First Blog EVER

Hello cyberspace gurus! You have no idea what a miracle it is that I am actually contributing to this blog under the intense tutoring of Cayla Newkirk! My name is Jamye Richmond and I am the AARP representative to the Mombasa mission team.  To say that I am the oldest member of the team is a serious understatement but I am proof that God can use anyone, no matter what their stage of life.  If you are going to quote my age, you have to precede it by saying loudly and with conviction, ONLY 57 years old.  Just don't call me Memaw! 

I grew up in Tyler, Texas and spent most of my waking hours at First Baptist Church, Tyler.  That church was truly a mission-minded church in a sense that few can understand.  I grew up knowing about missions and loving missions and going on mission trips and working in mission vacation Bible schools.  I can't explain the heritage of missions that I knew from infancy because of that church.  Fast forward through the last 50 years and I have had continual joy in learning about missions and being involved in missions ministry through many churches and organizations.  God put that on my heart from childhood and it remains my passion today.

Now to the present, I am your relatively normal wife, mother of three grown children, mother-in-law to the most awesome son-in-law and daughter-in-law, and teacher of 7th grade Texas history.  I also love taking 8th graders to Washington, DC every year and high school students to New York and Europe. I love history!  I have had a dream of going on a mission trip to somewhere, anywhere, in Africa for over 30 years and had really pursued that possibility for the last 5 years with no success until now.  Honestly, I was aware of this mission trip but thought it was limited to college age students so after months of knowing the group was going, I was shocked to find out that even I could be a part of it.  God has miraculously provided the support of my husband and children and friends.  My faith is bolstered every day by the prayers and encouragement of my church and team members.

I would request your prayer support in trusting God to provide the finances, energy, strength to endure the long flights, words of testimony, the drive to prepare for what God has ahead, safety and health, and quick recovery to come back to the start of a new school year.  I want to be ready to speak words from the heart of God and share His love with all I encounter.  Praise to the Lord for knowing the desires of my heart and providing the fulfillment of those dreams!