The Orange Sunset

I pulled away from campus today with a tremendous sense of the Lord's blessing. I've spent the past few days more introverted, and I've needed that. Sometimes I keep pushing so hard I don't know how I'm doing. I'm reading "Ordering Your Private World," by Gordon MacDonald and it has transformed how I view my time. Always being driven to fill my time in the most efficent way with the most productive tasks, it was quite a switch to be in full-time ministry where the substance of time is often hidden in absolute trust in the Lord and not in more visible evidences of output. I've learned that even if I spent my time differently, the only thing that matters is how well I am doing in the midst of all I do. If my inner parts are not in line or in disarray, it does not matter what I do on the outside - I will be lying on the brink of implosion. My first few months here, I experienced this too often.

This morning, I studied 1 John 4:10-12. v.12 "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." I am striving to do this. Later this morning I was to drive Hughneese, a first-year in Benjemijn I have been spending time leading, to take her driving learner's exam. She passed! But i knew I would be with her for an indefinite number of hours. What must I do but pray that for those hours that I may be waiting in line with her in dirty rooms with no air conditioning, or going without lunch when I wanted to eat - that I would think of her before myself.

After I dropped her off and was loved on by another girl from our ministry that I ran into, I felt an immense presence of peace. And the sun shone orange on the res'. My prayer is that I may continue to live this kind of "full" lifestyle whatever I do - not full of outward meaninglessness, but an inward meaning that expresses itself in all I do.

A Short Hiatus

After suffering for a few days from a stomach flu, I feel strangely refreshed and ready for this next week. This is the last month before our Summer Training Camp - before which many conversations about students' commitments must take place, many forms must be gathered, and much planning must be enacted to ensure that we have done all we can as the staff to faciliate a month-long camp that will lead to growth of these students' walk with the Lord.

Like many times when one is suffering, even physically, I felt like giving up. But whether healthy or well, they are both seasons which the Lord uses to cultivate fruit in our lives. I spent my waking hours reading scripture from Paul which talked about having a "clear conscience," something our discipleship group has been examining. Kris, my staffmate, came back from a bookstore with the newest edition of National Geographic devoted wholly to Africa. I also had an edifying conversation with my mom.

So the Lord sustains, teaches, and remains constant through every season one is given.

Thanks again readers, for letting this be a sounding board - however my thoughts come out.

This Morning

This morning was cloudy and cold - much unlike normal mornings here, especially as the weather turns from winter toward summer. However it reminded me of Philly, and made me smile. Yesterday I had gone running with my friend and staffmate from Pretoria, Jackie. Our run had left me want of excertion, due to too much popcorn I had eaten the night before :)

After opening the gate to our house with a clicker which I discreetly stored in a pocket in my long spandex, I began to sprint down the Surbiton hill, our street. I passed one of our street guards, Ernest, who usually sees me going by in my car, and turned the corner to go down Cookham. Two of the other houses our Johannesburg staff people reside in are located off of this street.

I was greatly satisfied with my run, but the freedom I enjoyed to notice spring flowers I had never seen before in my life, made it especially exhilarating. This was an opportunity I took full advantage of...

As I neared my house, an African woman crossed my path carrying a baby wrapped on her back and a plastic bucket on her head. Before I reached my street to walk up the hill, Ernest stopped me and asked for money to help pay for his grandmother's funeral, showing me a list of other people who had given, with their amounts noted on the right. I was not greatly surprised at this gesture since I pass people with needs every day. I told him I would tell my house, as I had no money at that moment.

Going past the gate into our driveway, I was grateful for the time the Lord had given me to exercise and explore not only the culture, but also to enjoy the creation He had placed around me. This beauty and delight of His is not always so seemingly forbidden behind the gates and walls of this city. I pray I continue to believe this.

Intro

Hello friends,

I've wanted for awhile now to connect with you through visual means - so you can see things I see, and hear things I hear. This webpage is an attempt for you to get a window in my life here. Thank you for taking the time to be apart of this even by reading and viewing what I post here.