Where He leads...: February 2011

The other night I was sitting around with my brother. He was watching TV and I was on the computer. I went to cnn.com to see what's happening in the world and I started reading him an article about a couple who was jailed for serious child abuse charges. You can read the article by clicking here. It's pretty horrific. I told him, "I go to cnn.com when I feel like getting depressed." I mean, let's admit it, reading about the news in the U.S. and across the globe generally does not lift my spirit. There are terrible things happening all around us. I added to my statement a bit by saying, "It's good for me to read up on the news from time to time as a reminder that this world is not 'my world'". Because "my world"... my day to day... my past, my present... It's all been and is very good. I've been blessed with so much. Yes, there have been challenges. Yes, my family has suffered tragedies. But when I compare it to the atrocities that millions of people in this world are facing, I cannot complain. It breaks my heart to see on TV or read in the paper about children suffering needlessly in so many countries, and even in this country. I am saddened by recent events such as the two couples murdered by pirates and the dozens of people killed by the earthquake in New Zealand last week. And these are just two out of countless headlines across the globe reporting news that I could never even imagine being a reality of "my world". And here I will insert a disclaimer to say that I know "my world" could be turned upside down at any moment. I'm not so bold as to say that I could never face similar tragedies. But that's not exactly my point so I'll move on.

I started reading a book called The Jesus Creed. I haven't finished it, though I hope to... if I can stop starting multiple books at one time! The beginning of the book goes into depth about "The Lord's Prayer" and really incorporating that into your prayer life. To me, "The Lord's Prayer" was always something for churches a bit more liturgical than what I'm used to. Of course I know the prayer. It's often recited in public gatherings, and we said it sometimes as a team before soccer games in high school. But I've never considered it much beyond the recitation. That night, after reading that specific chapter on "The Lord's Prayer", I decided to include it in my own bedtime prayer. I changed it up a bit, adding things here and there to really grasp the meaning and offer it up to God. When I got to the part that says "Give us this day our daily bread", I paused for a while. I realized that I've never in my life had to wonder where my next meal was coming from. I've never been hungry to the point of starvation. If I'm honest, I can say that I've never thought to trust God in faith that He will provide for me in regards to my daily need for food. Food has always been an assumption. It's always been accessible. I've always had the means to get it pretty much anytime I want. Are you getting this? This is "my world". And likely... if you're reading this blog, this is your world too. We take so much for granted.

The purpose for this blog entry... well, I'm not really sure what the purpose is. I just had some thoughts I wanted to jot down. But I can tell you one purpose this blog entry is not for... It is not to put a guilt-trip on any of us for what we have, how accessible food or anything else is to us, etc. But just like my visits to cnn.com or other national and international news sources, I don't want to be so far removed from the rest of my world that I start to feel like "my world" is the only one in existence. That is wherein lies the danger. That is where we get complacent. That is where we can get lazy when there are wars raging all around us for peace, justice, and everything else we take for granted here in our comfy chairs. It is crucial that we look outside ourselves. That we realize that not everyone gets to simply assume this standard of living. WE are the minority. Yet we hold so much power to help, heal, and protect. Will you join me as I step outside my world to make a difference in the real world?

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, though I'm back home, I want to continue this blog and continue sharing what God is doing in my life and in the lives of those around me.

Feeding the Orphans is a great place to start!

I have been very encouraged that although I've only been home for a few months, I've already met several people who live here but who are very active in helping children and youth in Africa. The first people I ran across founded Africa ELI. (I will write more about them in a separate entry... you can click here for their website.) But let me start now with Feeding the Orphans...

A few weeks ago at church a friend of mine had a bag I recognized. It looked similar to this one:

I recognized the bag because I bought one just like it in Ghana. And out of the five countries in Africa I've been to, that's the only place I've seen a bag like that. I asked where she got it and she told me about an auction that sold the bag in support of an organization called Feeding the Orphans. Of course I googled "Feeding the Orphans" when I got home that evening. In addition to the bags, they also sell t-shirts, quilts, and other nifty things to support their ministry to orphans in Ghana. I read a little more and I stumbled upon their address... Loudon, TN. I didn't realize that this was a local organization! I instantly sent them a message, told them a little about myself, and how I would love to get together, talk Africa, and find out more about what they're doing. I also bought a shirt for myself that very night! :)

After a few back and forth emails, I finally got together with Kristie and her family last week. Her husband was out of town, but I had the privilege of meeting her 5 children, Sydney, Keenan, Aiden, Samuel, and Helen. Samuel and Helen are Ghanaian children that the O'Learys have recently adopted. They were precious! They reminded me so much of my sweet little Namibian friends. And all of her kids were great kids. If you do a little research on their website, you'll quickly learn that it was actually Sydney, 7 years old at the time, whose heart was broken to care for orphans. I love how they put it on the website, "[Sydney] followed God to begin this ministry, which has become our whole family's passion in life."

The O'Learys

Sydney and some of her friends in Ghana

How many of us, at whatever age we are, can say that we've followed God through a burden He has placed on our heart, and made serving Him in that way our very passion in life? And yet this child, now a few years older, already understands the huge truth that our life is to be lived on purpose... and for others! I believe that God calls all of us to follow Him passionately. He puts certain people and events in our pathway that He wants us to notice, that He wants to change us. I went on my first mission trip at 13 to Peru and I've never been the same. God opened a huge world up before me, broke my heart to the needs of others, and I ultimately chose to follow Him by serving others across this globe.

I love the shirt I bought from Feeding the Orphans. It says, "Love orphans because He first loved us." God has so lavishly poured out His love on my life, and I want nothing more than to share that love with others. God has taken care of my needs, and I want to share the blessings He has given me to help meet the needs of others.

I had such a wonderful time meeting and visiting with Kristie and her family. What a wonderful example they are to all of us! I hope you will go to their website, read their story, check out what all they do in Ghana and eventually in other African countries as well, and buy some fabulous goodies from their store! www.feedingtheorphans.com The O'Learys are not superheros. I'm sure Kristie would admit they are far from it, but it's incredible what you can accomplish with hearts on fire for God and His people. God has a special love for children, and He is going to bless efforts like these to care for the precious little ones who cannot care for themselves. I hope you will pray about how you can join with them in their efforts. And I hope that if nothing else, you can be inspired by the heart of a 7 year old girl who looked out at the world and said, "We can and must do something for these children." After all... faith without works is dead. (James 2:17) What can you do?

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." (James 1:27)

So many people have said to me, "It's great to have you home!" And certainly, it's a nice feeling to have so many people welcome you back to the place that is your "home". To feel wanted. To feel loved. Other people have said something a bit more difficult to respond to. It is typically along the lines of, "I bet you are glad to be home." Hmm... yes, it is good to be home. Home for me is always a good place to be. And I knew that God was calling me back home for this "season of my life" as I call it. And that's basically my response: "It is good to be home..." though here is where I have to make one important addition, "...but I miss Namibia." I do miss Namibia very much. The place, the people, so much from my time there is very dear to my heart. It is difficult to leave and travel 8,000 miles from such a special place--even if it is to return home to the town I love.

I miss Namibia. I miss the children. I miss my friends... so many of them became like family.

All of that was an introduction to tell you about something else I've missed... blogging. Ok, I know that is a very small thing compared to the other list. But it's true. If you go back and count, from the time I arrived in Namibia July '09 to when I left December '10, I wrote 142 blog entries. That's a lot of blogging! As I have been reflecting on my time in Namibia and my transition back home, it has entered my mind on more than one occasion that I'm definitely not as busy here! Well, I have been busy... just with different things. I don't have children all around me on a regular basis. I don't have to worry with all the administrative details of Unit finances, work visas and permits, and constant issues with the house. I'm not dealing with as many desperate and urgent needs that could arise at any moment in Namibia. Life here is a lot different. But it is my prayer that God will use me just as intensely here as He did in Namibia. And I have to actively fight against getting sucked into the comfort of the American life. (More about that in upcoming posts!)

Perhaps I could say, I still want to live a "blog-worthy" life here back home. I want to continue living a life I can and want to write about. That those of you who have been following along since I left for Africa would desire to continue on this journey with me. I want to continue telling the stories of others who inspire me, or who are facing difficult trials, or who simply need their stories to be told.

I know God has brought me back home for a purpose. Just as He sent me to Namibia for a purpose. I don't know His full plan for my time here. I don't know how long He wants me to stay here. All I know is that I am here now and I want to serve Him in as great of a capacity as I served Him in Namibia.

I hope you will continue to follow along as I pursue God's plan for my life in Tennessee and wherever else I may find myself in the coming year. You may not hear much from me aside from me saying "this year" or "one year", because I'm not a 5-year plan kinda gal! I've found a house to rent and the lease is for one year, so all I can say is that it looks like I'll at least be in Maryville for a year. After that, who knows? And between that, who knows? There are plans brewing that could include a month-long trip to Africa this fall. We'll just wait and see how it all turns out! But in the meantime, I'm excited to be used by God in this place. I may not post 142 entries in the next 18-months, but I'm going to keep it rolling every chance I get!

This is the video I put together for the presentation I did at my church--and those to come.

These are photos and short video clips mostly taken since the last video I made in July 2010 marking my one year anniversary in Namibia. You can view that video by clicking here.

When I showed this video to my church, I had to hold back the tears as I looked into the eyes of those precious children who hold such a special place in my heart. I miss them more than words could ever describe.

I wish you could all have the opportunity to meet these children, to hold them in your arms, to laugh with them, and wipe away their tears. I hope you will open yourself up to an experience like this--if you haven't already--where you have the chance to serve and love the least of these. Your life will never be the same. I know I am not the same as I was before these children came into my life.

I don't think it's appropriate for me to tell you to "enjoy" this video. But I pray that you will be captured by the faces of the children in this video. That you will see a glimpse of what I see when I look in their eyes... the longing and the desperation to be loved and cared for... the innocence... the hope for a future... and in the second half of the video, the pure and sweet joy they have that so many of us have lost.

Be challenged to love. Be challenged to act. Be challenged to find your own Namibia and change the world one life at a time.

If you would like for me to speak at your church, Sunday School class, small group, etc, let me know. I'm always excited to share about my time in Namibia, what God is still doing there, and how He is leading me as I continue in ministry stateside and wherever He leads from here!

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