Young Life Africa

After months of being unable to update our website due to extremely slow internet, here we are finally.

We are now back in the states. Please read our latest newsletter to get up to speed on what has been going on with the ministry and in our personal life.  Locate the newsletters on the DOCUMENTS page.

We are now preparing for a benefit dinner and auction.  The event will be in PA in a local Township building on December 11, 2011.  The invitation and information will be posted shortly.

Stay tuned for more updates.  Keep Congo and our children in your prayers.  Pray for peace in Congo.

Nathan and I are excited to announce that we now have a departure set. Our tickets to Congo are booked to depart on March 15, 2011. Both of us have (in our individual lives) struggled with when exactly the Lord would allow us to go to Congo. Honestly we were both very frustrated with the Lord’s timing. Obviously since then we have both seen the Lord at work and His hand in bringing us together. It is exciting to be embarking on this new chapter of our lives together, just as God planned in the beginning.

Praise the Lord, I (Nicole) was able to get my name changed on all of my paperwork - passport and all.  Nathan will get his shots updated after we return to Pennsylvania next week.  We will also be filing for our Congo visas for an early March arrival.

Nathan located and purchased a 1kw low-head water turbine.  It is a bit smaller than the turbine he had originally located, but it is large enough to generate electricity for a refrigerator and several light bulbs.  We will be bringing the turbine and its components to Congo in our luggage.  Please pray with us that we will be albe to locate the various smaller electrical parts which can only be purchased here in the US.

Later this year we hope to install a much larger water wheel which will turn a larger alternator and will generate a greater amount of power. This extra power will allow for the installation of a Christian radio station on the property.

The Lord has blessed us with increased monthly support. It is a blessing to us in this hard economy. We are so grateful for how the Lord continues to supply for our needs. Please pray that the funds will stretch in every direction. Because of the increased monthly support, we plan to take in additional orphaned children. We currently care for twelve children and plan on taking up to ten more in the immediate future. If you are interested in partnering with us in caring for these new Young Life children, please let us know. We have revamped the orphan support program a little. (Actually I think Nathan wanted me to “own” the program.) It works the same way it did before and we continue to search for additional orphan advocates. An “advocate” is a defender or a champion. I think you get the idea. Enclosed or attached is a copy of the advocate program information.

Our Congolese partner Fred Ndabala, is currently working on getting the orphanage building completed and livable. The doors, windows, cement mudding on the walls, and the cement floor will be done within the next few weeks. After arriving back in Congo, we will set to work on the bathroom. We were blessed to receive enough funds over the holidays to make all of this possible. Thank you to all who had a part in the building and finishing of our children’s new home.

As we prepare to return to Congo, we ask that you keep us ever before the throne of grace. We need you to stand behind us in prayer. It is only through your prayers and generous support that we are able to work in the Congo. Thank you for your faithfulness and love.

For the Love of Christ and for Congo,

Nathan & Nicole

The shape of this website will change from this post on.  Forgive us for the "coming soon" remarks. 

The Lord has changed so many things since my last post.  I met a young man named Nathan and have since gotten married to him.  Nathan has been a missionary to Congo for the last 6 years and works with orphans...perfect I know.  But seriously, God's hand is all over our relationship. 

We will be getting the site updated with our (my) new ministry details along with how we met and so on.  For now I will just say that God works in marvelous ways.  It is our plan to go back to Congo as soon as possible, but before we can do so we must raise about $11,000-$12,000 for tickets, visas, project $, and additional support.  Please pray that this will come in quickly so we can get to work in Congo.

“Some men’s ambition is art, some men’s ambition is fame, some men’s ambition is gold, but my ambition is the souls of men. While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl on the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight. – I’ll fight to the very end.”  ~ William Booth

Dear Praying Friends,

Greetings in Jesus name. The Lord has blessed in so many ways this summer. Thank you all so much for praying. You made the difference!

Camp Joy’s summer session is over for another year. We had three marvelous weeks and saw many lives changed for Jesus. Camp Joy has become my summer home and I always look forward to what the Lord will do next year. The love the children pour out on their counselors is absolutely incredible. Many of these campers come from broken or stressed out homes in the community and have a messed up view of God and what real love looks like. Every year I go home with stories of specific children who touched my life and have become life changers to me.

One such camper reminded me of what I was like when I was eleven. This little girl, though from a totally different home background, has an intense love for children. She wants to have a career that will make a difference in this sin cursed world. She is a girl who is from a broken home, is too young to provide a home of her own for her younger siblings, and yet looks forward to the day when she is old enough to protect the younger kids. This little girl reminded me of what love looks like in everyday life. Real love looks like me, if only I follow my Savior’s heart.

The Lord blessed incredibly during missionary hour. Thank you to those who took the time to pray for me specifically during the missionary hour. I was terribly nervous before I actually stepped up to the plate. In the moments before I taught, I had to duck into the side room and send up a “flare prayer” to my Father. I cried out in my heart, “Lord I cannot teach these kids. You are going to have to teach them through me.” The instant I stood before the campers my heart was as calm as a glassy sea. Praise the Lord! Nerves and I do not mix very well. The Lord gave me everything I needed to teach and made it go together just perfectly. He is so awesome!

My Uganda media presentation is posted here on my site.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and your loving support and encouragement. I will keep you posted as the Lord moves me forward.

In Christ Alone,

Nicole

Dear praying friends,

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Proper words of gratitude escape me as I pen this letter to you, my dear ones. The Lord has shown Himself strong on my behalf through your faithful, fervent prayers. He protected me from illness and injury throughout my time in Uganda. Thank you for lifting my name before the Lord. Your prayers have made everything possible. Thank you also to those who gave whether you gave out of abundance or out of lack, your generosity of investing in me and missions is greatly appreciated. To those who wrote notes or spoke words of blessing and encouragement, thank you.

Upon arrival in Uganda, I was thrown right into ministry preparations and sorting of supplies for the various Summer Bible Olympics. I had the privilege of accompanying Pamela Wieler and a handful of orphan boys on visitation and tract distribution. It was a blessing to see the children with a heart for reaching their own people with the Gospel. I had the opportunity to lead an incredible team of girls in sports events and to cheer them on as they ran with all of their might. I taught Bible lessons both in children’s church in Soroti and in a public school in Serere. I was able to do a puppet character skit on multiple occasions with some of the other SMART team members. As for work projects, I did what many “missionary mamas” do everyday. I swept and mopped in the house and took turns at the sink doing dishes. It is all part of the everyday missionary life. In Lira I was blessed to spend time with Mrs. Satunero, working in her kitchen and getting to know her.

I went to Uganda asking the Lord to confirm certain things in my heart. He has done that and so much more. I pray His work will continue as I sift through all that I learned while on the field. I had been curious about seeking further medical training, specifically in becoming a Registered Nurse. Though I see the great value of medical training, I do not believe this is what the Lord would have me do. I also went with the question of whether I am truly called to work with orphan children. I have often wondered if I am just a bleeding heart and want to rescue “stray” children. I desired to search out if I was actually burdened to reach orphans with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The children at S.O.A.P touched my heart in a way no one has before. I know the Lord has caused my heart to bleed for these orphaned children. I believe He planned this from the beginning.

Where am I with missions now? I am committed to full-time for a lifetime missionary service. I am searching for where the Lord would have me to serve overseas. I believe the Lord has called me to Africa specifically, and I have had a burden for the children of Congo for many years. Wherever He will send me, there I will go. I am searching for a location to begin work. It may be a short amount of time before the Lord reveals this or (I pray not) possibly a bit longer than I expect. Either way I plan to continue to train for missions and orphan work. Before I left for Uganda, the Lord provided training materials dealing with orphan care and children in crisis. In July I will spend three wonderful weeks at a local Bible camp. Pray for me as I will be the missionary speaker for weeks one and two.

Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. Thank you for showing Christ’s love to me. Pray for and with me as I seek where and with whom to serve His children. Pray I will be completely surrendered to God’s leading in my life. Pray the Lord’s will, will be revealed to me and that I will walk in obedience to it. “...My beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) May the love Christ dwell in you richly.

In Christ Alone,

Nicole

"...Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:13-14

Do you ever find yourself looking over your shoulder, longing for what is behind you? Do you wish to be around the people you have grown up with or those you have grown to love; friends that you will cherish for the rest of your life? Why is it that we can't seem to move forward for Christ?

In the past I have asked myself these same questions, among others. Is it wrong to look back? Well no, unless you are making your memories into a hinderance; a stumbling block that will get in the way of God's will. Is it okay to have and keep memories and to dwell on the sweet ones times? Sure, just don't look back for too long at one time or you may miss something that God has on the horizon.

I look at it this way. If you had your option to watch a sunrise or a sunset, which would you choose? Most people would immediately say they'd rather watch the sunset...not me, I'd rather watch the sunrise. You're probably thinking "Why?" True, sunrises aren't quite as breath taking with all of the spendor of color...the reds, the blues, the oranges, pinks and purples; even the silvery fluffy clouds, but there is a let down...those beautiful things end in darkness with the coming of the night. The sunrise on the other hand is but the dawning of a brand new day...just waiting to be filled.

I remember when my sister and I were milking cows for our neighbors several years ago...we had the morning shift and in between washing cows, moving milkers from cow to cow and falling asleep on the steps in the "pit", there were the few sweet minutes of letting the cows out and getting the strays in the holding pen. In the winter months, the out-door was kept closed, so I was only able to see small amounts of the sunrise. But during the warm months...ahhhh...I could see God's sunrise in all of it's splendor.

Now I'm sure you're wondering where I am trying to go with all of my rambling...just be patient, you'll see.

In the past I have found myself looking back way too much...God has chastened me severely several times because of this. It is not that I don't trust Him for the future, it is just that it takes a lot less faith to know that God has always provided, has always been with me, has always protected me than it does to trust Him for all of the things that I do not know.

Several years ago, at a camp meeting at our church, God pointed out the verses at the beginning of this post. He bombarded me with phrases like "forgetting those things which are behind", "...no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.", "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." AHHHHH! I felt that I would go nuts unless God quit reminding me of these particular passages, until I realized that I needed to be reminded of these things. I realized that I was concentrating so hard on the great things that God has done for me that I forgot that there is so much more time and opportunity ahead of me.

Going back to the sunrise/sunset idea. Do you want to spend the rest of your life looking back; ending up in the dark stupor of fast fading memories, or do you want to live in the hoping expectation of greater and more glorious things to come? Now, I'm not saying that the Christian life is all glamour and glory. On the contrary, life as a bold Christian will never be easy, it will not always be difficult either. There will be the good times and then there will be the times when only God's grace will keep you and me moving.

Just remember the next time you're wishing you could just ride off into the sunset and forget about everything that has happened, on the other side of the horizon there is a new day, just waiting to be lived.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:14

(Originally posted on Xanga.com/ReluctantMissionary - Feb. 23, 2005, edited on 4/21/10)

Joy isn't dependent upon good circumstances.

Why is it important to rejoice?

•Being joyful is a command. Jesus said to rejoice and be exceeding glad. That means be very glad, and not for just a little while.

•Joy is a magnet. If we are joyful, others will want to be around us. If we look and act if we were weaned on a sour pickle, no one will want to be around us. We should show the joy of the Lord in ALL circumstances.

"Joyfulness is proof to the world that God can fully satisfy the human heart."

Psalm 30:11-12 - He can turn our mourning into dancing and our sadness into joy.

Isaiah 60:1-3 - We should have the radiance of the Lord shining forth from us.

So, how do I get joy?

•Ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you anew with His ever abounding joy and grace.

•Seek the face of God until you find ALL of your happiness and joy in Him.

Psalm 16 - True joy comes from knowing that God is supremely in control.

Rejoice evermore. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Dear praying friends,

     Four weeks from today I will be flying to Atlanta to rendezvous with the SMART team. This time of preparation has truly flown by very quickly. Much has been accomplished so far, yet there is much still to do.

     I am planning for a Bible lesson to teach while in Uganda. Please pray for me as I do this. My plan is to teach on the “snares” of Satan. We will be doing a Summer Bible Olympics and will be working with the orphans and school children at S.O.A.P. (http://www.soapuganda.com) and possibly other children’s ministries. These children are where my heart is and I pray I will be a loving example to them.

     As of this week I will have all of my immunizations up to date, including Yellow Fever and Typhoid. I have had no ill effects from either. I also have my malaria medication in hand. Praise the Lord for affordable Doxycycline.

     Many of you have asked as to the status of the needed support. I can tell you the Lord is faithful and provides for His servants. I have seen answered prayers meeting both of the previous deadlines. Continue to pray with me for the remaining support and for each of the team to see the Lord provide as only He is able. We serve a mighty God and He owns the cattle and the hills they live on. The next deadline is April 24, 2010. I look forward to seeing what God will do in the next two weeks.

~ Things I would appreciate you praying about from now and through the end of the trip ~

Pray for:

~ Each member of the team that the Lord would prepare our hearts

~ Servant’s heart and teachable spirit

~ God’s perfect will to be done in each of our lives

~ The missionaries as they plan and prepare for our coming

~ Open doors and multiple opportunities to serve the Lord and see lives affected

~ The Lord to provide quick clearance through every customs checkpoint

~ Each team member’s support to come in by April 24th (This is urgent)

~ An abundance of money for the Blessing Envelope (an envelope of extra money given to the missionaries for needs they would never mention)

~ Good health and protection throughout the trip

~ Safety in traveling by plane and ground travel in London and Uganda

~ All supplies to be gathered as soon as possible

~ That we, the SMART team, would be an encouragement to our host missionaries, the Ugandan people, and the S.O.A.P. orphans

Thank you all for your loving support and continued faithful prayers.

In Christ Alone,

Nicole L. Gariepy

"Some would gather money

Along the path of life;

Some would gather roses,

And rest from worldly strife.

But I would gather children

From among the thorns of sin;

I would seek a golden curl,

And a freckled, toothless grin.

For money cannot enter

In that land of endless day;

And roses that are gathered

Soon will wilt along the way.

But, oh, the laughing children,

As I cross the sunset sea,

And the gates swing wide to heaven -

I can take them in with me."

~ Author Unknown