It's been three months since I last blogged. I apologize.
The scarcity in posts is not for lack of activity, emotions, or events, but rather a forgetful spirit.
It's hard to blog when life just feels normal. Last year, everything was new and I felt there was so much to say about everything. This time around, I don't feel much different than if I were living in Michigan. Nonetheless, much has happened; in fact, it's been a whirlwind.
In the past three months...
-Jamie, Cameron, Charis, Meredith, Michelle, Heidi, Manana, Angela, Christina, Casie and Laurie have all left. That's eleven friends made and eleven friends gone. It has been a blessing to know each one, yet taxing on the heart to say so many goodbyes.
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| Farewell dinner! |
-Amy, Paige, Rachel, Emily, and Amber have all come for varied amounts of time, though most will be gone by September.
-The Robbert family, the Community team, the Holland Christian team, the Crosspoint team, and the Jonker family have all come, most for about two weeks.
-We have had two adoptions (yay!) and one child reunified with her mother. However she came back a week later as she was not being well taken care of (disappointing.)
-In a span of ten days, we received six new children. A brother and sister, and four infants, the youngest being merely hours old when he was found. We also adopted a kitty named Gimli. I think I may be the only person that loves him.
-I went absailing in Semonkong and accomplished a world record (wow God is so amazing) and enjoyed a ladies weekend in South Africa where we had a relaxing time playing with baby lions, playing silly games, and eating delicious food.
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| 670 of World Record majesty |
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| Bye Mom! |
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| Amy and our lion friends! |
This has definitely been a season of turn arounds, transition, heart break, exhaustion, and learning. I am weary of goodbyes and feeling like my life is a revolving door of friendships.
Everyone who has come has been so delightful, but then they all leave, and though they are still delightful to have as friends, they are no longer on the same continent which makes things trickier.
It has also been hard to be receiving so many kids and not seeing more adopted or reunified to good parents. Our whole aim is to get these precious children in families, and the way things have been going is rather discouraging.
All this being said, I'm learning and growing. A few volunteers and I decided to read through the Bible over the course of this winter (Michigan summer). It comes down to about 10 chapters a day, and wow it's been so good to dig into the word like that. It's quick, so there isn't always time to go super deep, but what I love about it is the broad picture of God's story we get to see. When you go through the Bible slowly, it's easy to miss the threads of redemption, grace, justice, and salvation woven through each story. When you are reading so much in one day, however, you get to see example after example of God's love, mercy, and plan that is so much bigger than the individual stories and our short lives. He is so far beyond what we could ever comprehend, and though that can be frustrating and confusing at times, it is also such a gift to leave it to him and rest in the knowledge that his plan is good. It may not be easy or what we had planned, but ultimately it is beautiful. Praise be to the one who holds the universe in his strong and loving hands.
Though my heart feels tired and it is easy to become burdened by what seems hopeless, God continues to be enough in each moment. These kids bring so much joy, this country is so beautiful, I am so blessed by my church family, and God is so tender towards me. Through sadness, anger, questions, and a lot of ugly moments in my own walk, he has been kind and faithful to call me back into his presence for rest and peace.
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| Losing teeth in Pula 1! |
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| He threw his tooth at the school. Good luck tooth fairy. |
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| Church friends (: |
A few prayer requests to end:
-That this new government would shape up. There have been a lot of issues and ridiculous crimes going on within the government, and as a country, we just want peace. There is talk of city wide strikes happening tomorrow (Monday the 13) to protest the way the government has been handling itself. In the past, this has been ineffective and mostly an inconvenience with the possibility of some rioting, so prayers for peaceful demonstrations whenever it happens and that things would begin to change for the better.
-Along with that goes a request that the government would take orphans more seriously. There are so many children in need of homes and not nearly enough of them are being matched for a variety of reasons, most of which are nonsense.
-I ask once more for prayers of direction and clarity as I keep seeking what the Lord has in store for the future. I have 720 thoughts running around in my head and just ask for peace and open doors.
Thanks for walking on this journey with me. I'm blessed with so many who love and support me!
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Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
