The last post was pretty deep and I'm really glad I got to share what's been on my heart since traveling began. I'm pretty much all settled into our house now so I'll let y'all read a bit about daily life... or what I know of it so far.
Ghana is similar to Zambia culturally it seems: relational people, helpful people, religious atmosphere, not rules-driven at all, etc etc. However, Ghana differs significantly in terms of wealth. Of course there are poor parts but there are poor parts in every city even in America. It's strange to see the same road-side stores but this time with dresses for sale for 60 cedis (pronounced seed-ies) which is about $45 USD. Mercedes Benz and Range Rover SUVs filled the grocery store parking lot, which sold food at outrageous prices. Like $12 USD for Black Cat Peanut Butter (the cheapest brand ever which was a luxury in Zambia for $6ish). Women wear the most beautiful and creative Ghanaian (guh-nay-un) dresses with brilliant colors and patterns. Clothing stores operate as couturiers with custom tailoring and dress-making for the same price as the dress is off the rack. Last night I was taken out for pizza by my boss, Renae, to this incredible restaurant which was amazing. But I kinda felt like I was cheating. Poverty still exists in this capital city I just haven't seen much of it yet. Of course there still are indicators that I'm in Africa including: the rotten smell of hot eggs and milk mixed with burnt trash, goats and chickens running loose, small vendors selling mixed merchandise: anything from toothbrushes to $10 Corn Flakes to hangers to homemade beans and rice, incredible fresh fruit such as mango, bananas, plantains, papaya, etc, lively music coming from every stand and house, so many advertisements for cell phones and food, dried fish (or not dried) sitting out with flies on it, children running around mostly as salesmen, huge baskets on women's heads and the list could go on and on.
We live in a gorgeous house though. It used to be a restaurant and lodge so it actually feels kinda like Kamloops (for all my Zamfriends who may be reading along- Tennis biscuits and Nutella just aren't the same with out y'all!). The house is all one level but has different wings closed off from each other. I'm in the section just for volunteers and interns. I sleep on the bottom bunk of a room with 2 bunk beds next to a bathroom which we share with the other bedroom of 3 people. Our bedroom is the only one that has A/C so we're thankful for that! Showers are 5 mins or less to avoid running out of reserve water with Accra's water outages which are frequent and often lasting for days, even weeks. Water is always cold but it actually feels good with the intense sun, heat and humidity of being on the equator. We've just entered rainy season here so it'll rain a bit every day but last night it was just a torrential downpour for like 10 minutes then stopped. It's looking like it'll rain here again soon as the sun's already starting to go down (it's 5pm here now). I cannot describe the suffocating heat here; it's just intense. We don't have A/C in any other part of the house so it's just hot. The main house has everything else in it: huge kitchen, living/seating areas, Global Mamas office, Renae and her adopted 2 year old son's room, outdoor patio for seating and a beautiful backyard with a big pool, hammocks and reading chairs. We're really spoiled here but it feels great to be living here knowing we'll also be working here most days. We're still in a compound-type house with walls and barbed wire with an iron gate with a guard for both day and night. We have 1 parrot, 2 ducks, 3 giant dogs: 2 mastiffs and one Spanish Weimaraner which are prettyyy scary looking. They're starting to be my friends now after the noticed that I'm not trying to hurt Ben (Renae's son); I just want to play with him.
Last night I got dinner with Renae and Ben then just hung out and unpacked a lot of stuff. I'll be here for the next 7 or so weeks before my parents come when we'll be doing some traveling and then off to Zambia! My third roommate, Tori, arrived late last night so we just stayed up talking with the other volunteer we live with, Jess, who has been here for about a year now. Today we slept in to catch up on our missed sleep from flights and went off on our first adventure. About a block away are tons of vendors lining the street with anything you'd ever want- mostly food products. We got a tour of the place from Jess as she pointed out who her favorites are and where to find what. We bought fresh bread and mango that tasted like a chunk of heaven. Incredible. I only tasted it after I was taught how to properly slice mango to get the most meat of out it which took a solid 20 minutes so that may have added to the deliciousness. We enjoyed eating mango on the patio with Grace, Ben's nanny who is a local here and brought her daughter to the house to play with Ben too. Grace is very sweet and I can't wait to get to know her better this summer. Then along with Maria, a woman from Spain, we took off on our first big adventure. We went to a downtown part to see the Global Mamas retail store, do some other shopping and stop in at the lavish grocery. We met up with 2 women from Germany and one from Australia to do some shopping for the barbecue tonight. We've been invited, along with lots of other Americans, to a house owned by a couple who works at the US Embassy to meet other Americans and enjoy a traditional Ghanaian evening with music and food. All of us are encouraged to wear traditional Ghanaian clothes so I've borrowed a dress from Maria to wear until I can find a Ghanaian dress that I love enough to make my own. I've gotta get ready now so I'll type more later as play comes to an end and work begins. I'll hopefully post some photos soon, too!
Please continue to pray for my time here in this new place with new people and a new job that God will be glorified above it all.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
different
This summer will be different from any other. By far.
We had a pretty major delay in DC before taking off to Accra, Ghana last night. Sitting on that plane for a solid 10 and a half hours gave me plenty of time to think. What am I doing? How will this summer look? What will the people be like? What will my room look like? What if it's not at all what I expected? For some reason I started to compare this trip to Zambia last summer. Which isn't fair at all but I did. So I looked around the airplane at the other group of American college students on missions together with a tinge of jealousy but mostly sadness. Last year this time I was meeting the group that would remain some of my best friends even a year down the road. I got off the airplane looking for Larry or some sort of person for guidance but nope. It's just me. I waited for my bags and only one came. I waited and waited and waited and just wanted to sit down on the ground and wait for someone to come to my rescue.
It was in that moment of complete helplessness that it hit me. The Holy Spirit hit me I should say. This summer I have no idea what will happen. I didn't even have the power to bring one bag in to the baggage claim in order for me to meet my boss over 2 hours late from when I was supposed to be there. For my controlling, over-organized self, it wasn't good. But it actually so is because in that moment I realized that this will be the way my whole summer will be. I have no say in what will happen, what won't happen, what I'll learn, the people I'll be living with, etc etc etc. I do, however, have one constant. One who will never be un-reachable, One who wants good for me, One to be my best friend, One to be my rescuer from awkward or strange situations, One who is always and will always be there. Most of all One who loves me more than I can ever love Him. What a blessing. So it's taken me a few hours to pray through this (which I've done more of in the past 24 hours than in a looong time) but I'm confident in this summer. Not because it'll be easy or it'll feel super fuzzy or that I'll be enriched with Christian teaching but because I need to be stripped of my overly-independent nature and God wants that for me this summer. He wants me to fall to His feet in recognition that I have ZERO control over ANYTHING that happens here or anywhere else.
I was reading "Compelled by Love" by this incredible missionary Heidi Baker on the plane just before I landed in Accra and she was praying to be poor in spirit. She went on to explain that poor in spirit just recognizes our need for a Savior, our admitting that we don't have it all together and that apart from Him we cannot do anything. I pray this too for this summer and for every day of life. To be wholly dependent on God not just for desperate needs but for the little moments too. He wants to sweep me off my feet and show me His incredible love for me. Why deny that?!
I forgot to mention that the bag did come. Only by the grace of God. And I was carrying materials for the nonprofit I'm working for, technically a "mule," and out of the 100 people going through customs the same time, only me and about 3 other people got waved through for no checks. Grace.
So maybe this summer won't be filled with late-night talks of sharing how God's wrecked our lives and brought us back together. Maybe it's not going to be sharing a room with 4 best friends who are head over heels in love with the Lord. Maybe it's not being cold in my linen pants but instead never stopping sweating. Maybe it's not crying with a Zambian as she dies to herself and decides to live for Christ for the rest of her life. Maybe it's not holding an orphan as she shivers during the night. Maybe it's not being lead by the most wise and godly mentors. Maybe it's not being protected by godly men. Maybe it's not making homemade cookie dough with just sugar, butter, and chocolate chips. Maybe it's not living this lifestyle of talking about God in every conversation.
But it's okay.
Those are just events, just happenings. They all still revolve around the One constant. And I'm blessed to still be able to serve that One here in Ghana. I'm blessed to be able to carry the name of Christ in this place. I'm blessed to be able to expand my knowledge to prepare me for the practical business side of Clothed in Hope. I'm blessed to be stretched. Perhaps I didn't voice them but upon arrival I realized I came with big fears and anxieties about this summer. But the more alone time I have here, the more I spend time just enjoying prayer, the more I realize that my "problems" or worries aren't big. My God is.
We had a pretty major delay in DC before taking off to Accra, Ghana last night. Sitting on that plane for a solid 10 and a half hours gave me plenty of time to think. What am I doing? How will this summer look? What will the people be like? What will my room look like? What if it's not at all what I expected? For some reason I started to compare this trip to Zambia last summer. Which isn't fair at all but I did. So I looked around the airplane at the other group of American college students on missions together with a tinge of jealousy but mostly sadness. Last year this time I was meeting the group that would remain some of my best friends even a year down the road. I got off the airplane looking for Larry or some sort of person for guidance but nope. It's just me. I waited for my bags and only one came. I waited and waited and waited and just wanted to sit down on the ground and wait for someone to come to my rescue.
It was in that moment of complete helplessness that it hit me. The Holy Spirit hit me I should say. This summer I have no idea what will happen. I didn't even have the power to bring one bag in to the baggage claim in order for me to meet my boss over 2 hours late from when I was supposed to be there. For my controlling, over-organized self, it wasn't good. But it actually so is because in that moment I realized that this will be the way my whole summer will be. I have no say in what will happen, what won't happen, what I'll learn, the people I'll be living with, etc etc etc. I do, however, have one constant. One who will never be un-reachable, One who wants good for me, One to be my best friend, One to be my rescuer from awkward or strange situations, One who is always and will always be there. Most of all One who loves me more than I can ever love Him. What a blessing. So it's taken me a few hours to pray through this (which I've done more of in the past 24 hours than in a looong time) but I'm confident in this summer. Not because it'll be easy or it'll feel super fuzzy or that I'll be enriched with Christian teaching but because I need to be stripped of my overly-independent nature and God wants that for me this summer. He wants me to fall to His feet in recognition that I have ZERO control over ANYTHING that happens here or anywhere else.
I was reading "Compelled by Love" by this incredible missionary Heidi Baker on the plane just before I landed in Accra and she was praying to be poor in spirit. She went on to explain that poor in spirit just recognizes our need for a Savior, our admitting that we don't have it all together and that apart from Him we cannot do anything. I pray this too for this summer and for every day of life. To be wholly dependent on God not just for desperate needs but for the little moments too. He wants to sweep me off my feet and show me His incredible love for me. Why deny that?!
I forgot to mention that the bag did come. Only by the grace of God. And I was carrying materials for the nonprofit I'm working for, technically a "mule," and out of the 100 people going through customs the same time, only me and about 3 other people got waved through for no checks. Grace.
So maybe this summer won't be filled with late-night talks of sharing how God's wrecked our lives and brought us back together. Maybe it's not going to be sharing a room with 4 best friends who are head over heels in love with the Lord. Maybe it's not being cold in my linen pants but instead never stopping sweating. Maybe it's not crying with a Zambian as she dies to herself and decides to live for Christ for the rest of her life. Maybe it's not holding an orphan as she shivers during the night. Maybe it's not being lead by the most wise and godly mentors. Maybe it's not being protected by godly men. Maybe it's not making homemade cookie dough with just sugar, butter, and chocolate chips. Maybe it's not living this lifestyle of talking about God in every conversation.
But it's okay.
Those are just events, just happenings. They all still revolve around the One constant. And I'm blessed to still be able to serve that One here in Ghana. I'm blessed to be able to carry the name of Christ in this place. I'm blessed to be able to expand my knowledge to prepare me for the practical business side of Clothed in Hope. I'm blessed to be stretched. Perhaps I didn't voice them but upon arrival I realized I came with big fears and anxieties about this summer. But the more alone time I have here, the more I spend time just enjoying prayer, the more I realize that my "problems" or worries aren't big. My God is.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
tomorrow
Tomorrow's the day! I don't have much time to write on here so I'll just share a verse that my sweet, sweet friend Kym sent me just now. It's such an encouraging promise from the Lord for my life in Ghana these next 10 weeks and her life overseas as well.
"Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5
So it's goodbye America and hello Ghana! It'll be so sweet to step back onto that African soil and I cannot wait! I'll be using this blog to keep y'all updated as frequently as I can. Please join me in praying for my time there with co-workers both local Ghanaians and American students. God's the same here as He is there and I'm looking forward to a summer of growth and great experiences!
"Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5
So it's goodbye America and hello Ghana! It'll be so sweet to step back onto that African soil and I cannot wait! I'll be using this blog to keep y'all updated as frequently as I can. Please join me in praying for my time there with co-workers both local Ghanaians and American students. God's the same here as He is there and I'm looking forward to a summer of growth and great experiences!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
done
I wrote this journal entry on Good Friday and really wanted to share it with y'all. Usually my journal is filled with prayers but this particular entry is just a reflection of Truth, a reminder of who God is. So here it goes. Slightly frightening that you're about to read my real journal but I'm encouraged that God uses our vulnerability to allow His Spirit to work though us and others.
4/22.
Today Christ died for ME. God's Son- a part of the Trinity of God- let out a loud cry as He breathed His last breath, taking on the weight of sin of all people of the world for all time. We are called to lay it down. Come before the foot of the cross. God is just as disgusted with visual, blatant sins like immorality, gossip, murder, stealing, lying etc. as He is at my trying to "do good" or perform some sort of religious duties. Both of these deny the need for Christ and causes us to make Him out to be a liar. Christ died so we can stop trying to run away or earn righteousness. He died to bring us to God FOREVER, gift us with the Holy Spirit- God living inside of us- the very second we choose His life over our own. This Easter God's yelling "It's already been done! Stop trying! Just love me." Why do I require some sort of act to earn God when my debt has been paid in full 2000 years ago? It's not Old Testament times.
We live in a time of complete freedom in Christ. Free from animal sacrifices or striving for perfection or adhering to strict, seemingly unnecessary religious rules. This isn't an excuse to abuse the grace given to us through Christ's death and resurrection. Instead it's a motivator to love, to run into the arms of the One who saved us from eternal torture and has given us back a relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. It's a call to run to the cross, fall to our knees and cry out face down, repenting for trying to replace the need for Jesus. Would my life look different without Christ? I hope so. And I hope this is evident to others instead of masking it with some humanitarian, self-righteous facade. I am still just as sinful and gross and unworthy as before I allowed Christ to take the reigns of my life. Difference now is that through the blood of Christ God looks at me and sees Jesus! Not giving out bonus points for good deeds or slaps on the wrist for every little slip up. But He spares me eternal wrath and consequence of my sin by wrapping His arms around me just as He does to His Son. I am a child of God. I am covered by the sacrifice of Christ. My life is made to worship the One who pulled me out of darkness and has done this for all people of the world. To worship God for who He is rather than what He does in my life. God isn't just some personal counselor. He's in charge of all humanity, only seeking the worship of His people in return. And it's in that moment that we're able to be fully satisfied. Heaven isn't here but God lets us live with one foot in heaven by living a life devoted to Him, loving Him wholeheartedly.
I mess up. A lot. But instead of trying to pull myself up by my boot straps into some false righteousness, I just have to throw up my arms to give glory where its due- to the Almighty God. The Sovereign Lord who chose US to live NOW in the freedom of Christ. He did all the work. He took the pain. He bore the full wrath of God. He lived perfectly in all these things so we don't even have to try to. The response of the Gospel isn't complacency but obedience out of love. I wake up every morning in need of this reminder. Christianity isn't a cultural thing. It's a relationship with the God who saved YOUR soul forever, the One who sent His own Son to be sacrificed to take on the weight of the things we just can't seem to carry.
This Easter, God is telling me to stop trying. It's been done in full. I only owe a proper response- complete devotion and wholehearted love for my Savior. Every single person on this earth has been saved by Christ. Every single one. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." What greater love is out there? I dare you to find one. And I know that you won't. The man who walked in front of my car in the drive-through lane? Christ died for him. His purpose in life is to worship God. The Holy Spirit- received upon acceptance of Christ- hit me upside the head when I saw this one man months back. One average, ordinary man. The Holy Spirit spoke to me to say that God loves THAT man. God sent Christ for THAT man. God's heart aches for THAT man to come back to Him. The divide between us and god has already been made right; it's no longer. Not by our efforts but by Christ alone. I pray that this soaks into the depths of my heart and changes how I live my everyday life, where I find my satisfaction, where I get my life motivation.
Christ ALONE has made the way. There is no other way. No longer can we complain that we're confused with the future or stress about what to do. God's made it obvious. Our purpose is to love God and worship Him with our lives. And we can do this at any place in any country with any group of people. He just wants our hearts and He'll take care of the rest.
4/22.
Today Christ died for ME. God's Son- a part of the Trinity of God- let out a loud cry as He breathed His last breath, taking on the weight of sin of all people of the world for all time. We are called to lay it down. Come before the foot of the cross. God is just as disgusted with visual, blatant sins like immorality, gossip, murder, stealing, lying etc. as He is at my trying to "do good" or perform some sort of religious duties. Both of these deny the need for Christ and causes us to make Him out to be a liar. Christ died so we can stop trying to run away or earn righteousness. He died to bring us to God FOREVER, gift us with the Holy Spirit- God living inside of us- the very second we choose His life over our own. This Easter God's yelling "It's already been done! Stop trying! Just love me." Why do I require some sort of act to earn God when my debt has been paid in full 2000 years ago? It's not Old Testament times.
We live in a time of complete freedom in Christ. Free from animal sacrifices or striving for perfection or adhering to strict, seemingly unnecessary religious rules. This isn't an excuse to abuse the grace given to us through Christ's death and resurrection. Instead it's a motivator to love, to run into the arms of the One who saved us from eternal torture and has given us back a relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. It's a call to run to the cross, fall to our knees and cry out face down, repenting for trying to replace the need for Jesus. Would my life look different without Christ? I hope so. And I hope this is evident to others instead of masking it with some humanitarian, self-righteous facade. I am still just as sinful and gross and unworthy as before I allowed Christ to take the reigns of my life. Difference now is that through the blood of Christ God looks at me and sees Jesus! Not giving out bonus points for good deeds or slaps on the wrist for every little slip up. But He spares me eternal wrath and consequence of my sin by wrapping His arms around me just as He does to His Son. I am a child of God. I am covered by the sacrifice of Christ. My life is made to worship the One who pulled me out of darkness and has done this for all people of the world. To worship God for who He is rather than what He does in my life. God isn't just some personal counselor. He's in charge of all humanity, only seeking the worship of His people in return. And it's in that moment that we're able to be fully satisfied. Heaven isn't here but God lets us live with one foot in heaven by living a life devoted to Him, loving Him wholeheartedly.
I mess up. A lot. But instead of trying to pull myself up by my boot straps into some false righteousness, I just have to throw up my arms to give glory where its due- to the Almighty God. The Sovereign Lord who chose US to live NOW in the freedom of Christ. He did all the work. He took the pain. He bore the full wrath of God. He lived perfectly in all these things so we don't even have to try to. The response of the Gospel isn't complacency but obedience out of love. I wake up every morning in need of this reminder. Christianity isn't a cultural thing. It's a relationship with the God who saved YOUR soul forever, the One who sent His own Son to be sacrificed to take on the weight of the things we just can't seem to carry.
This Easter, God is telling me to stop trying. It's been done in full. I only owe a proper response- complete devotion and wholehearted love for my Savior. Every single person on this earth has been saved by Christ. Every single one. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." What greater love is out there? I dare you to find one. And I know that you won't. The man who walked in front of my car in the drive-through lane? Christ died for him. His purpose in life is to worship God. The Holy Spirit- received upon acceptance of Christ- hit me upside the head when I saw this one man months back. One average, ordinary man. The Holy Spirit spoke to me to say that God loves THAT man. God sent Christ for THAT man. God's heart aches for THAT man to come back to Him. The divide between us and god has already been made right; it's no longer. Not by our efforts but by Christ alone. I pray that this soaks into the depths of my heart and changes how I live my everyday life, where I find my satisfaction, where I get my life motivation.
Christ ALONE has made the way. There is no other way. No longer can we complain that we're confused with the future or stress about what to do. God's made it obvious. Our purpose is to love God and worship Him with our lives. And we can do this at any place in any country with any group of people. He just wants our hearts and He'll take care of the rest.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
friendship
God places people in our lives for a reason. I've always believed this but I thought it would only apply to the people who just seem to "fit" with me- high school friends, sorority sisters, etc. I think we tend to befriend those most similar to ourselves when really that limits us. Who knows if it'll be the drive-through cashier, quirky professor, or person sitting on the last row at church that will be the person to imprint our lives forever. For me it was at Copperbelt University in Kitwe, Zambia (about 7 hours bus ride from Lusaka). I'm sure you probably think I talk about Zambia way too much but truth is, I firmly believe it's still so present in my life because God wants it to be. And I think this story proves it.
We went to the University pretty much just hours after arriving in Lusaka from Chicago in hopes of sharing the Gospel: that we're sinful people separated from God, who sent His perfect, holy, blameless Son to take the wrath for all of our sins in order that we are able to be in friendship with the God of the Universe through Jesus Christ. We don't deserve this, but God chooses to extend grace to us as a gift. All it takes to enjoy this gift is to admit our sin and turn from it through proclaiming Jesus as the center of our lives. We don't have to become perfect, or be involved in 5 Bible Studies, or give money to the poor- though these things are sometimes an incredible way to express our love for God. Wellll way off subject but not really. Anyways, it was so humbling to be chosen to share this incredible news with college students at Copperbelt University to many of whom were involved with black magic and suffocating religion that forced them into a to-do list to "reach" God. I heard that Zambian people are amazingly welcoming but wouldn't believe it till I saw it. It was only a matter of hours before I saw it for what it really was.
I was invited into a college dorm room- if you can even call it that- that sleeps 6 with two twin beds and a mat on the floor. I couldn't imagine living in these conditions, much less thinking of them as luxuries. These students are the brightest and usually the wealthiest out of all students throughout Zambia. They have been waiting their entire lives to be at this University. This first room I was invited into I was given a spot of the bed to sit on and offered a glass of punch. The girls were fascinated with American culture and had so many questions. They were receptive to what we had to say and loved just talking about Christianity. It wasn't some battle of which view is right or wrong but instead an open forum for questions to gain a greater understanding of Truth. These particular girls are Chomba and Mwansa. They were so very hospitable and we just sat for over 3 hours laughing, reading through the Gospel, listening to Zambian music and even given dance lessons. I knew I wouldn't be able to forget these girls. We were invited back for more Zambian dancing and a homemade dinner of nshima and vegetables. But we were just strangers a few days back to them! When the Bible says to practice hospitality, that's what they did. And it was mind-blowing that these college women who had nothing but one suitcase for all semester were offering up their time and food to me.
This moment came and went quickly as we had to say our goodbyes to get back to Lusaka to our house there. I came back with a new Zambian pop CD and a couple of email addresses in hand. And that was it.
Around January, I really felt a tug on my heart to follow-up with the girls I had met just to see how I could be praying for them, maybe even offering some encouragement to them that had been so comforting to me throughout the roughness of fall semester. I didn't hear anything back for a while but then got emails from both girls! Again, I figured this would fizzle out but I was wrong. Just this morning I received an email from Chomba, one of many many emails that have gone back and forth. Sometimes we email everyday, sometimes a couple times a month. I thought it was my "job" to encourage Chomba but really she's been so encouraging to me. She's shown me the simplicities of the Gospel and the beauty of friendship. I thought Chomba and I were just two people writing letters to each other but failed to recognize that God had chosen us, thousands of miles apart and cultures apart, to be friends.
I would like to share part of her email from yesterday morning and this morning in hopes that you can also be inspired by the power of God to bring people together and to change hearts. Here are excerpts from that as her testimony. You may have to read it out loud to get the wording/phrasing of the email:
Yesterday:
Biologically m(I'm) an omly(only) child my parents died when i was very young. I
have stayed i alot of home and treated differently, mostly bad, but i
guess it was Gods plan so that i can be a better person.
M(I'm) currently staying with an uncle and auntie who i have grown to
acacept as my parents, M related to my uncle but m more close to the
wife than him.
I have grown up to please people owez(always) because like that they will
accpt you in their families, I have to work hard at sku(school) for them to
continue footing my school bills, i have to work hard at home to
impress them so that im accepted,,,,blah,blah.
Thank God m findng myself now, but the life i have gone thru has
taught me to be kind and loving.
i want o finish my sku(school) and be independent and support my
siblings, i have a passion in sewing and i wnt to take it up seriously
wen m done wit sku. I wnt to found a home for the homeless boys, bcoz(because)
i blive(believe) if we take care of the boy child there will be less crime on
the streets.
I wnt to find a loving man who i can get married to later.
Today:
Hey swt friend, i pray that God continues to guide you in your ways
and in everything you do so that i can continue having a great friend
that i haave in you.
Imagine wen i went to college i met a guy who
taught me all the bad things that there is. He used to tell me that it
cant be life if m always thinking about other people but me.
He left me when he started doing fine in life and told me he wasnt my
class. I went through a patch of self pity and often felt so ugly and
lost my self esteem the more. Afterwards i met a christian guy who
couldnt forgive my past and kept reminding me of my past, he used to
encourage me to seek God and i later realised, probably God sent him
to me for that purpose. We broke up just after some months.
Right now i wnt to devote my life to God alone.
Let's work to get back to the first love, there we will see Jesus
speaking right in our faces and we will hear him clearly.
I thank God for your family and will continue praying that He
continues being with you.
Love YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
It's a beautiful thing to see how God has been radically working in her heart even since I met her last summer and how He's used us in each others' lives. She's been able to speak so much truth to me as I have to her, and we both are able to push each other towards Christ. Pen pals? I guess you could say that. But sisters in Christ? Absolutely. And I'm beyond grateful for her life. Please pray for Chomba, living a completely different life than any can imagine here but struggling with the same heart issues as all of us. We all serve the same God no matter what country we're in. Praise God that He knows it all and that His timing is beyond perfect.
We went to the University pretty much just hours after arriving in Lusaka from Chicago in hopes of sharing the Gospel: that we're sinful people separated from God, who sent His perfect, holy, blameless Son to take the wrath for all of our sins in order that we are able to be in friendship with the God of the Universe through Jesus Christ. We don't deserve this, but God chooses to extend grace to us as a gift. All it takes to enjoy this gift is to admit our sin and turn from it through proclaiming Jesus as the center of our lives. We don't have to become perfect, or be involved in 5 Bible Studies, or give money to the poor- though these things are sometimes an incredible way to express our love for God. Wellll way off subject but not really. Anyways, it was so humbling to be chosen to share this incredible news with college students at Copperbelt University to many of whom were involved with black magic and suffocating religion that forced them into a to-do list to "reach" God. I heard that Zambian people are amazingly welcoming but wouldn't believe it till I saw it. It was only a matter of hours before I saw it for what it really was.
I was invited into a college dorm room- if you can even call it that- that sleeps 6 with two twin beds and a mat on the floor. I couldn't imagine living in these conditions, much less thinking of them as luxuries. These students are the brightest and usually the wealthiest out of all students throughout Zambia. They have been waiting their entire lives to be at this University. This first room I was invited into I was given a spot of the bed to sit on and offered a glass of punch. The girls were fascinated with American culture and had so many questions. They were receptive to what we had to say and loved just talking about Christianity. It wasn't some battle of which view is right or wrong but instead an open forum for questions to gain a greater understanding of Truth. These particular girls are Chomba and Mwansa. They were so very hospitable and we just sat for over 3 hours laughing, reading through the Gospel, listening to Zambian music and even given dance lessons. I knew I wouldn't be able to forget these girls. We were invited back for more Zambian dancing and a homemade dinner of nshima and vegetables. But we were just strangers a few days back to them! When the Bible says to practice hospitality, that's what they did. And it was mind-blowing that these college women who had nothing but one suitcase for all semester were offering up their time and food to me.
This moment came and went quickly as we had to say our goodbyes to get back to Lusaka to our house there. I came back with a new Zambian pop CD and a couple of email addresses in hand. And that was it.
Around January, I really felt a tug on my heart to follow-up with the girls I had met just to see how I could be praying for them, maybe even offering some encouragement to them that had been so comforting to me throughout the roughness of fall semester. I didn't hear anything back for a while but then got emails from both girls! Again, I figured this would fizzle out but I was wrong. Just this morning I received an email from Chomba, one of many many emails that have gone back and forth. Sometimes we email everyday, sometimes a couple times a month. I thought it was my "job" to encourage Chomba but really she's been so encouraging to me. She's shown me the simplicities of the Gospel and the beauty of friendship. I thought Chomba and I were just two people writing letters to each other but failed to recognize that God had chosen us, thousands of miles apart and cultures apart, to be friends.
I would like to share part of her email from yesterday morning and this morning in hopes that you can also be inspired by the power of God to bring people together and to change hearts. Here are excerpts from that as her testimony. You may have to read it out loud to get the wording/phrasing of the email:
Yesterday:
Biologically m(I'm) an omly(only) child my parents died when i was very young. I
have stayed i alot of home and treated differently, mostly bad, but i
guess it was Gods plan so that i can be a better person.
M(I'm) currently staying with an uncle and auntie who i have grown to
acacept as my parents, M related to my uncle but m more close to the
wife than him.
I have grown up to please people owez(always) because like that they will
accpt you in their families, I have to work hard at sku(school) for them to
continue footing my school bills, i have to work hard at home to
impress them so that im accepted,,,,blah,blah.
Thank God m findng myself now, but the life i have gone thru has
taught me to be kind and loving.
i want o finish my sku(school) and be independent and support my
siblings, i have a passion in sewing and i wnt to take it up seriously
wen m done wit sku. I wnt to found a home for the homeless boys, bcoz(because)
i blive(believe) if we take care of the boy child there will be less crime on
the streets.
I wnt to find a loving man who i can get married to later.
Today:
Hey swt friend, i pray that God continues to guide you in your ways
and in everything you do so that i can continue having a great friend
that i haave in you.
Imagine wen i went to college i met a guy who
taught me all the bad things that there is. He used to tell me that it
cant be life if m always thinking about other people but me.
He left me when he started doing fine in life and told me he wasnt my
class. I went through a patch of self pity and often felt so ugly and
lost my self esteem the more. Afterwards i met a christian guy who
couldnt forgive my past and kept reminding me of my past, he used to
encourage me to seek God and i later realised, probably God sent him
to me for that purpose. We broke up just after some months.
Right now i wnt to devote my life to God alone.
Let's work to get back to the first love, there we will see Jesus
speaking right in our faces and we will hear him clearly.
I thank God for your family and will continue praying that He
continues being with you.
Love YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
It's a beautiful thing to see how God has been radically working in her heart even since I met her last summer and how He's used us in each others' lives. She's been able to speak so much truth to me as I have to her, and we both are able to push each other towards Christ. Pen pals? I guess you could say that. But sisters in Christ? Absolutely. And I'm beyond grateful for her life. Please pray for Chomba, living a completely different life than any can imagine here but struggling with the same heart issues as all of us. We all serve the same God no matter what country we're in. Praise God that He knows it all and that His timing is beyond perfect.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
wisdom
I was blessed to go to my church's spring break mission trip to Philadelphia last week and was hit by the immense need that is present even in our own country. Gangs, drugs, irrational violence, darkness like I've never seen before. And I'm sure it exists in Columbia too but so often do I believe that where I live and the people I interact with are the "norm." They're not. People in my own city are homeless, starving, living in poverty. So God wrecked me by showing me the need for service here and that His love is the only love that people need. God doesn't want more Christians, He wants more lovers of Himself. He wants people to abandon all and live the most fulfilled life through what Christ has already done- wiped away every sin from our record. Incredible truth. And something to be reminded of everyday.
I've been going through "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers but was a bitttt too busy to sit down and read it during the trip. So I sat down one afternoon and read back through the days I missed and came across some heart-awakening quotes. They encouraged and challenged me so I figured I'd share. It looks like a lot but it's all great stuff so stick with it.
God LOVES you.
March 7:
The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross of Calvary, a love we can and never shall merit. Paul says this is the reason we are more than conquerors in all these things, super-victors, with a joy we would not have but for the very things which look like they are going to overwhelm us. The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super-joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstance, these very things- tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super-joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them but in the midst of them.
Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter. The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord.
March 8:
Am I willing to relinquish my hold on all I possess, my hold on my affections, and on everything, and to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?
If you are up against the question of relinquishing, go through the crisis, relinquishing all, and God will make you fit for all that He requires of you.
March 9:
If God gives a clear and emphatic realization to your soul of what He wants, do not try to keep yourself in that relationship by any particular method, but live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ.
March 10:
The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message.
March 11:
“Though it tarry, wait for it.” We cannot attain to a vision; we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision. At the beginning we saw it but did not wait for it; we rushed off into practical work, and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it. Waiting for the vision that tarries is the test of our loyalty to God. It is at the peril of our soul’s welfare that we get caught up in the practical work and miss the fulfillment of the vision.
March 12:
If we only give up something to God because we want more back, there is nothing of the Holy Spirit in our abandonment; it is miserable commercial self-interest. That we gain heaven, that we are delivered from sin, that we are made useful to God- these things never enter as considerations into real abandonment, which is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.
March 13:
My experimental knowledge of salvation will be along the line of deliverance from sin and of personal holiness; but salvation means that the Spirit of God has brought me into touch with God’s personality, and I am thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself; I am caught up into the abandonment of God.
Abandonment never produces the consciousness of its own effort, because the whole life is taken up with the One to Whom we abandon.
I've been going through "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers but was a bitttt too busy to sit down and read it during the trip. So I sat down one afternoon and read back through the days I missed and came across some heart-awakening quotes. They encouraged and challenged me so I figured I'd share. It looks like a lot but it's all great stuff so stick with it.
God LOVES you.
March 7:
The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross of Calvary, a love we can and never shall merit. Paul says this is the reason we are more than conquerors in all these things, super-victors, with a joy we would not have but for the very things which look like they are going to overwhelm us. The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super-joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstance, these very things- tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super-joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them but in the midst of them.
Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter. The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord.
March 8:
Am I willing to relinquish my hold on all I possess, my hold on my affections, and on everything, and to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?
If you are up against the question of relinquishing, go through the crisis, relinquishing all, and God will make you fit for all that He requires of you.
March 9:
If God gives a clear and emphatic realization to your soul of what He wants, do not try to keep yourself in that relationship by any particular method, but live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ.
March 10:
The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message.
March 11:
“Though it tarry, wait for it.” We cannot attain to a vision; we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision. At the beginning we saw it but did not wait for it; we rushed off into practical work, and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it. Waiting for the vision that tarries is the test of our loyalty to God. It is at the peril of our soul’s welfare that we get caught up in the practical work and miss the fulfillment of the vision.
March 12:
If we only give up something to God because we want more back, there is nothing of the Holy Spirit in our abandonment; it is miserable commercial self-interest. That we gain heaven, that we are delivered from sin, that we are made useful to God- these things never enter as considerations into real abandonment, which is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.
March 13:
My experimental knowledge of salvation will be along the line of deliverance from sin and of personal holiness; but salvation means that the Spirit of God has brought me into touch with God’s personality, and I am thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself; I am caught up into the abandonment of God.
Abandonment never produces the consciousness of its own effort, because the whole life is taken up with the One to Whom we abandon.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
humbled
Today an article came out in the Daily Gamecock, USC's student newspaper, featuring Clothed in Hope on the front page. Blessing. A sweet, sweet sorority sister called on Sunday wanting to interview me and write up an article about everything that's been going on over the past month, as well as my plans for the future with this whole nonprofit adventure. Excitement filled me up inside in anticipation of so many more people learning about the cause and hopefully supporting it in the future. But with that came some strange feeling inside. Not doubt, not fear, but some sort of timidity. It rested on my heart like a shadow and I was determined to pray to the bottom of it.
Humility.
"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12
That was it. My heart feared becoming proud through this exposure. It's so easy to see this as a promotional opportunity for myself but who do I live for? Myself or for Christ? My purpose in life is to make Christ famous and lift HIS name higher. So with that comes lowering the name of Amy Woodell.
Clothed in Hope is a work of the Lord. After all, what have I really done? I've signed a paper, spent 20 minutes in a bank, researched some, sewn a bunch of shirts, brainstormed some, dreamed more. That's it! Big woop! God is so obviously working through this by opening doors, establishing valuable connections, providing opportunities to share the need, breaking my heart daily for these women, creating a stir that I couldn't have created on my own. People are walking into my life who I could've never found on my own. Doors are just flying open and I'm holding on for the ride of my life. As I sat in my car in the parking lot before class this morning, I opened the package with my official paperwork from the Secretary of State of North Carolina and I could barely breathe. I just became so overwhelmed and in awe of God's grace. Of His provision. Of the ability to cultivate a humble heart within me. And most of all, that none of this was of me. I sat humbled. Not just because of what God's done in my life over the past month, year or even since freshman year; but mostly because of WHO GOD IS. The second I surrendered and stepped out of the way, God slipped in to work His magic and let His plan unfold before my eyes. How insignificant am I?! The same God who has done all this, who is my purpose in life, who changes lives and heals lives, is the same God who could do this in and through any other person. For Clothed in Hope, He chose me.
But what has He chosen you for?
Humility.
"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12
That was it. My heart feared becoming proud through this exposure. It's so easy to see this as a promotional opportunity for myself but who do I live for? Myself or for Christ? My purpose in life is to make Christ famous and lift HIS name higher. So with that comes lowering the name of Amy Woodell.
Clothed in Hope is a work of the Lord. After all, what have I really done? I've signed a paper, spent 20 minutes in a bank, researched some, sewn a bunch of shirts, brainstormed some, dreamed more. That's it! Big woop! God is so obviously working through this by opening doors, establishing valuable connections, providing opportunities to share the need, breaking my heart daily for these women, creating a stir that I couldn't have created on my own. People are walking into my life who I could've never found on my own. Doors are just flying open and I'm holding on for the ride of my life. As I sat in my car in the parking lot before class this morning, I opened the package with my official paperwork from the Secretary of State of North Carolina and I could barely breathe. I just became so overwhelmed and in awe of God's grace. Of His provision. Of the ability to cultivate a humble heart within me. And most of all, that none of this was of me. I sat humbled. Not just because of what God's done in my life over the past month, year or even since freshman year; but mostly because of WHO GOD IS. The second I surrendered and stepped out of the way, God slipped in to work His magic and let His plan unfold before my eyes. How insignificant am I?! The same God who has done all this, who is my purpose in life, who changes lives and heals lives, is the same God who could do this in and through any other person. For Clothed in Hope, He chose me.
But what has He chosen you for?
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