Nigeria Adventure Updates
(To get excited with me about this trip, see my original blog post from August 7, "Africa, Here I Come!")
11/25/2011: I leave for Nigeria today!
I wish I could capture for you the joy and anticipation I feel. God has so filled me with Himself and His words that I am already overflowing. I hope the people on the planes don’t mind being in the splash zone. 
To give you a glimpse of what I will be doing:
1) Presenting a paper and talk on Africa and the future of Internet missions. This is the main event of the trip. I am one of several keynote speakers at a conference.
2) Serving and teaching at a seminary.
3) Traveling to another part of the country to speak at a church conference. I will be encouraging the women at that church and possibly preaching the Sunday morning service.
My host described a day of sight seeing that sounds fantastic! He has promised me lunch at KFC, which I’m really excited about. I love seeing how other countries do American food.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I take your prayers with me. They are my holy covering, for which I am extremely grateful.
May God pour me out and use me up for His glory.
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Gal. 6:14
11/08/2011: The most recent exciting news is that I got my visa. Yay!
God continues to display Himself. He is truly our Jehovah Jireh – our Provider. The total expense of the trip went up recently, due to a change at the seminary. My heart sank. I thought of how many people have already sacrificed to make this trip possible. Where would the extra money come from? I got on my knees before God and gave Him the need. This wasn’t a surprise to Him. He already had people earmarked as givers. And sure enough, the money is coming in. People I don’t even know have contributed. It’s awesome! I have every confidence in our Jehovah Jireh that full provision will be made.
It’s humbling to have people come alongside and support me in what God has called me to do. Two lessons (at least) are being learned way down deep in my heart:
1) My goal is always to serve God with excellence, but when people are giving their hard earned money for me to do that, it raises the bar even higher. I am committed more than ever to being consumed for God’s glory. Every penny given deserves my utmost effort. No slacking or laziness allowed.
2) God keeps taking me further into dependence. Just when I think I’ve finally learned it, He allows another need in my life that drives me to Him. He wants me living on my knees, in desperation, in awareness of my inadequacies, and with my eyes locked on His for help.
Thank you for being on this journey with me. I love you more than I can express, but not nearly as much as God does.
Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving.
“In as much as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto Me.” Jesus
10/04/2011: Please meet my friend, Victor. He is a pastor in Lagos, Nigeria, and the one responsible for my upcoming trip.
I met Victor on Facebook through our mutual friend, Jennifer White. After corresponding for about a year and sharing some blog posts, he invited me to Nigeria for a week of teaching and serving at the seminary.
Victor’s love for Jesus is obvious and contagious! He is a serious student of Scripture, and is committed to spreading its truth. He has been gracious and helpful during the process of preparation for my trip, which has included many details. He patiently answers all my questions about what to bring, what to wear, what the weather will be like, and much more. After all, a girl doesn’t want to trot across the globe without the right stuff!
God-connections are the sweetest things I’ve enjoyed about social media. Many of them will remain online but I actually get to meet Victor in person. In Nigeria. On the other side of the world! Only God can engage people like that, for His glory.
Connect with Victor. You’ll be so glad you did!
9/15/2011: Our Jehovah Jireh has already provided enough money for plane tickets. I didn't doubt that He would, but to see it happen so quickly takes my breath away. His goodness is stunning. I don't ever want to take that for granted!
So, today I buy the tickets and begin the visa process. Next step, shots. Fun. 
I am truly grateful for your love and support. Prayer is my greatest need, but if you are prompted by the Holy Spirit to give financially, that would be a huge blessing. For information on where to send it, see the "Africa, Here I Come!" blog post.
For those of you who missed my Facebook update a couple of weeks ago, I was told to bring comfortable shoes but to feel free to wear my beloved stilettos when I teach because the African women will like that. You know I'm all about it!
Downtown Lagos
