By His Strength

Well--I have officially been in Africa for over 5 weeks--that just seems beyond crazy to me! It is really beginning to feel like real life-which is great and a little scary at the same time. It has truly been an amazing and challenging week. I went to the orphanage and school for the first time last week--it was an experience that really can't be described in words. I had to depend on the strength of the Holy Spirit otherwise I would have fallen apart. Seeing those sweet kids faces at the orphanage was heartwarming, but saddening at the same. Knowing that they have a disease that they did nothing to get and that their life will be cut short. I held a 9 year old boy for the first two hours we were there. He weighed a little over 20 pounds--He is so sick and in so much pain. It was such a privilege to be able to give him some love and attention, but more than that he blessed my heart so much. It was difficult to see, but it is truly in moments like that the Lord reminds me that He is sovereign. Often times I don't understand the ways He works, but that is exactly why He is God and I am not. He is teaching me to find rest and peace in His Sovereignty--to truly accept it and be content in it. We live in such a fallen world and it is our responsibility as believers to shine the light of Christ everywhere we go and in everything we do.

The school was such a fun experience. Dawn and I helped out with the grade 1 and 2 classes--there are about 60 kids and 1 teacher. It was crazy to say the least! It was so fun just to be able to interact with these children and just play with them! The Lord is continuing to open my eyes to His plan for my life and where He wants me to be serving--He is showing me more and more everyday that as believers He has such a huge calling on our lives--we are called to serve the people around us--Missions is not just a trip or a job--but a lifestyle that the Lord has called us all to!

Please continue to be in prayer for these outreach opportunities the Lord has given us--Pray for outreach in our complex, we are having a game night tonight so pray that it would help us continue to build relationships! Pray that I would be open to where the Lord wants me to serve and in what ways! I love all of you so very much! It means so much to me that you read this and that you are praying for me! Please continue!!