living and learning

We finally have internet for a few minutes so I wanted to be sure to update you all on my trip so far. It has been such a blessing being here with these people. They are so loving and hospitable. They share the little they have without thinking twice about it. Everytime the kids see us coming they call us "brunee" which means white people. They flock to us and we get to love on them! I can't wait to show you all pictures and tell the stories that I already have. I have been able to help at the local government run clinic just down the road from where we are staying. It is an interesting challenge helping here. It is hard because you can't understand them but once you break that barrier you are really able to help. The need is so great and it is a blessing to help in anyway. Today we were able to go to a village about 20 minutes from where we are staying and give free medicine and consultation to the people. We saw over 80 people in a matter of hours and over 90% of them had malaria. Unfortunately, there was more need than we had medicine but we were still able to pray with them and give other medication that we had. So far my time here has been such a blessing. It hasn't always been easy though..showering in the rain, flushing the toilet by pouring water down it and sweating all night is not easy, but the Lord has been so faithful to us and we are excited to continue this journey! I will update more as I can! Thank you for your prayers..keep them coming! Until all have heard, Mary PS so far, no sickness on the team! Praise the Lord!!

we are here!

We finally made it after a lot of traveling! It has been so nice to spend the last few days relaxing as a team as we prepare to head to the villages and serve tmrw. It is a 8+ hour drive on tough roads tomorrow so pray for endurance amd strength for all of us. It has been so awesome to get to know my team more as well as the Ghanaians here! Thank you for all your support and love. The internet situation here is very sketchy so I might not be able to update very often but I will do my best! I love you all! Until all have heard, Mary

and we're off...

The time has come! After such a great time in orientation and a lot of team building we are finally ready to go! We leave in just a few hours for London and then Ghana from there. I'm so excited to see what God is going to do in and through our trip! Keep praying and I will try to update this as much as I can! :)
Mary

Our team is 5 pre-med, 2 nursing, and 2 other students. We are all excited to get to know each other better :)

Orientation

Wow. It's hard to believe that the time has come for orientation and then in a few short days Ghana!! I flew into West Palm Beach, Florida today and will be spending the next four days here getting to know my team and learning more about Ghana and the trip ahead! So far I have met my team, (whom I love) I think that we are all uniquely gifted and will really compliment each other well! We have also been able to meet over 80 other students that are going all over the world with Pioneers as well! It's been a fun time of fellowship as well and worship together! (We got a little beach time in there too! My Indiana skin needed some vitamin d). We will continue in orientation till we leave for Ghana Thursday night! :) please keep praying for myself and the team! Pray also for the people that we will encounter this summer, that they would be receptive to our help as well as the gospel! Much love!
Mary

I attached some pictures of beautiful West Palm Beach :)

one week

one week till I will be getting ready for an awesome adventure. It will be a time of growing more in my love with my Savior and the people of the continent I love. I cannot wait to see how the Lord will change my life and also the lives of the people that will come into contact with His love for the first time! Until then, I have a lot of packing, cleaning, and loose ends to tie up.

I found this poem and I thought it was perfect as a reminder before I go on my trip.

My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace. 

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;

'Tis His to lead me there, not mine, but His

At any cost, dear Lord, by any road. 

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God, 

and love can trust her Lord to lead her there;

Upheld by HIm, my soul is to following hard, 

Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark, 

No matter though the cost be oft-times great,

 He knoweht best how I shall reach the mark,

The way that leads to Him must needs be straight. 

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay, 

One thing I do, I press towards my Lord. 

My God, my glory, here from day to day, 

And in the glory there my Great Reward. 

-Author Unknown 

I pray that this will be true in my life. That my Savior would be my greatest reward and the thing I strive for more than anything! 

Please keep praying for the preparation for my trip and the people of Ghana that we will reach!

Until All Have Heard, 

Mary 

thirteen days

It's hard to believe how fast the time has gone! In two weeks from today, I will be in Orlando meeting my teammates and preparing to leave for a summer of learning and loving in Ghana! The Lord has already begun to prepare my heart for this trip. I am a little nervous about the unknown, but mainly I am excited! Excited to see how the Lord works in my heart and life, but also excited to share the love of my Savior with people who have never heard!!

Until then...

• I'm attempting to pack 6 weeks of clothes and stuff into one bag and only 50lbs. :/

• I'm trying to enjoy my few weeks of time off in America.

• I'm soaking in the extra time to read my Bible and reflect on the love of my Savior.

I wanted to be sure to thank everyone again for ALL of the prayers and support I have received! It is such a blessing to serve the Lord in this way. God is so good and I cannot wait to grow closer to Him this summer. Please continue to be in prayer for my team and myself this summer. It is going to be quite an adventure!

Until All Have Heard,
Mary

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24 

thankful

I literally am in awe of my Savior. 

I questioned. 

I had times of doubt. 

I wasn't sure if this is what I am supposed to do. 

I wondered if I had made the right choice. 

And then my Savior showed up

He clearly orchestrated every detail.

Any time there was the smallest roadbump

He had it under control immediately. 

What an honor it is to do the will of my Father

What a joy it is to sit in His presence and walk down the prepared path

It hasn't always been easy

And its not going to be. 

But I know that it will be perfect. 

I wanted to take some time to thank everyone who so generously gave above and beyond the amount needed for my trip! If there were any doubts about this trip, the Lord quickly put them to rest. I cannot believe that in a matter of a few weeks the body of Christ pulled together and im FULLY FUNDED for my trip! What a joy it is to be prayed for and supported in this way. God has incredible plans for this trip and my heart.

Humbled and So Thankful,
Mary 

In case you were wondering, any extra money for the trip will go towards the flight to Florida for orientation/debrief (before and after the trip) as well as all the numerous and expensive vaccinations that were required as well.