Fruit Basket Turnover...

So the past few weeks have been nothing but crazy. Going here, going there, doing this, doing that, finishing up one thing while starting up something new. Crazy I tell you, just crazy busy. However, if you really know me, I like crazy. Crazy is what keeps me going. (Yeah, crazy, I know!) As this week and chapter of my life ends I believe the word crazy is going to take on a whole new meaning in this new chapter of life. What does this new chapter involve you might ask...Honestly, I have no clue, but I named it "Fruit Basket Turnover."

For my friends out there who are non-educated in children's games let me explain to you the game of "Fruit Basket Turnover." Everyone except for the person who is "it" grabs a chair and forms a big circle. The participants are split into several equal groups and each group is given a name of a fruit such as banana, apple, orange etc. The person who is "it" stands in center of the circle and calls out a fruit and if you are that fruit you have to get up and swap

seats. The goal is to find another seat and not be the one left to be "it" in the center of the circle. Every once in a while "it" can call out "fruit basket turnover" instead of just naming one fruit. When they do that everyone has to get up and find a new seat. Needless to say when this happens with 70 or so kids it is mass chaos. Everyone is running around scrambling to find their new place. Some laughing, some crying and some just down right scared. When it's all said and done everything is OK, but for those few short moments their life is turned upside down...

That's pretty much how my life is at this moment. I feel like God has yelled out "fruit basket turnover" and I am scrambling to find my new place. The past eight months has been nothing but change. Everything I had come to know over my years of existence has changed. Now, I am a fan of change, but I have learned that I am not a fan of everything changing at once! As I closed the door yesterday to a job that I loved, but fully understood that it is was time to move on, I opened the door to...Well, I'm not sure what! I've opened the door to whatever God has for me whether that is here, there or wherever. I've opened the door to God's fruit basket turnover. Over the next few months as I step into my busiest time of the year I pray that God would move me to the new seat that He has for me. I know that there will be many laughs, some tears and at moments I might be scared, but I know with all of my heart that my God holds the basket in His hands and there is nothing I have to worry about. I'm excited to see what God has for me!

Since I will be here, there and everywhere over the next 2-3 months I plan to blog my adventures and the things that God teaches me through them as I go. My prayer is that as I lay my head on my pillow (No matter where I am!) each night of this crazy summer that I will have learned something new about God and myself that day. So join me, you might not be doing VBS or dying your hair or prepping for camp or going to camp (twice!) or covering people in shaving cream or watching your best friend walk down the aisle (praying that the dye is out of my hair before the wedding!) :) or going on a mission trip or having, but refusing to celebrate your "golden birthday" (which is when you turn the same age of your birth date) or various little trip and things here and there, but you will be doing something. Whatever it is that your doing I want to challenge you find God in it. Find what He wants to teach to you in whatever it is that your doing. Allow those ordinary things, people and experiences to teach you an extraordinary lesson about God. Find that heart to heart by way of long johns...

God's "Head Nod"...

This past weekend I was sitting outside one night having a conversation with a friend and in the midst of the conversation they said, "O, there it is." After looking around I had to inquire on what they were talking about. They soon pointed my attention to the sky and said there was a shooting star. Not gonna lie, I was kind of bummed I didn't see it. :( After a brief conversation about shooting stars they told me that they refer to shooting stars as "God's head nod." I laughed then listened to their explanation. They went on to explain how there was a moment in their life that they just needed to know that God was there and that everything was OK. A few moments after they prayed the prayer they look at the sky and saw a shooting star. It was like God was giving them a nod saying that He was there, everything's OK and that He's got their back. I thought for a moment then carried on...

A few days later I was just having one of those days. I was wondering what in the world God was up to...Wondering if I was really making a difference in this world...Wondering if I was where I was supposed to be doing what I was supposed to be doing. I asked God for a head nod...I looked around and got nothing.

Today was another one of those days. A day of frustrations, let downs, confusion and questioning. More than once today I questioned things. Am I where I'm supposed to be?

What is God doing? Why is everything in my world changing? Why does God allow me to feel this way? Needless to say it was somewhat of a rough day...Frustrated with God and wondering why I'm where I am at in my life. The more I thought, the more frustrated I became. Then it was like God looked down at me and gave me a head nod...In the form of this simple text message...

"Meet Miss Meredith :) from Tanner"

This text came from one of my kids at school via his moms phone. You see his birthday is Friday and he has been telling me for almost a week how he was going to get a fish. He got the fish tonight and named it Miss Meredith and wanted me to know!

It was a simple text, but God used it to speak volumes. The quick text just to let me know he got his fish and that we now share a name informed of me more than that. It was like God looked down and said, "I'm still here. You're exactly where you're supposed to be doing exactly what I've called you to do. Even when life doesn't make sense, I've still got you in My hand. Keep doing what I've called you to do. Love on those around you, be my light and live a life worthy of being watched."

That's my prayer... That no matter the day, the frustrations, the questioning...No matter what, I would constantly keep my eyes fixed on Him, loving all those around me, being a light for Him in this dark world and living a life worthy of being watched. (Or naming a fish after!) :)

I started this blog to convey the extraordinary lessons God taught me using ordinary things... One ordinary fish, one extraordinary lesson...

Final Days and Final Thoughts...

We finished up on the Serengeti, drove back to a hotel in Mwanza and had a hot shower for the first time in about 10 tens. It was Heaven on earth! We spent the evening repacking our bags and getting ready to fly back to Kenya the next morning and begin our journey home. We were not ready for the trip to be over. We both were utterly exhausted and neither one of us felt too hot. It had been a long, but incredible two weeks in Tanzania. We slept well that night, but it didn't help the fact that we had to board the tiny little plane and have a crazy bumpy ride back to Nairobi. After a great brunch with the Limbe's we headed to the airport. We got there, checked our bags and stood outside the entrance just like our first day in Mwanza. The first day I stood there saying hello and meeting two total strangers...Two weeks later I stood there saying goodbye to two people who were now apart of my family. After our goodbyes we boarded the same little plane we flew in 2 weeks earlier. Then we were miserable because of our environment and the turbulence....This day the environment and turbulence was the same, but we were miserable because we were leaving the place we both love.

We endured the miserable flight back to Nairobi, went through customs, found our driver and began our trek into the city to the Hampton House were we would be staying our last two nights. As we drove through Nairobi I stared out of the window just like the day we arrived. The first day we were there I never felt like I was in Africa...This day I felt like I was African. The first day there I simply soaked in all the sights...This day I soaked in all the things God is doing in Africa. The first day my mind was blown how God worked to get us there...This day my mind was blown how God worked in and through us while we were there. I never knew 17 days could change my life so much.

The next day we took the same trek back to the Sarit Center to do some shopping, but yet I was a different person. 17 days earlier I couldn't wait to see new things and experience a different culture....This day I couldn't wait to see who I would encounter and how God could use me as a witness. We went shopping in the dukas and it was entertaining to say the least, but God still worked. They wanted to trade for anything we had. Hats, sunglasses, watches, pens...You name it, they wanted it. I was wearing a salvation bracelet and had a few more in my backpack. As I was bartering with one of the guys he asked for my bracelet. I told him I was willing to barter with it, but he had to listen to what I had to say first and he agreed. I took my bracelet off and began to share the plan of salvation with him. Within seconds I was surrounded by a group of 6-7 men listening intently. I am not sure if any of them received Christ that day, but seeds were planted. (Side note: I returned to the same dukas in June and saw the guy who asked for my bracelet. He saw me and my new salvation bracelet and remembered me. He asked me for the one I had and when I inquired why he wanted it he told me how he shared it with his friend then gave it to him. He grabbed my hand, pointed to each bead and told me plan of salvation. Needless to say I left that bracelet with him too!)

After a few hours of shopping and dinner we returned back to our room. We made plans to blog, email and skype our friends and family back home. We did this 17 days earlier when we first got there to tell them we were there, safe, having a good time and that we loved and missed them...This day we just wanted to tell them the incredible things God was doing and how much we didn't want to come home.

It had been 17 days since we had taken off from Atlanta. 17 days that were incredible. 17 days that flew by way too fast. 17 days that God moved in a might way. 17 days that opened my eyes. 17 days that birthed new love, passions and dreams among the both of us. 17 days that took us from once place and mindset in life to another. 17 days that we chose to see threw the eyes of Christ. 17 days where He broke our hearts for what breaks His. 17 days that neither one of us will ever forget. 17 days that changed us forever.

As we left the Hampton House early the last morning for the airport I simply stared out of the window one last time reflecting, thinking and praying. I thought about how different I was and how different my mind set was. I thought about the place I was now at spiritually. I thought about where I was at before the journey and the lessons, laughs and tears that got me to where I was at that moment. I was slightly disgusted. 18 days before I was about two steps behind where I was then. I thought about how much I and my thought process had changed. I then thought, wow, this whole time I was changing, but my God was still the same. He is the same right this second that He was at that moment in life and the previous days before.

I thought to myself: "If God never changes and He's always right there, then why do I feel like I God is always moving?" The answer I found was simple, but yet painful to accept. God is a never changing God who is always there, but unfortunately we change and in those changes we take steps. Some times steps closer to God, but a lot of times we step away from God. Each day we are taking steps in life. What direction are you stepping?......

Needless to say, that trip changed my life. Thank you for journeying and reflecting back on the incredible things God did and is continuing to do. My heart is now a tad bit smaller because I left part of it there. It was pure joy to return to Africa last June and I am eagerly awaiting the chance to return again. If I could pack my bags and leave now I would, but God's timing is perfect...No matter how hard it is to understand.

My prayer is that each one of you will be able to make the trek to Africa yourself and see the incredible things God is doing. It will change your life forever...I promise.

Music to My Ears...

Well, Christmas had come and gone and in case you haven't noticed...it was AWESOME! We spent plenty of time loving on, playing with and simply having fun with the girls. The week had flown by and seemed like mere hours not seven days. We had reached the day that we did not want to see...It was the day to leave. It was going to be brief morning there because our driver along with Samuel, Pendo, and baby Elizabeth would be there soon to pick us up and start our safari to the Serengeti. While we both were super excited about that adventure with our dear friends, we also hated that this adventure was ending.We got up, had breakfast with Chris and Jim, packed our stuff and began the "African wait." (Yeah, time is not an important thing in Africa!) We walked around the campus, took some pictures and spent our few last minutes with the girls.

We walked back to the guest house and sat outside with some of the girls and our luggage until the car arrived. We greeted Samuel and family, said our goodbyes to the girls, shed a few tears, and received many hugs. After a short prayer we said goodbye one last time and turned to climb in our car. As we turned we heard the girls talking back and forth then we heard what had grown to be a familiar sound to us..."milimani na bahari ni. Pendo lako la tiririka..." (Pretty sure the spelling is close!) We both stopped instantly and turned around. What were they doing?

They were singing...Singing a song Liv had taught them earlier in the week... They were singing "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever"...They were singing for us, but to Him.

We were slightly teary eyed while saying goodbye, but now we had full blown tear-age. As a matter of fact I took my sunglasses off the top of my head and put them on to cover my eyes. It was an incredible moment. I was speechless. It was music to my ears...

When they finished we thanked them for the treat, did another round of hugs and goodbyes and climbed in the car. As we pulled away Liv and I both opened our windows so we could wave and say goodbye to the girls one last time. The girls chased our car down the road waving and screaming at us. I'm pretty sure that most of our bodies were hanging out of the windows waving, crying, and screaming back at them...We didn't want to come back in...We didn't want to leave the girls...We didn't want to close the window...

Finally the girls stopped chasing us and we came back in the car. I stared out of the window just like the day we landed in Mwanza. I stared and soaked it all in. The past 7 days had changed my life and I didn't want it to end. I began to ask myself questions. "What is God doing? What are all these emotions about? Why am I not excited about going to the Serengeti like I was a few days ago? What in the world?!?" I continued to ride and stare out of the window for a few more minutes. As I stared I prayed a simple prayer that I pray often while on mission trips... "Lord don't let me forget this moment. Don't let me miss what you have for me..."

A few minutes down the road we all engaged in conversations about our week.

We were able to tell Samuel and Pendo about all of our adventures while at the girls home. We laughed, picked on each other and played with Elizabeth. As we drove I was able to get to know Samuel and Pendo a little better. I was able to hear their hearts, their passions, their vision and desires to help the street boys and I heard how God was working in their lives. I heard how they were willing to sacrifice what very little they had in order to minister to and feed the boys. I heard how they were willing to do whatever it took to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I heard a family who was truly giving their all, taking up their crosses and following Jesus. What I heard was music to my ears...

After a couple of hours of driving and a stop for lunch we finally made it to the gate to the Serengeti. By now I was pretty stinkin' excited! We stopped to pay our fees (and take some pics!) then headed into the park! We drove and drove and drove. It was awesome! We saw zebras, giraffe's, monkeys, an elephant and a whole slew of other animals. I was like a little kid going to the zoo for the first time. As I would see a new animals I would giggle, then shout out the name of the animal over and over again! Yeah, I loved it and Samuel loved making fun of me. After a few hours of driving it began to rain so we wrapped up our adventure and headed to the lodge. We grabbed some dinner then headed to bed so we could get up and see the sun rise!

****Time out for a funny story...or 2! We both were excited about a hot shower because we had gone over a week just taking a cold shower with green smelly lake water! I was the first to get in...I turned the hot water knob and nothing came out...The hot water was turned off at 9pm. It was 9:03. At least the water wasn't green or smelly! After we both showered we decided to phone home. The only spot we could get signal was on Liv's bed. We both were laying there and I was talking to my dad. I began to hear this low grumbling sound and I got tickled. I thought it was Liv's stomach and she thought it was mine! Needless to say it wasn't either of our stomachs and well, we really had no idea what it was. We laughed it off and finally went to bed. The next morning as we drove away from the lodge we figured out what it was...

A large pond full of hippos about 60 yards from our room...I guess they were hungry hungry hippos! :)

****Time in!

After a week in the "jail cell" at JBFC it was great to sleep in a real bed...Even though there was what seemed like hundreds on monkeys running on the roof all night long! We thoroughly enjoyed a great nights sleep and rose early to catch the sunrise.

We walked to the top of the lookout area just before sunrise and got our cameras ready.

It was a little cloudy, but as the sun began to peek over the horizon and I stood speechless. (And for those who know me well, that's not a common occurrence!)

It was an amazing sight...I didn't think anything else could top it. Ha!

After taking several pictures and soaking up the beauty of the day we headed back to the room to pack up and then grabbed some breakfast and headed out. We were blessed with an incredible driver named Vincent for our Serengeti safari. He is VERY knowledgeable about the animals and the land itself. He was constantly stopping to tell us interesting facts about different things. My favorite thing about Vincent is what I deemed as his "catch phrase." As we drove he would say, "What do you want to see now? I find it for you!" Let me just say, he did it. Whatever we named he found and it was awesome. Overall we saw 29 lions, 1 leopard, elephants and countless monkeys, zebras, and giraffes, just to name a few!

It definitely was an adventure. As incredible as it was tracking down the animals the most incredible moment of my day came at an unexpected time. We had just seen about 10 lions all over a rocky area and we had stopped to take a few pictures of the incredible view. Liv was snapping pictures right and left and I was peeking out over the top of the car soaking in the view. I decided to turn all the way around and capture the moment in my brain. In the brief 360 degrees I saw zebras, monkeys, a giraffe and a incredible view of the sun peeking through the clouds just above the horizon. It truly was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I couldn't help but stand in awe of my God and His beautiful creation. I simply stood and had a moment...

I heard all the animals making noise, the wind blowing through trees, His children laughing and enjoying His creation...I heard ALL of creation praising Him. What an incredible God I serve that all of creation worships Him. It was music to my ears...

We finished up our safari and headed back into Mwanza for the evening before we flew back to Kenya the next morning. Two incredible days on the Serengeti observing God's beautiful creation and once again we both were a little more different...

My prayer is that I will never forget these three moments. These were three totally different moments that God used to change me. Three moments where what I heard was not only "music to my ears", but also music to God's ears. I can't help but think that He just melts when He hears those girls in Kitongo, Tanzania singing "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever." I truly believe that He smiles big when He hears and see the things that Samuel and Pendo do to further His Kingdom. I think He receives pure joy from His creation (rocks included!) praising Him. Unfortunately, I can't help but think about what my life sounds like to Him. Is my life music to His ears? Do the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart "melt" Him? Am I doing things to further His Kingdom that makes Him smile? Do I, His creation, bring Joy to Him through my praises?

Sadly I often fall short of these things. As I reflected on these three moments I was reminded of a song I heard a few years ago. This has become my prayer...May it be music to His ears...

Let my life be like a love song

Let my life be like a love song

Let my life be like a love song

To Your heart

Lord the love You give You give so generously

You were my sacrifice You gave Your life for me

And now I want to give just as I've received

To live a life that shines Your love for those in need

Let my life be like a love song

Let my life be like a love song

Let my life be like a love song

To Your heart

So let justice roll like an endless stream

Flowing through my life to the poor and weak

Let the things I do and words I speak

Reveal the awesome love You have shown to me

Let your life be like a love song to His heart...

Crazy Americans...

***Yeah, I know...I changed the look of my blog. Just trying something new. I like it...I hope you do too! :)***

After Christmas at the girls home we had a few more "adventures". On the 26th we started our day off with watching a cow being slaughtered...Yeah, first a chicken, then a cow...I thought I was going to be a vegetarian forever! Later that day we were present for the dedication of the new school at JBFC. 100's of people from the village came in to take part in the celebration and a celebration it was!

At some point on the 26th we had a little play time. The girls had received a volleyball net for Christmas and they wanted to play. The area that they would be playing in was a mixture of sand, fine soil, and a little bit of gravel. We decided that the only way we could get the metal poles to stay in the ground was to use concrete. Liv and I somehow decided that we could handle that task...HA! A few of the girls helped us begin to dig two holes. After a few measurements we decided that we had to dig the holes 3 feet deep. I didn't think we were ever going to make it!

Finally after the holes were dug, we had to mix concrete...Lot's of sand, water, laughs and a ton of concrete being slung around during the "mixing" later, we got it poured. However, we didn't realize someone would have to stand and hold the poles till it set. The girls ran off and well, Liv and I stood and held poles for an extended period of time.

As people walked by from the neighboring village they just kind of gave us a look. At first I didn't get what they were looking at. Then it hit me...Two random white girls...Standing outside...Holding poles...Yeah, I'm pretty sure they thought, "Crazy Americans..."

Sunday, December 27th was our last full day at JBFC and it was coming a flood! Needless to say that since the "church" was a tarp in the middle of a field, we didn't go! The girls (not to mention the two of us) were utterly exhausted from Christmas and the school opening so we took it easy. Like we got up, did a few things and took a nap all before lunch! We finally all gathered in Chris' house and had lunch together. The girls feasted on cow intestines from the slaughtering the day before...We had African style spaghetti! After lunch we all crowded around Chris' laptop and watched Madagascar! Let me just say it's rather entertaining watching a movie that's in English with 28 girls who understand very little. They watched the characters and laughed when we laughed! :) I then started randomly laughing just to see if they would laugh. A few of them did, but after awhile I think they caught on. Pretty sure they just looked at me and thought "Crazy American..."

Anyway, after the movie the rain had let up and we ended up having the best adventure of our time there. Before I start this story I would like to say that I do not recommend doing what we did. If we would have stopped and thought about it we probably wouldn't have done it, but hey...When in Africa, do as the African's do...Or as the crazy American's do!

We decided to walk with all the girls, Chris, and Jim (A fellow American in for the school dedication) the 1-2ish mile trek to the rice paddies.

We had walked down a few days before to observe the girls planting (pic on left), but Jim had not been there and wanted to check it out. The walk was interesting to say the least. It was mud puddle after mud puddle and about every 5 feet or so you would hear a girl scream from losing their shoe in the mud! As a matter of fact, at one point we thought Liv was going to lose her foot in a mud puddle...Quite the entertainment! We got to the rice paddies and what looked like well mapped out rice paddies a few days before now looked like a huge swamp! (Pic below)

There was a one ledge of mud that we could still walk on top of. We walked (or slipped) on the ledge over to the big paddy they had planted earlier that week. We were all standing on the mud ledge around the paddy which was now a big pond. Liv, Jim and I were standing together and Chris was across the way. I looked at Liv and mentioned how funny it would be if one of us just "slipped" into the rather large mud puddle. Jim said he would do it! We told Chris our plan and he got the girls to countdown from three. They had no idea why they were counting down since they couldn't understand us...

The look on their faces when he dove into the puddle was priceless! Check it out!

They laughed and laughed until they were crying! A moment worth remembering!

We began the trek back and came upon a large open area that was flooded and we were going to have to wade through. It was about knee high...Some might see it as an obstacle, but we saw a swimming pool! Chris was at the front of the long line, I was a few girls behind him, Liv a few behind me and then Jim was bringing up the rear. He yelled back and asked if we wanted to swim. Liv and I looked at each other and said "Yeah!"

Chris walked to the middle of the "pool" as if he was going to help the girls cross, but as they got to him he dunked them!

The girls caught on to our plan, began to scream and then began running towards Liv and I. We blocked them and began throwing them in!

We spent the next several minutes splashing and dunking each other. At some point Liv and I both went under the not so clean water. We called truths and began the very cold and wet trek back to the house. We were greeted with a not so nice look from the matrons who had to clean the girls up once they got back, but once they saw the smiles and heard the stories of the girls they just looked at Liv and I,

shook their heads and laughed! I'm pretty sure they were thinking "Crazy Americans..."

As we were washing off and hanging our clothes to dry Liv and I reflected on our actions and couldn't believe we did it. We then began thinking about all the things that could have been in the water and what kind of crazy diseases we could have contracted. Yeah, we wondered if we were going to wake up the next morning throwing up or having a extra arm grow out of our head or something! However, later on one of the girls came up and in her broken English she said, "I like swim. Thank you." Worth it? I think so! I was OK being the crazy American.

A crazy American...Yep, that's what I felt like the whole time I was in Africa. We definitely stuck out looks wise, but also by our actions. People couldn't understand why we came to Africa to see them, minister to them, and give them things. It just didn't make any sense. It was crazy. People here in America thought we were crazy too. Who would ask people to donate large amounts of money in the middle of an economical crisis so they could go to Africa??? Who would want to be in Africa living in the "jail cell" with no hot water??? Who would want to give Christmas away instead of receiving presents??? That's just crazy.

Well, I can honestly say that I am OK being crazy...It was well worth it. I can honestly say that God blessed two "crazy" girls more than we could ever imagined while we were at JBFC. It was a crazy, but life changing Christmas for us both....

I am a firm believer that as Christians we are called to be crazy.

- Love your enemies...Crazy.
- Pray for those who persecute you...Crazy
- Turn the other cheek...Crazy.
- Die to self and put our will aside...Crazy.
- Put others before yourself...Crazy.

This stuff is crazy! As crazy as it sounds...It's true. Liv and I dared to be crazy for three weeks and we definitely got some funny looks and a few laughs. However, the results we saw and heard because of it was well worth it. Crazy changed us.

Are you willing to be crazy? It's the crazies that are going to change the world...

TIME OUT!!!!

OK, so I know you are all (and by all I mean all 3 of you who read this!) dying for me to finish blogging about my Africa trip so you can know the last few crazy things we encountered. Trust me, I'm going to finish it and there is still some GOOD stuff that happened the last few days, but I need to call a timeout. I need to call a timeout and blog about something different for a moment. Something that is slightly attached to Africa, but yet deals with today. So....

TIMEOUT!

Happy New Year! It's officially 2011 and the resolutions have begun. I've never been one to make a "resolution", if you will. That's just not me. As a matter of fact I will be the one at the gym next week shooting death looks to all the "resolutioners" who are going to "get in shape" and all they really are doing is getting in my way! Just keepin' it real!

Anyway, I guess you can say this New Year's day I have something...not a resolution, but a commitment. While I rang 2011 in here in Pelham, AL a small bit of me is in Africa...In the form of a letter...In a binder...In a backpack...In the hands of a missionary...

My crazy, passionate, and ever talented best friend Liv, who was the Thelma to my Louise in Africa last Christmas, is in Africa as I type this. She left a few days ago with a friend for three weeks of ministering and planning. (Yes...I am jealous!) In 2009 she and I started something that I thought was a one time thing and well, two years later we're still doing it. In 2009 she was preparing to go to Africa for two weeks with a group from church (This was the trip that birthed the idea for our trip last Christmas!) and me being silly didn't want her to have to go two weeks without hearing from me (ha!) so I concocted a plan! I began to write her a small note for each day...The small note turned into a 2 page typed letter for each day she was gone. Yes, I like to talk! Anyway, as I was writing the letters I longed to make a point out of each days letter and not just ramble about non-important topics so I came up with a theme for each day. One word to focus on throughout the day. I called it the word of the day. (WOD)

Along with the letters I gave her a sharpie to write the word on her wrist so she

would remember it. I was here doing the exact same thing and every time I looked down and saw the WOD I lifted her and the team up in prayer.

(One of the WOD letter rules is that you HAVE to take a picture of the WOD written on your hand everyday! This picture is of mine and Liv's hands when two high school girls that hold a special place in our hearts were on a mission trip over spring break. We gave them WOD letters for their trip!)

It was pretty cool, but like I said, I figured it was a one time thing. Ha! A few months later I was boarding a plane for a 10 day mission trip to Uruguay...I boarded the plane with 10 envelopes each holding a WOD letter. Since 2009 every time either one of us travel doing mission work we leave with a packet of letters. As a matter of fact when we were preparing to leave for Africa last Christmas we both became sad when we realized if we were both going there was no one to write WOD's. Liv's mom caught wind of it and we boarded the plane with 19 WOD letters! She and I have also used it to minister to 5 other friends who have served on the mission field over the past two years. Over the years the letters have evolved from a simple letter with a word to a letter with a word based on a devotional we've written and a prayer for each day......As I was thinking about today I felt the urge to share January 1's letter and WOD that I sent with her:

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Woot-woot it’s a new year! As you are reading this it’s a new year and depending on what time you are reading this it might still be 2010 in Alabama…Crazy to think about huh! (Insert a bunch of small talk that none of you would probably care to read or understand!!!)

Check out Acts chapter 9. Look at verses 1-22…I’ll wait!

Yeah, I know #1 you have heard this story 1,000,001 times. #2 You might be scratching your head asking yourself “Why in the world does she choose to start the new year off with this passage? What is she smoking?” Well my response would be #1 I know is a familiar passage, but one of my favorite things in the world is to read a familiar passage and get something new from it! And #2 I’m not smoking anything…I’m doped up on cold medicine! :) Anyway, let’s look at this passage shall we. Saul was a horrible human being. I’m pretty sure that he did almost anything we could imagine. He persecuted the believers and threatened others. He lived years of horribleness. (Not really sure that’s a word, but work with me!) He was so far gone that I’m pretty sure others thought there was no hope for him. God had a different plan. God met with Saul in the middle of a road. For three days Saul pretty much did nothing. He couldn’t eat or drink, he was almost unfunctionable. (Yeah I’m pretty sure that’s not a word either!) I can only imagine what he did for those three days. If I had to guess, I would guess that he spent those three days reflecting on the years he spent persecuting people and reflecting on the encounter he just had with the God of the universe.

At the end of the three days Ananias went to him as the Lord instructed, laid his hands upon him, and Saul regained his vision. He immediately got up, got some food, was baptized, spent sometime with the disciples, and started proclaiming Jesus to everyone. Saul was soon to become Paul. Saul was DIFFERENT.

In my world, like I said, I would imagine that Saul spent his three days of blindness reflecting on his life and the years he had wasted. He had an encounter with God and he was changed. I could imagine that in those three days he thought of the way he was going to be DIFFERENT. He was a new person.

What does this have to do with you? Today is the beginning of a new year. A new start if you will. My prayer/challenge is that you spend today reflecting on last year and looking forward to this new year. Saul spent time reflecting and thinking on what he needed to do DIFFERENTly, it’s your turn to do it. Pray and ask God to meet with you today on your “Damascus Road” and show you what you need to do or ways you need to be DIFFERENT this new year. Is he calling you to be DIFFERENT … Is He calling you to do something DIFFERENT … Dare to spend 2011 being DIFFERENT. DIFFERENT for God…

Clearly the WOD for Liv today was DIFFERENT. I can honestly say that I am a different person now than I was this time last year. Some ways good, some bad. However, I also know that I still need to be a little bit more different. I am firm believer that God is always working on us to become more like Him. That means He's always working to make me a little more different. I like different. Over the last few weeks I had my Damascus road meeting...I know how 2011 is going to be different for me. What about you? I'm ready to face 2012 in 364 days more different than I am today...I can't wait to see what God does. Just know...I'll be different... Will you be different?

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I guess the more appropriate title would be "Did You Hear What I Heard?"

We survived the painting of the school and were now looking forward to Christmas day with the girls! It definitely was a Christmas to remember...I heard things that Christmas that changed me forever. Have you heard them too?

#1 I was in Africa literally in the middle of nowhere...sleeping on the top bunk in the "jail cell" (Pic to the right)...Under a mosquito net...In the crazy hot African summer weather...However, it was still Christmas. The previous few mornings at the girls home were pretty slow going. When the alarm clock went off we stayed in bed until the absolute last second then drug ourselves to breakfast. It wasn't that we didn't want to be there, we were simply exhausted. Chasing 28 girls around all day in the summer heat will wear you out! Since we had a long day of painting the day before I expected that morning to be the same, but it wasn't. It was Christmas morning! I woke up way before the alarm clock just like I did every other year at home simply excited because it was Christmas morning. I just laid in bed because I thought that Liv would sleep until the alarm went off. I laid there and reflected on Christmas' past and how different this one was. I reflected on getting up every Christmas morning to my brother telling me it was time to get up and open presents. I actually got a little emotional, I missed that moment. For the first time in 24 years I wasn't going to hear it. After a few moments of reflection I decided I was going to roll over and try to sleep a little more because I knew it was going to be a long day. As I rolled over I heard Liv move around too. I just figured I shook the not-so-stable bunk and stirred her a little. Ha! After a second or two I heard "Merry Christmas!" I replied back with the same. After another moment of silence I heard, "It's time to get up and open the stockings our moms put in our bags..." I heard it. 8,000 miles from home I heard it. I heard God telling me "Merry Christmas. You're exactly where you're supposed to be."

#2 After breakfast Liv and I took some of the little toys, cards, and fingernail polish that our mom's packed in our stocking to the girls dorm. Liv painted fingernail after fingernail as I played cards, yo-yo'd and jumped rope. We were simply enjoying time with the girls. Due to the language barrier there wasn't much talking going on. A few words exchanged between Liv and I every once in a while and likewise among the girls. We would play game after game of Uno. Yeah, playing Uno with people you can't communicate with is quite the entertainment! Especially when different groups of girls have different rules. Some how we managed to do it, but if it wasn't for head nods and hand gestures it would have been impossible! Anyway, we played and played and loved on the girls as much as we could even though the room was mostly silent. I decided I was going to show off my mad yo-yo skills to the girls. A group gathered around and watched as it went up and down and even as I "walked the dog" a little bit. I decided to get fancy and sling it in out in front of me to do another trick. I slung it alright. I slung it right off my finger, across the room and into the wall. I heard laughter. I kept hearing laughter. I'm pretty sure I heard a little snorting mixed in! I heard "Merry Christmas. Thank you for being here."

#3 An hour or so later while Liv was still painting fingernails I was taking pictures and showing them to some of the girls. In the midst of our still somewhat silent state we heard a bell ring. It was the bell that they rang to tell everyone to report to the dinning hall. All the girls got up and ran to the dinning hall. Liv and I sat trying to figure out what was going on. It wasn't quite lunch time yet, we hoped nothing was wrong. As we got up and walked towards the dinning hall we saw this:

It was time to clean the chickens for our Christmas dinner. The closest either one of us had ever been to doing something like this was Liv cleaning an already prepared chicken in culinary school. What in the world?!? Liv was taking pictures so I thought to myself "When in Africa, do as the African's do." I jumped in and did as best as I could. We heard a bell. We heard "Merry Christmas. To the Jews I became a Jew (to the African's I became an African)... I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in it's blessings."

#4 The afternoon went on and Liv and I actually had the opportunity to slaughter, pluck, a clean a chicken ourselves. (A later post will have to share that story!) Anyway, as the afternoon was drawing to an end Liv and I went back to the jail cell to clean up for the BIG Christmas dinner and celebration later that night. We headed to Chris' house to help with the final preparations and to begin to welcome the guests as they came in from the village. 75 people crowed in the living room to feast on our rather American Christmas dinner of FRESH roasted chicken :), mashed potatoes, dressing, homemade rolls, and kool-aid! It was awesome. We topped off dinner with some mango cobbler and it was time for presents!

We gathered around as the girls eagerly awaited getting their presents out from under the awesome mango branch Christmas tree we had decorated a few nights earlier.

Before we opened presents Chris spoke for a few minutes then there was a reading of the Christmas story from Luke 2. Now granted, it was in Swahili so I'm not sure what I really heard! However, I heard, "Merry Christmas. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

#5 It was present time! The girls got a few presents from people including a new dress and a new pair of shoes that people from our church purchased with money they raised. The last thing they opened was their stocking that had been hanging on the windows.

A few days before Liv and I had the awesome privilege of stuffing their stockings.

We brought a whole trunk load of little things over for each girl to go along with some things that Chris had for them. We had everything from bouncy balls and yo-yo's to toy rings and necklaces to crayons and finger nail polish. It was awesome! After we handed out all of the stockings the girls dumped them out and started going through them. They put on their jewelry, tried out the markers, bounced the balls, smelled the lotions, and played with the little toys. They were in heaven. You would have thought they just recieved the greatest Christmas gift ever. Liv and I sat for the longest time just watching them go through all of their stuff and get a little more excited with every thing they saw.

In the midst of it all there was a lot of noise. However, I heard the sound of 28 little girls giggling with excitement over the gifts they had received. It was one of the greatest things I have ever heard. I heard "Merry Christmas. I came that you might have life. Abundant life. A life of Joy."

I walked away from this trip with many lessons learned, but I can honestly say that the lessons learned this day made the biggest impact on my life. I can sum up the five things that I heard that day with one word: Humble. Humbled because God chose me to be there that Christmas. Humbled because I was able to spend time with those girls, love on them and hopefully impact their lives. Humbled because He became exactly what I needed and had given me the opportunity to be His hands and feet so I could show His love through it. Humbled because He is such an awesome God and worthy to be spoken of and praised no matter what language it is. Humbled because those stockings were stuffed with what Liv and I called 'Chuck-E-Cheese" toys. Toys that kids "win" in America and have forgotten about them by the time they get home, yet they were the best things in the world to those 28 girls. Humbled.

God sent His only son to this dirty, rotten, sinful earth so that we might have life. Abundant life. A life of joy. The incredible thing about the whole story? He didn't send Him in the form of a powerful king or official like many expected. No. He sent Him in the form of a humble baby. Born in a humble stable. Laid in a humble manger. Worshiped by humble shepherds. Humble.

Last Christmas I heard humble. What did you hear?