the gift of Gab

My brother Michael was able to join our family for Thanksgiving this year. I'm really glad since this is going to be our last big family thing for a while. Of course, my "American Grandma" Viola was able to be there as well. I'm happy about that too. We had a great time and great food. We even got in a couple of games of Scrabble. My family is pretty cut-throat about Scrabble. So the games had some pretty great scores (close too).

Saturday is Mom's birthday. We celebrated on Friday instead since we'll all be driving to California for Michael's ordination on her actual birthday.

Posted by Gabi at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today, I was commissioned by my church, CDO Baptist, as their missionary. It certainly is wonderful to have the prayer and financial support of so many people from this church I call my family! After I said a few words of thanks to the congregation, the pastor prayed for me while the elders laid hands on me. One of them even gave me a hug after! :-D
Isn't that view of the mountains phenomenal? I don't know how we pay any attention to the pastor.

Posted by Gabi at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The "I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane" Issue is available here.

Posted by Gabi at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ruthie Sampson died on Sunday, November 16 after a massive stroke. Everyone was shocked. She was only 54. She was a dear friend of our family and Ruthie and my mother were especially close.

Ruthie lived a kind and generous life. She was a powerhouse in her community.

I was just a teenager when I first met Ruthie. She always treated me kindly and made me feel important. Over the years I saw in her a passion that drove her to work tirelessly for her family and her culture. She was truly a woman of Proverbs 31.

When her daughter Mildred was in my 7th grade class at Kotzebue Middle School, all of the students were required to get a parent's signature in their assignment books each night. I could always count on Ruthie to have signed it. Often times, she would write me an encouraging note or even a joke that would make me laugh out loud!

More recently, Ruthie had been following my journey to become a career missionary in Zambia, Africa. Imagine my surprise and delight when she made a commitment a few weeks ago to become a monthly financial supporter. I was deeply moved by her generosity.

Praise God for Ruthie's strong faith in our Lord Jesus. Even though the pain of her loss is all too real, it is comforting to know we will see her again when we too are promoted to Glory.

While it is difficult to imagine a world without Ruthie in it, I know all our lives are richer for having had a moment with her.

Posted by Gabi at 11:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday was my birthday and it was the best one I've ever had!! I had a meeting with Dave from WorldVenture. He was the final "gatekeeper" as far as my departure clearance was concerned.

At the end of the meeting, he gave me clearance to buy my ticket to Lusaka. So I came home and did.

I'm leaving on Sunday, December 7th at 9:20 PM from Phoenix! Wheeeeee!!!

Can you believe it! It's finally here. I am soooo excited!

Posted by Gabi at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This morning I woke up giddy to vote. Yep, I said giddy!

Voting in a peaceful democracy is one of the greatest gifts we have. And I am glad that I had an opportunity to throw in my two cents this year. If you haven't already, please make your voice heard today.

I've been watching the news and I knew to expect long lines. So I packed two bottles of water and a book and set in for the long haul.

What I forgot, though, is that my polling station is in a retirement community and the vast majority of the voters in my precint are retirees. (I'm pretty sure there's only 19 of us who aren't.) That means they all got there at 5:30 am to cast ballots at a polling station that opened at 6:00 am.

So when I strolled in at 9:45 the retirees were all done. And I was in and out of there in under 10 minutes!! My day just gets better and better!

Posted by Gabi at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can I just say how thankful I will be when the election is over. I know it's important and I'll be voting. And I encourage you to vote as well.

I am so tired of lopsided political reporting, political ads on television, radio and in my mailbox, and political phone calls to my cell phone!

So looking forward to Wednesday!

Posted by Gabi at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If time really were in a bottle, I'd pour it out right now. This waiting is killing me. I'm no good at it.

About 4 weeks ago, I requested departure clearance. Since that time, I've checked and double checked to make sure that all requirements have been met (they have been). I've prayed to get the clearance quickly; I've begged and pleaded with God. I've sat on my hands and tried to be patient. I'm not that good at being patient.

I cannot buy my ticket for Lusaka until I get official clearance. I understand why that's important. It's no good to run off half-cocked. But in the mean time, I'm watching ticket prices go up. I'm unable to make plans for commissioning services and going-away parties.

Everyone keeps telling me that it's all in God's time. I know that. And I know that His timing is perfect. That doesn't actually make the waiting any easier. Have I mentioned I'm not very good at that?

Posted by Gabi at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)