In about 12 hours, I will getting in my car to make the trek to training camp and away from civilization for the next 5 weeks! There are so many emotions going on inside me right now, but I'm almost too busy to feel them all at once! There's still so much left to do! If it were not for the fact that I know tonight is my last good night of sleep for a while and that I have to drive 5 hours in the morning, I know I would be staying up all night to get it all done! I'm so excited, nervous, overwhelmed, relieved, anxious, and overjoyed to begin this journey that the Lord has set in front of me. I can't wait to come home and share with all of you the amazing ways the Lord has worked in the Swazi people, my team, and my own personal life!
I'm not sure if I'll have time at all to update this blog while I'm away, but please check out the trip report website, because we will have updates there. If I get time, I'll update this rather than sending an email to everyone. Thank you all for your prayers, your thoughts, and your support!
In HIM~T
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
Habari Yaku!
No...it's not Siwati, it's actually Swahili (the language spoken in Kenya) for how are you? I'm writing this post to you today to tell you about a wonderful treasure I receieved in the mail earlier this week. When I was in Kenya, I befriened three wonderful girls: Janet, Effy, and Evaline. The girls were 14 at the time and all lived in the AIM orphanage. I didn't have the chance to spend much time with them because we were not in their area long, but they left a lasting impression on my heart. In talking with my former leader a few months ago who still resides in Kenya, I asked him about the three girls. He informed me that they were still around and that he would tell them hello for me. I doubted they would even remember me, but this week I recieved a letter from one of the girls, Janet. I wanted to share its contents with you, as it almost brought me to tears:
"Dear Teresa, First is much greeting coming to you like water flowing from high land to low land. Second, is to thank our heavenly Father for granting me this opportunity to communicate with this sheet of [paper].
The main aim of writing this letter is to tell you that I miss you very much, Effy and I. We miss you. I don't know what I can tell you, but if I saw you, I would be very happy about you and I am happy to hear that you are still remembering me and Effy. The day Scott told me about you I sit down and stating remembering you. Right now I remember you very well. I am told that you will come again to Kenya. I thank only God and I am praying for you. Every time I put you first in my prayer and I know you always praying for us too.
May God Bless You...From J"
Janet is now 16 years old, and it warmed my heart so to think of her prayers for me and her joy and thankfulness in the Lord. I am praying that as we go to Swaziland, I will be able to truly see the people for the beauty they possess in the Lord and cultivate friendships like my one with Janet that span oceans and years...into eternity!
"Dear Teresa, First is much greeting coming to you like water flowing from high land to low land. Second, is to thank our heavenly Father for granting me this opportunity to communicate with this sheet of [paper].
The main aim of writing this letter is to tell you that I miss you very much, Effy and I. We miss you. I don't know what I can tell you, but if I saw you, I would be very happy about you and I am happy to hear that you are still remembering me and Effy. The day Scott told me about you I sit down and stating remembering you. Right now I remember you very well. I am told that you will come again to Kenya. I thank only God and I am praying for you. Every time I put you first in my prayer and I know you always praying for us too.
May God Bless You...From J"
Janet is now 16 years old, and it warmed my heart so to think of her prayers for me and her joy and thankfulness in the Lord. I am praying that as we go to Swaziland, I will be able to truly see the people for the beauty they possess in the Lord and cultivate friendships like my one with Janet that span oceans and years...into eternity!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
6 days!...Learning to Abide
I can't believe it is less than a week before I go to GA to prepare to meet my team! I just got home from a relaxing vacation with my family, but that leaves little time to finish everything that I have to do. I know that only through our Lord will be able to finish it all! However, things are starting to fall into place. All of my money is in and being mailed to AIM today! Bwana Asifiwe! Thank you for all of your prayers and your support in that!
I have also begun to dive into the devotional that AIM provides for our teams. It starts 3 weeks before we head to the field and contains some wonderful insight about God's heart and cross cultural ministry. In the past week, one of the days focused on abiding in our Lord....just living for him and savoring his goodness throughout the day. I learned that day just to have my eyes open to those around me, and see the LIFE exuding out of them like never before. I found such joy in just watching people live the lives God gave them. I know that sounds funny, but that's the only way I can describe my feelings from that day. I hope that on my trip I can watch my team and the people of Swaziland and see GOD in each one of them...not because they do or say anything super spiritual, but just because they are taking full advantage of every opportunity this life affords and just living it up! Too often we sit around and wait for something better, when God wants us to live each moment as if it were the last. As Jim Elliot said once, "Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living!"
Also in the past week I had the opportunity to read through my entire journal from Kenya. One thing that pervaded my prayers throughout was that God would give me a broken heart for the people and that he would remove any barriers that I had keeping me from "experiencing" and savoring every minute God had given me in Africa for his glory. I pray that for this trip as well, as the last thing I want is that it should pass me by. I feel that this time my trip will be very different, but I'm not sure how yet. I'm excited, however to see what God will do and to learn how to abide!
I wanted to leave with a quote I found in my journal from my third day at training camp in 2005. It echos my current thoughts and prayers:
"I'm not here for a cool trip, stories or pictures. I'm here to praise YOU and love you and make you known to the nations. It's not about me. I die to myself. Help me to bear my friends burdens and lift them up to you Lord. Lay down my life and pick up your cross daily. Change me to be refreshed in you...in wonderment and awe of who you are. Make me genuine. Don't allow the devil to gain a stronghold. Protect all of us and make us YOURS...whole-heartedly and single mindedly!"
I have also begun to dive into the devotional that AIM provides for our teams. It starts 3 weeks before we head to the field and contains some wonderful insight about God's heart and cross cultural ministry. In the past week, one of the days focused on abiding in our Lord....just living for him and savoring his goodness throughout the day. I learned that day just to have my eyes open to those around me, and see the LIFE exuding out of them like never before. I found such joy in just watching people live the lives God gave them. I know that sounds funny, but that's the only way I can describe my feelings from that day. I hope that on my trip I can watch my team and the people of Swaziland and see GOD in each one of them...not because they do or say anything super spiritual, but just because they are taking full advantage of every opportunity this life affords and just living it up! Too often we sit around and wait for something better, when God wants us to live each moment as if it were the last. As Jim Elliot said once, "Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living!"
Also in the past week I had the opportunity to read through my entire journal from Kenya. One thing that pervaded my prayers throughout was that God would give me a broken heart for the people and that he would remove any barriers that I had keeping me from "experiencing" and savoring every minute God had given me in Africa for his glory. I pray that for this trip as well, as the last thing I want is that it should pass me by. I feel that this time my trip will be very different, but I'm not sure how yet. I'm excited, however to see what God will do and to learn how to abide!
I wanted to leave with a quote I found in my journal from my third day at training camp in 2005. It echos my current thoughts and prayers:
"I'm not here for a cool trip, stories or pictures. I'm here to praise YOU and love you and make you known to the nations. It's not about me. I die to myself. Help me to bear my friends burdens and lift them up to you Lord. Lay down my life and pick up your cross daily. Change me to be refreshed in you...in wonderment and awe of who you are. Make me genuine. Don't allow the devil to gain a stronghold. Protect all of us and make us YOURS...whole-heartedly and single mindedly!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
