Kenya: A few details

Many of you have asked for details about my upcoming mission trip:

• Dates: November 20th-November 29th ~ I will probably fly out late Thursday night (the 19th) or Friday morning. We will either be arriving back in the USA on Sunday evening (29th) or Monday (the 30th).

**Please begin praying for safe travel for the entire team. Also, begin praying for our strength and endurance as we travel & come back**
We will leave DFW & be on the plane for about 8 hours, stopping for a few hours in Amsterdam. From there, we will go to Nairobi, Kenya (towards the center of the country) and then switch planes to fly to Mombasa, Kenya (on the coast). THEN, we will take a bus approximately 2 hours to our actual location for the week. As you can imagine, there will be LONG periods of time on airplanes and we will be traveling across soo many time zones. When we get there, I probably won't even know what day it is (I think it'll be the next day.. but yeah..)!! LOL Luckily, when we come back, we will gain all of our "lost" time back but we will be exhausted.

• What will be waiting for us when we get there? We are staying in some cabins (from what I understand) at a site where the children who we will be ministering to will be staying also. There is limited electricity (you have to bring adapters but even then, you might not have long periods of power) which means no air conditioning, no internet, no cell phones and no blow dryers (I've been struggling through the things that I will miss the most.) I have been told that our sleeping arrangements will be with mosquito nets to help protect us from anything that might be a threat. **Again, please pray that we will all make the adjustments and be able to be cheerful regardless of the circumstance or situations that we might find ourselves in.**

Our primary purpose in Kenya will be to put on a Vacation Bible School type camp for these children for the week. I have no idea what my role in this will be yet. We are just starting to meet together as a team and will eventually start going over the ciriculuum and figuring out everyone's strengths so that we will be put to the best use of our talents. **Please pray for the hearts of the children and families that we will be ministering to ~ I pray that their hearts will be prepared to receive what God wants to show them through our interactions with them. The ultimate goal is to glorify God in all we do.**

• One last thing we are praying about (and I ask you to do the same) is the financial needs of the team. The total cost per person for the trip is $3,000. I am certain that God has willed this trip to happen and that He will provide these resources. I ask that you prayerfully consider being a part of this journey financially. If you are able to support financially, please make your check payable to DENTON BIBLE CHURCH and write MEGAN HOFFMAN KENYA TRIP in the memo line. You can mail the check directly to me at the address listed below. These donations are tax deductible.

I have been asked to start blogging about all of the trip preparations as they are happening so you will start seeing those over the next few weeks. I thank you all again for always giving me the encouragement I need!

My address:
Megan Hoffman
6000 Ohio Dr. #1413
Plano, Texas 75093

The Box... has disappeared!!!

Thank you all for accepting my challenge of being my blog readers & encouraging me on my journey of life! Each one of you means A LOT to me (I think I have already said this before but just making sure that you know it..) and I hope you're prepared to be totally blown away by what I'm about to tell you.

I have been really praying about what God might want me to be used for in terms of the mission field. Am I called to go across the world or across the street to bring the Gospel to the lost? Does He want me to work with children or with adults? Things like that have been at the forefront of my mind. A few weeks ago, I got my answer...

My best friend Erica & her family have felt a strong call to go to Africa for about 3-4 years now (since they became Christians). From some of the things that God has revealed to them, I wouldn't be surprised if they went into FULL TIME missions in another country. Since I came to grips with this reality about a year ago, I have sometimes had this weird feeling of sadness in my heart when I think about the fact that there might be a time when I don't get to see or talk to them on a regular basis. I also had a few nights where I was in tears because I thought about the children (especially, Sienna, who will be 4 in October.) and how I wouldn't be able to watch them grow up. I want more than anything to serve God in whatever capacity he sees fit to use me so we would joke about how since I really want to be a teacher anyway (I REALLY DO!) That maybe I would get to come overseas with them to do children's ministry or even to home school the American kids so that they didn't have to go to a boarding school. Erica was planning on going on a mission trip to Kenya in October but the plans fell through due to the fact that her husband's company needed him in a finance meeting (also out of the country) during the same week & they could not justify BOTH being out of the country at the same time. But then God started revealing his awesome, mighty and perfect plan (and timing).....

Our church bulletin had a note in it about a Short-Term Mission Trip to Kenya during Thanksgiving week. Well, Erica saw this as her back-up to go do the work that she has been called to do in Africa. The church was having an informational meeting a few Sunday afternoons ago and E asked me to go to the meeting with her -- for moral support. I agreed and even read the blurb in the bulletin about it
JOIN US THANKSGIVING WEEK TO TEACH CHILDREN IN KENYA..
(hmm.. interesting..)
We started to walk out of the church that Sunday morning towards the parking lot. As we were walking, I was carrying the 3.5 year old (who absolutely ADORES ME, btw) and I see E & her husband start to talk in front of us. The conversation went something like this:

Erica: Guess what honey? Megan is coming to that missions meeting with me this afternoon. Right Megan?
Husband: Oh really?
(they look at each other & start smiling some evil smiles and laughing)
Me: (in my most defensive & sarcastic tone of voice): *sigh* yes... I'm going to this meeting to learn about teaching children.. in Africa...and ........

I hadn't any more had those words out of my mouth before ~~~ I fell.. facedown FLAT on the ground.. the flat, no bumps, no nothing concrete that we had been walking on just moments before. My first thought as I was laying there was "Oh my goodness.. I have killed this child! We are going to have to rush her to the hospital because she's cracked her head open or something! I should hear her crying any second now..." I looked up.. and she was already on her feet! Pointing at her arm & asking "Can I have a band-aid?" AMAZING! Me on the other hand? I was not spared any injuries. My leg (I was wearing a skirt) was bleeding down the side of my leg from about my knee to halfway down to my ankle... and starting to bruise. My wrist was swelling out & a little scraped up. Everyone stood amazed over me. This little girl that I had been carrying had not been hurt at all & I was pretty banged up. Frank (Erica's husband) even said: "It was like you just laid her out on the ground before you & allowed yourself to take the fall." Something was up... I wasn't exactly sure what but I was pretty convinced that God had struck me down because I was mocking Him and his potential plans for me. The whole time I'm thinking "God's trying to tell me something.."

Fast forward to later that afternoon when we show up at the meeting. We walked in and had to sit at the back because we were a little late. I immediately saw 2 girls from the singles group & thought "Wow.. they're here? That's awesome that they want to go to Kenya." As we sat there & looked at the pictures of where the trip was going and the dates of the trip itself, it dawned on me. 1) Those children are precious and they need people to come love on them. and 2) Thanksgiving week? I already requested those days off! It's true. In the week leading up to this meeting (that I didn't even know I was going to), I had asked my co-workers & my boss if they minded me taking the entire Thanksgiving week off. No one objected and my time was approved. I have no excuse NOT to go -- and given everything that had already happened to me that day, I was a little afraid to say NO (not a good thing to say to God anyway.. but you know..)

Sooo.. this Thanksgiving, instead of staying around town and spending time with my family, eating wayy too much food and trash talking each other over card games.. I will be going to Kenya, Africa with a team of people to help teach a vacation bible school type program to about 100 children who live there. :) Am I nervous? Am I scared? Yes and YES. But God tells us in His word in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you..." I have no idea how or how much I will grow through this experience but it is obviously something that God wants me to do!! One of my biggest fears has already worked itself out -- telling my family. They were all totally cool about it. I think they see God's big picture too. My next fear (which is continuously being worked through and out of me) is disease. In Africa, mosquitoes are prevalent and they carry malaria. Mosquitoes like to bite me therefore, I could be subject to malaria. :( I know that God will continue to give me peace with that fear though and if it's for His glory that I contract some disease, I guess we deal with it when it comes.

There are a few things that I would like to ask of you guys as I move forward on this particular journey:
1) PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Prayer for me and the team that is forming to go on this trip. Prayer that all of the resources and skills needed will fall into place both here in the US & over there. Prayer for the children in Kenya and all of the many people that we will minister to during our trip over there & during the week of the camp.

2) If you feel led to support me financially, there are opportunities to do that also. I will post an address where you can send funds in the near future. Any contribution is tax deductible.

I pray that each of you are doing well and that you will leave notes or comments to encourage me as I keep you updated on my progress.

The page is blank. The canvas has been wiped clean. The room has been cleared out. The proverbial walls have been put up mainly for protection; to keep the foolishness of this world out. Soon new wallpaper will be put up on those walls. It's already starting. A color and style that truly reflects the change that is... that HAS to go on inside of me. I want to be transparent. That starts with those closest to me though and keeps moving further and further out into the rest of the world.

I start out this way because I realized something over the past few weeks or so that is still sinking in. Nevertheless, it is there. This whole year (2009), I have talked about "My life outside of the box". Granted, I have done some new things this year that I haven't regularly done in the past but these are all OUTWARD appearances and signs. But has anything changed on the inside? I can honestly say that SOME things have changed on the inside but mainly just a growth of knowledge and information. I don't feel like I have let a lot of this stuff really sink in to where my heart, mind and attitude are truly changed because of it. I just got a sick feeling in my stomach when I typed that which tells me that what I'm saying is the truth - conviction. Luckily, if I will allow God to help - I CAN CHANGE! *Sigh* This is not going to be easy. In fact, there are some parts of it that will be downright rough and treacherous. Remembering these 2 facts first and foremost will help me change (Taken from Beth Moore's Believing God): 1) God is who He says He is 2) God can do what He says He can do.

I will elaborate more on these points in the near future and then ponder the 3rd one: I am who God says I am.

Cutting Out & Pruning

If you are reading this, you are part of a select few people that I am going to allow to read my thoughts on this blog and hopefully give words of encouragement or words of exhortation (when needed) from here on out. I value each of you as my friends & really you guys are closer than family so I hope that you will accept the challenge -- because I know it will help me in the long run.

For those of you that are new, this is my blog! I started writing off and on again about a year ago & hope to utilize more of the webspace that I have been given moving forward. My reasons for going private vary but primarily because I have noticed lately that I have some things that are weighing pretty heavy on my heart that I have wanted to write or talk to you all about... but didn't feel like sharing with the world!

So there you have it. If you would like to be removed from my list, please let me know. There will be no hard feelings and I totally understand since this is a responsibility that I have asked you to take on by reading and holding me accountable to a few things.

"A journey of a thousand miles, begins with the first step" -- Confucius

Vacation (A Much Needed Break)

Last week I took my first "real" week of vacation since I started working at my job almost 1 year ago. I say "real" week because yeah, we had a week off for Christmas break in December but EVERYONE else was off that week too! This was a week where my co-workers were still at the office & I was out and about in freedom doing whatever I wanted to do! I think I started to realize how long it had really been since I had had a significant amount of time off during the middle of June. I started getting really irritated with some people & some things that were going on & actually at one point broke down in front of my co-workers when I tried to explain how I'm feeling. It is something that I try to avoid at all costs but it was inevitable. I just don't like to be totally transparent with the people I work with (until I really get to know them) because I have been burned by this flaw in my personality too many times in the past. When people know too much about your personal life, sometimes they use it against you. NOT COOL but it's the world we live in so... it happens.

Anyhow, I started off my 12 days of freedom by going to the Rangers Game. The Rangers totally KILLED the Padres that night (love it when the Rangers win!) and the fireworks display afterwards was really good too. The next day was our Annual Community Band Performance in Red Oak. It was sooo much fun! I am a complete and total band nerd (for those of you who didn't know) and I have a blast when I get to sit around with my friends and play music that most of us are sightreading & trying to make it sound decent. Then came Monday: our Hurricane Harbor outing.

I think the last time I was at Hurricane Harbor it was 1999. I remember the basic set up of the park & most of the rides so of course, I wanted to ride it all! Needless to say, my 21 year old body back then fared a whole lot better than my 31 year old body did this time around. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I was SOOOO sore from walking up the stairs and ramps to get to the rides & basically from just being out in the Texas sun all day that day. Also, I think I needed a whole day to recover from some of the things that I SAW at Hurricane Harbor. Imagine the things that we used to see on DART (Dallas) x 200! It amazes me at how many people have no concept of their appearance or how they look & act in public. If you have seen me, you know that I am not a bean pole by any means (maybe some day LOL) but there were girls that were MY SIZE in string bikinis!! No Joke! The worst suit we saw that day was a dude in some shorty shorts (2 words.. banana hammack, if you catch my drift). I have never seen so many tatoos on people in all my life either.

The weekend brought with it a trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for the Annual Hoffman Family Reunion. My aunt has a lake house on Beaver Lake and hosts this event every year. I think we had about 50 people this year. Some people drove from as far away as Florida! Basically, this is chill time. Hang out, talk, play games, catch up with the family, swim in the lake, go on the boat, jet ski, etc. Pretty much whatever you want to do.. you can do. Whenever I hang out with my extended family though, there is always a conflict that arises in me. Please don't get me wrong on what I'm about to say - I am by no means perfect or saying that I am "holier than thou" but most of you know that I live my life for Christ & Christ Alone. My family however, does not. A lot of these people spit in the face of God which makes it very hard for me to live my life out in front of them because there is always a little bit of fear that they are going to ridicule me or worse yet that I would be tempted & fall into their pit of destruction. In this environment, beer is put back like it's water, there is an unlimited supply of cigarettes (I think one might be able to get lung cancer from one sitting of all the second hand smoke) and the language factor is out of control! Luckily, through much prayer, I was able to share my testimony with a few people there and felt like I was at least able to let them know where I stand as far as the way I live my life. I will just keep praying on them that some of them will realize the error of their ways - that life is too short to be in a conflict with someone in your family and that there is more to life than beer, cigarettes and God knows what else some of them were smoking! :)

I went back to work today and surprisingly the time went by really fast. I think my co-workers learned to appreciate all of the things that I do so they don't have to and that maybe things will change a bit as far as how they treat me on down the line. I think they realized some of the stress and flat out foolishness that I have to deal with on a daily basis (yes, even Pastors give me foolishness sometimes).

That's really all I know at this point.. I am going to make a real effort to write more in this thing (if I can pull myself away from the Sorority Life & Restaurant City on Facebook..LOL)

Taking it one Adventure at a Time....

Blog Relaunch

The blog is about to undergo some changes over the next few weeks -- starting with the title.

I need your help though. What should I call this thing? Out of the Box just doesn't apply that much anymore because I am already in the habit of doing things that are totally unlike me. So.. HELP!

Facebook Ministry

min⋅is⋅try [min-uh-stree] –noun, plural -tries.; def: an act or instance of ministering; ministration; service.

This topic has been on my mind quite a bit lately so I thought I'd share with you all & entertain your thoughts on the subject. I think that a lot of times we put this word into such a formal, organized and very methodical context when in reality, it doesn't have to be formal at all. Yes, pastors and church staff are on church payroll and their whole job role is centered around a particular service to individuals or to an entire church but we (you and I) can be "ministers" at our jobs, in our families, in our communities, etc. The possibilities are endless.

This really came into light for me last night at my women's bible study. I love these ladies dearly and have already made a few friends in just 3 weeks of going there. However, as I look around the room, I see that I am one of the youngest people there! That may be intimidating for some people - I know it kind of was for me at first because I'm thinking "What could these women POSSIBLY learn from me? They are more mature and wiser.. blah blah.. etc." One of our activities last night was to have a scavenger hunt among ourselves with this pre-printed list of likes, dislikes, activities.. whatever. We had to go around the room and find people who could sign next to each thing helping us find out a little more about them. Well, one item on the list said "enjoys Facebook" and let me tell you that once one person found out that I enjoy it.. they all wanted me to sign next to that and started asking me a TON of questions! Opening up avenues of things to talk about other than kids, husbands or whatever they have that I don't have - it really helped me find a common ground with these women that I can take with me further in the next few weeks to start strengthening the bonds of our friendships.

I guess the point of my story is this: I feel like a lot of older individuals tend to look at technology and social networking, etc. as something that is taking our society further and further down the path of destruction by opening our minds to all sorts of things that we never even had to think about or worry about before. While this may be partly true, I feel that social networking (Facebook/MySpace) can be very effective ministry tools if they are used the right way. What do I mean by "ministry tools"? Things that you can take advantage of to assist you in serving another person or a group of people. I have joked for a while about my "Facebook Ministry". I use this site as more than just a place to connect with people or play games or what have you. There are opportunities to help people and make huge impacts in this world through using the connections that Facebook provides.

A couple of personal examples that I have to close this out: First of all, a lot of you know that I was not a Christian as a teenager or even in college. I have reconnected with so many people who knew me in my past though and their first question is usually "When did you become religious/spiritual/Christian?" I feel like this opens up a huge door for me to share my story with them on where I was, where I've been, and what it all means to me now (if they will hear.. some are not open to it..) Secondly, I have a way to stay updated on people's lives and circumstances so that I know how to pray for them and I am able to "take prayer requests" sometimes too which helps ME know what to pray for but also can show others that might be reading my wall or status, what they can pray for also. Prayer changes lives.. that one is HUGE to me.

Anyhow, I just thought I'd share a little of what is going on in my world right now. I encourage you to pray & seek God's face in realizing where He might be asking you to step out and serve him - even if it is just smiling at that neighbor that you walk past every morning (another friend of mine was EXTREMELY blessed by just being able to do something that simple a while back).

Until next time (which hopefully won't be 2 months from now!)