AFRICA OR BUST!

(If this is your first time on this page, welcome! Stay a while, browse around, read old posts, etc. Friends and family, this is the best place to stay up to speed on what the Lord is doing while I'm in Africa. If all goes as planned, you'll be able to find updates here DAILY. I'm so thankful that you have invested in this trip. Your prayers and gracious giving are sending me out and I need you to stay connected for the rest of the journey! As you partner with me, I'd also love it if you'd leave comments or email me about what's going on with you. Have fun reading... )

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Well, y'all, it's that time! I can't believe its finally here. In my peripheral vision I see 2 huge suitcases (and by huge I mean they will get the dreaded 'heavy' tag tomorrow and have to go in that special section of the airplane.. i can't help it). They are all zipped up and only need a few more items before they are loaded up in the car. How exciting! How absolutely terrifying..

I've been thinking about this blog all day and how I would articulate all the things I really wanted to say... but of course, I have major writers block. Maybe its because my mind is on information overload, but I'm really at a loss for words (shocking, yes!).

This time last year, I was already in Africa with my team and I was giving little pieces of my heart to all the beautiful children and adults that I met. Some got more of my heart than others, and I'm sure you guys are worn out from hearing all the stories. I feel like I left so much of myself in Swaziland and Johannesburg last summer. I would try to write some poetic letter about how "now its time to go get it back".. but that wouldn't really be true.... I guess its really just time to go and give more. Actually, thats not true either. It's really just time to go and GET more. I didn't give half (ok, if we are getting technical, 'I' didn't give anything.. He did through me.. but I digress) of what I got. Those people left so much of themselves in me. They left forever footprints, marking their presence on my life. "They rocked my world", as my cousin says. I'm so ready to see them and let them do it again.

I was thinking in my car today, "Why in the world do I want to do this?" (I'm sure my mom will call me when she reads that and give me an answer to that question in an effort to keep me here.. too bad I'll already be on my way!) But seriously, why am I going? Me, Lord? REALLY? Do you know me? I'm a wreck. I'm lost and confused and definitely not worthy of such a calling. I don't have the strength to stand on my own two feet, much less run boldly into this radical place called AFRICA.

Through that mystery question "ME, LORD? REALLY? ARE YOU SURE? DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH..??", I have found a spring of hope that gives me answers. The truth is, THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF THE CROSS. The Lord never chose the ones who had it all together. I know for some of you, this seems obvious and more like a Sunday School lesson, but for me, its a truth that needed reiteration for my feeble little brain.

I mean, look to the Word.....

Before becoming a great Christian evangelist spreading the word of Christ, the apostle Paul was called Saul and he traveled around trying to destroy Christianity (Acts 8). Abrahm lied telling one king that his beautiful wife Sarai was his sister, because he didn’t trust God to protect him. He was afraid they would kill him to take Sarai for themselves. (Genesis 12:10-20) Later Abrahm was Abraham and he told yet another king the same lie about his wife Sarah, again not trusting God to protect him. (Genesis 20) Peter was able to walk on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind and waves instead. (Matthew 14:25-31) Peter also denied Christ three times. Moses killed a man and you know how God used him.

There are so many more.. Jonah, Rahab.

I certainly don't have it all together.. but I'm finding that thats such a great place to be. In my brokenness and lifelessness, I get to surrender myself to the foot of the cross. When I'm empty, HE gets more room in my life. When my pieces fall apart, HE gets to put them back together. When I'm a loser and make bad decisions, He gets to be the superhero that rescues me.

In all of that, HE GETS ALL THE CREDIT. ALL THE GLORY GOES TO HIM.. JUST AS HE DESERVES.

I want these next 6 weeks to be NOTHING about me. NOTHING AT ALL.

{I want more of You, and less of me. Jesus move through me. Empty me out and push me aside so that you can stand front and center.. so you can SHINE!}

My prayer is that I'd give up any expectations or desires I have for this journey and surrender to His perfect plan. If I could do that, I can ONLY IMAGINE what's going to happen.

I'd love it if you'd pray too.

I want to write more, but I'm exhausted and have to be up SO early in the morning. I'm going to leave you with a prayer list. I hope you'll bookmark this post, print it out, put it on your fridge, whatever.. we NEED your prayers and CANNOT survive without them.

Would you Pray for:

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***I fly out at 7:30 tomorrow night. Please pray that we make it to Atlanta on time.. our family loves to be late.

****I'll be meeting Theresa in Chicago, with only 45 minutes between flights. I can't wait to dominate the O'hare Airport!

*** We'll fly to Frankfurt then onto Johannesburg. Please pray that those flights are safe and that we don't encounter any issues on our way there. You could also pray that 2 business class seats free up so that my little surgery wound can have more room for 18+ hours in the air... that would be AMAZING.

****PLEASE PLEASE PRAY that our hosts pick us up on time in Johannesburg. This airport is the most dangerous in the world (sorry mom) and we don't want to have to stick around any longer than we have to :)

****Pray for the staff that will host us for the next few days. We have some logistics to work out when we get there.. I'll fill in with more details later.

*****Pray for Theresa and I's families. Theresa is going to be gone for a YEAR, so tommorrow will be a hard day for her.

****Pray for our bodies. The next few days are gonna be crazy and my body will probably hate me.

****Pray that our luggage makes it. Jo'Burg is FAMOUS for "losing" luggage. AH! THAT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE!

****Pray for the Creel's and the McCallister's as they endure a long day of waiting for baby Emma to arrive!

****Protection

****Ministry Opportunities

****You can also pray that my transcripts get transfered by 10 am tomorrow.. if not, there will be a whole new list of prayer requests :)

****Pray against any complications on our flights, in customs..

****pray for our hearts and minds, and that we would be unified as a team. Pray also that we'd be wise and would lean on Him when we're tired or frustrated (airports can bring out the worst in people!

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Ok, I think I've about covered it.

HOW CAN I PRAY FOR YOU???

I'll write more tomorrow from the airport (hopefully).. Keep looking out.

I LOVE YOU GUYS AND IM SO EXCITED FOR US TO TAKE THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER. Here we go......

LeeGrayson

goodbyes

What a week it has been! I mentioned earlier that this week we've been celebrating my birthday (yes.. a whole week. everyone should do it!) .. The fact that my birthday just happened to be the day before I leave the countRy has allowed me the opportunity to say goodbyes to a lot of people in person. It's going to be 6 long weeks without some of these folks.


{Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me with community and for surrounding me with people with people that selflessly serve and love me.}


One goodbye was a little more sad than the rest.. sweet Courtney is giving birth TOMORROW and I'll miss the special day. Not to mention that I won't get to meet the sweet baby until
AUGUST! UGHHHHHHH!! Here is Courtney ready to POP:

Court and Matt, you will make WONDERFUL parents. I pray that you experience the Lord in a new way as you cherish your little gift from Him. I can't wait to watch you love her and raise her to be as fabulous as you guys. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA KATHERINE, I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!

on another note.. we cooked out at my house.. and well, i just really love my family and friends. Our Small town, a grill, an Alabama summer night, and those you love.. I mean does it really get better? Well.. kinda it does... it'd be better if I could take all that with me to Africa.. Oh well! Here are some pics from the night :

i just love them:

this is the most accurate picture of what we did all night: SWATTED BUGS!

im gonna miss you guys. be ready for me August 12th.

procrastination at its finest

holy cow.

so obviously, my little blog world got a facelift. unfortunately, this facelift has consumed most of my morning. HELLO LEEEEE??!?!? Do you not realize you leave for Africa in the morning? My floor is covered with coloring books, clothes, bedding, etc. I really need to do something productive.. but blog-editing sucked me in.

Ok, I'm off to do all 800 things I still haven't crossed off my to-do list.

catch up

Lets just get right to the point... I'm a HORRIBLE blogger. I have the best of intentions, but it just never gets done. I would say I'm going to try and do better, but.. well, I always say that. I do WANT to do better, but life (and my lack of patience and discipline) doesn't always allow for it. But anyways, here we go..


Life has been crazy. I just moved out of my college apartment and I'm still puzzled at how I got all that crap in that tiny little space. I swear I have never seen so much junk.


I've also been running around like a chicken with my head cut off getting ready to leave for Africa.. only 2 days :). With all that has had to be done, I don't feel like I've had much time to get excited.. but I am SO ready to be back there. I can't wait to see what the Lord does... AHHH!


I'll be blogging tomorrow with updates on how you guys can pray and with some more specific stories of things that have been going on. The Lord has been really gracious and I can't wait to share.

here are some pictures from my week/weekend.

(did I mention today was my birfffday? It is. I'm 23. OLD HAG.)

the GINORMOUS cookie cake (you want a slice or 2.. or 8.. we have PLENTY left)

did I mention that my big bro rolled into town for the weekend? He did.. popped collar, sunglasses, and all. I love him!

my aunt cathee (she's crazy and deserves an entire other blog post.. one day i'll do it) gave me these "goodies" for my birthday. she's terribly frightened of all the cooties in Africa.

i'll be a better blogger tomorrow. im tired. being the birthday girl is a hard job.

Plan B- no such thing

ive started and stopped and restarted this little post around 85 times. explaining the situation, without making it a nine page essay is proving to be difficult. I'm not good at shortening stories, I like adding to them better. But here is my 86th attempt:

I had a plan. My plan was that I would finish all my finals, enjoy the last little bit of time with friends, and pack up and head home for 2 weeks of rest and relaxation. Then, I'd be back in Auburn to start school on the 22nd of May, I'd work, and I'd raise support and count down the days until I was back in Africa.

It wouldn't be a story if it didn't have a twist, right? Well, my twist was that I was really sick. I spent nearly a week in and out of doctor's offices. On top of it all, I was pretty certain I had a broken tailbone. Finally, after spending the first week of my supposed "rest and relaxation", in cold, sterile doctors offices we finally realized that there was more going on than we thought. At the end of that week, a doctor finally laid some claims as to what had been going on, and I was diagnosed with Pilonidal Sinus Disease. This was causing my sickness and the 'broken tailbone', was actually a "rapidly enlarging pilonidal cyst" that had to be removed immediately. So, into surgery I went. My cyst was much larger and much more infected than they anticipated, and so they prepared us for what sounded like a pretty messy time of recovery.

Usually, people are fully recovered after 12 weeks. Most don't walk until beginning of week 3, sit or drive until a month. Unfortunately, because my cyst was so out of control, they couldn't close up my wound and they sent me home with an open incision that goes from my tailbone to my lower back.

So, for me, every decision or idea I had prior to May 12th has been in question. It's been a rollercoaster, but its really been ok. I'm apparently super woman when it comes to healing, and my home nurses and my doctor can't believe the rate a which I'm progressing. My 4 inch long, 2 inch deep incision is closing up and I've been in no pain. NO PAIN! Praise God. This surgery is known as being pretty ugly, and to me, it's been virtually painless. That blows my mind. They prepared us for the worst, but as usual, God showed up and God showed off. He's unreal.

I guess it's not really the medical stuff that had me worried or confused. It's incredible how peaceful that whole side of the issue has been. I know its real, I know I have to deal with it from here on out, and I'm ok. Im really ok. (I can hear those of you that know me saying "something is wrong with her!"). Again, I'm in no pain. I'm walking. Im driving. I'm living life normally.

The hard part for me has just been understanding God's purpose in all of this. None of this was in MY plan. Ok, so I did ask for rest, and I have been laid up for like 5 weeks, but thats not really the rest I was hoping for! The doctor's didnt clear me for school and I didn't get to share those last precious weeks with my roommates who will move out at the end of this month. I didn't get to come home and tan and hang out with my friends. I didn't get to excitedly prepare for Africa.
In helping me get some clarity, friends and family have said "Don't even worry! This is just Plan B.. plan A didn't work out, so now we'll move on to the next!" I kinda went on with that mantra without looking back. I had accepted Plan B. Plan B was resting, healing, and maybe (just maybe) getting to go to Africa.I was really at peace with whatever came out of this new plan. If I was to go to Africa, I would be thrilled! If not, I'd press on knowing that God had me here for a reason. Again, I was really ok.

As you probably know by now, I finally got the doctors blessing to go to Africa, and I'll be there as planned. But I never knew it'd look this way or take shape like it has. Last week, as I was assessing my confusion and frustration with all of this with the Lord, a wave of peace came over me and I got it (rather, he opened my eyes to FINALLY see it). This wasn't Plan B. Plan B wasn't foregoing school, or missing my friends, or being bored to tears in my house. That was my idea of Plan B. But to Him, it was all part of Plan A. He knew all of this, and it was all part of his original, and only, plan for me. He never started over, and His Plan A never failed. IT NEVER WILL. Thats a promise I was glad to relearn.

I am humbled by the thought that He chooses to use me at all.. whether its in Swaziland or in Prattville. I don't care. I just want to be used. My real hearts desire is to quit all my Plans, A-Z and surrender and submit to the same plan He mapped out for me before time. He is a FAITHFUL FATHER.
"In his heart a man plans his course, but it is the LORD that determines his steps" proverbs 16:9

thanks for being a part of all this. I cherish these friendships and I know for a second I don't deserve it.
to say im humbled is such an understatement.
Lee

GREAT IS THE GLORY OF THE LORD

Hi Friends,
It's been a while :) Hope you all are having a wonderful summer!
Been thinking about you guys a LOT lately.. It's important to me that I start this letter by simply saying "thanks". THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I wish that I could tell each of you that in person!
Know that you are CHERISHED FRIENDS.
I feel great.. and I KNOW that your willingness to seek Him on my behalf through all of this, is the SOLE reason for that. I always knew and heard about the power of prayer.. but lately my belief in prayer has been renewed. Through the moments over this last month, I have seen Him be EXACTLY who He says He is... and I'd be willing to say there are few things better in this life than to realize or witness Him keep His word.
The total update is: Today is 1 month from surgery day. My nurses are here on and off for three times a week, and I see the doc every Thursday. My healing has been pretty consistent over the past month. My incision has shrunk from 7.8 cm to 5.5 cm in length, 3.5 to .7 in depth, and 5 to 1.8 in width. THOSE NUMBERS SAY A LOT! I'm developing healthy tissue around the opening and draining has almost completely stopped (i hope you don't have a weak stomach). Most of the time, I feel totally normal, so it's hard for me to understand why I need to rest... this seems to be the biggest challenge.
Unfortunately, the doctor did not clear me for school, and so I was unable to go back to Auburn for the summer as planned (i miss you school friends SO MUCH!). Prayers have now been focused on Africa and if I'll be well enough to leave the country. It's been up and down, and most family and friends have urged me to cancel my trip. I felt that I needed to wait, and let the doctor decide that. I finally was able to surrender to the Lord the doctor's decision (whatever it would be) just a week or so ago. My heart is in Africa and I surely want to go, but I also want to do what's best for my longterm health. It's been a time of confusion, but I finally decided that I'd trade my dissappointment over a "no", for that irreplaceable peace He has already so abundantly shared with me. So TODAY was decision day, and I'm excited to report that the Doctor's and nurses have given me the go ahead :) AHHHHHHHHHHHH. Africa, I'm a'comin'! In all honesty, i really thought he'd say no.. but he didn't. PRAISE GOD. My family really doesn't want me to go in fear of something happening, and the doc could change his mind by next weeks appointment so i guess its not totally final.. but as of now, he thinks there is no harm in going.
Here's where you come in AGAIN (if you're not worn out by all these requests yet):
*Will you please join me in praying the Lord's will over my trip? I want desperately to live out His best. Please pray for my family to have peace.
*I'm still in need of SUPPORT-- like, A LOT OF SUPPORT. I leave in 19 days. I know He's bigger than time or money. Please pray that it comes in.
*Will you pray for my friend Theresa, that is going with me? She has been on this rollercoaster of "yes and no's" with me, and if I don't go, she'll be there by herself. She is actually staying until December, and needs encouragement when we arrive to start her journey.
*Will you continue to pray for speedy recovery and restoration to FULL HEALTH? I know that God has a shield of protection around me, and wouldn't have me going if harm was ahead, but I want to be wise about decisions to avoid any more cysts or growth of this disease.
*I've got A LOT to do in 19 days. I have decisions about school in the fall, I have to move out of an apartment, and I have to get life in order before I ship out for 6 weeks.
I'd love it if you'd pray those things.. and hold me accountable for consistently praying these things (its cool, call me OUT!).

Psalm 138 says:
"I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength... For great is the glory of the Lord. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever.." Psalm 138
That's where I am right now... right in the thick of Psalm 138. Digesting it, Claming it. He has not been slow in keep his promise. I've prayed Isaiah 58, "Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer!" and I have seen him bring that verse to life and truth. He is a FAITHFUL FATHER.
thank you again, from my tip toes, for your kindness and friendship during this crazy month. You couldn't understand fully how you all have made me feel and I definitely didn't deserve it. To say I'm humbled is certainly an understatement.
Please keep me updated on your life
love you all.. Lee