13 days and counting

In two weeks, I'll be in Africa. Nervous wouldn't be a word to describe how I feel. I guess I haven't thought very much about it. Well, here's some detail about my trip so you know:
May 10th i leave. I get to Kenya...I'll live in a missionary compound for a while ($7/day) maybe teaching english in Kibera (one of the world's largest slums). Then I might travel around Kenya with Coach Josh for a while.
Then I'll get on a bus and go to Uganda to a small farming town called Mpigi. I'm planning on living in an orphanage and working with the kids and the community.
Basically, everything is up in the air, but, I don't feel like I'm supposed to have set plans. I'll just fly by the seat of God's pants...It's more exciting that way anyway.
Oh, and I get back July 11th-ish. We'll see.
I started reading a book that I got at church called the hole in our gospel. It is so rockin and I recommend it to everyone. Its by richard stearns. There are some parts of the book that totally encompass how I'm feeling and thinking. So, here it is..
I am a Christian - perhaps you are too. But what does that mean exactly? To even be Christians, we must first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That in itself is no small idea. If it is true, it changes everything, because if Christ is God, then all that He said and did is deeply significant to how we live our lives. So we believe. But God expects more. And so the question, "What does God expect of me?" is a very profound one - not just for me, but for everyone who claims to follow Christ. Jesus had a lot to say bout it. Yes, He did give us deep insight into the character of God and out relationship with Him as well, but He also spoke at length about God's expectations, our values, and how we are to live in the world. So how are we to live? What kind of relatinship are we to have with a holy God? What is God asking for, really, from you and me? Much more than church attendance. More than prayer too. More than belief, and even more than self-denial. God asks us for everything. He requires a total life commitment from those who would be His followers. In fact, Christ calls us to be His partners in changing our world, just as He called the Tweleve to change thier world two thousand years ago.
I believe we can change the world. I believe the power that raised Christ from the grave is still available to us. I know I have limited God, and I don't want to anymore. He can still heal people and redeem the world through us, we just have to open our hands and be willing to lay everything down.
This past spring, we played a few scrimage games for soccer. I realized how much I love playing and how difficult it would be to give that up. God has been showing me the idols in my life, and it so humbling. Do I really spend over an hour on facebook a day? That's a problem. There are so many things in my own life that cloud my eyes and make God's light appear dim. The more I strip myself of those things, the more God's glory shines, and the more attracted to that light I am. I don't want to live my life and sprinkle God on top. That's not enough for me. I don't want to settle for anything less that all of Him. I don't want to die and approach the gates of heaven, look Jesus in the eyes and say, "Yea...about that time. I was scared." No! I want to run so fast towards him, no regrets.
The disciples were called Christians and followers of the Way. They didn't give themselves those names, they just obeyed Christ. So, this is my life. This is my story. I will go to Africa with uncertainties, trusting that the Lord will show up. I'm not afriad, rather excited to see how God leads me. I will try to update this as often as possible when I'm there, because I want everyone to hear about the things the Lord does. He is writing a story of redemption and invites us to take part.