{THE PROPOSAL}

Assuming that you are dying to know how it all went down, I am going to tell you!

The day started unlike most days, simply for the fact we both woke up sick. So off we went on an adventure with a pit stop to buy medicine, tissues and cough drops. Louis had called me earlier that week to ask if for my birthday we could road trip to Southport, N.C and I with excitement agreed.

Why Southport: Two weeks before we began dating, a friend and I went to Rocky Mount for the weekend to visit Louis. While there we watched the movie Safe Haven to which I commented many times, "that place is beautiful, I want to go there." While watching this movie we were just friends just like we had been for the four previous years, but I think we both knew that was about to change.

So two weeks later we were more than friends. The week after that, Louis took me to Southport. It was amazing. So amazing that while I was living in Africa and Louis and I (via skype date) made an adventure list for when  I returned, a second trip to Southport made the number one spot!

Five hours of driving and a box of tissues later, we were in Southport. After a great lunch at Taylor's Restaurant we went to the swing.

The swing: During our first trip to southport we swung on a swing by the water for a long time (I later found out that, that day seven months ago Louis knew that he would one day propose there). While we were walking to the swing he said, "I have your birthday present, but you have to fix it (my birthday was the day before)."

So we sat on the swing and he handed me a journal. It was a journal that I bought in Africa and gave to Louis. This past week the tassel that holds it shut had broke, so he handed it to me to fix while the swing swung back and forth. After many minutes of trying to fix it (and many minutes of me being very confused) I handed back the pieces to the journal saying that I just couldn't fix it. When he took the pieces of the journal from my hand, he replaced it with a crackerjack box and said, "can you hold this while I read you something?" And then I knew!

The crackerjack box: The night before I moved to Africa Louis very sporadically said, "sooo.... what kind of ring do you want?" With eyes big as my face and  probably cheeks as red as a cherry I said, "It could come out of a crackerjack box for all I care and I would be happy!"

So while I held a vintage crackerjack box in my hand Louis began to read. He had written to me in it every night for the week leading up to saturday. "You don't know this yet, but in a week I will ask you to be my wife....."

Then, on the final note, he ended with, "will you marry me?"

So I then opened the cracker jack box where there was a small package that said, "your prize is inside."The best "prize" ever, that is!

Then, with an overwhelming amount of joy, I said, "YES!"


After an awesome day full of smiles, we headed home. My favorite memory of that drive home was when Louis looked at me and said, "how many times today do you think we have just looked at each other and smiled?" I don't know the answer to that question, but it definitely was a lot.

On the way home we made a stop that you may not expect..... Bojangles.

Bojangles: When Louis was a little boy Louis told his parents that one day when he wanted to get married he would buy the girl five large fries and ask her to marry him. Since that day many years ago it has been a running joke in his family. It only made since to end our day with a large fry.

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Now, I am sitting here in the Griffin house while my left hand sparkles and I could explode with excitement thinking about November 8th when I will become a Griffin.
                                                                      .............................
Exactly a week before the day Louis proposed we attended my grandparents 50th anniversary and had the honor of watching them renew their vows. At the very end of a fun day, my Ma threw a bouquet, and I caught it.

 

The prophecy of the caught bouquet came true, and I hope that in fifty years I too will be able to throw a  (second) bouquet with Louis by my side. I am so thankful for people like my grandparents and so many others who have been an amazing example of what marriage is. I am thankful for the many people who have shown us an overwhelming amount of love and encouragement these past few days. I am  so humbled by so many people's kind words. Most of all, I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving to our sovereign God who has been gracious enough to bring Louis and I's lives together. He is good - and we are thankful.

{HOMESICK}

Pridefully, I have worried the past few days that people may think that I left Uganda early because I was homesick. I have worried someone might think I am a "quitter." I have worried someone may think I was weak.

While none of these things are true, I did fight being homesick on a daily basis while being in Uganda. There were some days that I thought my heart might just burst because I missed those I love, so much.

Then, I was on my way to America and found myself in the middle of a breakdown. Unfortunately, it was the first of many.

When I have looked at girls in shorts that should be considered underwear, I have missed the modesty of Uganda. When I have been shivering when it actually isn't even cold, I have missed the perfect temperatures of Uganda. When I have heard Americans complaining and words of unthankfulness, I have missed the contentment of Ugandans. But mainly, when I think of the many people I grew to love so much, I miss them.

I guess you could say, that while I sit here in my air conditioned American home.... I feel a little homesick.

In the midst of this new type of homesickness, I was asked a question that made me laugh: "where do you live?" I didn't even know what to say.

"Well, I am staying at my parents house, but I am moving to a new city in a few weeks, but I have to be in Raleigh some and......"

In this limbo of life, amongst so many changes, it feels hard to even pin-point what home is.... yet still, I feel homesick.

..............................

2 Corinthians 5:1 says, "For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands."

In the past few days I have meditated on the fact that while I have been able to call Elizabeth City, Raleigh, Florida, and Uganda all my homes, none of them are home. This life is just temporary. 

Am I living that way? Am I living for eternity? 

Am I comfortable in this world, or am I living in a way that shows others I am living for somewhere greater. Is my daily goal to add to the Kingdom, or is it to people-please in this temporary home. 

Today, I am thankful for this strange feeling of discontentment. I am thankful for the reminder that I wasn't made for this place, but somewhere greater. Today, I am thankful for the reminder this is just my temporary home. 

xoxo, 

Jordan 

A Message From America

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I am in America.

Two years ago over a cup of coffee, the founder of API and I dreamed about what it would look like to serve the API team in the states. This was after a short-term trip to Uganda where we realized that my career goals not only would serve API well, but also was something they had been praying for, for years.

That led to me moving to Uganda. I am able to see the many ways God used me there – all Glory to Him. While I served the people of Uganda, I also was working on bringing the ministry to the states. After much prayer, we (the leaders of API) have decided it would be best if I began my ministry here in the states, effective immediately. As we are looking forward to expansions that are happening in API, such as our plan of building a school for street children, we see the great need of forming sponsorship in the states.

Also, we are ready to open another children’s home, but need the majority of our current children to be sponsored, before we bring more in. I am excited about finding sponsors so that more children can be removed off the streets and placed in a loving home.

The needs here are vast, and I am so excited about getting to work! If you would like to learn more about the ways I will be serving in the states or if you, your organization, ministry, or church family would like to get involved – I would love to talk to you about how that can happen.

I know many of you have supported me financially along this journey, and this is significantly earlier than my expected return date; but the ministry is growing and changing so quickly. We couldn’t have known how things would work out, and that the situation would dictate my early arrival. I am very excited about my continued work with API from the States. I can’t begin to tell you what amazing things this ministry is doing, but the needs are great!!!

I am so thankful for the support, prayers and encouragement you have all provided me and know will continued to be provided for me. I look forward to sharing about my experiences in Uganda and inform you of the big things God is doing there!