So how big is Africa?

It’s pretty big.

How big?

11.7 million sq mi.

It covers 6% of the earth’s total surface area.

20.4% of the total land area.

1.0 billion people.

Contrary to what Drew Carey and Rick Santorum say, Africa is a continent not a country… it actually has 54 countries.

It accounts for about 14.72% of the world’s human population.

So I’d say it’s pretty big.

This is is a great visual, which will help you understand the enormity of the continent. (It’s probably not 100% scientifically accurate, but you get the point.)

Click to enlarge the photo…

Since I announced my plans to move and serve with Samaria Mission at the beginning of 2011, I have had dozens of you fine folks ask, “Why Samaria Mission and not (insert other church / ministry / organization here)?”

So I thought that I would answer some of the frequently asked questions and comments relating to the move over the next couple of weeks. I’m sure you’re excited and virtually on the edge of your seat waiting in anticipation.

As many of you know I spent the spring of 2010 teaching English in rural Central Asia. (You can check out my posts here.) Upon return to the US I had a year and a half until graduation, so I knew that I needed to start exploring options for post graduation work. What exactly that meant, I wasn’t sure. Should I go onto grad school? Should I pursue my interests in agriculture and sustainability? Should I return to Central Asia? Or should I return to Africa? So many questions with so little direction, and as one who likes to have a plan, this time of unknown was not easy.

I began to pray for some direction and clarification, because surely this was not a decision to take lightly. Through conversations with my family and close friends, I decided that I should look into serving internationally for a couple of years. Well, that only narrowed it down a little bit!

There were still so many options, but I narrowed it down to either with the ministry that I served with in Central Asia or to serving with Samaria Mission in South Africa. Both are wonderful ministries, both are passionate about taking the gospel to the nations, both have stellar leadership, etc… (I could probably keep this list going for a couple more pages.)

This was not a decision that I could make on my own, so I began praying for the Lord to make it perfectly clear where he wanted me to serve. If you know me at all then you know that I am really hardheaded and stubborn, which is why I prayed that the Lord would literally slam one door closed and swing another one open.

As I pursued both, that is exactly what happened. The Lord slammed the door to the first ministry, as I could not even get my foot in the door to talk with anyone. And he swung open the door to Samaria Mission, as they desire to have me serve with them and there is a job that is perfect for me. Samaria Mission’s desire is to plant Great Commission churches and raise up the next generation of pastors and laymen through evangelism, discipleship, church development and social upliftment.  I feel like it has been tailored to fit not only my skill set, but my passion as well, which is to plant churches among people groups that have little to no access to the gospel and to disciple those who have put their faith in Jesus.

I will serve to further the church planting efforts of Samaria Mission through administration and logistics. These are two crucial areas of need as Samaria Mission hosts short-term teams year-round. I will also be involved in discipling middle school and high school girls within the youth ministry of Christ Baptist Church. This is a crucial need in Polokwane as the majority of young adults that could disciple the younger ones have all moved away to attend university.

The needs are great and the opportunities are plentiful. Would you consider allowing me to share with you, your family, and your church? Would you consider partnering with Samaria Mission in reaching the Shangaan with the gospel of Christ?

 150 days.

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Justin D. Long of “The Long View“. I have read and followed Justin’s work quite a while now and appreciate his tireless work advocating for the unreached peoples of the world, while mobilizing and informing missionaries along with those interested in missions. If you too are interested, check out his work… I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

If you would like to listen to the interview, click here.

Yall, I am stoked to update you on what the Lord has been doing and how he has provided. Seeing that it has been almost a month since my last update, I think an update is in order.

Plane ticket: I purchased my plane ticket! It is PAID IN FULL! I am flying out 16 January 2012, which is also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. South African Airways was my preference and thankfully the airfares have not gotten out of control yet. I was able to secure a one-way ticket for a mere $964!

Visa application: I am currently in the process of filling out the required paperwork for my visa. I am applying for a temporary residence visa for three years. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Three years!? I thought she said that she’d be gone for two years!” You’re right and that is still the plan. I am applying for three years just in case the need or opportunity arises for me to stay a few months longer. Just covering my bases. In order to complete all of my paperwork, I have to have several medical checkups and background checks to pay for. These, of course, cost a pretty penny. This is a very intricate, time consuming, and expensive process. Pray for me as I navigate this over the next few months. If you would like to assist me in paying for the requirements or for the visa ($800), please let me know.

Shirts: I am still selling tshirts! The original 95 that I ordered are completely gone! I’ve been able to sell them all. The second shipment of 50 should arrive any day now. With the help of one of my very talented coworkers I designed these shirts specifically for the move. They are on sale for $20 and all of the proceeds go towards the up front costs associated with moving to South Africa. If you would like more info on the shirts, check out this link.

Fundraising: Yall, the Lord has provided in some crazy, unexpected ways. I am still in awe of how he has provided. I could probably write four paragraphs with all the stories from specific instances of how he has just blessed me, which is far beyond anything I could ever imagine. For those of you who have bought a tshirt, given money, encouraged me, or prayed for me, I thank you. Thank you for being a part of fulfilling the Great Commission.

Information: I have created a brochure for those interested in knowing more about the move. If you would like to see the internet version (I took out my cell number and home address), click this link: EditedBrochure2012.

Countdown: 241 days.

250 days.

Update coming soon…