Dedicated

OK,so many weeks ago while I was in Sierra Leone, I promised I would write a blog about the circumcisions. Many of you know that when I start a story I will always come back and finish it even if it takes weeks. I will always remember to come back. SO for those of you who have been waiting for this blog here you go.

So, In the middle of my trip to Sierra Leone were two days in which circumcisions were performed on some of our guys. The first week our older ones 10 and under who had not had this done did. The next week our little ones who were in the same boat had the same thing. Yes I'm sure you have lots of questions. No I did not actually go inside the room while one was taking place. I did stand outside the door where the doctor was working. For those of you who do not know, circumcision is necessary for health reasons, and in America boys are circumcised at birth. Even knowing this fact does not help me to get over the thought. As I listened to our boys on those days and watched them in the next couple of weeks as they healed, some parts of scripture took on a new life for me.

In the early church, there was a pretty heated dispute among the Jews and the Greeks over circumcision. The Jews believed it was necessary for salvation because it was a part of their tradition while the Greeks did not. Now I had never put much thought into this idea until being here and living a non infant circumcision. I am glad that Paul did his best to let the Jews no that it was a circumcision of the heart that God really desired and not simply a physical one. I say this because I don't know how dedicated I am to Christ. I don't say that lighty. We say that when we choose to follow Christ we have to give up some of ourselves. I don't know that THAT is what I would want to give up. I marvel at a saint like Timothy who was circumcised so he could speak to the Jews with more credibility. I unfortunately don't know if I am that dedicated.

I am thankful that God has called and continues to call me. I am thankful for the tough situations I find myself in that allow me to grow in my faith. I am thankful for those who has come before me and are example of true sacrifice. I pray that God will continue to circumcise my heart and get rid of what is harmful to me. I ask God to use me as he sees fit, even if it hurts a little bit. I know if my boys in Africa can do it, so can I. God may I choose2B more dedicated to you today.

I don't have a cute title for this

Well I find it hard to believe that it has only been 2 weeks since I flew back from Sierra Leone. It feels like a lot longer. People keep asking me if I'm adjusted to life back here. Sure (that's a typical response from me). I don't really know what that means. I have a lot of wasted, well at least they seem wasted, days were I don't feel like I am making a difference. The day after I arrived home my parents called to let me know my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery last week and is doing fine and looks to be cancer free, but cancer is a disease of patience so we will see. Things at the church are not what I dream for. I think that is more upsetting because I know how upsetting that is to God. Prayer lists are always longer than praise lists and I wonder why. Why is everybody in America so freakin down on stuff. Look around you and see what God has blessed you with. I find myself falling into the same trap of missing God here. Lord give me crosseyed vision to see you and be thankful. I will choose2B a difference maker and a positive influence (I am trying to take my own advice as I write).

Well after rambling here at the beginning I have been meaning to write this blog for awhile. I miss Sierra Leone and yet there are some things I don't miss. So here is my list of things missed and not missed.

I do not miss......
the humidity - I lost 12 pounds on my African sweat diet, and I didn't have much to start with.
the smell my clothes gave off when wet
slow internet
corn on my pizza - don't knock it till you try it. i'm not saying it was bad I just don't miss it. it can be a side but not a topping.
swatting mosquitoes while using the bathroom
having security talk to me through my window each night and scare the crap out of me.
the road through Lumley
shopping at the market
carrying millions in currency in my pocket
seeing people suffer, but I remember it in my work.

However, I do miss.....
the sunsets off the guesthouse balcony
fresh baked bread
watching all the lizards run away when I walked around
seeing the difference I can make
making the female staff laugh
teaching the cooks "how to cook"
walking up the hill to go to school
Cari and Jessie
speaking to people on the street
rice (believe it or not)
riding the motobike to town
being able to focus more on God
watching sponsors talk to their kids
talks in the older girls room
getting the younger girls room in trouble
discipling the older boys
chasing the younger boys
holding hands
walking into the babies room
laughing at Moses
walking with Lucy
seeing God's provision, grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in the lives of each person at The Covering
being picked to play soccer
"Mo gi eats"
worship and prayer time
AND ON AND ON AND ON

I am continually thankful for the renewed passion I received for God while I was visiting with my new neighbors. I can't wait to stop visiting and start living with them. Who knows what God has in store. So I will try to no longer miss it but instead look forward to it. I look forward to carry those feelings to my life here. God help me to enjoy my life wherever you place me. I choose not to MISS you anymore.

The Beginning

It's early in Sierra Leone, which makes it late in the US. I'm up too early again. Probably because I have so many thoughts that race through my head every moment I am awake here. In about two hours I will be sitting in front of the kids as they have a good bye ceremony for me. Yep, 6 weeks have come and gone. Some days it seems like time has just flown by and others it seems like I have been here forever. People in the states keep asking me if I'm sad. I take offense to that question most days. Yes, I am sad. A couple of years ago I realized that living in America was not my favorite thing. Each day there I am faced with stuff that angers me and what I believe God wants FROM his people. Each day in Sierra Leone angers me too, but it's because I don't think this is what God wants FOR his people. I know that when I get back people will not understand. They don't want to. No one likes to be convicted. We all would prefer to think we are doing our part to help the world.

This week as I have been preparing to leave I have had the opportunity to sit down and have long discussions about life with some of the staff and some of the kids. I feel like I am apologizing for what America is. Their view of America is so inflated. If they just knew how selfish we are, including myself. I found myself having to go back to a staff member and apologize because I said I wasn't rich. We want to be rich but not called it because it kind of makes you a snob. Here I was telling someone who will make less this month than I will make this day that I am not rich. Maybe I am a snob.

Well, off of that and on to better things, leaving! No I am not happy to go, but I am OK with it because I know "I de cum back." I smile each day when the things I have taught them are repeated to me. Even when It means I have to share my flavor-ice with all the guys because Sorie remembers "Uncle you said, God says if we have two we should give the other away." as he smiles and opens his mouth waiting for me to pour so "sweet" in. Well it may not be a direct quote from Jesus or even from me but they get it and they laugh. I will miss the laughs from a bunch of orphans filled with the joy of the Lord. I am ready to come home and start something new. My life is different of course, but it's more than that. God has allowed me to glimpse the difference than can be made. Now my job as his mouth piece is really just beginning. Today I hope to finish emptying out the stuff I don't want and allowing God's spirit to fill me with what I need to start over. It is the same message I will give the kids today as I leave. Remove the stuff that is stopping the spirit of God from filling your life and using you. It's time to go now. I leave with a smile knowing Jesus left his friends and he promised to return. He did it because he knew things were just beginning. I leave knowing I will be back and that my new life is just beginning too.

I pray today you choose2B the beginning of something great, something new, something Holy, something that changes the world. I tell my youth you don't have to change "the" world, just "a" world to make a difference. I am happy that mine has been changed :)

It's Monday

Today started like many of my days here, awaking at an early time. I don't know why my sleeping is so out of whack, but it is. So anyway, I was up early. No power for the last three days, (and we ran out of fuel for the generator) so my cold shower was in the dark. Since it is my last week, I headed over to the center early. The mornings are always a calm time there. The kids move like zombies and are really well behaved when they wake up. Well most people move like zombies at 7am. I waited on the out of center school kids and walked them to school. Walking with them may be one of my favorite things to do. I have gotten over the fact that it is uphill. Most days they want to hold my hand and talk about, well you never know what they want to talk about, but I always enjoy the conversations.

When I got back to the center I started trying to work on fund raising. No luck as the internet just would not cooperate. I gave up after an hour. Next it was time for the staff meeting. I thought our staff meetings were long, but this one was 3 hours. Don't worry I'm not complaining. I loved it, well most of it. I knew it would be the last time I would have a chance to talk to the whole staff all together before I left. I like listening to their ideas and what they believe the problems are. You don't have to be here long to realize how important food is. It is always the main theme of discussion. Today I was humbled in 3 ways during the meeting. First, it is awesome to worship with the staff. Singing with them and lifting praises to God was great. I was thinking about how the whole neighborhood could hear us, but more importantly the kids. They can hear their aunties and uncles singing and praising God. Second, was during prayer time. I love hearing the passion behind their prayers. Hearing them cry out for the children, the organizations, each other, more of God, and then for me. Yeah after I came and spoke to them for a second about being servant leaders they chose to pray for me. Again, I was humbled. Third, was watching them give sacrificially. There is a need in the center that all of the staff felt was important so they each brought money forward to pay for a solution. It wasn't much, but when you think about how little money each one of them has this is huge. I was reminded of Jesus poking the disciples in the ribs when he was watching the old women stick money in the plate at the temple. I had a since of gratitude and thankfulness as I watched them give out of their poverty. Humbled is a good word here too.

After the meeting it was back to solving the worlds problems, well at least if the center is your world. Trying to make the budget balance, figure out what happened to the money, deciding where money is going to come from, figure out who is going to fix the shelves, and a host of other things were on the afternoon schedule. While all this is going on Cari and Jessie are def having a Monday. Jessie is suffering from a headache and Cari's computer is crashing. The kids invade the office and that is not a good thing. So by 3:30 the ladies look as though they are going to pull their hair out. Wait, oh both of them are promising to scream. I decided to take a break and head back to the guesthouse for a little bit of a break. (apologies for changing verb tenses throughout the post today, I am well aware but dont care it makes my writing more fun for me) I was looking forward to having the master power back on and getting a flavor ice from the freezer. Wait no MP and no fuel which still equals nothing and only a little battery life to do work. Blahhhh! It's all good though, I discovered money to nail down October expenses and then it was back to the center. Andrew asks smiling,"Everything better now? Ya'll look happier!"
"No, still the same," they grumble as I head into to Quammi's office to have a discussion about staff. Soon the kids are waking up from their naps and its time to pull them out of our office again. A little soccer and jump rope help you forget all the days troubles.

When I got back to the guesthouse the ladies were stuffing their faces with dinner. "You gotta try this. It's pretty awesome!" And it was. I convinced them to sit the rest of the evening on the porch since it was quite cool tonight as we had a nice breeze. Jessie even had to put on her jacket. Our evening ended as many of them do, with laughter. Thanks to cockroaches, goats, emails, and Jessie's quotes we end the day smiling. It's just the ups and downs of a Monday. Can't wait for tomorrow. :)

This Stinks

No I'm not going to talk about how I smell after sweating all day. No I'm not going to talk about how deodorant is a luxury. No I'm not going to talk about how an orphanage can smell on a hot day. I'm going to talk about this being my last week.

Since, Saturday almost everything is my last. It's my last Saturday. Today was my last Sunday. It was my last church service. It was probably my last football game with the kids playing to watch. It was the last hair day. It was the last time to get the kids together after worship. Well this list could go on but it is depressing.

So today I had the opportunity to speak for worship. Of course the youth minister is using object lessons. This morning was about how God doesn't look at the outside, but at the heart. The object lessons and the skit went over really well. At least, the kids who stayed around to talk could all tell us what the story was and what the point was. It was a pleasure to have my last opportunity to do it. The rest of my day was spent trying to just spend time with the kids. I don't get to hang out as much as I want with some because they are in school all day and then they take a nap. It hurts when I hear from those I am close to "Uncle Andrew, we do not get to see you anymore. Do you really have to go back. Please stay" That stinks!

I don't really know what all my last week holds. There are projects I need to finish, budget discussions that need to take place, videos that still need to be shot, and goodbyes that will have to be said. Each day I get on Facebook people are reminding me it is my last week. That stinks! Each time I go to the center the kids and staff remind me I am leaving. That stinks! But mainly it is leaving a country that still needs us. It still needs you. There are so many others in need of saving and I'm not just in this for the short haul. This place needs us to keep working to find ways to save the orphan. If we give up, as they say here "Is foul!" That Stinks!

Touch

Four summers ago I was leading our Road Rules mission trip to Houston for the night. We stayed at St John’s United Methodist Church. St John’s is right in the middle of town and is lead by Pastor Rudy Rasmus. Maybe you have seen Pastor Rudy’s Power Hour on TV. St John’s has made a commitment to the homeless population and boy they are doing a great job. Pastor Rudy, who himself was once homeless, has written a book titled Touch. I see the book sitting in my office but have yet to read it. Some others who were on that trip have. The book is about the importance of physical touch and how Jesus used this in His ministry.
Even though I have never read the book, I live inside the pages of it every day. I carried the concept into my ministry. I usually touch every youth that comes on a Sunday night. It’s my way of saying I value them. I do it with my kids in Sierra Leone too. Each day begins with me walking into class or the nursery to just touch them. Maybe it’s a tap on the head, a reaching out and squeeze of their hand, a pat on the shoulder, or, what has become the Uncle Andrew trademarks, the 5 and the tickly finger to the ribs. I see the impact just a touch has. Their faces light up. They know they are valued by me. I really like going to the nursery and just pulling the finger out with the threat of a tickle and the little ones scream with joy and run around.
Each day also brings a new form of touch from me in my words. I don’t think time spent talking with me is worth a whole lot. Maybe a few laughs and an “Oh, I can’t believe he said that,” but that’s about it. However, I have discovered that the conversations on the back porch with the cooks, the housekeepers, and the laundresses have been very meaningful to all of us. The times I spend saying hello to all the teachers when the kids walk out, and the arrival “How de sleep?” questions for the staff, and the Krio lessons from the former presidents security have developed a bond. I remember that before I came I thought it was funny to have me be the person who would relate to the staff. God knows best, I guess! It has been a blessing for me to learn from them, to laugh with them, to laugh at them, and share in their life. I hear each day, as they count down the number of days I have left, that I have touched them and they do not want me to leave. But they have touched me too! It’s the rye smiles, the making sure I have eaten, the questions of why I am not married (I ask that one myself), and the harassment for my return. I feel safe to say that the staff and I have ministered to each other.
Then there are the kids. They touch me, all the time. It is hard to play football with the boys while a girl has each arm and another is hugging you around the waist to keep you from running. However, I’m not half bad at it. My back has gotten stronger and it’s not from just carrying my bag every day, but rather it’s the boys who climb on me like I’m a jungle gym. I like feeling my knees get hugged by the little ones when I am not watching, or the constant playing with my hair that amazes them because it grows all over my body. Most of all I like the hugs from the older ones who go to school outside the center each day, when I walk to meet them or when they arrive back. I like the little hands that wrap around my fingers and the smaller hands that fit just right inside mine. I feel God ministering to me. I feel his love in their touch. I hear Him saying “I am with you. I haven’t given up on them and I haven’t given up on you.”
There are so many stories in the Bible of Jesus touching people, but I will end with the one about the woman who touched Him. In Mark 5:24-34 a woman who has been suffering for 12 years touches Jesus and is healed. I have had the opportunity to touch Him while I have been here too. Am I healed? I don’t know. I am not even sure what all my life was sick with. I can say that I have been made more whole, and I hope God has touched others through me in the same way. Today, I pray you choose2B the touch that changes someone’s day.

Storyteller

Jesus loved to tell stories. He knew people liked to hear them too. His parables were like TV in ancient times. I like to tell stories, also. Mine tend to be very long and drawn out though. Jesus used His to tell about the Kingdom of God, the place where God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, finances, and thoughts reign.
Today, I want to tell you a story about what I think the Kingdom of God is like, when I read Jesus stories. It is a story of coming home. It is the story of my day. I pray you will find God in the midst of it and see how he reigns today. Apologies for being long and drawn out.
It is mid morning before Osseh, Mohammed, Cari, Jessie, and I loaded up in the Pathfinder to go and pick up the newest addition to The Covering. All of us were really excited to go. However, riding through Freetown can always zap some excitement from you. The length of time it takes to get anywhere can be taxing on the fast paced American soul. After a brief stop in downtown, a stop for gas that included Red Bulls for Osseh and Jessie, Cokes for Mohammed and Cari, and fake Montain Dew for me, and a stop to air up the tires, we were headed out of Freetown. Things move much quicker on this side of Freetown, quicker means paved roads that allow you to go 40mph, if you can talk Osseh into it. We stopped by the offices of St George to pick up the social worker who had been working the case with Mohammed. Add one more full sized adult to the mix in the Pathfinder. Side note – *At this point I am happy to be comfortably riding with three in the back seat. Comfortably is a relative term considering what the front seat looks like at this moment. * Before you can blink an eye – well, if you were asleep that is – we were leaving the busy paved roads behind for the slower, unpaved, bumpy road to Grafton. Many people have a picture that is completely wrong of what much of Africa looks like. This is tropical Africa, during the rainy season I might add. Lush green hillsides are all around us. I was in Hawaii this January, but I think Sierra Leone has more of a tropical feel to it. After bounding our way through the first 1000 bumps on the country road we reached the center.
After finishing some paper work with Mohammed, the social worker disappeared into one of the building. As he emerged, he came out holding our new pride and joy, Mary. As Cari and Jessie held her in their arms, she gently cried and sucked her fingers. I looked at Mohammed and said, “Thanks!” I think a tear may have crept into his eye. He knew deep inside that this is why he does what he does as our social worker. Mary is believed to be about 4 ½. She probably weighs 10 pounds, if that. She has special needs. She is very malnourished. But boy, is she beautiful! I imagine the angels and God sit around and have these little moments all the time. Here is my son or daughter. They have special needs God says. They are malnourished. They are not much to behold. But, as he and the angles look at us, they proclaim, WOW, look how beautiful they are! Carri and Jessie took turns holding her on either side of me, as we bumped our way through the back road into Freetown. Funny quote of the day – after hitting each other after bump 2347 Jessie says, “Sorry.” Well, I thought it was funny. The whole way back, Cari and Jessie were each taking their turn, whispering things into Mary’s ears as she cried. Our attempt to get food in her was a complete bust, but hey we gave it a try. 5 hours after we left, we were pulling back into The Covering. Daniel, the house father, was out to meet us. So we introduced him to his newest child. As I walked ahead of the group to get to the nursery to film her entrance there, I told the kids who were not asleep, “Go meet your new sister.” They quickly jumped up and headed down the stairs. As Mary was brought into the nursery, word had spread, even at nap time, and there was now quite a following. Each mother and brother and sister was wanting a glimpse of their newest family member. As the kids passed her around and smiled with excitement, I began to cry. I love to see the love in the room. I just picture God smiling on these scenes of community. These glimpses of heaven that he allows us to have. I hear him in the laughter and see him in their looks.
Tonight during prayer time, Mary was brought to the center. They danced and sang welcome songs to her. They prayed for her and touched her. They loved on her soul. Mary, not knowing what all the noise was about, simply cried. I am sure she was a little confused. I believe we act the same way when we are adopted in God’s family. Why all the hoopla over a special needs child like me? God, why the party? The Answer is always LOVE! Jesus says this one who was lost is now found and there will be great rejoicing back home in Heaven. Mary is home and there is great rejoicing! I pray she grows up and experiences another homecoming, one far greater and filled with even more love. However on a day like today it’s good to get this glimpse. Thank you God!
May you choose2B a storyteller today through your actions and your life!

God's math

I have always liked math. It was my favorite subject in school. I like to do it in my head and was never one for writing it down. Truthfully, that is probably true with most things in my life. Anyway, The Covering seems to be full of math.
Last night, we picked up Jessie as she arrived for a 6 month stay here. So we have added to the number of people staying and the number of women living here has multiplied by two. Needless to say things have been fine staying in the house with Cari. We have gotten along great and I think the biggest argument we have had while being alone for 3 weeks has been whose turn it was to pray at dinner or who would lead worship on Sunday morning. I already know Jessie and I have been excited to have her arrive. Since, we are all pretty laid back I am not worried about the living arrangements, and don’t worry I have been keeping my room clean. Well, at least Abdul lays my clothes in order after he washes them. I can only hope that carries over when I arrive back home – right Mom? Two things are for sure with Jessie being here and being a talker, the amount of sleep I get will be subtracted from since I will stay up and talk, and the amount of love the kids receive will multiply.
When I arrived here a month ago we had just moved into the new center. Many of you know that when you make a move it means repairs have to be made. The number of projects to complete before the center becomes fully set continues to decrease. Some of those projects are waiting on money, but we continue to be able to subtract them from our list. Even today I hope to subtract storage for the cooks, shelves for the teachers, storage for Daniel, and lighting to the kitchen.
Addition is my favorite thing though. Adding to the smiles on the kids faces, adding new krio phrases to my vocabulary, adding stories of God’s provision in our times of need, and adding dreams to formerly dreamless lives. Most of all, I like watching the number of Christ followers increase. I think back to the early church in Acts where it says that numbers were added daily. As I watch these children I am excited to know that same type of spirit dwells here. To see those who, until earlier this year, were raised Muslim sing song after song of praise to God.
Another thing that pleases me is that you cannot find any division here, only the multiplication of dreams, hopes, love, and joy. May you choose2B apart of God’s eternal math problem today, may you choose2 add to someone’s life, and may you choose2 subtract their pain.

Real

Sometimes, I feel like I live in The Matrix, as though my life isn’t real. I feel like I am living in a dream. I have always thought there was something different out there, something worse, something better. Is there really that much poverty going on in the world? Is God’s love so far beyond me that I can’t even come close to understanding it? I feel as though I sit in between those two thoughts, and today they come closer and closer.
People like to tell me I’m real, to a fault most times. I hope that’s true, not the fault part. I am positive that I am flawed. I experience it firsthand every day. I mess up! Those of you who know me are probably saying, “Tell us something new.” Well, I say this because I am doing these discipleship studies with the boys at the center. Later today I will talk about being holy or set apart. This always bothers me, even when I speak to my youth about it. I don’t understand God. It makes me laugh. Why God chooses to use the flawed people, I don’t know? I take solace in the fact that he knew what the disciples were before he let them take control too. I try to be Holy. I try to do what is right. I just fail so often. But God encourages me to do better. So I try! He loves me and supports me. And so I try again! I don’t like to fail, so, mistakes drive me to the point of being physically sick. I try to focus on Jesus and remember to keep plugging away. He is the example that I want to strive for, and when I am teaching, he is the teacher I want to be like.
Sunday, I spoke to the boys about being servant leaders, forgiveness, and the first shall be last. It was funny to watch their faces as the words were interpreted to them. Their lives are tuff. Their pasts are painful. Their hurts are real. They make real mistakes. They do dumb things. They are flawed just like me. Each hour provides an opportunity to show them what God wants from us. I try! I teach! I pray! I SMILE – as I watch all the older boys wait at the end of the line this week to get their food and when they say sorry as they knock others down. I encourage as I see them fail. I remember that I do too! When the gospel is new to people, sharing it can feel like real ministry. So here we are trying, learning, failing, encouraging, receiving, and trying again. I appreciate the realness I see in them.
I want them to know that God’s love is even greater than they can comprehend as well. I want them to know that it is REAL! Each day is full of love. Yes, it comes in all different forms. It comes from many of you reading this now through your prayers and your sponsorship. Those gifts help meet their physical needs and bring them spiritual support. They hear it when you skype them and smile and laugh. It’s in their care givers who wake them two or three times a night so they won’t wet the bed. The hours they sit and fix their hair. The times they pick them up when they fall. It’s in the cooks who prepare their 3 meals every day. It’s in the laundresses who wash their clothes and clean up after them. It’s in the nurse who puts ointment on boo boos. It’s in the administrative staff, Quammi, Osseh, and Mohammed, who are on the go all over town. It’s in the security who make sure they are protected. It’s in Cari who tirelessly gives of herself to be here and make sure everything runs. It’s in the board of directors who execute decisions to benefit each and every child. It’s in Erica and Tina who make it possible for these children to feel it all. It’s in God because it is who He is.
Each day here is real. Poverty is all around us, but God’s love is too. This center is set apart because it acknowledges that. As these precious children are provided the opportunity to learn from us all, may we be real. Acknowledging our humanness, but striving for God’s holiness. I appreciate your prayers as I work toward that too. May you choose 2B real today and may you encourage others in their pursuit of holiness.

Half way to what?

Today marks the middle of my time here. As I write I am sitting in Cari’s office listening to the rain hit the concrete as it runs off the roof. I can hear the preschool class that has been moved downstairs repeat their numbers over and over. It’s humid in the office, but I’m happy. I am a little tired, maybe, but that is true every morning. Cari is back at the guesthouse sick. Daniel has the day off. So, it’s just me today. It's also the first day of circumcisions, but I will write about that later. 3 weeks ago, I would not have known what that meant to be in charge. If I did, it might have scared me, but not anymore. Each day becomes more normal. I feel as though I belong, minus the fact that I still don’t speak Krio. Each day I watch, I listen, and I learn. Although some days I am not sure what I just saw, what I just heard, or if I learned anything.
Mostly, I wait. I wait for the kids to have a break from school so I can love on them. I wait for school to be out so I can eat with them. I wait for 1:35, so I can make the hike up the hill to the school were the others are to pick them up. I wait for nap time to be over so I can watch them stumble around from a good sleep in their own beds, under their own roof, in their own house. I wait for prayer time to hear them lift thanks to God. I wait for the sun to go down from the balcony. I wait for my bedtime. If I go to bed too early I will be up in the middle of the night. I wait to come back, so I can start raising money for our needs. I wait on God. I wait for His answer to my question “Is this where you want me?” I WAIT!
As I hear Quami arrive, I think about the things that have become familiar; the honking of the horn to let security know to open the gate, the questions about “how de hand?” the screams of delight when the bell rings, the older kids studying during their free time, the kids yelling “Uncle! Uncle!” every time I walk in a room, the fact that my body is a jungle gym when it’s play time, the smiles from the nursery kids when I come in and poke their bellies, the hands that randomly slide into mine, and the stares up at me from precious faces.
Now the preschoolers are repeating “Jesus turned water into wine.” I think we just said it for the 30th time in a row. It makes me wonder what I have given them. Each day I hear “Thank you Uncle” after the meals and I say “I don’t have anything to do with it. Thank God.” I have given things that physically will be here after I leave. However, will they realize what I want to leave the most. Will the boys and girls who I have sat with and answered questions with remember what I have told them about God? Will they understand that the love I pour out comes from my love for God? Will they understand God has helped provide all they have? Will they grasp the depth of God’s love for them.
It will be a miracle if they do. It’s a miracle when I do, because God’s love is beyond my comprehension. It’s a miracle that some of them are walking and talking. It’s a miracle that some of them are here. It’s a miracle what this place is doing. Can we expect Jesus to continue doing miracles? I think so. He is in the miracle business. I hear the kids reminding me for the 50th time now.

LOVE

In the 11th chapter of John there is a story about Jesus raising Lazarus to life. I believe if you asked anybody they would consider this a miracle. I like miracles! I like looking for them. Sometimes, I find myself disappointed. Other times I am overjoyed to hear of someone’s miracle. Each day at The Covering, I am surrounded by miracles. I find myself thinking back to the intake photos for most of the kids. I think about what they looked like and where they are coming from, the stories behind their eyes. Each day the darkness fades more and more from each one of them.
I like to look people in the eye when I am listening. I found out this week it is a sign of disrespect here. I was talking with Sam and he wanted to know why I stare in His eyes. I am always looking. Looking for what isn’t on the outside. Looking for what is fading. I am looking for the miracles in their lives, and I find Jesus. I find hope. I find LOVE.
Sunday, after Cari had finished her message and worship was over, we again invited the kids who wanted to talk more to stay. This week our crowd was bigger. You never know where the conversation may go after the initial discussion is finished. On this day it did go somewhere deep, somewhere behind those eyes. Safienatu mention that she worries about bad things happening. We quickly asked everyone else is they felt the same way knowing their pasts. As we talked, more and more of them opened up about their fears and how could they overcome them. I was so excited to see these children open themselves up and let Cari and I in. However, I believe it was God who was breaking down the barriers on this day. As we talked through ways they could help each other, help themselves, and allow God to help, you could see them relax. We decided to pray for each person in the circle. They immediately jumped in and allowed everyone to pray and lay hands on them. God’s power and healing could be felt. The little miracles that call me Uncle every day, were receiving their own miracle as God removes the darkness from their eyes. I am so thankful to be part of it.
Oh you thought that was it too, didn’t you? Well, Sunday wasn’t over. One of my favorite things is when the kids all gather together and dance. Sam usually leads this. The kids form a large circle and Sam will call one child into the middle who will then dance. The beats are usually provided by Amidu, Big Dauda, Fallua, Joseph, or Abdul. Sunday we danced because was on hour 13 of 16 straight hours of rain. First, I love how this builds self-confidence in them. Can you imagine 80 American kids just calling each other out to dance in front of their peers? Second, I love the family atmosphere. The kids all clap, cheer, encourage, support, and love on each one who is in the circle while they are there and after they are done.

Sunday, one of our miracles struck me. In that same story in John, Jesus says in verse 40 “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” Maybe, well OK sometimes, I just don’t believe. In I John 4:8 it states that God is LOVE! So love can bring about miracles. Clearly it was shoved in my face Sunday. Who was brought into the circle first and second you ask? Lucy and Moses were the first to be cheered on. Each one was lovingly carried in their chair to the center of the circle as everyone cheered. Moses and Lucy are both children with special needs. We all know that is something to overcome anywhere, but in Sierra Leone, it is even worse. I watched as Moses drooled! Then I watched Lucy concentrating, as all the other girls do, on the motions she made with her hands and her head. The older girls got real excited and laughed with pleasure. Each day I watch the girls pop into the nursery to love on these two. Lucy gets better every day. Can God, I mean LOVE, perform a miracle in her life? As the next to last beat was laid down and everyone was invited to dance, there was one more dance to be had. Isatu picked Lucy out of her chair and helped her walk to the middle for one more dance, this time on her feet. With the love of Isatu’s hands holding her, and the encouragement of the other girls, Lucy shook it for God!
It is nice to know that miracles are around us all the time. And thanks to the LOVE, I mean God, in those who work with The Raining Season and those living at The Covering there are many more to come. May you choose2 believe that you will see the glory of God in the miracles around you today.

Championship Game

I know some of you back home have been waiting to hear the results of the final game. So here goes my attempt to bring you what happened.
As soon as nap time was over the stands began to fill up. Aunty Lori FC and Aunty Tina FC received their jerseys, were introduced to the crowd, gathered for the pregame pictures, and then stood at attention as everyone sang the national anthem. Albert, coach of ALFC, gathered his team together for some last minute instructions and a team prayer. As the honorary referee, I was a little nervous after hearing we would be playing 35 minute halves. 35 minutes is a long time to keep these kids from hurting each other. Besides determining what is a foul and what is not is really hard here, but I had my cards ready and off we went. It didn’t take long for ATFC to get on top. A shot from long range snuck under Sori in goal and it was 1-0. The crowd stormed the field and it took awhile for the ref to regain control. Before you could blink, ATFC had put another in this time on a rebound. At the 26 minute mark the lead grew to 3-0 for ATFC on a goal by Ibrahim Shareef. However, just before halftime ALTC put one on the board to make it 3-1 at the break. As the coaches gathered their teams it began to rain. The rain made for a slippery and sloppy second half. 5 minutes in Tina FC looked to have sealed the game on another goal from Shareef. 30 seconds later, Sawaju scored to make it 4-2. The game stayed this way until the last 5 minutes when a goal by ALFC was controversially disallowed by the referee for being too high. The final whistle blew with Aunty Tina FC taking home the trophy. Sawaju was named most valuable player for the entire tournament. There were also no cards issued during the final game, I am happy to say.

A Student

It’s now been two weeks since I arrived in Sierra Leone. So, I thought I would fill you in on some things I have learned.
The rainy season means it rains, even if it is coming to an end. 2. Anything that can collect moisture will be damp, clothes, sheets, skin, etc. 3. It is hot here even if you see half the people bundled up in full winter jackets every day. 4. I am white. 5. I will be called white man every time I am in public at the market and I will drive up the prices. 6. I do not like shopping at the market. Too many people! 7. I really like socks. I did not know this before, but they are the controlling factor to good days and bad days. 8. Socks take a long time to dry when it rains every day! 9. There is no since of time here. People move at their own speed, slow. I have put up clocks around the center in hopes of improving our time management. 10. I love the breeze. I wish it would blow more. 11. The sunset is incredible every night! 12. Showering with a bucket and a cup isn’t that bad. 13. Abdul’s banana bread is amazing! 14. The fruit here is delicious. 15. Peacocks are not just loud at the zoo. They are loud if your neighbor has them too. 16. It’s not considered a meal unless you have rice. 17. Water that comes in plastic bags, creates more trash. 18. Trash is everywhere! 19. Taking a picture and showing them is a good way to break the ice. 20. No matter how you feel or how you slept the answer is always “fine!” 21. I can make a room full of women laugh at me no matter what continent! The caregivers love that. 22. Electricity comes and goes. Sierra Leone just got it last year, and there is no guarantee it will be on. Even if it is on there is no telling whether the switch will work either. 23. Naptime every afternoon at the center is wonderful. I wanna take them, and it gives us old folks a time to breathe. 24. Pastor Daniel is amazing with our kids! 25. Mohammed does look like Eddie George. 26. I am not as bad as I thought at reading books to kids. Or at least they keep bringing them to me and asking me to read to them. 27. I am going to be good at jumping rope by the time I leave. 28. I still have a little game on the soccer field. 29. Prayer time at night is my favorite time. 30. It apparently is a requirement to know how to play the jimbay. 31. I do not have as much rhythm as I thought. 32. I enjoy learning new songs and teaching new songs. 33. I love it when they teach me a song and I know it or when I teach them and they know it. 34. Lucy makes me smile. She is aware of when people are speaking to her and tries her best to speak back. 35. I never liked nurseries until now. 36 It is OK to leave each day with spit and slobber all over your shirt from the little ones. 37. The kids are excited about learning. 38. God’s spirit shines through each of the kids in their smiles, laughs, hugs, and tears. 39. God is using me in ways I didn’t expect. 40. God is good all the time. I feel His presence when I wake up and when I go to sleep. I notice Him when I am happy and when I am frustrated I hear Him laughing at me. 41. I am so thankful for the opportunity to come and learn. I pray God will continue to use TRS, The Covering, and all those I meet to teach me more and more about Him, His Love for all people, His love for me, and how we can change the life of the orphan!

Can I see the kids menu?

Many times when I take my youth out to eat you can hear that question. I can promise you, you won’t hear it here. If you have been following, you will have read that I will enjoy eating with the kids and staff on most days. They love watching me eat and looking for my reaction. However, I can’t eat that much! The first day they offered me food to try I asked for A LITTLE or SMALL SMALL. I was doing all I could to eat all they put in my bowl. Not because it taste bad, because I like it a lot, but it was a healthy portion.
Eating at the guesthouse has been interesting as well. Abdul is fixing Cari and I dinner each night. I have been trying to retrain my eyes for eating. Although, it may not look appetizing, the food has been great. I can promise you that whatever is fixed for us it will include lots of onions and everything else will also be mixed in it together instead of being separated. As someone who doesn’t like for my food to get together on my plate, it is an adjustment to already see all the other veggies and additives having a party together in the same bowl.
The other day in town I did see my first overweight child. He had a school uniform on so I figure his family is well to do. It may seem strange that they eat so much and don’t get over weight. Granted they are ten times more active than the typical American and we aren’t sitting around playing our video games either. Another thing that may help them is they drink so little. I am doing all I can to stay hydrated. I drink and drink and just sweat it out all day long. My pee still looks like mellow yellow but I am trying Mom! The kids here seem fine without drinking. It is my hope then that I will come home with the African male look, you know, the six pack and all. Just let all the single ladies know it’s coming I can feel it.
So back to the food thing. We have found it is probably what they want the most each day. It’s what they think about. They are hungry! My hope is that I can work with them to change the physical hunger into a spiritual one. Tomorrow I will start my first discipleship class with the older guys. I am anxious to see what comes of it. They have been given a lot of the sweets of the faith, the stuff that really tastes good. I want to give them some protein now, some stuff that will help them grow. I pray God uses me as a vessel for Him. I pray these kids will feast on God’s word. Finally I pray that they will continue to choose 2B hungry forever!

Andrew, you the new carpenter?

That was the question that Osseh asked me this morning. Maybe it was a fair question based on my day. My day was mainly spent doing two things, repairing desks and moving them up to the rooms for class and fixing all the beds. The desk work was all done by me. The bed work was really Pastor Daniel’s thing. So, I help him with it, since we have one hammer, and he really wanted me to help him finish today. So as I left today, I was tired from working and moving the 30 or so bunk beds and getting them secured and ready for their bed nets. While the kids were taking their afternoon nap, Cari and I talked about some things we want to work on. That really is about it, a lot of work and not a lot of detail for a change. Check ya later.

School starts

Today was the first day back to school for the kids. I got to the center just in time to walk the kids who go to school outside the center with Pastor Daniel and Mohammed. Walk is a relative term. Hike would be a better one. It is probably about a mile with half of it uphill. Can’t say I’m looking forward to making that one several times a week. The views at the top of Juba Hill are excellent though. We met the principal and got the uniforms for most of them. Some didn’t fit and they forgot to make one. When we got back to the center it was time for a staff meeting. That meant Sam and I were entertainment for the kids while the meeting went on. Sam started to tell them stories. It was in Krio so I don’t know what it was about, but I heard Papa God a lot. It is amazing to watch Sam lead. All the kids just gathered around, were quiet (an amazing feat), and just listen to him intently. I was interrupted as the electrician arrived to look at the problems with the lights. I’m not sure if it is wiring or just that we need bulbs. So now that we have an estimate, I will try to fix it and get back to them if we need help. Soon they started school upstairs and I waited for the staff to get out of their meeting.
Next it was time for our exciting trip to town. Cari, Mohammed, Terresa and I took the seven kids Sam, Fallah, Dauda, Betty, Fatmata, Asatu, and Rugiatu to get stuff they need for school. We walked from the center to the closest market in Lumley. After arguing with several vendors we were able to get bags for a couple of them. Next we jumped in a van and headed to downtown Freetown. Our van got a flat on the way. While we were out waiting on the side of the road for him to fix the tire, I forgot and leaned on the van……….the driver is alright, it just slipped off the jack and nobody knew why. I didn’t offer a reason either (that’s a secret). We found the shoe alley and proceeded to get shoes for all but two. Our adventures carried us all over town. By the time we were done we were panty shopping. Yeah, that was not on the list of things I thought I would be doing in Freetown, much less in the market here. After 4 hours of shopping we caught a poda and headed back. I think everybody was wiped out. One of my jobs is to evaluate the staff while I am here, something else they don’t know. It was great to see how Mohammed protected the kids all the time. He would stand out in the road (not a smart thing to do) and herd them. Terresa was very caring for their needs as well. It’s always good when you can feel good about who watches them all the time. Dinner tonight was mushroom, corn, and pepperoni pizza. Yeah they were all on the pizza.
It was interesting to watch these kids all day. I watched how they behaved when we walked the streets and how their eyes got big as we went through town. Cari and I have been talking about getting them out of the center a little more. I like the idea. They need more stories of good things outside The Covering. I hope we get the chance to provide that. It’s fun watching kids be kids!

Tired

Apologies to anyone who has a hang up on grammer, cuz I don't there will be no proof reading here.

Oh, today did not start the way I wanted. I did not sleep at all last night due to several things, but mostly because my mind would not slow down. I was asked to move from upstairs with the air conditioning and the curtains, to the downstairs bedroom which is the only bedroom in the house with no curtains, no overhead fan, and no AC. Needless to say, my sheets are always wet from the humidity and the security guards like to scare the crap out of me by speaking to me when making the rounds in the middle of the night. Most of these things do not bother me and won’t during the course of the trip, but last night they did.
All complaining aside, I headed over for worship with the kiddos this morning. Asatu and Betty lead worship. Cari gave the message on the feeding of the five thousand. The kids were very attentive today, which is great of those of us who are trying to keep them quiet. We ended with a time of prayer. Cari invited any of the kids who wanted to ask questions or learn more about the story to stay. Asatu, Safi, Aminata, Rugiatu, Fatmata, Albert, Sam, Fallah, Joseph, Betty, and two other boys I can’t remember right now stayed so we could talk with them. We discussed how Jesus did this, how God wants to use them to do great things just like the disciples, and how can we make our own gifts multiply. We also talked about the parable of the lost sheep and how God want s to change us on the inside more than the outside. As you can tell we had some serious discussion. After that I sang for them and then they returned the favor by teaching us a song. *Side note – I absolutely love walking around the center during the day and hearing the kids sing songs of praise all day. Sometimes they do it in groups and other times they are just singing by themselves*
Then it was time for some outdoor fun. I worked with Abdul on his soccer juggling. The guys listen to me due to my soccer skills and not just about sports. It’s an advantage I have to wow them. I got a chance to sit down with Ibrahim today. My youth sponsor him. He likes to stay in the back and not stir up trouble. We sat and worked on math problems. Peter became my extra limb today. Always hanging on me or sitting in my lap if I sat. Then we went upstairs to help get lunch ready. Mabinty and Katiatu washed dishes while Joseph and I got the water ready. Another fun thing for the kids to try today was my lemonade. Don’t think anyone wanted a second drink, but their faces sure were funny.
After lunch, I went back to the guesthouse to take a nap. Sweet sleep. I hopped back over to the center for some more time later. *Side Note – today may have been the prettiest and hottest day since I arrived. It rained all last night and today has not really had any clouds* I made my rounds, stopping by to smile at Lucy and Moses as I do every time I arrive. If you are having a bad day the going to see Lucy is the thing to do. Many of you know her story, but for those who don’t, TRS has been fighting to get this precious special needs child in our care for a long time. We just gained custody last week. She is always smiling. As I was making my way around I saw one of the caregivers, Ischa, was sitting alone in the corner looking very sad for her. So, I went over to check on her. I asked if she was ok and she did the usual American thing and said yes, so I did my typical youth minister stuff when I know something is wrong and I asked if she was really ok. She said no, but I could tell she didn’t want to talk so I let her know she could come get me if she needed. I then went to speak to the cooks and Aminata. After yesterday, Aminata was very quick to talk to me all day. While we were talking, one of the boys came and got me and told me Auntie needed me. My assumption was Cari, but it was Ischa who was waiting to talk to me. She is the oldest sibling. Her Father is very sick and dying and they have come to get money to pay for his death. I let her tell me the story and then I prayed with her. She started sobbing. In that moment it was very sad and very pleasing to know that the staff could now turn to me for things of this sort. I sat with her for a while and then came back to the guesthouse. It’s Sunday night which means me and Cari have to come up with food for ourselves. Tonight we are having some of Abdul’s leftovers. Hope they are as good as they were the first time!

Girl day Yay!

I'm going to change up the blog, as now that I have more time to write, people would like to know what is going on and not my thoughts on things. Don't worry I will still write the occasional thought.

So today started out kinda slow. Cari hasn't felt good all day, so she slept in. I made it over to the center at about 10:30. When I got there the kids were in Bible study. After Bible study was over I gave hugs, said "How de body?" to the staff, I went out to play with the guys. I threw the frisbee with Abdul and big Dauda for like 30 minutes. I taught themsome trick throws and catches. They thought that was cool. It is the most I have seen Dauda smile since I got here. Later I went up to fix the cubbies that the girls keep breaking and putting the ones for the nursery together. After I finished I stopped by the older girls room. We agreed I would teach them English if they would work on my Krio. After laughing for a little bit Cari showed up looking for the keys that we realized I had now lost. So both girls room went on a search party for it. Finally it was found and all sanity was restored after Cari gave them a treat for finding it. Well, then all the boys wanted a treat because they are boys. I taught the younger girls how to fix the cubbies. Then I was able to sit with one of the care workers, Bintu, and one of the teen mothers, Aminata. I have been wanting to talk with the teen mothers and the older girls but I had not found the right time as of yet. Today was the right time though. We talked for about an hour and a half about marriage, why I don’t have a wife, how I should just go down to the beach and get one, how a man should treat a woman, divorce, America, politics, our neighbor the former president, food, if I was coming back my new wife would have to come, things I needed to do around the center, and just some stuff. It was a great time and I was real happy to have a chance to talk with Aminata. She did tell me that I should go home and marry her sister Emily since I thought she was pretty. Emily is adopted and lives with one of the founders of TRS, Tina. I told her she was too young. I then got all the water ready for lunch and ate with the kids. They think it is the funniest thing to see me eat with them. They just stop and stare and laugh. So I asked “Why de laugh?” Sam told me it is because everybody is so surprised to see me eat with them.
I went back to the guest house for a break *SIDE NOTE - The guest house and the center are separated by the previous president of Sierra Leone’s house. You walk 200 yards down hill to the main road. One block around the president’s house and back up 200 yards. And I mean uphill :) * When I came back this afternoon a soccer tournament had started. 4 teams were involved Team Erica FC, Team Lori FC, Team Tina FC, and Team Cari FC. This was serious stuff too, referees, cards, half time, and even a crowd! The championship game will be played next Saturday. While I was watching Betty and Rugiatu came over to talk to me. Betty seems to be happier and is laughing and talking and leading a little more now. They wanted me to sing worship songs with them. So I taught them some and we sang ones we all knew. We discussed what are favorite foods and colors were. We talked about school and what they learn. We wondered why I was so harry. In general we just enjoyed laughing and sitting together. I have started to work with Rugi and she doesn’t realize it, but those who were here on the team will know why. I have felt since I walked in the first day that I was supposed to help her. So I left really happy. A day to hang with the girls. Needless to say, while all this was going on the others were around too. Yay for girl day!

Water

Water is a pretty important thing around here. Not that it isn’t at home, but it isn’t really something we think about. We don’t think about whether water will come out when you turn the sink on. We don’t think about whether you can drink it or not. We don’t think about if we are running out either. And that is what makes some of life different here. I don’t know that that is a bad thing.
As I am writing it is beginning to rain again. I believe that makes 6 of the 9 days here it has rained at some point. During this season rain is also just a part of your day. Life goes on unless you get one of the ones you can’t see through or the road washes out from the run off. When the rain starts, you just grab your bucket and collect it. It beats walking to go get it somewhere. I guess that is a part of life here too. You always see people gathering the water.
Jesus talked a lot about water. It was very important in His time too. People had to spend time gathering their water. They did so because it was essential to life. It still is. Jesus refers to himself as the living water. Letting others know He is essential to life. Without Him, we all dry up and die. Here, searching for, gathering, and bringing the living water in is done daily. It is in their speech, their music, and their thoughts. They are thankful to have God in all they do and they want more of Him. However, at home, we don’t have to try to get our water. If our water stopped coming to us, would we even know where or how to get it. Do we seek God out in our lives every day and bring Him home with us.
Each day as I walk down the hill from the guesthouse to go to the center, I pass kids collecting water. They take apart the water lines that run to the house and fill their jugs up. This is how they get their water. We asked, “Don’t you stop them? They are taking your water.” They simply say no. They are poor. Everyone knows it is being done, all day every day in fact, and they need it too. Can you imagine someone tapping into your water line at home and getting the water they need from you. Here they share the water that is essential to life. They share their faith so others may know how to live. They share their water. When was the last time you gave someone a drink of the water you have? When was the last time you shared with the poor. Most important of all, when was the last time you thought about the water that brings you life?

Speechless

It is very hard to put into words what has happened the last three days. It’s hard to say that you choose 2B speechless, but I def have been. Worship on Sunday morning with the kids was unbelievable. I cried many tears, but tears of Joy as I watched a roomful of children praising God for what he had done for them. Just the pure passion and joy in the room was intoxicating. Even as good as worship was on Sunday, prayer time before bed each night is even more powerful. We praise God through song, dance, and prayer. I find myself weeping most nights, as I am unable to reach the same level of passion. I am reminded of the quote “In America you believe in God. In Africa we depend on God.” I continue to find myself speechless when worshiping with the kids.
The Bible says that when we get to heaven we will find ourselves praising God continuously around His throne. I feel as though I am getting a clearer picture of what heaven looks like each day. I use to think I would like to talk to Jesus and ask him some questions about things, but now I’m pretty sure the whole worship all the time thing will be just fine by me(as if it has anything to do with me). I am grateful for what I have already learned about myself from the kids. I am grateful for the example of worship they are for me. Finally, I will choose 2B speechless many more times.

Amazed

I don’t really know how to put everything into words for the first three days. Getting here was a trip. From long flights, to long layovers, a day in Senegal that included 2 fights, a stolen bag, and Andrew’s French, no helicopter, long boat rides, and no electricity, water, or internet, it was pretty easy.
But once in Sierra Leone, things have been incredible. The country is beautiful. It has been hot and muggy as all get out. I’m not sure what the weather channel has been measuring but it hasn’t been our temperature. The humidity is 99% and when it gets to 100 it rains. Then we start over again. The new buildings are great. The guest house is wonderful with tons of space. The Covering itself is still transforming since the move was started on Monday. Not everything is set up but the kids like that they have room. The views are beautiful but the kids are even more breath taking.
This morning we had our welcome ceremony. The kids were all dressed in their Firefleyes outfits and met us at the main road to walk us up. After all the hugs, they sang to us, prayed for us, introduced the staff, and welcomed us. Listening to them pray, makes me think about how little we give credit to God for. When was the last time you thanked God that you can go to the grocery store? We returned the favor with horrible dancing and singing. Afterwards we had the kids take us around the Covering on a tour. Each one of us has been assigned 8 kids to keep up with and be close to for the week instead of trying to get to know everybody. The other team members have the kids they sponsor or requested and I have just picked up some of the others, because I have 6 weeks versus one.
This afternoon I was able to enjoy a wonderful conversation about the future of TRS. I am amazed when I get a chance to be partnered with such wonderful people. We went back to the center to give a new outfit to all the kids for church tomorrow. Can’t wait! I also got to play a little soccer. Makes me wanna coach, so much talent. The 8 kids I have, have been hanging on “Uncle Andrew” all day. They also find it fun to squeeze his hand where it hurts. The love they have for us has amazed me as well.
Sunset tonight was, yeah you guessed it, amazing as was our dinner. Tonight has been story swapping and looking at each other’s pictures. I love the fact that I am not just here for a short time. The relationships that I will have the opportunity to develop will be great. They asked if I wanted to go and preach at a local church while I am here. I told them to let me think about it. God has left me sweaty, smiling, and speechless. And it’s just the 1st day here! Choosing 2B amazed!

Healed

Well, maybe you should have seen this coming. Some of you know I messed my hands up on Saturday during a bike ride. Basically I have pulled all the skin off of the pad on my left hand. Since, it is an open wound there was question about whether I could leave for Africa today or not. Well as I have spent the last couple of days cleaning and treating my hand, I have prayed 2B healed.
In my prayer and in my preparation for the trip I was reminded of the blind man in Mark 8:22-26. Jesus takes the man away from everyone and heals his eyes. Next, Jesus laid his hands on him again and scripture says he saw everything clearly. Many people has argued why Jesus would need to try twice to heal someone, but others argue that Jesus restored his physical sight and then gave him real eyes to see with, His eyes! My prayer is that God would physically heal me, but I also want him to heal the broken, messed up, distorted, ugly, human weaknesses that I have.
The good news is my hand continues to get better fast (and I have only hit it about 50 times). We will see how god heals my soul! May we all choose 2B healed!

Healed

Invisible

It may seem like an interesting thing to choose2B, but it seems really appropriate. It is now less than a week before I head over to Sierra Leone for 6 weeks. As I have had time to think about my assignment, I have found myself really asking some questions similar to those asked by others in the Bible. Why me? Why would God wanna use me to share with others what it looks like to serve others and how to live a life of service to others. I wish I could claim that my life is about others, but I live it as though it is about me most of the time. I have taken comfort in the fact that God seemed to make choices that were crazy to us here on earth, but they worked out in the end. Let's hope he knows what he's doing by sending this idiot over to teach.

I have been working through the Gospel of Mark in recent days and was caught thinking about how Jesus started His ministry. In chapter one verses 21-28 is the story of Jesus driving out an evil spirit. Jesus orders the spirit to be quiet when it says it knows who he is. Versus 32-34 talk about how the people brought to him all who were sick and possessed and he healed them. It ends by adding that He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Verses 40-45 tell the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy and asking him to not share it with anyone.

Jesus spends much of His early ministry trying to deflect attention. In verse 28, the NRSV says that Jesus' fame spread throughout the region. I believe our Savior knew that the praise of men could become a problem. That people would look more to His fame than His mission. Jesus sought 2B invisible so that others could see the love he had for the Father and for others. The morning after Jesus has healed many Simon comes to him in verse 37 and says "Everyone is looking for you." Jesus' response is simply "Let's go somewhere else. I want to go to the nearby towns. I must preach there also. That is why I have come." Jesus is focused on the mission and so the other stuff doesn't matter and is a hindrance to the purpose.

Could it be that God has rarely chosen to use the famous or those we might choose because we might miss His power? We might become focused upon their fame and think it has to do with them. Could it be that God is using me because nobody knows me, that I don't want or need the praise of men. I'm sure He has His reasons and I may never know them, but until then I will choose2B invisible so God can be seen and not me. Thank you Jesus for being the example of humbleness so others would see through you and find the Father. May we all choose2B invisible!

Choosing 2B

Well, I don't consider my life to be all that fascinating. Although, when I have chosen to watch reality TV, I believe my life is more interesting than theirs. However, this is not meant to be a blog about my life. It is meant for all of us, the writer and the readers, to decide what we will choose 2B. So, many times during the day we are faced with that very question, whether we are aware of it or not. Who am I going to be? What am I going to do? What choices will I make?

Overall, I am choosing 2B a Jesus follower. I am by no means perfect and I don't always get it right. However, it is what I am choosing to do, TO FOLLOW! I am not sure where that will take me or what it will require of me to do, but I have chosen.

This last week, I got to chose 2B LIGHT and LOVE, as I worked with a group of Asian refugees here in Nashville. Playing with them, teaching reading skills, working on math problems, creating art, and laughing till it hurt were the choices we made everyday. I thank God that he allows me the opportunity to serve with him in making others lives better. All along, he is transforming me into the follower he wants. As I watched the younger children copy their older siblings, I hope I can live the same way, coping someone else.

What will you choose 2B this week?