse, and Tammy from church who helped yesterday with getting settled in the room. My sister is in the hospital until probably Saturday because they had to do a C-section. Please prayer that she'll continue to have a smooth recovery and that getting into the groove of things (such as feeding and lack of sleep) will also go smooth.

I'll leave you all with some pictures. I can't wait to go back at Thanksgiving!

He's so beautiful!

Dad (Boompa), Mom (LiLi) and Me (Auntie Katie or KK) and William

Presh!

He's posing!