Holding Hands Walking Through the Jungle.

I can't yet describe a normal day here, because every day has been different. So I will do my best to describe my days here.

Be woken up by my two roomies, Terry and Ugo, around 6:15. Terry is 4 years old and Ugo is 5. I have to bath Terry because he wet the bed. Make sure they get ready for school, and send them down to eat breakfast by 7, the bus leaves at 7:30 for school. 

My Roomies and Me!

I try to go back to sleep, but never can. So I go to the kitchen and talk to some of the guys there. Oh my goodness they are so funny! They are trying to teach me Igbo, which they find just hilarious. I am learning some though! Which is exciting!

I hang around and read my Bible and/or journal when most people are still asleep. And then go talk to the guys more. We eat breakfast, and do some random things. Eat lunch at 2. The kids get home between 3 and 4. While sometimes around noon I hear. It just depends on when the teachers decide to be done. From what I hear the teachers here are awful. Which breaks my heart. They kids love to get out the Leap Pad Reader Thingy and practice reading. They also LOVE to be read to. But they aren't learning very much at school. But they really do love to learn!

After the kids get back we hang out, play a lot of Mother may I?, and “go to market” which you know as Go fish. I taught them how to play and they changed it to go to market because it makes more sense to them. It is so funny to hear the kids yell “GO TO MARKET!” I love it!

I played soccer yesterday with some of the kids! They say I did pretty good. I did do pretty good for my first time playing in a few years. We play barefoot on a sand field. The field has the most amazing view! One side is the jungle. The other three have “mountains.” My Texas mind calls them mountains, but I'm not sure if they are considered hills or mountains. But either way It's just plain beautiful! I will try to take my camera out there so you can enjoy it too!

I have not officially been proposed to yet. But both my roomies and several other boys have told me that they are going to marry me. So no worries yet Mom!

My favorite thing here is when the kids grab my hands. We will be walking somewhere, or just sitting, and one will come up and grab my hand tight. Makes. Me. Melt. Every dang time. My favorite memory so far is walking with a kid on either side walking hand in hand through the jungle while it was raining. It was truly a beautiful thing.

Every night the kids have prayer. They sing a few songs and pray. Which I also love SO MUCH. I can't put it into words. I just love it. Goodness. They prayed for me for weeks before I came, did I tell you that? Isn't that the sweetest? I think so.

Tomorrow I am going to the market to get some skirts made! I'm excited!

I love you!

Pray for:

-Kara coming this week

-I would finish adjusting to the time difference. I have just about done it, but I still have some trouble.

- The kids! But especially the older kids. The oldest is 15, the youngest is about a year and a half. But some of the older ones have seen so much before they came here. And it breaks my heart in every way to hear the stories. Maybe I'll share one later.   

Pictures take FOREVER and a day to upload! So I'll try to post some randomly!

Dejee!

Dejee is a greeting here! Hey guys I'm here! The flights was so LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG and bumpy.
One here I spent the night in Lagos, which is where I flew into and then the next day flew to Enugu, the state where the orphanage is, had about an hour car ride. [Driving here is nuts.] So after 17 hours of traveling, not including the time I spent in the London airport or in Lagos, I arrived.

And man what a welcome! SO. PRECIOUS. I was surrounded by beautiful children all saying "Welcome Briet!" Which is how they say my name. Oh goodness I fell in love instantly.

I have two roommates. They are 5 year old boys. I give them their bath and help them get ready for school in the morning. I love it! But they snore all night....

I'm adjusting to the time...kinda...

I'm trying to learn all the names and some of the language, but I don't think I'm very good. My accent is already changing, so it helps them understand me better.

I'll post more pictures later. But I'm in a hurry now. The kids are out of school for Children's Day. I love you guys and hope all is well!

Today?!

Well I leave today. In one hours I leave for the airport. I have had a week full of goodbyes. All of them sweet, with a hint of bitterness. 

My favorite goodbye was yesterday in Children's Church. As I tried to sneak out to make it in time to make it to Big Church to see the baptisms Mrs. Angie waved to me. I then got tackled with just about all of children's church. I was surrounded by children hugging me, kissing me, and then it happened. There's always a kid who does it. Someone yelled "TICKLE HERRRRRRRR!" Then all the kids who were lovingly hugging me started tickling me. Two children wrapped around themselves my legs.

Heels+ tickling+2 kids wrapped around your legs= a horrible combination. 

Walking to Big Church I already missed them. 

I have been reminded by the mass amounts of wonderful people that God has surrounded me with. The ones who are in my house, and the ones who live far away. I love you guys and I am SOOOOOO thankful for you! Without the love, support, prayer, and listening ears you gave I would not be where I am today. Seriously. Even as I sit and type this I'm getting texts and facebook comments telling me people are praying for me. Y'all are great!

Speaking of texts. PLEASE DO NOT text me or call me this summer. If you feel the need to, please feel the need to send my parents some money. International rates are ridiculous. If you want to get a hold of me use skype [brie.meegan is my screen name], facebook, email, or my blog! It's not that I don't want to hear from you. I just don't want it to cost my parents an arm and a leg! 

It's just that I still don't feel like I'm leaving today. And I'm leaving in an hour. I think it will hit me once I have been there a few days. Or maybe when I land in Nigeria and realize not everyone speaks English.

I just printed my boarding passes. WEIRD. I got to pick my seats, window seats! I'm so excited! I have wanted to fly at night for a really long time and I get to do it tonight! Well I feel like with only one hour left here I should be doing something other than this...If I can I'll update in London to let you know I'm there! And I will update as soon as I can once I get to Nigeria!

5 Days.

I leave in exactly 5 days. Saying that, even thinking about that, forces a mass amount of emotions. This week I'm trying to finishing buying things for my trip, pack, spend time with people with friends and family, and relax. I'm not sure all of these things can happen. So I'm giving up relaxing until the others are done. I'll have time to relax on the plane right?

I got my visa today! I must admit I was beginning to get a little nervous. I kept reminding myself that God took care of the bigs things, he will take care of the little ones. I want to say thanks to everyone who prayed with me, and listened as I voiced my frustration. I just love you guys.

Tonight is my last Wednesday at church. Very bittersweet. I'm rocking the waterproof mascara for the next few days. [Shout out to Twinkle, you know who you are, for the first tears  regrading the trip. I love you a lot.]

If I think about the trip, which is just about every other thought, I get chills can't help but smile and sometimes even tear up [again with the waterproof mascara...] because, well, it's just a dream come true.

My friend Carli is going to North Africa for a month. She leaves on Saturday. Please pray for her safety while traveling and while she is there. She is going to a closed country. I just love that we will be on the same continent!

You guys are awesome! I hope you are having an awesome summer!

Terrified and Full of Joy.

As my own words fail me I found others that fit wonderfully. Once again from Kisses from Katie said exactly what I was thinking.

I can see the women with their eyes wide as they tremble in front of the empty tomb.
They listen to the angel's words – can it be? - and they scurry, terrified and full of joy.

Terrified and full of joy - I live there. It is possible to be afraid of what obedience might bring next and be full of thanks and overflowing joy and TRUST anyway. This giddy anticipation because we see all that He has done for us and we believe that He can only bring more good. Good, even in the ugly.

They see Him and they fall and the grab hold of His feet, clasp them, tangible, real feet. I live there too. Just holding on for dear life, choking back joyful sobs into the feet of my Savior.

Risen from the dead. And He does that with my life, this broken body, these broken dreams.

Beauty from the ashes. Beauty from the torture and the nail scars and the blood red life spilling out everywhere. Beauty from the black of the tomb


Terrified and fully of joy. That's exactly where I am at. 


I'm terrified because I leave for Africa in 20 days, and still so much needs to be done, as my loving parents keep reminding me. When I look at what I need to do part of me wants to just sit and breathe, while the rest of me knows I need to get up and get working. 


I'm full of joy because I am exactly where God wants me to be. I currently can't do anything to move some things along other than pray, have faith, and make what feels like millions of phone calls to people who don't answer their phone, or reply to emails.


 I'm also going exactly where God wants me. Despite the crazyness of everything going on and the many questions running through my mind nonstop I have no doubt Nigeria is where I am supposed to be this summer. God worked out the big things, now he is working on the details. I'm just trying to remember to breathe while I wait. 


In other news I will bring my computer to Nigeria. Which means I will be able to update this lovely blog, and skype! Yes you read that right! So add me on skype and let's talk this summer! :] If you don't have a skype, you should get one. I think it's pretty exciting even if you don't. 


I'm starting to get asked the questions of "What are you going to miss most this summer?" and "What are you most excited about?"  To hopefully avoid getting asked these by all of you I'll answer them now.


I'm going to miss my family the most. Summer has always been a time for us, my brothers parents aunts uncles grandparents cousins and friends of all listed above, to spend a TON of time together. Late nights playing video games that I'm awful at with my brother laughing the whole time. That is what I'm going to miss the most. 


I have already touched on what I'm most excited about. I can't wait to be living out God's call on my life. I can't wait to love on beautiful children for the summer. I can't wait for everything that includes. I know is this exactly what God wants me to do with my life, and I get to do it. THAT'S what I'm most excited about. That's what brings me to tears when I think about it. That is why I'm so full of joy.