2 Days & Counting!

I leave for Ethiopia in 2 days. WOW! There are a few changes that will be made to the blog - mainly the site. While I'm in Ethiopia, I will not be able to update blogger, so I've created a different blog site that I can access while I'm there. The new address is http://jenabekm.wordpress.com. I will repost this new blog site again before I leave.

Many of you have been asking me how you can be praying over the next little bit, so here's a good starter list. enjoy!

Pray:
-for physical rest this week. There are many people that I am meeting up with to spend time with in the next few days, and my schedule is beginning to fill up. I'm excited about each of these times with people, but know that I have to keep some time in for me. Pray that during these "me" times, I am able to rest and focus on what's ahead.

-for sleep on the plane from Chicago to Frankfurt. On our flight last year, I slept a total of 30 minutes during our 16 hour flight, and was completely exhausted once we arrived in Ethiopia. It is really important that I am able to sleep during this time, so any prayers in this area would be greatly appreciated!

-for physical health (especially on the flights). Pray that I am able to stay healthy, and have no stomach or viral issues while I'm gone.

- pray for the relationship between Kristen and I. Pray that we are able to clearly communicate in healthy, Christ-like ways. Pray that our time together would be good, and not burdened by being around each other all the time. My heart is to be an encouragement and a help to Kristen - pray that my heart will continue to beat for this, and that I can truly be the encouragement that she needs.

- that I am able to clearly teach my lessons to the staff and the kids. I'm really excited about the lessons that I've created, and am hoping that it will be as much fun as I'm thinking
they will be (and that they will learn from them!).

- that I can be an encouragement to the staff in Zeway. I'm excited to pour into them, as they give 100% to their communities. I have a beautiful opportunity to bring love and encouragement to them, and I want to make the most of every opportunity to do so.

- pray that I am able to spend as much time as possible with my 3 sponsored kids, Sintayehu, Burtukan, and Masresha. I want to be an active part of their lives while I'm there, but it will mean that they initiate coming up to the FH compound during the week. I will be able to visit their homes at the beginning and end of my trip, but probably won't have much time through the week to do so. I'm pretty sure that their social workers have visited each of them and told them that I am coming, so I would ask over the entire length of my time in Zeway you will pray that they make an effort to come to the compound to see me (and perhaps they will even be in my English classes!)