Bare Feet & Butterflies

We are past due for an update and this one will be interesting. Chris here, being painfully transparent for the remainder of this letter. As I write this, the weather is transitioning. The green we enjoyed for a short time is fleeing and the grass has grown brittle under our feet. Our village seems to have gained some type of magnetism for the cloud cover and we are all beginning to add layers.

The loneliness of winter is eminent.

As many of you know, our family was so excited to receive a visit from Eddie and Maggi Passmore. For those of you who don’t know, the Passmores are friends and fellow “field workers” from CEBC, our home church in San Diego. Their field of harvest is in Mexico. We had a wonderful time with them and we are confident that even though their visit in the village was short, they got a good picture of what life here is like and the difficulties we face as we traverse these mountains and valleys. For those of you in the Southern California region, Eddie and Maggi will be representing G8 at CEBC’s Missions Update on Sunday April 29^th at 6pm. They took lots of pictures and video (including the kids and me driving on our “driveway”).

The additional purpose of their visit was to speak words of encouragement to our Lesotho team at our yearly retreat. God prepared Eddie so well for what he presented. Many of the team members have commented after that it was just what they needed. Thank you, Passmore’s for the blessing you have been! Thank you, to those folks who helped with the financing of their travels.

You too are a blessing to us!

That brings me to the moment of transparency and what God has spoken to my heart. On the second day of our team retreat, Eddie had a form of sorts that he asked us to take to a solitary place and have a directed quiet time with God. Two and a half hours were set aside for this time. He encouraged complete silence – no singing or praying out loud – just quiet listening. For the majority of the group, it was a rough start settling in to solitude but in the end it was rewarding. For some the allotted time proved too short. This was much needed time for people who are bombarded with needs and wants and visits and everything else that comes with living in another context.

One part of the quiet time was to find an object – a rock, stick, flower or anything and hold it in my hand. This found object was to represent something that I need to say “no” to. I found an interesting rock, part stone on one side and sparkly crystal on the other. It glistened in the sunshine as I pondered what I need to say no to. I prayed. I considered the last 7 months and my struggles here in Lesotho.

I asked God. “What is it? What do I need to say “no” to?”

Quietly, He said, “Control.”

“I know- huh. Control. Ugh. Control of anything in particular?” I pondered.

“Everything.”

“Oh. Everything. Whew! Don’t know how this will work, but I know that You are right.”

As I contemplated and prayed, I walked far down a rocky dirt road. On this day, I looked nice – very put together – aqua and gray striped v-necked “t” shirt with matching gray shorts in my new slimmer size. “Very sharp!” they say here. I walked further and the next step was to get rid of the object. I prayed and asked God, “What do you want me to do with this little shimmering creation?” If I throw it, I am controlling it. If I bury it I am controlling it. What? Now, this went on for some time. How do I give my control to Him?

“Build an altar.” He said.

“What?! I’ll get dirty! I look so nice – OK, OK.”

So, I stopped and started gathering rocks of various sizes, tossing them to the side of the road. When I had several, I kneeled into the dirt and started stacking the rocks into a mound. Thinking, all the while, “If anybody sees me they will think I am nuts.” I continued shifting them so they fit nicely together. When they were stacked, they rose to about 15” above the ground. I was now dirty. I prayed over my little rock and placed it onto the top of the altar.

It sparkled proudly – just like control does.

I turned and began my walk up the rocky road.

“Take off your sandals.” He said.

“What? But my feet are clean and I’m already dirty enough.” I protested.

“Take them off.”

“UGH. I can’t do this. It will hurt. This road is too hard and rocky. I’ve gone too far. Please no.”

“Take off your sandals and walk.”

I took off my sandals. I walked and it hurt. I never walk barefooted even inside. My sandals wait for me at my bedside and at the shower edge. My feet don’t get dirty. I hobbled up the road and then He said, “This road is Molumong, Lesotho. It will hurt. It will be lonely. It is dirty business and you will get hurt, be lonely and get dirty.”

“But, I look like an idiot. I can’t even walk right. UNDIGNIFIED! I cried.” Then, I cried because it hurt. It hurt in more ways than you know.

“Be undignified – for ME.”, He said.

As I continued limping up the road, there in front of me lay a beautiful, but dead butterfly – His creation. I picked it up and held it in my palm. Beautiful yes, but dead.

HE whispered, “The Basotho are my beautiful creation. They are dying. Be hurt.  Be undignified for them and for me.”

Ok, everybody take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. The story continues.

As we ate our last breakfast with the Passmores before their flights home, Eddie asked, “What do you want the family at home to know?”  We want you to know that we are doing well but that doing well is still hard and it hurts sometimes. We miss. We hope. We remember. We look forward. That afternoon, we said, “See you later!” at the airport. Now, they are back with you.

When we returned to Molumong, there was trouble. Someone had stolen items from our home. Nothing big, they seemed to be somewhat selective in their theft and adding to the bad situation, it appears to have been an “inside job. “ But the most painful thing taken was trust. I have stewed with sadness, anger and hurt these last few days. Stewing is not pretty.

Today, I went for my morning run – it’s my time to process with God. As I reviewed the last few days, I considered all of the things I could do to control the situation. I have already changed the locks and added additional security but it doesn’t feel right. I have reviewed all of the times when people told us this place is safe and that we can leave our doors unlocked, that the Basotho are trustworthy. I have supposed all of the ways I can put folks in their place or bring them to their knees in guilty repentance.

Then, as I ran back towards home, a butterfly flew across my path…

Chris & Michelle Gennaro

Serving with Africa Inland Mission

Molumong, Lesotho

As many of you know, Michelle and I are learning a new language – Sesotho. We have been living in our village – Molumong for 5 months now. Acquiring a second language is interesting, frustrating, and rewarding all at the same time. Not only do we have to become like children, we also have to put ourselves in the position of saying something wrong – really wrong – like when instead of saying, “I am going to teach students how to design clothing.”, I said, “I am going to teach students how to take their clothes off.” Not the best thing to be saying.

I came across something interesting this week. In Sesotho, we have a verb, “ho utloa”. It is pronounced “hoe  oo-tlwah”.  I first learned that it means to understand. I have learned this week that it is what I would call a contextual verb. I don’t know if that is a proper linguistic term but let’s just go with it. So, what I mean is that I discovered that not only does it mean “to understand”, but it also means to feel, to hear, to taste and to obey. What? This one word means all of these things? When using the verb while touching, or listening, or eating, or being told or directed, it is understood in each context. When I thought about it – in each context, it made more sense. If someone here asked me to give them the blanket, and I sit still with a smile on my face failing to give the blanket to them, I have not understood. If I pet the horse’s coat and can describe how it feels, I have felt or understood the way it feels. If I listen to neighbor calling a greeting to me from across the valley, and I respond, then I have heard and understood him. If I drink the motoho (soured porridge) but don’t wince at the sourness (and fear what will happen inside when I swallow it), then I have not understood or tasted it. If the chief tells me that I must take my animals away from the village to graze in the designated grazing lands and I allow my animals to remain with me in the village grazing on the hills around my home, I have not obeyed or understood what the chief has told me. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. And as I even talked with God about it, He opened the thought up more clearly.

I can know or know about something – book knowledge- and not have true understanding about it if I haven’t actually felt it, heard it, tasted it, or allowed it to change something in me or guide me to a different behavior. Ho utloa – to understand, to feel, to hear, to taste and to obey. Where has God directed me through His word about ho utloa?

To understand: In Ephesians 1:4ff, Paul tells us that, “even as He chose us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before HIM. In love, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of HIS will, to the praise of HIS glorious grace with which HE blessed us in the BELOVED.” We can be told over and over again that God chose us and some people will say yada yada yada. But do we UNDERSTAND that GOD CHOSE US BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD AND ADOPTED US AS SONS? Creation is a huge thing – a miracle beyond man’s understanding – but GOD CHOSE US BEFORE HE EVEN DID THAT! “In the beginning God created…” We know those verses but do we UNDERSTAND that even before those words, HE HAD US IN MIND. Do I understand it? How do I know? What does it change in me? Do I tell others about their being chosen?

To feel: God brought to my mind Joseph and the coat of many colors. This may be abstract but stick with me. In Genesis 37 we are told about how Israel loved Joseph so much that he had a beautiful, colorful robe or coat made for him to wear. Most of us know how the story progresses but stop for a minute and put yourself in Joseph’s shoes or coat so to speak. As he slipped that colorful coat up onto one arm and then the other, as he adjusted it onto his shoulders and felt the weight of it as it fell down his back skimming his legs, as he grabbed the front and pulled it around himself. What did he feel – what did he understand? Did he feel or understand not only the weight of the physical coat but the weight of what others would see? Did he feel or understand his father’s love for him? When I think of what the colorful coat might point to today, I think of the NATIONS – the many colors of those people not yet reached with the story of Christ. When I slip that coat on, the coat that shows God’s abundant love for me, do I understand the weight of it? Do I feel the weight of what God’s love calls me to do? Do I buckle under the weight saying not me! Or do feel and understand God’s love as I pull the coat around me and move to take this love to others?

To hear: In Matthew 13:14ff, Jesus is telling his disciples the purpose of parables. Jesus spoke of Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled when he told his disciples the people, “…will indeed hear but never understand, you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart  had grown dull, and with their ears, they can barely hear, and their eyes have been closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” The Message says it even more clearly: “I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again: Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing. The people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in the ears so they won’t have to listen; they screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face to face and LET ME HEAL THEM.” Do we hear or understand that? God wants to HEAL us. HE, the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE – HE WANTS TO HEAL US!  Search HIS word – not only that but He wants to adopt us, bless us, love us, care for us, provide for us, cleanse us, and SAVE US! Do I, do you, do we HEAR and UNDERSTAND this? More importantly, Do THEY?

To taste: Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in HIM!” When we taste something, we are experiencing it – understanding it. We are having a personal experience. We can read through all of the wonderful recipes in the most recent cooking magazine but not until we get up, go to the store, buy the ingredients, bring them home, follow the directions and see it through, do we get to actually taste or understand what we have read in the recipe. It’s the same way with our relationship with Christ. If we don’t act on what we’ve read in HIS word – let it change something in us or motivate us for HIM, then we really don’t understand or taste that the Lord is good. If we don’t take what HE has quietly spoken to us and move on it – call that friend, send that card, pray for our coworker who doesn’t know Christ, hug our child, then we haven’t understood or tasted that HE is good.

To obey: John 14:15 from the Message, Jesus said “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.” This is also known as obedience. This is the verse that knocked me down some time ago and now is my life verse. If I am told to do something, I can either obey or not. Even God gives me a choice. But just as Jesus spoke those words, he followed them with a promise in verse 16ff, “I will talk to the Father, and HE will provide you with another friend so that you will always have someone with you. This friend is the SPIRIT of TRUTH…” Also known as the HOLY SPIRIT. So it’s not like most of our earthly fathers saying, “It’s my way or the highway!” He’s saying that he wants us to do what he has told us – it is following Him. We can follow any popular human who is the current fountain of wisdom and get nothing or we can follow Christ and HE will send us the Holy Spirit to be our friend and guide us through the mountains and valleys of this life.

Ho utloa – to understand, to feel, to hear, to taste or to obey.

Ke khetha ho o utloa.

I choose to utloa Him.

Chris 4 All 8 G’s All Over the World

Reflections on October from G8

There are so many things to reflect on when you’re a learner in a new culture. It seems that since we last wrote an update, these reflections are on big things like life, death, and eternity. We started the month off with a robbery in the village. Now, one of the most consistent things we heard about Molumong (pronoumced: Mow-doo-monge) before we arrived here is how safe it is (and it’s true!). Because of this, we didn’t suspect that a robbery was the cause for the villagers running toward the hills. It was a normal, slow, Monday afternoon and Chris and a couple of the kids had just returned from our little “shop.” To picture it in context, you have to picture a small, dark room in a stone building about the size of a large, walk-in closet back home. The shelves are lined with necessities, nothing fancy. I’m sure it was desperation that drove the young man and his accomplice to hold up the young mother who runs the shop. He took a bag of coins (that’s usually all that the people have to spend here) and some airtime vouchers. The village force sprung into action. This place went from a sleepy village to a town out of the old west. The men jumped on horses (armed with guns, we heard) and raced out into the hills. There aren’t trees here, so we could see them for a long time in the distance. They were chasing down the thief and his accomplice who had run separate directions. By the end of the day, as the police arrived from the closest town an hour away, the village men had both of the criminals and had beaten them. They took them to “Morenang” (the place of the chief) and publicly mocked them and yelled at them. It was only after the police truck left with them that we found out that one of the young men died. It may have been from the beating, from shock (it was very cold that day and they were running for about 4 hours), or a combination of the two. The most disturbing thing about it was that he lost his life for some coins…and he had used a toy gun. Makes one wonder, when desperate times come, where is our hope? Who or what do we turn to? We followed that experience with a sharp contrast…our first trip OUT of Lesotho and INTO South Africa. To see the route we take to the EAST coast of South Africa (and the beach!) Google “Sani Pass Lesotho.” You may want to do this before you read any further… As we drove the three hours through the mountainous valley and up to the top of a mountain range, we wondered what all of the hype was about “Sani.” THEN WE SAW IT….

I knew God was going to stretch me through this journey and those who know be best know that I am afraid of a couple of things, falling and horses. Let’s just say that the possibility of falling off the cliff and losing my entire family was frequently backed up by the skeletons of cars that had previously careened down the same ones we were traveling. The metal carcasses lay crunched and maimed down the sheer cliffs where we were driving (with no guard rail btw). I saw my life flash before me, and I’m not exaggerating, I’m sure it was a panic attack that I went into. “STOP!” was the main thing I could get out. I’ll spare you the rest of the details, but once again I was asking myself how much I trust Him. Do I BELIEVE He has us in the palm of His hand? Is He able? And what if I DO die today? The verse God gave us for the RETURN journey UP Sani with a fully loaded vehicle AND furniture on the roof rack was Psalm 91: 9-12, 14-15, “If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.’” I can’t honestly say that I DIDN’T have anxiety on the way back UP, but I CAN say that I cast it on Him. My mantra went something like this (while hyperventilating), “I trust you, I trust you, send your angels, angels, angels surrounding us, angels, angels…” Our Heavenly Father doesn’t put us through hardship without some treats along the way – can anyone testify?! – Durban, South Africa with Steve and Pam Hill was the treat at the end of the journey. Julia & Olivia at the Indian Ocean! (Durban, ZA) All of the kids at U’Shaka Sea World for Joseph’s birthday. God has been so faithful to give us friends who have immediately felt close, ones who have been where we are (the Hill’s are the ones who pioneered the work here and built our house), to refresh us in the Spirit. OUR plan was for the trip to be a supply trip and one to “consult” with Steve and Pam about culture, the house, etc. You know what God says about OUR plans! The change of plans came in the form of “hiccups” from our Land Rover. While our plans crumbled, we were able to see HIS plans unfold. The Body of Christ at Redemption Point Church in Durban welcomed us with open arms, scooping us up and helping us through the car problems. With a recommendation for a mechanic – and a sizable monetary gift – we set about getting the Landie worked on. There are so many praises to report in this story, but the MAIN thing we learned AGAIN is to trust God with ALL of your days. Flex with HIM. Don’t get set in YOUR plans. Ask Him what He has for you EACH day and set about doing it (PLNC alums will remember Dana Walling saying this). Max Lucado says this so well in his book, When God’s Story Becomes Your Story, “As God’s story becomes yours, closed doors take on a new meaning. You no longer see them as interruptions of your plan but as indications of God’s plan….It’s not that our plans are bad but that God’s plans are better.” (see Isaiah 55:8-9) And, if God wanted Joseph to have a special birthday in Durban at Sea World just because He loves him, who am I to complain?! Afterall, it was WAAAY better than my plans!

 We were told clearly that we’d have to deal with death here. Unfortunately, that’s true. We’ve lived here in the village for a month and a half and there have already been four funerals. One was an elderly man, one a toddler who died suddenly, one a 30-something mother, and one the chief’s mother. The chief lost his father, his sister, his aunt, and his mother this year. The young mother who I mentioned left four children, the youngest a two-year-old who frequents our porch. This is a desperate situation that we’re not sure how to navigate. Just the other night, he broke into inconsolable tears for no apparent reason. I swaddled him in a towel, cradled him in my arms, and walked him across the field to his rondavel whispering, “phephi, phephi (sorry, sorry).” His eyes got heavy and his crying stopped with the little breathless hesitations that come after a hard cry. As I handed him to the neighbor woman and she took him into the empty hut, he started screaming again. I walked away asking God what to do. His dad needs Jesus and recovery and hope and love, but has burned most of the bridges that were bringing those things to him. So far, the only answer we have is that we can love those kids as Jesus would and show them the way to Him so that they can have hope and a future. Most of the things we do at this point in our “assignment” here aren’t big things. It’s humbling to speak like a toddler and wonder at how to socially interact. It seems that at this point, we’re to love deeply and comfort those who are hurting with His love. Our prayer is that these things reveal the Father to a people with little or no hope. As we stood graveside and watched while they shoveled dirt on the village “Queen’s” grave yesterday, we were left with only questions again. They’re ones we all should ask, really. Who am I trusting? Where will I spend eternity? Please pray for us as we navigate this new culture and language and seek to be His hands and feet here in Molumong. Pray for Morena Rababanta in the loss of his family members, for Ntate Limpho and his grieving children, and pray for the LEC church here in Molumong (and in all of Lesotho) that it will surge with new life and the people will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, leaving their hope in the ancestors behind. PRAISE God with us for our faithful supporters who continue to keep us here (our support level is holding at 94% of what we need monthly) and for His Spirit that continues to sustain and equip us…even despite the blasted wind. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40

After a journey with more than TWELVE moves, WE ARRIVED in Molumong, Lesotho on September 10^th!  We are now IN the house we had been looking at on our computer for years and WITH the people we have all been praying for.  There’s so much to share that it’s hard to think of a theme or a clever way to pull it all together.  I guess the best way to describe our life is that we’re in a POWERFUL learning curve.  Name ANY area of life and it’s safe to say that we’re learning a new way to do it!  This is HUMBLING for Chris and I at 40-something and even maddening for Julia and Olivia who are “young adults.”  The other kids seem to take most things in stride and even express enjoyment in our new way of life (this is a HUGE praise!  Thanks for your prayers for ALL of us!)

GOING POTTY – We DO have an inside toilet, but because Chris (and Jed or Julia) have to go and GET all of the water we use, it is a special treat to use!  We mainly use our NEW outhouse.  Chris got to be the FIRST to use it!  How many of you can say you’ve done THAT?!  We use the inside one when it’s dark and “let the yellow mellow” until we have some reclaimed water to “flush” it with.  Grossed out yet?  IF sickness comes, this plan goes out the window and we flush!

TURNING ON THE TAP – When water comes out of the tap, we have a new appreciation for it!  Right now it runs only COLD, so we heat it on one of the two propane burners we have OR on our wood stove.  This happens whenever we need to wash dishes or “bathe.”

SPEAKING OF BATHING – There IS a shower, but the hot water heater isn’t working yet (it heats with propane).  We have a large, plastic “bath” that children 10 and under fit nicely into.  For the rest of us, this experience is like a combination between taking a bath and doing yoga.  IF you choose to take a “shower,” it means that you take a pot of hot water with you along with a big cup and you pour it over your head and body to achieve the shower sensation.  The good news:  our showers now take just a gallon of water or so!

GROCERY SHOPPING – This is done WHEN we are in town for some other reason and we have to figure out how to stock up without refrigeration.  We’ve learned quite a few things that you’d never know in America because of our seemingly unlimited access to both refrigeration AND electricity (at least in the city).  Cheese lasts a LOOONG time without being refrigerated!  We refuse to cut it from our diets, so we buy big hunks of cheddar when we’re in the capital (Maseru) and just keep it in one of those zipper, soft-sided “cold bags” like you would get at the grocery store.  We keep margarine like this too and it’s fine.  Eggs also don’t have to be refrigerated as long as they START OUT at room temperature.  The closest thing to a “market” is in town over an hour away.  We go there every-other week at least.  That’s when our team meets for prayer.  There’s a “shopo” in the village that has the basics.  They JUST got a freezer now, so now they have frozen chicken and sausage.  This gives us better access to meat.  We were just having on the day after shopping before this.  Olivia and I (Michelle) have enjoyed being creative together and have even made homemade bread AND pineapple upside down cake in the WOOD oven!

SQUIRREL!  Just kidding…I was actually just distracted by a donkey coming into our yard…

COOKING – We don’t have a range yet, so we cook on a two-burner propane “stove.”  It’s like a camp stove.  This is tricky with eight people, but we’ve gotten to be very strategic!  Chris even made pancakes this morning!  We decided we’d put frying pans on the top of our “need” list.  It’s a little hard to turn them when they’re in the bottom of a pot!  Baking is now done in a WOOD burning oven.  This is really nice, actually!  It warms the room and the reward for the work is VERY satisfying!  This’ll give you an idea of our creativity:  Chris recently took Jed with him to Maseru (a 7-hour drive) because he had to get ONE form to register our vehicle.  We were nearly out of food here, so we giggled as we ate our dinner that evening.  We called it “French Onion soup with herbed, fire-toasted croutons and sharp cheddar cheese.”  In reality, we only had onions left and some stale bread!  We’re thankful for the Knorr soup and seasoning packets that are readily available!

TV – None.  ‘Nuff said.  Our internet is pre-paid too, so we don’t even watch shows on-line anymore!

INTERNET – We’re thankful to have it, don’t get me wrong.  We just have to do it differently.  Our internet is pre-paid with a little modem that we put into the USB port of our computer.  We use Outlook and send/receive our e-mails there so we can read and compose them OFF-line.  The other times, we ration our time on Facebook, etc.  SOMETIMES we can get right on and other times we just have to wait until there is a signal.

ELECTRICITY – We have a solar panel that allows us to charge our electronics and gives us a light in the kitchen/dining room in the evenings.  We light the rest of the house with paraffin lanterns and candles.

CHURCH – This confirms why we’re here.  Please pray that those who we attend church with would come to know and love their Heavenly Father.  As it is, the prayers are read from a prayer book.  The songs are sung from a song book, and there is a routine feel to what goes on there.  Silly said it best after our first Sunday, “Do they just read the prayers instead of talking to God themselves?”  There are brief moments when one of the women will spontaneously break into a song and people will joyously sing and clap.  Oh!  I forgot to say that it’s all in Sesotho.  Language learning isn’t “instant gratification” enough for me!  I can’t WAIT to communicate better!  Our spiritual “food” has to come from our personal times in the Word.  Ironically, I was thanking God for MORE opportunity to share Truth from God’s Word with the kids.  We start EVERY school day with the Bible and prayer!  We’re able to apply most of what they’re learning to God’s truth and/or character.

FAMILY TIME – We don’t have to “fit this in” anymore!  I can’t think of another time in our lives when we’ve spent this much time together!  As you can imagine, this can have it up’s AND down’s!

SOCIAL LIFE – Another BIG reason to learn language!  We are blessed to have Jayne (in our village), the Barry’s (John is our Field Supervisor), and the Bentz’s who are the AIM missionaries in our area.  We get together for prayer on Thursday’s.  Otherwise, it is QUITE an adjustment for ALL of us to not be surrounded with friends.  This leads to our friendship with God…

DEPENDENCE ON GOD – We continue to struggle and then quickly turn everything over to Him for help.  Just as soon as I begin to dip into sadness, even discouragement, I realize that NO MATTER what my circumstances, HE IS WORTHY.  He loves the NATIONS and He loves the Basotho people and longs to have them worship at His throne.  He is WORTHY of that praise AND whatever we have to do to let HIS light shine through us!  He MUST be our purpose, our deliverer, our FIRST love, our BEST friend, and our all in all.  We’re also finding…once again…that His Word is “alive and active,” “useful for teaching and rebuking,” and applicable in ALL times and in ALL hearts!

“WORK” – Chris and I are both having to work through this HUGE change!  His work is on “hold” until he learns Sesotho pretty well.  When he’s not going to fetch water, helping with hand washing, or fixing or setting something up, he goes out into the village and talks to people, mastering at least a phrase or so a day.  My “work” is now mainly in the home and just living a life that models being a Christ-follower.  What does that look like?  Monday through Friday, I teach the kids in the morning, make lunch, and then go “visiting” in the afternoon.  This is when I do language learning.  Afternoons are also “children’s ministry” as the village kids show up on our porch from about 3-5 or when we say “see you tomorrow.” (I’ve ALMOST got this mastered in Sesotho!)  Saturdays seem to have naturally turned into our gardening and “work around the property” day.  People also visit US on this day and there tend to be even MORE kids here because they’re out of school.  Sunday’s are church and rest.  The slower pace of life and lack of “going to work” has challenged my tendency to derive my “worth” from what I “do.”  Having a “productive” day sometimes means teaching my children well and meeting one new person, communicating a greeting, what my name is, and where I am from in Sesotho.

PRAYER – We are SO thankful to have so many people praying for us AND supporting us in so many ways!  It is UNBELIEVABLE to be on this side of the world through the gifts and obedience of all of you.  Our set-up is taking WAY more than was anticipated and, as God tends to do, a generous gift given through some friends made up the difference we needed!  Please continue to pray for the last 5% or so that we need monthly to keep us going on the field.  It’s hard to believe, but putting food on the table takes AS MUCH or MORE than it did at home (add 1 ½ hour drive round-trip to the grocery store and you’ve added to the cost!).  Please also pray for OUR EARS and OUR BRAINS that we can supernaturally hear and learn this new language!  We long to be able to have it just spill out of our mouths!  Unfortunately, it’s not that easy…  THANK YOU ALSO for praying for our kids who continue to astound and amaze us.  They have done SO WELL at every step of the way.  Julia and Olivia are sometimes bored out of their minds being teenage Southern California girls, but have been so good to step in and help, creatively decorate their room, make something, or visit with me.  Continue to pray for Chris and I (see above), Julia as she processes what’s next for her, Olivia as she prepares for boarding school, Jed and Silly as they make new friends from another culture, and Joseph and Duane as people look at them with bewilderment that they don’t understand Sesotho!  (They LOOK like they might be from here!)

When I stop to think about it, there are many times that I look out the windows at these mountains and marvel, “We’re here.  We’re really here.  Look what God DID!”  How I pray that the Basotho people see us figuring out how to live here and learn the language because of God’s UNFATHONABLE love for them.

Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in this village and in our hearts.

We’ve already packed and moved SIX times since leaving San Diego!  Our family joke is that we are experts at “evacuating.”  It seems that each time we leave a place we have a deadline and have to pull together as a team to pack, re-pack, store, and clean our way out.  Here’s the list of places we’ve been:  We went FROM staying in 3 dormitory rooms at Scott Theological College in Machakos, Kenya back to AIM’s Mayfield Guesthouse in Nairobi.  We had planned for a few days to rest and debrief after our training, so we endured another round of goodbyes with our new friends who were heading out to their assignments all over Africa and squeezed in some fun outings.  That’s when Michelle kissed the giraffe!  A highlight!

After that, we packed for a weekend trip, put the rest of our stuff in storage and headed to visit the Murphy’s. What a JOY it was to spend the weekend with Ryan and Heather, our friends from our home church in San Diego. They teach at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya where Olivia will go to boarding school.  It was so wonderful to be with close, familiar friends and to see where Olivia will be.  We were inspired, impressed, and more than excited for her to join that community!  (Julia declared that she wants to go BACK to high school so SHE can go there too!)

Monday came and we headed BACK to Nairobi and Mayfield, but BRIEFLY.  We had JUST enough time to get our bags from the storage, weigh them, and pack them onto the van to go to the airport.  We had ANOTHER safe flight – thank you, Lord! – to JOHANNESBERG, South Africa.  Joseph had the first comment about their ULTRA MODERN airport, “Are we in America?”  Yes, Johannesburg IS modern for SURE!  The difference between East Africa and South Africa was bigger than we expected!  We met our partners, the Barry’s (what a blessing!), got some mall shopping done for essentials like phones, Chris and Joseph got haircuts (shaving his dreads off left polka dots on his head!), and we had a McDonald’s meal!  The guesthouse we stayed at (and will frequent between RVA and here) in Johannesburg is B.I.M.S.  It stands for Baptist Int’l Mission Station (or something like that).  They are currently generously storing our things until John Barry or we can pick it up.  We packed AGAIN, this time for the COLD.  Everyone told us we were headed into the “bleak mid-winter” in Lesotho.  Bundle up!

We had a brief, wonderful stay with the Kraybill’s who work in the AIM Southern Region office (still in Johannesburg).  The office staff had a time of prayer for our family and we enjoyed a meal together.  Yea, they had three girls!  Two of their daughters are about Julia and Olivia’s age and one was Silly’s age!  The boys stayed with the Barry’s that night and we stayed in the little guest house at the Kraybill’s.  The whole Southern Region team has been so welcoming and wonderful!  I can’t express in words how comforting it is to have all of them call EACH OF US by name and say, “We’ve been praying for you for so long!”

It was surreal to be getting onto the plane for the FINAL flight to Lesotho.  It was a small plane, so we were only allowed one bag each.  We had strictly consolidated and re-organized at B.I.M.S.  so that our bags were efficiently packed.  Despite the effort, the school books and toiletries put us overweight, but not too badly (20 kilos, but the NICE lady only charged us for 10!).  These were the times we sensed all of your prayers and knew God had made our path straight.

Landing in Lesotho was literally a breath of fresh air.  We disembarked from the small plane onto the tarmac and into the fresh, clean, mountain air.  The cultural adjustment THIS time was to a mountainous, SAFE place – whew!  AND… we were blessed beyond words to see our VEHICLE parked outside of the airport waiting for us!  We got to load our stuff into our OWN vehicle!  Chris had to drive for the first time in over a month, a 4×4 Land Rover Defender 110 Dual-Cab, shifting with the left hand on the LEFT side of the road!  Sue, another AIM missionary based in Maseru (the capital) had us over for lunch, took us to the store to get groceries, and then took us to the place we were to stay for a few days while we took care of legal business.   We stayed ONE night when we learned from the neighbors (and it was confirmed by our AIM colleagues) that there was to be a “march” in Maseru.  There are tensions in many aspects there in the capital.  There was a taxi strike on the day before we left Johannesburg that almost delayed our entrance into Lesotho, the tensions are high in the factories where the workers make wages that keep them in poverty, and it was the government workers who were “marching” that Monday.  Our team leader and other AIM friends gave us two options.  We could stay in Maseru and stay inside until things calmed down OR we could get more “provisions” and drive south to Maphutseng ahead of schedule for our village stay.  We chose to head south to “freedom” rather than be cooped up in a two-bedroom, TINY place together for days.

The drive south was beautiful.  We traveled on a paved, two-lane road surrounded by herds of cattle, sheep, and goats, grassy valleys and, rocky, majestic mountains.  Shepherds wrapped in blankets stood over their flocks, the men and boys we had been praying for so long.  It was peaceful, no traffic, no smog, no threat of mugging, and open roads stretching ahead of us.  It got dark early, before 6:00, so we didn’t SEE the beautiful valley we were driving into as Gustaf Basson led us to our new temporary “home” on his dirt bike.  He’s 17, by the way.  It made for an exciting drive.  He kept “forgetting” we were following him and taking little side “jumps.”  Daylight would reveal our little house in the valley is perched up along the top of a mesa-like hill where we have a beautiful view of the valley.  We have no electricity and no running water.  Only two bedrooms and one common room complete our living space.  We DO have a four-burner propane range that we’ve made some wonderful meals on!  Olivia and Michelle are stretching their brains to remember how to make things like cookies without a recipe!  We also have the MOST beautiful show of stars at night that we have EVER seen.  The Milky Way glows right above us and seeing shooting stars and comets is common.

Quiet, welcoming smiles and waves greet us wherever we go.  The people are warm and friendly, excited to help us stumble with our Sesotho (the language here).  They are quick to help, encouraging, and fun.  Although poverty is still present, the Basotho people make sturdy, lovely homes for themselves and keep their grounds clean and manicured with even the lowliest of resources.  Clean water is accessible by public taps around the village.  We join others at the one closest to where we are staying to get our water every day.  Actually, we carried it by hand the first few days.  Now Chris takes the vehicle and gets all of the jugs in one trip!  It takes a few jugs to get us clean every couple of days!

We are all transitioning well.  There are moments where frustrations rise or emotions come on suddenly, but generally we are all at peace.  This is clearly where God would have us be and we recognize the long road of language and culture learning in front of us.  Michelle started school with the kids on Monday and they’re easing in with Review.  This has given us a welcome sense of schedule.  Afternoons are spent walking to get internet access at the Basson’s or the Mission Station nearby and visiting.  Our assignment is to master one Sesotho phrase a day.  So far our best teacher has been 11-year-old Allyse.  The best Gennaro student?  Julia.  All of that memorizing in theatre is paying off!  She DOES cheat a little bit (and Michelle does too) by pouring over the binder of Sesotho phrases that were left here by the previous missionaries!

Memorable lessons from Maphutseng:  WARNING MAY CONTAIN POTTY TALK!

-          From Ecclesiastes, “There is a time to be born and a time to die.  A time to mourn and a time to laugh.”  The pig here at the house had piglets.  Four died and only one survived.  The kids gave up their new blanket to shield the baby from the cold nights.  Julia has become a pig lover.  When two men came and tied the daddy pig up by the legs this week and he screamed like crazy, we all grieved for our new friend.  As we all cried inside and Michelle explained the PURPOSE of livestock – food, livelihood, etc. – Julia worked up the courage to go check out what they were doing.  She burst into the tear-filled room and declared tearfully, “Good news!  Well, kind-of good.  They’re not BUTCHERING him, they’re just cutting off his balls.”  We burst into uneasy laughter.

-          Preparation is worth the time commitment.  We all long to arrive in our new home and finally get to unpack and settle in.  However, we know that God is using each day here to prepare us for what He has for us in ministry in Molumong.  Please continue to pray for us as we plug along in learning language!  (Chris and I will go to a “home stay” for a week in a neighboring village next week while the kids stay with the Basson’s.)

-          God is faithful.  I’m sure you all know that, but He’s really a detail guy!  We see Him ministering to each of the kids and giving us spots of joy throughout the journey.

-          His command to “GO” is for every believer and He is using people from all over the WORLD to accomplish His purpose for the Nations.  What a privilege it is that He has allowed us to have a little part in letting his light shine in Lesotho.

-          A Land Rover is the ONLY car for us in this terrain!  Thank you to all of you who contributed to our vehicle!  It’s a 2002 and has the power (torque, I’m told) to get us through river beds and up hills that you wouldn’t believe!  Coming soon…the Vehicle MAINTENANCE account!  This rough riding is tough on vehicles and you DO NOT want to break down in the middle of nowhere!

-          Be prepared for weather DIFFERENT than the reports!  We’ve had BEAUTIFUL weather and Michelle’s been stuck with only SNOW BOOTS!  They look fabulous with skirts!

Sorry for the length!  I’m sure we’ll have more adventures to report next month FROM MOLUMONG!

We sense your prayers and your friendships over the miles.  It gives us great joy to know that we’ll have FOREVER together in Heaven!  Keep looking to HIM!

Salang hantle!  (Stay well!)  BTW – It sounds NOTHING like it’s spelled!  Our poor tongues!

Michelle (for all

Have I chosen a lifetime of goodbyes? I must be dense. I can’t say that it never occurred to me, but today we survived another round of goodbyes. As I watched the tears begin to fall, I asked myself, “What have I done? I have brought my family to Africa where we will say goodbye over and over again?” Our ABO partners assigned to serve in different capacities in Uganda and beyond departed for the airport. I choose to say “see-you-later” yet, I am still left with a void. We said goodbye to people who made us ponder, laugh, cry and dive deeper.

Let’s take Mr. Charlie for instance. Virtually every question he asked me began with, “Did you ever see the movie_____________ ?(fill in the blank). In our three plus weeks together, I think I had seen ONE movie he referenced (J. Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and there was only ONE movie that I had seen that he hadn’t (Xanadu – if you have to know). No comparison, I know, but I still love Olivia Newton John. Charlie made me laugh and he made me want to be able to understand theology better. God has given Charlie a gift that we will all be excited to see him use teaching theology in Uganda.

Charlie is married to Tyra. Together, they make a great team. Tyra is a gifted, direct communicator. Though we came from different areas and backgrounds, we found common ground in our humor, parenting styles and desire to serve well. Often, I would hear Charlie and Tyra deep in discussions about what we had just learned in class. Tyra has a love of learning that I would like to develop. (Yes, I know that my wife also has a love for learning but Tyra’s affects me less  (-:  ) God gifted us with a special bond together with Charlie, Tyra and their children. We pray that they learn to love and appreciate Uganda even more that we have.

Then there is Seb (short for Sebastian). Seb comes from the UK and even though I couldn’t always understand what he was saying, I grew to love his concern for others. Each morning, he would greet me with, “Yalrightmate?” to which I would reply, “What?” It took a few days for me to understand and soon we were on common ground. Seb will be working to disciple youth in Uganda. Oh, what an important task is before him. So many times, a brilliant revival will come through UG turning many to Christ. However, there remains the aftermath of lives without mentors to disciple. Even though he is what I consider to be young, he has been blessed with Godly insights and a love for the youth.

Also, leaving a bit of a void is Cassandra. She is also from California and I will miss her herbal aroma. She was such a blessing to our whole family (Julia and Olivia especially). I am so thankful for that. What ails you? Check with Cassandra and I am sure she will have a tea, salve, ear candle or supplement for it. She was always ready to help and also loved on the “middles” (Jed & Silly) and the “littles” (Joseph & Duane) as well. Cassandra showed an amazing level of flexibility as her assignment changed multiple times. What does God want – our abilities or our AVAILABILTY? This is Cassandra’s lesson for us all.

Jacob was heading to Africa’s newest country via Uganda. He was very quiet but would sneak in funny one-liners on the sly. God has given him a gift of insight and concern for others. Jacob was one I would love to hear from during our classes. He never said anything without having thought it through. He said things like, “Are the voices in my head bothering you?” What I learned from Jacob was to think before I speak. I can’t promise that I will always do that because as I see it, there is sometimes a need for saying it like it is (or shock value). God has given Jacob a heart for the lost and even though he sometimes wonders or has doubts, he moves forward following God. May I follow like Jacob follows.

There is something to learn from almost everyone who crosses our path. Yes, goodbyes are never fun and “see-you-laters” seem a bit easier but I still ask, did I choose this or did God choose this for me? Will my life become pitted with empty spaces or will I ask God to fill those spaces? I am choosing to thank God for the time we have had with those loved ones and as He fills the spaces, I am moved to plead with those who have not chosen a life of relationship with Jesus to do just that – Choose life.

^11-12This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

1 John 5:12 The Message

We’ve been seeing a lot of friends and family lately.  As our departure draws closer and closer, this becomes even more of a priority.  Last weekend we were with Chris’ family in Santa Paula and Ventura and this weekend we were with my family (Michelle) in San Clemente and Mission Viejo and then dear friends and partners in Foothill Ranch.

As you can imagine, there are a LOT of questions asked of us!  I’d be asking questions of us myself if I were you!  :0)  There are some goodies, some real whoppers, but the ones that have been on my mind lately are the What If’s.  What if your house doesn’t sell?  What if it DOES sell before you leave and you don’t have anywhere to live?  What if you don’t get cleared to go on time?  What if you don’t get cleared and you’re here without jobs?  Health insurance?  The list goes on and on.  You could come up with your own set of what if questions for your own situation, I’m sure.  What if I’m not healed of this?  What if my child gets sick?  Dies?  What if my spouse isn’t happy?  What if MY job gets cut?  What if I lose MY house?

The truth is, there’s no productive reason to ponder those questions.  I’m learning that it really falls into the worry category when we do.  It starts there with worry and then grows into the ugly beast of FEAR.  As you know, that’s crippling.  The Enemy loves to keep us wallowing there in the fear of the unknown.  “I’m not sure what will happen then, I better just stay right where I am.  I better not risk it.”  I’ve become convinced that this is one of the crafty serpent’s most effective weapons against us.

We had the chance to meet a friend of a friend on Sunday.  We were blessed to have the kinds of spiritual conversations with this group of people that just give you goose bumps.  Remembering what God has done – and continues to do – in our lives is a powerful thing.  As we were leaving, he asked us how we were feeling about our upcoming Financial Clearance and the number of things that are left without answers.  We both admitted that we would LIKE to know what is going to happen when, but we just aren’t in control of that.  We’re CHOOSING to trust and obey day-by-day.

He had this brilliant insight that was a freeing “light bulb moment” for me.  It was a perspective on Psalm 119:105 that I hadn’t thought of before.  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Our new friend said that this lamp for our guidance is for our FEET for a reason.  We only need one step at a time illuminated in order to walk by faith!  This is so true!  God sees the whole picture and we can’t even begin to know the future.  All we need is His guidance for our NEXT STEP, not the whole week, year, or the rest of our lives.  Chris and I appreciated this perspective so much, but both of us laughed as we confessed what we WANTED God to give us…A well-lit, HUGE, blinking RUNWAY!!!  We expanded that analogy to include the people at the end of the runway with the long flashlights telling you where to “park it.”  Ahhhh…wouldn’t that be GREAT?!

In these uncertain times, there are a few things that we know for certain.  GOD LOVES US AND THE BASOTHO PEOPLE and has a plan for us far beyond what we could ask or imagine.  HE IS IN CONTROL.  HE HAS LED US IN THIS DIRECTION and will provide for what He purposes.  ALL material things will just burn eventually and aren’t worth worrying about anyway.

Since Sunday, I’ve been thinking more about that verse and the “light for my path” part.  That’s a small area to light also.  Have you ever walked along a path in the darkness?  Looking ahead on the path is useless because it’s so dark ahead of you.  When you look right or left, you just see dark brambles and shadowy potential dangers and sharp snares.  Even things that are perfectly safe look ominous.  The light on the path just shines on the most necessary route, the PLANNED and worn path, the one that is taken step-by-step, with conscious trust and dependence on the Light.

Further in the same Psalm, in verse 109, it says, “Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.” Thankfully, this journey is teaching me that I CANNOT take my own life in my hands anymore.  I’m not in control.  Take the driver’s seat, Lord, lead us down YOUR path for YOUR name’s sake.

Keep praying, friends!  Our Financial Clearance is next Wednesday, June 15th.  That’ll shine a LOT of light on our path!                              – Michelle

Yesterday I turned 45.  I started the day in The Word and was reflecting on the Great Commission because I’m preparing to speak at a Women’s Event next week.  Jesus’ words jumped off the page at me and it was JUST what I needed to hear, “And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” It’s what he said immediately AFTER He commanded ALL OF US to GO and make disciples of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He has commanded us.  As you know, that’s the command we’re responding to.  While I have NO regrets for taking this leap of faith, it IS a time of trusting God for our DAILY needs and CHOOSING multiple times a day to REMEMBER His character, His mighty acts that He has done in our lives in the past, and TRUSTING Him with our kids, our finances, our house, our future, His timing, and on and on.  It was in this frame of mind that I began my birthday.

There’s just not enough free time lately.  We’re still working on getting the house ready to sell.  The Body of Christ here has been hard at work helping us and we’re still working like mad.  TRUST.  We can only do what we can do and leave the rest to Him.  So, in the spirit of doing what we can, we ran errands.

Finances.  God DID change the tax laws just for us this year.  I don’t know if you had heard that!  Technically, we can get the rest of our adoption credit in a lump sum.  We filed for our taxes and they asked for more documentation in order to receive the credit.  The wait…45 days.  Within our church family, we have a friend who is licensed to work with the IRS, so we went and signed over a power of attorney for her to look into it for us.  Pray for the Expediter she is going to speak to!  Meanwhile…

The clutch went out on the Mini.  First, $1400, then $1700…and, the birthday message, the hydraulic system must be replaced also…$2000.  Needless to say, we don’t have that money.  However, Body of Christ again.  We can make payments.  TRUST.  I am with you ALWAYS.

Our kitchen appliances have been out of the kitchen while Chris installs flooring.  (It looks beautiful!)  My birthday wish was 1) no camp cooking 2) no doing dishes in the garage again 3) Souplantation with the family!  Well, even a modest meal like that is a big expense for our family, so I was trying to get a coupon printed.  Did I say our computer was attacked with a virus, trojan, malware somethingorother and we can’t print anything?  TRUST.  NOTHING I tried worked.  Couldn’t hook the laptop up to the printer, both computers Julia has access to at school were down, neighbors not at home.  Body of Christ.  Called our friend who lives on the way to the restaurant.  She printed the coupon!  When we went to pick it up, she realized she had been given a gift card FOR US.  Guess where it was to?  SOUPLANTATION!  Coupon AND gift card!!

I decided I should go to AWANA.  I haven’t been able to go for a long time and I missed my peeps!  Turns out, they were scheming a blessing!  They surprised me with a farewell birthday.  The WHOLE club squeezed into one room and when Demi led me in, they all started singing.  They all had made cards and sweet letters for me.  When I got home and started reading all of them, there were gift cards galore!  There were enough  gift cards there to provide meals out while our house is shown and/or outings for our bucket list until we leave!  TRUST.  I am with you always.  Your Heavenly Father knows what you need.

Because I didn’t want to do a mammogram AND ultrasound on my birthday, I saved it until today.  The young woman called my name.  I thought she looked familiar as I passed her and walked into the exam room.  Then she said the words that were awkward to hear just before I took my shirt off, “You look familiar.  Did you teach at Mountain Empire High School?” Yes, my former student did my mammogram!  Once I got past the thought, it was wonderful to catch up and it was a bright spot in my day, a new connection.  I am with you always.

Driving home, I reflected on the events over the last couple of days and the TRUTH that God is in control.  Lost in thought, I savored the peace that washed over me.  I don’t know how all of this is going to happen, but HE does.  I don’t have to worry, though.  The joy returned, the burden lightened.  Then, suddenly, back to reality…

A car sped in front of me abruptly changing lanes with his middle finger high in the air.  Was that for me?  This is the truth of my existence.  I’m living IN the world, but am not OF this world.  I’m feeling less and less like I belong in my home, my country, even my skin.  I guess this isn’t my home afterall.

“‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus replied. ‘No one who has left home or brothers or or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and with them persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.’” Mark 10:29-30

It’s all gonna be worth it when I see Him face-to-face. I’m choosing to TRUST.  He’s in control, persecution and all!

Michelle

I love taking the train. As I write this I am sitting on an Amtrak train bound for San Clemente where I will meet Michelle and the kids. Our family is going up to Bass Lake to enjoy some extended family time. This is a highly-anticipated and much needed time of respite. We have been going at breakneck speed (faster than the normal) for some time.

Before now, I had not formed a picture of what this period in our preparation would look like. The one word that I think describes it best is intense. Not in the over-used slang sense of the word, but as we are IN TENSION. There is a definite pressure in our day to day existences. Tension can be a good thing like when the cables supporting the bridge I am passing over tense with the weight of the passenger-filled train (and don’t break). It is also good when the newly installed header beam tenses to hold the weight of the roof of my house (thank you Mr. R.).

But, there is an intangible tension in our home. The tension is good in that it keeps us moving forward in all of the loose ends we have begun to tie up, good in pressing us ahead in our readying the house for sale, and  good in keeping us pressed to our Outbound list of “to dos” that AIM has set up for us. The tension is not so good (AKA bad) when it strains our marriage relationship, our interaction with our children and the bonds of our friendships. Please keep us in your prayers as we do our best to be intentional with how we spend our last days in our home, our church, our town and our families.

But God, (I love it when the great biblical writers use “But God…” because it always points to His control and care) the great counselor has His eyes upon us as He holds us in His hands. Peter tells us in his first epistle, “Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. It is God who fills us with His strength to run the race set before us. Michelle and I have run several races. Some, we have run together and some on our own. I can tell you, never in my life have I run a race like this one. We have to keep a good pace, choose our steps carefully and keep our focus on God’s plan to bring the nations to Him. It is God who helps us endure this race. It is God who is the reason we do what we do. It is you friends that help encourage and steady us as we sometimes slow and falter. Thanks for being a part of the tension, the journey and the race.

Today, I am so amazed with God’s blessings upon our family. I should back up a few days.

Last Saturday, while Michelle and three of the kids were at an AWANA games competition, a friend came over to check out what home improvement projects he could help with(we are getting our house ready to sell). We are so thankful people are willing to help. We have been in this house for 13 years. Eight people in a 3BR/2BTH can get a little tight. I would describe our home like that favorite pair of jeans. We fill out every inch, we rub things a little thin, and we constantly need cleaning. The wear is really showing. Michelle and I chose to have a large family in our small house and do not regret that decision. So, on to the Saturday conversation, which went something like this :

Visitor: (A bit bug-eyed) “This is no small task. The only way we can get all of this finished is to move your family out of the house for at least 2 months.”

Me: (Gulp-trying not to hyperventilate) “There is no way we can do that. We live here, I work part-time out of the house and there is no place where we can relocate.”

Note: We are scheduled to depart in 129 days.

Me: “Yikes!”

Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed for the remainder of the weekend.

So here we are, five days since the conversation. Let me tell you how God has blessed us through His body of believers.

There is not one weed left in our front yard. There are only 2 plants left on the side yard that was so overgrown, we could not walk along it. In the back yard where there was weeds, and a nice large “divet” to make our “white trash” summer pool deeper, there is now level soil (no weeds) and trenches dug for the repaired sprinkler system.  There are new sprinkler valves too!  You think that is something!!?? We were planning on just touching up the painted trim on the exterior. This time next week, our entire house exterior will be painted a nice (sell it fast) mocha, with parchment trim and accent color (TBD)!

It doesn’t stop there! At the suggestion of our Realtor, we started a pretty involved wall modification that quickly moved way beyond our ability. Today a friend from church came by to look at it. He is a carpenter. He said, “No problem. I’ll be here to take care of it on Monday.” On his way out, he called another brother in Christ and asked him to come look at some electrical in the wall. That man came right over and said, “No problem, I’ll be over Monday to fix it.” It’s going to be busy here on Monday!

Can you even believe all of this!!! I am feeling amazed, blessed and completely not worthy of such outpouring of skill, hard work and love. I feel like Sally Field at the 1985 Academy Awards!

“…this time I feel it, and I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!”

But what is really so much more amazing is that all of these people are doing these incredible works because they LOVE Jesus. It has nothing to do with liking me or not. They are living out what the writer of Acts told about in Acts 2:44 “having all things in common” – meaning voluntary generosity shown by sharing ones skills, labor or finances with brothers in the faith.

God is once again using His body of believers to confirm His movement in our lives. God is in no way obligated to me or my family. Yet, He lavishes His love upon us daily just as He did when He loved us so much that He sent his Son to die on a cross for us.

He didn’t have to do it.

But, I’m so glad He did.

- Chris