Merry Christmas!

Hello Family and Friends,

I have finished my online orientation AND I have been accpeted as a teacher at Bamako Christian Academy. Everything is falling into place perfectly as God lines everything up! Praise God!

I have also sent out my first newsletter and my pamphlets to friends and family. I am currently setting up small groups/home meetings with friends and family to expand my partnership with more people. You can get more information on helping support at http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership.aspx?mid=FFF8AD

If you are interested in having me speak at a small group or a home group with some people you know, please contact me. I will be setting these up starting in January. I'd love to come visit and talk at your small group/home group.

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Rebecca Oryniak

inch by inch...getting closer to Mali!

Hello - I hope you are enjoying the Holiday season! I love this time of the year!

Well...I have some praises to share with you:
1. I have had some past problems with my adrenal glands the past three years. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency and at that time the doctors told me that I would have to take prednisone everyday for the rest of my life. However, God has healed me and I am completely 100% off prednisone and have been off prednisone for 2 weeks now! Praise God! I went in last week for testing and my endocrinologist said that my adrenal glands are back to being healthy again...my levels were completely normal! Praise God! I believe this is just one more way that God is taking care of things and preparing me for Mali.

2. I recently received this email which confirms once again that God is sending me to Mali because it is where He needs me to be.....
Rebecca,
I am SO excited to hear you're heading to Mali! I lived for several years
in a country to the northwest, and have a special love and burden for that
part of the world. I also know that finding teachers for Mali was on the
"highest priority" list, and trust that encourages you that you are an
answer to prayer :)
Blessings as you continue on your journey,
Marcia Woodward, GSP training and coaching


3. In addition, I have found someone to rent my condo while I am in Africa. Praise God that He took care of one more thing so I don't have to worry about it!

So...what have I been doing and working on these days?
1. I have been completing my online orientation and training for Wycliffe, USA.
2. I have been setting up a Prayer Advisory Committee.
3. I have been setting up home meetings/home groups with friends so I can meet more people and share God's leading in my life with other people in order to expand on my partnership development.

What can you do?
1. Pray for me to stay focused on the positive things and to stay focused on God's leading.
2. Pray that I can find time and be able to balance all that I need to do with work and preparations for leaving for Mali.
3. Maybe you are able and willing to set up a home meeting or a home group that I can attend and share God's plans for me in Mali with your friends???

I am praying for you and your families this Holiday season as well!
Love,
Rebecca Oryniak

I have Great News!

Yes, it is official. I have been accepted into Wycliffe Missionary Organization/Bible Translators USA. Praise God!

I know I have had some people ask how they can help... At this point there is soooo much for me to plan and think about. I have started looking ahead as well and I am trying to figure out how to handle some things here in Colorado when I am in Mali. Some things that I have started thinking about are:

Praise God! People have already responded and have offered to help with some of these...the ones crossed out are the ones that God has already taken care of with help from my dearest and closest friends and family! God bless you all!

1.) I have a 2009 Subaru Forester that I am still making payments on ($360 approx per month). The total amount due is about $12,000. I am not quite sure what to do...if I should sell it or find someone to take over the payments and use it like a lease??? I need the car now to use for work and I am not sure how I am going to find someone to buy it off me in June/July time frame. It leaves a very small window for me to find someone to buy it before I leave.



2.) I have a condo that I plan on renting out but the carpet is horrible.... I would need to replace the carpet with carpet or flooring of some kind. I looked into different companies but it is very pricey. I am looking into buying wholesale for the product and then maybe finding a few people who would want to help me install it so I won't have to pay for installation/labor costs. The amount of space needed to replace carpet is about 760 square feet. I am looking at spending no more than $700 total for everything. Yet, this has been a struggle to find.

3.) I am looking for someone who would want to "watch over my place" (like a handyman) while I am gone in Mali. Someone who can take care of odds and ends if something needs fixed or worked on.

4.) The person who originally volunteered to watch my dog while I am in Mali is now not quite sure if they can watch her. So, I am looking for a back up plan just in case this person falls through and can't watch her. She is a silver/chocolate lab. She is precious! House trained and loves kids! She loves to play fetch and play outdoors. She will be 2 years old this March.



5.) I have been hitting up clearance racks at stores and buying short sleeve shirts, flip flops, skirts for super cheap. Since it is warm all year round in Mali I will need more summer like clothes. If you have extra summer clothes you are planning on getting rid of while cleaning out the closets and getting winter clothes out...let me know!

6.) I will be looking for someone to rent out my condo in starting May/June timeframe for about $900 per month for rent. It is a 2 bedroom/ 2 full bath condo. I bought it brand new in 2005. It is in good shape and in a good location. It is located at 127th and Colorado Blvd in Thornton.

Well, those are the main concerns at this point. I am sure I will think of a zillion more things as I get closer and closer to departure time. Yet, I am trying my best to take it step by step and not get overwhelmed with all that I have to do before I leave. I know July seems far away now but I know it will be here so quickly and there is a lot to do from now till then!

Thank you for your prayers and support! Words can not express my gratitude for all of the prayers and support! It is comforting to know that I am not doing this alone! I have wonderful friends and partners by myside as I follow God's leading!
Rebecca Oryniak

Accepted into Wycliffe and getting closer to Mali.

Yes, it is official. I have been accepted into Wycliffe. Praise God! I have communicated to all of my employers, fellow coworkers and my family of God's leading to me Mali, West Africa. It has been exciting to have the opportunity to share the good news with others in my life. It has been amazing to see how the topic has opened doors to conversations with friends and family that I would not have had the opportunity to talk of God so openly with if it wasn't for this life changing experience. Many people have come to me with questions and curiousity and it has been a great opportunity for me to talk about how God is leading me to Mali. It has been a great opportunity for me to talk openly about God and His role in my life. I never realized the impact it would have on people in my everyday life (my co-workers, friends and family). Praise God that I have these opportunities to share God's love and awesome plan with others! I was nervous about talking with my parents about Mali; However, actually ever since I spoke to my mom about it, my mom and I have had the most heart felt conversations on the phone than I have had in a really long time with her. It has been special to see our relationship as mother/daughter grow! As for my dad, he didn't take it too well, but I figured he wouldn't do well with the news (he isn't a believer so he doesn't quite understand it all) ..... I will continue to pray for God to open his eyes so he can see Him.

I have been extremely busy ever since I received my acceptance letter. Even though I am accepted into Wycliffe, I had to apply to Bamako Christian Academy seperately as well. So, this past week I have completed my application process to teach at Bamako Christian Academy. I have already started my first on line class which is "Child Safety" and I have started my orientation course on line as well. It sure has kept me busy! I have been trying to figure out how to balance everything.... teaching full time Kindergarten, teaching dance, teaching Sunday School, and taking all of my courses on line (which totals over 50 hours) for Wycliffe. It has been tough! I don't have internet access at my house so I have spent many hours and days at coffee shops trying to get it all done. I have been praying for God to help me figure out how to manage my time the best I can.

Iknow I have had some people ask how they can help... At this point there is soooo much for me to plan and think about. I have started looking ahead as well and I am trying to figure out how to handle some things here in Colorado when I am in Mali. Some things that I have started thinking about are:

1.) I have a 2009 Subaru Forester that I am still making payments on ($360 approx per month). I am not quite sure what to do...if I should sell it or find someone to take over the payments and use it like a lease??? I need the car now to use for work and I am not sure how I am going to find someone to buy it off me in June/July time frame. It leaves a very small window for me to find someone to buy it before I leave.
2.) I have a condo that I plan on renting out but the carpet is horrible.... I would need to replace the carpet with carpet or flooring of some kind. I looked into different companies but it is very pricey. I am looking into buying wholesale for the product and then maybe finding a few people who would want to help me install it so I won't have to pay for installation/labor costs. The amount of space needed to replace carpet is about 760 square feet. I am looking at spending no more than $700 total for everything. Yet, this has been a struggle to find.
3.) I am looking for someone who would want to "watch over my place" (like a handyman) while I am gone in Mali. Someone who can take care of odds and ends if something needs fixed or worked on.
4.) The person who originally volunteered to watch my dog while I am in Mali is now not quite sure if they can watch her. So, I am looking for a back up plan just in case this person falls through and can't watch her.
5.) I have been hitting up clearance racks at stores and buying short sleeve shirts, flip flops, skirts for super cheap. Since it is warm all year round in Mali I will need more summer like clothes.

Well, those are the main concerns at this point. I am sure I will think of a zillion more things as I get closer and closer to departure time. Yet, I am trying my best to take it step by step and not get overwhelmed with all that I have to do before I leave. I know July seems far away now but I know it will be here so quickly and there is a lot to do from now till then!

Thank you for your prayers and support! Words can not express my gratitude for all of the prayers and support! It is comforting to know that I am not doing this alone! I have wonderful friends and partners by myside as I follow God's leading!

Rebecca Oryniak

My adventurous steps towards Mali

Thank you for your support through prayers! I greatly appreciate all of your prayers and support as I step closer and closer to Mali. I wanted to keep you updated as I continue to take adventurous steps towards Mali.

Also, I have already completed three phases with the application process. The next phase is completing an interview which is coming up this Wednesday. All is going well with the application process. I had started the application process with both Wycliffe and Teach Beyond/Avant; However, I feel that the Lord has been leading me to go with Wycliffe. So, my focus has been on Wycliffe more since that has been revealed.

My current Kindergarten class is "pen pals" with the Kindergarten class at Bamako Christian Academy in Mali! It has been exciting to link up and hear from them often. Also, the students that are Kindergartners now at Bamako Christian Academy will be my students (1st/2nd graders) next year. It is amazing how God is linking it all together!

My church, Crossroads Church is having "A Night in Mali" this coming Friday. I have been practicing a Malian dance with the girls from the Dance for Mali fundraisers I held over the summer. I will be dancing with the girls this coming Friday... it should be very exciting!

Today, I spoke in front of the church at the business meeting and shared in a quick 2 minute clip of my new chapter in life "God leading me to Mali". It amazes me to see how supportive people are when I talk and share where I am going and what I will be doing!

This coming week is a busy one. I will be interviewing with Wycliffe which is the last step in the application process. After that, I will be completing on line courses.

Well, that is all for now. I will keep you posted as time goes on and as I finish the application process and move into the beginning stages of preparation for leaving for Mali.

Thank you again for your support and prayers

My First Mali experience

i knew since i was 9 years old that God wanted me to be a teacher. i knew at 22 yrs old that God wanted me to move to Colorado. So i moved to Colorado where i graduated from Colorado Christian University with my MA in Instruction and Curriculum and obtained my Professional Teaching License. However a few years ago God started putting africa on my heart. i didnt quite understand what it all meant. i started looking into peace corps but it all didnt make sense. this past april my church (crossroads church) mentioned a mission trip to mali west africa for a vbs for kids and mothers with AIDS. i knew that was the trip God wanted me to go on. so this past July i went to mali for the first time. i knew the first night in mana that God was not making this a one time trip for me. Leah also felt God telling her that He wanted me there too. and so ever since i have returned to Colorado I have continued to feel God leading me back to Mali. I was praying one day while driving back from colorado springs and I told God that if He wanted me to go to Mali and teach at the Bamako Christian Academy then I will go. As soon as I finished saying that prayer I looked west and saw the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my entire life. The colors were so vivid and bright from purples to pinks to oranges to reds and the sun rays stretched so far. I knew instantly that God was answering me and affirming my words. After that God has continued to give me signs that my time in Colorado is coming to a close for now and that the doors are closing on colorado and opening up in mali. I have been asking for prayer from my closest friends during this time as I start to educate myself on different missionary organizations and try to figure out which one God wants me to be a part of. This is an exciting shift in my teaching career path yet I know it is where God wants me next. I will be keeping you posted as I am just starting with this new journey.