If you would like to support me in my return to Kenya, as little as a dollar, you can donate directly to the Christian Relief Fund website and indicate that your donation is for "Emily's Kenya Trip Fundraiser."
Friday Kenya Memory: July 10, 2009
I got to go watch some of the students play futbol, or American soccer. We walked through the slums to the soccer field and sat on the sidelines, eager to watch the school team play against the neighborhood team. I got out my little journal and began to teach the children surrounding me how to play Tic-Tac-Toe, and then Puppet, which is a less morbid term I made up for Hangman. They would have played this game forever if we had the time. These children are so bright and clever. English is not their first language (it is usually their third!), but they guessed every word.
After we played Puppet, we sang songs until the soccer games were over. Everyone's favorite was the song I taught them, Yesu ni Bwana. One little girl named Sarah said, "We will sing this song every day and think of you." Lavin stayed by my side the entire time, singing the loudest of all. She has gained so much confidence this week.
We finally got up to leave and Lavin took my hand. I took the hand of another girl as well, and then there was a great line of us, holding hands and walking through the slums ahead of everyone else. We took detours and shortcuts while loudly singing, "Jesus loves me. Jesus loves you. Yesu ni Bwana..." Everyone smiled and waved as we skipped past them. It was so much fun.
Telling my new dear friends that Sunday would be my last day at their school was so difficult. One girl said, "We will never forget your face," and I nearly began to cry.
Lavin said goodbye over and over again, holding me close. I cannot help but feel pangs of sadness wash through my chest each time I see her tattered shoes. Before I leave, I want to give her my sneakers.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Laughter on the Lake
If the theme of yesterday was relaxation, the theme for today was adventure. Now, this is certainly a vacation of rest, so adventure may be a bit of an overstatement, but we did all try something new today.
Grandpa Frank and my dad got up bright and early this morning, so the rest of us met up with them a little later to have lunch. I got to catch a glimpse of the golf course, and it was beautiful! So far, I have been incredibly impressed with the beauty of God's creation in North Carolina. Everything seems to be green and flourishing with life.
Each night, I have been putting the pictures I take throughout the day on Facebook. My family noticed that I take a lot of photographs of everyone else, but there weren't really any of me. So we decided to fix that today.
Ali and I took pictures outside, but we couldn't help but take a sorority pose (or three). This is a joke, but at our universities, girls who are in sororities are known to stick their waists together, place one hand on the hip, and lean as far backwards as they possibly can. So we posed this way.
And then we wanted to learn farther.
Laughter rang through the peaceful air above the lake on this morning.
I find so much joy in my close-knit family: watching my little brother ignore any video game he might be playing back in Texas to take silly pictures of two of his big sisters who happened to be giggling like school girls, coaxing our dad to venture out on the lake, sharing secret laughs with my mom as we secretly snap a picture of someone in our group, the willingness of my grandparents to take several hours out of their days to spend time with us.
Eventually we even persuaded my little sister, Amy, to come out and pose for a picture.
As
the sun drew higher in the sky, Grandpa Frank borrowed a jet-ski from
the sweetest neighbors you could ever meet. He puttered up to the dock
and picked up my little brother, and then Ali and Amy, taking them on
rides across the lake, far beyond my own view from where I stood,
shielding my eyes with my hand.
After they disappeared from view, my brother tossed a blue mat into the water of the lake, keeping an eye out for snakes and proceeding to doze off as he floated further and further away. When it comes to water, this boy is fearless.
I watched them, torn between a fear of the water and a desire to experience some semblance of adventure on this vacation. The night before, Luke had said, "Emily, you are not courageous!" and I quickly replied, "Where am I going this summer?" To Africa. I may be frightened by green lakes or the deep oceans, but I have courage in other areas of my life.
However, I finally mustered up the courage to venture onto the jet-ski. My mom decided to come along, even though she wasn't wearing a swimsuit. The others had come back with dry hair and wide-stretched smiles, telling stories about the "Redneck Riviera" and skipping over waves.
We climbed upon the blue jet-ski, both grinning (although I was the only one out of the three of us who was frightened). Grandpa Frank was good about going as smoothly as he could at first, until my shaking stopped (yes, I am that afraid of water) and the worst of my anxieties subsided. After a few minutes passed, I had great fun! We were out for perhaps thirty or forty minutes, bouncing on the water and feeling the wind strike our faces and tug at our hair.
When we arrived back at the house, we were only smiles and breathless stories. Do I plan to swim in the lake after this? No. Was I able to have fun on such a small boat? Yes! And this is enough for now.
As the night drew to a close, we attended a graduation party for a neighbor and met kind friends of my grandparents. Before the party, Grandma Marcia brought out her camera and took pictures of Ali and me beneath an arch blanketed in sweet-smelling white flowers.
Their backyard is beautiful!
After returning home from the dinner, Luke and I watched the sun set on the lake. It was a beautiful night, a perfect ending to a day like this one.
Now, I know the water was calm and we were in no real danger, but I could not help but re-read this passage tonight and mull over the reassurance I have been given in Christ.
Three years ago: To the Hopefuls ;)
Two years ago: Packing for a Cruise: Miscellaneous
One year ago: Odd
Grandpa Frank and my dad got up bright and early this morning, so the rest of us met up with them a little later to have lunch. I got to catch a glimpse of the golf course, and it was beautiful! So far, I have been incredibly impressed with the beauty of God's creation in North Carolina. Everything seems to be green and flourishing with life.
Each night, I have been putting the pictures I take throughout the day on Facebook. My family noticed that I take a lot of photographs of everyone else, but there weren't really any of me. So we decided to fix that today.
Ali and I took pictures outside, but we couldn't help but take a sorority pose (or three). This is a joke, but at our universities, girls who are in sororities are known to stick their waists together, place one hand on the hip, and lean as far backwards as they possibly can. So we posed this way.
And then we wanted to learn farther.
Laughter rang through the peaceful air above the lake on this morning.
I find so much joy in my close-knit family: watching my little brother ignore any video game he might be playing back in Texas to take silly pictures of two of his big sisters who happened to be giggling like school girls, coaxing our dad to venture out on the lake, sharing secret laughs with my mom as we secretly snap a picture of someone in our group, the willingness of my grandparents to take several hours out of their days to spend time with us.
Eventually we even persuaded my little sister, Amy, to come out and pose for a picture.
After they disappeared from view, my brother tossed a blue mat into the water of the lake, keeping an eye out for snakes and proceeding to doze off as he floated further and further away. When it comes to water, this boy is fearless.
I watched them, torn between a fear of the water and a desire to experience some semblance of adventure on this vacation. The night before, Luke had said, "Emily, you are not courageous!" and I quickly replied, "Where am I going this summer?" To Africa. I may be frightened by green lakes or the deep oceans, but I have courage in other areas of my life.
However, I finally mustered up the courage to venture onto the jet-ski. My mom decided to come along, even though she wasn't wearing a swimsuit. The others had come back with dry hair and wide-stretched smiles, telling stories about the "Redneck Riviera" and skipping over waves.
We climbed upon the blue jet-ski, both grinning (although I was the only one out of the three of us who was frightened). Grandpa Frank was good about going as smoothly as he could at first, until my shaking stopped (yes, I am that afraid of water) and the worst of my anxieties subsided. After a few minutes passed, I had great fun! We were out for perhaps thirty or forty minutes, bouncing on the water and feeling the wind strike our faces and tug at our hair.
When we arrived back at the house, we were only smiles and breathless stories. Do I plan to swim in the lake after this? No. Was I able to have fun on such a small boat? Yes! And this is enough for now.
As the night drew to a close, we attended a graduation party for a neighbor and met kind friends of my grandparents. Before the party, Grandma Marcia brought out her camera and took pictures of Ali and me beneath an arch blanketed in sweet-smelling white flowers.
After returning home from the dinner, Luke and I watched the sun set on the lake. It was a beautiful night, a perfect ending to a day like this one.
Now, I know the water was calm and we were in no real danger, but I could not help but re-read this passage tonight and mull over the reassurance I have been given in Christ.
Matthew 8:23-26
Then
He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a
furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the
boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying,
"Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little
faith, why are you so afraid?" Then He got up and rebuked the wind and
the waves, and it was completely calm.
Three years ago: To the Hopefuls ;)
Two years ago: Packing for a Cruise: Miscellaneous
One year ago: Odd
Monday, May 27, 2013
He Leads Me Beside Quiet Waters
Today was perfect. We woke up, ate some fruit for breakfast, and got ready to take a ride in my Grandpa Frank's boat.
It must be lovely to live along a lake. The water whispers as it moves, never ceasing. Rich trees offer any shade needed beyond the breeze that cools admirers of the lake from the glare of the winking sun. My younger siblings, Luke and Amy, were thrilled to get out on the boat.
The last time we were in North Carolina was five years ago. We all took turns clinging to a tube that trailed behind the boat as it sped across the lake, churning the water behind it. The challenge was to see who could hold on the longest. Amy and Luke's greatest desire of the day was to ride in the tube again. A sweet neighbor allowed us to borrow their tube, which had been in storage for the last few years.
So we set out, the summer sun warming our faces and resting merrily upon each strand of our hair. The water was smooth and calming.
I was reminded of Psalm 23, which says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul." This is what our trip has been so far: a sweet time of refreshment and fellowship as our Father has allowed us to sit back and admire the beauty of His creation.
We were out on the water for most of the day.
At first, we were unable to get the tube, so we took a leisurely cruise for a few hours.
Luke is the youngest of our group, and he was enraptured by the boat ride. He has since announced that whatever he does with his life, he would like to one day live on the lake and own a boat. I could see him in this world, so different from the desert plains where we live in Texas. He has certainly made himself at home here.
At one point, Grandpa Frank guided us into a small, green cove. Trees hung softly all around us. The water was perfectly still. He anchored the boat, and a few of us began to gather the floating mats tucked in storage. The biggest concern was that the flimsy beds wouldn't hold someone up, so Luke was the first to gather the courage to lie down. Amy was next.
Ali was the most nervous (as she can't swim), so Grandpa Frank blew up a floating chair, so she made herself comfortable on that, her feet dangling in the water (for the fishes, we told her). We wrapped the end of a rope around her wrist and tied it to the back of the boat, not to drag her along but to keep her from floating away. She soon fell asleep.
The rest of us stretched out on the comfortable seats of the boat and dozed under the grin of the sun. The homes, the trees, the sky were all beautiful and serene.
At one point on our cruise, we actually passed the state line between North and South Carolina. Funny that a lake extends across borders. A man and his neighbor might be from entirely different states.
We had lunch after we arrived at the house, and then the competitions began. Ali, Amy, my mom, and I have been doing a plank challenge, and Lukie began to boast that planking isn't difficult at all. "Plank then. Right now," we said, so he got into a plank position. After about twenty seconds, his arms began to shake. He said, "The ground is too hard here," so he moved into the house. He planked directly in front of a window so we could time him with a stopwatch. He managed the three minutes of our challenge, although he struggled. Of course, my funny 13-year-old brother came outside shrugging, saying, "No, that wasn't hard at all."
Soon after, Grandpa Frank came out carrying a funny wheel with handles. He had Luke try to exercise with this tool. It was more difficult than it looked.
Ali also tried, but Luke beat everyone in this exercise.
Soon after, we returned to the boat. My dad came along this time. We had the inner tube, although this one was much more comfortable than the tube we used five years ago (which dismayed Luke and pleased Amy). We set out a ways into open water, and then Luke crawled into the tube, bobbing gently in the lake water. We tethered him with a long rope to the back of the boat, and the challenge began.
At one point, we reached some rocking waves, and Luke's tube nearly flipped. The rope went slack, so we were certain it had snapped. We slowed down and returned to where Lukie was clambering to hold onto the yellow tube. It turns out, the entire bottom had been torn off of the tube! It was so old that it had been ripped to pieces by the waves. And that was the end of our tubing adventure.
A little later, Luke was even allowed to drive the boat! This may have been his proudest moment of our vacation so far.
We sat on the dock for a little while, just to talk, and watched with delight as a man paddled by in his canoe, with a little dog perched eagerly at the front of his boat. I had to snap a picture.
At the end of the day, our family went out for dinner and then ran to Target. I brought an older suitcase I got right before I traveled to Europe when I was twelve. This was the flight that ended its life. When we were returned my suitcase, it was riddled with gaping holes. We got a new, larger suitcase tonight on sale (that I will be bringing to Kenya in June), as well as the board game Taboo.
And like always, Ali and I talked late into the night.
Three years ago: Poverty: Water and Sanitation
Two years ago: Packing for a Cruise: Toiletries
One year ago: Ten Books
It must be lovely to live along a lake. The water whispers as it moves, never ceasing. Rich trees offer any shade needed beyond the breeze that cools admirers of the lake from the glare of the winking sun. My younger siblings, Luke and Amy, were thrilled to get out on the boat.
The last time we were in North Carolina was five years ago. We all took turns clinging to a tube that trailed behind the boat as it sped across the lake, churning the water behind it. The challenge was to see who could hold on the longest. Amy and Luke's greatest desire of the day was to ride in the tube again. A sweet neighbor allowed us to borrow their tube, which had been in storage for the last few years.
So we set out, the summer sun warming our faces and resting merrily upon each strand of our hair. The water was smooth and calming.
I was reminded of Psalm 23, which says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul." This is what our trip has been so far: a sweet time of refreshment and fellowship as our Father has allowed us to sit back and admire the beauty of His creation.
We were out on the water for most of the day.
At first, we were unable to get the tube, so we took a leisurely cruise for a few hours.
Luke is the youngest of our group, and he was enraptured by the boat ride. He has since announced that whatever he does with his life, he would like to one day live on the lake and own a boat. I could see him in this world, so different from the desert plains where we live in Texas. He has certainly made himself at home here.
At one point, Grandpa Frank guided us into a small, green cove. Trees hung softly all around us. The water was perfectly still. He anchored the boat, and a few of us began to gather the floating mats tucked in storage. The biggest concern was that the flimsy beds wouldn't hold someone up, so Luke was the first to gather the courage to lie down. Amy was next.
Ali was the most nervous (as she can't swim), so Grandpa Frank blew up a floating chair, so she made herself comfortable on that, her feet dangling in the water (for the fishes, we told her). We wrapped the end of a rope around her wrist and tied it to the back of the boat, not to drag her along but to keep her from floating away. She soon fell asleep.
The rest of us stretched out on the comfortable seats of the boat and dozed under the grin of the sun. The homes, the trees, the sky were all beautiful and serene.
At one point on our cruise, we actually passed the state line between North and South Carolina. Funny that a lake extends across borders. A man and his neighbor might be from entirely different states.
We had lunch after we arrived at the house, and then the competitions began. Ali, Amy, my mom, and I have been doing a plank challenge, and Lukie began to boast that planking isn't difficult at all. "Plank then. Right now," we said, so he got into a plank position. After about twenty seconds, his arms began to shake. He said, "The ground is too hard here," so he moved into the house. He planked directly in front of a window so we could time him with a stopwatch. He managed the three minutes of our challenge, although he struggled. Of course, my funny 13-year-old brother came outside shrugging, saying, "No, that wasn't hard at all."
Soon after, Grandpa Frank came out carrying a funny wheel with handles. He had Luke try to exercise with this tool. It was more difficult than it looked.
Ali also tried, but Luke beat everyone in this exercise.
Soon after, we returned to the boat. My dad came along this time. We had the inner tube, although this one was much more comfortable than the tube we used five years ago (which dismayed Luke and pleased Amy). We set out a ways into open water, and then Luke crawled into the tube, bobbing gently in the lake water. We tethered him with a long rope to the back of the boat, and the challenge began.
At one point, we reached some rocking waves, and Luke's tube nearly flipped. The rope went slack, so we were certain it had snapped. We slowed down and returned to where Lukie was clambering to hold onto the yellow tube. It turns out, the entire bottom had been torn off of the tube! It was so old that it had been ripped to pieces by the waves. And that was the end of our tubing adventure.
A little later, Luke was even allowed to drive the boat! This may have been his proudest moment of our vacation so far.
We sat on the dock for a little while, just to talk, and watched with delight as a man paddled by in his canoe, with a little dog perched eagerly at the front of his boat. I had to snap a picture.
At the end of the day, our family went out for dinner and then ran to Target. I brought an older suitcase I got right before I traveled to Europe when I was twelve. This was the flight that ended its life. When we were returned my suitcase, it was riddled with gaping holes. We got a new, larger suitcase tonight on sale (that I will be bringing to Kenya in June), as well as the board game Taboo.
And like always, Ali and I talked late into the night.
Three years ago: Poverty: Water and Sanitation
Two years ago: Packing for a Cruise: Toiletries
One year ago: Ten Books
Sunday, May 26, 2013
The Joy of Neck-Pillows
Today we left our hometown to spend ten days with family in the Carolinas.
When we woke at four in the morning, the sun was tucked so far behind the horizon that no trace of its light could be seen. Ali had arrived at our house just after 3:30, so she hadn't slept at all. The seven hour drive from her college town had been longer than usual; she'd decided to stop and nap in her car outside of a rest stop for a couple of hours in between.
We departed for the airport around 5:00am and groggily made it through security and onto the plane. Our family towed around multiple neck pillows. We were prepared to relax on this vacation starting at hour one.
I had big plans to do some reading and perhaps even writing on this plane, but they fell through. in the five hours we spent in the air in total, I slept for about four and a half of them. It was much-needed rest, though. Ali slept for all five.
We had a three hour layover in Houston, so my family had lunch at nine in the morning: pizza and Chinese food. It was delicious, although we were getting some odd looks from all of those who were munching on Starbucks and donuts.
During our wait, Lukie proceeded to show all of us how good the sound of his Beats headphones are. According to him, they're the best... but we did have to admit they sounded pretty great. Lukie is thirteen and he saved up for a long time last year to buy the headphones of his dreams.
Ali is a little behind on technology, so she was amazed... and confused... and filled with a broad spectrum of emotions that none of us could fully understand. Music does funny things to you, I suppose.
I have a new camera, so during the layover, we spent a lot of time taking pictures of everyone's eye. I meshed them all together. From top left to right and so on, the order is: my dad, my mom, Ali, me, Amy, Luke.
Getting back our luggage was filled with laughter as well. Luke's suitcase weighed somewhere around fifteen pounds, while Ali's was pushing fifty. The difference between a boy and a girl, right?
We're all a little amazed. Since I've started college, Luke has grown at least eight inches. Before I left home, he was nearly a head shorter than me, and now he even is beginning to inch over Ali, who is by far the tallest girl in our family.
We finally arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina in the afternoon. We were able to catch up with Grandpa Frank and Grandma Marcia, as well as eat some delicious brisket and queso. It was a good way to end a long day of travel. They have a beautiful home that rests directly over a large, green lake.
This week is going to be a wonderful time of rest and family.
Three years ago: Hope
One year ago: I'm a multi-tasker.
When we woke at four in the morning, the sun was tucked so far behind the horizon that no trace of its light could be seen. Ali had arrived at our house just after 3:30, so she hadn't slept at all. The seven hour drive from her college town had been longer than usual; she'd decided to stop and nap in her car outside of a rest stop for a couple of hours in between.
We departed for the airport around 5:00am and groggily made it through security and onto the plane. Our family towed around multiple neck pillows. We were prepared to relax on this vacation starting at hour one.
I had big plans to do some reading and perhaps even writing on this plane, but they fell through. in the five hours we spent in the air in total, I slept for about four and a half of them. It was much-needed rest, though. Ali slept for all five.
We had a three hour layover in Houston, so my family had lunch at nine in the morning: pizza and Chinese food. It was delicious, although we were getting some odd looks from all of those who were munching on Starbucks and donuts.
During our wait, Lukie proceeded to show all of us how good the sound of his Beats headphones are. According to him, they're the best... but we did have to admit they sounded pretty great. Lukie is thirteen and he saved up for a long time last year to buy the headphones of his dreams.
Ali is a little behind on technology, so she was amazed... and confused... and filled with a broad spectrum of emotions that none of us could fully understand. Music does funny things to you, I suppose.
I have a new camera, so during the layover, we spent a lot of time taking pictures of everyone's eye. I meshed them all together. From top left to right and so on, the order is: my dad, my mom, Ali, me, Amy, Luke.
Getting back our luggage was filled with laughter as well. Luke's suitcase weighed somewhere around fifteen pounds, while Ali's was pushing fifty. The difference between a boy and a girl, right?
We're all a little amazed. Since I've started college, Luke has grown at least eight inches. Before I left home, he was nearly a head shorter than me, and now he even is beginning to inch over Ali, who is by far the tallest girl in our family.
We finally arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina in the afternoon. We were able to catch up with Grandpa Frank and Grandma Marcia, as well as eat some delicious brisket and queso. It was a good way to end a long day of travel. They have a beautiful home that rests directly over a large, green lake.
This week is going to be a wonderful time of rest and family.
Three years ago: Hope
One year ago: I'm a multi-tasker.
Friday, May 24, 2013
FKM: Poetry and Jesus
If you would like to help support my return to Kenya, Africa, you can donate directly to the Christian Relief Fund and indicate that your donation is for "Emily's Kenya Trip."
Friday Kenya Memory: July 10, 2009
Today we decided to have our driver drop us off about ten minutes away from the school, right in the middle of the slums, so we could have a better understanding of the area in which these people live. Residents of this neighborhood smiled and waved at us as we passed by.
The slums are in such horrible conditions. We went down one road, literally holding our breath because of the overwhelming stench of both animal and human feces on the ground. Animals wander about freely, eating and pooping wherever they like.
After taking more sponsorship photos, I went into town to buy paint supplies for the school. One elderly lady in the city approached me, asking for money. We were told not to give money to beggars, but my team all gave her our coke bottles, which can be exchanged for a few shillings apiece at recycling centers in the city.
We returned to the school and held a Vacation Bible Study. The children are all so eager to learn about the Lord.
Earlier in the day, the children had classes, so I made a guest appearance to a few of their classrooms and taught some English spelling, science, and basic mathematics. The children listened very attentively. They are good students.
Lavin follows me everywhere, much to my delight. I have loved getting to see her sweet heart. Every time I catch her eye, she beams. She is so precious. She sings the song I taught her, Yesu ni Bwana, all the time. We sing a lot here.
The children all had prepared songs and poems to recite for me today. I am a writer and I love to encourage writing in children. Because of this, I promised each of them yesterday that if they wrote a poem about anything and recited it today, I would give them a bracelet. Every single one of these children is talented in his or her own way. AIDS has affected their lives so much, so this was the topic of many of their poems. I gave each performer a colorful rubber bracelet. I am so touched by their creativity and abilities. I will never forget this moment.
---
Writing now from 2013, let me elaborate on the paragraph above this one. A few of the children actually wrote down their poetry and gave them to me as gifts. Their words were so impacting.
Two years ago: Blogging: Finding Readers
One year ago: In this way, I am always the same.
Friday Kenya Memory: July 10, 2009
Today we decided to have our driver drop us off about ten minutes away from the school, right in the middle of the slums, so we could have a better understanding of the area in which these people live. Residents of this neighborhood smiled and waved at us as we passed by.
The slums are in such horrible conditions. We went down one road, literally holding our breath because of the overwhelming stench of both animal and human feces on the ground. Animals wander about freely, eating and pooping wherever they like.
After taking more sponsorship photos, I went into town to buy paint supplies for the school. One elderly lady in the city approached me, asking for money. We were told not to give money to beggars, but my team all gave her our coke bottles, which can be exchanged for a few shillings apiece at recycling centers in the city.
We returned to the school and held a Vacation Bible Study. The children are all so eager to learn about the Lord.
Earlier in the day, the children had classes, so I made a guest appearance to a few of their classrooms and taught some English spelling, science, and basic mathematics. The children listened very attentively. They are good students.
Lavin follows me everywhere, much to my delight. I have loved getting to see her sweet heart. Every time I catch her eye, she beams. She is so precious. She sings the song I taught her, Yesu ni Bwana, all the time. We sing a lot here.
The children all had prepared songs and poems to recite for me today. I am a writer and I love to encourage writing in children. Because of this, I promised each of them yesterday that if they wrote a poem about anything and recited it today, I would give them a bracelet. Every single one of these children is talented in his or her own way. AIDS has affected their lives so much, so this was the topic of many of their poems. I gave each performer a colorful rubber bracelet. I am so touched by their creativity and abilities. I will never forget this moment.
---
Writing now from 2013, let me elaborate on the paragraph above this one. A few of the children actually wrote down their poetry and gave them to me as gifts. Their words were so impacting.
Two years ago: Blogging: Finding Readers
One year ago: In this way, I am always the same.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Faithful
Faithful
How good You are that I may seek You.
You answer. You answer.
Your voice gentler than the wind,
Yet raging like the sea.
You answer. You answer.
Your eyes are fire, yet You are tender.
You whisper. You whisper.
You comfort me when I am broken,
Yet still my heart wanders.
You whisper. You whisper.
You love broken clay like me, like me.
You are faithful. You are faithful.
I stumble and I fall away,
Yet even then You save me.
You are faithful. You are faithful.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
#blessed
| Credit for this photo goes to Coca-Cola |
Our society is desperate to find true happiness, and when we can't, we seek to have the appearance of being happy. If everyone else looks happy, then we should do whatever it takes to look even happier. If happiness is buying a bottle of Coke, then so be it.
We tend to fall into bragging by pretending to share our blessings. I have sure done this. How many times have you captured a picture of a yummy cup of coffee or a laughing group of your friends and posted it online with a hashtag like #blessed? How many times have you taken to Facebook or Twitter to announce how fantastic your day is going? It feels great to use social media as a tool of showing everyone around you that you're happy. You're successful. You have friends. Your life is just as good as anyone else's, if not better.
It's easy to forget the difference between temporary happiness and joy. The Lord sustains and provides. He gives all joy, and no material thing, no relationship, no accomplishment can ever be enough without Him.
I'm not saying it's wrong to share about your good day on social networking sites. It's great to be happy. It's great to share your happiness with others. It's great to praise the Lord with a joyful and sincere heart. But it's not great to boast, and it's not great to seek joy from anything other than the Lord, whether it's through a bottle of Coca-Cola or the number of likes on a Facebook status.
Joy comes from the Lord. Psalm 63:5 says, "My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips." He gives every good thing.
Christ is joy. Nothing else of this earth really matters.
Whom
have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and
my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26
Two years ago: Apology
One year ago: Ways you can win my heart.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
How to Find Community in the Summer
The first summer after I started college is marked in my memory as a summer of trial. In part, this is because my family was having a difficult time. My grandma found out she had breast cancer, my little sister was struggling, and my household seemed entirely attacked by the enemy. Another big struggle for me last summer was loneliness.
While I'm at college, I am a member of a few Bible studies, Christian organizations, and outreach. My church is a place where I feel at home. Community surrounds me. This is where I was at the end of my second semester of college... and then I came home.
I suddenly felt stranded from the college-aged community that had blessed me so much. I don't connect well with my home church. There was no young adult Bible study or college ministry available. Many of my friends didn't stay in town for the summer or they had drifted away from their faith since high school. In a town you might call the buckle of the Bible belt, I struggled to find any form of community. And it was hard.
You may be concerned about the same for this summer. Whether or not you're returning from college, these next three months can be a time of spiritual drought or of sweet, refreshing time spent with Jesus.
Today I will share some tips that have helped me in finding Christian community during the summer.
1.) Create community. If you go to seek out a small group or Bible study within your church that fits your needs and you cannot find any, do not resign yourself to being stranded without community. You are not stuck. Perhaps the Lord has placed an opportunity to lead and serve in your lap.
If you cannot find community, spend time asking the Lord to provide it. And be prepared to be the one He asks to take leadership.
2.) Branch out. If you are seeking out community in the form of a Bible study or small group, but it isn't something your home church offers, don't be afraid to seek out community from other churches for the summer. You can continue to attend your home church regularly, but join another church's Bible study.
This is no form of betrayal. Whether or not we use different buildings, we are the Body of Christ. We have one Head in Jesus Christ. Community must not only be found within the walls of your church and among the faces of your congregation. If your church is not meeting a need and is unable to do so, allow another part of the Body of Christ to fill you in that way.
3.) Find community within your family. You may have parents, siblings, or even grandparents who are devoted to the Lord and actively pursuing Christ. If so, consider starting a time of worship within your household. God created families as units of love and community. Do not be afraid to seek this out from yours.
If you do not live in a Christian home, this may not be able to apply to you, but continue to lift your family up to the Lord. He is so faithful.
4.) Don't go into the summer expecting sameness. If you are still in school, summers will obviously be different from the school year. Your schedule and routine will change. Your source of community will probably change. And as wonderful or as difficult as your summer may have been last year, it will not be the same this time around. Your emotions will be different. Your experiences will vary. Your family life will work in a slightly different way. You will have grown further in your relationship with the Lord.
Do not rely on high or low expectations to define your summer before it even begins. It's going to be different than it ever has been before. Be prepared to spend three months in newness and growth in Christ. In a summer of wilderness or a summer of refreshment, the Lord desires to fill you with good things.
5.) Use this time to rest in the presence of the Lord. With each tip listed above, you may be thinking, "This won't work. I am completely alone this summer." No matter how stranded you are from a community of believers, do not feel overwhelmed or alone. You have not been forsaken.
This time may be a gift from a Father who desires to spend more one-on-one time with you. Perhaps community and involvement have become more important to you than your personal relationship with Christ. Community is sweet, but quiet time spent kneeling at the foot of His throne is even sweeter.
If you are approaching a summer of loneliness and lack of community, do not fear. Use this time for resting in the presence of your Abba. He longs to commune with you. He is eager to spend this summer shaping your gaze until it rests fully on Him and His perfect, unfaltering love for you.
As long as you are in His presence, you are not alone.
Lamentations 3:22-26
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
One year ago: I can't frat snap.
While I'm at college, I am a member of a few Bible studies, Christian organizations, and outreach. My church is a place where I feel at home. Community surrounds me. This is where I was at the end of my second semester of college... and then I came home.
You may be concerned about the same for this summer. Whether or not you're returning from college, these next three months can be a time of spiritual drought or of sweet, refreshing time spent with Jesus.
Today I will share some tips that have helped me in finding Christian community during the summer.
1.) Create community. If you go to seek out a small group or Bible study within your church that fits your needs and you cannot find any, do not resign yourself to being stranded without community. You are not stuck. Perhaps the Lord has placed an opportunity to lead and serve in your lap.
If you cannot find community, spend time asking the Lord to provide it. And be prepared to be the one He asks to take leadership.
This is no form of betrayal. Whether or not we use different buildings, we are the Body of Christ. We have one Head in Jesus Christ. Community must not only be found within the walls of your church and among the faces of your congregation. If your church is not meeting a need and is unable to do so, allow another part of the Body of Christ to fill you in that way.
3.) Find community within your family. You may have parents, siblings, or even grandparents who are devoted to the Lord and actively pursuing Christ. If so, consider starting a time of worship within your household. God created families as units of love and community. Do not be afraid to seek this out from yours.
If you do not live in a Christian home, this may not be able to apply to you, but continue to lift your family up to the Lord. He is so faithful.
4.) Don't go into the summer expecting sameness. If you are still in school, summers will obviously be different from the school year. Your schedule and routine will change. Your source of community will probably change. And as wonderful or as difficult as your summer may have been last year, it will not be the same this time around. Your emotions will be different. Your experiences will vary. Your family life will work in a slightly different way. You will have grown further in your relationship with the Lord.
Do not rely on high or low expectations to define your summer before it even begins. It's going to be different than it ever has been before. Be prepared to spend three months in newness and growth in Christ. In a summer of wilderness or a summer of refreshment, the Lord desires to fill you with good things.
This time may be a gift from a Father who desires to spend more one-on-one time with you. Perhaps community and involvement have become more important to you than your personal relationship with Christ. Community is sweet, but quiet time spent kneeling at the foot of His throne is even sweeter.
If you are approaching a summer of loneliness and lack of community, do not fear. Use this time for resting in the presence of your Abba. He longs to commune with you. He is eager to spend this summer shaping your gaze until it rests fully on Him and His perfect, unfaltering love for you.
As long as you are in His presence, you are not alone.
Lamentations 3:22-26
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
One year ago: I can't frat snap.
Monday, May 20, 2013
5 Things: Chacos and Favor!
Five things on my mind today are:
1.) I got my first pair of Chacos! I love them. Everyone said it would take a while to get used to the toe-strap, but so far, the shoes have been super comfortable! What do you think?
2.) I'm back to interning at Christian Relief Fund for the summer. Working there has been such a huge blessing in my life the last year and a half, and I am so thrilled to be back serving orphans through this organization. I've been blessed beyond measure.
3.) My little dog, Jack. Being home for the summer gives us time together, which means I get to take all sorts of pictures of this photogenic dog.
Since I've photographed Jack since he was only six weeks old, I truly believe that he understands to an extent what it means when I want him to pose. When I pull out the camera, he pauses for a moment and then goes on with his business (and boy, is he a busy little thing).
We've had to put a gate at the bottom of the stairs that lead to my bedroom or he'll leave surprises. Well, this devastates him, so this is Jack's pitiful reaction to being locked out of my area of the house.
4.) I've been exercising every day and trying to eat healthier. Last semester, I was overwhelmed, stressed out, and dealing with a lot of anxiety, so I let my health go down quite a bit. I want to make that up this summer. I've given up most of my soda-drinking. I've been exercising for at least thirty minutes every day. I've also been trying to cook a little more. If you know me at all, you'll know how clumsy I am in the kitchen.
However, I'm taking steps! A couple of days ago, I made some salmon. I'm pretty proud of this meal. And yes, those are two of my dogs begging for a bite of my salmon.
In two weeks, I have lost four pounds. Since I wasn't even trying to lose weight, I am pretty pumped about those results.
5.) The Lord's faithfulness in providing for my trip to Kenya, Africa this summer. I'll talk a little bit more about that soon, but He is providing daily in ways I never could have thought to ask. I have received a camera to take on the trip. Also, so many of my sweet friends donated their textbooks to sell towards my and my grandma's fundraising. Through the textbook drive alone, we were able to raise more than $240. Favor!
What are five things on your mind?
1.) I got my first pair of Chacos! I love them. Everyone said it would take a while to get used to the toe-strap, but so far, the shoes have been super comfortable! What do you think?
2.) I'm back to interning at Christian Relief Fund for the summer. Working there has been such a huge blessing in my life the last year and a half, and I am so thrilled to be back serving orphans through this organization. I've been blessed beyond measure.
3.) My little dog, Jack. Being home for the summer gives us time together, which means I get to take all sorts of pictures of this photogenic dog.
Since I've photographed Jack since he was only six weeks old, I truly believe that he understands to an extent what it means when I want him to pose. When I pull out the camera, he pauses for a moment and then goes on with his business (and boy, is he a busy little thing).
We've had to put a gate at the bottom of the stairs that lead to my bedroom or he'll leave surprises. Well, this devastates him, so this is Jack's pitiful reaction to being locked out of my area of the house.
4.) I've been exercising every day and trying to eat healthier. Last semester, I was overwhelmed, stressed out, and dealing with a lot of anxiety, so I let my health go down quite a bit. I want to make that up this summer. I've given up most of my soda-drinking. I've been exercising for at least thirty minutes every day. I've also been trying to cook a little more. If you know me at all, you'll know how clumsy I am in the kitchen.
However, I'm taking steps! A couple of days ago, I made some salmon. I'm pretty proud of this meal. And yes, those are two of my dogs begging for a bite of my salmon.
In two weeks, I have lost four pounds. Since I wasn't even trying to lose weight, I am pretty pumped about those results.
5.) The Lord's faithfulness in providing for my trip to Kenya, Africa this summer. I'll talk a little bit more about that soon, but He is providing daily in ways I never could have thought to ask. I have received a camera to take on the trip. Also, so many of my sweet friends donated their textbooks to sell towards my and my grandma's fundraising. Through the textbook drive alone, we were able to raise more than $240. Favor!
What are five things on your mind?
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