9,778 miles

Jambo (Hello in Swahili),

Things have been crazy since the last time I wrote. I have been attempting to wrap my mind around the craziness that is about to happen this summer. It will be full of adventure and stretch me as a human being. 

So far we will be leaving around May 28 and returning early July 7th. I can't believe that I will be gone that long, not to mention living in Africa. 

Food packed by APU student body.
Will be distributing this summer.

What I will be Doing: 

We will be partnering with Friends and Family Community Connection (FFCC Tanzania Info) to install water filters in the village of  Mwando. We will also be working at a children’s feeding centers in Singida Town, Singida, Tanzania. The feeding center feeds over 1,000 children a day. For most of those kids, it is the only meal that they get all day. 

While we are there, we are bringing all of our own food. We were told that children will come to our door at night and beg for food. If we give it to them, they could possibly be beaten to death because food is so rare in that part of the country.  As someone who has a soft spot for children, I have no idea how I will be able to handle this. I think this will break my heart. I will need to be covered in prayer for this.

Funding
I honestly have no idea how I will be able to raise enough funds for this trip. The price for the trip is around 4,000 dollars.  This is all stressing me out, but I have come to the conclusion that if God wants me to go on this journey then the funds will be provided.

Trip Prep: 
Besides taking a crash course in Swahili, I am starting to physically train for the trip. This has proven to be a daunting task, but I know it will be rewarding in the end.  Tanzania is an excellent goal and motivation to live a healthier lifestyle. Besides physically preparing, I have also been doing interviews for positions on the team. As I interview people, I am excited too see so many people who are concerned for others. My heart has been encouraged and I can't wait till my final team is assembled.

How to Pray
Please pray for my future team members, trip details, and that God will do miraculous things this summer. Also pray for peace, strength, and endurance.  This is the biggest task I have ever taken on. 

How to Give 

Make sure to select Team Tanzania
Fill out name: Danielle Ernest

Now the question I keep getting.. How do you give? Well the easiest way is online. When filling out the form, make sure it looks like the picture on the side. Make sure to select Team Tanzania  and fill out name: Danielle Ernest.   Give Here





Honest Moment 
I don't want this blog to come across as a "look how awesome I am" or "give me money". I long to share this experience with you, because I honestly love a good story. This is a story about a girl who is going outside her comfort zone and has a heart to serve those in need. She will come face to face with hunger, desolation, and brokenness. She has no idea how she will handle everything nor how she will afford it. Yet, she trusts God for all of it. This is faith in action... and it's scary.... and I long to share this adventure with you. Allow me to open your eyes to a culture, a people, and country 9,778 miles away. It is my hope and prayer that sharing this with you, will encourage you to step out.

Thank you for the support, prayers, and encouragement. If you have questions or comments, please email me at danielle.ernest@gmail.com.

Hadi Wakati Mwingine (Until Next time),

Danielle


Do justice, embrace love, and walk humbly with God" - Micah 6:8

Soli Deo Gloria

Hello Friends.

Many of you know me as the Disneyland blogger from Tales of a Disneyland Cast Member ; however this is an entirely different adventure and blog.  This blog is dedicated to my travels and undertakings.

It’s hard to describe exactly what I am feeling at this moment. I am feeling humbled, overjoyed, ecstatic, and overwhelmed.   Tonight is the beginning of an incredible adventure. I found out today that I am leading a 6 week trip to Tanzania this summer…That’s right 6 weeks in Africa...... and I AM LEADING.  Am I crazy? Probably. How did I reach this point? How did I make this decision? Well let me take you back 7 years.

The plane touched down in Uganda.  After 2 days of travel, I stepped off the plane into another a world. This was Africa. Kampala smelled of smoke, red dirt stained my shoes, and I was the only blonde. Next thing you know, I am at an orphanage. Children are screaming out of jubilee.  I step off the bus and am surrounded by a sea of faces. (The video below will help show you what happened in that moment. The quality isn't HD, but you will get the picture)

After this moment, I was ushered into a small room and was told I would meet my sponsor child. The child my family and I had been supporting for 3 years. When I first saw her, I immediately loved her. We had been corresponding for years, but here she was in person. She was the same age as my sister and she had a smile that lit up the room. I bent over to give her a hug and I knew I had found my new home. For the next few weeks, I spent time at that orphanage and fell in love with those kids. That sea of faces quickly became

names and children that I personally knew. So as you can imagine, saying goodbye was painful. As I stepped on the plane, I vowed that one day I would return to Africa.    

The years have gone by, but those children have not left my mind or heart. It was an experience that stuck with me and has completely changed my life. Uganda has become a big part of me. I am an advocate for those who have no voice, the orphans, and those who need love..

Hopefully all the pieces are coming together on why I would want to spend 6 weeks out of my summer serving strangers on the other side of the world. 

My biggest hope and prayer is that journey will be a declaration of how amazing God is. Honestly, I have no idea how I will afford this. I can't take this time off. I don't have any formal leadership training. It's terrifying.. As I make up all of these excuses, I feel like Moses at the burning bush. He made excuse after excuse on why he could not return to Egypt. (If you have no idea what I am talking about.. read Exodus 3). I have chosen to follow, even though I don't know the outcome. I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do. This trip is dedicated to "Soli Deo Gloria", which means  Glory to God alone. This is God's trip and may his will be done. My prayer is that you be a first hand witness to the wondrous things that will happen before, during, and after this trip. 

Before I ask you to sponsor or donate, I ask for your prayers. Please pray for this trip. Yes, we are still 7 months away. But, I ask that you pray for every aspect of this trip. This weekend is the leadership retreat. Pray for all the teams that are coming together. These young men and women are going out into the world to love those and share the hope of Jesus. Pray for safety,  receptiveness, connections, my team members, funding, and mostly that God will be given all the Glory.   

Join me on this wild faith adventure. 

Blessings. 

Danielle 

"Do justice, embrace  love, and walk humbly with God" - Micah 6:8

Ps. If you want to sponsor a child, I recommend Uganda Buyamba.