Looks Can Be Deceiving

This blog was also written while I was on the plane heading to Dakar.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Looks can be deceiving"? Well, I just experienced that saying first-hand.

I just finished my in-flight dinner, comprised of some beef and rice dish, salad, bread and cheese, a brownie, and what I thught was turnip greens. That's where the deceiving part comes in...with the green substance on my meal tray. Any true Southern (and Alabama) girl should know her greens. I think it's programmed into our DNA when we're created. Anyways...I took one bite, expecting to taste turnip greens and boy was I disappointed. It was spinach with some kind of potato in it...not turnip greens.

So...the reason for me sharing this is to make a comparison. Sometimes looks can be deceiving when it comes to Christians too. Sometimes they go to church, raise their hands, pray, maybe even have roles of leadership. They do it all and on the outside they look like a Christian, but when they're alone they're different. They watch movies and t.v. shows they shouldn't watch. They say words they shouldn't say. They participate in activities they shouldn't participate in. They do all these things when no one is watching...

Of course this really isn't the case. There is someone who is watching all the time... God knows everything we do and say. So why do we try and hide from him?

I can sum all I've said in three sentences. A Christian should live his/her life the same on the inside and the outside. Don't let anyone, including yourself, be deceived by your looks. Let everyone know who you are and what you stand for.

**Disclaimer... this isn't the best picture of turnip greens, but the only one I could find. :)

In Flight

So...this was originally written while I was on the airplane. However, since this is the first time I've had enough time to update, here is this blog... :)

Welcome to the In-Flight Installment of The Elisabeth Chronicles!

I'm sitting on the plane now heading to Dakar, Senegal to begin my journey on fulfilling the calling that God has placed on my life.

This morning I experienced a variety of emotions. i felt sad about leaving my family, my church family, my friends, and even my dog... :) ...not to mention leaving the only life I've known for my 23...almost 24...years of life.

However, as sad as it was to leave my family, i still feel happy and excited about this new adventure in my life. God has blessed me so incredibly much with this gift -- this calling -- and I cannot wait to see what all God has in store for me!

Once again, thank you to everyone backing me with encouragement, prayer, and support. You all mean so very much to me!

A Big To Do List

There were so many things I had to do before leaving for Africa, so I've been checking things off every day from the biggest To Do list I've ever written. Here are just a few things I've checked off my list.

-- Go to Wal-Mart to get supplies...and I did this at least a zillion times (or so it seems), including the 2 1/2 hour long trip and the 1 hour long trip.

-- Go on one last Daddy-Daughter date...We went to see G-Force & to eat dinner at Outback, our favorite place to go together.

-- Spend the day with my mom...We went shopping and to eat lunch at Taco Bell, our favorite place to go together.

-- Spend the day with my "2nd mom" (my Aunt Sandra)...We went to the Peach Park to eat lunch and went window shopping (which is much more fun than shopping for real...you get to save your $$) :)

-- Have a going-away party with my closest friends and family

-- Write letters to each of my kids (from Children's Church)

-- Write letters to my parents and brother and sister-in-law...I'm a letter writer. Can you tell?

-- Send a million or so thank-you notes...at least that's what it seemed like...the lady at the Post Office knew me on a first-name basis after a while :)

-- Get a yellow fever shot...not a fun experience.

-- Start taking anti-malaria meds...It was kind of interesting to see the faces of the pharmacy staff when they saw I needed a year's worth. :)

-- Pack...I was dreading this more than anything. I absolutely positively HATE packing. Therefore, when I had to pack for a year I was dreading it. :)

And I could go on and on... I'm a big list-maker and I love being able to check things off of my to do lists. So, it was almost like a challenge to check different things off this list.

July 2009 E-mail

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the July installment of The Elisabeth Chronicles. Since this is the first installment, I thought I’d share my testimony and calling with all of you.

About five years ago God called me to work with the people of Africa…more specifically with the children of Africa. Now at the time I didn’t know exactly where in Africa that’d be, but I knew it would happen. I had just returned from a short mission trip to South Africa and could not get the pictures out of my head. I saw children that were yearning for something greater than food and presents. Sure they enjoyed those things we gave them, but they all wanted more. They wanted to fill the emptiness that was in their hearts. They wanted someone that would be with them forever, someone that would never leave nor forsake them. They wanted to know the love of Jesus Christ. In fact, there was one children’s service held at a village school that we ministered at that I will never forget. In fact there is a moment in that service that is permanently stuck in my mind. The preacher had asked the children if there were any that wanted to ask God into their hearts, to forgive them of their sins, and live with them forever, and at least a hundred children raised their hands, with tears in their eyes, saying yes they wanted to know more about God. They wanted God in their hearts and lives.

That’s when I knew. God wanted me to minister to children like those. And there was a reason that God had me going to college to get an education degree. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to become a teacher. And now I know that was all part of God’s master plan. In fact, this August I will begin teaching 3rd grade at Dakar Academy in Dakar, Senegal…which is in West Africa. This school is owned by the Assemblies of God, United World Mission, and World Venture (formerly known as Conservative Baptist International). It is a school for the children of missionaries, embassy officials, and others. Along with teaching I will also be working with Assembly of God missionaries, Tom and Marla McLane, in ministering to the people of the local villages.

This is such an awesome opportunity and I feel so incredibly blessed to have been granted the chance to do it. And yes, I will need financial help. The school will furnish housing and a small stipend every month, but not enough to fully live on. But more importantly than the financial help, I’m asking for spiritual help. More than anything I need your prayers. I need men and women praying for me that I’ll say and do the right things…that I’ll go to the right places and minister to the right people…that I’ll continue to do what God wants me to do.
If you would are already supporting me through prayers and through monthly pledges, I thank you. If you are not currently supporting me financially, I ask you to consider this in the future. And please know that any contributions (whether they be monthly pledges or one-time offerings) can be tax-deductable. Just make your check out to Abundant Life Assembly of God (my home church) and they will then turn around and send the money to me and send you a statement at the end of the year showing your tax-deductible gift.

Thank you and God bless,
Elisabeth Nichols
enichols85@gmail.com

Senegal Address:
Elisabeth Nichols, Dakar Academy
B.P. 3189
Dakar, Senegal – West Africa

USA Address:
Abundant Life A/G
P.O. Box 130
Brent, Alabama 35034 – USA

My Parents

Dad -- I'm a daddy's girl, that's for sure. My dad is my hero. He's shown me how a Christian man, husband, and father should act. He's battled cancer and came away with a testimony of healing that will always bring me to tears.

Mom -- My mom's my best friend, and always has been. I've always been able to talk to her about anything. She's given me what I feel to be the best possible example of a Christian woman, wife, and mother. She's overcame a lot in her life and has never waivered in her walk with God.

My parents are truly awesome people. I've been so blessed to have been born into the family I was. I've aways felt this way, but now that the time for me to move to Africa is soon approaching I feel it even stronger. We've always been a very close family, so I know it's going to be hard at times being thousands of miles away from them. However I'll be able to remember what they've always taught me... God is in control. And if God calls you to do work for him (even thousands of miles away from your family) He will take care of you. Plus...God will never put more on you than He knows you can handle.

My prayer for today is... Dear Lord, please help me to make my parents proud. Help me to do what you have called me to do to the best of my ability. And Lord, help me not to miss them so much that I lose sight of what I'm there to do. Help both myself and my parents through the times of sadness and "missings."

The 12 Opossums

The following is from a lady in Oregon. It is priceless! The Bible explained by kids - truth has been redefined!

One of our favorite jobs has been leading Children’s Church. We try to do more than baby-sit our church's beloved little ankle-biters during their time in our special Children’s Church facility. We aim to give them a solid background in biblical history. At the end of each year we give the kids pencils and paper and ask them to chronicle what they have learned. This assignment never fails to elicit some intriguing responses. In case you're a little foggy on your biblical history, let our students help you with this complete overview of the Bible, compiled from their essays.

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one,' but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars. Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was able (get it – Abel).

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then He gave them His top ten commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's bottom (the Bible uses a bad word for bottom that I'm not supposed to say. But my Dad uses it sometimes when he talks about the President). Oh, yeah, I just thought of onemore: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua, who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the Battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven, but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

There! Now you understand it, right? :)

Saying Goodbye to My Kids

Yesterday was especially hard for me. A girl (my possible replacement) came to check out our church. After church one of my kids (a 5 year old adorable boy) came up to her, grabbed her hand, and said I'll show you around our Children's Church room if you come with me. Now, let me first say, that I'm proud that he was so polite and friendly to her. But, I broke down. I started crying right then. And I HATE crying in public...especially in front of my kids. So, I tried sneaking out the back door and going to wait in the car so they wouldn't see me crying. Then, one of my other kids (the 11 year old tender-hearted boy I bring to church every week) saw me crying and came to the car and asked me why I was crying. Therefore, on the way taking him home I explained to him how sad it is for me to leave them and how much I'm going to miss each one of them. This made him cry...which of course made me cry even more.

On Sunday, July 26 I'll say goodbye to my kids (my Children's Church kids). I've watched these kids grow so much in the last year...not only physically, but spiritually and socially. These kids have definitely attached themselves to my heart. And as each day passes I begin missing them more and more. And as bad as I hate it, I know I'll break my no crying in public rule.

5 Things You May Not Know About Me

So...I stole the idea for this blog from a friend of mine. It's kind of neat to learn new things about your friends, so I thought hey, why not do it myself. Here's five things about me that very few people know.

1) I want to skydive.

2) I used to not want to share my testimony because I felt it wasn't a good one because I wasn't delivered from anything really bad. I was saved as ayoung child and have lived for the Lord ever since. (I now think otherwise.) :)

3) I used to want to be a figure skater. Funny since I've never ice skated before. :)

4) I used to love to watch Batman. And when I was in 2nd grade, I wrote Batman as my name on an assignment and lied and told the teacher the boy next to me wrote it on my paper. I know, I know...that was bad. :)

5)My biggest fear in the world is that I'll never get married and have children.

My Papa

Claude Nichols is a great man. He's a devoted husband, a loving father, and the best grandfather and greatgrandfather there ever was. He is a Korean War veteran. He is a cancer survivor. He is a child of God. He is a confidant, a mentor, a hero. He is my papa.

I remember...

- playing my little plastic guitar with him playing his guitar at church.

- him coming to our house on his lunch break giving me "pite" -- Well, I don't remember this one since I was only a few years old.

- him letting me and my brother catch minnows at the bait shop when we were little.

- him bringing us food when we were out of electricity for 2 weeks after a hurricane.

- him crying telling his church how proud he was of me for becoming a missionary.

I have so many memories of my Papa and I know there will be more memories to come. But I know that, at 79 years old, our time together is running low. I know this is a somewhat morbid blog, but I've been thinking a lot about this lately, especially since I'll soon be living across the "big pond" from him.

My prayer for today is... Dear Lord please heal my Papa. Help him to get healthier and stronger every day. Lord help my family and myself value each moment we are given with him. And Lord, in the event that something does happen while I'm thousands of miles away, please help me to be at peace since I wouldn't be able to come back. Help me to realize that in the case of that event, I should rejoice, not cry, because I know that my incredible Papa is in Heaven with you.

Kids say the sweetest things...

Miss Elisabeth, I'm going to miss you ever so much when you go across the ocean.

This is what one of my kids from Children's Church said to me tonight. I couldn't speak at first. I just hugged him. Then I told hm that was the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me. And it was...

In the past year and a half I've grown to love this group of kids. They range in age from 4 to 12, and all are so close to my heart. It's going to be hard to leave them, but I know God will send someone even better than me (hard, I know) :) to take my place.

So, in conclusion, here's some of the sweet (and funny) things my Children's Church kids have said...

"How long will it take you to drive to Africa?" Well sweetie, I'll be flying. It's too far to drive. "But Miss Elisabeth, we go to the beach every year and it's a far drive."

"Jesus is the Life of Bread. He gives us life like bread...long and healthy." -- on explaining how Jesus is the Bread of Life.

"Heal these bodies Lord and save them so they don't get super hot in the bad place." -- a prayer for the sick people and lost people in the world.

"Jesus loves everybody and he doesn't care what color people are...white, black, blue, green. He loves them all." Sweetie, there aren't blue and green people. "Yes ma'am there is. Those are my friends you and mama can't see." -- a 4 year old telling me that Jesus loves everybody (even imaginary friends)

My prayer for tonight...

Dear Lord, please help these children grow into the adults you want them to be. Help them reach their full potentials in whatever you call them to do. And Lord, please let the person that takes my place love these children as much as I have.

In 21 days, my life will change...

In exactly 21 days, I will embark on a journey that will forever chnge my life. I will be flying from Atlanta, Georgia to Dakar, Senegal (West Africa) to begin my tenure as a 3rd grade teacher at Dakar Academy. I will also be working alongside Assembly of God missionaries, Tom & Marla McLane, in their ministry there.

Nine years ago God called me to work with children. Since I’d always dreamed of becoming a teacher, I assumed that’s what God had planned for me to do. Four years later, while on a mission trip to South Africa, God furthered that by calling me to the mission field and then the following year He confirmed what I’d been dreaming of. God called me to the mission field of Africa.

The reality of this has finally sunk in. In 3 weeks, I'll be living quite a few miles and an ocean away from my family, friends, church, and the place I currently call "home." I can't wait until the time comes that I am able to call the people I live around, work with, teach, worship with, and minister to, my family, friends, and church...and the place I am moving to "home."

My prayer for today is...

Dear Lord, please use me in a mighty way in this journey. Help me to further your kingdom. Please help me to do and say the right things. Help me to learn from those already there. Help me to make this place I am going to home.