Irene and Ruki

We welcomed Irene and Ruki to our village on April 20th.  Irene recently turned 5 and has been taking care of 2 year old Ruki since their parents abandoned them over a year ago.  Irene is full of spunk and enjoys being a child instead of an adult.  She proudly showed me the pocket on her new shirt.  She's quite pleased with her new clothes and shoes.  They are both responding well to a balanced diet and medicine. 

Easter: the lost are found

     Easter stirs many memories.  Throughout my childhood and early 20's I spent each Easter in my parents' small hometown in WV.  Easter was one holiday I could count on when I would see my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins.  All the sleeveless Easter dresses teased me as I longed for spring, but knew in WV it was likely to snow.  After a weekend of catching up with extended family, my mom's side of the family would all join at the country chapel for the sunrise service.  No sunrise service was complete without the choreographed puppet show to the tune of "Up to the Grave He Arose."  My uncle, Bob, would lead the men in preparing a pancake and sausage breakfast, complete with his famous sausage gravy.  Then we would travel into town to go to church with my Grandma Dolores, my dad's mom.  She was always glowing on Easter.  The members of her church called her "the greeter."  She knew everyone.  If many of us were there she would proudly stand to announce our presence with tears in her eyes.  Later in the service she would join the choir, ringing her handbells to "Christ the Lord is Risen Today."  Then we would go back to her house for Easter dinner.  I know she is passionately playing those handbells in heaven today.
     The past several Easters have been different, one in my hometown, one at my Grandpa's country church, and another in CA, yet the meaning doesn't change.  This year I am in Tanzania.  Today I showed my first graders a simple, animated video of the Last Supper, prayer in the garden, crucifixion, and resurrection.  Many of them had tears in their eyes.  They have repeatedly heard what Jesus endured and why he died, yet it's fresh to them. God frequently speaks to me through their voices. 
       As you celebrate Easter this year, take time to stop and put traditions aside, or at least consider the meaning behind them.  Jesus suffered greatly and died for you.  You are clean and live in freedom from your sins if you have trusted him.  Live for him.
       Last week we learned of two girls in need of a home.  Irene's and Ruki's parents abondoned them when Ruki was just an infant.  Irene recently turned 5 years old and has been caring for 2 year old Ruki.  Tomorrow we hope to welcome them to our Rafiki family.  They are in need of medical care.  Pray for them to adjust quickly and respond to the medical care.
        What a perfect picture of Easter.  Jesus died so that the lost could be found.

sets of siblings

We have several sets of siblings in our village, including 3 sets of twins!  Some live here, and some join us each day for school.  Enjoy!

Redeeming rain

 "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers."  Psalm 1:3

     In my hometown, the average rainfall is 40 inches a year.  I often complain about consecutive days of rain.  However, the past 9 months in Africa have reshaped my attitude about rain.  Here, the rain is vital.  Since I arrived in July it has been dry.  Little did I know the great potential this land held.   Over the past several weeks water from heaven has completely redeemed and trasnformed the land.  What was once a barren, dusty brown landscape, is now vivid green.  The nationals are faithfully working in their shambas (gardens) to sow maize seeds.  In the past week the maize has already grown around 14 inches.  Each day, all around the village the people are working hard to remove weeds that may choke their crops.  

     I can't help but see the analogy in each of our lives.  Just like this land, our lives hold great potential.  When we allow God's Word not only to water us, but to soak into every area of life, we too, look very different.  There's a sense of purpose and meaning.  Worry turns to hope, hurts are forgiven and healed.  Just like the farmers, we must continue to remove the weeds in our mind and heart that do not align with God's truth.

     The theme of growth reoccurs often in my life.  Sunday morning as the pastor spoke on Mark 11,  I was watered by verses 12-14 about the fig tree. The tree had leaves which, from a distance made it look like it had fruit, however when Jesus drew close, the tree had no fruit.  The teaching continued with the difference between leaves and fruit.  Leaves look good from a distance and can represent good works or outward appearances.  However, fruit contains a seed.  If we desire to plant the hope of Jesus in the lives of others, we must have his fruit (Galatians 6:22-23).  Otherwise, we have no seed to offer others.  

      All of this teaching occurs right on time as I teach my class about plants during science.

"The seed is the word of God" Luke 8:11

providential presence and promise

The past two weeks have been school break and full of change.

 

• We said goodbye to the Koops as they left to serve in Zambia.
• We welcomed Jared, a friend from my hometown, who was reassigned to serve here.
• 9 of our 10 boys were circumcised and have been wearing khangas ever since.

 On Thursday and Friday the teachers returned for inservice days.  Our reunions are always full of hugs and smiles.  It's a sweet time to catch up.   A part of our Friday prayer rang with relevance:

"Let us not live uncertain of what we are or where we are going."

 

As I try to prepare for the next season of life, things do not seem to be moving along.  My house has been for sale with little traffic and my teaching applications appear to be stagnant.  This prayer reminded me that I am not defined by a location, job, degree, background, experience, relationship, etc.  While these things may shape my life, Christ alone gives life definition and meaning.  As I lean into him for a future of unknowns, I discover who I am.  

Several weeks ago I blogged about John 5 :17.  My original blog was in response to a sermon based on this passage.  Since then, I've encountered it two more times: once at Swahili church, and once at a devotion.  When I start to feel discouraged about what's ahead, God brings it up again, 

"My Father is working until now, and I am working."  

He is working and I can rest in that.  My eyes don't need to see all the pieces coming together, I simply trust.  

The rainbow over our village tonight was another reminder of God's presence and promise.

flower girls

past...present....future

On July 15th, 2010 I boarded a plane bound for Tanzania.  I committed to journal every day for the next year; journaling creates a future record of God's past faithfulness.  Each night I sit on my bed under the security of my mosquito net and reflect on the events, emotions, and thoughts of the day.  

I empty my worries, frustrations, and concerns.  

                  I pick up hope, faith, and promise.

On March 30th I wrote on the final page of my journal.  Sometimes I feel that I just got here and other times I feel like I've been gone from home a long time.  

These children are no longer just pictures.  They have names.  They have stories.  Each of them has a unique laugh.  They sing, dance, pray, and cry in their own way.  

Each one is forever engraved on my heart and mind.

This journal contains accounts of:

• initial struggles of adjusting to life and creating a preschool class
• deep sorrow in seeing the homes of day students
• desire for Paul to share this experience and great joy as he served here for two weeks
• difficulty of starting the first, first grade class
• Bill and Ester's preparation and service here for a month
• thankfulness for God's plan to bring my amazing roommate, Jenna, for the exact same year
• awe of the opportunity to know these children and love them like Jesus
• news of Melissa serving here in June
• Ben, my brother, booking a ticket to attend training and possibly visit in June 

On March 31st I started a new journal.  What will I record on these pages? Where will I be when I write on the final page?  What will life be like?  Will I be teaching a class of my own?  Will my house be sold?  Who will enter life? Will I come back here one day?  for how long?

As I ponder the future I must continue to lay these questions and many others at the feet of Jesus.  He has plans and purpose.  With eyes fixed on him, I step forward knowing that I exist to bring him glory and honor.  I am engraved on his hands and my life belongs to him so I put down my pen, set my journal beside my bed, and close my eyes.  There's no safer place to rest than in his will.

words

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 

"I believed, and so I spoke."

we also believe and so we speak.    2 Corinthians 4:13

Do I speak what I believe?  Are my words a result of my faith in Jesus?
Lately I've been reflecting on the power of words...how much they can accomplish, how much they can encourage, how much they can hurt and harm...

Words....

            love                                                             hate

               truth                                                             lies                                                                   

                   hope                                                          despair

                      encouragement                                           complaints

How many words do I speak in a day?  How many of them encourage and uplift others?    How many opportunities do I miss to speak  the truth, hope, and power of Jesus because my words are focused on myself?  
I know my answers and you know yours.
There are hurting people in this world who don't know Jesus.  
Consider your words carefully and steward each opportunity you have to speak.