Beautiful Things

Well, it turns out that I am not a very faithful blogger... Sorry. I have had a plethora of thoughts running around in my head but not the will to write it all down. So I will do my best to summarize them all here:

I have been blessed with two weekends away, and my heart has become so full because of them. 

Two weekends ago, we went to Malealea Lodge, a lovely oasis in the mountains. When you step out from your little cabin to see this, your heart cannot help but be at ease. Though the picture does not show it well, this beautiful grassy lawn reaches out to endless mountains, endless sky. (And there are many more of this weekend on Facebook, if you are interested) I spent a lot of time sitting on the bench over this lookout to just be. I spent time with my Lord and let Him fill my lungs with His renewing breath.

We were also given the opportunity to go on a village tour, and the whole time I was just in awe at the beauty of simplicity. The people were so rich in so many ways. It is hard to describe, but there was such a sense of peace there in the mountains. 

While on the tour, I began asking our tour guides endless questions. We got on the topic of faith, and I was so blessed to be able to learn what they believe, and in turn, share the truth of the gospel with them. My heart found such satisfaction and fulfillment in sharing the Word of God with them, and I realized that I really desire to make disciples and to spread the hope of salvation that has been graciously given me.

With heart full and prompted by my Jesus, we went home rested and renewed. You wouldn't think that two days in the mountains could change your life, but I truly believe that it did. I came back to Beautiful Gate so anxious to share the word that I just started telling it to the kids. This, of course, was a silly thing to do, since they are all under five years old, have no concept of salvation, and don't even speak the same language. Nonetheless, I was overflowing with a need to tell someone!

God has been working in such beautiful ways since then. Both in my heart, and in the hearts of others. I had really felt a burden to reach out and minister to the housemothers during my stay here, but I was so unsure of how to do so and to be honest, I was really scared. How could I, a nineteen year old American, minister to these wise Basotho women whose English is so limited? But God opened up doors and gave me the courage to find a way. I asked my house moms if they would like to read the Bible together, and they all excitedly said yes! So I began going into the house during my break and the kids' nap time to simply read. A local volunteer who has been assigned to my house with me has especially been loving our time together. She is a fairly new Christian and is SO hungry for the word. She thinks so deeply and makes such beautiful connections. It is like I get to read the Bible for the very first time again! I have been able to see the wonder and power of the word through her, and each time, I am blessed. I thought we would meet once or twice a week from 2-3, but it has become everyday from 2-4. Mmm. I cannot even tell you how blessed I feel to do this with her and the other housemothers. They have a lot of cultural beliefs that have skewed the truth of the Word, so it is so cool to be able to share and clarify what God says. So good. I have found so much fulfillment in it and know that this is something I do not want to stop when I go back home. We are called to be disciple makers! That has always been God's mission, to share His glory with all nations. So GO! Share this beautiful love, this treasure, this truth!! 

After that jumble of thoughts.... This past weekend we went to Templehof Gamepark. 

 

To look out on this sunny view was so good. Plus we got to see a very pregnant mama lion, the daddy lion (and hear him roar!) and hold lion cubs. Eeeek! Makin dreams come true my friends. Makin dreams come true. We also saw emu, impala, wild dogs which are very endangered, peacocks, ostriches and their babies (which look really really funny) and "blue ball" monkeys. As I watched all these animals, and especially the lions, I was just in awe of how creative and majestic God is. I was actually reminded of Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia and how there is such awe inspiring beauty and power in the lion, and how our savior is called the Lion of Judah. It was just such a nice time.

These weekends away refreshed my spirit and showed me so much of God's lovely creation, but they also made me more keenly aware of the beauty here on campus. There is beauty in walking down the sidewalk to hear my name being yelled from in my babyhouse and having all the kids sprint up to jump into my arms every morning. There is beauty in the laughter of a child who I couldn't even get to smile when I first arrived. There is beauty in the jubilant hallelujahs thrown in to our "Amen" song at snack time. There is beauty in the first steps of one of "my" babies today. There is beauty in so many things.

So I encourage you to seek out the beauty around you. It may be small, a brief moment of joy, or it may be big, like the horizon dotted with mountains that can do nothing else but bring glory to God. Life can easily become mundane, but when our eyes are opened to the things God has touched, we cannot help but think life to be beautiful.

One Month

Hokey toots, friends. It's already been a month. It seems so odd to say because the time has gone by so quickly. So I'm just gonna let this post be a reflection of that time. I will do my best. This could be a book.

The daily schedule, more or less...

I wake up at 6 to be in my house at 7. I have 14 kids: 2 infants, 2 crawlers, 2 toddlers, 3 pre-k, 3 preschoolers, and 2 kindergarteners. I have 9 boys and 5 girls, and there are 2 sibling sets, one of which is twins. After greeting them all and getting my morning dose of wet kisses, I dish up breakfast for both my house and the house we are connected to, feed my crawlers and toddlers, then clean up for both houses. Laundry gets hung outside after that (and there is a LOT) and then we go to playgroup. The older but not ready for school kids have singing, learning, and play time and I go with the crawlers to our soft room. There we work with kids to get them crawling, standing, walking, etc, and the room normally has 10-15 babies from all the houses. At 10, the kids have a snack and I help feed the underweight kids with some power porridge. (I don't think it's ever been called that before...but that's what it is) Tea time is from 10:30-11 and I go home for a little snack and time to relax, then back to playgroup where the kids get to play outside. Lunch comes next, and I dish up another 21 dishes and help feed the youngins and clean up. While the kids nap, I get a break until 3. Sometimes that means napping, sometimes it's reading, sometimes it's sitting at the picnic table and just talking with the other volunteers. At 3 the kids go back outside to play where I join them, and around 4 they get a snack and head home for baths. This is the BEST part of the day. Naked baby time. They finish their snacks and then strip down to get all clean, and I don't know what it is about it, but it is my absolute favorite. They run to the bath, get scrubbed down, and then they come running to me all happy and free to get rubbed with Vaseline. SO cute. After naked baby time comes another 21 plates, feeding youngins, cleaning up, and then I head home for the day.

There are days when it feels like so much and is so exhausting. Other days, however, go so quickly and the work seems like play. 

Some days I feel utterly defeated, inadequate, and unhelpful, while others are so fulfilling and full of joy and hope.

God can feel miles away one moment and right by my side the next.

In short, it's a roller coaster.

Silly things I miss...

My shower. Tortilla shells. Tacos. Anything mexican. 

More legitimate things I miss...

My friends and family. The ability to speak English to whoever I want (this may seem silly, but it's really true). The freedom to go somewhere by myself, on a bike ride, for a drive, etc. Complete alone time.  

God is really working in my heart. Slowly but surely, He is leading me and guiding me. There are a plethora of unknowns, but He is teaching me things about myself and putting desires deep within me.

This month has been good. This month has been fast. I have seen the beauty of the mountains, the simplicity life can bring, the indescribable joy of a child, the power of an Almighty God.

I would cherish your prayers for clarity and wisdom, opportunities to minister, and for protection from Satan's lies. There is so much more I would love to tell you, but we will leave it at this for now (: Thanks friends. Your support is so meaningful to me!