Kitchen adventures

Hi from across the world!

In light of all the wahala currently happening in America, I thought I'd take this time to try and lighten the mood. Today's entertainment includes bits and pieces of my adventures in the kitchen here, or what I like to call it: wife training. Even half way around the world I know you are all still very much concerned for my future husband. No worries, the jury is still out on this one.

Don't laugh... but this is really the first time in my life that I'm having to do anything in the kitchen that requires any actual skill. And don't mistake that statement as me having acquired said skill yet. I'm still a work in progress. BUT, I have made lots of things from scratch which has been, well, interesting. There was that time that I almost burned off all my arm hair lighting my gas oven, but you'll be happy to know I've since mastered that one! Basically, everything I eat is made from scratch. I'm just impressed I haven't starved yet (don't worry, that was a joke Mom & Dad). My time here has taught me that salt, pepper, and garlic make everything taste better, but don't tell anyone my secret! Actually, the real secret is to find friends that will feed you a few nights a week (joking again....but not really). What I meant to say is that it's important to find friends that you enjoy spending time with and if you happen to share a meal, then that's just an added bonus :-) I've also learned that I am just terrible at rationing food. Sadly, all of my American "food pleasures" are long gone, and I'm embarrassed to say how much I would pay for some Chick-fil-a right now. Two thumbs up for learning how to be self-sufficient here though!

It takes a village!

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I say it takes a village to fundraise. I am grateful beyond words for my village because....

Update from Haiti!

Friends! I am beyond excited to share this post with you, and it is such a pleasure to tell you that we have a guest blogger today!

As many of you know I was part of a team that visited Haiti on a missions trip in August 2014. I originally shared about this trip earlier in this blog (which you can read here), and I am so happy to be able to share an update!

Why Niger?

Lots of people are curious how I ended up in pursuit of a journey to Niger. I'll let the video below do the explaining :-)

UPDATE!

Hey amigos! It's been a while...my bad. It seems every year after tax season I go through this season where it takes a couple of weeks to learn how to be a normal person on a normal sleeping schedule again. That sounds strange, but it's totally true. Thankfully, I was just able to spend a week with a really awesome friend in San Diego and just slow down.

Since it's been so long, I think now is a good opportunity to provide an UPDATE!

So what's happening these days? Well, there's a whole lot of:

A day in the life of Galmi Hospital

Curious what Galmi is like?? Check out this awesome video  :-)

Niger - the 411

Today's history lesson is brought to you by yours truly (with a tiny bit of help from the internet)!


I have visited Africa twice now and I am certainly no expert on the continent. However, I continue to learn new things about Africa (or at least try to!), and my hope is that while I continue to learn that those around me catch that same desire to discover this really cool place!

Journey to Africa

To my dear friends and family:

In case you missed the initial announcement, I am moving to Africa at the end of this June!

A little over a year ago I visited a very special place - Galmi Hospital. Galmi Hospital, a faith-based not-for-profit hospital located in Niger, Africa, is owned and operated by an international missions organization, SIM, who currently has more than 4,000 missionaries serving in about 70 countries worldwide. The heartbeat of SIM is best described as this: respond to need, proclaim the gospel, and equip the church.

Africa, you ready?

Dear Africa,

It's been a little over a year since I've seen you. And I've missed you so much that I've decided to come back and stay... for an ENTIRE YEAR! Get ready!!!


So what's happening? Nerdy accountant exciting things! I will be joining a team of missionaries at a hospital in Niger. I'm sure there will be several hats that I will wear once I arrive, however my official duties (for now) will be to work with all of the finances and the accounting/finance team at the hospital. I'm grinning from ear to ear at the fact that I will get to combine volunteering, traveling the world, and accounting all in one opportunity - this one!

For I know the plans I have for you

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Amen? Amen!

My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude as I sit here typing this. In fact, gratitude is not even the word. Words fail me at this point if I were to try and describe the feeling after having this experience, and every other experience, where I've been able to go and see this beautifully created world that we live in. I'm feeling particularly nostalgic this week as my timehop is reminding me of all the super cool events that took place in years past. This time last year I was in the amazingly beautiful country of Haiti making new friendships that I can't imagine my life without now. FIVE years ago (no lo puedo creer que ya pasó 5 años) I was in Paraguay, and well, I definitely don't have the words to describe how hilariously awesome that weekend was. And now, as I get the chance to go back and read the many stories I've posted in this blog, I'm grinning from ear to ear at each experience and smiling because life is just good.