Five Years

Five years ago today, I wrote my first blog post.

(If you're looking back through my archives and see 15 posts from July, 2009, don't count those. I moved my journals chronicling my first trip to Africa here from another blog.)

So much has changed in the last five years. Then, I was a junior in high school. Now, I am a senior at university and on the brink of stepping into adulthood.

For a throwback Tuesday reflection moment, here is a picture of me taken the same month I started this blog.

And a picture of me now. 

How long have you been following this blog?

Three years ago: My Pet Peeves
Four years ago: Just Thankful
Five years ago: 80% (This Thanksgiving Holiday)

Sharon's Story

You can find this blog post on the Christian Relief Fund blog.

A young girl who lives in Kenya and is sponsored through Christian Relief Fund wrote a letter to her sponsor recently. Her story touched my heart and I hope it touches yours as well. Sponsorship has equipped Sharon to continue her education, have enough food to eat, and find hope for a brighter future.

Dear Sponsor,

Get more greetings from I, Sharon. I am glad to write you this letter just to say a word of thanks for your mercies and for what you have done for me. Surely I was going to sink in a hole and I would never come out.

My life since I was young was very bad and terrible. I have never lived with both my parents. I have never felt their parental care and love. I used to live with my maternal grandmother since 2006 when my life was extremely bad.

My father died in the year 2013. He started brewing illicit drugs when I was in first grade and my elder brother was in second grade. From there our life was going to be very worse. He used to take my mother's money from her business which she used to pay our school fees. From there he started abusing my mother in front of us. He lastly sent her out of her home. My mother had no other [place to go]. She left and went to my grandmother's home (her mother), where she stayed for two days and left to look otherwise for our needs. 

My father lastly left us alone in the house and he never bothered us. He left us without anything. He had to go and borrow. In the year 2006, we had lived alone for three months. Whenever we went to our maternal grandmother's place, my aunt used to send us away from that home.

My grandmother came back and took us. She lived with us. My younger sister used to be calling my elder brother "mum."

Our grandmother continued to live with us and we continued with education. I had never stopped going to school, but my brother had stopped. He was taken back to second grade, where we continued to learn in the same class.

My brother is now in ninth grade and we thank God for remembering us. I thank God for His mercies and I also thank you, sponsor, for your mercies on me. May God of blessings bless you and give you a long life. Thank you very much.

Your loving,
Sharon

Will you sponsor a child today? 

Three years ago: Bloglovin and 5 Ways to Win My Heart
Four years ago: I Need You Here

Highlights: Antidepressants, Ebola, and the God of Deborah

During this season of busyness in my life, I have not had as much time to sit down and spill my heart like I would so like to do more often. I have been blessed with words of wisdom of other bloggers. If you have the time, I encourage you to read a few of these articles. Some made me laugh. Others made me cry. All made me think a little bit more about the world, life, and Jesus.

What made me thankful to read.
Antidepressants as Means of Grace by Sarah Schwartz
"On Wednesday mornings, the high school ministry team I was a part of met for breakfast at a local diner. As we swapped prayer requests over bad coffee and scrambled eggs, I shared that I had started taking medicine to help combat my depression, to which the leader of the team, a senior boy I admired, turned and forcefully informed me,“You know, that would go away if you just trusted God enough.”"

What is important.
May God Bless You with Anger by Sarah Bessey 
"May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for freedom, justice, and peace."

What was lovely.
A Memory of our True Home by Sarah Bessey
"Our skin is made of dust and we often catch the perfumed scent of the Garden in the cool of the evening, and we know, somewhere inside, we’re supposed to be walking with God, unashamed still."

What was inspiring.
Where is the God of Deborah? by Marilyn from A Life Overseas
"Where is the God of Deborah? He is still here. He is still present. He is still at work. He is still saying ‘Who touched me’ like he did so long ago on dusty streets in Palestine. He is still restoring, relentlessly pursuing, loving, healing, freeing women from their suffering. This I must believe. This I do believe."

What made some good points.
Our ignorance of Africa is more dangerous than Ebola by Luvvie Ajayi
"The narrative about Africa has always been a simple, singular picture of the poor helpless, disease-ridden child with mosquitoes all over it. While Africa does need aid, Africa is also rising. However, right now it’s seen as the Ebola zone. 'The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.'"

Tweets

"If you can't show the difference between religion and the gospel, people will confuse morality with a changed heart."
— Tim Keller Wisdom (@DailyKeller) October 2, 2014

Trying to set better sleeping habits for myself before I enter the "real world," and go to bed no later than 2am. Baby steps, right? 😁
— Emily Whelchel (@EmilythePerson) October 22, 2014

Years ago my Christian faith changed when I discovered this unalterable truth: Jesus sat at the table with ANYONE who wanted to be present.
— Fred Liggin IV (@Liggin) October 22, 2014

Advice for writers: Dare yourself to be audacious. No one trusts a timid storyteller.
— Tosca Lee (@ToscaLee) October 31, 2014

#Ebola Map of Africa for the Geographically Challenged Inspired by @JuryReporter: https://t.co/P7UwqPx3Bw pic.twitter.com/MldqcqpMU6
— Anthony England (@EbolaPhone) November 3, 2014

Three years ago: To Be Honest

Life Right Here

My friend Kelsey has a fancy camera and even fancier photography skills.

Autumn meant that it was time for another roomie picture session, so my three roommates and I dressed in our most "fall" outfits, despite the fact that it was a sweltering ninety degrees outside on an evening in late October. (South Texas, y'all.)

There is something to treasure about living in community.

It isn't always easy.

Let me rephrase that. Living in community isn't easy.

As a college student, I am daily making a home in a small space with girls who see my weaknesses and my sinful nature and my vulnerabilities and me seeing theirs all in turn.

I don't think I've ever begun a new month without lessons and wisdom gained from the weeks before.

More than anything, I appreciate the late-night talks about Jesus. Taking communion with cran-grape juice and rolls from Walmart. Teaching two of my roommates guitar and having "concert/worship" nights. Pulling pranks and making videos. The life-sized cardboard cutout of Elvis Presley we hide around the house to scare each other.

There are things about community that are hard and broken because of the sinful world in which we live... and there are also things about community that are pure enjoyment and innocence and laughter.

Fellowship digs rich wells of communication, expression, and transformation.

Having friends who walk through life with me and stand with me when things are not easy is a gift from the Lord.

Living with women of God means that I see Jesus shined in many different ways. The Bible is opened and there are four different hearts being whispered to by the Holy Spirit.

My burdens aren't carried alone, even when I think they are.

Kendall and I make "road trips" across our small town in order to have lots and lots of Mexican food. She sits and sketches while I write stories. We curl up behind a guitar and sing "Beautiful" by Bethany Dillon and mean the words. There are late night walks and talks and Spider Solitaire.

Kelsey brings laughter and crafts and Christmas lights (okay, "candy corn lights") in the middle of autumn. Because of her presence in the house, there are Styrofoam pumpkins, pine cones, and plastic leaves on every available surface. If a song needs to be sung, her voice is the one singing.

Sammy is the wild card who orders the Elvis cardboard cutout because she knows that's what our house needs most of all. If a prank is committed, she is the perpetrator. If an adventure is to be had, she is out the door with a kayak and bare feet.

No, living in community is not always easy. But it's what I need in this time of my life as a college student. As a young, single woman growing to love Jesus more and understand more about His love, there is nothing that pushes me forward more than sharing a home and a life with other women who are seeking Christ.

There is joy to be found when a school day is hard, through warm tea and worship songs and silly nights. It is a beautiful thing when conflicts are resolved in love instead of anger. When surrounded by community, I'm learning about accountability and vulnerability and transparency.

I pray that wherever I am in my life, I will have a strong community where we challenge and support and encourage each other. It will look different in one place than in another, but in this place, community looks like right here. A day in a pumpkin patch. A two hour discussion about Balaam and the donkey at one in the morning. Guitar strings and snap peas.

I like to daydream about what's to come, but I'm thankful for right here. Right now. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's joyful.

Happy fall.

Two years ago: Broken Words

Highlights: Social Justice for Single People

What is important to remember about the Ebola crisis.
Ebola is an Inequality Crisis by Jim Wallis
"The reason to do this is not because Ebola threatens our countries as well — as Dr. Kim says, we have the tools to contain the outbreak. Rather, we need to commit to reducing global inequality because Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and there are no national, cultural, or economic boundaries for our definition of “neighbor.""

What it is like to live in a country ravaged by Ebola. 
Ebola a constant threat in reporting from Liberia by Krista Larson
"I admit I was initially afraid to come to Liberia. ...Ebola's incubation period is up to 21 days. Every sore throat, every achy muscle can set off anxiety. And yet the world needs to know what is happening here: Ebola is obliterating entire neighborhoods, leaving orphaned children with no one to lean on but a tree."

What is inspirational.
This is What Brave Means by Momastary
"Sometimes brave means letting everyone else think you're a coward. Sometime brave is letting everyone else down but yourself."

What is impactful.
Social Justice for Single People by Christena Cleveland
"I’ve discovered that while social justice work is the most life-giving, freeing, Christ-centered work I’ve ever known, it’s also the most painful, isolating and marginalizing work. When it’s in your DNA to notice and feel the pain of the world, you encounter a lot of valleys, shadows, and death. The world is particularly unkind to the people who fight for kindness."

What is informative.
Paul and Women, in a Nutshell by NewLife

"Here is a list, in alphabetical order, of women who Paul mentions in his letters. Some of these women he mentions along with a male relative, others are mentioned independently of men."

"Emily, how are you doing today?" "Good." "But how are you doing EMOTIONALLY?" "Umm... Good, I think?" #femalehousehold
— Emily Whelchel (@EmilythePerson) October 5, 2014

my love for the new t-swift album is the same as my love for the gospel: unashamed
— Christian Hipster (@ChristnHipster) October 27, 2014

Let's not dehumanize those in Africa by focusing only on the poverty. It's a beautiful continent with real people. pic.twitter.com/JzpuaWVEH9
— Emily Whelchel (@EmilythePerson) October 8, 2014

Want more opportunities to share the gospel with folks? Here's a suggestion: Lose these. pic.twitter.com/XYjlefxnpZ
— Jimmy Needham (@JimmyNeedham) October 16, 2014

Being in love with God is not indicative of anything noble or pious-only the mark of being forgiven of much.
— Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) October 21, 2014

(This is the first time I've ever blogged on November 7!)

Orphan Sunday: Murray

The first Sunday of the month, I advocate for an orphan with special needs who is waiting for a family.  Please consider supporting this child by committing to pray for them, sharing their story, or donating to their adoption fund through Reece's Rainbow.

 

Murray is a handsome, smart, and engaging young man. 

He is also an orphan.

Murray has been in an orphanage for a long time, waiting for a family. He is hard-working, funny, a good dancer, and the best English-speaker in his class. He makes friends easily and he is organized and responsible. 

 

Murray has a virus that can be stigmatizing and may cause him to face prejudice and discrimination in his life. Some people do not understand that Murray did not do anything wrong to cause him to contract this virus. They do not understand that he can live a long and healthy life. They do not understand that Murray is as strong and smart and capable of excelling as any other boy his age.

Murray has HIV.

 

He has so many things going for him. So many talents, abilities, and assets that will cause him to be such a great addition to a family structure. Murray is a precious child of God. He desires a family to embrace him and accept him.

 

But Murray keeps waiting. And now he is thirteen.

 

Will you be the one who gives Murray a home?

Three years ago: Something wonderful.

Four years ago: Reviewing Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker