Welcome to the United States!

We're back!! We are in DC until tomorrow afternoon. While we're here we are debfriefing on our summer we spent in Africa. It is hard to believe that I actually lived there, even though it was only a month. There are so many stories I want to type about and so many amazing memories. All I can really say is I had an amazing time. It was hard, but it was such a growing process. The people and families we met there have definitely changed me for the better, and I am so blessed to have been able to get to know all of them. Spending time with the children in Old Naledi was incredible. The little girl, Ellie, I wrote about earlier will always be with me. She was such a joy. When I can I will post some pictures. The last 10 days we were there we were at the University of Botswana doing minstry there. That was awesome too! The students there were inviting and eager to know why were there. I think the most amazing story happened on our last Tuesday there. Which was 2 days before we flew home.
Me and Emily partnered up for the day and went onto campus to talk to students. First, we talked to three girls. After we were done talking to them I just felt defeated. I felt like I didn't do or say the right things. Pretty much I just felt like I screwed up. But, Emily was amazing and she just spoke truth and love into my heart. So we kept on walking and praying. We had one last survey, so we went up to a girl sitting outside the library. Her name was Florence. We started talking throughout the survey, and she was born and raised Catholic, so that was great because we were able to connect on that level. I started going through the Knowing God Personally booklet, which was in English and Setswana. I got to the second point and her 2 friends came up. Initially, I was thinking "darn! Now shes' gotta go and I'm half way though". I asked her if she wanted to take the booklet and head out, but she said that she wanted to stay and finish. Her friend, Nelly, came up and was really curious about it and asked if she could stay as well. So we went through the booklet together and at the end she decided she wanted to accept Jesus Christ and Florence decided she wanted to give her life fully to the Lord and stop trying to 'control' her life. It was such an amazing afternoon! After we prayed I got into another conversation with Nelly. She asked me how you interpret scripture because she really didn't know what to do. We talked about that for a little while, and then I asked her if she had a Bible.
She told me that she didn't, and I asked her if she would like mine. Her eyes lit up and she was totally blown away that I would willginly give her something without her asking. I wrote her a note in the back and gave her my email. It was an incredible experience to be able to give such a great gift on my birthday. Usually, it's custom to get gifts, but being able to bless her life that way was memory that will always be in my heart.

That's just one story from a plethora of stories this summer. Thank you all so much for your prayers over our team. We really had an amazing summer. The Lord is so so good.


ps- I also was given an Africa name! It is, Boitumelo, which means Happiness. You pronounce it - Bwetumela.

Again, thanks to everyone who has been a part of this trip. It most definitely changed my life and I am so thankful!

1 Cor. 10:31

xoxo
Nicolette

Oo We're half way there!

Hi everyone!

Two weeks down! The trip so far has really been amazing, and I have learned a lot. Last night we showed the Jesus film in Old Naledi. There were roughly about 1,000 people there. It was incredible, and it was SOOO cold. When they say it’s winter in Africa, they mean it! A nine year old girl who is 9 sat in my lap for the last half of the movie and she just shivered. I felt so bad. She was in a skirt and long sleeve coat. It really hits you hard when you have a situation like that. All you want to do is give them all the clothes you have. But, they are such fun to hang out with. They call us ‘mocoa’ which means “white person”, so that cracks me up. I have just had such a good trip. I want to type all of my stories but I need to send more emails. Thank you for all the prayers!! They are definitely appreciated and felt. J Love you all!

Prayer requests: health, safety and for God to move on the UB. We will be spending next week there and ministering there.

Ps- Africans are relationship focused, not task oriented . . I love it!! I hope to bring that back when I come home.

All my love!

Here!!!

Africa is amazing! We come to the church and use their internet and phones. As of now we get to the church once a week. We are working with the children in Old Naledi at the feeding station. There is a little girl there, Ellie, and she is my little one. She clings to me each day, and I just love her. Over all this trip is going amazingly. God is doing so much in my life. Each day is exciting and new. I'm loving it!! When I get more time I will update more. But just know that we're loving it here, and it's been a life-changing experience. I am just so excited to be here, and feel so blessed to be here.

Love you all :)

Here I go!

Tomorrow is the day!! I can't believe the trip is actually here. I started this journey over a year ago, so I feel like I'm dreaming. I've learned a great deal already, I can't imagine all I will learn once we get started. Thank you all so much for reading this and praying for me and the team.
I am so excited to be re-united with the team! We had so much fun the last time we got together. I know they are going to be awesome people to travel with. I'll be writing again soon! Here we go!!

Just around the river bend!

Just 13 days left to go! Thank you all for praying and supporting me along this journey. I just got back from a family trip in Colorado, and it was so nice. Now it's time to do laundry, relax a wee bit and then head to DC. I am so excited about spending more time with our team, they really are an amazing group of people and I know we are going to have such a good time. We've all got the shots we needed, our passports and not we're just getting all the T's crossed. HOME STRETCH! I can't believe in just 13 days we will be on oure flight over there. It's really not sinking in yet. It probably won't sink in until we get back home. This trip has been in the works for over a year now, and I just can't believe it's so close :-D

please continue to pray for the financial need for our whole project.

Love you all!

Video!!

I tried to post a video for the Botswana SP when I first created this blog, but it didn't work. I believe this one should work! YAY! Watch it here:http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=65847552792&h=PAjTm&u=_uB5f

I know you all are praying for our team traveling there and I can't thank you enough!

Last two weeks!

Here we are! The project dealine is approaching, but God has blown my mind yet again. For a few weeks I was going through a period of doubt. I was nervous and scared about this trip, and whether or not it was actually going to happen. But, God has come in and just really calmed all of that. I have amazing friends and family who have been there to listen, and as soon as they get to speak they remind me of God's calling, and that He is the one who will move in people's hearts to give. I have been so blessed by all of you who have been lifting me up and prayer, and been there for me when I needed you. Thank you so much!!

Today I went to some local businesses around town, and I handed out my support letters. My first stop was our apartment complex club house, to give a letter to the staff. The people who work for our apartment complex are awesome, and we crack up whenever my roomates and I get in there. So anyway, I went in today and asked for one of the girls, and I gave her the letter. She immediately opened it, and right there, myself and the staff talked about Botswana and this awesome opportunity God has given me! It was exactly what I needed. They really encouraged me, and told me they thought what I was doing was incredbile. They were such a blessing to me, and we just had an amazing conversation. One of the woman is actually going to talk to her Dad's church and to her parents about my trip, and I am so thankful for that. The more people who can hear about this trip, the better. I know the Lord will move in people, and I just can not wait to see what his unique plan for me is.

Today, I also got a phone call from the woman who will be my Bible study leader while I am on project. Her name is Leslie and it was really great to talk to her. She has been on staff for a while now, and she has raised support just like me, for all of it. It was such an encouragement to hear how God has provided for her. The amazing thing that blows me away, is that God has a unique plan for all of us. Not just a unique plan for support raising. Each day is hand crafted by him, and every need is met in the very way we need it.

Thank you for staying updated about my trip, and I can not wait to see what God does next!

Here is an update on support raising:
Deadline for support: June 20th
Amount Needed: $4,400
Amount received: $1,900.

If you would like to support me, you can do so online :) click the link below to give your gift online:
https://give.ccci.org/give/View/5453937?pp=Search+Results

You could also mail in your checks to me. If you prefer to do that, please make all checks payable to Campus Crusade for Christ, not to me. Let me know if you would like to mail in a check, by emailing me at: ncositore@radford.edu


Ephesians 3:16-21
Psalm 89:8