Thoughtful and Thankful

As I think back to a year ago, I can still feel the excitement I felt then. Finals were finishing up. Last minute planning for Swazi was commencing. I was helping out with Graduation and was watching some very dear friends walk across that stage and into the next part of their lives.
Now, one year later, that's me. I'm graduating college. I'M. GRADUATING. COLLEGE. Where in the world did the time go? In some ways I feel as though I just walked onto campus as a freshman with high hopes and dreams for my college years. In other ways, I feel as though Gordon has prepared me for the next step in my life. I'm ready to be done being in a college classroom and am excited to put to work what I've learned over the last few years.
I'm also excited to put what I didn't learn in the classroom to work as I transition out of a safe environment out into the 'real world.' I learned just as much, if not more, outside the classroom than inside one. I've grown in ways I could not have dreamt about in high school. I'm not the person I once was. I'm better. I'm stronger. I'm more in love with Christ than the day I walked onto this campus. Is that due to chapel services or student led prayer and worship? Partially. But it's mostly due to the incredible friendships that I made in and through this very unique place.
I've heard it said that the people you surround yourself with shape who you are and who you will become. It couldn't be more true. I've had the opportunity to pursue deep relationships with so many people on this campus and I'm so grateful for that. I've had the opportunity to see growth in others that still astounds me. One of the most miraculous things to watch is God working in people's lives.
I've learned more from the people around me than anything I could learn in a book. I've learned what it means to be an individual. Through the people I've surrounded myself with, I've found me. I know who I am now and I'm secure in it. Through pursuing Christ and the people He has placed so perfectly in my life, I've found the woman that He has created me to be. I'm able to be me more than I ever have before and it's an incredible burden off of my shoulders. Those who know me well, know that I don't have everything in my life together and that I'm a little bit crazy. Or as my students say - I've lost my marbles (yay for English idioms that second language learners haven't heard before! =)) I know who I am in Christ. I don't have to be anyone else. I don't have to be who someone else wants me to be. I am me and that is more than enough for Him.
I've also learned that no matter what, life is beautiful. Nothing taught me this more than Africa. I saw children with shoes that were broken apart and who didn't have families or whose families didn't want them, yet they felt overwhelming joy. So why do I sit idly by and complain about lesson plans when I am incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to study at a place that taught me so much more than how to teach a math lesson to a child? I've learned how to love children. I've always had a slight obsession with children (and National Geographic, but that's another story) and a love that I can't quite explain. House #6 in Bulembu solidified my love for children even more. I learned that loving children is so much more than playing hide-and-go-seek or soccer or helping them learn a new concept. It's investing in them and telling and showing them that you're proud of them and that you care. I honestly love the children in my classroom. Ask anyone who talks to me daily or weekly and I always have a hundred stories to share about them (especially about second grade boys who have little crushes ;)). An example of this is one of my boys who has a hard time behaviorally. Instead of just pushing him aside and ignoring his actions, I took them on headfirst. I set expectations and we talk about his behavior daily. This keeps both him and I accountable for his actions and last week I told him I was proud of him for his progress and effort. I thought he might burst out crying right on the spot. Instead, he comes over and gives me the sweetest hug that I've received since Bulembu. It was full of hope and thankfulness.
It is with a similar hope and thankfulness that I am leaving Gordon with. Gordon took me in when I had no idea who I was or who I wanted to be. Since giving me a place to learn and grow, I've become the person I could never have imagined. Thank you, Gordon, for the incredible four years you've given me and for preparing me for what lies ahead. You'll never be far from my heart, mind, and prayers.
Thank you to my friends who have made these four years memorable with countless midnight trips to the beach, insane dance parties, movies nights, birthday parties, and so much more. I wouldn't be in this place without you and you will all be a piece of me forever.
To my friends who still have some time left at Gordon...here's some advice: treasure every day you have. Gordon has faults, but don't dwell on them. Look for where God is leading you and trust that He knows so much better than you. Trust His will above your own and He will make your path straight every time. Seek Him first and everything else will fall into place. Go on as many adventures as you can and invest in the relationships that are here. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers and I know that this is not the end for us.
And finally, thank you Bulembu, for being the single most incredible experience of my life thus far. You changed my life and made me who I am. For that, I am forever grateful.

To the Class of 2012 - WE DID IT! Whether your future is set out in front of you or not, trust in God and He will reveal it in due time. <3

James 2

Lately I've been in the book of James and it's showing me some amazing things. In James 1, it talks about persevering, among other things, which has been a huge thing for me this year. When I came across James 2 something clicked for me in some of the verses:


What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

 ²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

 ²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

These verses hit me hard. We talk about our faith all of the time, but are we putting it into action by doing deeds. The part that I liked the most is the part that is bolded: "I will show you my faith by my deeds." I want to live a life in which people will know that I am His. That won't happen by me constantly talking about my relationship with God and how amazing He is...that's only part of it. That's all talk. It will happen by my actions. I long to exude Christ through every pore of my being. It's a hard task, but one that I have a renewed fervor to do. 

There's an old phrase that I grew up with: "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" I am done being all talk. I will walk the walk in any and every situation. Whether I'm back in Africa or here in Massachusetts. My life is His and I will thank Him for His love every second of every day in everything I do. 

<3

My eyes ever on Jesus' face.

"Keep my eyes ever on Jesus' face." 

I woke up this morning with these words in my mind and heart. Something about them just resonated with me. It may be the fact that I'm in awe of this simple phrase. What does it mean to keep my eyes ever on His face and His face alone. There are so many distractions in my life: car troubles, lesson plans, friends, family, graduation, the future, the past, my insecurities...the list goes on and on. Some of these distractions are blessings from God and His wonderful provisions, but some come from my own fallen nature and are not from God at all. How do I keep my eyes on Him when I'm stressed and can't see through 'til tomorrow? It feels like such a big idea, but when I really think about it, it is pretty simple. When I say 'simple', I don't mean easy. I just mean that through my own overthinking, the idea of simplicity gets muddled and tarnished. It really is as simple as focusing on God and allowing Him to rule my life and my relationships. It's days like this when I'm sitting in Panera writing lots of lesson plans that He reminds me of my time in Swazi and what I learned from it. My life was not easy when I was there, but it was simpler. I spent my days serving people and giving myself to those around me. What I didn't understand when I was there was that I actually got more than I gave. The wonderful relationships of my team and of the people there filled me to the brim with gratitude. The closeness I felt to Christ was something I long to replicate. It wasn't a "God high" that you usually hear about when talking about mission trips; it was something better. It was a lifestyle focused around God and not around my busy schedule. It was simplicity at it's best. He was the center of my life and my eyes were fixed on Him daily. Why can't I do that here? Why does my God time depend on my school work and my level of exhaustion? I dealt with situations in a completely new way and I saw clearly for the first time in my life (or so it seems). 

I used to ask myself the question, "What can it hurt?" in reference to various situations. Instead of asking that question, I began asking these ones: "How does this make me a better person and follower of Christ? Would this be something that God would plan for my life or is this my own plan and flesh getting in the way?" As I'm getting older, I'm realized how many insecurities exist in my life and relationships. I take heart in the fact that there are absolutely no insecurities in my relationship with Christ. Yes, I mess up daily, but I know that He is there to catch me as I stumble and to correct my path. It's not only learning from your mistakes that's important, it's not repeating them that is the most important part. 

The lyrics to the song 'Lord of Lords' by Hillsong have been running through my mind all day and I find them inspiring. They put my life in context and give me renewed passion and motivation to seek after Him because I'm where I am now to bring Him glory.

Beholding Your beauty 
Is all that I long for 
To worship You Jesus 
Is my sole desire 
For this very heart 
You have shaped for your pleasure 

Purposed to lift Your Name higher 

Here in surrender 
In pure adoration 
I enter Your courts 
With an offering of praise 
I am Your servant 
Come to bring You glory 
As is fit for the work of Your hands 

[Chorus 1:]
Now unto the Lamb 
Who sits on the throne 
Be glory and honor and praise 
All of creation resounds with the song 
Worship and praise Him 
The Lord of lords 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/brooke_fraser/lord_of_lords.html ]
Spirit now living 
And dwelling within me 
Keep my eyes fixed 
Ever on Jesus' face 
Let not the things of this world 
Ever sway me 
I'll run 'til I finish the race 

[Chorus 2:]
Now unto the Lamb 
Who sits on the throne 
Be glory and honor and praise 
All of eternity echoes the song 
Worship and praise Him 
The Lord of lords 

Holy Lord 
You are holy 
Jesus Christ 
Is the Lord 

[Chorus 3:]
Now unto the Lamb 
Who sits on the throne 
Be glory and honour and praise 
Call all the sinners to join in the song
Worship and praise Him 
The Lord of lords

Here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFkY5-Xp710

I guess I should get back to my lesson plans because as much of a pain as they are, I will do them for His glory because He has put me in this profession and with these particular children for such a time as this and I will do my best to bring Him glory. 

...Let not the things of this world ever sway me. Keep my eyes focused on You alone, Lord. 

Baby Elephants

Before I start this, I should admit that I am the biggest National Geographic/Animal Planet/any other nature show fan. Go ahead, call me a nerd or geek or whatever. I embrace it! =)  I love being able to see animals in different settings including their natural settings. We are surrounded by such natural beauty in this world. I mean we try to harness it by putting beautiful animals like a lion in an enclosure just to see it whenever we want. We're fascinated by it. There was a show on NatGeoWild (yes, it's a channel and you should totally check it out) last night that was doing a special on the Serengeti. It showed hundreds of amazing animals that all live in a relatively small area compared to the continent of Africa. Obviously, since going on a safari in Swaziland, I've been even more curious about African animals because I've seen some close up. Too close for comfort for some...just a side note, if you're ever caught in between rhinos and elephants who don't really like each other and your car stalls, I think you're totally allowed to have a little freak out. Not that I did or anything... ;) ANYWAY, I was watching the special about the Serengeti and I found myself taken with the diversity of animals and the circle of life (you should have seen that coming..) that occurs in Africa in particular. I was thinking of the differences of the animals' lives to that of humans when they showed a clip of a baby elephant taking it's first steps. I couldn't help but laughing at the baby elephants standing up and falling back over and even being pushed over by their older family members - my brothers totally pushed me over as a toddler, I know they did! After literally dying of laughter for about a half hour and looking up countless Youtube videos of baby elephants falling over as they try to walk, something occurred to me: elephants and humans are similar in some ways and different in some other ways (size being one...). The mother elephants helped their babies to take their first steps and used any method to help. My favorite was them using their trunk to lift up the baby while it got it's feet under it. It was so stinkin' adorable! Then you had the other members of the herd who would come over and so nicely knock the baby back over onto the ground. One thing I noticed was that the more the baby got knocked over, the quicker it got up the next time. It learned to adapt to hurdles and hardships just like we have to as well. We do it on a higher thinking level, not just when we're learning how to walk, but it's similar. We come across a hurdle we think we can't get over until we realize we're already over or it or we're crossing it. For me, Christ is the mother's trunk that helps to support me while I'm getting my feet back under me. He has been there through everything in my life and He's who I can count on to always help me through every situation. He's always encouraging and while there are still people and situations that push me over, with His help, I will always get back up. Only I could make a connection between baby elephants falling over and God...this is what Africa does to you, people!

If you want a good laugh search baby elephants learning to walk on Youtube. To get you started, here's a few:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAvnZ8fQawc

Start at 1:16 to miss the actual birth...TIA (this is Africa - a phrase commonly used on my trip to Swaziland because some situations, you just couldn't explain any other way!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=oQ8R3EyIjQs

Beauty

I've now been back in the states for just under 8 months. Wow, that's shocking to say out loud. It feels like yesterday, yet it feels like a million years ago. As the new team is preparing for their new adventure, I've started to reflect more on my time in Bulembu and the mark that it left on my heart. Lately I've been contemplating the idea of beauty and what it really means. In America and other first world countries we see beauty as very skin deep. We judge how attractive other people are for fun and entertainment. We are failures if we are not tan enough, skinny enough, fashionable enough, etc. We focus on the exterior as a basis for true beauty. This just doesn't sit well with me. Something seems so very wrong.
When I was in Africa, my beauty radar was constantly going off. Everywhere I looked I saw beauty - in nature, in people's eyes and faces, in interactions. I felt as though I was full of enough beauty to last a lifetime. Let me give you an example. This is my Auntie (with Donna).

 In my eyes and heart, she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met and will ever meet in my entire life. She saw the "light of Christ" in Alicia and I and loved being able to share her story with others. She took an interest in me and loved me without any prerequisites. She called me beautiful everyday and talked passionately about how beautiful our Savior is to her. Every wrinkle in her face tells a story. Some tell of hardships and heartbreak, like her struggle with diabetes, and others tell of joys and triumphs, like the births of her children and her good health. Material things do not matter to her.
I've personally always been a fan of scars and wrinkles. For me, each of them tells a story. I still have scars from when I was learning to ride my bike with my brothers or from climbing trees when I was younger. They're tangible ways to remember experiences. I'm always shocked at our society's longing to get ride of wrinkles. For me, wrinkles mean you enjoyed life by being outside and that you laughed so much that lines formed. Why would you ever want to forget laughing? I will never forget how my Auntie's face looked when she smiled. Her entire face lit up - wrinkles and all. There was no stiffness from botox; it was pure, unadulterated joy seeping out from every pore of her being. It was, in a word, beautiful.
I could give another example of the beauty of nature in Swaziland, but if you've ever read my blog before or seen my facebook pictures, you've seen evidence of it for yourself. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. One of my favorite memories was waking up for the sunrise on the morning we left Bulembu. We hiked up to a vantage point and sat in awe as the sun rose over the mountains. We listened to the sounds of babboons rustling in the trees as we sang worship songs and praised our Creator for his beautiful creation. I remember thanking God for the town that opened it's doors to us and the people who opened their arms and hearts. It was a beautiful moment both aesthetically and emotionally.
The final example I'll give is of one of our children. The funny part about writing this part is that I didn't even think twice about which child I would use to explain my thoughts on beauty. All of the children are beyond beautiful, but this little girl exudes my point the best.

This little girl...oh, if you only knew her. She barely spoke when we got there. She didn't really interact with any of us for quite some time. She was shy and her smiles were far and few between. That is, until she got to know us and trust us. She bonded most with Alicia and her smiles became so frequent that I can't think of a time when she wasn't smiling or happy in the last 2 weeks we were there. Her beauty was revealed through her smile, her goofiness, her words, and her actions. She loved to be loved. She loved to hold your hand and know that she had your attention. One of my personal favorite pictures from the our house is this one of her and Alicia:

I know that you can't see her face, but observe her body language. She is completely relaxed and in the middle of something funny. This for me, shows the epitome of someone who is so guarded letting someone in. She let us in and through doing that made herself at home in our hearts. She was beautiful.

In the book, Captivating, the authors state that beauty: speaks, invites, nourishes, comforts, inspires and is transcendent. The people of Bulembu and the country of Swaziland are all of these things. My Auntie spoke into my life. She comforted me when I was down and inspired me when I needed inspiration. The scenery was transcendent. It was more amazing than anything I had ever seen. This little girl invited Alicia and I into her life and her heart and that gave nourishment to my soul. Each child and person that I met there was beautiful, inside and out. They each taught me something new about myself, the world, and God and His love for His children. They also taught me something that will stick with me forever...life is beautiful.

Relationships

Relationships. This has been a topic that has been on my mind quite a bit over this last semester. As I begin to fade out of Gordon and a new stage in my life, I have been wondering who my lasting friends will be. Whose friend's weddings will I attend? Who will attend mine? Whose milestones will I take part in? Who will take part in mine? There are so many unanswerable questions about the future, but most of them are centered around relationships. When I say relationships, I don't simply mean the dating kind; I mean the different friendships in which I am a part of. Over this last semester I've been reading a book called Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge (if you have not read it, I suggest you do; for guys, read Wild at Heart). This book has given me many insights into the minds of women and men alike. In this recent chapter, it talked about relationships and gave new life to what I perceive of relationships. My favorite line of the entire chapter is this: "When God gives a friend, He is entrusting us with the care of another's heart." How true this is! Think of the close friends in your life. Do you trust them with your heart? If you're anything like me, that can be difficult much of the time and I do not fully trust many people with my heart at all. The authors go onto say that there are different types of friendships. Christ had different types of friendships or "friend circles" when He was on earth. He had the 12 disciples, an inner circle of 3 (James, John, and Peter), and then His followers(acquaintances). We do not need to share everything about our lives with everyone we meet, but we are called to share pieces of ourselves with others. We are called to serve one another and offer our hearts to one another. John and Stasi say this of friendships:

     "Friendships need to be nurtured and guarded and fought for. We need to call one another without waiting to be called first. We need to ask how our friends are doing and really listen to their answers. Listen between the lines. We love our friends by pursuing them - calls, little presents, cards, invitations to play, to go for a walk, to go to a movie. We offer our hearts...We need to pay attention to each other, really see one another. That truly is the greatest gift."

That is such a beautiful description of what I believe friendships are made of. There does not need to be a monetary value attributed to it, simply a heartly value. This looks different for all different types of friendships. Some people may be blessed by small gifts, others may simply want your time, and still others may benefit from encouragement given in times of distress or need as well as in times of happiness. My favorite part of this quote from the books is the idea of nurturing a friendship by pursuing the friend. The idea of pursuing is such a beautiful picture. I wrote in a blog a while back about how I saw God pursuing a man we worked with in Bulembu - Temba. That was such a beautiful and touching situation to watch that I was amazed by how much God really loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. He longs to listen to us and talk to us through His Word. It's not one-sided by any means. Just as a friendship is most beautiful when both people are contributing with their whole hearts; when both care enough about each other to actually listen to what is being said.
For some people this type of relationship can be difficult to acquire and sustain. Our own fears of failure and disappointment linger in our minds and create seeds of doubts in all relationships. God has created us to be in relationships with one another, but our own fallen nature tries to prevent that from happening. We are most fearful and doubtful of others when alone - and not alone as in single, but alone as in isolated. To be in relationship with others requires a sense of vulnerability that scares many - including me. It requires giving and sharing a part of yourself with someone else. But in spite of all of that, it is still better than being isolated. C. S. Lewis says this in the Four Loves:

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it careful round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable...The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all dangers...of love is Hell."



"Yet, no matter how wonderful the taste of relational fullness you have, you will want more. If you have an amazing connection yesterday with someone, when you wake this morning, you will want it again. [Eve] possesses a bottomless well of longing. Jesus alone is the never-ending fount, which can slake her thirst. No other source, no other relationship will fully satisfy. God made us that way. On purpose."

While nurturing and pursuing relationships is a necessity, nurturing and pursuing your relationship with God is even more necessary. He is the friend who will always be there when you call. He will never leave you when you need Him and He is the one friend who will not disappoint you. He loves you with a never-ending love and He will never, ever, stop pursuing you. Trust in Him and in your relationship with Him. Relationships with others will follow after. <3

What is my calling?

At Gordon we talk a lot about vocation and calling in life. As I'm nearing the end of my college career, it's been on my mind even more. I love what I'm majoring in - Education. Kids are honestly my passion. Any bad day can be turned good with a little "love" note from them or feeling their hand enter yours as you walk down the hallway. I've been given the opportunity to teach and share love with these amazing kids and I couldn't be more happy about it! My question to myself lately has been: is it my calling to be a teacher? I know that it is good training and that I want to teach, but is it what I'm meant to do for the rest of my life? I know that it's an unanswerable question, but I wonder still.  Another question is am I supposed to be teaching in this country? I can't deny the fact that I left a good amount of myself with those children in Bulembu. I saw the deficits and I know that the training that Gordon has given me can help them. I just can't help them from a half a world away. Is using my training in another country, Africa or not, my vocation? Or am I really meant to stay in this country and help the many kids who need help here? Being in Lynn and seeing these amazing kids, it makes me want to love them unconditionally like I loved my kids in Bulembu. I'm working on that, but it looks so different here. Kids aren't allowed to launch themselves into your arms for a warm hug or sit on your back and play cars.



Look at the joy on my face. I faced some of my hardest times in Bulembu, but I also had more joy than I think I've ever felt there. It was because I was doing what God was calling me to do in His timing and how He wanted me to do it. I, for once, was not in control. I didn't have to choose what I did. It was laid out in our normal schedule. For those of you who know me, you know that I like to be in control of what happens in my life. I hope that I'm not a control freak, but I definitely can have those tendencies. I just want things to go smoothly and if I can do that, then I do it to the best of my abilities. This can create an interesting struggle with God over who really has control over my life. I like to think that I do (HA), but I know that I really am not in control of anything. It's taken me 21 years to come to terms with it, but I think I'm finally getting there. There are so many unanswered questions about my life right now such as: where will I work after graduation? when will I be in a relationship? how will I get through student teaching? is this where God has me right now? and what is my vocation? Sadly and gladly, none of these questions need answers right now. They will each be answered in His timing and not mine and I continue to learn that His timing is perfect while mine is so not. So all in all, I have no answers and yet I will not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about it self (Matthew 6:34).

Thank you, God, for giving me the confidence in knowing that You are leading my life.