I can't put it off any longer...

Lou Ann here. In case you didn't already know this, I love to type. In fact, I love to type a lot more than anyone in their right mind wants to read. So I decided to start my own "Africa 2007" blog. That way the majority of you who want a quick update on our trip can stick with this blog. Those of you who want to read my ramblings are welcome to visit me at my Africa 2007 blog. Or, better yet, if you have a site feed reader, you can feed both of these blogs into your reader and see whenever either of the blogs is updated along with access to the full text of any posts. Enjoy! Thirteen days and counting!!

Preparation Stage...almost done...Blasting off tomorrow!

Wow. The flurry of activity to leave home for 5 weeks is incredible! Last minute running around for needed items for us and the missionaries we are visiting has kept me hopping! I know the trip ahead will be full of challenges and lessons, and I can't wait.

Our DC Amani Safari team will be gathering in Nairobi in mid-July. Before I join them, I will be visiting 4 countries in the next 3 weeks: Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Malawi.

In Rwanda and Burundi, I will have the treat of visiting the "sister centers" of Amani in each of the capital cities, Kigali and Bujumbura. I am really looking forward to meeting and enjoying the women there, hearing their stories, and learning about their centers where "peace is sown."

As an old African proverb says, "If you are rich and not generous, it is as if you had nothing."

Truly, it is better to give than to receive...and a lot more fun!

Well, off to finish the last minute packing!

Betty

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
Habakkuk 2:14

Welcome, Betty!

You may have noticed the addition of another beautiful face at the top of the blog, and the inclusion of the same friend in our "group" photo in the previous post. I got ahead of myself! :-) We are pleased to bring yet another member to our Amani group. Welcome to Betty, who will meet us in Nairobi.

Betty
Northern Virginia
It is exciting to be a part of the ever-expanding body of Christ. Ever since God allowed me to move to Africa in 1980, I have had a growing respect and admiration for African women. Having lived in both West and East Africa over the course of 10 years, I have seen the challenging situations that women face in Africa as they have to earn a living, care for their children and overcome the trials of poverty, war, and sickness.

When my family was living in Malawi, I met Becky Chinchen in 1987. She and I shared many child-rearing days and enjoyed fellowshipping in the same church. Little did I know that 20 years later, I would be joining a team of women to work with a fabulous ministry, Amani ya Juu, that God raised up through Becky to help African women. Because of Becky Chinchen’s devotion to the Lord, God was able to use her gifts, talents and her vision for what God could do in the lives of needy African women.

I am thrilled to be a part of the DC Amani Safari Team this July. We will all be challenged and probably inspired as we work side by side with the African women at Amani ya Juu. It is my prayer that as we serve one another on the team, and as we serve the African women in Nairobi, that God will use us to be a blessing and to bring Christ further glory as we do.

The group!

The ice cream social was a success. We had a house full of people, wonderful fellowship, we learned a lot more about Amani and about each other, we shopped and we ate ... and the seven of us decided that this would be our last chance to get a group photo. Unfortunately, we won't have a chance to meet Jesse before we actually arrive in Nairobi. But, for the meantime, here is a photo of the seven of us. Enjoy!! More images from the ice cream social to follow.


(Front Row, left to right: Miriam, Brittany, Rachel. Back row, left to right: Sharon, Lou Ann, Betty, Debbie)