CRAZINESS.

  Well, its two weeks and counting.  Soon I will be home. I can’t even believe it. I keep telling myself that its almost over, but my heart refuses to believe it.  This past week has been pretty difficult for me for a couple different reasons. I’ll do my best to put it all into words for you.
   First, I am totally exhausted.  My heart is just ready to rest. My body is ready to rest.  I just need some down time.  As it gets closer to the end, the more I have to do here. The more I have to fit in.  On top of that, I am preparing and getting organized for my Philippines trip in July, and we are also making preparations for all that participants for the upcoming year here in Africa. I know it is all good stuff, just a lot on my plate.  I am just looking forward to having some good solid alone time.
   Secondly, my Spirit has been fighting my decision to come back here.  I know its the right thing, but its something that my flesh wants to fight. I feel like I SHOULD be doing something different.  So this week I have felt a lot like Gideon. You know in Judges where God is calling him to fight a MASSIVE army and He asks God a couple of times for confirmation.  He asks God to dew the entire ground minus the fleece he sets out in front of his tent.  So God does it.  But it wasn’t enough, so the next night Gideon switches it up on God and asks him to do the reverse.  And God does it again.  I love that God doesn’t get frustrated with Him, but just continues to show Himself and confirms His call for Gideon.  So, back to my life. This week I have been fighting what I’ve been called to but asking God to confirm my decision.  Each day I would ask, each day he would confirm.  Whether through His Word, through circumstances, or through spoken word from my teammates and mentors, He continues to show Himself faithful in my life and confirms His call.  Its a bitter sweet.  Its bitter because I feel like I should be out doing a “real” job, but sweet because I know I am walking to where God wants me for this season.  I hope this all makes sense.
   Lastly, I feel like as time is supposed to be closing here, God continues to open up new ministry opportunities here and ways for me to meet the needs of people here (probably another good confirmation for me coming back!).  This week we have been given the opportunity to meet the needs and help a little girl named Angel.  Angel is a 7 week old baby girl who is absolutely beautiful but comes from a family that is consumed w/ alcoholism. They have no money to provide for her. She only weighs a little over 5 lbs. Its crazy.  So on Monday, Hilliary did an amazing job just caring for her.  We provided her mom with enough food to get her through the week.  We are going to take Her mom, Gloria, shopping on Monday when she gets her grant check to get food and diapers for Angel.  We have taken a local lady that we work with over to her house with us to introduce them to each other. Our hopes are that Noomsa, the local woman, will continue to check on her and help teach and enable her to be a mom and take care of the blessing the Lord has given her.  Thats how change will occur.  When people will help their own culture.   If you would just lift up that family. That they would see Jesus, and that God would show up.  That change would come. I believe it can.

  So that my friends, is my week in a nutshell. I am spending a LOT of time visiting people and getting ready to head back to the States. Our last official day of ministry is this coming Tuesday. We are going to Cape Town for debrief from next Wednesday to the following Monday.  We will be back here for two days to pack and get ready to head home.  If you could just pray that I would finish out strong and also for the hearts for those we have to say goodbye too. Luckily this is not the final goodbye!  Also if you could please pray about continuing on your involvement in my ministry. I do have to raise support for the next year, and I would be honored to have you as a partner!  Thanks for all your prayers! Love you guys.