Airports, signs, awesome friends, family, hugs, onion rings, air conditioning, and Chinese food= United States of America= home!
Oh, my goodness! I feel like I am in daze and do not even know what to do with my self. I am home! I arrived in St. Louis at around 10:30 pm last night, after over 30 hours of travel and running on 2 1/2 hours of sleep in over 32 hours. At the airport in St. Louis I was greeted by 20 people, 2 babies, and lots of signs! I was a little embarrassed, but extremely blessed. My friends and family are amazing! It was definitely weird to see them all. It some ways it feels like I never left in other ways I just feel like a visitor. We were driving home and I decided it feels like when I go visit my grandma or a different city. You know the feeling when things feel familiar, but they feel really different and a little out of place. That is the feeling. My parents house feels like I am just a guest. It's very strange, but I am sure I will get over it. So, we went to Denny's after the airport. That was weird too. I had only had 2 1/2 hours of sleep in a day in 1/2 and everything kind of felt like I was in a dream. I had a cheeseburger(haven't had one of those in 4 months and not an American one or American cheese in 1year) and onion rings(I haven't had those in 1year). It was so much fun! Thanks for coming to all of you who came. Than I went home and slept for 9 hours and than woke up. My body is so tired but it is telling me that it is actually 8 hours later than the clock actually says. It's 10pm in Uganda and Sudan right now. Also, air conditioning- Tara you weren't kidding when you said you get sick. I now have a cold, because my body is not used to air conditioning. Crazy! All right, well got to go I am eating Chinese food for the first time in a year, for lunch. I will definitely be writing again soon.
About Me
- Mrs. Welcher
- I am so thankful for a God that loves me despite all of my failures and shows me amazing grace every day of my life. I am married to my best friend, Evan, who is a pastor. So yes... I am a pastor's wife. This blog is designed to share about my life as a pastor's wife and other things like family, baking, diy and just good ole' fun! Welcome to my life!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
One year down to nine hours
It's been a year of learning and growing. A year of making mistakes and laughter. A year of hardship and a year of joy. Now, I am down to nine hours. Nine hours until a board an airplane to jet of to the USA. It's crazy to think about it. I can not believe it has basically been a year. Somedays it feels like I just got here and other days it feels like I have lived here for five years. The emotions haven not kicked in yet, either that or I do not even know what to think. It definitely will be interesting boarding the plane tonight and my over 24 hours of travel. So, I will take off tonight(Tuesday) at around 10:50pm and be in St. Louis by around 10:35 pm on Wednesday. I will see you all than. This is so strange!
Building Tsunamis and Earthquakes
Here are my students building tsunamis and earthquakes for geography class.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
August Update Letter- Coming to a Close
August 2, 2010
Currently I am sitting in Matoke Inn(AIM Guesthouse), Kampala, Uganda one week before I was supposed to be. If you have following my life in the last year, heck, two years or even more you would know that plans changing has been a constant theme in my life and should be no surprise to me. But, somehow it always is.
New Teacher and Net ball lessons
In June it was decided that the girls of ECA needed to have more time playing net ball. Net ball is an woman only African sport, basically it is mixture of basketball and ultimate Frisbee. I just learned how to play last month and enjoy it, but it is so different. So we decided to have a student versus female teacher game. It was quite fun as we all learned what rules were, even the referees.
The first week of exams the new teacher finally arrived in Goli. Brenda, is an amazing replacement for and I am so blessed to have her. She is a Kenyan young lady and will do an amazing job at ECA. We got along really well.
“African dance, Daniella”
My relationships with the kitchen girls has really been great lately. About month ago they decided to try to teach me to dance. I know some of you are rolling your eyes right now and chuckling to yourself, because you know my extreme lack of coordination and rhythm. But, they were convinced it could happen. So after the first day they tried to teach me after that, whenever they would see me and wherever they would see me they would say or yell, “Daniella, African dance” and that meant that right than and right there I would have to do a little diddy. I did however tell them I would never do it front of men, because that is just weird. But, it was like our little thing. So, we would dance parties in the kitchen. Oh I’m going to miss that.
Packing it up
Three weeks ago I began the long process of packing of my house. I had accumulated more than I thought, basically because I had accumulated everything from people who had been there in the past; Tara, Dorrette. Oh, my so my house looked nuts for weeks, trying to figure who to give what and make sure I would give it to someone who would actually use it. Trying to figure to out what to keep and what not to. I actually quite enjoyed it. I love giving, at first I was going to sell some things, but then I started giving and I couldn’t stop. It was fun! So, luckily when I was rushed out of Sudan, most of my stuff was already packed and already given away. I did have a bunch of clothes that I was planning on selling to the kitchen girls(so I could use the money to give to a family in need) and some other things. Thankfully the Saturday before I went a packing and getting rid of frenzy and didn’t want to stop until I finished with everything but the basic things I need to live with for a week. With the little I did have left, thankfully my amazing friends in Goli helped pack up the rest of my stuff and somehow, someday soon, my suitcases will arrive in Kampala.
School and Curriculum
Currently, ECA is on break. Second term end July 30 and from what I hear it ended well, minus me. End of term exams had began on July 22 and luckily I finished all of my exams the end of that week. The next week I was planning on working on curriculum and finishing on Friday. Unforeseen events happened to change those plans. So plans and desires have changed. The goal is to still work on some curriculum when I am back in the States. I’m just working on Senior 2 history and geography, but it will be good.
Leaving more than my heart
If you have been keeping up with my blog than you know that I was rushed out on Tuesday, July 27 with severe abdominal pain. The ECTC staff thought it would be better to be safe and take me out of Sudan just in case it was my appendices and I would have to have surgery. Well, they were right. I had an appendectomy on Wednesday, July 28 and everything went ok. I was discharged from the hospital on Friday, July 30 and have been recovering in Kampala ever since. Because, of doctors’ orders I will not be going back into Sudan before I fly out to the States on Tuesday, August 10. My heart is broken from my sudden exit from Sudan and my lack to back in and say goodbye. When I was rushed out of Sudan I was not thinking straight and was convinced I could go back in. I was literally transferred from my bed to the car, so did not get to see anyone let alone say goodbye. But, God has a plan and He will mend this heart of mine.
Future Plans
In my last update letter I had stated that I did not know what I was going to do when I went back to the States. I had had some options, but God had closed the door on those. The day I got out of the hospital God re-opened one of those doors. Now I have a plan. I am kind of hesitant to say what that is, considering I have not signed paper work yet, but just an agreement over email. But, let’s just say God is providing and you will know soon. This experience has opened my eyes and my heart to certain places and people groups in Africa. Please, pray with me as I look down the road and see where God might lead me in my future ministry.
Leaving on a jet plane…
I fly out of Entebbe, Uganda late Tuesday evening, August 10 and arrive in St. Louis late Wednesday evening, August 11. I will see you all then! I will also send a letter out soon of my reflections on the last year and what I have learned and been challenged in.
Praises
• God protected me and got me out of Sudan in time before anything horrible could happen.
• A good end of Second term for ECA.
• A new teacher for secondary school to teacher history.
Prayer
• My heart as it heals, that I will continue to grow closer to the Lord in this
• My health as I fly back to the States
• ECA as they begin third term in a couple of weeks, that students and teachers will be challenged and grow.
Only Because of God’s Amazing Grace,
Danielle Olson
daniolson84@gmail.com
www.daniellesafricandiscoveries@blogspot.com
Currently I am sitting in Matoke Inn(AIM Guesthouse), Kampala, Uganda one week before I was supposed to be. If you have following my life in the last year, heck, two years or even more you would know that plans changing has been a constant theme in my life and should be no surprise to me. But, somehow it always is.
New Teacher and Net ball lessons
In June it was decided that the girls of ECA needed to have more time playing net ball. Net ball is an woman only African sport, basically it is mixture of basketball and ultimate Frisbee. I just learned how to play last month and enjoy it, but it is so different. So we decided to have a student versus female teacher game. It was quite fun as we all learned what rules were, even the referees.
The first week of exams the new teacher finally arrived in Goli. Brenda, is an amazing replacement for and I am so blessed to have her. She is a Kenyan young lady and will do an amazing job at ECA. We got along really well.
“African dance, Daniella”
My relationships with the kitchen girls has really been great lately. About month ago they decided to try to teach me to dance. I know some of you are rolling your eyes right now and chuckling to yourself, because you know my extreme lack of coordination and rhythm. But, they were convinced it could happen. So after the first day they tried to teach me after that, whenever they would see me and wherever they would see me they would say or yell, “Daniella, African dance” and that meant that right than and right there I would have to do a little diddy. I did however tell them I would never do it front of men, because that is just weird. But, it was like our little thing. So, we would dance parties in the kitchen. Oh I’m going to miss that.
Packing it up
Three weeks ago I began the long process of packing of my house. I had accumulated more than I thought, basically because I had accumulated everything from people who had been there in the past; Tara, Dorrette. Oh, my so my house looked nuts for weeks, trying to figure who to give what and make sure I would give it to someone who would actually use it. Trying to figure to out what to keep and what not to. I actually quite enjoyed it. I love giving, at first I was going to sell some things, but then I started giving and I couldn’t stop. It was fun! So, luckily when I was rushed out of Sudan, most of my stuff was already packed and already given away. I did have a bunch of clothes that I was planning on selling to the kitchen girls(so I could use the money to give to a family in need) and some other things. Thankfully the Saturday before I went a packing and getting rid of frenzy and didn’t want to stop until I finished with everything but the basic things I need to live with for a week. With the little I did have left, thankfully my amazing friends in Goli helped pack up the rest of my stuff and somehow, someday soon, my suitcases will arrive in Kampala.
School and Curriculum
Currently, ECA is on break. Second term end July 30 and from what I hear it ended well, minus me. End of term exams had began on July 22 and luckily I finished all of my exams the end of that week. The next week I was planning on working on curriculum and finishing on Friday. Unforeseen events happened to change those plans. So plans and desires have changed. The goal is to still work on some curriculum when I am back in the States. I’m just working on Senior 2 history and geography, but it will be good.
Leaving more than my heart
If you have been keeping up with my blog than you know that I was rushed out on Tuesday, July 27 with severe abdominal pain. The ECTC staff thought it would be better to be safe and take me out of Sudan just in case it was my appendices and I would have to have surgery. Well, they were right. I had an appendectomy on Wednesday, July 28 and everything went ok. I was discharged from the hospital on Friday, July 30 and have been recovering in Kampala ever since. Because, of doctors’ orders I will not be going back into Sudan before I fly out to the States on Tuesday, August 10. My heart is broken from my sudden exit from Sudan and my lack to back in and say goodbye. When I was rushed out of Sudan I was not thinking straight and was convinced I could go back in. I was literally transferred from my bed to the car, so did not get to see anyone let alone say goodbye. But, God has a plan and He will mend this heart of mine.
Future Plans
In my last update letter I had stated that I did not know what I was going to do when I went back to the States. I had had some options, but God had closed the door on those. The day I got out of the hospital God re-opened one of those doors. Now I have a plan. I am kind of hesitant to say what that is, considering I have not signed paper work yet, but just an agreement over email. But, let’s just say God is providing and you will know soon. This experience has opened my eyes and my heart to certain places and people groups in Africa. Please, pray with me as I look down the road and see where God might lead me in my future ministry.
Leaving on a jet plane…
I fly out of Entebbe, Uganda late Tuesday evening, August 10 and arrive in St. Louis late Wednesday evening, August 11. I will see you all then! I will also send a letter out soon of my reflections on the last year and what I have learned and been challenged in.
Praises
• God protected me and got me out of Sudan in time before anything horrible could happen.
• A good end of Second term for ECA.
• A new teacher for secondary school to teacher history.
Prayer
• My heart as it heals, that I will continue to grow closer to the Lord in this
• My health as I fly back to the States
• ECA as they begin third term in a couple of weeks, that students and teachers will be challenged and grow.
Only Because of God’s Amazing Grace,
Danielle Olson
daniolson84@gmail.com
www.daniellesafricandiscoveries@blogspot.com
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Walk
August 2, 2010
I laid in bed yesterday trying to process in my mind and heart hwy this had to happen to me. Really, it is a selfish struggle since I am not the only one involved. This meaning rushed out of Sudan without a chance to say goodbye or an inkling if I would ever return. This meaning the doctor saying that I cannot go back in to Sudan before I go back to the States. This meaning not a sense of closure. This meaning my heart breaking just a little bit more than it would have before. I lied in bed and cried more than I have cried in a long time. Even sitting here writing this tears well up in my eyes. Purpose… what purpose does this all have? Other than breaking hearts and I know mine is not the only one involved. I could care less about my stuff that is left behind, that is replaceable. What is not replaceable is that last embrace from my sudo Sudanese mother and father, the last wave from all of the kids, the last question of “when are you coming back?”, the last joke, the last comment that eat too little, the last laugh, the last smile, and the continuous prayer and support. I feel like I have cheated them. They have given unconditionally to me and I don’t even get the chance to look into their eyes and let them know how much I appreciate them, how much they taught me about love, giving, mercy, acceptance, un-removable faith, and prayer. Yes, I have told many of them that before, but not for the final time. I am thankful that all of my relationships were left on good terms. I have all of these questions and uneasiness in my heart and I was reminded about something next morning that is hard to grasp but important to have faith through an old school Steven Curtis Chapman song called, “the Walk”. One of the most common lines in this song is “…just doing the walk… it all comes down to the walk…” it continues to talk about Jesus showing us the walk and then it correlates everything to Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” I should just be doing the “walk” and I may not understand where that walk takes me or when it may change direction and I may not like it at the time , but one thing I know for sure is that I serve a God who is just, merciful, and humble and not matter how my heart is going to break, my God will pick up my heart and He will use His mercy to nurse me back to health and put my heart back together again; because, a long time ago I gave my heart completely to Him. In all truth yes, I might question His purpose or His timing, but I trust Him completely with my heart and I have full trust that God has a greater purpose in this and His timing is truly perfect no matter how heartbreaking it may be. So, no matter how many times I stumble and fall I will continue to live “the walk”, because I have the God of perfect justice, perfect mercy and perfect humility handling my heart. And so, if He thinks it has to break a little than it has to break, because wounds are perfectly healed in the Healers hands and it brings me closer to Him and that’s worth it.
“…do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
I laid in bed yesterday trying to process in my mind and heart hwy this had to happen to me. Really, it is a selfish struggle since I am not the only one involved. This meaning rushed out of Sudan without a chance to say goodbye or an inkling if I would ever return. This meaning the doctor saying that I cannot go back in to Sudan before I go back to the States. This meaning not a sense of closure. This meaning my heart breaking just a little bit more than it would have before. I lied in bed and cried more than I have cried in a long time. Even sitting here writing this tears well up in my eyes. Purpose… what purpose does this all have? Other than breaking hearts and I know mine is not the only one involved. I could care less about my stuff that is left behind, that is replaceable. What is not replaceable is that last embrace from my sudo Sudanese mother and father, the last wave from all of the kids, the last question of “when are you coming back?”, the last joke, the last comment that eat too little, the last laugh, the last smile, and the continuous prayer and support. I feel like I have cheated them. They have given unconditionally to me and I don’t even get the chance to look into their eyes and let them know how much I appreciate them, how much they taught me about love, giving, mercy, acceptance, un-removable faith, and prayer. Yes, I have told many of them that before, but not for the final time. I am thankful that all of my relationships were left on good terms. I have all of these questions and uneasiness in my heart and I was reminded about something next morning that is hard to grasp but important to have faith through an old school Steven Curtis Chapman song called, “the Walk”. One of the most common lines in this song is “…just doing the walk… it all comes down to the walk…” it continues to talk about Jesus showing us the walk and then it correlates everything to Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” I should just be doing the “walk” and I may not understand where that walk takes me or when it may change direction and I may not like it at the time , but one thing I know for sure is that I serve a God who is just, merciful, and humble and not matter how my heart is going to break, my God will pick up my heart and He will use His mercy to nurse me back to health and put my heart back together again; because, a long time ago I gave my heart completely to Him. In all truth yes, I might question His purpose or His timing, but I trust Him completely with my heart and I have full trust that God has a greater purpose in this and His timing is truly perfect no matter how heartbreaking it may be. So, no matter how many times I stumble and fall I will continue to live “the walk”, because I have the God of perfect justice, perfect mercy and perfect humility handling my heart. And so, if He thinks it has to break a little than it has to break, because wounds are perfectly healed in the Healers hands and it brings me closer to Him and that’s worth it.
“…do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)