fun fridays...

She can't help that she's so cool!

My lovely lunch dates.

My least favorite part of teaching is discipline. Period. Hate it. In Hattiesburg and New Orleans I always tried to use more positive reinforcement rather than consequences. Hornets basketball games, cupcakes, meals away from school, and any other way I could think of to get my students to "make wise choices!" So why change that now? Today, my four homeschool students earned a lunch in town! We successfully made it through two weeks of school. So after a short day of school, the girls put on their carefully chosen dresses and strategically matching sandals and we hit the road. After much laughter and filling our bellies with too many chips (french fries) and skewers of meat and veggies we headed to the library for reading and dessert. While we were waiting for our bodas, one of the girls had an epiphany. She declared "We've had two sodas today! We never have two sodas in one day!" My replay was "Oh man, you're mom is going to love me for giving you a double dose of caffeine and then sending you home!"

Several times during our lunch outing, I realized how much the Lord has blessed me in the short time that I have been here. I haven't even been here two months yet and I am already going on reward outings with four sweet little girls. And while homeschooling is not the permanent ministry for me, I am learning to enjoy where God leads me. Which has been a difficult thing for me to do in the past. I am always so concerned about what is coming. Where will I be? What will I be doing? Will I even like it? I can say that I am finding contentment in the present. And for that, I am so thankful.

redemption...

This Easter season means more to me than any other has in the past. I think it's because Jesus means more to me than He ever has in the past. He is my provider. He is my comforter. He is my joy. I see His redemption in my everyday life here. As I work with adults who did not finish high school for whatever reason and are being given a second chance at a precious thing called education. As I teach phonics to an 8 year who was severely neglected in her first home but is thriving in the love and stability of her second “forever” home. As I hold a struggling three year old who was dying from malnutrition and stiff from cerebral palsy but now is recovering and will begin physical therapy soon. I see the redemptive power in the love of Christ. His love transforms. His love is constantly molding us into something beautiful. This is something I am thankful for. Living in a third world country isn’t easy by any means, but it makes it easier to live here when the love of Christ is so evident everywhere. Are the people perfect here? Not close. Does everyone live a life of integrity? Not even close. Is there work to be done and lives to be changed? Overwhelmingly yes. But, the redemptive love of Christ is evident and moving. So in this Easter season, I have to hold stronger than ever to my belief that the love of Christ is not only big enough, but strong enough to reach the people I am falling in love with.

I hope that you too can find peace in the redemptive love of Christ in this Easter season. I am praying for you.

He shows His love for us...

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ dies for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:6-8 (ESV)

Go back and reread that scripture. I know if you're like me you probably just scanned it. Take a few moments to take the words in. Let them settle in your heart.

While reading over my notes from church again, I noticed something in verse 8, "but God shows His love for us". 2 things. 1) Paul uses the words shows in the present tense. (Okay theological scholars, please don't judge me too harshly on this thought! It might not be the right idea, but the Lord used it. Promise!) In my mind, it serves as a comforting reminder that God's love for mankind is not something of the past, it is ongoing. The death of Christ is still manifesting itself so many years later. 2) A lot of times I see the cross as a necessary means of action to show God's righteousness and to provide justice. But I often times, overlook the love of God displayed through the cross. For He orchestrated our salvation through the cross. He allowed His Son to die a gruesome and uncalled for death so we could have fellowship with Him.

Yesterday at church, the pastor said "God works so hard to have a relationship with us, He allowed His Son to be butchered for us." I don't know about you, but I don't like that word butchered. I didn't like it yesterday and it still doesn't sit well today. It's too gory. I would rather use words like died, crucified, sacrificed. I think it comes down to me not being able to understand the depth of both God and Christ's love for us. But God has already dealt with that. In Isaiah 55:8 we are told, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." And boy am I ever glad for that! I may get frustrated when I can't figure out what He's doing in my life, but I'm so glad that He is so far above me. Do we serve a great God or what?!

Thank you for walking this journey with me. Your encouragement and prayers mean the world to me!

A love that transcends all

Loving on Isaac!

Sweet little hands.

Try not to fall in love with that face!

I got to go spend time with my buddy Isaac today. This is the first time I have seen him since he was at the clinic hooked up to an IV and crying constantly. I am thrilled to tell you that he is different toddler than he was then! He is now so much more content! He is still not overflowing with joy and freely giving away smiles (He smiled for the first time this morning!), but he looks comfortable and his eyes are constantly searching. I got to feed him his special formula that is loaded with sugar and protein and then sit and watch a movie with him. He loved the movie! He was quite upset when I took him back to where the other kids where when I left. I think someone is getting used to the one on one time he is getting from all the loving hands at Ekisa!

There is something about hanging out with my friends at Ekisa. I am reminded of God’s love for me every time. Even though I am broken from my sin, my God still loves me and takes the time to constantly be molding me into something beautiful. It’s just like the beautiful faces at Ekisa, to the world they seem broken and somewhere along the way, someone decided that their love as a parent wasn’t enough and left these precious creatures behind. But our God and our Creator has a love for us that knows no end. It sees past our brokenness. It is big enough to complete us.

I was also reminded of what our love for each other should look like. The kids at Ekisa have such a pure love. Not one riddled with expectations and motives. They love simply because they love. I am challenged to grow the way I love. To be able to not hold back or have requirements. Who knew that through my visits with my young friends I would learn so much!

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." -Galatians 5:14 (ESV)

Rhythm of life...

I've been gone for six weeks. It's seems like a year some days and then a day some days! I have been praying all along that the Lord would lead to a new rhythm of life. I want to live here. Be here. Find joy here. This is my home for now. I don't know how long it will be my home, but for now, I am making it my home so that I can have a rhythm, a new normal. I felt so at home Tuesday when I went grocery shopping. I needed to buy some groceries at the store and go to the market. Not really wanting to do both of these tasks, I sent my boda man/friend, Timothy to the market to get my kilo of eggplant and I went to the grocery store. In the grocery store, I laughed to myself when I thought, "I'm getting the hang of this!" Even though, it sounds so silly and so small, I was proud! As I keep walking through this month, I am trying to figure out what next month looks like. I am at a place where I am confident that next month will fall into place just like this month did. When I look back at myself one month ago, I realize that I should have calmed down and taken a breath. The Lord was going to provide. But then again, maybe that's why I needed to be so unsure then. I sure did learn a lot. I learned that God rarely does things my way on my schedule. But I can rest assured, that His way and schedule is infinitely better than mine! So right now, at the two week point in March, I am taking a breath and loving what the Lord has brought me to this month. As I laid in the grass this afternoon and taught phonics to one of my new students, I thought to myself, "I love this. I could do this for a while." I am loving the deeper friendships, purpose to be here, and a comfortable place to live for the month.

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." -Jim Elliot

I have great news for you…the little guy that I told you about last week, Isaac, has been placed at Ekisa to live and recuperate! What seemed to be a very dire situation last week, with Isaac being sent home to live in the same situation that got him so close to death, has turned out to be a very ideal situation. He still has some healing and growing to do, so please be in prayer for little Isaac and the sweet hands at Ekisa that will be caring for him.

I am blaming the shortness of this blog on the lack of electricity tonight. It has nothing to do with the fact that I am spending the night with another young missionary while her husband is out of town! She spent the evening encouraging and teaching me about what it looks like to live here.

I hope to have pictures of Isaac in his new home to show you tomorrow! Keep praying, you are making a bigger difference than you will ever know!

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. -James 1:27 (ESV)

Finding compassion for a betrayer...

My Momma knows the way to my heart...candy!

My Momma and Daddy are too good to me!

At the church that I attend, we are going through the book of Matthew as a congregation. They have been doing this for almost two years! I am coming in on the good stuff! It's really cool, because we are working our way up to Easter Sunday where the pastor will be preaching from verses in Matthew 27-28 where the crucifixion and resurrection are accounted. Last Sunday, our preacher gave us a new perspective on Judas. In Matthew 26:14-16, we are told of Judas' plan to betray Jesus. Now, I've never had sympathy for Judas, or even tried to understand why he would betray Jesus. I just looked at him as a selfish coward. Until last Sunday. I wrote our preacher's words down in my Bible because it blew me away. He said, "Maybe Judas was angry that Jesus was leaving him. Who would take care of him once Jesus was gone?" And it struck me. I have more in common with Judas than I thought I did. I think we all do. The moment things gets hazy, I get in a tizzy. I don't know how many times I have said this to the Lord this year, "Oh no, no, no! This is not how I thought this would turn out!" All of the sudden, I feel like the Lord is no longer taking care of me. But then by God's grace, the Holy Spirit brings upon comfort and God provides once again. Now, instead of looking at Judas with anger, I have compassion for him. It breaks my heart that he was so desperate that he betrayed the man who was willing to give His life for Judas' salvation. If only Judas had waited to see what was in store. To see that is what so much more than his fears that Jesus was leaving him. Judas serves as a great reminder to me. Sometimes I have to wait it out, even when I feel like Jesus is leaving me. Because the truth is, He never will leave.

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you. -Joshua 1:5 (ESV)

My teaching is going well! I teach grammar to 24 adults and then go teach phonics and reading to 4 little girls. It's a lot of fun! Pray for my adults in my class. English is their 2nd or 3rd language, so it's not easy to learn the difference in present and past tense. They even complain that I talk too fast, there's a first for everything! Maybe my Daddy should come teach a class...he might speak slow enough for them!

You can also be praying with me that I can find ways to stay involved in the places I love most throughout this month. I got to ride out to a village to check on a little girl with the director of Ekisa Sunday, and I was reminded of how bad I want to be in the villages around Jinja. There is something about living life with these beautiful faces that draws me in and keeps me content. Much love and many prayers to you all!