bon voyage

I am currently sitting in Africa for my last few moments. Today was the most emotional day that I have yet experienced here. I don't have much to day about the last few moments other then my heart broke a little more, these boys will always have piece of my heart, I'm called to make a difference, and I cried more then I ever expected. Here are two boys that I cried and prayed over today. If you feel lead to donate to Jessica's Warehouse, please contact me, my mom, Evan, any one close to me...I can send the money directly to Jessica so she can move into a house instead of a small cement warehouse and the UNICEF will start providing medical care to these boys and education to better their lives.

Alleson one of the street boys has a terrible disease in his mouth...we arent sure what it is but his whole entire mouth is puss and bad! He is getting tested for thrush, AIDS, and other disease tomorrow...please pray!

Auba is a little boy was hit by a car. it broke his leg and foot but they fused back together in an incorrect way. he needs i simple surgery in america to fix his life, but will probably never have the means to get that here in mali, so he will suffer for the rest of his life.

Please pray that Jessica will get enough funding to properly treat all of the boys she cares for, they desperately need medical attention.

thoughts

There have been a lot of things that I've learned while in Africa: some good and some bad, some I'm happy I've learned and some I could have been fine with out, some things that will last a lifetime and some that will fade away tomorrow. All that aside I think that biggest thing that I've learned is on family.

Everyone says that the family in Africa is so different then the family in America, to that I say yes and no. My family reminds me a lot of an African family. Not the color, the food, the house, etc. but the heart, the hospitality, the closeness, the care, and more. Through out my whole life I've been closer with my family then the average family, yes we had a bouts here and there, but all that aside my mom is one of my best and closest friend to this day. There is no one who has caught more tears, sewn more dresses, played more games, taught more lessons, listened to more plans, and everything else then my mom. My family opens their arms and doors to those who need love and care. We always have big dinner where that you show up to not knowing who is going to be there because everyone is invited. We are tight, even in our distance, we are close at heart. Our love for Christ binds us together and we can't be broken.

On another note, my church family has been there through thick and thin with my family. We have gone through so many things. Some people have help me as a tiny baby and prayed over me as I left for Mali. I was and the flower girl, babysitter, cleaner, and more to many people. When something happens, we can count on our church family to be there..

Those two things in my life reflect exactly what the African family holds here. It looks the same from the outsiders view, but the thing that make that American family different is me. I'm a part of that family. Some one that so deeply misses that family when I'm removed. I long to be there and feel that loving embrace all around me, but the best part is knowing that when I get home they will still be there. Waiting with arms wide open, tears in their eyes, and ready to listen to every story I have to share.

Thank you for creating my American family that I long so much to see!

My family!