And the Survey Says...

Friends, 


I'm copying this post from my friend, Mitzi, who is serving in Zambia with her family.  She asked for help before she packed, and we'd like to do the same.  

Soo... if you have ever wanted to express yourself... now's the time to do it! We are beginning to think about the packing stage, which has brought forth quite a few questions. So... this is my survey! If you read this, I need you to help! Just leave your comments answering any or all of my questions.

1. What are the top 3 items you would take to Africa?
2. What are the best children's books you would take?
3. What are the top three kitchen tools you would take to Africa?
4. What music would you download? Favorite Worship Songs? Best all around music?
5. What Podcasts do you listen to?  Sermons?
6. Favorite games - all ages?
7.)  What would teenagers like to have in a foreign country?
8.  WHAT WOULD WE LIKELY FORGET TO PACK, BUT NEED/WANT ONCE WE ARE THERE?
Thanks for your input!!

A Time to Build Up...

This Christmas the boys favorite gift was...CitiBlocks.  Balsa-wood blocks cut to specific dimensions to provide balance and ease of stacking.  Creations by the boys make me wonder if they will be architects or construction engineers.  The boys have a blast building...

 (Yes, this is as tall as the door frame.)

...and the boys also loved tearing the towers town.  Once they started ramming cars into them, I stopped taking pictures.  It's a blessing to seem them still enjoy the simplicity of creating!

For there is...

"A time to tear down and a time to build up."

Ecclesiastes 3:3b

First Bag Packed for Ghana

Braden ran into the house excited, scampering around with a mission in mind.  

“Can I have a bag, Mom?”  

“What kind of bag?”

“Umm, just a bag to pack in.”

“Well, would a plastic grocery bag work or do you need something heavier?”

“Nah.  A grocery bag will be great.”

I handed him a crumpled up Kroger bag and off he went.

A few minutes later, he reappeared - bag in hand.

Knowing this was something I needed to investigate, I peered into his bag and found:

Braden’s favorite Tennessee hat

a nice pair of shorts

one of Braden’s nicer shirts

a pair of socks

a pair of underwear

three hot wheels cars 

two lego men

and Braden’s new baseball

Confused, I stammered, “What’s this for?” 

“I wanted to pack it for Peter.  Can we pack it and take it to Ghana for him?  These are things I want him to have.”

Then Braden showed me the card he made (with no help from Mom).

My heart hurt.  Peter is an orphan in one of the homes in Ghana.  He and Braden became huge buddies when we were there. Braden has talked about him in conversation and prayed for him frequently.  Right now, Peter is still waiting for a family and spending his days in a home with about 40 other children.  Peter's smile is still imprinted on my heart.  I think Braden thinks of him as a very special friend.

I share this story because God continues to bind our hearts back to Ghana.    We are all anxious to return.  There are many children just like Peter.  We desire to go and love them with the love of Jesus.  

The Lord continues to provide the needed support we need to go do His work.  As of this evening, the Lord has provided a little over 65%.  Can you believe we were only at 30% a the beginning of December?  We are astounded by God's faithfulness of provision.  This is a HUGE amount of money in a short amount of time.

Please pray for the Lord to provide the remaining 35%.  We are ready to go.  We long to be there.  Our children are packing gift bags for their friends.  What else can I say?  Their hearts are anxious to be there as well.  

We continue to hear, “There is so much work to do...so much work to do.”  Our entire family is ready to go do it.  Please pray for the Lord to accomplish what He desires here on earth.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth adn making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out of My mouth.  It will not return empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:10-11

Simplicity

On a cold Saturday morning, there is nothing sweeter than seeing my boys cuddling under blankets.  Silliness, laughter, closeness.  Really, does life get any better?

These are the simple joys I cherish.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brothers to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

Thinking of Christmas

Because of our training, we have missed this Christmas season. We have not seen a "live nativity," a church Christmas musical production, or been in the craziness of shopping for the perfect gifts. Of the three, I have only missed the first two! Because of not being out in stores, I feel my heart is truly anticipating the birth of Christ this year. Christmas will be very simple.

I've thought of all the kids in Ghana who might not know any joy this Christmas. Will someone hold them? Love them? I hope we can do these things once we are there.

While some are spending huge amounts of money on gifts that will be forgotten by the first week of January, there are orphans in the world who need to know the love of Jesus this Christmas. For only $20, Feeding the Orphans is providing a Christmas meal and a new piece of clothing for orphans who will not receive a gift this Christmas through any other means. If you want to help a forgotten child this Christmas, contact Feeding the Orphans to see how you can help.

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

Luke 1:46-47, 49       

Grief, Loss and Good-byes

My eyes are swollen.  I have a headache.  My body hurts from crying so much. 

The last two days our topics of training have been -
Grief,
Loss,
Good-byes

Honestly, it's been more than my mind and heart were prepared to hear.  We will be leaving behind so much.  And, we were asked to name it - all...

The reality is...

We are separating our children from their grandparents. 

Our children will grow up without their friends and cousins living life with them.  As will we.

We will miss the weenie roasts at Camp Zion. 

Our Life Group will go on without us. 

The boys' forts and tree houses they have built might be gone when we return.

Our friends will be making memories we will not be a part of. 

My nephew will come home from Ethiopia and I won't be at the airport to greet him, much less know him. 

Friends are bringing home adopted children who will not have a relationship with our family, and I thought our kids would grow up together. 

We will miss the annual Family Reunion and the Duck Race on the River.

Our family holidays will not be celebrated with our entire family - just the seven of us.  We will miss acting out the Christmas story, singing Christmas carols, working the Christmas puzzle.

Our boys will miss their school.  Their friends.

I'll miss sharing a cup of coffee with a friend and talking about life.

I'll miss our back deck with the birds chirping in the springtime. 

I'll miss the ease of a talking on the phone to friends and family in the same time zone. 

I'll miss marshmallows, Reese Pieces, and Dr. Pepper. 

I'll miss hot showers, drinking water from the faucet, and easy computer access.

I'll miss the laughter of friends and the voices I would recognize anywhere.

Etc.  Etc.  Etc.  It's too much to list.

Why do we need to recognize all of this?  Why do we need to "feel" it?

Grieving needs to happen for us.  We are encouraged to step into it instead of stuffing it down.  The reality of the impact to GO can shake us.  BUT, it doesn't.  It can't.  We need to grieve some now and some later.  It will be a process.  A process that's beginning in the depths of my soul tonight.

While these things hurt deeply, we are excited to GO.  God is going before us.  He will somehow meet us in our tears and redeem them.  

God's world is much larger than what we see and experience in our daily life.  Even with all of the things we will miss, grieve and long for once we are on the ground in Ghana, God's world is so much bigger.  These are small gifts from my life to lay at his feet. 

Embracing the pain in anticipation of the JOY of witnessing Him work makes it worth it.

One quote from this week has stuck with me,

"I hope you hurt deeply.  If you hurt deeply it will mean you have loved deeply

and that you have been loved."

So, please help me, Lord.  I need your grace and strength to fill me in the days ahead. Let us love deeply.  Let us choose suffering over safety.  Let us "feel" it.  Thank you for showing me your gifts, as I see the things we are leaving behind.  You are so good to us.  Thank you. 

For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:12

Is This What We Signed Up For?

 We are in the first half of a three week training session to help prepare us to move onto the mission field.  The Colorado snow has been beautiful, but we have had limited time to enjoy it.  The sessions have been intense and my mind is on overload.  We attend classes from 8:30 - 4:00 every day with homework to complete at night.  The weekends have been our family free time.  We've used this free time together to have fun, but also to process the myriad of material that has been laid before us.

My expectations of missions training have been turned upside down.  I expected this would really be a "feel good" time for us as a couple confirming our call to GO.  I think I thought we would be greatly affirmed and encouraged.  In reality, all of this has happened...but it has been a teeny-tiny portion of our time here.

Here are a few of the topics we have covered in the past 8 days:
Conflict Handling Styles:  Assessing the way we handle conflict while recognizing the strengths and weaknesses in our own style.  This was very convicting!
Communication:  Beginning to take in all of the non-verbal and verbal cues in communication.  Learning that our communication style in conflict can be greatly misinterpreted resulting a perceived de-valuing of the other person.
Ethnocentrism:  an exaggerated tendency to think the characteristics of one's group or race superior to those of another group - both from our own culture and the one we are stepping into.
Simulation:  Facing make-believe adverse, difficult situations.  Walking away with the realization that there was great misunderstanding on my end due to assumptions made from context, cultural-differences, my frame of reference, my own previous experience, and expectations of others.  Hoping if I were ever in the REAL situation my response would be drastically different than what it was.  Ugh!
Adversity:  Adversity will be experienced on the field.  It is an opportunity to lean in to God.  Adversity can countered by an attitude of thanksgiving.  Adversity is an opportunity to grow. 
Allergic Reactions to Differences:  Yuck!  I have negative internal and external responses to differences - personalities, conflict handling styles, cultural differences.  This training has helped me to recognize and address those before they take hold and allow assumptions to be made or an "allergic reaction" to take place.
Stress Management:  Not only have I been made aware of the external stressors to my body, relationships, feelings, and thoughts, but I've also been introduced to the additional silent stressors to my nervous system in a new culture: foreign words, sights, smells, stimulation.  We've been given some coping mechanisms to address these before encountering burn-out or depression.  Without them, the stress becomes debilitating.  (In a stress test where a score of 150+ is a sign of being overstressed, most missionaries score 600-900+ their first year on the field!  We must learn to cope with stress in a healthy way!)
Suspending Judgement:  Wait...wait...wait for judgement.  This is something I thought I did, but have been shaken to the reality that my judgements are formed far too soon.
Work Requires Rest:  The Lord mandates rest.  He tells us to rest knowing it is a gift from Him.  Sabbath keeping, quiet time, time alone with Him are all prerequisites to a fruitful time on the mission field.  Without it, statistics prove you will not make it.  To be effective in ministry we must be at our best, so we must enter into a mindset which goes against the American train of thought in which we must always be busy.  Without appropriate rest, we will not be sustained for the long-haul.

So, where's the good news?  Didn't we sign up for the adventure, the fun, the excitement? 

No.

We signed up for the call.  We signed up for whatever the Lord has in front of us.  We signed up knowing it would be hard, and this training has made us realize it could be much harder than we thought.  Much, much harder!  But, God has called and we have said, "Yes.  Lord lead our family where you will.  We will go."

Tonight I feel led to pray for those serving on the field.  Being a missionary is not a glamorous life.  It's hard, very hard.  But it is rewarding.  There are glimpses of God that will never be seen any other way.  The Lord does not need us to do His work, it is His work.  I will pray for those who are accepting the role of being a part of His work to the ends of the earth.  I will pray for the Pioneers who are literally going where no one has gone before - learning languages, building huts, living without any modern comfort.  I will pray for those who have their lives on the line for the gospel.  I will pray for people taking their entire families to "closed" countries living "at risk."  I will pray for the underground Believers who are living for Jesus - no matter the cost - deportation, persecution, torture, death.  I will pray for those holding babies covered with disease, leprosy, scabies, hydrocephalus, AIDS, etc...  I will pray for those loving the unlovable, the cast-offs, the forgotten, the least of these.  I will pray for those ministering to the orphaned children loving them as Jesus would.  I will pray for those ministering to people taking their last breath entering eternity.  I will pray for the missionaries, the workers in the harvest.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:36-38

Ants in the Sugar Bowl

This photo was taken of our family in March of this year.  We spent two weeks as a family ministering in Ghana.  Native orphans, deperate villagers, people without the hope of Christ all pierced our heart. 

What is God calling us to?  Where is he leading us?  The task is overwhelming. 

This picture is fitting because the exposure was cloudy but we have smiles on our faces.  Our future is clouded.  So many unknowns face us.  Yet, our eternal hope brings us joy to face the insurmountable task at hand.  Although everything is not crystal clear, we must step forward in faith.  We can smile at what is before us.  To love as Jesus loved.  To pour forth His love, hope, joy, and peace upon everyone we encounter.

A few days ago, the below poem was read aloud in training.  Surprisingly, tears came to my eyes from no where.  It made me realize what is ahead and how it affects my heart...

Ants in the Sugar Bowl
By Elizabeth Givens

So send I you

     To ants in the sugar bowl,

     To things that fly, creep and crawl into the house,

     To uncertain water, sporatic electricity.
     To long hours, sweltering heat, exhausting days,

     To uncomfortable vehicles, crowded jeeps, smelly buses.

     To noisy early, early mornings.

     To rice, rice, and more rice.
     To poverty you didn't believe existed,

     To masses of people like you have never seen,

     To know, and work with people who have never known comfort,

So send I you, and I expect you to adjust.

So send I you

     To people who will give from their poverty,

     To friends who will embarass you with their generosity,
     To pastors who will entertain you from their lack,with beauty,

     To hungry, receptive, questioning people who want to know God,

     To study, to teach, to learn from your study and teaching,
     To prove your own motives, values, and beliefs,

     To learn more about yourself and the culture that has reared you,

     To know God and to understand more deeply dependence on Him,

So send I you.

Are you going?  I'll go with you all the way.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

Isaiah 6:8

So Many Firsts - SPLICE Training at MTI

 Reid and I are officially starting the missions adventure.   After strong recommendation from two missionary families living on the field, we are attending SPLICE training at MTI in Colorado this week.  This is our FIRST step of preparation. 

We anticipated flying to Colorado on Monday (11/28) arriving a few hours apart to begin the three week training session.  Surprisingly, God had other plans.  Because the stand-by tickets Reid and the older four boys had planned to use would not be usable until Wednesday, Reid decided to make the 21 hour drive alone with the older four boys.  The Driving Five arrived on Tuesday morning.  Godwin and I had been blessed with 2 frequent flyer tickets, so we still flew by plane arriving on time Monday afternoon.

The Colorado skies entertained the boys on the drive over.  They passed the time by taking pictures out the window.  Isn't it beautiful?  (If I had room, I would post the 200+ pictures they took from the van window.  Ha!)

Since our arrival, we've experienced many FIRSTS. 

This is our FIRST exposure to cross-cultural training with regards to lifestyle choices, conflict resolution, loving others, perceptions, values, spiritual dynamics, reflection on God's BIGness, adjustments with children, team building, etc...  We are processing too much to adequately verbalize.  We have enjoyed continual conversation wrestling through questions we've been challenged with. 

It has been daunting, overwhelming, draining, ... exciting, refreshing, enjoyable, fun...  We feel under-qualified, intimidated, and ill-equipped.  Contrary to this, we are learning, exploring, challenging our thinking, assessing our own weaknesses and strengths, and boundlessly growing.  Additionally, we are reminded that we serve a BIG God who promises to fill in the gaps.  We have much to learn, and if we arrive on the field without knowing all of the answers - He will be our teacher. 

Our time here has given us glimpses of His vast love for our world.  At this training session, there are 38 adults, 26 kids and 21 countries represented!  God uses orphan care, economic development, small businesses, church planting, evangelism, teaching in schools, athlete discipleship, pastor training, etc... all for His glory on earth.  Some of the stories we have been told have been amazing!

We have worshipped with virtual strangers connected through the common thread of our love for Christ.  Others have pressed into us forcing us to dig deeper into our own understanding of ourselves, of others and of God.  We have been challenged in our parenting to gently uncover the hearts of our boys.  Oh yes, this week has been intense...but wonderful!

The boys have played in the FIRST snow of the season.  Snowballs and sledding filled the day.  Much more snow should be coming tomorrow night.

The boys are covering the same material we are in their classes.  They are in small groups with others their same age.  Each day they come upstairs chattering about all they have done during the day.  Their instructors do a phenomenal job of bringing everything to their level.  Team building activities and class conversations are sprinkled throughout the day assisting in processing the myriad of material.  Braden has bonded with another 8 year old named Berkley.  They have been inseparable. 

Today the boys all went to Focus on the Family where Mason and Franklin actually recorded an Adventures in Odyssey!  Mason made everyone laugh with his Brooklyn accent!  We will have the CD if anyone would like to hear it.

In the morning, Franklin and Reid are going ice fishing through 6 inches of ice.  Temperature?  5 degrees in the morning with a high of 15 degrees!  I hope they don't return with frostbite.  However, if Franklin catches "the big one" he will attest that it was worth it, I'm sure!  

Weston has made many friends, but all of them are girls.  He is rarely walking around without one of the girls his age.  Of all of us, he is the most relaxed.  His nickname of "Smiley" fits him here.

Godwin goes to his class in the morning.  After lunch, we have found it best to keep him with us, so he sits on our laps while we attend class.  His precious personality has won the hearts of many of the participants here.

One of the sweetest moments was witnessing Godwin experience his FIRST exposure to snow.  We put some in his hand, he crinkled his nose and said, "I do not like it Mommy.  I want to wash my hands!"  Hilarious!  I want to tuck away unforgettable moments like these.

 We are blessed to be here.  God has so much to teach us.  Let us learn, Lord.  Let us learn. 

Teach me to do your will,
   for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
   lead me on level ground.

Psalm 143:10

Helping Hands

Have you ever neared the point of exhaustion because of trying to accomplish more than humanly possible in a short amount of time?  Has God ever surprised you with unexpected help on the final stretch of your task to allow it to be completed?

The Lord did this for us, and we praise Him for the hands of His people.

On Saturday, November 19, Reid and I were frantically trying to complete the "to do" list on our house as we were moving out.  Rooms to be painted, a sink and countertop to be installed, stair railing to be built for the deck, etc...  The list overwhelmed us.  We had spent days carting loads from the house out to my parents' in a pick up truck, so these jobs dauntingly waited for our time.

However, there was a Superhero waiting in our midst!  Bruce Randall, pictured below, changed into his House Helper Superhero Costume (i.e. painting clothes) and arranged for people to come help us complete the tasks before us!  Thank you Bruce!  You are our hero!

 The Lively family came with paintbrush in hand.  We could not have done it without their help!  Brush up. Brush down.

Claire took on the job of going through the "leftover" things in the house that I didn't know what to do with.  Hi ho, Hi ho...to the trashcan we go!

 Of course, working with Bruce is always fun.  Laughter is a MUST!

 Sadly, I did not take a group photo from the work day.  Others blessed us and they are not pictured.  Christy Randall and all of the Randall children brought lunch for our mid-day break.  Greg Watlington, Michael Dempster and Chuck Moses gave up their time to complete every task on the list.  Wow!  Even the garage was organized for moving out!  Thank you!

We are so grateful to all of you for coming and helping us.  You have served the Lord with gladness.  From the depth of our hearts, thank you!

"Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful singing.

For the Lord is good;

His lovingkindness is everlasting

And His faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 100:2,5

And A Little Child Shall Lead Them...

It amazes me how children have hearts to give...and give...and give...

Reid and I have had the opportunity to share God's story through several different avenues lately.  While we are working to raise support, our ultimate goal is to share what God is doing in His world and how His people can join to be part of His Work.

Over the past three days the children have impacted me as they have parted with their own funds to help support God's work to the people of Ghana.  The generosity of children blessing our family began on Thursday while I was teaching at co-op.

Aaron Millard, a child in one of my classes, approached me after class and handed me $10.  He said, "This is to help your family."  Sarah Wood followed him handing me another $10 stating she wanted to give it to help us.  Both are in sixth grade.  Both gave their own money.

A high schooler from my classes last year, Hope Sprenz, approached me at the end of the day giving me a wad of bills.  She said, "I know it's not much, but I want to give this to you to help your family go to Ghana."

One of my students, Jackson Rader, sixth grade, is making handmade clay necklaces and selling them.  He is giving our family the profits from every sale.  On Thursday, he shared $2 from his first sale!

Three sisters, Bekah, Abby, and Maddie Ochs, held a yard sale this past weekend for our family.  They brought a ziploc bag full of change and bills totaling $228 for our mission.  The three of them interrupted  one of my classes to hand it to me.  I had no idea they were doing this for us.  How overwhelming to see children I love give their time, energy, and effort to raise money for us!

God's touch on children continued last night.  Azi Tegelaar, age five, gave me a handful of change from her piggy bank while we were at her house.  Not even having full comprehension of the difference between a quarter and a nickel, she gave us $1.12 of her own money.  "This is to help you move to Ghana,"  she said.

Finally, at the end of our evening last night, the tears came.

Some precious friends hosted a dessert for us.  We were given the opportunity to share God's story to five families who chose to give up their Friday night to hear what the Lord is doing around the world.  Surprisingly, when it was time for us to start our presentation, all of the children gathered around us to listen.  None of them chose to play.  Instead, they engaged with us intently.  After we shared, everyone gathered around us to pray.  I prayed for the hearts of the children surrounding us.  I prayed for the Lord to plant His seeds in their hearts!

At the end of the prayer, Lauren Gebbie, age 12, came to me weeping.  Tears rolling down her cheeks and quiet sobs echoing from her chest.  She handed me a $20 bill.  Her heart was broken for the one million fatherless children in Ghana.  Her emotions poured forth for the 2.3  million people in Ghana who have not heard the name of Christ.  They have no hope, and Lauren Gebbie comprehends this, and her heart responds.  Oh, it is beautiful!

As she cried, I held her and whispered over her, "You are part of God's work, Lauren.  You are a piece of what He is doing.  Thank you.  You are impacting the world for Jesus."

These children long to see God's work done here one earth.  They gave from what they had.  They parted with money which could have been spent on things for themselves.  Isn't that inspiring?

I wonder if these gifts are similar to the woman's two coins in the Bible.  She gave all she had, but the amount seemed so small.  Children giving from their own resources in order to join in what God is doing resembles the woman's heart as she dropped the two coins as an offering.  The amounts may seem so insignificant, but I believe these are precious gifts before God.  He smiles at the generosity of children.  They do not "hold on" to money, but are willing to part with it for something greater than their own pleasures.

Thank you all for giving for something greater.  Thank you for sharing what you have to make a difference in the lives of children who have nothing.  Thank you for wanting the hope of Jesus to spread forth to the ends of the earth.  Thank you for being an example of what it looks like to be a "generous giver."  Thank you for hearts yielded to His heart.  Children, you have blessed us beyond measure.  We have seen Christ in you.  Thank you.

"And a little child shall lead them..."

Isaiah 11:6

House for Rent...Not Anymore!

This is our humble home.  We have celebrated memories here for nearly six years.  However, we were beginning to need more income to live on while we raise support to move onto the mission field.  The small savings we had planned to live on has quickly dwindled over the past few months.

Reid and I knew it was time to place our house on the market to rent.

On Friday, Nov. 11th we took the following pictures to post on Craigslist.  We were scrambling to take them because some of this furniture had been sold and was being picked up that afternoon.  Additionally, some of our furniture has been used to furnish an apartment for missionaries and we were delivering our bed the following day.  We knew the photos would show our home better with furnishings, so we quickly snapped the pictures.

"Is there someone out there looking for a family home?" we wondered.

We posted the "House for Rent" ad on Craigslist on Nov. 11th, but somehow it disappeared into cyberspace!  After several days without calls, we were a bit concerned.  Reid realized our ad was not popping up for searches.  Late in the evening on Nov 16th, Reid reposted the ad.  We were praying for the Lord to bring renters quickly.  We were specifically praying that He would bring someone who would care for our home and someone who would be a blessing for our wonderful neighbors.

In the meantime, a young father of five children was meeting with his Bible Study asking the other men with him to please pray for his family to find a house.  They needed to find a house quickly, but one that would house their family of seven.  On Nov. 16th concerted prayer was lifted for this family to find a home.  The Lord heard all of the prayers - ours and the ones from this men's Bible Study!

That night, this couple found our ad on Craigslist.  Early the next morning, Nov. 17th, they called.  When they came to look at the house, they immediately gave us a security deposit and said they wanted it!  God answered all of the prayers!  What a blessing!  Our home was on the market for less than one week!

We hope this young family will be blessed in our home.  We pray they will have many happy memories.  We are thankful to see them come, and pray they will know the Lord's presence while they live there.

"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building form God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."  2 Corinthians 5:1

More...Less

The two words God keeps bringing to mind are MORE and LESS.  The Lord continues to conform me into the likeness of Christ by revealing areas untouched by His grace and power in my life...

More of Him, Less of Me

Expecting More of Him, Stop living with little faith to expect Less than what God promises

More contentment with Less stuff

More awareness of His presence by Less time on worldly activities

A desire to give More of myself for Him, but realizing I sometimes am satisfied (I think) by offering so little, so much Less

More of his vision and Less view from my own eyes

More wonder and Less worry

What does More and Less mean to you?  Does it reveal a heart with sealed areas unpenetrated by God's power, promises, and presence?  

I desire MORE of You, Lord.  Always more. 

So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?  

2 Corinthians 12:15

New Family Pictures

This is my crazy family!  Our family with my 94 year old Mamaw, Mom, Dad, two sisters and their families.  Including Mathiang, there are now 13 grandchildren with another addition currently being adopted from Ethiopia.  When he comes home, there will be 14 grandchildren from my parents' three girls!  Surprisingly, Colby Grace is the only girl amid all the boys.  Bless her heart!

 All of the grandchildren...well, it's hard to take the perfect picture....

Our complete family!  Mathiang, Me, Reid, Weston, Mason, Godwin, Franklin, and Braden.  What a blessing!

For those who check in occasionally to see how Mathiang is doing; he's astounding all of us!  This year he has joined the Cross Country team at Maryville College.  He's running the 8K in 32 minutes!  His l-o-n-g legs help him, and the team has nicknamed their 6'5" teammate, "The Intimidator."

Mathiang is still maintaining a high GPA in his junior year majoring in International Business.  Additionally, he is tutoring other Sudanese in the community to obtain their GED diplomas.  Because he is able to speak Dinka, his ability to explain complex problems becomes much easier without a language barrier between himself and his students.  He is changing the world for other Sudanese refugees.

One of the most amazing changes for Mathiang, has been the gift of a new smile.  When Mathaing was 10 years old, six of his bottom front teeth were extracted.  This is tribal custom for the Dinka tribe.  (The teeth are pulled without anesthesia and, if you are a man, you do not cry.  Mathiang, at age 10, did not cry.)  Mathiang also had several top teeth missing from poor dental care.

A dentist and an oral surgeon in Maryville donated their time and services to correct Mathiang's teeth through several surgeries.  Over $15,000 of dental treatment!  He was in surgery for six hours this summer with his final surgery coming in January.  His new implants give him the the most striking smile!  What a gift!  Mathiang confessed having his teeth repaired is a dream he has always had, but he never thought it was possible.  Thank you to both of the doctors who made this possible for him, and to my sister, Kelly, who connected with these doctors and cared for Mathiang after surgery.  Thanks, sis!

Mathiang hopes to return to Sudan this summer for the first time since he arrived in America in 2001.  He has been offered a teaching opportunity through Africa ELI, and will begin this summer.

It is hard to believe God's incredible goodness allowing Mathiang to overcome great adversity.

Mathiang ran for his life at age 7.  Crossing Sudan to Ethiopia then Kenya by foot.  He walked thousands of miles with no shoes, no food, no water.  Mathiang attended school for the first time at age 11.  He learned his alphabet by writing in the dirt.  He survived on a tiny amount of corn, oil, and salt for over nine years.  He arrived in America in 2001, at 6'5" weighing 120 pounds.  He took the test for his GED three times before he passed it.  He could barely read a newspaper article in English when he arrived, yet now is pursuing his college degree fully in his second language.  Mathiang has persevered.  He has continued running the race, even with hurdles in front of his dreams.

We stand amazed at everything the Lord has done in Mathiang's life.  (Honestly, "amazed" is an understatement!)

I asked Mathiang if he ever imagined his life would be like it is today.  He looked at me and said, "It is all because of God."

Yes, my Sudanese son, it is all because of God.  He had plans for you from the beginning.  What a privilege to see His plans lived out in your life.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."  James 1:17

Which Way Do I Go?

 I love watching Godwin experience the newness of everyday life.  Riding a little tractor, petting a goat, seeing the brightly colored fall leaves, watching the leaves fall and crying out, "Look Mommy!"  He is experiencing so many things for the first time.  I've realized how often I "miss" the beauty in everyday life.  I'm so thankful he is, once again, pointing it out.

 Recently, my mom took our family to a Corn Maze.  All of my sisters' children were with us, so they skirted off ahead of us quite sure they could navigate the maze on their own.  My mom, Reid, Godwin and myself were left to our own leading in order to find the way out.

 Reid held the camera and snapped shots while we were on the path.  As we meandered into the puzzle, we grew farther from the entrance and the exit.

Every time we came to an intersection, we would ask Godwin, "Which way should we go?"  His tiny finger would point left, right, or straight, "Dat way," he would advise.  In fun, we would follow his suggestions.

Once, I could no longer grasp my bearings, I recalled how my sister, Kelly, told me she becomes claustrophobic inside of Corn Mazes.   We were walking deeper and deeper into confusion.

We continued to allow Godwin, our three year old, to lead us through the maze.  "Dat way."  "Dat way."

 We continued walking in directions against our better judgement.   It was fun to let Godwin make the decisions about which way to go.  What harm could come from it?

 After we were far past any clear path, we came to yet another intersection.  "Which way should we go, Godwin?"  "Dat way," he responded pointing left.

Reid quickly stepped in.  "No Godwin, we are going to go this way," turning right.  Godwin no longer held the reigns to lead us, Reid was now showing us the way out.  "Come on, this way," Reid beckoned. Godwin, Mom and I followed.  Reid traipsed on ahead of us.  He was out of sight for a bit, but we could still hear his voice.  "Keep coming. This way."  Knowing Reid's voice, we continued on toward him.

Within a few moments, we were out of the maze.  Thank goodness he led us on the right path.  Reid had led us out of confusion into safety.

I looked back at the maze.  Corn everywhere.  It was difficult to see the correct path, even from the outside.

We spent the majority of our time trusting a three year old to lead us.  How could he know which way is on the right path?  Yet, we allowed him to be our guide.

"Which way do I go?"

"Dat way," respond the voices of the world.

I wonder how many of us navigate life trusting the wisdom of others with the spiritual maturity of a three year old?  We allow advice to flow to us from people who are not grounded in God's word.  They tell us, "Go this way."

Finally, in the midst of chaos, once we are deep into a mess, the voice of the Father breaks in.  He whispers to us, "My child, you are on the wrong path.  You are headed no where.  Come this way.  Follow this path toward me, and I will lead you.  You simply need to follow.  Child, come.  Follow Me."

Who is leading you today?  What are you following?  What path are you on and where is it leading?  

God is beckoning you.  He is whispering wisdom to you.  Listen for His voice to lead you.  

Child, come.  Follow Me.

"The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His sheep own by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice."  

John 10:3b-4

Out the Middle of a Corn Field

What a wonderful day we had at the Corn Maze!  Thank you, Mom, for the wonderful treat.   I learned a life lesson as we followed Godwin throughout maze, and the Lord gave me a few verses for these photographs.

I love how God is always speaking if we are listening...

"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

1 Peter 2:9

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

John 7:38

"So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants."

Esther 9:28

For the pictures below, I thought about, "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones." Proverbs 12:4, but it sounded too prideful.  (Ha!  I am totally kidding!)

Actually, the following verse fits beautifully.

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."  

Genesis 2:24

Now that Weston, our 11 year old, is passing me in height...

"Her children rise up and call her blessed."

Proverbs 31:28

 Oh, Lord, thank you.  I am so blessed!  You are so good!  Thank you for speaking to me on this memorable day.