This is the first of many updates that will come quickly. Instead of doing one H U G E update, I figured it would be a lot easier to divide it up and update my adventure in the parts accordingly. So much has happened this past month and I want to share every possible thing with all of you who are home praying for me! So… a great place to start is at the very beginning.
Wow, it seems like such a long time ago… On September 12th I woke up really early, took my last long hot shower, called my favorite person (My Brother!), and Dad and I headed to the Ft.Smith Airport. Tessa Bell and Donna Rainwater met us there to send me off. I was so excited about what lied ahead there was no way to be sad!
Right as I got on the plane I immediately thought of my Mom. I really wished she was there to send me off too. But the great thing is that she was there …. After explaining all the *safety* rules on the plane that we’ve all heard 5.6 billion times they announced who our Captain would be on our trip. Coincidently, they announced “Captain Smith will be your pilot today.” Before my Mommy was an ‘Orr’ her last name was Smith. That was also one of her nicknames growing up. It made me laugh and smile… Mom just had to be with me on my trip to protect me. I feel her presence constantly.
I arrived in Atlanta for training camp with no problems. Shortly after arriving I met my amazing team. Now, thanks to the wonderful world of Facebook our team was pretty acquainted already! But seeing them face-to-face and getting to hug them was a gift in itself! Our team consists of 13 girls 2 boys and 5 leaders: Aaryn, Tiff, Amber, Chelsea, Jenny, Rach, Katie, Raelynn, Hillary, Melissa, Sarah, Jamie, Ty, Matt, Chris, Christian, Tag, and Holly. *Whew* ßSo when I refer to these names you will know they are my family. PS—we don’t call ourselves a team, we are truly family!! They have a lot to do with me not missing home too much!
The 1st week I lived in a tent, took showers from FREEZING water hoses, and went through some intense sessions and team builders. There was so much information given to me in one week that I’m still going back to study notes. God pretty much blew out of the little box I had put Him in that week. At this moment He continues to surprise me.
Training camp assured me that I was in the right place. God’s Will really was for me to go to Africa and I became 100% sure in the steps He had laid before me. On September 19th we headed out to Africa and my life would never be the same again.
