called for a purpose

Invited to suffer..... these phrases are written in the book of I Peter 2:21. "Called for a purpose" is in the NAS version..... "you've been invited into" is written in the Message.

"This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step."

I just returned from bible study where we are inductively studying the NAS version of I Peter. The whole book is in context of the church in the beginning phases of suffering and persecution. I am convicted at some moments in my life. I, today, want to live a life that resembles that of an alien and stranger (I Peter 2:11). I want to live a life, today, that shows who I belong to and not who I once was. I am a part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own possession. That is the person that I want people to see so that they may turn and give praise to God!

That is all for today. Just the conviction of a woman who desires the food of Scripture to sustain her earthly days.

National Orphan Day

Yesterday was declared National Orphan Day by the World Orphan Alliance. So, I just wanted to show some faces of those children we work with and serve. Please take a moment today to pray for the ones that the Father has His eye out for...

So often, in the village, the child is caring for the baby child. I think too early these little ones learn the discipline of understanding the different forms of crying. I pray the Lord gives them special grace and favor on their daily tasks of living.

a full day

Yesterday morning we had 23 Hillcrest, high school students work with us on our education center in the village. There were different crews responsible for different tasks. Overall, I must say that these students were hard workers and very respectful and they had a ton of fun!

Before I go further with those photos, to the left is a birthday party that our oldest, Sarah, was invited to. So, while we all worked in the village, she went to a pool party. The days are getting warmer and warmer here. The pool probably felt really nice...

The above snap is of a couple of girls who were responsible to paint the ceilings of the two class rooms (there were about 8 others helping, but this was a good shot).

Then there was another crew that was responsible of wiring the entire building. So while these three guys are here prepping the wire, there were about three in the attic moving it to where it needed to go.

There was another crew of about 5 older guys who needed to dig a ditch and then spread some conduit from the education building to the water tower. They did an amazing job because in the end, they had recovered the conduit and you would have never known they had done what they did. I love that there is something in guys that desires to rise up to the challenge of good physical labor. They did great!

These same guys, when completed, hiked up the back rocks and showed some style for the rest of the group to witness. Yes, they asked for the photo to be taken.....

Here is the "after" picture with a lot of the village children. The students spent some time praying through the building and the different classrooms. I love hearing the prayers of students. It is refreshing to my own prayer life to hear the earnestness of their words. After prayer, we took them to the main boulders to climb and that is where the final photo was taken. As a family, we were wiped out, but we didn't regret a single minute spent on this day. God is good!

updated apartments

Almost move in material, the apartments are...

The top picture is of the Reed's apartment, as I am sitting in the dining room, facing the front door.

Next photo is of the inside of the Munafo's place as I am walking out of their bedroom looking at their main living area.

This is the front view, facing the front porch of where the apartments both come out.

I know I am being all factual, but I thought it would help you get a feel for where every thing is... so this next shot is as you are walking out of the ministry center, this is what you see. The far back building is the Munafo's side coming out.

Then this shot is as you are pulling into the property, you get the angle that is the Reed's side.

It is really coming along. I think my favorite part is the tree in the front of all of it. I think it is so beautiful, and of course the apartments too. :)

Let's not forget though my major in school was environmental science. John and I used to laugh that I would be tied to the tree he was wanting to tear down for the next building... This tree was saved and I am glad.

Crist dedication

Last Sunday at church there was a baby dedication. One of the men in the Bible study that my dad helps lead wanted to dedicate his new baby to the Lord.

He and his wife had decided to name the child after my dad, so baby Crist was brought before the church and my dad prayed for him and it was sweet to know that in Jos, Nigeria Africa there is a baby that will grow up with my dad's name. Also what I love is that my dad will pray for him every day that he is alive and I love that this baby gets that prayer.

Just because of the circumstances baby Crist was born into his life will automatically have its share of hard living. He will need prayer to find joy in the life before him. He will be covered in prayer and that is such a gift!

This last picture is of me with some of the older sunday school kids at the village church. The girls and I left the service a bit early as it was going extra long and so some of the children decided to join us.

love in high action

Lots of pictures here to show the 8th grade girls in action. I don't know if many of you remember my blog "7th grade girls to the rescue", but it is these same girls who joined with my mom and I yesterday afternoon to help bathe, dress, play and hold lots of these babies.

I was looking for a Bible verse that could describe what took place yesterday: young girls enjoying babies, serving and with lots of energy....

Alas, I wasn't able to find the perfect one. But I do think that God did something in me during that hour. I think I saw a hunger in these girls. A hunger, that I myself feel a bit void of sometimes, a hunger to give everything you have to the task at hand. They bathed hard (in about 10 minutes all 8 children were cleaned), they played hard (I almost think the babies didn't know what hit them), but they also enjoyed each other hard. Lots of laughter, chatting and connection between them all.

I think I give all, but I almost wonder if it was the craziness and energy that I felt nostalgic for. Maybe even a bigger realization that I have become more tense and intense lately. Forgetting to laugh and have fun, and not allowing the Holy Spirit to spill over into joy, in my life.

Believe it or not, I used to be fun and sought it out as a prerequisite for any activity I participated in... :) Of course that isn't the goal and I know that, but there is something

to be said about enjoying life and taking hold of the moment with enthusiasm and energy. Either way, I took a moment to step back yesterday afternoon and watch the whirlwind of activity and was able to look around and what might have appeared as "out of control" and was able to see it as I think God saw it... Love in high action! Thanks 8th grade girls for the reminder!!

(FYI, this energy thought has nothing to do with my getting older and feeling it daily :))

On one last side note, the little, little baby being held by Maria (2nd from bottom) is the newest addition to OLA. His name is Joseph and he is still in the hospital side for now and will come over to the orphanage in four weeks. I will give you more of his story another day, but boy was he cute.

Have a great Love in Action day......

Bollywood

So this weekend was one of those weekends where we had "plans" out on the town. Hillcrest was hosting an Indian dinner.

As we pulled into the parking lot, the basketball courts had been transformed into a Bollywood set. The sophomore class sponsored it and I have to admit, they did a great job. As you can see by the first picture, there was lots of dancing and great food. Every single member of the 10th grade class was also dressed in traditional indian clothing (last photo).

We went with some friends (I will no longer refer to them as new staff since they have been here more than a month now :)) and joined up with some more as we got there. It is during times like these evenings that life seems to have definitely found a rhythm for our family. I can be sitting in the middle of a Bollywood environment and look around and recognize most faces. Within minutes of sitting down our kids scatter off to dance with their friends, and we find our own persons being able to strike up a casual conversation without it taking a ton of energy to almost anyone around. AND, might I add, I can dance Indian.... oh yeah..... Theresa and I had some photos of it, but they were blurry, probably because of my mad dance moves..... but maybe another day you will be able to see that for yourself.

It was a great night with friends and might I just end this little blog with a "Jai - Ho"!