She said Yes!! :)

Although I am home from Nigeria, the adventure hasn't ended, it has just changed a bit. The adventure no longer involves driving down muddy roads, or navigating the busy market place, hiking mountains with orphans kids, or living with constant political tension. Instead, it now involves learning how to communicate clearly, learning how to make decisions with another person, learning how to put someone elses needs way before your own, navigating the commercialism of our society and seeking God's direction for the next steps in my life . . . Preparing for marriage is definetely an adventure of it's own!!

Sean and I are now offically engaged!! Yay!! :) This is a huge adventure, and one that I am so excited for (even with it's huge challenges)! Each day I wake up and am so thankful that God has put this amazing man into my life. A man who loves me so unconditionally, who supports me no matter what, who is so patient and kind, who is full of life and energy and fun, and a man who is has such a humble heart. I know that it is God loving me through Sean, and I am so grateful for that love.

Now, we had talked about getting married for awhile, but decided that it was best if we waited until I got back from Nigeria to get engaged, to see how God directed us individually for the six months apart and see what God did our relationship during that time apart. As difficult as those six months were, neither one of us would trade them for anything. Our relationship was challenged and strengthened in ways that it wouldn't have been otherwise. We learned to communicate more clearly and in new ways, and were challenged to give all control over our future to God, hard lessons, but good ones. So we waited until I got back to make that committment . . . a whole 3 days after I got home :) (I think somone was excited! :)

Sean proposed the Saturday after Christmas during a hiking trip up Rattle Snake Ridge, one of our first date spots. We hiked to the top of the ridge, in the snow and the rain . . . and boy were were soaked and cold when we arrived at the top! So after getting down on his knee and proposing, we took a photo and ran down the hill as fast as we could to warm up!! :) It was fun, and a good Sean and Jamie story!! Here are a few pictures from that day . . . as you can see we were pretty wet!! We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we embark on this adventure of marriage togther!

Home . . . is where the heart is?!?!?

If it’s true that home is where the heart is, then I have a lot of homes. My heart isn’t just in Seattle anymore; a huge part of it is definitely in Nigeria. Although I have really enjoyed my time at home so far, especially the time I have been able to spend with my family and friends I really miss my family and friends in Nigeria. I spent a few hours sorting through photos today, trying to pick out which ones I am going to print and boy that is a challenging task. I love all of my photos, because each photo is so much more than a photo to me, it is a memory of someone and some place that I deeply love.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in a steal. Store your treasures in Heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there you heart and thoughts will also be.”
– Matthew 6:19-21

On the way home . . .

Friends and Family,

I apologize for my delay in updating my blog . . . I have had many people asking if I am going to keep my blog update even though I am home and the answer to that is YES! Although it seems like I have been home for a long time already (since so much has happened), I have only been home for a week and a half . . . that is CRAZY to realize . . . so in short I am still slowly adjusting to life back home. I have plenty more to say about adjusting back into this western culture and believe me that will all come soon, but I have left out a very important part of my trip home . . . my time in Bosnia!! So before I update you on my adjustment and how things are at home and what my future plans are and all of that good stuff, I need to share with you a bit about my time in Bosina . . .

As most of you know, before heading back to the states I flew through Europe and met up with one of my best friends Jessica who is doing two years of mission work in Bosnia . . . Bosnia?!? You might say . . . well yes, Bosnia. Jessica has always had an interest in this area of the World and during college she had the opportunity to travel to Bosnia several times. During these trips, God developed a deep passion and love for this country and the people, and now God has called her back to minister to college students.

Similarly to Nigeria, Bosnia is a country of contrasts. Sitting in a nice warm coffee shop, decorated with Christmas lights and sipping on a cup of coffee (what EVERYONE in Bosnia does) you can look out the window and see a bombed out abandoned building left from the war. Although life goes on normally each day, walking down the street you have to avoid the holes in the sidewalk that were left from when the city was shelled . . . Despite the tangible reminders of the horrible things that happened to the people of this beautiful city, the people keep right on living.

I so enjoyed getting to meet the students in the English classes Jessica is helping with and meeting the students at the church Jessica is working with. They are all full of life, funny and thoughtful. I loved getting to go to coffee with all of them and trying out all of the wonderful Bosnian food with them! I ate a lot of great food! J Besides eating a lot and drinking a lot of coffee, we also went up to the mountains where the Olympics were held and explored the very culturally diverse city. The city is beautiful, with all the cobblestone streets and little coffee shops and restaurants tucked away in the corners.

What a gift it was from God to have the opportunity to go and visit Jessica. It was a good transitional period for me. It was really helpful to have a friend who knew me so well asking me questions and helping me process my time in Nigeria, especially after such an intense ending. It was also great to have a first hand experience of what Jessica is doing so that I can pray for her better and support her better from far away. I would have NEVER in my life thought I would ever fly to Bosnia . . . but God always has different plans! And I am ever glad that he does because his plans are so much greater than mine would be!

Please be praying for Jessica that God would continue to encourage her and direct her ministry, and also be praying that the Holy Spirit would light a fire in the hearts of the people in the Church of Bosnia!

Check out Jessica's blog at www.jessicainbosnia.wordpress.com

Stay tuned for more!!