T-shirts and my last days in Florida

David and Renee have found a great website that is printing Tshirts with our people group and logo on them. If you are interested click on this link and you can see the options. They have ringers, hoodies, long sleeved Ts and tank tops. Here is the link: T-shirts Wow, three days until I meet my team in Paris and we head to Niamey. The next time I post an update will be from Africa. I have had a wonderful time visiting my friends and family here in Florida! McGregor will always be my home!

Mi Familia

Mi Familia
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

This week I spent lots of quality time with my extended family. It was a wonderful time. Family is so important to me, and it is hard to leave such a strong group, but I know that God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for me.

I am very excited to begin this new chapter in my life, but it is so hard to go.

7 days...

My Team

My Team
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Finally!! Picture Capabilities!!!

This is my team! David and Renee English are on the right and I am on the left. It was taken outside the IMB Office in Richmond. See us pointing to Niger?

Two weeks left

Tomorrow marks two weeks until I board the plane bound for Niamey, Niger. It seems so surreal. But, I have lots to do, pack, and lots of people to whom I must say goodbye. These two weeks will be challenging, but I am thankful for the opportunity to spend this time treasuring the ones I love. Basically I am spending one week with my Grandma, Aunt & Uncle and cousins, going surfing with some of my best friends, spending a few days in Okeechobee and then almost a week in Fort Myers with my people there. Somewhere in there I have to pack, buy a few last minute items, and go. God has been so good during this time of preparation giving me encouragement through all my prayer partners. I can honestly say that without this awesome support through prayer I would not have been able to take everything so easily. He is constantly giving me the energy I need. "I will not forget you, you are my God, My king, with a grateful heart I give my offering. But my sacrifice is not what you can give, its what I can give to you.. A grateful heart give, a thankful prayer I pray, a wild dance I dance before you. A loud I sing, a huge bell I ring, a life of praise I live before you!" In Him, Danielle

Cinco de mayo is a great day!!!

Today has been fun-filled from the beginning. Everyone I have met here is going out of their way to make me feel special on my birthday. And you just know that I am eating it up! We had classes like usual today, but lunch was a women's luncheon and all the ladies sang Happy Birthday for Ramona and me. Then, after class I baked brownies and finished the piñatas. Nate called me three times and sang each time!! It was great! At dinner the whole cafeteria sang and we blew out the candles. It was also Patrick's 5th birthday so we had a big 5 and 23 smaller candles. Then we got all the kids together to bust the piñata. That was a blast watching them have so much fun! They busted it after the smaller kids got to hit it and then they all swarmed the pile of candy!! It had glitter in it too (my special addition) so it looked really great as all the candy fell out. Later, my roommate is throwing a party so that all the other journeymen can come. We'll bust a piñata there too. It should be amusing! Thank you for your prayers and friendship! I am very blessed!

Only two weeks left

Wow, already a week has gone by very quickly. We are ending our time here at MLC shortly and I am going to miss it so much. To be in a place where everyone is so encouraging and supports your work is a special blessing. We have so much fun, and learn so much! I do realize though that God has us here for a specific time and is only preparing us to leave and go to the nations. That is the whole purpose. In that context, I can't wait to leave; to see what He has in store next. This afternoon I am going to the store to buy piñata supplies. We are making piñatas for my birthday (Thursday) and for my friend, Patrick who is turning 5 on the same day. It should be alot of fun! On Sunday nights we have "Cultural worship" where a team of missionaries get together and put on a worship service in the style of their target country. Tonight I am not sure who is hosting it, but we have been asked to wear long skirts, long sleeved shirts, a head covering and take off our shoes when we enter the room. Many of us will be worshipping in ways very different than what we are used to. How would you adapt to worship in a way that was completely foreign to you? This week we had sessions on safety, MBTI, Myers Briggs Type Indicator (personality types) Health issues, and how to be most effective helping missionaries raise their children overseas. This may be the first time in a long time where I do not get to be around american kids every day. It will be a big change for me. I miss you Lighthouse!! and think about you often! I can't wait to see you, kid or not a kid. Have a great week!