in the here and now. my reality. no longer a dream. a place that began with a response, a searching out. which led to others supporting, encouraging, loving, questioning, even at times rebuking. until ultimatley we stood alongside one another. and He carried me, shifted my surroundings, adjusted my relationships, built upon His ministry, and added additional sending...leaving me here.
surrounded by a load of circumstances that i never once could even begin to comprehend but in the least will attempt to explain as "my story", a portion of this reality NOT at all the entirety but a glimmer into "De Kam in Nigeria" at current:
~backing children: the handy African style for carrying infants. simply use a blanket or piece of cloth to wrap your baby tightly and quite securely at rest upon your back. puts some babes quick to sleep. gives your arms some relief and your tasks some time to be accomplished. ya best expect to see this one carried out into my intended future of mothering!
~mentoring: Nigerians tend to not have much for our sort of sweet tooth so a couple of young girls and i had quite the adventure baking cupcakes. what a mess :) but what a joy!
~open doors: quite an atmosphere of flexibility as stability within the schedule of staff/volunteers and children can at times be quite difficult with the last few months "lack of security"...these commonly sung lyrics ring ever true "I must go with Jesus anywhere. No matter the roughness of the road. I must go. I must go"
~goodbyes: Annu has come from reading sounds to words and now building sentences, Grace has developed into reading the Word of God and speaking out in English with confidence, the Widows are learning to not only read and write the Lord's prayer (in English) but recite it as well AND even build their own personal requests and praises, the choir is planning a performance at the local mission school and greatly improving singing from the depths of the heart as "from a distance" tells more about our realities than we can say ourselves....
*****
request for:
increased prayers for wise discernment for the mission community as a whole. that our 'comings and goings' would reflect that of faith and not of fear. that we would remain a blessing and not a hindrance, threat, or barrier to the safety and well being of our Nigerian brothers and sisters.
reflections on our responses to crisis: uncontrolled circumstances are not always unavoidable. how well are we informed? prepared? equipped? individuals, communities, and families of people are constantly worldwide stamping themselves with the name of Christ and yet in the midst of trials and temptations...no longer running with Him to the battle rather quickly losing the Spirit's sense of direction and retaliating with gossip filled, envious, and greed like behaviours...i beg of us to hold ourselves and one another accountable to putting a stop to this chatter, pointing fingers, and pride based actions...let's step it up and fight like we are in the Lord's Army!
timing, confidently and securely HIS :) for my departure, leaving friendships, returning to loved ones realities, hopes for the future, the continued work and ministry of the Lord within around and apart from my personal involvments
praise in that God has continuously been communicating josh and my steps more intricately visible with the remaining loads confidently secured in the palm of His hands! i have declined interviewing to work the summer in Ohio as He's been driving my heart more and more 'home'....
constant discipline 'while i am waiting' to leave and to reunite. 'when its all been said and done, when the race is run...' will it all come down to Christlike love?
in Him, bROSE
¬¬¬¬¬
~ Bette Midler
From a distance the world looks blue and green,
and the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream,
and the eagle takes to flight.
From a distance, there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace,
it's the voice of every man.
From a distance we all have enough,
and no one is in need.
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease,
no hungry mouths to feed.
From a distance we are instruments
marching in a common band.
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace.
They're the songs of every man.
God is watching us. God is watching us.
God is watching us from a distance.
From a distance you look like my friend,
even though we are at war.From a distance I just cannot comprehend
what all this fighting is for.
From a distance there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
And it's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves,
it's the heart of every man.
It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves.
This is the song of every man.
And God is watching us, God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance.
Oh, God is watching us, God is watching.
God is watching us from a distance.
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