Ben Breedlove

I am privileged to know the Breedlove family, and to call Ally friend. Thank you Jesus for the hope you have given us in your death and resurrection. You are not dead. You are alive. And in you, we conquer death. Thank you for allowing Ben to give us a taste of life.

Red Dirt

Every time I visit my blog, that timer thing to the left of your screen makes me jump. SEVEN DAYS, people. Seven. Are you packed, you ask? Well, I can't see the floor of my bedroom if that tells you anything. I'm down to four bags.

Here's a glimpse of my final week and the packing process!

I am bringing four bags.

Packing list includes: bedding, photos, 2-3 weeks worth of cool, loose fitting, colorful, modest clothing, lots of DVD's, Bananagrams, a frisbee, a 6-8 month supply of shampoo, lotion and makeup, a bunch of moleskine journals, every medicine you can imagine, a first aid kit, a french press, flavored coffee creamer powder, lots of books, a jump rope, etc. The key to life overseas is normalcy. This isn't an extended mission trip, but life. If you like yoga, do yoga. Wear makeup, wear perfume, be a human being, or as Sarita put it, just because you are in Africa, doesn't mean you have to look like a savage.

We took family photos with Kristen from Faux-Toes. She captured so much love and some pictures I will really cherish when I'm gone.

Susannah came to Austin to see me! I knew I loved this girl when I walked up to her at freshman orientation camp and she was singing Disney songs at the top of her lungs. I am lucky to call her sister. She is my funniest friend.

I have friends coming into Austin starting this afternoon with MalPal, and ending with Ballin' Fo Sho. I cannot even begin to tell you how lucky I am to have friends who love Jesus, and me, and each other. I wouldn't spend my last week in any other way. These friends taught me how to live abundantly, and dream big.

Logistically, I have to make sure all my records are straight, and that I have copies of all important documents.

I also got the chance to spend the afternoon with Sarita in Houston this week. What a gift. I felt like I was going to meet someone I had met online, sort of. She is radiant and wise, and I can't wait for her to come back to Gulu so we can work together! Since she will be on sabbatical until March, I am her substitute, so we spent a couple hours reviewing responsibilities and day to day things. It made me even more excited, and thankful for a mentor and friend.

I am at peace with it all, really. I can't wait to have my shoes covered in red dirt again. Thank you for all of your prayers and financial support and company. I have felt the love of God like a blanket, and it only grows stronger the closer I get to my departure.

Please pray for peace, for my travel to run smoothly, for all of my bags to get there, and for time to pass slowly over the next week. After a while here, I'll be writing from Gulu!

Love, Chloe

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, 

   for his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; 

   great is your faithfulness. 

I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; 

   therefore I will wait for him.”

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, 

   to the one who seeks him;it is good to wait quietly 

   for the salvation of the LORD. 

It is good for a man to bear the yoke 

   while he is young.

Lamentations 3:23-26

Intoxicating Love

(photo taken by @cathjord)

“There is something beautiful about a billion stars held steady by a God who knows what He is doing. (They hang there, the stars, like notes on a page of music, free-form verse, silent mysteries swirling in the blue like jazz.) And as I lay there, it occurred to me that God is up there somewhere. Of course, I had always known He was, but this time I felt it, I realized it, the way a person realizes they are hungry or thirsty. The knowledge of God seeped out of my brain and into my heart. I imagined Him looking down on this earth, half angry because His beloved mankind had cheated on Him, had committed adultery, and yet hopelessly in love with her, drunk with love for her.” 

-Donald Miller

Our Special Place

Just a list of rambles till I can make sentences.

I would do anything to dig my fingers into sand again and breathe the salty air deep in my lungs. 

This is where I sit with God in my prayers, just the two of us digging our toes in the sand, His arm wrapped around my shoulders.

I am on the 14 day countdown now. I am trying to finalize packing and prep so that I can really savor my family time and friend get-together. 

I get emotional as I sort through my room, reading old letters, and deciding what to keep and what to give.

 Sometimes I just want to be a normal kid, but I have been whisked away into this beautiful adventure, as the feet of Jesus.

Sorting through feelings is harder than ever. I am looking forward to the move more than Santa or the Easter Bunny, but I can't overlook some of the harder realities that come along with it. 

Crying is good.

My sweet squirrel-chasing, snuggle-buddy, pet-baby puppy Penny passed away last week. She knew it was time.

I can't kiss my nieces enough.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. You just have to go get it. Right now. 

God came to us as an infant, in an obscure shack, to save us from death. Thank you Jesus for your mercy and love.

I would love to have you pray about being a part of my support team. It's not too late to commit to being a part of something big God is doing in Uganda. Visit http://zionproject.org/donate.html to donate.

Please pray for my last two weeks with family and for my own grieving, that God would be our Comfort and Sustainer.

Merry Christmas!

Love, Chloe

p.s. comment below with your email address if you'd like to be added to my newsletter list!

West Coast

Sister and I got to head West for a couple days to celebrate graduation and my move! I am so thankful for the time we got to spend together and rest.

Beautiful sissy.

Believe it or not, I'm watching seals in pupping season.

African Safari Park, right up my alley.

I was really excited about the hot dog lunch.

Annnnd, the giraffe statue.

We took an old 1920's open cockpit-biplane along the coast. It felt like a dream!

Headset and everything. I even pressed the intercom button a couple times.

Little sister girl.

Flying next to another biplane.

Our ever so handsome pilot.

The Week In Review

Kelly and Jennifer skyped me the night before my birthday to tell me they were coming to spend my birthday with me!

Strawberry shortcake birthday cake. 

Sarah Jean and I had a great time blowing out candles.

Zion Project party!

It was so good to see friends all in one place.

I got to talk about my favorite place on earth!

The sweet Cotton family. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make the event happen, and for all your darling people who came to visit. 

It brings me to tears every time I really sit and think about the people who have come along side me during this hard, but thrilling time. 

God said, "And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn't it I, God? So, get going. I'll be right there with you—with your mouth! I'll be right there to teach you what to say."

Exodus 4:11-12

Love, Chloe

Even on the hard days...

Some days are harder than others, but even when I grieve, I can watch videos like this and Jesus brings me back there, just for a moment, to remind me of the fullness of life He has given me through His Son. O come, O come, Emmanuel! Needing prayer. Chloe