Painting a school in the Kibera Slum is about WAY more than the paint.

If you have been following this blog you are probably aware that our family has a HUGE heart for the kiddos in the Kibera Slum in Nairobi, Kenya. My dear hub and I, along with a sprinkling of our kids, usually make an annual trip leading a team to see, experience, grow and FALL IN LOVE with these precious people.

This year one of our projects was to paint the newly acquired school building. This is an additional location to the original school. With this new (to them) building they have doubled in size in the last six months which leaves them at almost 520 students. YOWZA! Can you imagine? The doors of Saviour King Academy first opened just 5 years ago and now they have over 500 children enrolled.

The education and hope these children receive by these priceless teachers will no doubt change the face of life in the Kibera Slum. With the wealth of love and encouragement deposited into these kids at school they have dreams of being Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Nurses, Pilots...they have BIG dreams and they KNOW they can achieve them with God on their side.

These two schools in the slum are doing an amazing work of bringing hope for a different kind of life outside of the slum. This school building we would be painting is more than just a building where they learn - it is a safe place where the love of Jesus is at the very center. It is their family...it is their hope.

walking to the new school building

As our team approached the school on our scheduled paint day we instantly noticed many of the students & teachers just waiting inside the doors ready to help. As always when you arrive on the scene of Saviour King Academy you are first greeted in song and worship. Today's welcome would not leave one person disappointed.

Once the music and dance came to an end it didn't take long until side by side the team members, students and teachers were busy dipping their brushes in paint and giving the worn metal siding a face lift.  The fumes of the freshly brushed oil paint in the warm stagnant air was creating a bit of a dizzying effect but was still oh-so worth every breath as the relationships of those working side by side were building, the pride in the school was swelling and the love of Jesus was shining. Not one person would have traded  a moments fresh breath for the precious time spent in the slum on this beautiful day. 

There was a moment when Dave and I were painting the handrail and a deep, overwhelming emotion hit me like a tidal wave. I was flooded with memories of a multitude of prayers over the years. Six years prior we were dreaming & praying with precious friends there would one day be a school - then we watched with eyes wide open and hearts rejoicing as it opened it's doors in May 2008 with 100 kids. 

Each year Saviour King Academy would continue to grow at a very rapid rate. As we visited  year by year we watched it become absolutely packed to the brim with kiddos. (When I say packed you may envision a classroom with 30-40 kids in it? Well, try to wrap your brain around this... A normal size class room divided by rough plywood dividers into 3 classrooms with wooden benches for desks containing a total of 90-120 kids - now you have a better idea of what packed looks like.) With the abundance of kiddos and limit of classroom space our prayer requests would soon change to the provision of a new building with more room. 

Classroom in original building in 2012

Right about here in the story is where you find me overwhelmed with God's amazing ability to accomplish far more than we can ever even imagine...here is where you find me on my knees painting what seemed like the impossible dream. Here is where you find me in tears, humbled that God would allow me to take part - or to even witness first hand His majesty, His love, His provision...His plan. This is a chapter in His story of LOVE that so perfectly represents his heart to sweep in and rescue, provide for and bless those who he loves so dearly. (and those He loves are EVERY SINGLE ONE of his children)

There are more stories that could be told here - stories in the details of God's amazing provision, His abundance - His "blow my mind I couldn't even see that coming because it was more than I could ever imagine". Those are for another time. For this moment I will just say this building represents a lot to our family - it is a very, very personal reminder to us of God's faithfulness even in times of trials, tragedy and division - that every dip into the valley is for a very specifically designed purpose. It is a reminder to us that when God calls you to move forward blindly like he did Abraham it is time to simply trust & follow His lead... for He is trustworthy.

Along the way I think we are all learning that the journey isn't really about checking off OUR tasks and accomplishing OUR goals - for those by themselves will lead to pride and disappointment in the long run. This life we have been given is really about how we love others while we check off tasks and accomplish goals. In the end if we don't have a lot of check marks showing our accomplishments - let us make sure loving others was at the top of the list and was our first priority. Love never fails.

Our team didn't get to completely finish the painting project (hey, it's a BIG school) but our heart mission of loving others well was most definitely accomplished. We laughed, we sang, we played, we danced and we painted...we LOVED WELL! 

Here is a photo of what the school looked like the day we left. Doesn't it just amaze you how it stands tall and proud? 

Colossians 2:6-7  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

This school building is not completely purchased yet, they still have a balance due. If you are interested in helping make a difference in the lives of many feel free to leave a comment with your email and I will get you the information on how to make a donation.

          -Simply Sublime

Animals of Africa: Photos of Safari in Maasai Mara

Jambo! We are BACK!!! 

The last two days I have been spending time trying to sleep and re-adjust back into my everyday life. We call it re-entry. It is part of the process where you return back home after a mission trip and try to fit back in on some levels while remaining forever changed in others. Not always the easiest of parts because two completely different worlds have collided into one persons life. Stepping back into our culture of excess makes me almost ill and yet brings comfort in ways as well. \

Looking at photos really helps me to organize my thoughts, continue my prayers and direct the next steps of my life towards being forever changed. So I have spent hours just looking at photos...remembering. 

I decided to add some pictures from the Safari we went on -  ( this was a budget safari as far as price goes but oh so rich in the abundance of animals that showed up for us) God's creation continues to absolutely amaze me. He is so thorough and thoughtful, down to the smallest of details. Little colorful birds to ginormous grey hippos, boldly patterned zebras to the beige camouflaged coat of Lions...amazing.

So while these animals didn't really lend an opportunity for mission work - they really allowed us to be awed by God's creation and have our souls refreshed. 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.  Revelation 4:11

-Simply Sublime

It's as simple as going to school - or is it?

If you have been following me at all - you know Africa is near and dear to my heart. In the last 5 years I have made 5 life impacting trips to Tanzania and Kenya. Therefore I have 5 x 500 life stories that have rocked me to my core. Perhaps for some the routine exposure of poverty may end up leaving less mascara on their pillows at night. As for me? Whew - one story heaps on top of another story and weighs even heavier. Every little face has been pressed within my memory bank, especially the stories of children.

Just today I received an email from a little precious I met this last month. This isn't the first email in my inbox since I got back - this is email #3. Just weeks after returning three different boys have emailed me all with the same basic request: 

"Please Mama - can you pray that God would provide for my school fees. I have tested with high enough scores and it is time to go to Secondary School - but our family cannot afford it." 

Look closer at his precious little face. 

He even sent me a very proud copy of his school test result. He made it! This is HUGE!!!

Testing in Africa is not easy. These countries do not simply move kids up because they have reached a certain age. Unlike the US, where there is basically no holding kids back anymore, only a select few make it to Secondary (which would be like our High School). Making the grade is difficult because it takes focused time and energy over years of classroom learning and evening homework.

 Let's revisit what the basic day looks like for these kiddos: 

Breakfast is Tea with a little hot milk, possibly. Lunch, if they get this meal, could be a small amount of leftover from the night before. Dinner - if they are going to eat on any given day - this is the meal they will make sure to take in. They believe this meal will sustain them throughout the next day. So typically, Ugali (corn meal thick porridge) and possibly beans. Hmmm - this is a little different then what the typical US child consumes on any given day isn't it?

The problem for these children in Africa is these meals are not routine for most. Many times within a week families find themselves having to go without. Children are hungry, starving. When children are so, so hungry it is almost impossible for them to think, let alone lift their heads to take in what is being taught.

The other problem these wee ones face is chores. Their chores look a little different then our kiddos daily chores. You have probably heard before that the kids have to walk miles to fetch water? Seriously! This is true - they walk far and it is heavy. I asked many kids on this last venture what their daily tasks at home were after school. Many cook, many fetch water, many help wash the dishes and clothes. Where they live we aren't talking the typical throw it in a machine, watch it do the work, 5 minute kind of chore. These chores require hours of vary hard work. So by the time the kids get home from school, which is anywhere between 5 and 6pm, they have a couple hours of hard labor to do at home. What does that look like when they need to be studying hard to make the grade? Can you even image?  By the time they can sit down to study they are exhausted. And - 6am time to leave for school comes early. 

One of the saddest things I see happens when we visit the schools. It never fails - there are always a few kiddos slumped over in chairs using their arm to prop their head up. Even though they have the rare opportunity of visitors that would usually bring a bustle of enthusiasm, a few kids are scattered throughout the room that can barely move. They are hungry, they are tired - their life is hard. Hard like most of us can't even comprehend.

School is not something they simply go to because they have to. School is a luxury. School is their way to a hopeful future. School is the ONLY avenue to their DREAM!

As I continue to be faced with these situations of hardship God is continually showing me I am not the answer. There is no way I , one weak person, can solve the worlds problems. As much as I would LOVE to have a wallet that is overflowing with resources to help provide for the needy. I don't. God is showing me the real power for change happens in prayer. Prayer will lead change. Prayer will lead change in places we can't see and  in people we don't know. Prayer will spur others on to help make a difference of lasting change one by one. 

Don't get me wrong. I don't believe we simply pray and we stop there. I believe that true prayer, where you are in relationship with God, leads us to ultimately be stepping out in faith (taking ACTION) with God leading in bold new ways. 

So as I bring this post to a close I will challenge you to be praying for these three precious boys (and others like them) who need family income in order to go to school. Or they need to become part of a sponsorship program. Or...Or...Or...

God knows exactly what needs to happen and our prayers will help fuel that change. In that same sweet, precious,  prayer time why don't you also start asking God to show you how to help make a difference. Where might God be spurring you on to take a step into helping others? It could be in your family, neighborhood, your city, your country, or somewhere out in the world. I may even be so bold to say - it is probably all of those! 

"Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. Gods voice in response to mine is its most essential part." ~ Andrew Murray

James 5:13-14 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

-Simply Sublime

When life knocks you down - get up and love others

We all want to finish well, don't we? If we think about the end of our lives and what people will say about us once we are gone, our hope is we will be loved, missed and appreciated. We want our lives to have stood for something great. Sometimes I think it is pretty easy to focus on the end - but what does that look like in process? We know we want to finish well - but what does our personal race look like? 

The last few weeks I had the privilege of spending time in Africa once again. This journey was designed as a vision trip with a dear friend (she is also a Pastor at my church). We were looking at what our church has been involved with in the past as far as missions and where we were headed in the future. Even though many of the contents of the trip were different than normal for me, many factors remained the same. We were exposed to extreme situations of need, pain, heartbreak and perseverance. 

We met people who were starving, people with no employment, people with lifelong illness, children with no family, children with no family who are sick with AIDS. I could go on, and on, and on. It doesn't matter how many times I am exposed to these hard life circumstances, I am always broken over it. I suppose there are people out there who can see and touch such tragedy without being moved. God, however, did not  create me with the ability to remove myself emotionally from the despair. I feel it down to my core and frequently find myself brimming with tears in the moment. Later to be sobbing my night away into my pillow. Sleep is rarely something I am able to enjoy when immersed within a culture full of extreme difficulties.

On each trip God has an amazing way of directing my attention to the most broken of the broken. I can't tell you how many times I have created a heart-string  with a child, only to find out they are an orphan. Then quite commonly I will hear the even sadder news, they are an orphan who is also HIV positive. Every time I hear this I have to stop myself from immediately saying out loud to God "Are you kidding me God? Of course!" It seems part of my journey is to feel deeply for these precious ones. They are so innocent. Not one of their own decisions led to the consequence of their life circumstances. They are alone. They are persecuted and abandoned. Being HIV positive in Africa is a life sentence of being shunned and alone for life. There is no place for someone who is HIV positive unless they are lucky enough to find a support group with others who are struggling the same way. For true hope Jesus has to be at the center of their lives.

On this trip I was asked to spend some time with a group of children (in photo above) at one of the church's we visited while in Kenya. The hope was I would speak some words of encouragement into their lives. I wan't prepared in advance for this, but as one of our missionaries in Kenya always quotes to me:

"Be prepared in season, and out."

So, off I went to try and encourage the group. During our time together one girl in particular, who was sitting right next to me, kept melting my heart. Her little eyes kept looking up at me as if she was soaking up everything I was saying. I always LOVE asking children what their life dream is, and what their favorite school subject is. (Typically the answers to these two questions link together.) I really find great joy listening to them dream and encouraging these children to reach for their dreams.  This girl was actively engaging in conversation with me, almost leaning into me. She had big dreams. 

One point of our time together was for these kids to take any false names they have been called by others to God - to nail them on the cross knowing full well this is not their true identity in Christ. Then to pray to God asking for new names about who he created them to be. Little did I know at this point many of the children in our group were orphans. Like 75% of the kids. Even further from my thought process was the news I would learn in about an hours time - that the girl wrapping herself around my heart would be HIV positive with symptoms harassing her. Talk about lives that were being tagged with labels, false names, hurtful actions. These children were a prime target for the assault. 

Yet, as our time together concluded this little girl lifted her voice to heaven on my behalf. She poured out words asking God to be with me, to bless me, to love me and to protect me. She thanked God for me. 

As I said before, at the time we were meeting in the church I was not aware of her circumstances. It wasn't until we visited the Pastors home, where the children were living, that my eyes were opened and my heart broken. There she was - looking at me with sparkling eyes. The little precious had joy. She knew her creator. She was in relationship with her Abba Father. She had purpose. Despite the horrendous situation life had dealt her she could still shine for Jesus. 

To me this is the ultimate picture of running the race well. She isn't spending her days thinking about the end of her life. She is simply looking at what is right in front of her and doing her best with it. No matter how much difficulty she is knocked down with she just gets back up and brushes herself off. She moves forward in love.  I am guessing she doesn't even spend a lot of time focusing on herself. If you could have heard the sweet words she whispered as she prayed for me. It could not have been more obvious that this little girl honestly cares about others. There I was - a complete stranger - appearing to have much of what the world has to offer and this little girls caring words saw through it all. I sat there overwhelmed to the core by the loving action of this girl. 

I wonder if that was my life - in the midst of my pain and suffering - would I be able to truly have such concern for another. Or would my circumstances weigh my mind down to self-focus? If I was in physical pain, had been abandoned, and was being shunned could my heart still cry out for the cares of a stranger? Actually it would look more like this- would my heart care more for the stranger than for my own problems?

This is what running the race well looks like. This is how we end well. We put others before ourselves. We honestly care and love others in the name of Jesus, with the heart of Jesus. We can't do this ourselves. It takes Jesus in us and through us, transforming us with his love in order for us to die to self. 

Sometimes we even have to strip off things we have been using to guard and protect ourselves. In the photo below many of those racing in the Sports Ministry Day relay in Kenya took off their shoes to get a better grip, better traction on the ground. They needed their feet set firmly on the foundation to move forward at their best. They wanted to run the race unhindered. 

I wonder what we might be hanging onto in our lives that we believe is protecting us but in fact is really hindering us from running the race well.

PRIDE - REPUTATION - IMAGE - MONEY 

FEAR - FALSE BELIEFS - INSECURITY 

My prayer is that I will never forget the prayer of this precious girl. That I will remember to ask God to reveal anything in me that hinders me from running the race well.  As I go through life I know God will continue to reveal new areas in my life that need to change in order for me to become more like him - but that I will have a willing heart to change on a day by day basis...for the sake of LOVING OTHERS well. If I can focus on loving others well,day to day, there is no doubt at the end there will be victory. However, if I only focus on the end I will miss out on what is right in front of me and fall flat on my face. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. -Hebrews 12:1

-Simply Sublime 

Deposits of Love: restoring the hope in the hearts of the people

Boy - oh - boy were the last two weeks packed to the brim with heart tugs, tears and laughter.  It is almost as if  I am so packed with heart-string moments I am uncertain of what to unpack & process first. So let me start chronologically with: Day One on African soil. 

My morning was filled to overflowing with a collection of thoughts, concerns and worries. It was like I was on a teeter totter. One minute I was giving God complete access to use me, the other I was trying to get my feet back on the ground so I could jump off and run back to the USA. I will share more about this opening scene of my day in a post to follow.  For now (just so you get an idea of what led to what) I will tell you that I had been asked by the CTK Kenya National Director to prepare to give a Word of Encouragement to the church we were visiting. This would require me actually being able to walk up by myself in front of a crowd and speak words that would not only appear to have been thought out, but also would be a blessing to the congregation. HA! (more to come later)

After church it was time to head to a community area in the vicinity of the church where we spent our morning. The church was putting on a Sports Ministry Outreach Event where Volleyball, Races, Music and Dancing were taking place at the heart of the neighborhood.

As the bustle of activity was swirling around me God continued to point out the children to me. They were everywhere watching.

My eyes began scanning my surroundings and I noticed the abundance of children within this community. As the activities continued to go on, more and more children were coming out to participate. Put a kiddo near me and my eyes will shift towards them - it is hard for me not to watch their every move. 

 It is as if they have invisible strings attached to me and they spin me around to get my full attention.

See the little girl in the ruffley white dress pictured above - she had captured my attention. I followed her as she walked around the field a bit - soon as she became bored of what the bare dirt field had to offer she headed to the trash pile. 

First she was alone entertaining herself as she plucked and dug through the trash. It was captivating her. Not long after, one by one, friends came to join her. Despite the filth and the danger that lurked she was absorbed by the wonder of it all. So much to look at and interact with, especially the fire.

Every move these little precious kids made reminded me of just how important the call is for us, as the generation they are watching. The call to change the future. The call to deposit seeds of hope into our children so that the trash does not seem like their only option... and when I say "OUR" children, I mean ALL children.

As this young girl directed her steps towards the trash pile I wanted to stop her, tell her "NO...you might get dirty, cut or burned."  

This picture reminded me so much of God's heart for us. We begin our trek into the trash pile and he begins to send us warning signals showing us his heart for us. We frequently find ourselves ignoring the warning signals and continuing on in the pursuit of our own goal. As we begin to step into troubled waters we sense we should not be alone. Our deep need is really to be walking side by side with our creator but that would require turning back - so instead we call out to our friends. "Join me... this will be fun." Somehow we believe it is not as dangerous if we are not alone. Or maybe it keeps our minds and ears distracted from hearing the convicting warning calls of God. 

In many cases the belief is he will be angry - or he will stop us from fun - or stop us from our desire. Oh - we are so human, so silly. He knows us, he created us for a purpose - His purpose. Only that, His purpose, is truly fulfilling deep down into our soul. Nothing, absolutely nothing else will satisfy.

I wonder, for those of us who have found ourselves at some point surrounded by the mess and destruction, what could have stopped us from heading towards the trash pile? I think if we had our eyes watching people eagerly seeking Jesus, and modeling the joy that comes from being deep in relationship with him, it could have looked differently. Nothing on this planet looks as appealing as someone who has found great JOY in their relationship with God. It exudes enthusiasm, peace, love, passion, and purpose. It stands out from the crowd. It lives a life of no regrets. Others are drawn to it. It is unexplainable really. 

You see it and you want it. 

If we truly want to see change in our lives, and the lives of the children watching us, it has to come through Jesus. This change doesn't happen by saying some magic words in the form of a prayer.  This change comes about by knowing who it is you are talking to (God), knowing who He says you are, and having a real relationship with him. It is all about the relationship. When we have a close relationship with him all of a sudden we are becoming transformed. Step by step we begin our journey toward living a life full of reconciliation, peace, patience, love, wonder and joy. 

It is exciting as we learn that submitting our lives to God simply means trusting in His plan for us vs. trusting ourselves to know what is best for us. For me this feels freeing. When I truly relinquish my method of doing life and am willing to follow His lead, all of a sudden I am filled with an internal enthusiasm I can't explain. The thought of doing something outside of my comfort zone but within God's will and plan for me leaves me eager to see HIM doing the work through me. Don't get me wrong, I certainly have a long history of situations where I am fearful and unwilling to follow his lead. When this happens I know most assuredly that I have missed out on something great.  Something deep inside of me almost pains me - it is like a deep, aching, disappointing groan. I know that if I would have only listened and been willing to follow his lead I would have fulfilled my purpose in that moment. Oh, the joy of listening, following and moving in his will is so much more rewarding then backing away in fear. 

If we really want to keep the next generation from heading into the trash pile we have to show them a JOY-FULL life. They must see the real life relationship we have in Christ in action. The children must begin at a young age interacting with God; listening to him, talking to him, following his lead.  It is the BEST thing in this world! He is real and he is near. He is talking and he is listening. He is leading and he is trustworthy. His plan for us is exciting and he equips us with himself to accomplish his plan. He gets the glory when we seek and follow Him. 

Children are watching. Children model what they see. Let's choose to seek God with our whole heart. Ask him to reveal himself BIG so we can be completely in love with him. As we live our lives eager to follow our trusting Father God  the children will also be eager to seek him.  The trash is only appealing when you can't see the true treasure waiting for you. Let's not waste any more time going through life dull and without direction. Let's live our lives with purpose. The children are watching - the children will follow. 

To truly restore hope in the hearts of people they must see the Deposit of God's love in our daily lives. This is a continual action. Not a one time prayer but a present active participle type of life following Jesus. This kind of living can't help but keep our eyes focused on the treasure and away from the trash. 

"The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness." - Philippians 3:7-9

-Simply Sublime 

Thanksgiving & Remembrance

Look at these precious faces. Look deep into their eyes. They are just babies really - still so young in years but as you can see their eyes reflect a depth that usually comes with age, with life experience, with pain. These children know pain...every single one of them. 

They know very well the pain of hunger,

 the pain of loss, the pain of abuse. 

Safety for them means making it through a night where their family has not been pillaged in the dark of night. Home really means shelter: a rusty metal roof over a one room shanty with no running water or electricity. 

Food is sometimes, if fortunate enough,  the possibility of a meal once a day. What is a meal? Maybe - rice and beans. It can also mean a cup of chai (tea). They are hungry. In most cases (as graphic as this is) the worms in their little tummies get the majority of the nourishment they consume.

I have had the honor of wrapping my arms around these sweet children. I still cannot believe God has given me the opportunity to be in their presence and experience the joy they have despite circumstance. They may or may not remember me...but I...

I REMEMBER them!

As I am preparing to spend a day with my family rejoicing over God's bounty He has given us: 

a land of opportunity

a family of LOVE,        a  Safe HOME,

Freedom of Religion, and so much more.. 

I simply cannot be blind to what I have witnessed, to what my hands have touched. My heart aches for them. Don't get me wrong - I am not ungrateful. I appreciate and love most things about the land God planted me on - I am equally as humbled wondering why me? Why was I born in the US where we have an abundance of resources and help? Why God do these children suffer so? How can I appreciate what I have been given knowing I did not earn it, when these children work so very hard for so little reward.

Some things just can't be answered this side of heaven. I know deep in my heart I can totally TRUST my ABBA Father. He knows ALL - and my limited vision is short sighted the majority of the time. When the weight of their reality is settling heavily on my heart & mind I will continue to cling to him. I am often reminded when my heart breaks for what breaks His, well... it is then that He is pleased with me. 

So as spoiled as I will feel sitting down at a feast at our Thanksgiving Table, as undeserving as I honestly am to be placed in the land of opportunity - I will take all of that and see what God can do with it. He is in the business of restoring the ugly into the B E A U T I F U L. He, no doubt, will use my internal chaos and refine it into something pure. For that I am... 

TRULY THANKFUL.

Isaiah 61:1-7 The Message

^1-7 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me
    because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
    heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
    pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
    a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies—
    and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
    give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
    a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness”
    planted by God to display his glory.
They’ll rebuild the old ruins,
    raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They’ll start over on the ruined cities,
    take the rubble left behind and make it new.
You’ll hire outsiders to herd your flocks
    and foreigners to work your fields,
But you’ll have the title “Priests of God,”
    honored as ministers of our God.
You’ll feast on the bounty of nations,
    you’ll bask in their glory.
Because you got a double dose of trouble
    and more than your share of contempt,
Your inheritance in the land will be doubled
    and your joy go on forever.

-Simply SUBLIME

Elissa: God's Promise

 Elisabeth nickname:(Elissa)
\e-lisabe-th, el(i)-sa-beth\ (Hebrew),the meaning of Elisabeth is "God's promise; God is my oath, God is my vow"

If her Dad and I were going to list off a few words to describe this preciousness we would choose: fun, loving, affectionate, deep, HILARIOUS,leader and powerful. 

Elissa has a BIG personality with a lot of love to share. When this girl is passionate about something just try to hold her back. She can't help but share her heart with almost everyone she comes in contact with. Despite the many roadblocks that life may have put up in front of her, this girl has developed the muscles to hurdle over them. She is strong and bold in her faith. 

This may surprise some that don't know her very well...She is also extremely tenderhearted. She has a love for children that is so deep and raw. As we witnessed her this summer loving on the children we visited in Africa (many orphans) we were once again reminded - this is what she was created for. 

The Abba Heart of God!  Pure Religion.

Let me give you a little bit of history on this treasure of ours. When she was 13 years old she attended a youth group called Teens for Christ. Well, one night when she came home she plopped herself next to us and said "Guess what my prayer request was tonight?" Hmmm...we had no idea. A kitty? New pointe shoes? A family vacation to somewhere tropical? No?.... 

Okay - as we are guessing it is about killing her.... she is about to burst. "No, no, no! I asked that we would be able to adopt a little boy from another country." 

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WHAT? Your prayer request was what? 

Our expressions must have been greeting card worthy...and I mean those greeting cards that look so ridiculously funny that just the picture itself makes you giggle.

As we stumbled through the next few moments trying to collect our thoughts about this idea -we must have had quite a range of expressions. I believe the final response was something like this. 

"Well - keep praying because it will take a MIRACLE!" with a possible hint of sarcasm.

***I would like to add a sweet lil' note right here and say a word to the adults out there - do not look down on the youth - the prayers of the young are righteous. And BOY did God prove this to be true. 

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, 

but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, 

in love, in faith and in purity. 

-1 Timothy 4:12

Well you can probably guess what happened from here. Elissa kept on praying...kept on praying...

It is a TOTAL God story. We will leave all of the details of our adoption process for another post - but I will tell you God orchestrated the next two years of events like only HE can. It simply was... A MIRACLE!

Meet our Son, Nate.

Isn't he precious??? 

(Nate is 6 years old in this photo.) 

Since our first peek into the window of Elissa's heart for orphans we have been given many opportunities. She has been to Tanzania and Kenya three times. She has returned to the Philippines. All of these trips to work with and love on children.  

She continues to amaze us with her ability to  L O V E & her passion to D O something with that love. When in her element she simply LIGHTS up the room with her smile - it is contagious. Why? Because she was created for this by her Father. Her Abba Father who adopted her.

 If we look back to the top of the post we see Elissa's name means "God's PROMISE". God's promise  - HIS VOW - is simple. We BELIEVE in HIM - we understand our need for Him,  accept Him as our Savior and we are guaranteed we will spend an eternity with Him in His DEEP, ABIDING LOVE. That is the heart of our Abba Father - a heart of LOVE. That is God's promise to us. You see he has a heart for the orphans who are longing for their Father's love. We are ALL orphan's who have a deep, yearning  need to be adopted into His family. His arms are opened wide and he is waiting.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- - Ephesians 1:4-5

So then, brothers,we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:12-17

Isn't this the cutest? LOVE it!

So what is Elissa planning now? Well, after our recent trip to Nairobi, Kenya to work in the Kibera Slum she has decided to return for a years time to work with the children. She is working hard to raise support and get everything in line to make the move within the next 6 months. What can we say but she has her Daddy's heart for orphans.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world - James 1:27

God has been teaching us, as parents,  what it means to TRUST him completely with our precious ones. What we once thought of  as far as keeping our kiddos safe & protected has now spanned the globe. We have come to realize the ONLY safe place for our most prized possessions is in the will of the ONE who created them - for HIS PURPOSE.

Elisabeth: God's Promise