A Great Gift

People often ask those serving overseas how they can support them and be involved in their outreach, and often I've heard the response that the most important thing is lifting them up to the Father. Sometimes I thought they gave that answer because they were supposed to; it was just the "right" thing to say. Of course I believe in prayer, but with everything else these overseas personnel could have asked for, from financial resources and health needs to more volunteer teams, they didn't. They asked for prayer.

I've only been in training/orientation for about a week, but already I have to say that I absolutely, 100 percent, wholeheartedly affirm that request for prayer. I cannot tell you how much it has meant this past week to receive a Facebook message, or an email, or a text from someone just saying they were praying for me and asking how things were going.

I want you to know that these seemingly small things are really not small at all-they are wonderful gifts. To know that a friend is thinking about you and praying for you, and they take time to let you know, is a tremendous blessing. Our culture has taught us that time is everything, time is money. I am so grateful to everyone who is investing time before the Father on my behalf.

Snowy Morning

Although I've never been one to enjoy winter, snow or anything related to cold weather, we have a pretty view this morning:

Praising Him today for His faithfulness, kindness and patience.

"Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness."

She Remembered

I didn't realize she was standing there until someone behind me whispered that she had walked up. I was recently home for a special service at church and there in the crowd was my fifth grade teacher. She's had health problems and has been staying with family so I wasn't expecting her to be there. 

She's the one who asked us one day what we wanted to be when we "grew up." She remembered what I told her that day, and even when I went to college, whenever I was home she asked how I was doing and how it was going. 

I'm still working in the same profession which I dreamed of working when I was in fifth grade. Since then a number of teachers/mentors have challenged and encouraged me, and without their support I doubt I'd be where I am today. For all the times they pushed me to do more, and believed in me even when I didn't, I'm grateful. I doubt they realized at the time the significant investment they were making in my life. We may not always know the difference we are making in someone's life until later in life, and we may never know, but those whose lives are marked by the influence of others will never forget. 

Nothing Special

About a year ago this time I was trying to stay warm during another "arctic blast." I was in New York during one of the city's coldest weekends to meet several friends. I thought the cab ride from the airport would be the easy part, but after driving around Queens for about a half hour I called my friend, who told the cab driver to pull over and he just came and met us.

My friend caught me up on his work and outreach. He works full time outside the city but also gives about equal time to outreach in the community. As we talked me told me he "didn't really have a story to tell" and didn't think what he was doing was anything special. Driving an hour each way to help out in a diverse community not immune to violence and drugs? Doesn't sound like nothing to me.

Three months ago I was with friends in Europe and had a similar conversation with a man they introduced me to in a small, poor village. He often struggles to provide for his family, but he didn't ask for money. He did, however, ask for strength. Strength to stay in his country, despite the hardships, so that he can continue his outreach.

Stories like this stick with me because they remind me of what can happen when we live in His abundant grace and power, and for His purposes.

New Year, New List

A friend gave me this notebook for Christmas. As I’ve been preparing to move I have made numerous lists the past couple months, sometimes multiple lists per day. I like lists because, as a planner, they help me see what needs to be done and if I can see it, I can make a plan to get it done. I like the sense of accomplishing things on my list (and have no shame in adding items to the list after they’ve already been done so I can enjoy crossing them off).

Lists are helpful when it comes to making decisions. I’m analytical and indecisive. In college, going out to dinner with my roommates was an ordeal. We’d each list three places we wanted to go, and if any of the places we wrote appeared on another person’s list, that place was in the running for the final choice (they aren’t good at making decisions, either).

I like it when life is neat and tidy, with everything in its place. List-making helps me feel in control. But I’m not in control, and life is often messy, and all the boxes on my lists won’t always be checked.

We have to hold things loosely, trusting Him to lead. I want to embrace every aspect of this journey and learn from it, even if that means keeping a new list. A list that is focused less on accomplishing and more on experiencing and growing. A list that is messy and never completely done, but reflects His goodness and grace. 

Merry Christmas!

For Christmas this year my parents graciously gave me an ipad and let me go ahead and pick it out a few weeks early. The primary reason for this gift is the e-reader, which will make traveling and keeping up with my books so much easier. I know I'm way behind the times, because I very adamant in my disapproval of anything that took the place of actually holding a book, flipping the pages and using my favorite bookmarks. But, after using it for a week or so now, I have to say that I absolutely love it and can't believe I waited this long!

Technology has changed so drastically, from using manual typewriters to basically carrying around a computer on our phones. I used to teach a college writing course, and my students always found it amusing when I told them I remember learning how to set up my first email account and was in college before I ever had a cell phone (a world existed without email and cell phones?!)

Technology changes so often that we will never be able to keep up. The latest and greatest doesn't stay that way for long. If we are counting on gadgets to keep us entertained and satisfied, we'll always come up short.

Nothing this world offers can truly satisfy the longings of our hearts. Even the relationships that we hold dear cannot fill us and promise abundant joy and hope. Only the Savior can promise life, and life abundant. He loves us as His Father loved Him, and that is an incredible promise.

Coats for the City

I'm not sure what gave it away, I didn’t have a map out or even my phone, but I must have looked lost because a lady standing next to me on the train platform asked where I was going. I told her, and come to find out I needed to be on the other side of the street to catch a different train. Later that day I know I looked lost as I stared at the train route posted inside the car and realized that my stop was not listed, and no matter how long I stared at that map, it still wasn’t going to be there. Once again, a lady asked where I was going. My transfer just happened to be her transfer and she very graciously helped steer me in the right direction. I know New Yorkers get a bad rap sometimes, but they have always been quite nice to me!

That was my second trip to New York. I’ve been a few times since and thankfully my subway navigational skills have improved. Although, on this most recent trip it wasn’t the trains that were the problem, but the figuring out where to go once I got off the train (thanks to the friends who came to the rescue and picked me up!) My most recent trip was for my last assignment with my current job and it involved about 5,000 coats, lots of volunteers, a big U-Haul truck that successfully navigated the city streets, and a pretty snow day.

It was really cold!

Volunteers participated in an outreach event to provide free coats to people at 14 distribution sites throughout Queens and New York City. Many volunteers also had opportunity to share the good news and begin building relationships. They often times listened to the stories of people who came to receive a coat, people whose hearts were full of pain and longing for someone to just listen.

So many people came together to make this event happen, many working tirelessly behind the scenes. But they served with humble, gracious hearts because they knew it was all for a greater purpose. So thankful to have opportunities like this to see people invest their time and their lives in serving others!

Not much time for sightseeing this trip, but my friend Michael took this great pic!