9 more sleeps

I only have 9 more sleeps left at home in Castlegar. My mom always makes my final days at home really special by making sure that we do the things I love to do, see my favourite people, and eat my favourite foods one last time. So tonight she made my favourite food of all time: Rice Krispie squares! Yes, Rice Krispie squares, pineapple and steak are my 3 favourite foods. My amazing mother has planned for a few special steak dinners this week too. I love her.

The goodbyes have started as well. With it being the holidays, I have been able to see some of my friends from far away lands who have come home.

9 more sleeps...

Going Away Open House

I will be having an open house on January 3rd at 2pm at the MacGregor house in Castlegar. I am inviting all my friends and family to come and enjoy an afternoon of laughing, chatting, tea, treats, a fews tears and one last big hug goodbye!

Hope to see you there!

Recieving the Gift

It's only a few days away from Christmas. It seemed to creep up on me really fast this year. I have been really trying to digest all that is going on around me. My last Christmas looked much different than this year but it was by far my favourite. I am always amazed at our consummerism yet I still buy into it. My mind is constantly thinking about my trip and all the details that need to come together. And I have yet to stop and think about the true reason I am going on this trip: Jesus. And it just so happens to be the time of year when we get to celebrate His birth, this great Gift that we were given.

I have been recieving numerous gifts over the past week. Its been a bit overwhelming as last year I didn't get a single gift. But tonight I was challenged. Challenged to think about the true Gift I am given. I am challenged to sit back and receive. To recieve this great Gift that I by no means earned or deserved. This Gift that was given to me because of one simple reason: Love. Because He loves me...

Friday January 8, 2010...

is my departure date!

 After months of waiting, my ticket was finally booked today. This will by far the most adventurous trip yet. I will be on 6 planes before I even arrive in Nairobi on January 14. I am heading to the Word of Life International Office in Schroon Lake NY for a few days before going to Kenya. I am excited to land in Seattle, Chicago, Albany, New York City, Amsterdam and then finally Nairobi. I am really looking forward to stepping off the plane and feeling the warm evening air in Nairobi!

Support Letter

Since I was a little girl, Africa has consumed me. It was strange as no one in my family had ever been to Africa, I didn’t know anyone who was from Africa or who had any other skin colour than white, I never learned about it in school or saw it on the news but I knew Africa existed and I was captivated. As I grew older, the calling to be in Africa strengthened and I began to pursue this passion. I headed there as a naïve 17-year-old, then a 19-year-old college student, and eventually resided there for 10 months as a 20-year-old short-term missionary. As I pondered where my life was going and what my next steps should be, nothing fit. I planned to do other things, but my ambition faded. I felt pressured by the standards of our society and what the “right” or “normal” life was. Eventually I broke down. That’s when God stepped in and reminded me of my great love for Africa. He has placed this immense passion for Africa in my heart so that I would pursue it for His Glory! 

So finally I said, “Yes, God” to pursuing a life-long calling to Africa. 

In April, I stepped foot onto a Word of Life compound just south of Mombasa. I was put there unexpectedly due to circumstances in my work. I did not know that these 3 weeks would open new doors for me. At the end of my time there, I decided to pursue becoming a part of this ministry. Word of Life is a worldwide youth ministry. They work in 56 countries around the world training, investing in and building up the next generation of youth. If you would like to learn more about their work you can visit www.wol.org

In January, I will be starting a short-term bible course offered by Word of Life in Nairobi. Once I have finished, I will move back to Mombasa and work with the team there for the rest of the year. I will be involved with their various bible clubs, youth camps, schools, outreaches, and concerts. I am also looking forward to creating more relationships with young girls and continuing the relationships that I made last year. I am beyond excited to be back in Kenya, to be a student, and to mingle amongst the people I love.

One thing God has put on my heart is to be more connected to people back home. I have found a passion for writing and telling stories of the people I meet, the things I experience and the ways God is working in lives across the world. I have created a blog (www.movingwithcompassion.blogspot.com) to keep you frequently updated with the happenings of my life in Kenya and will also be sending out my regular email updates.

But I need YOU! Would you please consider being a part of my support team? There are two ways you can support me.

1. Prayer/Encouragement – This time I will not have security issues so I am able receive/write emails more. Would you commit to praying for me? Or writing me an email of encouragement or a phone call every once in a while? If so would you send your email address and mailing address to nikolemacgregor@gmail.com. If you would like to be a part of my prayer/encouragement team, could you start praying for the following items?

  - All the pieces to be put into place before I leave in less than a month!

  - My family as their daughter heads to Africa YET again

  - God’s ultimate provision of everything I need

  - My heart as I leave my family and friends, I become a student again, and I return to the nation and people I love.

  - That my ministry in Kenya would continue to be fruitful, that I would be receptive to the lead of the Holy Spirit, and that God would work powerfully in and through me.

2. Financially- As the organization is a faith-based organization, I am required to raise my own support/salary. My budget for this trip will be 12,000CAD that includes my airfare, tuition, room and board, pocket money, immigration fees, and administration fees. If you feel led to financially support the ministry in Kenya, you can fill out the form at the bottom of the page and send your gift to the address listed. If you would like to make an online gift, you may call Elisabeth Dineen at 518-494-6360 (Schroon lake, NY) and she will be happy to set that up for you!

Thank you for being apart of this wonderful journey with me. My prayer is that you too would be blessed by what God is doing in lives of people across the world!

Ubarikiwe, (Blessings)

Nikole

“But when He saw the multitudes,

He was moved with compassion for them,

 because they were weary and scattered,

like sheep having no shepherd.”

Matthew 9:36

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I want to partner with the ministry of a Word of Life missionary. I would like my gift to benefit the ministry of Nikole MacGregor and the work in Launch. I understand that the use of my gift is subject to the discretion and control of Word of Life Fellowship, Inc. Donations will be acknowledged with a tax-deductible receipt.

  ____ I would like to pray faithfully for this ministry            
  ____ I would like to make a special gift of $_____        
   ____ would like to commit to make regular gifts            

            of $______   monthly.                                                 

Name_______________________________
Address___________________________________

City________ Province ________ Postal Code________

Email____________________________________

for office use: 0L0766                                                           

Please send this form along with your gift to:

Canada: Word of Life, RR8, Owen Sounds, ON, N4K 5W4

USA: Word of Life, PO Box 600, Schroon Lake, NY 12870

*Please make checks payable to Word of Life (NOT me)

Dominik Hasek was at Jesus' birth?

Last year I bought this beautiful, hand crafted nativity set in Kijabe. I loved it because the people have faces that are shaped like those of the Masai people. That was the purpose of the artist. So I pulled it out this year and proudly displayed it in our living room next to our Christmas tree. My parents and I sat there ooing and aweing at it when my brother comes upstairs with his own additions to the scene. Apparently Dominik Hasek, the famous hockey goalie, witnessed Jesus being born over 2000 years ago! And even the Jack-in-the-box head joined them in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! The frogs also must have heard the news and followed the star to where Jesus lay. Wow!

I love goofing around with my family.

My brother and I have always liked to wrestle.

Although, these days I am the one who ends up getting hurt

Happy Birthday Daddy!

These 3 people are what makes moving across the world really hard. If only I could convince them to move with me....