Tezz downloading my i-pod for the trip
Omar, Ben and Richard holding the suckers they bought for the kids in Africa.
Conner packing them.
The whole family is part of the ministry.







It is so hard to write about my trip to Africa. I think about blogging every day and every night I cannot sleep (which is every night) as I try to put the words together in my mind. It is like I have traveled to another dimention and I am still trying to process was I really there.

I started journeling the minute I left my home in America because I wanted to capture each and every experience. Just getting to the airport was such a struggle, I worried about how I could possibly go to Africa and survive. The night before I left for the airport I kissed all of my 18 kids and asked each one to pray, knowing that was what was going to get me through this trip. In fact, I asked everyone I talked to pray, church, friends, relatives. And because of the power in that prayer, from the minute I woke up to leave for the airport, I felt a strong presence of God.

Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

I had never departed from Dallas airport before, and I was worried it was going to be as hectic as Los Angeles. Traffic was awful and I was late, which increased my stress even more. But when I walked into the airport everything was quiet and peaceful! Quick check in, kind people, no line......

My other concern was being on long flight and having awful seats and most of my seats had to be assigned at the airport. So I was suprixed when my first seat was by an emergency exit, by a window with tons of leg room.

Shortly after I sat down a young man about thirty filled the seat next to me. He looked extremely ill, sweating, pale and very anxious. I asked him if he was OK and he stated "NO, I feel terrible." My first thought was he is afraid to fly, but he said no he had flown many times. I started praying for him and asking God for dicernment.

He was becoming increasing agitated and seemed to be in a lot of pain. I first tried to get him to calm down, he was hyperventilating, and then called the stewardess for help. She put out a call for a doctor but only a nurse replied, quickly making her way to where we were seated.

Now what took place from that point I deem nothing short of a miracle. The nurse the Lord sent over was a Godly woman, who believed that presence of God was on that plane, and that praying over him was as important as any medical procedure she could administer. We were one in our thoughts and our actions.

Vital signs were taken, oxygen adminstered and he was closely watched. I knew God had placed us both there together, placed on either side of his seat he was coverd with prayer, love and encouragement that everything was going to be OK and I know he felt the strong presence of God. It was just an amazing experience.

Two hours later paramedics wheeled him to the hospital and the other nurse and I just praised God and rested in his presence. We exchanged phone numbers, shared some personal information and went on to our next flight, by the touch of God.

I know God could of told me in many ways he was with me on that trip to Africa. I
long many times for a sign to fall down from heaven or a prophet to walk up to me and say "God is with you" but God has his own intimate way of speaking to his children. Because his sheep hear his voice. So Jesus chose that day to speak to me
through a hurting man and a obedient nurse. Loud and clear I heard him say "I am with you Tanya, on this plane and on this trip."

Jesus said this: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).

And as I met up with the other women I was traveling with I couldn't wait to tell them of how Gods power was going with us on this trip... I just knew it, God had revealed it to me through a hurting man. But I am not sure they could see how God was speaking.... because the message was for me, his little lamb.....