Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Congrats Nichelle!


This is my nineteen-year-old daughter, Nichelle. She's the oldest of my 4 children. Yesterday she received a phone call from Youth With A Mission and they accepted her application to take part in their missionary training. Taken from their website, "Youth With A Mission is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced "WYE-wam"), our calling is to know God and to make Him known. Back when we began in 1960, our main focus was to get youth into short-term mission work and to give them opportunities to reach out in Jesus' name. Today, we still focus on youth, and we also involve people of almost every age (even many people who choose to spend their "retirement" in active service). Our many ministries fit into three main categories: evangelism, training and mercy ministry. We are currently operating in more than 1000 locations in over 149 countries, with a staff of nearly 16,000."

Nichelle will be leaving as early as June. She will spend her first 3 months training in Maui, Hawaii, followed by 3 months of service in southeast Asia. Talk about seeing things she's never seen! Rick and I are really proud of Nichelle for taking a step in this direction. I think it takes a special kind of person to do something like this. I know Nichelle is that type of person and this will be an incredible experience for her. We're so proud of her for following her heart and taking an opportunity to do something she truly believes in. Please keep Nichelle in your thoughts and prayers as she embarks on this adventure. I'm sure she will be talking about YWAM on her blog soon, so feel free to stop by -- http://nichellerj.wordpress.com/

I have to be honest -- it's been a cRaZy week here with Nicole taking her ACT test, getting accepted to college, and now Nichelle's acceptance to YWAM. Rick, myself, and the boys are going to miss Nichelle and Nicole while they're gone. It's not going to be the same around here without them. It's definitely one of those bittersweet moments for us as parents.

16 comments:

  1. Rena that is absolutely BRILLIANT!!!!! I wish her all the best. God bless her!

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  2. How absolutely wonderful! Congrats to both your children. That really is exciting!

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  3. This is so exciting Rena! I can imagine how proud you are.

    Nancy

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  4. Congratulations Nichelle! I commend you for dedicating your life to God's service.Your parents must be very proud.

    Leanne

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  5. Congrats to Nichelle! What a wonderful thing for her to do! To have that attitude of service and love for her fellow beings and to act on it. She is to be commended. The world would be a better place if there were more kids her age willing to do the same.

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  6. Wow, how exciting! Congratulations to Nichelle!

    Neen

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  7. How wonderful! I have many friends who were a part of YWAM. Fantastic for her! XOXO

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  8. Wow! Your family has had one exciting week! You have raised two intelligent girls! And I feel for you, too, Rena. It's hard to let your children go off on their own! (I cry when they go to kindergarten and first grade!)

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  9. Congratulations to Nichelle! What a great accomplishment!

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  10. WOW! A BIG HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Nichelle. That is quite an adventure, to go from Montana to Hawaii to Southeast Asia!

    You must be proud Mama and Papa Bears.

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  11. Hey Rena!
    I have an award for you :)
    Hope you can stop by.
    Cheers!
    Hilary

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  12. Thanks for your comments everyone. We're really proud of Nichelle for taking steps in this direction!

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  13. Wow, your daughter is lucky! Southeast Asia is my favorite my place in the world! And what a great accomplishment. Prayers for Nichelle!

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  14. That ıs great news, and good for her.

    One of our girls has left us too, off to get a little part-time work in before she starts university. It's not easy, is it?

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  15. What an exciting week your family has had...Your daughters doing so well is just a testament to how well you raised them and I'm sure they will carry those life lessons with them when they are off on their adventures...Hugs...

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