Okay. Hold on to your hats. Take a deep breath. I feel inspired to blog about my feelings at this interesting time of my life. I'm not sure where this blog is gonna take you.....
I am home on "vacation" for a couple weeks. First of all, isn't it strange for me to say I'm taking a vacation to go HOME? Most people take a vacation to get away from home. It's just one more indication that my life is weird! Anyway, it is an interesting time to take a break from tour considering we only have 3 months of tour left. I think I possibily may have skipped taking a vacation if it hadn't been my Grandmother's 90th birthday. However, I felt it was very important for me to be home for that special event and also to see all the people that just got their feelings hurt when I just mentioned that I almost skipped a vacation (yes, I have missed ALL of you and am so glad to be home to see you!). So anyway, it is a strange time to be home, taking a break, when I think about the fact that in 3 short months my tour will be over and the 34 people who have become my traveling family will all go to their various homes across the world.
Before coming home I knew I had to mentally prepare myself for the one big question I knew I would be asked over and over again.
The question: "What are you going to do when tour is over in December?"
The answer: "I don't know."
Yes, It's true. I don't know.
A few weeks ago, at God's prompting, I pulled out my "Experiencing God" book from the bottom of the suitcase I store on the bus. If you have never read it you should. It has some awesome truths about God's plans for His people. Today I was reading the chapter called "God Pursues a Love Relationship with You." Here are a few things I underlined:
*He created you for a love relationship with Himself. That is the very purpose of your life. This love relationship can and should be real and personal to you.
* If you want God to reveal Himself to you, you must love Him and obey Him.
* "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). Everything depends on this! Everything in your Christian life, everything about knowing Him and experiencing Him, everything about knowing His will depends on the quality of your love relationship to God.
So I was just thinking about that and how it fits into my thoughts about my "after tour life." I really don't know what God has planned for me yet. In some ways I feel a sense of urgency to "figure it out". In other ways it is just exciting to be waiting for Him to reveal His plans for me. When I am completely honest with myself I realize it's a little frightening to consider that I don't know what's next. I like having my life planned out. I don't want to worry about how I will take care of my responsibilities like my house and health insurance. Or wonder how I will ever be able to fix my car that is falling apart or buy a new one. Then I remember, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33) The author of Experiencing God describes it by saying "Out of His love for you, He will provide all else that you need-when you love Him and Him alone". So today I am basking in that Love from my Father and loving Him back.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
ONE YEAR AGO
ONE YEAR AGO......
One year ago I was at the airport to greet 26 sleepy eyed kids and 3 chaperones! They had just flown into Chicago from Entebbe, Uganada. I remember waiting at the airport feeling as if they just couldn't get there soon enough! Every second waiting felt so long! They walked out looking so tall and proud wearing their new ACC shirts. I was so happy to get those 26 hugs!
They got on the bus and had their first ride on the bus we now have made our "home away from home". They had many questions about the many vehicles they saw and all of the tall buildings in Chicago. We drove to Cedar Lake, Indiana where we would spend a few days at a camp before venturing out for our first real concert.
That first night was full of surprises for them! They had come to America with just the clothes they were wearing. We showed the children to the rooms where they would sleep. On each of their beds was a duffle bag with pajamas and a tolietry bag. We made a lot of noise trying on new pajamas and having the kids take showers for the first time! I remember Jane and Jackie "enjoying the hot water" and dancing in the shower!
It wasn't long before the shouting and laughter turned into quiet as we told the kids goodnight and they headed off to bed.
I went to go peek in on 14 little girls that were fast asleep. I stopped by each bed praying for each of those precious ones. I could hardly believe that God had sent them to me.
Today, one year later, I am at a host family with 8 of those little girls. Words cannot express the amazing joy and love these children have brought into my life. I think I will go peek in on them and pray for them once again............
One year ago I was at the airport to greet 26 sleepy eyed kids and 3 chaperones! They had just flown into Chicago from Entebbe, Uganada. I remember waiting at the airport feeling as if they just couldn't get there soon enough! Every second waiting felt so long! They walked out looking so tall and proud wearing their new ACC shirts. I was so happy to get those 26 hugs!
They got on the bus and had their first ride on the bus we now have made our "home away from home". They had many questions about the many vehicles they saw and all of the tall buildings in Chicago. We drove to Cedar Lake, Indiana where we would spend a few days at a camp before venturing out for our first real concert.
That first night was full of surprises for them! They had come to America with just the clothes they were wearing. We showed the children to the rooms where they would sleep. On each of their beds was a duffle bag with pajamas and a tolietry bag. We made a lot of noise trying on new pajamas and having the kids take showers for the first time! I remember Jane and Jackie "enjoying the hot water" and dancing in the shower!
It wasn't long before the shouting and laughter turned into quiet as we told the kids goodnight and they headed off to bed.
I went to go peek in on 14 little girls that were fast asleep. I stopped by each bed praying for each of those precious ones. I could hardly believe that God had sent them to me.
Today, one year later, I am at a host family with 8 of those little girls. Words cannot express the amazing joy and love these children have brought into my life. I think I will go peek in on them and pray for them once again............
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Niagara Falls
NIAGARA FALLS
To celebrate 1 YEAR of tour we took the kids to Niagara Falls for a day! It was a little bit rainy but it made the day even more fun considering how much fun the kids were having with the ponchos they wore (plus they looked pretty darn cute!). We even took a boat ride on the Maiden of the Mist. It was amazing to see, hear, and feel the falls so closely! Once again I am in awe of the beauty the Lord has created in our world!
Faulanta and Auntie Jenny
Jackie
The whole group!
Auntie Jenny and Peter with the Falls behind us!
Auntie Jenny and Sarah
Joseph
To celebrate 1 YEAR of tour we took the kids to Niagara Falls for a day! It was a little bit rainy but it made the day even more fun considering how much fun the kids were having with the ponchos they wore (plus they looked pretty darn cute!). We even took a boat ride on the Maiden of the Mist. It was amazing to see, hear, and feel the falls so closely! Once again I am in awe of the beauty the Lord has created in our world!
Faulanta and Auntie Jenny
Jackie
The whole group!
Auntie Jenny and Peter with the Falls behind us!
Auntie Jenny and Sarah
Joseph
Farmington, Maine USA
FARMINGTON, MAINE USA
My host family took the girls and I to the coast for an evening. We explored the beach and found yummy blackberry bushes! Everyone had purple hands and lips before the evening was over!
My little Mermaid: Bridget
Enid
Harriet
My host family took the girls and I to the coast for an evening. We explored the beach and found yummy blackberry bushes! Everyone had purple hands and lips before the evening was over!
My little Mermaid: Bridget
Enid
Harriet
An Evening on the Lake
AN EVENING ON THE LAKE
I stayed with 3 boys at a host family that lived on a beautiful lake near Bangor, Maine. We went for a boat ride and each of the boys got to take a turn driving which they thought was awesome! We were on the lookout for birds and saw an Eagle and some Loons. It was wonderful to sleep with the windows open and hear the loons at night.
Jacob
Ibrahim
I stayed with 3 boys at a host family that lived on a beautiful lake near Bangor, Maine. We went for a boat ride and each of the boys got to take a turn driving which they thought was awesome! We were on the lookout for birds and saw an Eagle and some Loons. It was wonderful to sleep with the windows open and hear the loons at night.
Jacob
Ibrahim
Sara Groves,
This video explains a lot about how I feel about my trips to Uganda. What do you think?
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