Filled up and happy!

Balloons are a universal love language. They come in so many fun colors, sometimes even fun shapes, and in general capture the attention of everyone with a childlike heart. Endless games, noises, and beauty come from such a simple piece of plastic and I have yet to meet a child who did not clamor to receive one of their very own.

Such was the case on this hot day, when the chocolate I had given out earlier, finally gave out, melted beyond repair. I remembered that I had also brought a sleeve of 18 balloons, and I quietly prayed that there would be enough to go around.

To my great relief, I had EXACTLY the right amount of balloons for the children who gathered on this day. There are over 200 in this village, so this was a grace that came from a good Father. He knows exactly how much we need, and He always provides. He had a lesson to teach that day, so after we played with our new balloons, I began to share what He laid on my heart in the simple language of Jesus to the child.

In short, the real “happy life” comes from enjoying His presence by being filled to overflowing each and every day. His love, peace, joy, and so much more is found by “filling up”, just like putting air into a balloon. A balloon with air versus a balloon without air provided a simple lesson to that end. A joyful balloon is one that can float and fly with the birds, dance in the trees, see all the sights, run with the toddler, whereas a sad balloon is one sitting around with no air in sight. So it is with us. A balloon with air is like the person who has found the source of all life, and can live in the joy of relationship with the Father. A balloon without air is like a person without a revelation of His constant loving presence. So, we blew up our balloons and prayed that He would fill us all up again and again and again.

Ephesian 3:19 tells us His desire for us to be filled. “and (that you may come) to know (practically, through personal experience) the love of Christ which far surpasses (mere ) knowledge (without experience), that you may be filled up (throughout your being) to all the fullness of God (so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself) .”

As Jesus loved on each and every little child that day, all we could really do was relish the experience of incredible joy, love and laughter because He was with us so tangibly. Jesus was lifted up and delighted to answer our prayer for more of Him. I pray that they all remember what it felt like to be with Him like this, and that they will remember His joyful love every time they hear His name.

Brave Beautiful Balloon Blessings!

Chocolate + Love = A Good Good Father

Sometimes a girl just needs some chocolate and a little love. When I set out to do street ministry today, I was not at all sure what the plan was. It was one of those days when I felt surrendered to the instruction to walk by faith and not by sight.

As I was leaving, I felt the urge to go back to grab the chocolate bars and balloons that I had been saving for the right time. This felt like that time, so I loaded up and began the journey. Picking up my friend Anjali (my interpreter) from the bus stop near the gate of the stupa, the first thought I had was that my chocolate was surely going to melt completely because the heat was almost suffocating!

Thankfully, we were deterred from going to the first stop on my mind, and had to head directly into one area of the village. As we were walking I heard the familiar “DIDI!!!!” and the pitter patter of feet running toward me. As we turned around, I found these two girls smiling at me, carrying these heavy burdens. They had been to the children’s program the week prior, but before I could even speak after we greeted them, the one in the blue “beautiful” shirt, looked straight into my eyes and said one word.

“Chocolate!”

I was actually shocked silent as I tried to determine if I was hearing things. Mind you, I have never once provided chocolate for any of these children, so there was only a GOD reason for her to ask for this specifically. Smiling a huge smile at the best Father in the whole world, I decided that this was a teachable moment from the Lord.

Thankfully Anjali was able to help me share the truth that the reason that I brought chocolate today was just for them. God loves them, and wants them to know how real He is and that He hears even the desires of our heart, not just the needs that we have.

I silently prayed that this message would melt into their hearts,

like the chocolate would on their hands.

Though chocolate doesn’t solve all of our problems, it sure made these girls smile today. Hopefully this moment will be a forever reminder that Father God is real. He sees, hears and knows every single thing about us, and just like a good father does, He even sometimes gives us the random desires of our heart just to remind us of this truth. May we all encounter the Good Good Father today.

(and yes, the balloons had their purpose today as well, but I will save that story for another time)

Brave Chocolate Blessings for you all!

A short photo journey

Restoration through Reconciliation starts with a smile

Smiling seems to be a theme in my time oversees and it is with a smile that I share my reflections tonight. But, sometimes there are interruptions that threaten to steal our smile, because, well, they are not the most welcome guests. Words like inconvenient, painful, frustrating, and confusing erupt in protest from our hearts when we meet such, which is just what happened to me recently when I injured my ankle and my smile tried to fade.

Taking time to regularly reflect and allow His love to heal us in the lesser talked about places is necessary work. He is equally interested in wholeness in both our body and our soul. (Isaiah 53) (Psalm 103) The truth is, without my brokenness, I would have a tough time relating to the people that He sends me to, but only because I have experienced the transformative, healing, comforting nature of His love in there. This is how I am confident that Jesus is the answer to every single thing, body, soul and spirit, and this is why I smile.

When I walk around Nepal, I stare straight into the blatant display of brokenness at every turn. Yesterday, I walked by a little boy, probably around 8 years old, who had been laid in the ditch by someone, because he only had one leg. The other “leg” was a huge mass of skin, as if he had undergone a botched amputation. He had been given an empty water bottle which he banged over and over and over again, while lying there in the ditch, in order to secure some money for whoever laid him there. I walked to him smiling and he smiled back at me the most beautiful smile ever! I think that is truly miraculous. I see Jesus in Him, smiling back at me. Whether or not He knows it yet, He is made in the image of God, He is known, seen, and loved, and if we can see Jesus in the one in front of us, everything else changes.

It wasn’t just him either. A girl whose body was so badly burned at one time from head to toe, she hardly looked human, also in a ditch, waiting for donations. Then there was a down syndrome wheelchair bound girl, an elderly lady with her blind husband, and the list goes on and on. But at each and every turn, when I smiled, they smiled right back, offering the traditional namaste, and a pause in time to remind us all that brokenness in body or soul doesn’t have to erase our smile. Reminding me that everyone, absolutely everyone is a beautiful, handmade gift from the God of the universe, child of God, bearing His image. Indeed, His smile.

We may not feel like smiling, or engaging humanity, or being positive, and that of course is very ok, because He doesn’t expect anything of us, except to be where we are. He sees us and smiles at us and loves us to pieces, no matter what. But seeing these ones on the streets of Nepal smiling back at me, knowing the horrors of their bodies were only just a piece of the horror of their stories impacting their hearts reminded me that humanity shares in common both the beauty and the brokenness, and sometimes a smile helps to remind us that it is all going to be ok.

I hope my smile helped heal their heart for a moment, the way their smiles helped heal mine.

Of course, sharing the truth of the love of Jesus with the broken, in body and spirit is really what it is all about, where radiant, knowing smiles of those who learn how they were loved from the beginning, will light up faces. I love the truth we read about in Psalm 147 for example, “He heals the brokenhearted, and bandages up their wounds.”

This reflection reminded me of a story I wrote about Jaja Jane, one of my most favourite friends ever. I am thankful that she allowed us to lead her to the Lord, and that He even healed her body before she went to be with Jesus, so that I can dance and laugh with her in heaven one day. I am adding this hilarious picture of us here in case you need more to smile about today. You can find the whole story here in Field Stories, under the title “SMILE.”

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Big Brave SMILES to you all.

Faith and Celebration

“The Messiah is in you all, the hope of glory.”

— Colossians 1:27

You may remember Khumar above, and all that I have written about this sweet family who joined our family only last year. The picture you see above is their baptism service. I imagine if I had been there, sobbing, babbling joy would have made me a spectacle. I have been the mess in the middle of the more together of the brethren enough times to know that this occasion would have been even more overwhelming for me. After all, I have longed for and begged for this day since I first met them. Does that happen to you at baptisms? I have never made it through one such service with my face intact. It is holy and pure and the absolute JOY of heaven.

There were a number of hurdles for Khumar and his clan to get to this point, because the rules, and traditions that you find in both Hinduism and Buddhism have woven themselves into the relatively new world of Christianity. As a result, this family was denied communion and baptism until the leaders were convinced that this family would not bring shame on the Christian faith. Last month, this changed.

If you know me even a little, you know this waiting, and the reasons for the waiting were hard for me. However, when you are on the mission field, there are more of these sorts of interesting paradigms than not. I am thankful for the ones who have gone before me to teach me about the nuances of navigating culture and faith. Though I strongly embrace the reality of faith over culture, there is beauty and grit in walking that fine line within any given nation.

Paul understood the mission field as he addressed the church at Colossae. Interestingly, the book of Colossians has gripped me since I first landed in Nepal. I still can’t get enough of it, and though I will not plumb the depths of it in this lifetime, it has helped me to navigate pretty much every situation I have faced.

Paul came to understand the problems that the Colossians faced, both the pressure to observe the rules and regulations of the Torah from one group of well meaning Jewish Christians, as well as the pressure from the opposite side to keep up the polytheistic worship of their day. It was culture against a form of Christianity.

He came like holy thunder reverberating even to this day, to remind them that faith is about a person so that they could abandon the pressures of both the culture and the wrongly applied traditions of the church and embrace the beauty of the person of Jesus and the reconciliation He bought with His very life.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of the cross. And you who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven of which I Paul, became a minister. Col. 1:16-23.

In this revelation, the hope of the gospel crushes carved images, superstitions, religious traditions, false teachings and everything else that dots the landscape of people’s lives. They are overridden with one person, Jesus.

He defeated every single lie they believed, and every pressure they faced from both church and culture, by drawing their gaze and their focus to who Jesus is and what He has done.

JESUS is the good news.

There is so much rejoicing in heaven over Khumar and his family. The truth has penetrated the darkness, and the norm has been overridden. They are indeed an incredible miracle in this nation. My prayer is that their witness will go much further than any missionary every could. May they see Jesus with fresh vision every single day for the rest of their lives and live to preach this good news wherever they go. I hope you will all pray with me for their faith to never stop growing, and their love for Jesus to never die out.

Holy Spirit is such a good teacher and leader. Revealing Jesus as the good news in whatever way that I can is a core component of the why I am sent. Whether in church or on the streets, I trust Him to show me the way. I would be remiss not to share how thankful I am for all of the Brave supporters who make this possible. Brave blessing to you all!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Bananas for me (and you)!

I don’t know if you know it, but God is bananas over you. Literally bananas. I use this phrase because, I love it, and you know how much I love bananas. I have been so grateful that every mission field I have been too has been replete with bananas and little God winks to go with them.

For instance, you may remember that my first time in Kenya was marked by the “Banana Song.” I knew God was serious about spreading joy through this ridiculous song into every slum, every school, every AIDS clinic and everywhere else. Like on the final day of my work at Redeemer School, before I was to leave for Kenya, a teenager of a friend showed up to the day dressed in a banana costume for absolutely NO reason. I promise, it was a God wink to me for sure. In Uganda, bananas are growing on trees everywhere, and in Nepal, though they are mostly imported and not growing in abundance, I can find them in most markets. I have also found a little Buddhist vegan shop that sells banana buckwheat pancakes here!

You also may remember that one of my favourite miracles in Nepal was the “banana boy miracle (see previous blog post).” And you may not know, but I could singularly live on bananas. Even my Nepali friend Ashish, who knows I love bananas, has asked his didi to make me her famous banana lassi on my next visit. I am so thankful that bananas are everywhere I have been sent. Bananas are LIFE.

When one is on the mission field for any length of time, you learn to live without the expectation of finding anything you need or want. However, when God is your friend, and you trust Him to meet your needs and even your wants from time to time, anything is possible and He delights to show you just how bananas He is over you.

This week, I had been suffering from pretty severe leg cramps sometimes keeping me up at night and persisting through the day. On the day it was the worst, I was so busy with various ministry projects that I was making my own self dizzy, and simply did not have time to go hunt down a banana, even though I suspected it might help me.

Around 8pm, I was at the last store, trying to gather the supplies for the s’mores party, and my friend Bijay was waiting outside with his motorcycle to take me home. He had generously asked if he could help me as he knew I was having trouble locating supplies. As I rushed outside so he could get home to his family, I realised I still really wanted and needed a banana and sent up a prayer to the Lord saying “Father, please help me to find a banana before I go to sleep tonight.”

As I found Bijay in the crowd, much to my amazement, there he was, holding a banana which he sheepishly extended to me. He said “I was only going to buy one banana but I felt the Lord nudge me that I should buy two.” “You don’t want this banana do you?”

With tears in my eyes, and a deep gratitude in my heart, I gave him all the praise I could for such good listening and obeying to the Lord, and took it as if I was taking the queen’s gold. I hardly dared to eat it. My Father is a good Father, actually, He is the VERY best Father. He bought me a banana, because He is bananas for me too.

I pray that through whatever needs and wants that you have, you trust Him to meet them too. He loves to shower us with banana blessings, to show us just how crazy He is over us. He is a Father who delights in His children. May you find deep reassurance there today.

BraveBANANABlessings!

This is a good story!

One morning recently I woke up and had such a feeling about the day. On the one hand, I knew that the Lord was up to something, but I was also tired and simply wanted to spend some more quality time with Him to prepare for preaching the following day. Life with God is funny that way, when our thoughts don’t match His thoughts, we have a choice to follow Him into the unknown, or settle into what we want and hope everything works out.

I decided to pull myself together, ask for a double shot of coffee, and head out into the busy streets of Kathmandu. As I walked along, my thoughts with Holy Spirit became more solid with what He had planned, and I was aware that I would meet a young boy whom I was to help. Accordingly, I bought a cookie (biscuit) and carried it around until he came, and shopped for a bag for myself. I saw one I wanted and made a mental note of where it was so that I could think about it and return for it another day and continued walking, cookie in hand, while seriously debating about just eating the cookie myself.

Then the Lord convicted me and so I turned around to return for that bag. When I got there, a woman walked right in front of me and picked up that very bag and bought it right out from under me! lol. At that moment, I knew I was in the right spot. It wasn’t about the bag, it was about the place that I would be meeting this boy. So I stood there trying to figure out if I was even going to buy a bag at all, and then I saw him out of the corner of my eye. One look at him, and suddenly my arm extended like lightening to hand him the cookie and give him a smile. This was the one.

As soon as he took the cookie, something hard to explain happened. Inexpressible joy flooded my entire being, and before I knew it we were walking hand in hand through the alleys just enjoying being together. I can’t explain how I felt about him, which I knew was just a tiny little bit of how the Father feels about him, it was simply not of me. While we walked, I discovered that his name was Arun and it was his birthday. I gave him the biggest hug in the world and then of course, I knew what I knew, I had to take him on a birthday shopping spree!!!

First things first, he didn’t have any shoes. I felt he probably did not wear shoes because it increased his chances of someone taking pity on him. The beggars are very adept this way. However, I believe in dignity shopping. This means that though “you get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit” is appropriate in some cases, for children and grown ups in developing nations, what they actually want is important. Dignity. So, he deliberated for some time over the shoes that he wanted to buy and because I was in some kind of joy stupor from the almighty Himself, I just watched in pure glee and he carefully chose each part of what I will call his birthday outfit.

As we shopped and I tried to communicate, and he did as well, one could tell that he had been hoping for one such as myself for this day. He was like Tigger, jumping around, smiling and chattering to all those who would listen that it was his birthday and his Didi, (auntie) Haley was taking him shopping. People even stopped what they were doing to tell him happy birthday! Can you imagine??? How many beggars get this much attention, or even know when their birthday is? Now to be sure, I have no proof that this was his actual birthday, but no matter, because all of heaven was in agreement with him! The joy that I wanted to spend the day with him, and to actually buy things he wanted on his actual birthday was quite clear. I discovered that he turned 11, one of my favourite numbers, and that he was a dancer. I later learned that he is a breakdancer to be specific.

“Fear not little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 How many times have we feared instead of trusted? We form a lot of opinions about our Father God based on our human interactions, and in this way, I believe the Lord wanted to plant a seed in Arun’s heart. What if when I am able to share the love of Jesus with him in words, God hearkens his heart back to this very moment, when He poured out kingdom kindness and generosity through me, and all the others that have been and will be after me? In this way, will he be better equipped to trust the kindness of God?

Eventually, it was time to buy the cake which is very important in Nepal. We sat down at the bakery and he did some very careful deliberating about the cake he wanted. To my surprise, he had bought himself some balloons already with money he had earned that day begging, so no matter what, he was quite ready to celebrate his own birthday. Once I bought the cake, (even labeled Happy Birthday Arun!), he invited me to his celebration later on that evening. This was icing on the cake for me. Pun intended.

I came back to my place and made a giant poster sized card for him and prayed as I waited that he would feel special, loved, and important. Knowing the challenges of communication, I called my friend who he agreed to accompany me, and long story short, we met Arun, and then found ourselves in an Indian refugee camp, with a group of no less than 70 living in very humble quarters, all from New Dehli. They are Indian refugees, which explains why Arun did not look Nepali to me. He also speaks Hindi and thankfully, my friend had some experience with that as well. This is how I learned that Arun’s dad was in India finding a new wife and he was living with his three brothers there.

When I walked into his living quarters, I saw that he had decorated the walls with the balloons he bought for himself. It was absolutely amazing, and such a testimony of the human spirit to live fully the life we are given, despite our circumstances. I was so honored and humbled that he had invited me to his birthday party. My friend told me he had waited at our appointed meeting place for almost an hour, fearing that I would not show up. “Fear not little flock…”

Of course, it is quite unlikely that another blond haired, blue eyed westerner has ever stepped foot into these living quarters, indeed, my friend had never known about it even having lived there his whole life. It is tucked away and hiding down a long alley. As soon as I was seen, the whole community descended into this room, speaking to me, chattering away as if I spoke perfect Hindi, and looking at me through longing eyes. The laundry list of needs was presented to me, and one by one, I had to say not today. One woman tried more than once to command my help and she was none too pleased that I actually had no help to offer her that night. I learned that the entire community makes their living here by begging. They are all related, from one family with many members, and help one another survive. They had hoped to escape the harsh realities of poverty by migrating to Nepal, but so far have had only trouble.

As they whispered about me, and stared at me sitting on the floor of this humble space, a large man came lumbering in with all sorts of intensity as he plopped down beside of me. I learned that he is the leader of them all, and a Hindi Priest, as well as a professional snake handler. Meeting a snake handler has always been a bucket list item, so this was quite a moment. Today, the snake was with him in that bag you see, but I only realised that later, when I was back in America!!! I am so glad I was clueless. He had just called everyone to worship one of the Hindi gods moments before, which was a whole wild new experience as well, loud, rowdy, and clear, so I was aware of his authority in this place. I wanted to honour him as such, but also feared that he would take over the celebration, so I diverted his attention to the boy after a few minutes and he lost interest in our party. I also sensed this was not the moment to begin open air preaching, but that now I had a slight opening in this community that I would be able to build relationally over time. May it be.

As we brought out the cake, Arun showed me how they do things. Host cuts the cake, and then feeds to his most honoured guests by hand. So, he shoved some in my mouth as well as my friends, and then he cut small pieces for as many as he could make for this amount of people. There were so many, he chose all the children. He is a beautiful soul this one. Then, it is time for someone to put cake in his mouth, and then smear it all over his face. That was fun to watch. He chose a didi, (auntie like person), who I learned has been kind to him along the way. She closed down her beauty salon to come to the party. She also gave him the blue hair you seen in his picture, per his birthday request from her. We sang the American version of the Happy Birthday song, in English, which I found odd, and he blew out his candles with a smile that stretched to heaven and back. With probably 30 people crammed into that room at one point, the fun continued, and the party was a grand success.

As I walked back to my place that night, the joy I felt simply would not dissipate, nor the smile off my face. I mean, God just invited me to love on an entire Indian refugee camp. I even got to kiss the face off of the most precious dumpling baby in the whole wide world (signature hyperbole inserted here). In fact, people kept staring at me, probably because I looked slightly off, with my giddy grin. It was simply so divine in nature, that all I could do was worship and praise God for His goodness toward the entire human race, as my mission statement implies. It was such an incredible picture of how I believe God means for us to experience life in the service of the king, with JOY unspeakable and it made me hungry to never stop following Him… He has the directions for all the best adventures, and to all those He means to bring back to Himself.

Will you join me in praying for my “next time” moments with these people?

Grace Camp

When I first knew that I was coming to Nepal, I was faced with the same questions I faced before Kenya, and Uganda. The why, what, who.. all the w’s were ever present with me, admittedly sometimes even causing me to lose a little sleep. But time and time again He has been there for me, leading me, protecting me and encouraging me. He has never failed to take me to the places He has already gone before me to prepare. (Deut. 3:18, Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 90:17).

Thankfully, this leap of faith based on a whisper has proven His intentionality and faithfulness in Nepal as well. As soon as I met the Director in person on my first trip here, I knew I was in the right place for this season. The reassurance that once again God had gone before me, and was preparing the works of my hands for me, was a balm to my soul. In the short time that I have been here I have been stretched, encouraged, and humbled time and time again and I know there is so much more to come.

Grace camp is one of the places that He opened the door to when I asked Him to lead the way. As you can see, it is a humble place, located on a tiny little piece of land that the Lord has set apart for a small group of children and a small business. It is because of the small business that they are allowed to operate, since it is not an outright Christian organisation. When I first stepped foot there, I felt a deep sense of the gift that this place was to the community it sits in the middle of. It is located right on the edge of a river where Hindu death ceremonies and sacrificing happen every day. I feel like there is a smile on God’s face as He dreams of all that is possible for those in this place. Who knows if as I wrote about last, “news will spread of Him” even here.

My first tour of the children’s sleeping and study quarters was all I needed to see to know that these children were in the best place possible, given where they had come from. Most of the children are from such extreme poverty, and lived so deep in the mountain villages, they had only the hope of survival. Word of mouth and inquiries about families in need allowed for the directors to go these villages personally to see the situations they were living in, and to determine if coming to Grace Camp would be feasible and a blessing for those that were trying to care for them. The reason for this effort was of course to raise them up out of abject poverty beyond our imaginations, but also to give them an opportunity to go to school.

In addition, because going to school is optional in Nepal, children are quite vulnerable to human trafficking. There is so little in place to support and empower the next generation, much less protect them from the evils rampant in our world. The children of Grace Camp are therefore, firstly, safe. Second, they are clothed, fed and very well taken care of by a mother/father duo who are their guardians for this season. The camp is run on donations from Westerners entirely to accomplish this task. There is zero financial cost or responsibility for the guardians or parents that the children came from. The children are thriving now, and I am excited for all that is to come.

They all attend a private Hindu school down the mountain from Grace Camp, and are receiving a standard education which will give them so much more of an opportunity to overcome the massive obstacles of Nepal. There is currently a frenzied effort in the Gen Z population to leave Nepal due to the absolute lack of any hope of thriving here. The job market, the lack of infrastructure, the immense poverty, and lack of natural resources, and so much more makes this place a desert of dry land. Youth are practically willing to sell their soul to get out of here.

That said, I believe that children carry a great potential for exemplary leadership and innovation, especially children who know their maker. The children of Grace Camp are learning so much more than reading, writing and arithmetic, but about who they are in Christ. This matters, because our lives are not our own, and finding the authentic expressions of who we truly are and why we are here on this earth is what will give them a leg up in overcoming whatever Nepal throws at them.

To that end, it has been an honour and a joy to love on the Grace Camp kids in this season. We have had what I am calling “Joy Camp” days, adopted from something we enjoyed in Uganda, where play is our job and joy is our outcome. I love to worship with them, and sing with them, and play with them, and in general just spend time with them when I am not serving the small fellowship in town and people in the community. In addition, I have begun a tiny library for them, and envision many more books to fill the shelves that will expand their whole world in so many ways. You know how important that is to me of course since I built a library with well over 2000 books in Uganda which is still growing. There are plenty more dreams in my heart of course that extend well beyond the boundaries of what is possible now, but my heart is full knowing that this small group of children is being educated, loved and cared for so well. It feels like Jesus Himself has gathered them to Himself and has beautiful plans and I am so humbled to even be a tiny itty bitty piece of it all in this season.

Will you join me in praying for Grace Camp children, and all that God has in store? As you can see, it is an extremely humble place.

There are two more children not pictured here who are the children of the mother and father of this group. They are such a precious little family tightly knit with one another and most of all, the Father who made them.

One side note to make you smile and possibly do a little dance with me. Khumar and his family that I frequently write about on this blog series, have all started coming to Grace Camp for the nightly children’s bible study and prayer time so that they can learn more and more about Jesus. I cannot love this story enough, as it was a dream in my heart that I did not make mention of, but simply prayed about. He heard my prayers and now they, like all the little children, are sitting at His feet to learn more as well. How incredibly beautiful is that?!!!

The One

Jesus asked, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “REJOICE with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. ” Luke 15:4-7

This scripture has become a cornerstone of importance for me in this nation, which of course, is filled with the “one” that Jesus talked about here. The Father has every intention of finding them all.

When I was befriending the sister I shared about in my last email update, (could you tell I was a little excited lol???) I learned a lot of things about her life. Her husband is a wicked mean alcoholic, and she is constantly abused. He sent her to Saudi Arabia to make money for the family as a domesticated slave, which also then forced her to separate from her two children. I have met a few people who have shared the horrors of being sent to Saudi Arabia, which is becoming more common here, and they are all heartbreaking. Then all her money was stolen and the job was lost. It took some time to get her back to Nepal, and she is currently still bound to the husband, because as I have shared, being single is a death sentence here. As we shared stories together, I learned that she had NEVER heard about Jesus. All of this created the deep sadness I saw on her life, but God had better things for her in mind.

What she shared with me was sacred, because there was no real reason to open up and honour me with her heartbreaking story. I believe God brought her there that day and tugged at my heart and hers as well, and that a divine moment resulting in her salvation was a treasure for both of us. Not only that, but think of “all that rejoicing in heaven” that we read about above. To be honest, I did not sleep a wink that night after all that God did that day, because I could not stop rejoicing.

The best way to get the word out in a place closed to the gospel is through word of mouth. There have been a few covert studies done here indicating that the underground church is growing rapidly and predominantly through people experiencing miracles. When I first learned this I was a bit overwhelmed because seeing miracles is not my everyday normal Christian experience, (as much as I think it should be) rather more like a treasure that I keep in my box labeled “incredible notable miracles that I have prayed for and seen” that help me remember that He is our healer and the God of the impossible.

I have prayed and seen several of them while here in Nepal however, and learning of these studies made me realise that this is an important way that “the news about Jesus spread” then, and still now, in the places that have never even heard his name. When I think of that word NEVER, I am undone. That is why I was so overjoyed not just about her salvation but also about the banana miracle, because that child’s entire family is a Buddhist/Hindu mixture and have only recently begun coming to fellowship.

“Yet the news about Him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed, but Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray.” Luke 5:15-18

The mother of this little boy who received the banana miracle came to church with her children, because of Khumar whom I wrote about a few blogs ago on my first trip here. He is the one who received immediate healing of alcohol addiction, and still to this day has not had a drop of alcohol. I have been to visit him in his home, and continue to see that he will carry the gospel far and wide in this country. Khumar is also the one whose son was delivered of demonic oppression and violence against the family. Two major miracles encouraged him to give attention to this God who we claimed was the true God. This mother heard about what happened to him, and decided to make an effort to also learn about this Jesus whom Khumar now loves. Incidentally, they all travel over 30 minutes to descend to our little prayer room in the city. “The news about him spread.”

One of her other little boys (age 7), the brother of the banana miracle boy, has been curious about me from the start. He likes to pinch my skin, especially on my elbows, and stare at the whiteness of me as he strokes my arms. I am quite used to this behaviour everywhere I go. I certainly stand out. On this special day, he came to me three times on his own, and pulled my hands onto his head to non-verbally ask me to pray for him. One time, he made me feel a bump on his head, which I assume pained him. Of course, he can’t understand a word I say, no one can, because I pray without an interpreter most of the time. But I know that He was feeling what we all have felt when Jesus manifests His presence (as they promise to do in John 14:21) with the love that overwhelms us, heals us and makes us whole. The first time I ever saw him, I loved him. I can’t wait for more chances to hug, pray and love on him in the future. What if “the news about Him spread” through THIS child?

Being in a Hindu nation that resists Christianity has certainly caused me to reflect on how God is working here that may be different than how he is working in other places. I have been stretched to believe Him for more than I could ask or imagine, and to consider the possibilities that present themselves in each and every interaction. Going after “the one sheep” could potentially save entire villages as the news about him spreads.

So maybe you will rejoice a little longer over our new sister, and banana miracles, and all the other things I share and pray with me that this nation will see and know that God is the only one who loves them. All the gods they worship have offered them nothing but heartbreak and disillusionment, because they are not real. I am thankful for the promise of His love, His desire to be in relationship with us, and for His kindness as I pray that “news about Him spreads” in this nation where most have never even heard his name.

Light in our darkness

The heaviness was tangible as we walked into his home which sent me immediately into prayer. It is important to recognise the atmosphere where we find ourselves because we are meant to be the light in this world. “Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop?” (Matthew 5:14-15) We have been taught a behaviour associated with this scripture, and to a degree this can be true. However, it is much more than this, because you see, light cannot be diminished by darkness. Knowing this is part of who we are, not simply what we do, empowers us to support the people He brings into our presence by helping shift the darkness around them.

As I prayed for him in secret, I listened to him, and held him up before the Lord and soon Holy Spirit in His faithfulness brought a scripture to mind. I wasn’t sure I had heard correctly though because I did not know the story. Waiting until it was my turn to encourage him, I began to share what the Lord had spoken, but felt strongly to pray over him, rather than preach at him. Proceeding as prompted I poured out a prayer flooded with the compassion of the Lord and hoped that He was doing what only He could do. (Psalm 92:12-15)

We continued our fellowship through a torrential downpour and no electricity in his simple home and this gave us a chance to get to know one another a bit better. He made us black tea and offered apples and bananas. Being served a treat in these homes is always so humbling and so beautiful. Soon the questions began, which I always anticipate. Questions about how many children I have, the presence of a husband, the name of my state in America, my age, and various questions about plane tickets and the state of America were all rapid fire curiosities. I don’t (always) mind because it gives me an opportunity to be equally as inquisitive.

I learned that he had been a police officer in Nepal until he retired, and that he doesn’t miss it because no one respects police anymore. His wife is a practicing Hindu and quite antagonistic regarding his found Christianity. Thankfully he has remained faithful to His marriage vows, and prays all the time that she will find the peace he has found in Jesus. He asked me if my children loved me to which I shared yes indeed. He got a strange look on his face after this affirmative, and then shared that he has 12 children and many grandkids but all of his children “hate him”, partly because of his faith, and for other reasons he did not explain. One of his sons has also discovered true life in Jesus and I am praying that more of this testimony spreads in his natural family. Thankfully, he has found family in the church since coming to the faith, and has even asked the pastor to be in charge of his burial, because he cannot trust his children to follow his Christian wishes. I am thankful that in God’s kindness, there is a promise he can count on as He waits for the God to change this situation. “God sets the solitary in families.” Psalm 68:6.

We discovered that his wife had gone to live in the village for a time to prepare the rice paddy fields before the monsoon comes, and he is living alone spending time trying to learn about God and faith. He struggles with feeling so alone in the world, and also with torment by the devil in his dreams and in his waking moments. Often monstrous entities chase him and threaten to kill him in his dreams, and he has worried that he will die much too early at the hands of evil prayers sent against him.

The truth is only God knows what we need. The “light” needed for this day was unbeknownst to me until I had afterwards learned more about his life. Then Psalm 92 (along with the other scriptures I I found myself sharing) made a lot more sense. One of the most important truths people (including myself) need a constant reminder about is that He sees us, He knows everything, and He will stop at nothing to meet a hurting heart in need. God is faithful. With the passing of time, I felt a tangible shift in the atmosphere, and thanked God for encouraging not just this sweet man, but also myself and my friend. We all had smiles on our faces when we left, and he insisted that I come back when I could. I smiled knowing He was just hungry for more of Jesus, and though sometimes this comes in the form of people encouraging us in our journey, I believe with my whole heart that Jesus has every intention of reminding this gentleman of His constant nearness and His love.

I was later told that he had shared of his experience with us in his fellowship and had shared the prophetic scripture from memory that I prayed over him. He jumped up and shouted about the incredible promises found in the scripture, that were very much just for him that day. This is so simple and yet so profound.

On this gloomy dark day, light penetrated the darkness, and God revealed how personal He is, and how He is so “FOR” us. May we all find His light in our own darkness, and then go out into all the world and help others find the same.

The Hug

“The Lord’s love is sweet.” This is what my friend and translator shared as I hugged this woman one day during a home visit. You see, she was crying and whispering the same phrase over and over in my ear and hugging me so tight, so I just had to know what she was saying. When he shared this phrase, I cried my own tears too, hugged her back, aware of the give and take that comes from such a moment.

A few hours before this exchange, I was on my way via motorcycle to a series of home visits with those who just need extra encouragement and support. Everywhere I have been in the earth, I have found myself on the backs of motorcycles. It is as common to me as riding in a car anymore, and it is the easiest and cheapest way to get from point A to point B. On this day, we rode through the villages on tire wide strips of sand into the mountains and I was soaking in all the sights and trying not to fly off the back of my friends bike, but all the while my heart was eagerly looking ahead at what the Lord would accomplish in these visits.

Nothing compares with being invited into someone’s home no matter where I am in the world. It is beyond humbling, and one of the most incredible feelings. When we walked into the home, I was immediately impressed with the creativity and cleanliness of the dwelling. Shoes off, heart open, I did as I was instructed and sat on the bed which serves as the couch during the day. The walls were covered in what used to be rice bags, neatly taped together to form a wallpaper of sorts, but also to serve as a barrier to the outside elements. The wind blew through the open door and it felt as if heaven itself welcomed us. The host offered us large cups of Mountain Dew, the most common drink I have found in the homes of Nepal, and we began an afternoon of fellowship.

Then she walked in, and sat on a stool by the door, while the wind draped the curtain around her like a shroud. She immediately had my heart the moment I saw her and I began to pray about any way the Lord would have me encourage her. There was also a gentleman who is hard of hearing, and quite tormented by the devil, (according to him), who not only needs healing in his body, but deeply desires his Hindu wife to come to know the Jesus he loves. She offered the common “namaste” but stayed away from us as we proceeded to pray and worship God together.

When the time came for us to hear from each one about how we can love and support them right now, the woman at the door began to open up. I could tell from the occasional tears that escaped her eyes, that much of what she shared was painful. When it came time for the translation, I learned that she had been married at age 8. No, that is not a typo, and it is somewhat common in Nepal, especially in the villages. In and of itself, this marriage was unthinkably painful, but when her husband left her when she was 12 years old, just five years later, her life seemed over.

To be abandoned as a woman in Nepal is a fate worse than death without the direct intervention of the Lord. Woman are considered the weaker class, subordinate, and completely reliant on men to survive, but she wasn’t just a woman, she was a very young girl, with no hopes of education, or a means to support herself whatsoever. She is now in her 70’s and has never been remarried. This is mostly due to the Hindu and Buddhist belief that her husband left her which means she deserved it, either in this life or from a previous life and/or it was meant to be. Hope is not to be found, mercy is absent.

When the Lord awakened her to Himself, she was then further outcasted by her Hindu family and friends who saw this as direct rebellion and cause for ex-communication. I cannot imagine the pain she has endured in her life. Thankfully, some of the members of her family have since been awakened as well, and she is prayerful that they all will one day know Jesus. In fact, she has many dreams in her heart, and I am cheering her on all the way!

“The Lord’s love is sweet.” Indeed it is. As I shared with her a tiny portion of my own story, and the way the Lord used Isaiah 54 to heal me, a strength seemed to envelope her, and she asked again where this beautiful promise was to be found. Thankfully, she has a Nepali bible, and immediately found this passage and proceeded to read it out loud. She was visibly encouraged, and hungry to know this God who would speak so personally to her about the matters of her life.

Now you can understand that when she cried these words “the Lord’s love is sweet” in my ear, over and over, the Lord was doing a work that only He can do, healing of the pains of her past in a fresh way, so that she could look ahead with the hope that is Christ in us, the hope of Glory. She was able to receive from her Father personally, to breath deep of His nearness, to drink in the goodness of God like the wine from the first wedding, and He was there, just like He promises, to answer, “daughter be healed”. This promise poured fresh into my heart as well, He makes all things beautiful in their time.

There is so much in God’s heart for the girls and women of Nepal, I hope you will join me in praying for this culture and this country. No matter what, knowing we are seen and loved is the message the whole world needs to hear, and I for one, will never tire of making that known.

Grace and peace to all of my Brave family everywhere.

Falling in love

Being surrounded by the spiritual and physical realities of Hinduism and Buddhism is actually quite helpful as a child of God. You see, everywhere I turn I am reminded of the family I belong to and His desire to remind every child of their origin, their new reality in Christ, and the peace that comes when we know whose we are. When I see endless attempts to appease and beg from golden idols on every corner, or blood sacrifices under trees, I am consumed with even more desire to see the His love demonstrated in such a way that He breaks the captives free. There is no end to the power of love in the message of the gospel of Jesus. He is the one who freed all of mankind, and He is the one who reconciles us back to Himself.

There is a family I met who recently abandoned Buddhism and joined our family. They had been to witch doctors, Hindu pandit’s, Buddhist lama’s and healers of every kind, except those who witness the truth that Jesus alone is our help. They were seeking help with their child whom they believed to be demon possessed. He had become violent and had threatened his sister and mothers life on the regular. They were desperate and despondent because none of their efforts to find healing and peace, even for themselves as they struggled with alcohol addiction, worked.

So one day my friend asked the father to do some work for him in construction, and learned of this man’s plight. He was later led to go to the families house to share the gospel and the son was instantly delivered. I met him about two weeks after this miracle and he wears the most beautiful smile you’ve ever seen. He is truly transformed. Not only that, but the mom was Instantly healed of alcoholism. She said even the thought of it made her sick. But more importantly, she found out how great is the love that Jesus has for us, that he laid down his life for us, so that we could rely on him to transform us by never ending love. The truth could not be denied, Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life. Now there is an unmistakable smitten look of one who has been found by the bridegroom on her face. She is learning what it means to be loved and to belong.

The instant I met this dad and his family, they had my heart. You know how God will just tuck someone in the fold of your heart, like a swaddled baby, and then they live forever in your prayers? I know they need to have ever increasing encounters with true love, and are meant to take the truth of Jesus to places never reached. But the dad still struggled with alcoholism and depression. Sometimes it takes a minute to understand the depth of your freedom once you believe.

One morning he came around and I felt that familiar tug to pray for him. I am telling you, God in his mercy is chasing this man for total freedom. As soon as I hugged him I smelled the alcohol, and was sad that he was still in that battle. With the help of my friend, as he translated, I prayed for God to deliver him of addiction and to fill him with a revelation of the spirit of Christ that indwells, among many other things. He was visibly being touched by God, and I was so grateful. A deep longing I felt in God’s heart, for him to find peace, rose up in my heart as tears flowed.

After I prayed, I was able to share with him the truth of Holy Spirit who lives in us, that we are never separate from the help we need, from the wisdom, the guidance, the liberating truth, the comfort, the advocacy, even words we don’t know how to pray are found in the other tongues he freely supplies, an awareness of how loved we are, and so much more. What an astonishing reality it is to belong to the creator of the universe.

I left him but continued to pray. Yesterday I saw him again and I noticed how bright and sharp he looked, like someone changed. He got my friend to tell me that since I had prayed for him, he cannot touch alcohol, he said it makes him nauseous and sick, and wanted to praise God for helping him. It has been 9 days and counting. Can we all agree that he is free forever?

Now this is an beautiful testimony, and of course I will continue to pray that God holds this family safe and anchored, but the real testimony is that he now knows he belongs to someone greater than himself, that God is real, and that peace is the promise for their lives now. He can turn to Jesus himself for help, who makes a way out of every temptation. As he learns to turn to Jesus on the inside of him, instead of idols, I know he will be met by love. Love heals. God is love.

We jumped, waved our arms, laughed, hugged, and hugged some more as he shared his gratitude to God. I can tell he is falling in love with the REAL JESUS. There is no one like him, no one more faithful and no one more true. There is a bride being made ready for her bridegroom, and now is the time to share the truth that all are meant to enjoy.. “I am my beloved’s and He is mine.” Song of Songs 6:3.

The reason this story is special to me is because I truly believe in the power of prayer governed by the heart of Jesus. There are many here who I see and want to help, but Jesus said, “I only do what I see my father in heaven doing.” I wanna be so in tune with what my Father in heaven is doing that I can do that too. Don’t you?

The real gospel is “Jesus in me, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27. It is about knowing who He is and who He says we are. I will never tire of seeing people find out the truth that they are never ever separated from the love of God, and that we have a lifetime and eternity to discover the richness of our inheritance with all the saints. (Ephesians 1-3). It is His love, His faith joined with ours, and His life in us which enables us to live freely and in peace, not strangled by strongholds of sin and powerlessness. Please show us those whose hearts you are after Lord.

I am praying for this nation that God will open up the floodgates and encounter every one, even under those trees or hidden in the deep recesses of darkness idol worshipping holes. There is nowhere He won’t go, and no one who he doesn’t love. After all, He sent His one and only son into this world to demonstrate His love for all of mankind.

“I am not ashamed of sharing the wonderful message of God’s liberating power unleashed in us through Christ. For I am thrilled to preach that everyone who believes (that Christ is savior) is saved, the Jew first, and then people everywhere. This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness- a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith. This is what the scripture means when it says, “we are right with God through life giving faith.” Romans 1:16-17

Because of your support I was able to buy this family a Bible, (anonymously), and plan to help the dad learn to read at some point. Thankfully the daughter has gone to enough school that she can read it for the rest of the family. I hope to be able to support her growth as a child of God as well. She is the most challenging of the family so far, but God is madly in love with her. Thank you for praying!

haley

U ek keti ho

You guessed it, I am attempting to learn the language. Since English speaking is hard to come by here, it seems wise. The above means, she is a girl. I don’t know why I would ever need to say this however, but it is a phrase that I have mastered, which I hope makes you smile. Then there is “ma ek mahila hun” which means, I am a woman. “Ma angrezi bolchhu” means that I speak English. And for our last language lesson for today, “tapaailai kasto chha,” then “ma sanchai chhu” meaning “how are you, I am fine.”

I tried out some of these phrases with the children and was met with stares and wonder so the learning curve continues. However, one girl seemed to take particular interest in trying to communicate with me. Her name is Shikaina Moktan, and she has my heart. When I first saw her I immediately sensed her strength and confidence and when I caught her eye, I knew we would be fast friends.

My sense turned out to be spot on, because recently she and I played on the swing-set and the monkey bars together and laughed at each other as we made silly faces. As we were swinging together I sang for her, and tried to get her to sing for me, but she only laughed. I suppose it is a big thing to sing a song for someone you hardly know but I’m hoping to wear her down soon enough.

The play ground equipment is new and the children have loved it well. Their home is small and neat and their routine impeccable. It is amazing what one can do with so little. That said, on this day, Shikaina decided to try out her English on me with the words, “my dog.” As she said this with such seriousness, she pointed to the house dog named Chili, and beckoned me there to meet him. Fairly soon into this moment, she had unhooked his leash and handed to me, commanding me then to “walk.”

I then understood that she meant for me to take this guard dog for a walk with her, and I had no idea how that would turn out ha! At first, I thought I had two choices, either up the side of the mountain, or down, but Chili made the decision for me as he took off full speed, UP. Shikaina thought this was hilarious, and as he dragged me along, I could only hope to live through it. We made it back, and she tied him up and then sweetly filled up his water bowl. Pretty soon I realised that this was her dog, because he had become her friend, and one she had been given charge over.

She and I spent forever with this dog and also the group cat that showed up for some pets. The animals bridged the gap between us as we played and laughed and loved them together. I love God’s creative ways and I look forward to what else He has up his sleeve. Speaking of sleeve, Chili was wearing a child’s sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up, and I thought that was a peek into the kindness of this culture. In fact, they have a festival here that honors the dogs of Nepal for being so good to guard and love humans.

Shikaina is full of grace and beauty of the queenly kind. I told her how much Jesus loves her, and hope that she could feel that as well. As we walked around together, of course my heart poured out prayers on her behalf, to grow into the full awareness of who God says she is and of the incredibleness of belonging to the family of God.

In fact, my days are filled with such prayers for the whole nation. There is no end to the love that He has for us all… or anything that can stop His magnificent pursuit of each and every heart. “I am contending for you, (and all), that your hearts will be wrapped in the comfort of heaven, and woven together in love’s fabric. This will give you access to all the riches of God as you experience the revelation of God’s great mystery Christ.” Col. 2

Butterfly Banner Day

I spotted a gorgeous butterfly flitting by the fourth graders this afternoon. Even from a distance I could see the how beautiful it was. It was quite large, with happy yellow and black wings. The butterfly seemed to dance with the wind that carried it and whisper hope filled promises of yes and amen as He flew over their heads. A beacon of truth, new life is ours, if we only surrender. Gentle and powerful at the same time, as I sat, mesmerised by this beautiful creature, I knew God was doing a new thing.

If you have never watched the process called metamorphosis in which the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, you must. It is simply one of the most stunning wonders on the earth. The endless array of spiritual metaphors one can draw upon through this process, really do boggle the mind, but today, all that I could think about was “Behold, I am doing a new thing,” Isaiah 43:19.

To be honest, sometimes when I walk around this city I wonder if a new thing is possible. I doubt, I fear, I lament and I get lost in the sea of poverty and pain. It seems like these are the best moments though, because they always preceed the dawn.

On this day, hope burst onto the scene in the simple sighting of a glorious butterfly and I just knew…

When one of our teachers explained that her whole class had decided they wanted to join the family, I began to see. When they stepped up in front of the rest of the school and gave their hearts to Jesus, I was overjoyed. This was enough for me, but oh how small was my thinking? No sooner did our family grow than a question was posed to the rest of the school, “If anyone else would also like to….. and before I knew it, the ENTIRE school body had JUMPED up out of their seats, yelling and clamouring to the front of the place we gathered, desiring also to join the family. Each and every student in our school made a public declaration of faith today, and asked Jesus to be their King. EVERY. SINGLE. CHILD. We didn’t do a thing but ask a simple question… not one thing. It was a spontaneous and glorious and holy moment.

I know what some of you may be thinking, but can I exhort you…. don’t. He delights in our own childlike faith, and He is really good at handling all the details. I am just here to testify about what just happened, and it was nothing short of a miracle. My heart has been on FIRE for two weeks praying for THIS EXACT THING to happen.

It was like watching my own imagination manifest itself right in front of my eyes.

I know this is because this desire and dream came from Him. I was immediately confronted with tiny of my faith, and emboldened once again to pray the big kind of prayers that will change the world. I hope you will join me.

To think that I happened upon the scripture found in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom belongs to ones such as these,” as I began this day! That this scripture played like a movie reel, and He invited our entire school to come to Him, is the most glorious event I have ever witnessed.

Will you join me in a celebration tonight, and spend time thanking God with me for the miracle He did? Be encouraged, He is indeed doing a BRAND NEW THING.

So today is the very best kind of day to write to you once again. I haven’t felt it was the right time… until now. But it was a butterfly banner kind of day, marking a moment that will never be forgotten. There could not be a more perfect way to pick up where we left off as we continue the journey, BraveAfrica style, in Uganda. All of heaven is having a party right now for the children that ran to Him with hearts wide open. Our family table is bigger now, set with a feast fit for children of the king, and tonight, we celebrate.

Thank you all for your prayers and your hope and your support and your LOVE.

Lessons from a Four Year Old

Because‌ ‌Uganda‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌youngest‌ ‌country‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌continent‌ ‌of‌ ‌Africa,‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌children‌ ‌in‌ ‌every‌ ‌nook‌ ‌and‌ ‌cranny.‌ ‌One‌ ‌time‌ ‌I‌ ‌tried‌ ‌to‌ ‌count‌ ‌the‌ ‌number‌ ‌of‌ ‌children‌ ‌wandering‌ ‌around‌ ‌by‌ ‌themselves,‌ ‌who‌ ‌should‌ ‌have‌ ‌at‌ ‌that‌ ‌time‌ ‌been‌ ‌in‌ ‌school,‌ ‌and‌ ‌lost‌ ‌track‌ ‌after‌ ‌ten‌ ‌minutes.‌ ‌Beautiful moments captured on my Uganda movie reel reveal so much about a culture I know so little about. Yesterday, I watched a child around 6 years old pick up a much smaller child to carry him over the small pond of rain water in their path. Later on, I saw a little girl, about five, with a comfy sleeping baby wrapped around her like a proper mama. There are no shortages of naked baby bums toddling too and fro, and of course, who doesn’t smile at that thought? Today, one such naked baby came screaming “mommy” toward me from the slum, and of course, I scooped her right up and we cuddled to our hearts content. (If you love children, get on a plane “now now” as they say here.) By the way, I have never seen her in my entire life.

Have you ever just wanted to be that safe loving presence that makes Jesus impossible to resist? For me, this is my fervent and constant prayer. However, sometimes things don’t come quite as easily as little babies screaming mommy at me running full speed into my arms off the top of the stairs. Ha! ‌So I encourage myself with this admonition. “Keep‌ ‌on‌ ‌being‌ ‌BRAVE!‌ ‌It‌ ‌will‌ ‌bring‌ ‌you‌ ‌the‌ ‌great‌ ‌rewards.‌ ‌Learn‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌patient,‌ ‌so‌ ‌you‌ ‌will‌ ‌please‌ ‌God‌ ‌and‌ ‌be‌ ‌given‌ ‌what‌ ‌He‌ ‌has‌ ‌promised.”‌ ‌Hebrews‌ ‌10:35-36.‌ ‌

‌In that light, I want to introduce the story of a little girl I met one day, named Jackie. ‌

Jackie‌ ‌belongs‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌mama‌ ‌who‌ ‌helps‌ ‌us‌ ‌at‌ ‌our‌ ‌boarding‌ ‌school‌ ‌in‌ ‌Busiika.‌ ‌When‌ ‌I‌ ‌first‌ ‌met‌ ‌her,‌ ‌she‌ ‌looked‌ ‌at‌ ‌me‌ ‌with‌ ‌suspicion‌ ‌and‌ ‌a‌ ‌cold‌ ‌disconnect‌ ‌that‌ ‌begged‌ ‌for‌ ‌my‌ ‌wholehearted‌ ‌response.‌ ‌She‌ ‌stood‌ ‌across‌ ‌the‌ ‌room‌ ‌from‌ ‌me,‌ ‌not‌ ‌facing‌ ‌me‌ ‌directly‌ ‌except‌ ‌to‌ ‌steal‌ ‌glances‌ ‌every‌ ‌once‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌while,‌ ‌and‌ ‌she‌ ‌refused‌ ‌to‌ ‌speak‌ ‌at‌ ‌all‌ ‌or‌ ‌acknowledge‌ ‌that‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌speaking‌ ‌to‌ ‌her.‌ ‌At‌ ‌first‌ ‌I‌ ‌wondered‌ ‌if‌ ‌it‌ ‌was‌ ‌because‌ ‌she‌ ‌did ‌not‌ ‌know‌ ‌English,‌ ‌but‌ ‌quickly‌ ‌I‌ ‌surmised,‌ ‌she‌ ‌simply‌ ‌did‌ ‌not‌ ‌trust‌ ‌the‌ ‌likes‌ ‌of‌ ‌me.‌ ‌Every‌ ‌question‌ ‌rose‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌heart.‌ ‌What‌ ‌wonderful adventure awaited us, and how was the Father going to reach her?

Lesson‌ ‌One‌ ‌

His‌ ‌love‌ ‌and‌ ‌goodness‌ ‌are‌ ‌unquestionable‌. ‌At ALL costs, the world must know,‌ ‌“Love‌ ‌never‌ ‌stops‌ ‌loving.”‌ ‌1‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌13:8‌ ‌

Of‌ ‌course,‌ ‌“have‌ ‌coloring‌ ‌book,‌ ‌will‌ ‌travel”‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌firm‌ ‌motto,‌ ‌so‌ ‌the‌ ‌first‌ ‌time‌ ‌I‌ ‌met‌ ‌her‌ ‌I‌ ‌whipped‌ ‌out‌ ‌my‌ ‌best‌ ‌coloring‌ ‌book‌, sat on the floor, and laughed like a little kid as my colors made a pretty picture.‌ ‌She‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌beautiful‌ ‌child,‌ like all, ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌jaw‌ ‌like‌ ‌flint,‌ ‌and‌ ‌big‌ ‌brown‌ ‌piercing‌ ‌eyes. ‌Jackie ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌child‌ ‌force.‌ ‌So‌ ‌when‌ ‌I‌ ‌first‌ ‌presented‌ ‌the‌ ‌coloring‌ ‌book,‌ ‌she‌ ‌was‌ ‌completely‌ ‌undaunted.‌ ‌How‌ ‌often‌ ‌has‌ ‌my‌ ‌Father‌ ‌invited‌ ‌me‌ ‌to‌ ‌talk,‌ ‌dream‌ ‌and‌ ‌learn‌ ‌from‌ ‌Him‌ ‌that‌ ‌I‌ ‌too‌ ‌have‌ ‌turned‌ ‌my‌ ‌untrusting‌ ‌heart‌ ‌back‌ ‌to‌ ‌what‌ ‌is‌ ‌familiar‌ ‌and‌ ‌“safe”?‌ ‌With‌ ‌Jackie,‌ ‌it‌ ‌took‌ ‌a‌ ‌few‌ ‌of my lopsided goofy smiles ‌and‌ ‌a‌ ‌few‌ ‌pieces‌ ‌of‌ ‌my‌ ‌cassava‌ ‌snack‌ ‌before‌ ‌she‌ ‌finally‌ ‌sat‌ ‌down,‌ ‌unsmiling‌ ‌beside‌ ‌me.‌ ‌Not‌ ‌surprisingly,‌ ‌this‌ ‌only‌ ‌lasted‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌minute‌ ‌or‌ ‌two,‌ ‌and‌ ‌then‌ ‌she‌ ‌was‌ ‌off‌ ‌once‌ ‌again.‌ ‌It‌ ‌took‌ ‌a‌ ‌few‌ ‌more‌ ‌tries‌ ‌throughout‌ ‌the‌ ‌morning‌ ‌before‌ ‌she‌ ‌willingly‌ ‌chose‌ ‌her‌ ‌own‌ ‌page,‌ ‌a‌ ‌crayon‌ ‌and‌ ‌set‌ ‌about‌ ‌creating‌ ‌her‌ ‌masterpiece.‌ ‌Needless‌ ‌to‌ ‌say,‌ ‌I‌ ‌left‌ ‌that‌ ‌day‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌grin‌ ‌and‌ ‌lesson‌ ‌number‌ ‌two.‌ ‌ ‌

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Lesson‌ ‌Two‌ ‌

‌Jesus‌ ‌will‌ ‌always‌ ‌meet‌ ‌us‌ ‌where‌ ‌we‌ ‌are.‌ ‌He‌ ‌will‌ ‌never‌ ‌force‌ ‌His‌ ‌love‌ ‌on‌ ‌us.‌ ‌He‌ ‌will‌ ‌never‌ ‌demand‌ ‌His‌ ‌way.‌ He never stops. Nor can we. ‌”Love‌ ‌never‌ ‌takes‌ ‌failure‌ ‌as‌ ‌defeat,‌ ‌for‌ ‌it‌ ‌never‌ ‌gives‌ ‌up.”‌ ‌1‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌13:7‌ ‌ ‌

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As‌ ‌time‌ ‌went‌ ‌on,‌ ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌a‌ ‌few‌ ‌more‌ ‌opportunities‌ ‌to‌ ‌invite‌ ‌her‌ ‌to be my friend.‌ ‌I‌ ‌remember‌ ‌my‌ ‌next‌ ‌efforts‌ ‌came‌ ‌with‌ ‌just‌ ‌saying‌ ‌her‌ ‌name‌ ‌every‌ ‌time‌ ‌I‌ ‌saw‌ ‌her,‌ ‌praying‌ ‌that‌ ‌she‌ ‌would‌ ‌catch‌ ‌my‌ ‌love‌,‌ ‌and‌ ‌of‌ ‌course,‌ ‌always‌ ‌being‌ ‌available‌ ‌should‌ ‌she‌ ‌ever‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌move‌ ‌a‌ ‌little‌ ‌closer.‌ ‌How many of you know that every time we say one another’s name, we dignify our connection. We show we are committed to knowing one another, more and more. This Jackie was a tough nut to crack though, and each‌ ‌cool‌ ‌gaze‌ ‌indicated‌ ‌she‌ ‌wasn’t‌ ‌quite‌ ‌ready‌ ‌to‌ ‌come‌ ‌yet. Respectfully,‌ ‌I‌ ‌allowed‌ ‌her‌ ‌that‌ ‌space.‌ ‌

Lesson‌ ‌Three‌ ‌

My‌ ‌Father‌ ‌will‌ ‌never‌ ‌grow‌ ‌tired‌ ‌of‌ ‌pursuing‌ ‌my‌ ‌heart,‌ ‌or‌ ‌yours‌ ‌either.‌ ‌He‌ ‌will‌ ‌never‌ ‌be‌ ‌satisfied‌ ‌until‌ ‌we‌ ‌fully‌ ‌surrender‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌truth‌ ‌of‌ ‌His‌ ‌love‌ ‌for‌ ‌us.‌

“Love‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌easily‌ ‌irritated‌ ‌or‌ ‌quick‌ ‌to‌ ‌take‌ ‌offense.”‌ ‌1‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌13:5B‌ ‌

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At this point,‌ ‌most‌ ‌of‌ ‌you‌ ‌have‌ ‌predicted‌ ‌that‌ ‌I‌ ‌would‌ ‌soon‌ ‌pull‌ ‌out‌ ‌the superpower called ‌”stories”!‌ ‌My backpack library was quickly opened for business. Armed ‌with‌ ‌books‌ ‌that‌ ‌she‌ ‌might‌ ‌be‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌grasp‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌pictures,‌ ‌while‌ ‌I‌ ‌read‌ ‌in‌ ‌English, what child could resist? ‌A‌ ‌tiny‌ ‌bit‌ ‌interested,‌ ‌she‌ ‌would‌ ‌sit‌ ‌close‌ ‌enough‌ ‌to‌ ‌hear,‌ ‌but‌ ‌not‌ ‌close‌ ‌enough‌ ‌that‌ ‌I‌ ‌might‌ ‌actually‌ ‌think‌ ‌she‌ ‌was‌ ‌listening.‌ ‌Each‌ ‌time‌ ‌she‌ ‌resisted,‌ ‌I‌ ‌loved‌ ‌her‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌more.‌ ‌After‌ ‌all,‌ ‌you‌ ‌have‌ ‌to‌ ‌respect‌ ‌a‌ ‌girl‌ ‌who‌ ‌knows‌ ‌her‌ ‌boundaries‌ ‌and‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌afraid‌ ‌to‌ ‌use ‌them.‌ ‌

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Lesson‌ ‌Four‌ ‌

Jesus‌ ‌will‌ ‌never‌ ‌cross‌ ‌our‌ ‌boundaries‌ ‌by‌ ‌any‌ ‌means.‌ ‌He‌ ‌was‌ ‌acquainted‌ ‌with‌ ‌our‌ ‌weaknesses,‌ ‌and‌ ‌knows‌ ‌us‌ ‌more‌ ‌than‌ ‌we‌ ‌know‌ ‌ourselves.‌ ‌

“Love‌ ‌does‌ ‌not‌ ‌traffic‌ ‌in‌ ‌shame‌ ‌and‌ ‌disrespect,‌ ‌nor‌ ‌selfishly‌ ‌seek‌ ‌its‌ ‌own‌ ‌honor.”‌ ‌1‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌3:5A‌ ‌

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Each‌ ‌interaction‌ ‌that‌ ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌had‌ ‌a‌ ‌new‌ ‌little‌ ‌glimmer.‌ ‌There‌ ‌began‌ ‌a‌ ‌time‌ ‌when‌ ‌we‌ ‌were‌ ‌both‌ ‌around,‌ ‌that‌ ‌she‌ ‌began‌ ‌to‌ ‌simply‌ ‌sit‌ ‌and‌ ‌stare‌ ‌at‌ ‌me,‌ ‌and‌ ‌at‌ ‌a‌ ‌very‌ ‌safe‌ ‌distance,‌ ‌follow‌ ‌me‌ ‌around‌ ‌wherever‌ ‌I‌ ‌went.‌ ‌She‌ ‌even‌ ‌followed‌ ‌me‌ ‌out‌ ‌into‌ ‌the‌ ‌field‌ ‌once,‌ ‌and‌ ‌when‌ ‌she‌ ‌got‌ ‌hurt,‌ ‌allowed‌ ‌me‌ ‌to‌ ‌pick‌ ‌her‌ ‌up‌ ‌and‌ ‌help‌ ‌her‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌boo-boos!‌ ‌Imagine‌ ‌the‌ ‌little‌ ‌stray‌ ‌leak‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌corner‌ ‌of‌ ‌my‌ ‌eye‌ ‌when‌ ‌this‌ ‌happened!‌ ‌A‌ ‌miniscule‌ ‌shift‌ ‌was‌ ‌happening, surely victory was near.

Then, one‌ ‌day,‌ ‌I‌ ‌thought‌ ‌it‌ ‌might‌ ‌soften‌ ‌her‌ ‌up‌ ‌to‌ ‌hold‌ ‌the‌ ‌guitar‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌holding.‌ ‌She‌ ‌crawled‌ ‌up‌ ‌into‌ ‌a‌ ‌big‌ ‌fat‌ ‌chair,‌ ‌and‌ ‌her‌ ‌feet‌ ‌barely‌ ‌reached‌ ‌the‌ ‌edge‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌cushion.‌ ‌As‌ ‌I‌ ‌gently‌ ‌laid‌ ‌the‌ ‌instrument‌ ‌onto‌ ‌her‌ ‌lap,‌ ‌since‌ ‌it‌ ‌was‌ ‌bigger‌ ‌than‌ ‌she‌ ‌was,‌ ‌I‌ ‌showed‌ ‌her‌ ‌how‌ ‌to‌ ‌move‌ ‌the‌ ‌strings‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌noise.‌ ‌At‌ ‌first,‌ ‌she‌ ‌gently‌ ‌touched‌ ‌them,‌ ‌but‌ ‌soon‌ ‌became‌ ‌enthralled‌ ‌with‌ ‌bigger‌ ‌sounds.‌ ‌Her fingers became an instrument of her inner force, a rockstar perhaps? ‌Jackie‌ ‌discovered‌ ‌a‌ ‌little‌ ‌bit‌ ‌of‌ her‌ ‌unique‌ ‌expression that day. She had been given a voice of sorts, and I prayed she would share it one day soon. I had a dream.

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Lesson‌ ‌Five‌ ‌

His‌ ‌pursuit of our hearts ‌is‌ ‌uniquely‌ ‌designed‌ ‌to‌ ‌create ‌a‌ ‌special‌ ‌and‌ ‌intimate‌ ‌relationship‌ ‌with‌ ‌Him‌ ‌alone.‌ ‌He‌ ‌approaches‌ ‌us‌ ‌in‌ ‌all‌ ‌manner‌ ‌of‌ ‌ways,‌ ‌speaking‌ ‌to‌ ‌us‌ if we would but listen ‌and‌ ‌offering‌ ‌a‌ ‌love‌ ‌that‌ ‌is‌ ‌far‌ ‌beyond‌ ‌what‌ ‌we‌ ‌could‌ ‌ever‌ ‌imagine.‌ ‌

“Love‌ ‌is‌ ‌large‌ ‌and‌ ‌incredibly‌ ‌patient.‌ ‌Love‌ ‌is‌ ‌gentle‌ ‌and‌ ‌consistently‌ ‌kind‌ ‌to‌ ‌all.”‌ ‌1‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌13:1‌ ‌

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As‌ ‌it‌ ‌turned‌ ‌out,‌ ‌it is good to dream and hope because ‌love overcomes. ‌When‌ ‌I‌ ‌got‌ ‌out‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌car‌ ‌to‌ ‌go‌ ‌into‌ ‌school one day recently,‌ ‌she‌ ‌saw‌ ‌me‌ ‌and‌ ‌grinned‌ ‌the‌ ‌biggest‌ ‌grin‌ ‌you’ve‌ ‌ever‌ ‌seen‌ ‌and‌ ‌laughed‌ ‌out‌ ‌loud!‌ ‌I‌ ‌have‌ ‌NEVER‌ ‌seen‌ ‌her‌ ‌ridiculously‌ ‌adorable‌ ‌smile!‌ ‌It‌ ‌lit‌ ‌up‌ ‌my‌ ‌world‌ ‌brighter‌ ‌than‌ ‌the‌ ‌sun.‌ ‌Can‌ ‌you‌ ‌hear‌ ‌my‌ ‌joy?‌ ‌Jackie.smiled.at.me.‌ ‌and‌ ‌no‌ ‌sooner‌ ‌had‌ ‌this wonder emerged ‌that‌ ‌she‌ ‌cautiously,‌ ‌but‌ ‌quickly‌ ‌moved‌ ‌toward‌ ‌me.‌ ‌Full‌ ‌of‌ ‌wonder,‌ ‌I‌ ‌sat‌ ‌down‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌eye‌ ‌to‌ ‌eye‌ ‌with‌ ‌her,‌ ‌and‌ ‌reached‌ ‌out‌ ‌to‌ ‌give‌ ‌her‌ ‌a‌ ‌big‌ ‌hug,‌ ‌because‌ ‌it‌ ‌seemed‌ ‌right.‌ ‌Guess‌ ‌what?‌ ‌She‌ ‌hugged‌ ‌me‌ ‌back!‌ ‌ ‌

Next,‌ ‌she‌ ‌pushed‌ ‌back,‌ ‌hands‌ ‌still‌ ‌on‌ ‌my‌ ‌shoulders,‌ ‌looked‌ ‌me‌ ‌square‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌face‌ ‌and‌ ‌announced‌ ‌in‌ ‌Lugandan‌ ‌something‌ ‌quite‌ ‌important.‌ ‌The‌ ‌earnest‌ ‌look‌ ‌in‌ ‌her‌ ‌eyes,‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌imploring‌ ‌tone‌ ‌of‌ ‌her‌ ‌voice‌ ‌begged‌ ‌my‌ ‌response.‌ ‌Thankfully‌ ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌my‌ ‌Ugandan‌ ‌peers‌ ‌was‌ ‌standing‌ ‌there,‌ ‌and‌ ‌heard‌ ‌it‌ ‌all.‌ ‌Quickly,‌ ‌he‌ ‌busted‌ ‌out‌ ‌laughing‌ ‌and‌ ‌explained‌ ‌that‌ ‌she‌ ‌was‌ ‌tattling‌ ‌on‌ ‌Abigail,‌ ‌her‌ ‌friend,‌ ‌who‌ ‌tore‌ ‌the‌ ‌coloring‌ ‌papers‌ ‌that‌ ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌given‌ ‌her‌ ‌‌when‌ ‌I‌ ‌first‌ ‌met‌ ‌her‌ ‌oh‌ ‌so‌ ‌long‌ ‌ago‌.‌ ‌Can we say full circle my friends?! To‌ ‌my‌ ‌utter‌ ‌amazement,‌ ‌Jackie‌ ‌decided‌ ‌to‌ ‌unburden‌ ‌herself‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌tragedy‌ ‌to‌ ‌me,‌ ‌with‌ ‌huge‌ ‌big‌ ‌brown‌ ‌trusting‌ ‌eyes‌ ‌that‌ ‌I‌ ‌would‌ ‌indeed‌ ‌handle‌ ‌the‌ ‌situation‌ ‌on‌ ‌her‌ ‌behalf.‌ ‌She‌ ‌trusted‌ ‌me‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌hurt‌ ‌in‌ ‌her‌ ‌heart.‌ ‌ ‌

‌Lesson‌ ‌Six‌ ‌

“Love is a safe place of shelter.” 1 Corinthians 3:7A

Keep your eyes on the prize. Never give up hope.

“Until‌ ‌then,‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌three‌ ‌things‌ ‌that‌ ‌remain:‌ ‌faith,‌ ‌hope,‌ ‌and‌ ‌love-‌ ‌yet‌ ‌love‌ ‌surpasses‌ ‌them‌ ‌all.‌ ‌So‌ ‌above‌ ‌all‌ ‌else,‌ ‌let‌ ‌love‌ ‌be‌ ‌the‌ ‌beautiful‌ ‌prize‌ ‌for‌ ‌which‌ ‌you‌ ‌run.”‌ ‌1‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌3:13‌ ‌ ‌

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Basking‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌beauty‌ ‌of‌ ‌her‌ ‌trust,‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌prepared‌ ‌to‌ ‌go‌ ‌home‌ ‌and‌ ‌call‌ ‌the‌ ‌day‌ ‌a‌ ‌success.‌ ‌The‌ ‌day‌ ‌was‌ ‌not‌ ‌done‌ ‌however‌, ‌and‌ ‌there‌ ‌is‌ ‌absolutely‌ ‌nothing‌ ‌that‌ ‌could‌ ‌have‌ ‌prepared‌ ‌me‌ ‌for‌ ‌what‌ ‌happened‌ ‌next.‌ ‌Standing‌ ‌before‌ ‌me‌ ‌in‌ ‌her‌ sweet little girl ‌dress,‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌hands‌ ‌covered‌ ‌in‌ ‌posho,‌ ‌she‌ ‌stared‌ ‌at‌ ‌me‌ ‌with‌ ‌such‌ ‌intensity‌ ‌it‌ ‌was‌ ‌almost‌ ‌uncomfortable.‌ ‌It‌ ‌was‌ ‌as‌ ‌if‌ ‌this‌ ‌was‌ ‌her‌ ‌final‌ ‌test,‌ ‌a‌ ‌question‌ ‌standing‌ ‌between‌ ‌us‌ ‌like‌ ‌a‌ ‌crumbling‌ ‌wall.‌ ‌Was‌ ‌I‌ ‌really‌ ‌a‌ ‌force‌ ‌of‌ ‌love‌ ‌in‌ ‌her‌ ‌life,‌ ‌whom‌ ‌she‌ ‌could‌ ‌trust,‌ ‌or‌ ‌was‌ ‌I‌ ‌just‌ ‌another‌ ‌uncaring grown‌ ‌up‌?‌ ‌

Cautiously,‌ ‌she‌ ‌took‌ ‌off‌ ‌her‌ ‌little‌ ‌flip‌ ‌flops,‌ ‌and‌ ‌leaned‌ ‌into‌ ‌my‌ ‌chest‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌little‌ ‌self ‌and‌ ‌just‌ ‌stood‌ ‌perfectly‌ ‌still‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌head‌ ‌near‌ ‌my‌ ‌heart.‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌overcome‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌weight‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌moment‌ ‌and‌ ‌every‌ ‌prayer‌ ‌I‌ ‌could‌ ‌think‌ ‌of‌ ‌was‌ ‌pouring‌ ‌through‌ ‌me‌ ‌as‌ ‌she‌ ‌allowed‌ ‌such‌ ‌an‌ ‌intimate‌ ‌interaction.‌ ‌Then‌ ‌all‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌sudden,‌ ‌she‌ ‌turned‌ ‌herself‌ ‌around,‌ ‌plopped‌ ‌herself‌ ‌on‌ ‌my‌ ‌lap,‌ ‌stuck‌ ‌her‌ ‌thumb‌ ‌in‌ ‌her‌ ‌mouth,‌ ‌and‌ ‌sat‌ ‌there‌ ‌contentedly‌ ‌until‌ ‌she‌ ‌literally‌ ‌FELL‌ ‌SOUND‌ ‌ASLEEP.‌ ‌There‌ ‌she‌ ‌remained,‌ ‌all‌ ‌wrapped‌ ‌up‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌grateful‌ ‌arms‌ ‌and‌ ‌prayers‌ ‌until‌ ‌it‌ ‌was‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌go.‌ ‌ ‌Love wins!

‌Lesson‌ ‌Seven‌

With‌ ‌Jackie,‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌reminded‌ ‌that‌ ‌often,‌ ‌love‌ ‌takes‌ ‌time‌ ‌and‌ ‌effort,‌ ‌and‌ ‌words‌ ‌are‌ ‌almost‌ ‌never‌ ‌the‌ ‌way‌ ‌He‌ ‌reveals Himself.‌ ‌Instead,‌ ‌step‌ ‌by‌ ‌step,‌ ‌He‌ ‌pursues‌ ‌our‌ ‌hearts‌ ‌through‌ ‌people‌ ‌that‌ ‌we‌ ‌are‌ ‌in‌ ‌relationship‌ ‌with,‌ ‌through‌ ‌our‌ ‌circumstances,‌ ‌and‌ ‌in‌ ‌unique‌ ‌ways‌ ‌that‌ ‌only‌ ‌we‌ ‌would‌ ‌understand.‌ ‌We often need each other to find Him.

Will the way we posture ourselves toward others reveal His good and wonderful nature? His relentless desire to be in relationship with us? His good plans for all, beyond our wildest thoughts? The dreams in His heart for all of humanity? “Love looks like something,” Heidi Baker.

‌“If‌ ‌I‌ ‌were‌ ‌to‌ ‌speak‌ ‌with‌ ‌eloquence‌ ‌in‌ ‌earth’s‌ ‌many‌ ‌languages,‌ ‌and‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌heavenly‌ ‌tongues‌ ‌of‌ ‌angels,‌ ‌yet‌ ‌I‌ ‌didn’t‌ ‌express‌ ‌myself‌ ‌with‌ ‌love,‌ ‌my‌ ‌words‌ ‌would‌ ‌be‌ ‌reduced‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌hollow‌ ‌sound‌ ‌of‌ ‌nothing‌ ‌more‌ ‌than‌ ‌a‌ ‌clanging‌ ‌cymbal.”‌ ‌1‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌13:1‌ ‌ God‌ ‌speaks‌ ‌love.‌ ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌connection‌ ‌I‌ ‌felt‌ ‌with‌ ‌Jackie,‌ ‌as‌ ‌a‌ ‌child‌ ‌of‌ ‌God‌ ‌on ‌my‌ ‌own‌ ‌journey,‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌one‌ ‌I‌ ‌will‌ ‌soon‌ ‌forget.‌ To be clear, with the Lord I absolutely act like Jackie way more than I wish that I did. These ‌lessons‌ ‌from‌ ‌a‌ ‌four‌ ‌year‌ ‌old‌ ‌are‌ ‌so pure, real… well they confront me in God’s best possible way. That said, I am not sure who got the most out of this deal, Jackie or me. Honestly, I am pretty sure that we were BOTH the intended love targets of the Lord during these last few months. I‌ ‌hope‌ ‌that‌ ‌you‌ ‌too‌ ‌have‌ ‌found‌ ‌connection somewhere in this story. ‌

Let’s pursue Him to KNOW Him! Let’s awaken to who we are as sons and daughters! Let’s dream impossible dreams! and above all, let’s move out into the farthest reaches of this beautiful, lost world with His unstoppable love. ”Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.” 1 John 4:19.

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Lesson‌ ‌Eight‌ ‌

“A little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

Go ahead, use your sanctified imagination, close your eyes, and plop yourself onto His lap while you rest in this truth. “Everyone who loves, is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of Him.” 1 John 4:7 “This is love, that He loved us long BEFORE we loved him. It was His love not ours.” 1 John 4:10

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Meet Jackie. Would you lift her up before the Lord with me?

big, brave love for you all!

The Great Jackfruit Escapade

Sometimes life in Uganda is like a box of… jackfruit candy. Wait! Is there such a thing? If not, I should get this idea out there, because jackfruit is everything. If you have a Trader Joe’s around you, I strongly suggest you go jackfruit hunting, because, as I mentioned, jackfruit is…. everything. Imagine a childhood filled with juicy fruit gum, and sunshine rays drenching you at the neighborhood pool while you smell burgers on the grill. Jackfruit is delightful childhood memories, sunshine and sweet lovin’ goodness, in God’s very own fruity creation. Did I mention that I love it?

My dad and some of his cohorts even attempted a stealth jackfruit growing mission in NC for me, which is not working out too well. It matters that they are trying though, and if we learn how, we promise to share our fruit! 

I suppose jackfruit is wafting through my mind because of the recent escapades of some of our boarding kids. Boys. To be sure. #frontal cortex, NOT closed. Even so, they must love jackfruit as much as I do because they made a radical decision one night last week. I think that jackfruit goodness had bewitched their imaginations much like it does mine and hijacked their good sense. I call it the “Great Jackfruit Escapade” because… that sounds awesome. 

Every child, including myself has been eagerly watching the jackfruit tree for signs of new fruit. This tree doesn’t grow fruit all year long, so it becomes even more special as we are forced to savour it while it lasts. We have one of these magnificent creations growing almost smack dab in the middle of our football pitch. The children kick their ball around it while also sneaking glances up at the interior for signs of life. It feels like we have been waiting forever. 

This is why I have such sympathy. Around midnight, the caper began. The boys got the attention of the guard who was keeping his dutiful watch over our “innocent” ones late that night and tried to convince him of their good plan. “We are hungry!” they said, “We want jackfruit!” they chimed. “Please help us!” Oh, how I understand. 

I can just picture our boys, bound together by the magic of this fruity delicacy, in their pj’s, joining forces to escape. For some odd reason, (wink, wink), the guard decided to succumb to their boyhood cravings for adventures and sweets, and led them OUT, down the dirt road to their midnight cravings. I guess no one is safe from the jackfruit magic.

Once they arrived at the tree that beckoned them, they climbed up to try to cut the fruit that had ripened. Honestly, it looks like some dormant creature from Monster’s Ink, but alas, what is inside is as sweet as Sulley. As they shimmied their way up the huge trunk, propelled by the jackfruit adrenaline that had gotten them this far, they found the treasure they had been seeking. The boys ripped open that fruit, (at least this is how my imagination sees it) and sunk their teeth into that yummy goodness, one seed at a time. Were they smiling at the success of their crafty plan? Probably. After all, a hungry boy has to eat, yes? I imagine that bellies full, adventure sorted, and guard ready to go to sleep, they sauntered back to their bunks like kings at a feast. 

I am sure they slept well that night dreaming of their jackfruit exploits, and brotherhood fun, and to tell you the truth, I am kind of envious of their adventure. Never fear, they probably won’t do that again, but shhhh!!!! , I believe it was worth it. 

The joy of the Lord is our strength! Nehemiah 8:10

Miracle

“Teacher!” he sobbed as he ran toward me in the compound where I had just entered the gate. He was holding his belly, crying and breaking my heart all at once. It was Miracle, whom many of you will remember from my stories last year. He simply grabbed my heart from the very first moment I laid eyes on him. My now little/big boy, 10 going on 11 and yet still in the second grade, continues to take up space in my heart. Sick much of the time due to the disease he did not earn or deserve, he has suffered much in his short life. On this day, he had had enough. So, I tried to understand his tears, (his English is limited), and pulled him close, as a mother bird shelters her young under her wings. I love this child with every fiber of my being. 

I felt the strong urge to hail a boda and take him home to nurse him all the day long, but alas, other needs would come. So I contented myself with holding him, and pouring out every single ounce of love that was freely given to me while he nestled even further into my arms. Miracle was holding onto me for dear life. His grip, simultaneously the sign of his fear, and his hope. He was safe there, momentarily distracted from his misery by the love that overwhelmed us both. In fact, I found myself with tears as well, ones that were in wonder that my Father is so near to these little ones, the brokenhearted and diseased, indeed to us all. 

As I comforted him, prayed for him and waited with Him as He drank in the moment like cool water on a scorching day, I was reminded of the simplicity of coming to our Father. All that is required is that we turn our attention to Him, seeing His eyes of love smiling at us, longing to be with us in whatever type of moment we find ourselves. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Hebrews 13:5.  How often do we try to soothe away our own problems, pains and distresses all by our lonesome when His hand is outstretched still? The truth is, on this day, I was discomforted within myself as well, hearing lies from the father of lies, and in need of help. Miracle was the very first person I met as I walked into the gate. There are no coincidences in the kingdom. Our Father never misses a moment to come when we call. 

I want each human that I am here to serve, to know this nearness. There is no greater joy for me than to see Him heal hearts and bodies and to reveal the magnitude of His love to the ones He places in my path. My heart is for each one to be made whole, mind, body and spirit. Being placed at a school is no mistake, and I don’t take for granted the moments that I have here to reveal the goodness of God, His beautiful and happy nature, and His desire to love us into wholeness. I find myself in need of this wholeness as well… to be ever nearer to the one who calls me by name. 

…”Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Those precious moments with Miracle seemed to last quite some time, but we finally emerged from the cocoon with a smile on our faces. I knew this was no chance encounter, and so did he. When I popped back into his classroom later on to check on him, he grinned at me and grabbed me again, this time with joy that he was no longer in pain and fear. God is so good.