Africa

I am torn.  Last night-I heard some news from about one of my 'kids' in Africa.  One of the girls who I met last time while I was out there, passed away this last tuesday.  Apparently she got Malaria, and although she was admitted to the hospital and treated-died within a span of 12 hours...

Upon getting that news-it really hit me and I am not quite sure what to do with it.  Since I met her last time I was there-I was super excited to head back with the team now in November and introduce her to them (she is/was one of the girls that our church is sponsoring through the home/dorm we are paying for-so an extra special connection...). 

She was one of the newer girls there when we went last year, and so she was a little quiet but we spent the day with her (and others) at a game park and started to see her Character and wow, what a character she was.  By the end of our time there, I had grown to love and cherish her just like the rest of the kids-so the loss is felt.  Yet still, I take comfort in knowing that this last year and a bit, of her life-she was loved so incredibly where she was.  A love she may not have felt/realized had she not been there.  I also take comfort in the fact that I know I will see her again.  Not on this side of Heaven, but the side where we will dance, sing, laugh and cry in a language we both will fully understand-a place where I hear there are streets of gold, where nothing but love exists. A place where we will sit before the Lord Almighty.

In the mean time, join me in praying for the kids, the workers, staff and people of SoH as they work through/go through this loss of one of their own..



That all said, this morning-I was also encouraged and the desire to return back to Zambia-was very present.  I am SO EXCITED to go back and although I will miss my 'old' team, I am excited to take this new group and share a huge piece of my heart with them (especially to show my brother!)  I am excited to see and hear how God will move in their lives.  I am excited to have my 'heart broken for what Breaks God's"

73 more days!

Going to school?

I was asked today at work, by a fellow employee, if I was returning to school this fall. My answer: no.  I thought at that point, they would drop it, but they further asked-'why not?'  I said flat out, (and to keep it simple) "I dont want to" (cause I really dont want to head back to school at this point in my life).  There are a lot of reasons for that, but right now I feel/know the main one is that God has me here, working (10 hr days lately..) and spending time in the town I grew up in.  Honestly- I love it.  I nevver thought I would hear those words/see those words come out of my lips and finger tips. 

For me, 'school' is life.  I have never liked the idea of "oh you graduated, now move to the city and go to university.  Oh you dont know what you are going for? that doesnt matter-go blow $10, 000  because its "expected' of you" idea that a LOT of people have in this town.  THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO LIFE THAN SCHOOL!

For me: Travel is also my school.  It has been through my travel that I am who i am today.  Had I not traveled right out of high school-I really dont know where I would be now.  I think/believe its safe to say that I would NOT have gone to SBC (thus missing out on an amazing adventure there with meeting new, awesome friends, having gone up north to Oxford house, spent 2.5 weeks in Philippines OR even, have experienced a HOT HOT HOT summer in the Ukraine).  Had I not traveled right out of high school , chances are i would not have gone to Africa last year with a team in my church.  yes, I would have a fuller, complete heart now- but personally,  I like having my 'heart' spread 'across the globe". 

All I have to do, is think/remember that I literally have brothers and sisters in Christ, all from different backgrounds, races, and stories, all around the world.  Even from a world away, they lift me up. they encourage and bless me. To know I have a sister doing street ministry in the Philippines, warms my heart. Encourages me to know she is praying for ME and my ministry.  Her whole church is...people that I spent no more than 48 hrs with here on Earth's time..but I am looking forward to spending eternity with them all in Heaven :)

Its amazing

So no, this fall I am NOT going to school in the 'traditional' sense.  Rather I am going to be an extreme case and "be like Glitter ;) ) and shine for Christ right here. Right now.  I am going to take His love back to Africa, to my 'kids' there and also, be blessed by God through THEIR love as well.  Thats'  school.  There aint no text book, teacher or assignment that can teach that.
only 3 ish  more weeks till youth and
only 75ish days till my African journey begins!

Lessons from Exploding Glitter

God taught me/reminded me of something the other day at work.  He taught me this through an interesting medium...opening a box and finding a bag of silver glitter that had exploded in it-making everything else in the box-COVERED in silver glitter.
In the process of laughing, cleaning it up and getting a new box, a co worker of mine mentioned just how hard it is to get glitter off of stuff and how much it sticks to things and even days later-it is always there (seriously-this stuff intense to get off!).  So God, being who He is, showed me that that is actually how We are suppose to be-like exploding glitter.

Confused?  allow me to explain.   A few characteristics of glitter where mentioned above (hard to get off, exploding, silver (or any other colour). Yet there are also a few more characteristics of it- its shiny and sparkles.  Even in a pile of dirt-chances are you would still be able to see it.  It shines so brightly it sticks out-people notice it.

As Christians-we are suppose to be exploding glitter.  We are called to live our lives to a higher standard.  A life of which sticks out, shines and explodes for Christ.  We are SUPPOSE to be different.  We are suppose to be hard to get 'rid of' and stick to the things/people we touch.  Our lives are meant to be an example.  Other people  (complete strangers included) should be able to pass us on the streets and 'stop dead' in their tracks from having noticing something different, something special and shiny about us.  They should be able to see (and feel) the love of Christ through us, even without knowing us.

We should be 'hard to clean up' by standing FIRM in our faith, not wavering when the world throws stuff at us.  We should be able to hold another Christian accountable and pick each other up when needed without having a 'target' on our backs.  Where has the accountability gone?  Why is it so hard?

So lets shine. Let be 'like Glitter' and stick up for God.

You in?

Rejoicing in Christ

Today was one of those Sunday mornings-where any doubt that I ever had of God NOT being alive or moving-ceased to exists!  It was a morning of amazing worship (beyound the 'musical' worship sense-but that too-was great!), fellowship, celebration and rejoicing.  It was a morning of hearing testimony to God's greatness-of answered prayer and strength when there seemed to be nothing left.  Angels rejoiced as stories were told of youth picking one another up, encouraging and blessing each other, of hearing a story of another sinner repenting and the endless praise and party that must have taken place in Heaven.

Our youth team got back yesterday (but they shared today) about how God worked/moved in their lives and in the lives of the people and kids they were ministering to this last week on their missions trip.  It is a trip that our church has been doing for almost 30 years to a native/metis community just past Winnipeg.  it is a trip, that I believe, truly began MY outlook-and later-passion- with missions.  I spent a week there, each summer throughout my high school years.  In those 4 years of going back for just one week a summer-taught me, blessed me, shaped me and molded  me, into a major part of who I am today-both as a person and who I am in Christ.  It was and remains, a major Faith step in my life and for that-I am SO incredibly thankful!

It was a morning for me, that re-affirmed my choice to live/work here in town for another year.  All week, I was looking forward to seeing the youth who went again, and hearing their stories.  I was not disappointed this morning!  It started right off the hop walking in to church sanctuary. Hugs, hugs and more hugs!!  Then, of course, there was that "attack of hugs' from a couple of the girls (thanks ladies! made my morning!)..  I am truly blessed!

What a great morning.  God you are SO awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God is great...all the time God is great!

This last week, was super encouraging.  Work was/is going good (despite the fact of working now 10 hr days-but hey I need to bank time for Africa as well! So that too-is a blessing!)
But each evening this past week- was such an encouragement and blessing as well!  Seriously God is so good and I LOVE hearing how God moves and IS moving through the lives of young people-there is nothing better or more exciting then that.  To hear their stories of struggles and victories, of overcoming obstacles and trials.  Seriously amazing!  It is such a testimony to God and His greatness.
I Love hearing Testimonies from other believers-no matter what age, race or gender.  I love it how our stories are all similar, yet totally different and unique.  I love how God uses our stories to reach and teach others, to show others and to realize ourselves that we are NOT alone in this world, that yes although our struggles maybe different, we can relate most times in one way or another.  This week alone, I heard it a few times "I didnt know you went through that! I did too!", or something similar to that. 

The idea of wrestling with God, of wondering if He is there and what His plan is for my life-is a daily, constant struggle for youth, young adults and adults alike.  We need to know we are not alone in theese struggles.  We need to know that we got a community of believers who love and care for us.  Who lift each other up when needed.  THAT is Power through God.

Thank you God for loving us.  For caring for us, for lifting us up when we need it.  Thank you for sending Your Son to die for us.

Live like that

This song has been on my heart-especially this week and wow what a week its been! God is SO SO SO GOOD!! Thank you God for your love.  For your amazing GRACE and redemption!!
 I wanna live like that!

Sidewalk prophets- Live like that