Niambie Tukifika Moshi!!!

Or for those of you who do not know Swahili, "Please tell me when we get to Moshi!"

[Moshi is the town we will be in, in Tanzania]

So in two weeks from yesterday I will be on my way to Africa! I cannot believe it is almost here!

There is still so much to do, but God has shown His faithfulness during this whole experience that I know He will continue to be there for me until I return from this trip!

This has been a crazy time, guys, it's hard to believe! Just about a month ago I still owed about $2300 and not all I owe is $180!!! God is SO amazing! I always hear other people's stories about how God provided out of nowhere and I've never experienced His provision like that so it was always hard to believe, but I feel now God has kind just been like "Ha ha, and you thought I wouldn't come through for you! Silly, silly girl!" and He's right. I had my doubts but He showed me that He's always there for me and always will be there for me even when I am being silly and doubtful.

So we had a team meeting this past Tuesday and it was really great! We got to skype with Ryan Helbling the missionary we will be working with. That was a really cool experience and I can't wait to meet him and his family! He told us about all the different locations we will be working at and the different types of people we will encounter and kind of just what to expect. It made this all seem so real and it made me want to be there now! I can't wait to meet the kids out there and just love on them!

I still have lots to do though before I can completely give myself to this trip. I have a never-ending list of stuff I need to do just for school and it seems no matter how many times I cross things off of it, it still seems very daunting. And then I have to get all my medications in order, I need to get a doctor's note, I need to buy the necessary items for the trip, I need to clean my car and I need to clean my room (I'm getting a new roommate while I'm gone so I need to have some room for her!). So there's lots to do to keep me busy. I'm just hoping I can accomplish most of this before next weekend. I'd hate to get on a plane still stressed and exhausted from all the things I had to do. But again, I know God will give me the energy and the perseverance to get through the next two weeks.

And on top of that I still need to send out a whole bunch of thank-you cards because you all are amazing and have trusted God with your finances so that I could go on this trip! I thank all of you who read this! Know I am forever grateful for you!

Speaking of support, as I mentioned, I am still short $180. If you'd like to help me finish and reach my goal please please let me know! There are many ways we can accomplish this! You can give online (https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/Donation.aspx?MerchantID=NewportMesaEFT) and just under categories select Tanzania trip and you can put my name in the comment section. Or you can send a check or cash to Newport Mesa Church 2599 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627, make the check out to Newport Mesa Church. If you want it to be tax-deductible my name cannot appear anywhere on the check so I'd recommend putting in a sticky note saying it is for Tanzania and for me! Really any amount helps! If just 18 people gave me 10 bucks I'd be there no problem! Or if just 9 people gave me $20 I'd be there no problem! This is totally do-able! So help if you can!

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment here or you can contact me at 858.395.3821 or jessicarowley@csu.fullerton.edu

Love!

Swahili Lesson #2

Ready for more Swahili??!!?

Hello= Jambo

How are you?= Habari/ Hujambo?

Fine/good= Nzuri

What is your name?= Jina Lako ni Nani?

No= Hapana

Yes= ndiyo

Thank you= Asante

You're Welcome= Karibu

Thank You Very Much= Asante sana

Love= Pendo

I Love You= Ninakupenda

Yay! All of you will be fluent by the end of my trip! :)

Hugs and love to you!

Sorry!

I'm so sorry! I cannot believe I haven't posted since January! Well it's been a crazy last few months! At NMC we put on the show Godspell and I was the Stage Manager. It was a lot of work and a lot of stress but I loved every minute of it. I got to build relationships with some pretty awesome people. And I worked with 4 people who will also be with me on the Tanzania Trip!

Ok so, these last few months have also been hard with finances, especially with support raising. I had kind of hit a plateau in which I just wasn't getting in any more support. A lot of that was my fault because if I think about it, I really wasn't working as hard as I should have been in asking for money. But I finally got my butt into gear and sent out another batch of letters. And then I had a meeting with two of the team leaders, Rick and Laura, and they gave me some suggestions on how to raise more money (and I'll be honest, I still haven't done many of their ideas). Because of school and tech week of Godspell and Spring Break, time is just flying by! BUT that was 3 weeks ago and when I got my status update this week, I have raised over 1000 dollars since that meeting! Praise God! It's seriously all to Him that the money is STILL coming in! He has blessed me with some pretty wonderful friends and family!

So what's the money update you might ask? WELL I'll tell you! So even though I'm still not where I need to be (since I was suppose to have it all turned in on April 1st) here's the total:

I have raised a grand total of $2,007 and I still need to raise $1,493

Yay! For once the amount I have is more than the amount that I need!

But I still need help! So if you're reading this and are able to support me financially please let me know! If 150 people gave at least 10 dollars, I can go no problem!

You can make checks payable to Newport Mesa Church. And send them to

Newport Mesa Church

--> Tanzania Trip- Jessica Rowley

2599 Newport Blvd.

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

And prayers are always appreciated.

Love you all! Thanks for taking this journey with me!

~Hugs to you!