Let the training begin!

    Elias and I have arrived in Harrisburg, PA for our two and a half months of training at the Harrisburg Discipleship Center (HDC). We left for PA Friday the 11th and stayed with my (Jessica) sister Ashley. We had our commissioning on Sunday and then that evening we arrived at HDC with all of the YES (Youth Evangelism Service) participants, two particpants in GO! and one long termer. This week as been very full with exercise beginning at 6:00 or 6:30 Monday through Friday and ending with a variety of activities around 8:30 at night. We then have to be in rooms at 10:15, which is no issue for Elias and I, as we have been very tired. Even though the schedule is packed we have already been stretched and we are enjoying growing deeper in our relationships with Christ.
    We also wanted to let everyone know that we have received wonderful news. We have been given a $10,000 check from an anonymous donor, which puts us at nearly full funding! Elias and I weren't sure when we would be able to leave for Africa because we didn't have enough funds, but with this donation we are put at almost full funding and we should be able to leave in early December or somewhere around there. Thank you so much for your prayers as you can see they have paid off! Below I am going to list some praises and prayer requests so you know how to better pray for us and you can see how the prayers that you have prayed for us have been answered.

Prayer requests:
-That Elias and I will find the necessary alone time that we need as a couple while living in a house with 40 people.
-That we will be able to go deeper in our relationship with Christ and each other
-That God will prepare us for the Gambia and the Gambia for us

Praises:
-Almost being at full funding!
-Arriving in Harrisburg safely and beginning to adjust
-Being with other young adult with the same vision as us.

Blessings to all of you and thank you for your continued support!

Update

We realized that it has been awhile since we updated the blog and some of you may be wondering where we are at. We are almost half way there! Right now if we had 60 people willing to pledge $20 a month we would be all the way there! This is not a very big number considering the number of you that have supported us already. If you feel as though this is something that you could do just let us know and we will send you all of the information that you need. We also wanted to remind everyone that New Bremen will be hosting a BBQ pork or pulled pork dinner on Sept. 13th in the fellowship hall right after church to help us raise additional funds. Elias and I won't be there for this dinner because we will be in Pennsylvania for our commissioning that evening. If you live down that way and would like to come it will be at Mount Joy Mennonite church in Mount Joy, PA beginning at 7. We are unsure if our parents will be able to stay for the entire service so it would be wonderful if we could have some friends and extended family join with us! We will try to continue to keep you updated as we continue to receive updates. Blessings!

Elias and Jess