Today is the day :) #seriously?

        Sitting in the airport. Is this for real? Will I really be in Africa tomorrow? The place I left my heart 2 years ago? *pinch myself.* *ouch!* yup! I'm not dreaming. ;)    *pause for scream* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! So many emotions going on right now I can't even keep up! Sadness, for leaving behind my loved ones. Excitement, for this new adventure. Anxiety, because well, I just do. ;)  Joy, for God getting me to this point. But total and complete anticipation! I've waited 2 years to be back here and here I am! I will be back in less than 24 hours! I can almost smell it! ;) 

         So now time for some thanks. I want to first thank my family. You are my rock. I know it's only 2 months but man! I am gonna miss y'all like crazy! We are very close adn it's gonna be hard not being there. But I have peace knowing that at this moment in my life, I am right where God wants me. Thank you for all your love and support. Mom, I haven't told you enough, but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all you have done to make this day possible. Dad, your little girl loves you SOOO much! Sure will miss yall this summer. Don't have too much fun on the lake without me ;) 

      Second, my friends. You guys mean the entire world to me! Friendships like ours are rare and hard to find. Our bonds can never be broken. Especially not by distance. I'm gonna miss y'all like crazy this summer!!! Geez!! I hope y'all have a "bonchin" summer! It'll be time to play in August! :) 

     Third, my church and pastor. You guys absolutely saved my life. 4 years ago I was welcomed with open arms and warm hearts. You have done nothing but support me and build me up. My walk with God is strong because of people like you. Thank you Brother Melton for your wisdom, guidance and support. But most of all your prayers. I sure am excited about what God is gonna do with Revival by Design! I will continue to pray for y'all everyday!

    And last, but certainly not least... All of my love and thanks goes to God. I absolutely would not be here without Him. He is ever faithful and stays true to His promises. God YOU are so GOOD!! Thank you for supplying me a way to get back to Africa. Thank you for the funds, the prayer warriors and for the call you have placed on my life. Help me to never, ever, ever take it for granted! You are worry of all the Glory, Honor and Praise. All of this is only through you. Thank you. 

      I love you all so very much! Next time I post a blog it will be from Africa! I'll update as often as I can Internet permitting. Please continue to pray for our safety, Gods anointing, and that His will be done on Togo this summer.

   Bless you, 

        Brandi  :)   

Troubles, Struggles, and Opened Eyes

         No one may care. No one may understand. But I feel like if I can share my struggles and things I've been fighting lately, it may be able to help someone else? Who knows. ;)

When preparing for a missions trip there are many "obstacles" that one may face. One may face financial struggles. Another fear. Someone could be fighting nightmares. Some health issues. Anxiety, panic attacks, maybe even underestimating yourself. I would be lying to you if I said none of these affected me. I would also be lying if I told you only a few have affected me. I have dealt with every single one of these issues, plus some while preparing for my missions trips. I would love to tell you I am perfectly ok and ready for Next Steps, but I too would be lying. But let me explain myself before you go thinking I'm crazy. ;) 

I believe that by dealing with every single one of these issues God is preparing me for a bigger purpose. By dealing with these health issues, I've learned to not be dependent on doctors, but by the Almighty Healer. By dealing with nightmares, I've come to realize that joy truly does come in the morning. By fighting anxiety, I've come to lean on God harder than I ever have before. By fighting fear, I have learned to place them all in Gods hands. And by underestimating myself, I have come to realize that I am a child of the King. I am "good enough". I am being prepared for a greater purpose and a life in missions. I am constantly fighting a battle that is growing me spiritually more than any teacher could ever teach me. I am staring fear in the face and saying "For God HAS NOT given me the spirit of "fear", but of POWER and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND." I am telling myself everyday, "Greater is He who is in me, than he that is in the World." God may not come when I may think I need Him, but He always right on time. 

Am I excited about Next Steps? Well OF COURSE! But I can be honest with you and tell you preparing for a missions trip is not all skittles and rainbows. God has pushed me to my absolute last straw. My mind has been tested harder than it ever has before. I fight nightmares and fear and anxiety. But let me tell you, I would rather fight these things everyday of my life than be out of the will of God. I believe He first prepares the mind. Because ya see, thats where satan has his power. If he can get in your head, he has you. Satan will convince you, you will fail. He will break you and make you so fearful you won't want to do Gods work. He will convince you that you have health issues, so much to the point you believe it and are fearful of it. I pray everyday, "God put a brick wall of protection around my mind! Cleanse my thoughts and help me to see Your will. Lord open my eyes to satan's trick so that I may protect myself against them." Missions isn't glitz or glamour. It is a constant battle in the spiritual realm, and you HAVE TO BE READY TO FIGHT. 

"God make me a warrior of Your word. Prepare me by whatever means necessary. God I have to be ready for the missions field. Help me everyday to find myself a place in your word and time for prayer. Thank you for how strong you have made me during preparing for Next Steps. Lord I am not there yet, so please continue to work on my heart and mind. I ask that you protect our Next Steps team. I pray for safe travels. Protect us and our missionaries while on the field. Be a hedge around our minds as we fight this spiritual warfare battle. I know you have a harvest waiting in Africa. Be with us as we go in Your name. Amen" :) 

23 days and counting. :)

Until next folks, thank you for reading. 

-Brandi 

25 Days and a Surprise

25 days?! When did it get so close?! Am I ready? I hope so! Nervous? Of course ;) Excited? More than you’ll ever know! With it getting so close I am beginning to realize just how much I’m going to miss around here this summer. My friends and family seriously got me this weekend! They pulled off an amazing surprise going away party! Details below… :)

                I get a text from our youth twitter account that we were to meet at the church at 2:45 to go out and help with tornado cleanup. Great! I’m excited, let’s do it! So I get to the church early (because I’m early for everything) and then I am kid napped by AJ and Hahkeem. (Random) so with a quick adventure all over God’s green earth we finally get back to the church and they go running in before me. At this point I’m like ok?! What is going on? All these cars were at the church and so was my best friend Jenn’s from Oklahoma! WHAAA? Walk in, and “SURPRISE!!” It was so amazing! They got me good! They seriously out did themselves. It’s just proof of how I have the most amazing and best friends in the world! Thank you so much for all you guys did. You have no idea how much it means to me. Love you :) 

                I am still waiting for my visa from Togo to come in. Hopefully it’ll be here by next weekend. When that comes I am good and ready to take off! I leave Saturday May 31 at 10:30am. Now that it’s getting down to the wire I’m a little nervous. I’ve never been gone this long. When I start thinking about everything I’ll be missing around I get a little sad :/ but I quickly realize that I am where God wants me to be. He told me 2 years ago in Tanzania that my work wasn’t done in Africa. I am so blessed to be able to go back with Next Steps. I will be there for June and July. I am so excited to see what God has in store for Togo and our team. He truly has blessed this trip, even before we are there! I am SO thankful. Please keep our team in prayers. Pray for safe travels, safety wile overseas and that God will unify us for His greater purpose. I know He has a great plan and revival in store for Africa! Excited that I was chosen to be a part of it! :)

                Keep watching for updates J I will update as often as possible, internet permitting, from the field. So, until next time… 

-Brandi