correspondence

Britni and I got another round of immunizations taken care of this past Tuesday. Nobody wants typhoid fever...

I sent an email to David & Linda Gregersen (our connection to Zambia) the other day with flight information and some more questions. I asked if they would be able to give me a better idea of what the need will be at the mission while we are there. This was part of David's response: 

[I've inserted my own comments in the brackets]

Kathryn,

With a small group coming you will be spending a lot of time in our orphanages interacting with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. [Yay! That's what I was hoping for!] There are over 60 of them and they don't get enough one-on-one attention. You will interact in devotionals, bible classes, and worship services with Zambian students and teachers. You, Kathryn, can learn about a group of speech pathologists [what?!] that are coming here in May to do some clinic work and are planning to come every May for several years. [ahh!] They are working through Harding University and the Zambian government. [How great would that be to combine my career choice (which I love) with a deeper purpose?] You may be given a project to do like painting or cleaning one day. Our goal is to whet your spiritual appetite for doing missions in the future in Africa perhaps even at the Namwianga Mission. We already have two young women in their mid twenties who are graduates from Harding and Oklahoma Christian working full time at the mission. One is a PA at the clinic and the other is a caretaker at the baby orphanage. You will meet them and get to work with them. There are lots of opportunities for adults your age to plug into the work at the mission on a long-term (two or more years) basis. We hope visits like yours will turn in to longer times of service in Africa. So you will be getting a taste of mission work in Africa. Before Louisa and Meagan (the two mentioned above) came to the mission for a longer term they had done short-term missions at the Namwianga and in Uganda. 

Who knows what God will do with you after your trip. [it's definitely exciting to think about] I hope this helps with communicating to your supporters. You can use this response on your blog if you desire. [and I shall!]

Press on, 

David

In other news... I'm home for the weekend!! And my birthday was yesterday! woo hoo! It's been a good week.

Introductions

Hello friends! My 2nd post! How exciting! 

I wanted to introduce you all to the group of people who will be joining me on this trip to Zambia..... they're pretty awesome.

Micah

Micah is 24 years old and a first-year elementary school teacher in Grand Prairie. She teaches a 3rd grade bilingual class and loves working with her little ones. Micah earned her degree from Texas A&M where she was a part of several mission trips including a semester long trip to Paraguay last year. I met Micah probably my sophomore year of high school when she camped 2nd session at Blue Haven with me. Micah is one of those people who can make just about anything fun! She and I were always the night owls on the girls side of camp.. cleaning our cabins the night before a new session at like 2:00 in the morning was not uncommon for us. Are you surprised, Mom?

Nathan

Nathan is 22 years old and is starting his last semester at Oklahoma Christian University where he will earn his degree in Political Science. Nathan is engaged to be married this May and will be starting law school (somewhere!) in the fall. Nathan is the only member of our group who has been to Africa before! He went to Tanzania last spring break with a group led by Greg and Kris Neill. I met Nathan in 2007 when we were both first year counselors at Blue Haven. Nathan is known for his sarcasm and for making ridiculous faces at the camera (see above). 

Britni

Britni is 22 years old and is working on getting her Elementary Education degree from Lubbock Christian University. I get to see Britni pretty regularly since we're both in the LBK, which is great! We have been immunization buddies in preparation for this trip. :O) Britni has been a part of many mission trips with her most recent one to Puerto Rico last spring break. I met Britni in 2005 when I worked at Blue Haven as a cook and she stayed to wash pots(the most glamorous job of the kitchen). She is such a blessing in my life!

Leland

Leland is 20 years old and a sophomore at Texas A&M University where he is earning a degree in business. He is from Houston, Texas where his father is one of the ministers at the Impact Church there. Leland has a passion for people and ministry unlike anyone else I know. We camped together the same session for several years, but I didn't really get to know him until this past summer when we were counselors together. Leland is the guy everyone knows and loves and I am so pumped he'll be going to Africa with us!!

2008 CBH Counselors

Can you find everyone?

 

Please pray for our group as we continue to raise funds and prepare ourselves for this opportunity to share the Love of Christ! 

Ready, Set... Go!

We've bought our plane ticket. It's real. We're going to Africa: 

March 12-22, 2009.

During the 2nd session of the camp I worked at this past summer, David and Linda Gregersen (who have been long-time Bible class teachers at Camp Blue Haven) came to speak with some of the staff while we were on our counselor break. David and Linda are members of the Brentwood Oaks Church in Austin and have been living at the Namwianga Mission in Zambia for the past few years now. They shared pictures and told stories of their experiences living as missionaries away from home, and encouraged any of us to join them if and when we could.

"Africa will ruin you," they warned. 

But I knew it was the kind of ruining I needed. Immediately I was hooked and ready to go! We now have a finalized group which is made up of five Blue Haven counselors from this past summer. I just can't tell you how blessed I feel to be sharing this with them! There are many things we can and will be doing during our stay at the Namwianga Mission. If I'm getting my numbers right, there are 3 orphanages, 3 schools (elementary, intermediate, senior high), at least one health clinic, and lots of farming land complete with grazing goats and cattle. It will be the end of the rainy season, so there may even be some muddy roads that need tending to.

Basically we're in charge of getting ourselves half-way across the globe, and then David and Linda will tell us what to do next! I know I would really love to spend my time with some of the orphans, if I'm able.

I am so incredibly excited about this opportunity! I can't believe it's real. As you read this, please say a prayer for God's guidance for all of us as we prepare for what's sure to be a life-changing week. We truly want to be used for His glory. 

"But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." 

-Mark 10:43-45 (NLT)

If you are able and would like to support me on this trip in any way, it would be so very much appreciated.

Please make checks out to Monterey Church of Christ and put Kathryn Warder in the memo line. Mail to:

Kathryn Warder

6316 31st Street

Lubbock, TX 79407