worship

I've spent the past week in California visiting Paul.  Yesterday we tried out a new church.  Most of the worship songs were new to me so the lyrics fell on my spirit with renewing perspective of who God is and what he can do.  While we sang, visions of this past year played in my memory.  

  

Our God:

•  finds orphans and claims them as his own.
•  heals the sick.
• provides food for the hungry.
• shelters the weak.
• rescues sinners.
• pours into those who are broken and empty.

In keeping with the theme of my blog and life, the last verse of one of the songs said,

"This is my prayer in the harvest where favor and providence flow, I know I'm filled to be emptied again, the seed I receive I will sow."

At the end of the service, the worship pastor led the whole congregation in none other but, "What a Friend we Have in Jesus."  This is the exact hymn that was sang while I served in Nigeria and Tanzania.  I closed my eyes and envisioned this:

It takes a village.....

An African proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child."   There is an amazing staff of nationals that serve in the village to raise 27 resident students and 21 day students.  Though, I don't have pictures of everyone, these are a few of the faces that I came to love seeing each day.

The Mamas and Aunties

The "Kitchen Mamas" and "Baba (Father) Kitchen"

Mama Juliet (also known as Mama Laundry)

The Warriors (guards)

Grounds Keepers and Maintenance Men

Teachers

family workout

Last Wednesday my "runners" hit the Greenfield pavement for the first time since last July.  It was a beautiful morning.  With worship music speaking truth to my heart and mind, my eyes soaked in everything God's created and agreed with God that "it is good."  Running is the perfect time for me to reflect on God and what he's doing in my life.   I finished the run feeling renewed and fairly strong.  
However, Thursday I went to the gym for a family workout.  Bekah and I went to water aerobics to support mom and have a few laughs.  When mom saw the instructor she quickly warned us, "Oh no, you are in for it now.  She's a drill sergeant."  Thirty minutes later I had to agree.  I never knew water aerobics could be so intense.  For example, we were running laps against the current of the lazy river.  She liked to keep an eye on Bekah and I to make sure we had proper form.  At the end of the hour she told me, "I'd like to see you in my Boot Camp class."  I'm not sure what that meant.  Nevertheless, I liked her spunk and enthusiasm. 

The past week has been full of new family memories.   It's been a long time since the five of us were together.
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged and uplifted me in the past week.  The transitions aren't easy, but God continues to remind me to look to him instead of myself.