Leaving on a Jet Plane for Africa

Wow! These past five weeks have flown by. I can not believe that tomorrow morning I will be boarding the plane bound for Conakry, Guinea. I many times set down with every intention of writing a little something something for you all to read, but found I struggle to put it into words.

There have been classes full of information and wisdom shared that has rocked my world and taught me so much of how amazing Jesus is and what a life following Him can be. I have learned more about who I am and the strengths I have that should be tapped into. For one thing I feel alive in front of people, teaching, entertaining, or both. I feel I can handle conflict better and have a better understanding of what makes people tick. There are culture differences and that's the key word, differences. Not right and wrong ways to live but different ones and one must understand the culture they are entering, not wanting to change it, but to understand it and live in it. And let me tell you the power of prayer. Man my prayer life has never been this strong and active and I have seen God answer in major ways. Oh, there is so much more I know i am missing or can't explain but I wish every one I know could do this.

Also I can't forget about fire training and water safety (I love fighting fires and could have been a fish), Cowboy Church, the Gateway Fun Run, Pie Day (celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving), FDDP (Family Dorm Dance Party, and the Electric Cowboy.

Our Gateway team is made up of 12 fantastically fascinating individuals from five different countries. We represent the USA, South Africa, Netherlands, Lithuania, and Canada Eh. Over the past 5 weeks we have become a family and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

So, first thing when we get to Guinea we will head out to our field service site and home for the next 2.5 weeks. There we will be building a playground structure out of tires for a preschool and hanging out and having fun with locals and those that are a part of a handicap village. Who knows what this time will hold but I am sure I will be forever changed, just as I have been in Texas.

We will arrive on the ship November 9th if everything goes according to plan and I will share all about my adventures I am about to have.


Until then here is a video that my friend Suzanne made to document our time here ~

The best gateway ever... from Nicole Pugh on Vimeo.

Thank you all for your support and prayers! My heart is so happy and full of joy. 

Our home: the IOC (International Operation Center)