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. 

Be Still My Soul

I woke up this morning at 3 AM and never went back to sleep.  My mind couldn’t settle on any one thing so I submitted to resting instead of sleeping.  My body is mixed up along with my mind and heart.  Now it’s 5:30 and though it’s still dark, the birds are already giving praise to their creator. 

My thoughts and feelings need the sifting of my Savior, just as wheat falls to the threshing floor, while the chaff blows away in the wind.  What remains produces a harvest of food to satisfy and seeds to plant in the next season. 

I choose to believe what I know is true-

• 1.        God brought me home.  It’s the next step on his path for me.
• 2.       Everything God does holds purpose.

Though my heart is already missing the 48 children I’ve come to love, it’s rejoicing in the community of friends and family surrounding me.  Even though I don’t know all the steps ahead, I will join the birds in praising my Creator until there is light along the path.  Thank you for your prayers.

in my ears...

….a song that’s quite appropriate

Hold Me by Jonny Diaz

Any other day I’d just run away from what lies ahead but right here I stand choosing to remain right here where I've been led.

I cannot see the end.  I cannot pretend the seas are calm ahead and the only thing I can cling to is what you said.

Clouds assume command, the sky unrolls it’s wrath, but firmly still I stand.  There’s no turning back.

I need you to hold me when the storms begin to rage cause you know me, and you know that I’m afraid.

Oh I’d rather go round, but I’m following now so I’ll trust that I’ll make it through

Just help me remember, I’m never alone. I’m walking with you.

What is still unknown has caused my fear to grow.

Fear of thoughts unseen.

But with your embrace I know I can face all that's facing me.

Clouds assume command, the sky unrolls it’s wrath, but firmly still I stand.  There’s no turning back.

I need you to hold me when the storms begin to rage

Cause you know me, and you know that I’m afraid.

Oh I’d rather go round, but I’m following now so I’ll trust that we’ll make it through

Just help me remember, I’m never alone. I’m walking with you.

A term well lived

Friday was the last day of our 2nd term in 2011.  The term ended well with a day of recitation.  Each class presented something they had learned.  We all sang, "What a Friend we have in Jesus" and "Trust and Obey."

The first year of preschool sang the B-I-B-L-E and sang songs about shapes.

The second preschool class sang "Jesus Paid it All" and did an ABC sound off.

The kindergarten class sang "Near the Cross" , the Old Testament Books, and did a finger play.

The first graders (my class) skip counted from 2's up through 12's and then said Isaiah 40:9-25.

The fruit of God's grace in each class was evident.   He has been faithful to teach the students much this term.  Truly, I've been a student as well.  As I've taught these children, God has taught me about

• joy despite hardship and loss
• endurance to overcome obstacles
• prayer that transforms
• humility that looks to God instead of self

We followed the recitation and awards with a special lunch.  The students were thrilled to try hamburgers, eat chips (fries), and to drink sodas.  

tacos

It all started a few months ago on the playground.  One of my students asked me what I eat in America.  Here, they have a rotating menu, but mostly eat the same foods each week.  I started naming off a variety of foods including chicken, spaghetti, etc. 

Then I said....  tacos

All the children around me burst into laughter.  "You eat tacos?"  

                                                                                "Yes"

The children proceeded to tell me that in Swahili "mataco" means buttocks.  The way they told me was by saying, "taco is this"  while hitting their rears.  

Ever since then taco has become a favorite topic in my class.  I showed them pictures of tacos on my computer, but they are still fascinated with the concept.  A few weeks ago one of their books was about growing tomatoes.  At the end it had several things you could make with tomatoes.  Beatrice had to show me the taco everyday.

Due to this, I decided to invite my class over to my house for a taco tasting as an end of the term celebration.  They were African tacos made on chapatis instead of tortillas. (A chapati is similar, but a little thicker.)

Melissa and Ben helped prepare this.

The children weren't sure about it when I let them smell the seasoning packet, but in the end it was a success.  They were thrilled.  Yesterday they said, "I want to do tacos again today."