Hello!
Do you ever have things that happen that you know were just God Things? Well, that is what I call them anyway. One time I was on furlough and traveling to my parents home and needed a rest stop. So, I pulled in to the next one I saw - just inside the Colorado state line. As I was getting out of my car and walking toward the restroom, I heard my name called. Now who in the world would know me in this rest stop along the highway? I hadn't traveled with anyone. But there it was, someone calling my name and they knew me. When I looked, it was an old college friend. He and his family had been in Colorado visiting family and were on their way back east. It was a God thing. An unplanned moment when the unexpected and happy thing happens. When you ponder it out, there is just no way it was a coincidence. It had to be orchestrated by our great God.
So, I had another such God thing happen when I was in the States over Christmas. I went with my brother to his local mall. We were shopping for Christmas presents and had split up. He decided to get some goodies to take back home for the rest of the family and called me on my phone to have me meet him in that shop. Even the name is a bit funny when I think about it. It was called "Paradise Bakery." So, I went to meet him there. We were just getting our coats on to leave when all of a sudden I heard my name called out and not by my brother. It was not lunch time so the place wasn't busy. Two women had just walked in and one of them had called my name. It was a friend from High School and College. She doesn't live in that town. She just stopped by with her mother-in-law to get a treat or maybe a late lunch. We would not have gotten to see each other during my short visit if not for this "accidental" meeting. Anyway, it was another God thing. It was unplanned and unpredictable. It was a little extra blessing from the Lord. It had me smiling for the rest of the day and still does when I think about it.
How about you? Had any God Things happen to you lately? It doesn't have to be meeting old friends - just some unexpected little blessing that only God could have orchestrated? I'd love to hear about it!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
White as snow
Hello!
I recently spent time in the States. I was mainly in the heartlands - Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. I traveled and saw a lot of snow. For those of you who know me, I love snow and the winter months. Pretty much any of the seasons but summer are my favorites. So, I was happy to be able to see some snow while I was home.
I know that many of you may be tired of the stuff by now, but I really enjoyed it even when I was slipping and sliding in it. I was a bit scared, but I enjoyed it none the less. Anyway, since snow is not a common sight for me, I got to thinking about it. It brought to mind Isaiah 1:18. That says, "Come now and let us reason together says the Lord: though your sins be as Scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be white as wool."
Snow when it first falls and accumulates can make a winter wonderland. It is so pure and beautiful. Then people walk in it or drive in it and it gets dirty. If it snows again, then the pristine white comes back for a time. So, I was pondering this and thinking how glad I am that we have a Saviour who promises to make us white like snow. Not when it is old and dirty, but when it is in all its glorious whiteness. This thought kept coming back to me the whole time I was in the States seeing the snow. So, I thought I better share it so I can get on with things now that I am home in Turkana.
What are your thoughts on snow? Good, bad or indifferent? I'd love to hear from you!
I recently spent time in the States. I was mainly in the heartlands - Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. I traveled and saw a lot of snow. For those of you who know me, I love snow and the winter months. Pretty much any of the seasons but summer are my favorites. So, I was happy to be able to see some snow while I was home.
I know that many of you may be tired of the stuff by now, but I really enjoyed it even when I was slipping and sliding in it. I was a bit scared, but I enjoyed it none the less. Anyway, since snow is not a common sight for me, I got to thinking about it. It brought to mind Isaiah 1:18. That says, "Come now and let us reason together says the Lord: though your sins be as Scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be white as wool."
Snow when it first falls and accumulates can make a winter wonderland. It is so pure and beautiful. Then people walk in it or drive in it and it gets dirty. If it snows again, then the pristine white comes back for a time. So, I was pondering this and thinking how glad I am that we have a Saviour who promises to make us white like snow. Not when it is old and dirty, but when it is in all its glorious whiteness. This thought kept coming back to me the whole time I was in the States seeing the snow. So, I thought I better share it so I can get on with things now that I am home in Turkana.
What are your thoughts on snow? Good, bad or indifferent? I'd love to hear from you!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The end of the year 2010
Okay, I know you are wondering what happened to me. So, here it is. I got behind in blogging and then I felt like I had too much to say. So, I will try to fill you in shortly and sweetly on what happened while I was home in the States.
Since last writing, I visited with friends from Blue Springs, MO. It was a fun filled evening and I wish it could have been longer. I just spent time updating folks on what is going on here in Kenya and didn't have time to really catch up with them on what they were doing. I guess I will have to do that in 2012 when I go for furlough.
The next night I spent with a group of folks I call my "Indy gang." That was so much fun! It is always good to just be in the presence of old friends who knew you "when." We had a great time just chatting, getting a little caught up and remembering old times. By this time my parents and I were in Indianapolis and spending time with my brother and niece as well. It was so good to be able to spend some quality and quantity time with them!
Family, fun, cards and friendly family jokes were part of the next weekend with my extended family. We traveled to Michigan to see my Dad's three brothers and many of their kids as well as cousins from my Grandma's sister. It was a great weekend and I wish it could have lasted longer, but it was something to cherish. I was given an assignment by my uncles, but I haven't started on it yet so they will have to be patient :).
I spent Christmas and Boxing Day back in Indianapolis with my family. It was even a white Christmas as it snowed on Christmas Eve and Christmas day a little bit. It was so nice to be wrapped in the love of family and to cherish it as something special. I think living away from family makes the times we get to spend with them that much sweeter!
Then it was back to Colorado to get ready to return to Kenya. I had 2 Sundays left out there. I spent January 2nd with my church family at Green Mountain Christian Church. It was good to see old friends there. The next weekend I spent with my church family in Colorado Springs at Academy Christian Church. It was a wonderful weekend spent with friends. Many of them even sat through a showing of multiple pictures from Turkana. I admire their tenacity and enthusiasm :).
After that visit to Colorado Springs I got to drive home in a snow storm. I might not have called it that before I moved to the desert, but I do now. The roads were slick and in a couple of places the wind was blowing the snow so hard I couldn't see much in front of me. Even so, I made it home safely and completed the process of packing and weighing bags for my return on Tuesday, January 11th.
So, that is a short synopsis of my holidays. I had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope the same is true for you! I even got to see snow and play in it a little bit. Even though my driving skills in snow and ice have been a bit forgotten, I still love it. I will try to add a little more later this week on some impressions while in the States.
In the meantime, I am happy to be "home" in Turkana and preparing for my next English class. We are talking about "the fall" this week in our movie of the Bible. I am trying to come up with discussion topics that beginning English students could talk about. I asked for suggestions on Facebook and would be glad for any here as well :). Have a good week!
Since last writing, I visited with friends from Blue Springs, MO. It was a fun filled evening and I wish it could have been longer. I just spent time updating folks on what is going on here in Kenya and didn't have time to really catch up with them on what they were doing. I guess I will have to do that in 2012 when I go for furlough.
The next night I spent with a group of folks I call my "Indy gang." That was so much fun! It is always good to just be in the presence of old friends who knew you "when." We had a great time just chatting, getting a little caught up and remembering old times. By this time my parents and I were in Indianapolis and spending time with my brother and niece as well. It was so good to be able to spend some quality and quantity time with them!
Family, fun, cards and friendly family jokes were part of the next weekend with my extended family. We traveled to Michigan to see my Dad's three brothers and many of their kids as well as cousins from my Grandma's sister. It was a great weekend and I wish it could have lasted longer, but it was something to cherish. I was given an assignment by my uncles, but I haven't started on it yet so they will have to be patient :).
I spent Christmas and Boxing Day back in Indianapolis with my family. It was even a white Christmas as it snowed on Christmas Eve and Christmas day a little bit. It was so nice to be wrapped in the love of family and to cherish it as something special. I think living away from family makes the times we get to spend with them that much sweeter!
Then it was back to Colorado to get ready to return to Kenya. I had 2 Sundays left out there. I spent January 2nd with my church family at Green Mountain Christian Church. It was good to see old friends there. The next weekend I spent with my church family in Colorado Springs at Academy Christian Church. It was a wonderful weekend spent with friends. Many of them even sat through a showing of multiple pictures from Turkana. I admire their tenacity and enthusiasm :).
After that visit to Colorado Springs I got to drive home in a snow storm. I might not have called it that before I moved to the desert, but I do now. The roads were slick and in a couple of places the wind was blowing the snow so hard I couldn't see much in front of me. Even so, I made it home safely and completed the process of packing and weighing bags for my return on Tuesday, January 11th.
So, that is a short synopsis of my holidays. I had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope the same is true for you! I even got to see snow and play in it a little bit. Even though my driving skills in snow and ice have been a bit forgotten, I still love it. I will try to add a little more later this week on some impressions while in the States.
In the meantime, I am happy to be "home" in Turkana and preparing for my next English class. We are talking about "the fall" this week in our movie of the Bible. I am trying to come up with discussion topics that beginning English students could talk about. I asked for suggestions on Facebook and would be glad for any here as well :). Have a good week!
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