My parents and I will be leaving from church today following many tearful and hugful goodbyes.  We will head down to Georgia stopping at Lee University and Toccoa Falls College for college visits and goodbyes.  Training camp starts at 5pm on Wednesday September 12th.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, wished me well and most of all prayed for me.  I admit a dire need for your prayers in the next few days, weeks and months.  The next few days hold most of the hardest goodbyes.  The next week holds sleeping on hard surfaces (hard on my bad back) and a whole lot of new experiences and new friends.  Flying might bring real trials.  Pray for me as I must get medications through airports/customs, adjust to time changes, have an extreme lack of sleep and endure extensive flights periods. That will just gets me to where I have been praying and preparing for so long.  AFRICA here I come.

Jesus has all these next steps and every great and small thing.  Jesus is the reason for this journey.  Jesus is the reason for the sacrifice.  Jesus is the reason for the goodbyes.  Jesus is the reason for the trials.  Jesus is the reason for the excitement that literally has me jumping up and down. Jesus is it!

I wanted to leave you my base address in Johannesburg.  Feel free to send mail, keep most packages small customs can get sticky.  Thank you for all your encouragement, it means the world to me.

Denise Eckert c/o

AIM� Johannesburg�

PO Box 1284

Ifafi, South Africa  0260

I love you!

~dD~