FEVER, FEVER, I'VE GOT TOGO FEVER

Saturday marked the four week mark. As I a begin to wind down the school year and prepare for my trip. I find myself wanting everything to slow down so I can remember it all. I am starting to make lists of everything that I need to  for the end of the year and for Togo. Right now the lists are in my head but I think tonight I will be writing down the list just so I can cross things off.
As of Monday I have a little over 1/3 of my support in for my trip. I am feeling so blessed by this and the notes of encouragement I have received. I have always felt stressed about money and making ends meet but with this trip I have felt completely at ease regarding the money side of this trip. I am still fearful and scared at points but the feeling of being a blessing and being blessed has taken over.
This is fever week for me. Today, I picked up my typhoid fever vaccine and tomorrow I will be getting the yellow fever vaccine in my arm. It looks like as of tomorrow I will be completely protected from every possible disease  out there. Well, except maybe Rabies and I have decided not get that shot, I will trust that God will keep that away.
Tonight is the night. My dad and I are going to book my flight to Togo tonight. I so am excited.
Trusting In Him,
Heather

SHOTS, PILLS, AND BLESSINGS

 So, this week I began the journey of what vaccinations I need to get. Part of this journey includes tracking down my medical records. I was not sure exactly where these were. I had called both my Dr's office from NH and the one that I had for part of a year in MA and was coming up with dead ends or no returned phone calls. I needed these records for not only my Dr here but to see what shots I needed. After many unreturned phone calls I finally got to talk to someone in NH. Low and behold my records were there. AMEN this was Monday at 2:00 I had an appointment at 3pm for Malaria stuff and any other shots I needed. I was hoping that they could just fax the records for me but they could not. I filled out the form for my records to be sent  and they should be in my hands by Friday. This solved the problem of where my medical record where but not the what shots I needed to get from the doctor on Monday. So on the way to the Dr's I talked to my mom about what I had as a child. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella CHECK, Polio CHECK, Tetanus CHECK. Three shots that I did not have to get but looking at the list of highly recommended one, they didn't make a dent. When I got to the Dr's, they had been looking for a list of shots for my regions, mind you I was thinking lets get the Malaria medicine and talk about shots for later. My Doctor was able to go through the list and tell me whether I would have had them as a child. This knocked out some more shots. I was down to three yes and two that I needed to look into. My Doctor appointment was at 3pm but I did not see my Dr. until 3:45 pm. I then waited around for two of my shots until 4:15pm. I can sit hear and complain that I was at the doctors for over and hour but I have to Praise God. In this process, I was able to not only share what I was doing with my Doctor but with also two nurse.
Well, the doctor's appointment is over but I do still have to get my Yellow Fever Vaccine and I am still checking on a Rabies one. I am also hoping to get the Typhoid vaccine in pill form. Speaking of pills, after going to the doctors, I stopped at the pharmacy to drop of my prescriptions for Malaria and for migraines. Too many pills I say but if it they keep me healthy I am all for it.  I  dropped off my prescription and said that I would pick them up the next day. Some time around Lunch yesterday I got a phone call from the Pharmacy asking if I would like them to call my insurance company so I could fill more then one refill at a time since I would be out of the country. What a blessing! I was not even thinking this.
As I was preparing for the day today with my kids one of my mom's from last year walked in and said is it OK if I give you something. I said yes. In she walks with a plastic bag with a package inside. I have already been blessed through this experience, so receiving this was huge. Inside the package was not only money for my trip but also a journal, where on the outside she had typed and decorated my verse Psalm 37:3-4,7. I just about cried as I looked at. Thank you so much for this blessing. I will cherish it while I am in Africa.
As I continue to trust,
Heather

Prayer Request

As I prepare for this journey, my heart is anxious about every thing that need to get done in five weeks. Between getting yellow fever shots, making sure my passport gets here, finding my flight, raising support and making sure I am ready to go. I ask you to pray for me in the coming weeks as I prepare.  Please pray that:: my passport arrives in time, I stay healthy, everything comes together smoothly, and that God works through me.
If you want to help me in raising support, you can send it to me  at 479 9th Ave Troy NY 12182. Make checks payable to Loudonville Community Church for tax purposes.

Serving Him
Heather

The Beginning of a Journey

August of 2007 brought about many changes for me; a new town, a new state, a new job, and a new church. All these news brought about lots of goodbyes; goodbye New Hampshire, good bye my church, goodbye family and friends, goodbye the ability to serve at camp. Although I was excited about this new adventure,  was also fearful. This summer brings about a lot of the same feelings.
I was sitting in church one Sunday at the end of 2009 and I heard the song HERE I AM by Downhere. After hearing that song, the chorus continued to flow through my head. The chorus says this: “Here I am, Lord send me, All of my life, I make an offering, Here I am, Lord send me, Somehow my story, Is a part of your plan, Here I am” As the song went through my head, the chorus turned into a prayer for me, as I began to think about my summer and what I was going to do with my time. I began to ask God to show me where he wanted me for the summer. In February of 2010, I received an email from Mercy Ships announcing the need for Summer Program assistants for the summer of 2010. As I began to think about this I got excited about how God was going to use me this summer. After praying about it, filling out applications and waiting, I finally got word that I would be serving on the Africa Mercy this summer. Although I am excited to see how God is going to use me this summer, I am also fearful. I am leaving what I know; my home, my church, my family and friends, and my country. I know that my summer will be filled with many adventures and experiences. Over the past three years God has brought me back to the Psalm 37:3-4,7 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.  many times and they have become my life verses. I know that if I trust in God and wait on him, He will use me in an amazing way. I have clung to these reminders and will continue to as I embark on this journey.

As I prepare for this journey I want to keep those of you who have supported me on this journey. I will keep you up to date on my fundraising, what I am learning from God, and how you can pray for me. Thank you for following me on my journey.

Serving Him,
Heather