Finally, brothers pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
II Thessalonians 3:1-5
My bags are packed.
Emails have been sent, contact lists made.
All I need is cash, stamps, and a lock.
And in case you ever wonder, I can shower in a minute and 58 seconds.
I'm leaving for Lansing in less than two and a half hours.
Our flight to London leaves Detroit Metro at 6:30pm on Wednesday.
I'll be in Uganda by 5:40am on Friday.
*so* exciting!
Our team is blessed to be lifted up by so many faithful prayer warriors; to all of you who are praying for us and for our time over in Africa,
Mwebale Nyo! Mukama Akuwe omekisa!
(Thank you very much! God bless you!)
In His grace,
Katie
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea
Habakkuk 2:14
Monday, May 23, 2005
Friday, May 20, 2005
Thursday, May 19, 2005
so yeah.
The schoolyear ended.
The Hillsdale class of 2005 graduated.
I got to meet Christopher's sisters -- *so* wonderful!
Aaron White, Aaron Sandvig, and Bridget Karl made it like old times again. Or something. For a while.
I went to my last service at Cement City until next Fall.
I said goodbye to *him*... and it was admittedly harder than last time.
George Gaylord Churchill III (Jorge) and Killer, bless their persistent little hearts, survived the car ride home.
My Uganda countdown is at six days.
This means that I have six days to:
*Convince my mom to care for my fish while I'm in Africa
*Find at least four more below-the-knee skirts at the Salvation Army
*Get used to wearing no makeup and letting my hair air-dry
*Make sure my luggage fits the specific airline flight requirements
*Buy bug repellant, sunscreen, baby powder, and work gloves
*Cut one minute off of my shower time; I'm down from five minutes to three, but I'll only have two
*Figure out how to wake up with an alarm clock... without using the snooze button
I am happy to be home.
No, really. I am.
I just miss *him* kinda a lot.
Good thing I'm happy to be home, or this would be really hard.
waaaaaaaahhh.
The schoolyear ended.
The Hillsdale class of 2005 graduated.
I got to meet Christopher's sisters -- *so* wonderful!
Aaron White, Aaron Sandvig, and Bridget Karl made it like old times again. Or something. For a while.
I went to my last service at Cement City until next Fall.
I said goodbye to *him*... and it was admittedly harder than last time.
George Gaylord Churchill III (Jorge) and Killer, bless their persistent little hearts, survived the car ride home.
My Uganda countdown is at six days.
This means that I have six days to:
*Convince my mom to care for my fish while I'm in Africa
*Find at least four more below-the-knee skirts at the Salvation Army
*Get used to wearing no makeup and letting my hair air-dry
*Make sure my luggage fits the specific airline flight requirements
*Buy bug repellant, sunscreen, baby powder, and work gloves
*Cut one minute off of my shower time; I'm down from five minutes to three, but I'll only have two
*Figure out how to wake up with an alarm clock... without using the snooze button
I am happy to be home.
No, really. I am.
I just miss *him* kinda a lot.
Good thing I'm happy to be home, or this would be really hard.
waaaaaaaahhh.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
*the ten cool things post*
(this is the part where I share ten cool things)
1. I AM DONE WITH FINALS.
2. The Lord has brought in more money in less time than I dreamed possible for my Uganda trip!
3. I AM DONE WITH FINALS.
4. Christopher's art show is amazing and you can see it in Sage if you want to!
5. Aaron White is HERE!
6. Bridget Karl will be here TONIGHT!
7. I AM DONE WITH FINALS.
8. There was a thunderstorm this afternoon. Beautiful.
9. I'm going home on Sunday and to Uganda, East Africa in TWO WEEKS!!!
10. Did I mention that I'm done with finals?
What, you ask, will I be doing with all of my new-found free time?
In the now immortalized words of Napoleon Dynamite,
"I'll do whatever I feel like -- GOSH!"
So there.
(this is the part where I share ten cool things)
1. I AM DONE WITH FINALS.
2. The Lord has brought in more money in less time than I dreamed possible for my Uganda trip!
3. I AM DONE WITH FINALS.
4. Christopher's art show is amazing and you can see it in Sage if you want to!
5. Aaron White is HERE!
6. Bridget Karl will be here TONIGHT!
7. I AM DONE WITH FINALS.
8. There was a thunderstorm this afternoon. Beautiful.
9. I'm going home on Sunday and to Uganda, East Africa in TWO WEEKS!!!
10. Did I mention that I'm done with finals?
What, you ask, will I be doing with all of my new-found free time?
In the now immortalized words of Napoleon Dynamite,
"I'll do whatever I feel like -- GOSH!"
So there.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
um. ok.
TODAY (WAIT. SHOOT. YESTERDAY), I PWNED MY VICTORIAN TO MODERN BRITISH LIT. EXAM.
TOMORROW (WAIT. SHOOT. TODAY), I HAVE A DANTE EXAM AT 8:00AM.
THERE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THIS EXAM MAY, IN FACT, PWN ME.
THE FACT THAT I AM BLOGGING ABOUT IT AT 12:45 IN THE MORNING IN ALL CAPITALS SAYS A LOT, REALLY.
The Lord is taking me to Uganda in 15 days.
I just thought you might want to know.
I really should get back to work.
Before I go, I'd like to say...
CAFFEINE IS A FOOD GROUP.
(especially if your roommate is employed by Starbucks)
SLEEP DEPRIVATION IS A WAY OF LIFE.
(especially if you can't remember the last time you went to bed before an AM)
THE DIVINE COMEDY ROCKS MY WORLD AND YOURS.
(until we have to take an exam on it)
and... it's official.
thefacebook is taking over the world.
Or at least Hillsdale College and my roommate's life.
But not mine... UNTIL WEDNESDAY!!!
Me vs. Dante @ 8:00am
There will be pwn-age.
It's gonna be... infernal. For real.
DANTE, READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!!!
TODAY (WAIT. SHOOT. YESTERDAY), I PWNED MY VICTORIAN TO MODERN BRITISH LIT. EXAM.
TOMORROW (WAIT. SHOOT. TODAY), I HAVE A DANTE EXAM AT 8:00AM.
THERE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THIS EXAM MAY, IN FACT, PWN ME.
THE FACT THAT I AM BLOGGING ABOUT IT AT 12:45 IN THE MORNING IN ALL CAPITALS SAYS A LOT, REALLY.
The Lord is taking me to Uganda in 15 days.
I just thought you might want to know.
I really should get back to work.
Before I go, I'd like to say...
CAFFEINE IS A FOOD GROUP.
(especially if your roommate is employed by Starbucks)
SLEEP DEPRIVATION IS A WAY OF LIFE.
(especially if you can't remember the last time you went to bed before an AM)
THE DIVINE COMEDY ROCKS MY WORLD AND YOURS.
(until we have to take an exam on it)
and... it's official.
thefacebook is taking over the world.
Or at least Hillsdale College and my roommate's life.
But not mine... UNTIL WEDNESDAY!!!
Me vs. Dante @ 8:00am
There will be pwn-age.
It's gonna be... infernal. For real.
DANTE, READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!!!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
I really shouldn't be posting right now.
But that's never stopped me yet. So here goes.
The Lord is *so* faithful to provide, and He is showing me just how much He can do... without any help from me.
May I tell you a story?
Wait.
This is my blog. I'll tell a story if I want to.
("I'll do whatever I feel like. GOSH!")
So, anyway.
I've been behind in raising funds for my Uganda trip, and last Wednesday, May 27th, I was starting to feel a little hopeless. The week before, I had written out a large check to my team leader to cover some recent expenses, and I hadn't gotten any money in yet to redeem what I'd payed.
In addition, I was not able to apply for a passport until Friday, April 22nd (because I guess I'm one of those weird people who don't carry their original birth certificates around in their back pockets, just in case). Anyway. I got it expidated, but at that point they told me that my form would not reach the Chicago Passport Agency until Monday (April 25th). Expidated passports take anywhere from 7-10 days to process from the time they reach the Agency; therefore, I was told that I should not expect my passport before Monday, May 2nd at the earliest. To add to my distress, our Uganda team leader had emailed me earlier in the week requesting that I turn in a copy of my passport by Thursday night at our IV send-off (April 28th), or at the latest by our traditional Ugandan dinner on Saturday, April 30th. If the post office was right (and who can tell them to hurry up?), there was no way I could have my passport in time for the Ugandan dinner. It was getting down to the wire; less than a month from anticipated departure, and I still didn't have a passport.
And I was freaking out.
I *knew* I should be trusting God for provision, but with less than a month to go before we leave... I was struggling. So Thursday morning, May 28th, I blogged about my situation and asked for prayers.
That day, I found out that my grandma would like to donate the exact sum that I wrote out a check for; my payment will be completely redeemed. I also found out that my other grandfather called my mom and told her that he would like to support me; instead of making a donation right away, however, he apparently wants to wait until all of my funding has come in... and pay *whatever* balance is left over!
At InterVarsity on Thursday night, we had our Uganda Team send-off. I had a group of wonderful, Christian girls pray for and with me, and after InterVarsity was over, Christopher asked how he could make a donation... I don't expect that of him, and I hope he knows that. But nevertheless, it was *such* a night of encouragement and support, from so many people. The Lord knew what I needed that night.
The next morning, Friday, May 29th, as I left for class, Kristin brought up an envelope for me. Inside the envelope was a note from my next door neighbor back home. She is not a believer, but she sent a check anyway and expressed her desire to get together with me while I am at home. Her words of kindness and support thrilled me! I cannot wait to get together with her -- talk about a witnessing opportunity!
Saturday morning, I had Bible study, but by the time I got back, there were two envelopes waiting on my desk. One was from a church that I have never attended; I am not even personally aquainted with the pastor. My family has supported them for a long time, but seeing as how I have no direct connection with the church myself, their extremely generous support stuns me. The other envelope was from a delightful Christian family involved in many of my brother's sports teams, and their support is a huge blessing.
After the SAI pledge recital on Saturday morning, I came back to the dorm to get my ID, and as I left the dorm with Tami and Michelle, a man in a red truck began rolling down the window. We asked if there was anything we could do to help him, and as we peered inside the window at the envelope he held, he asked, haltingly, "do any of you know where I could find Katherine Niemczak?"
:: shock ::
"Um... that's me, actually."
"Oh, of course! I remember you from the post office the other day. Well I've got your passport for you."
No joke.
I had my passport delivered to me by a man from the post office who remembered me at noon on Saturday, April 30th -- five hours before the Uganda team dinner. Unreal.
Since that time, I have gotten a check from one of my best friends and her family. I have also gotten a blog comment from someone asking about how to donate... so random and exciting! And today, while I was on the phone with my dad, one of my dear SAI "sisters" brought me a donation. So unprompted. So unexpected. So generous. So ordained. Completely signed, stamped, and sealed by the hand of the Almighty.
And guess what?
He's not done yet... I can *feel* it.
To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:23b-24
But that's never stopped me yet. So here goes.
The Lord is *so* faithful to provide, and He is showing me just how much He can do... without any help from me.
May I tell you a story?
Wait.
This is my blog. I'll tell a story if I want to.
("I'll do whatever I feel like. GOSH!")
So, anyway.
I've been behind in raising funds for my Uganda trip, and last Wednesday, May 27th, I was starting to feel a little hopeless. The week before, I had written out a large check to my team leader to cover some recent expenses, and I hadn't gotten any money in yet to redeem what I'd payed.
In addition, I was not able to apply for a passport until Friday, April 22nd (because I guess I'm one of those weird people who don't carry their original birth certificates around in their back pockets, just in case). Anyway. I got it expidated, but at that point they told me that my form would not reach the Chicago Passport Agency until Monday (April 25th). Expidated passports take anywhere from 7-10 days to process from the time they reach the Agency; therefore, I was told that I should not expect my passport before Monday, May 2nd at the earliest. To add to my distress, our Uganda team leader had emailed me earlier in the week requesting that I turn in a copy of my passport by Thursday night at our IV send-off (April 28th), or at the latest by our traditional Ugandan dinner on Saturday, April 30th. If the post office was right (and who can tell them to hurry up?), there was no way I could have my passport in time for the Ugandan dinner. It was getting down to the wire; less than a month from anticipated departure, and I still didn't have a passport.
And I was freaking out.
I *knew* I should be trusting God for provision, but with less than a month to go before we leave... I was struggling. So Thursday morning, May 28th, I blogged about my situation and asked for prayers.
That day, I found out that my grandma would like to donate the exact sum that I wrote out a check for; my payment will be completely redeemed. I also found out that my other grandfather called my mom and told her that he would like to support me; instead of making a donation right away, however, he apparently wants to wait until all of my funding has come in... and pay *whatever* balance is left over!
At InterVarsity on Thursday night, we had our Uganda Team send-off. I had a group of wonderful, Christian girls pray for and with me, and after InterVarsity was over, Christopher asked how he could make a donation... I don't expect that of him, and I hope he knows that. But nevertheless, it was *such* a night of encouragement and support, from so many people. The Lord knew what I needed that night.
The next morning, Friday, May 29th, as I left for class, Kristin brought up an envelope for me. Inside the envelope was a note from my next door neighbor back home. She is not a believer, but she sent a check anyway and expressed her desire to get together with me while I am at home. Her words of kindness and support thrilled me! I cannot wait to get together with her -- talk about a witnessing opportunity!
Saturday morning, I had Bible study, but by the time I got back, there were two envelopes waiting on my desk. One was from a church that I have never attended; I am not even personally aquainted with the pastor. My family has supported them for a long time, but seeing as how I have no direct connection with the church myself, their extremely generous support stuns me. The other envelope was from a delightful Christian family involved in many of my brother's sports teams, and their support is a huge blessing.
After the SAI pledge recital on Saturday morning, I came back to the dorm to get my ID, and as I left the dorm with Tami and Michelle, a man in a red truck began rolling down the window. We asked if there was anything we could do to help him, and as we peered inside the window at the envelope he held, he asked, haltingly, "do any of you know where I could find Katherine Niemczak?"
:: shock ::
"Um... that's me, actually."
"Oh, of course! I remember you from the post office the other day. Well I've got your passport for you."
No joke.
I had my passport delivered to me by a man from the post office who remembered me at noon on Saturday, April 30th -- five hours before the Uganda team dinner. Unreal.
Since that time, I have gotten a check from one of my best friends and her family. I have also gotten a blog comment from someone asking about how to donate... so random and exciting! And today, while I was on the phone with my dad, one of my dear SAI "sisters" brought me a donation. So unprompted. So unexpected. So generous. So ordained. Completely signed, stamped, and sealed by the hand of the Almighty.
And guess what?
He's not done yet... I can *feel* it.
To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:23b-24