Waving Goodbye

Greeting of love in the name of Jesus Christ!

I hope this finds all of you well . . . are you relishing autumn’s sweet return? Is the cooling air, crisp night sky and coloring leaves ending your day a little more magical? It is mine; but then I guess feel that way about all four seasons. To realize the order, exact order, and detail within each season—it all speaks of a Creator’s hand. Enough . . . it’s 1:47 a.m. and I know that if I continue dwelling upon autumn another moment I will have a very difficult time settling my sentiments. :o)

You may wonder why am I up at such a wee hour? An even better question is why I have so much energy at this time. Ghana. Only two more days till we begin the first step of my journey. I praise the Lord—He has shown abundant mercy to me during this time of preparation. And so that brings me to my point: I am leaving! For the next three months you will have the honor of meeting my dearest friend, Momma! :) Lord willing, Momma will be posting little tidbits of my journey when she is able. I know you will make her feel welcome. :o)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, thank you for all of your encouraging comments on my trip. I have so much to learn while there so please remember to keep me in your prayers. . .I will need them! Until we meet again!

Your Ghana-bound sister in Christ,

Frannie

Almost There

Pack, prayer, iron, pin, ouch!, shop, sew, cry, prayer, Bible reading, assignment reading, cut, sew, sigh, sleep, laugh, visit, more crying coupled with more prayers, sewing pinned together with a wobbly seam line and lots of Ghana related day-dreams. :) (I’m such a girl).

7 more days till we begin our drive toward Pennsylvania; 13 more till I buckle myself to an African bound plane. God is so good—He has met my financial needs in an abundantly grand way. He has met my physical needs of clothing (I have had many dear and patient hands teach and help me sew). He has met my emotional needs by giving me a heart with no fear and by meeting me at my most overwhelmed moments. He has met my spiritual needs by reminding me of who He is. 

 

With the hope and trust that you are resting in the Lord who hears and is ever present,

Frannie

 

* This lovely map can be found at graphicsfairy.blogspot.com

** Also, Miss Linda (threads-of-loveliness.blogspot.com) you were right! Sewing is getting easier although I still have my moments. :)

A Peep Into My Day

Today is a wonderful and full day—how you may ask? Besides the beautiful robin-egg colored sky and the breeze which sets all the leaves into a nervous shake my family is buzzing about their work. The school year has begun. Momma has been an amazing example to me over these past few weeks when two unexpected (but most loved and welcomed) students joined my brother for a year of homeschooling. This meant Momma went from the teacher of one to three; much hurried thought and energy went into the setting up of a lovely school room, ordering books, preparing schedules and so on. Any order-loving person must understand how feelings of discouragement and fear could creep into such an unplanned event. Nevertheless, I have seen my momma rise up and meet this challenge full of the grace of God. Truly, He will strengthen with all might by His glorious power.

“She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

This year is especially fun for me. My prior experience with home-schooling was my being the student and my classmates my brother and sister—I was never really involved in it besides actually doing it. This year, however, I am enjoying the blessings of being graduated and “Momma’s Assistant.” I enjoy setting up our chore Stations, being in charge of breakfast and purposing myself to defeat the ancient foe: Laundry. It’s fun jumping into the classroom’s Bible time—singing “My Country Tis of Thee,” gazing at Abeka’s flashcards while we go over the story of Abram and Sarai’s move from Ur. I enjoy taking Momma her coffee and watching my young cousin rub his “Great Job” sticker in hopes of it being a scratch-and-sniff. :) Most of all I enjoy spending time with my Momma--watching her teach little ones in patience and knowledge. It’s fun being on the opposite side of the spectrum; being able to help with something versus spending my every free moment in a struggle with math.

And so, once the last of breakfast has been put away and a load of laundry is running I’m able to slip away and work on something Ghana related. Only seventeen more days till we begin our journey towards Pennsylvania and only twenty more days till I fly away. There was once a time when I wished Ghana would approach faster now I wish time would settle itself down and take a break. :o) However, through it all I must say that Jesus Christ and His Father are my hope and stay. They are my expectations and my fortress. My Shelter in the time of the storm.

Many blessings to you all. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

With love,

Frannie

The School Room  was painted by Alfred Rankley and can be found at the following link: http://www.oceansbridge.com/oil-paintings/product.php?xProd=74746

“Lord, Send Me Anywhere”

Have you ever waited for something with so much excitement it literally feels like your body is going to explode into party confetti? :) Have you ever experienced the mixed emotions of pure sitting-at-the-edge-of-your-seat with utmost dread? The: I cannot wait to begin packing my suitcase jumbled together with “Ah!! I have to sew four dresses?!” Welcome, to my world—a little bit of every emotion running 75 miles an hour throughout my body. I have 25 more days till I fly away to Ghana.

Along with all of these bothersome feelings comes the awesome realization that I am not alone. My Jesus, my Father, He is with me. He has faithfully met my needs financially, mentally, physically and even emotionally as I prepare for something I believe will change my life. And He is going with me; what an awesome God I serve.

David Livingstone and Frank Garlock are responsible for the following hymn. I found it very comforting and very challenging and I pray that you will be blessed by it.

 

Lord, Send Me Anywhere

O Lord, since Thou hast died
To give Thyself for me,
No sacrifice could be too great
For me to make for Thee.

Refrain:
Lord, send me anywhere, Only go with me;
Lay any burden on me, Only sustain me.
Sever any tie, Save the tie that binds me to Thy heart—
Lord Jesus, my King, I consecrate my life, Lord, to Thee.

I only have one life,
And that will soon be past;
I want my life to count for Christ,
What's done for Him will last.

Lord, send me anywhere, Only go with me;
Lay any burden on me, Only sustain me.
Sever any tie, Save the tie that binds me to Thy heart—
Lord Jesus, my King, I consecrate my life, Lord, to Thee.

I follow Thee, my Lord,
And glory in Thy cross;
I gladly leave the world behind
And count all gain as loss.

Lord, send me anywhere, Only go with me;
Lay any burden on me, Only sustain me.
Sever any tie, Save the tie that binds me to Thy heart—
Lord Jesus, my King, I consecrate my life, Lord, to Thee.

With blessings,

Frannie