Check out Audrey's blog to hear about these experiences through her eyes!

www.audreysafricanjourney.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

20 days... So Crazy!

Quick update on God's superawesome-ness (Not that you really need my help to believe it...)!

Flight - Went through this morning!
Visa - just need to get them a copy of my ticket, and they can process it
School - Exams are done, and I am moved out of residence
Funds - I've got $3800, which is almost two thirds of my goal! God is sooo good!
Money - The student loan people decided that I'm no longer in school and need to start paying my loan back, which is a bit sooner than I bargained for, but my sister is SO much help in all of this and knows exactly what needs to be done! (Which is good, because I don't!)
Forms - there are lots to fill out, but I'm at the library and on the way to getting those filled out!
Health Insurance - Just sent the form to the Wycliffe office


As for spending time between now and leaving for Cameroon, I'm in Ontario with my sister, extended family, and Ben - A great time to relax and get stuff done before I head off in 20 days!!! It's great spending time with cousins, and Aunts and Uncles, and purusing the Christian bookstore with my sister. God is good.

Christmas - this year is more real for me than ever, but strangely absent of nearly all traditional holiday feelings. Instead, I'm filled with the wonder and awe that we are celebrating the coming of the gift that made salvation possible. And without God and the gift of salvation, we have nothing to boast in, nothing to live for - So celebrating the life giving gift... Its kind of incredible!

Merry Christmas all!
Andrea

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Exams/Visa/Money/God is Good

Dear Friends,
I hope that wherever you are you are experiencing the beauty of winter as God has shown us. Our sins are washed white as snow... So white that its almost too bright to look at sometime! (:> its pretty incredible).

Right now, I'm in middle of Exam period - I wrote 2 yesterday and write one tomorrow and then on Friday. Please pray for me if I cross your mind!

As for Cameroon preparations things are trickier.
I got the last set of immunizations yesterday (One more thing crossed off the list) but my Visa (sent off last week) is still sitting at the Cameroon Embassy office in Ottawa because there have been some confusions in money transfering/receiving for buying my plane ticket. Which makes things a bit complicated And they can't process my visa until they get the flight ticket - so pray that that gets figured out!

But God is good. His timing sometimes seems unfortunate as it is not mine, but somewhere deep down I am grateful for that. I'm quite certain His plan is a lot better than mine.

Fundraising is at about $2400 - Praise God :) I think that is close to covering all my expenses while in Cameroon (ie.Food, Rent, transportation.... Other stuff I can't remember...)

As for the rest - God will provide. Join me in prayers for continued trust in that.

We serve a good God!!!
Andrea

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

And God is good...

This is a recurrent theme in my life. I have been so blessed and encouraged!

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

God has provided $1500 - I'm almost 1/4 of the way! I have 2/3 of my shots, my visa application is sent, flights are almost booked, and school is starting to wrap up for the term. God has been my strength when mine was not enough to get me through.

God is Good.

And He is mine...

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

And today I was a pin cushion...

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to work on this blogging thing, but there is so much to say!

God is good - that is first and foremost - I have been so blessed and taken care of and encouraged day by day. Not to say that this term has been easy (Its been really difficult) but the encouragement God has given each day is incredible.

Psalm 121: 1-2, 7-8
I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
The Lord will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forever more

Last weekend a friend left a French Bible on my desk - I'm reading it (at the same time as my English Bible and using Google translator)... and learning much more french as I go. I'm realizing again and again how incredibly important translation is!

Today I had the privilege of being a pin cushion. I got 3 needles this afternoon, the first of 8 shots. Soon I will be immunized and ready to go! Pray for me as the 4 different appointments take up a bit of time.

I've almost got my Visa application done and in the mail - pray that the processing time will be short (if God's will) and that things will work out.

God has provided $620 so far, which is 10% of my goal! Its really exciting waiting and seeing what God will do!

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.
Because our God is good,
Andrea

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Prayer Letter

November 13th, 2010
Friends, Family, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ

I write to you today to invite you on the incredible (and slightly unknown) journey God is calling me to - an opportunity to serve in Africa!

I am in my second year at the University of Waterloo, studying math, physics, and international development. I’ve always planned on becoming a high school math teacher - I could explain math well and would be a good Christian influence on my students’ lives. It was my plan and seemed good to me. I didn’t quite realize the huge difference between “My good plan to serve God” and “God’s good plan for me to serve Him”. Hebrews 11 speaks of people serving God and accomplishing His purpose by faith. As I look to follow in God’s plan, my life-list becomes His and I will learn to walk by faith.

On January 9th, 2011 I will fly to Cameroon, Africa, for a four month internship with Wycliffe Bible Translators. There, with another student, I will be serving alongside
David and Henny Thormoset - missionaries working with the Mpumpong language group. We will spend time in both the capital, Yaounde and in Yokadouma, a village of about 10,000 people. Working with the Wycliffe team, I could be involved teaching computer skills to locals working in the process of translation, or assisting churches with management and financial skills, and serving in areas like cooking and household work. I will begin learning Mpumpong and improving my French skills while there as well as developing relationships with the people. Most importantly, I want to spend these four months serving God and learning how we can best serve the Mpumpong people. I want to learn to love actively and to share with you how you can be involved and support these people while still at home.

The people of Yokadouma speak Mpumpong, a language in the early stages of developing an alphabet and written language. As it is further developed, the team will begin teaching literacy and producing literacy materials for the people. The pastors of the area will then begin translating the Bible into Mpumpong!

Having such a large number of English Bible translations available it is hard to comprehend the 2000+ languages that are still without a Bible translation. This means that approximately 340+ million people don’t have the Bible in their mother tongue; knowing how God encourages and teaches me through His word makes me realize the importance of translation.

I would love to tell you that I’m the perfect person for the job; this is not the case. I’m simply following God knowing He has, and will continue to mold me and perfect me for the calling He’s given.

I need $6500 for this internship, money I don’t have; but believing this is God’s plan, I will wait on Him, knowing that He will provide. I pray that you will join me in my prayers for provision and that I will continue to have the faith to trust God in this. Pray that while I’m in Cameroon God will teach me and use me in the way He desires as I develop relationships with and serve both the Mpumpong people and the Wycliffe team.

If you feel God is leading you to help me financially, you can send money to Wycliffe Canada or to me directly. You can give support monthly or just once - (if you make a cheque please make a note specifying it is for Andrea’s internship, and be sure to include your name and the date. Donations over $25 are tax deductible by Wycliffe Canada). As things happen I’ll keep you up to date on my blog with where your money is going, and how your prayers for me are answered in Africa.

Thank you for your support and prayers as I embark on this journey. I'm so excited to see what God will do!

Andrea Blezy
andrea.blezy@gmail.com
andreaslifeadventure.blogspot.com

Wycliffe Canada, 4316 10 St. NE Calgary, AB T2E 6K3
Andrea Blezy, 65 River Dr. RR #6, Kingston, NS, B0P 1R0