Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I just got home from a wonderful, 4 hour church service and ordination in the Africa Gospel Church. What a great day for AGC, WGM, and all those who pray and support these ministries! Both men love the Lord and are suited for their new titles as reverend! If I'm being completely honest though, I found myself very easily distracted during the service. In about 2.5 days Lino and Angelo step onto a plane to head to Canada for this school year. While I'm incredibly proud of these guys, I'm also very selfishly sad. As I've mentioned in previous posts, these two young men are very special to me. Lino is very much like a brother to me and it seems like we've been through a lot in the past 3 years.

I know these "good-byes" are not permanent, (in fact last night I warned them that if they don't keep up with me on skype and facebook they might just find me at their front door... it's only a 20 hour drive from Chicago) but that doesn't make them any easier. Living here with some of my Africa family missing has already started to pierce a hole in my heart and they haven't even left yet. Last night we had a going away party for the guys. We put together a slide show and then after it we all were asked to say a little something about the guys... either a memory or a word of encouragement. Everyone in the room took their turns laughing at memories and offering words of advice. Finally there were only 3 of us left: Jade, Shelah, and myself. I knew I was next, but I was NOT in the least excited about speaking. You all know that I don't mind speaking in front of groups, so it wasn't that I was scared... I just didn't know what to say. I fumbled my way through a little something about each of them, my prayers for them, and an "I love you", but it just didn't go well. I couldn't quite put to words or make people understand why these guys are so special to me. Then hearing Jade and Shelah talk about the guys, I couldn't hold it together anymore. Lino and Angelo hate when people cry and I know it made them uncomfortable, but what can you do?

Anyway, Wednesday morning at 6am I am joining the family and we are taking the guys to the airport. Shelah is flying with them to help them get settled in and start working on American visas for school holidays. They are going to be missed terribly and Wednesday morning (tuesday night around 11pm central time) is going to be a very rough morning for me and others. Would you all join me in praying for these boys, for their travel, adjustment, and souls? Pray for health and peace of mind. Pray that Godly men would just show up and mentor these boys. Pray for Godly friends and a church. Pray that they come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.

I'm grateful for people here who are understanding of how tough this is going to be. Wednesday when I get home from the airport I won't have time to be too sad because I'm going to hang out with a good friend, chat, watch Boy Meets World, and make cookies. Pretty sweet, right? Thanks in advance for the prayers. I'll post some pics of the going away party and other things soon. Much love!

A Walk with God

This past Saturday I had a very relaxing, slow morning. I read for a long time, dozed on and off, and watched a few episodes of the Cosby show. By 2pm I was pretty restless and somewhat bored. I needed to get airtime (minutes) for my phone and I wanted to grab a few other things. I didn't have a car and didn't really want to spend money on a boda so I walked down the hill to a local shop. I purchased my airtime and started walking home, but I decided to walk past my road. With no plan I headed down the road with nothing but my phone in my pocket. The road was busy with cars and bodas speeding by and people walking along. I felt like it was a good opportunity to just walk with God and have a much needed conversation. As I was strolling along, two girls walked past me and greeted me. Their names were Mariam and Viola. We struck up a short conversation as we continued together down the road.

As we went, I felt the Lord prompting me to witness to them. I've been feeling so ineffective these days so I wrestled with God on this issue for a few minutes, but finally agreed. I asked them if they were born again (asking if someone is Christian is too broad here, everywhere for that matter). With a smile on her face, Mariam answered with a resounding, "yes!" I responded with the very typical, "praise the Lord," and she followed with an, "amen." We talked about church for a few minutes and then they branched off and headed a different way.

At first I was confused as to why God had prompted me to talk to these girls about faith in Jesus. If they already knew Him, then why should I witness to them? As I continued my stroll I prayed for the girls, for their families, and for their lives. I must have looked like a crazy person as a wide smile spread across my face at the realization that the meeting wasn't for them, it was for me. It was God's reminder that I'm really not here doing this alone even if that's how I feel sometimes. AND it's for a reason that I'm here... to minister to people like those sweet girls that I'll probably never see again. It's one thing to be surrounded by awesome missionaries, but quite another when they're all married with families or at completely different stages in their lives.

I like going on random hour-long walks with God. It makes me smile. Here's Isaiah 61:1-3. It's been a good reminder for me these days.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—