picking up speed

Hello again! It's been a little bit since I blogged--mainly because I've been waiting until there were more developments in regards to my actual trip. I've officially been accepted into the study abroad program, and am currently working on completing my application to UWC. A few weeks ago, I received a letter saying I was awarded the Henry Mitchell Scholarship, which is given to one student from each UM school to study in Cape Town. This is a HUGE blessing, and is even more apparent to me that God is leading me and providing for me. It's completely humbling to know that God granted me favor in the site of the panelists on the scholarship board.

Last weekend was the Jubilee Women Conference. I was praying with my good friends Amie and Caris, and Amie had a word for me in regards to my trip to South Africa. The week before, I had felt my excitement for my trip waning, as I was looking at all these practical things that needed to get done. I was trying to navigate through what I did and did not need for my visa, what shots I had to get, the various health insurance forms the university required, figuring out what classes at UWC would count for my UMSL degree,etc. etc. I knew when it was "go" time, that this would be the case, but I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Amie had a picture of me in South Africa, and really got a strong sense of the kind of women God wanted to develop in me during my time there. She was reminded of Esther, in her time of preparation before meeting the King, and that God wanted this to be a time of just me and Him, of Him bringing me into a deeper understanding of my role as a woman of God..she actually kept getting the phrase "wild woman", which is incredbily exciting for me! It was my first prophetic word about my trip, and I'm excited to pray into more in the next few months. It helped me bring things back into perspective--that yes I am going on a exchange program, but ultimately I'm going because God is leading me there, and He is going to be working in me and completely blowing my mind and heart for Him during this experience! I got caught up in the practical side of the trip and lost sight of what I really ought to be preparing my heart for..this incredible adventure that God is taking me on!

After many months of just kinda waiting then doing a little bit of work, then waiting some more, things are now picking up quite a bunch...which makes sense, since my departure is just a little over 3 months away! Ah! More to come...