Show and Tell from our Castle Hills Team

This will be a very long post with lots of pictures as I show and tell about the team from Castle Hills.  Who's with me?!

For the children's ministry, we separated the kids into three groups (Music, Story and Games).  Below is one group during the Bible Story.

Very young children are put in charge of even younger siblings.  This is a common sight all around Zambia.

Handing out crayons...

There was never enough time for the kids to finish coloring but they were fascinated with the chance.

We had to show the kids what to do with the crayons...

They quickly learned how to do it!

These three girls almost always come to my children's ministry each Wednesday.  From left to right: Sarah, Hadassah, Mary, Ruth and baby Abigail (Ruth's sister).  They are some of my favorite girls.

A shot outside at game time...

Another shot, notice the girl on the far left who is caring for a younger sibling (all day with no diapers).

Some of Levi's friends...

 This cutie let me hold him for quite a while which is a bit risky as all he had on was the hat and a shirt that was at least two sized too big...

The baby's leg and foot were so dry and rough.  When you think of babies, most people think of soft, supple skin.  Not here in Zambia, his poor little leg and foot were rougher than my hand.

Beautiful smile, precious girl...

This is Peter.  He literally attaches himself to me whenever he sees me.  He is not ever very far away.

More Peter...

And again, Peter who is reaching for my camera.  Notice the baby that I was holding back on the back of his older sister who really looked to be about 5 years old.

Playing outside.  Again, notice the baby on the back of a sister...

Zoe and friends...

Zoe, taking care of one small girl who fell asleep.  

After 5 days of children's ministry, twice a day - we showed the Jesus Film.  Here are just some of the kids who gathered to watch it.  They began running after the bus when we arrived.

 Waiting for sunset to start...

 The team blessed us with their left over snacks.  

This was one of the BEST thing that they gave us the whole time!!

Thankful Thursday

Counting gifts has been one of the most life changing things that I have done.  Here are some from my 1000 Gifts List.  

Again, the kids picked the numbers....

#423 - A desire to change

#19 - Time by myself, to think

#300 - Hugs from Susan S.

#215 - The joy of serving others

#10 - The security of my husband's love

#15 - The Bible

#29 - A "good morning" with a smile from Zoe

Thankful Thursday

This is something that I have been meaning to do for a while.  

I'm not promising that it will be done each week but I am going to try to do some of these regularly.  

I have been reading 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  Really, this book is life changing in so many ways.    I am nowhere near journalling 1000 gifts as I am just about to hit 400 but I am committed to keep going. Here are some random things that I am thankful for (I had the kids pick numbers):

#44 - Dark baby boy with his head on my shoulder

#340 - An anniversary card from Zoe

#50 - Messy, long brown haired 8 year old girl in the morning

#118 - Time with the Lord - oh please, change me!

#219 - That six year old boy...

#393 - A visit/chat with Suzie

#350 - Praying for my mission family

The Purple People

Monday was a public holiday here in Zambia.  The Lusaka Baptist Fellowship Churches held a parade and conference on that day.  We were asked to walk in the parade.  We were pulled up front to walk right behind the band who were right behind the Lusaka Baptist Fellowship banner (seen below).  I guess it's not like we could blend in in the back anyway, so why not put us all up front! :)

Here in Zambia most all the denominations have 'uniforms' or specific colors that they wear to signify to which church they belong.  The Baptist color is purple.

 Below is me, Noria and Suzie.

Before the parade, we all gathered up at the Freedom Statue.  Our missionary friend here with us is John.

The kids are waiting to begin the march with Hannah and our newest missionary, Julie.

Walking along, having fun - Hadassah and Hannah.

More smiles - Hadassah, Julie and Hannah

It was a big parade with lots of churches.

Snaking around the corner, there are even more that can't be seen.

After the parade, we ended up outdoors for the conference.  On Monday, Jeff preached twice with the time interspersed with lots of singing and celebrating.  This year marks 50 years of freedom from British rule.  Even though Independence Day isn't until October, this was a special day to celebrate with Zambian Baptists the freedom that we are given in Christ.

One thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five...

...DAYS!

What does 1,825 days equal?  5 years!  Today, we have been in Zambia for 5 years.  I am just amazed at what the Lord has done in and through us while we have been here in Zambia.  

This is us as we left Kentucky on June 23, 2009.

On the way to Zambia...

Almost there...

Arrival in Zambia on June 25, 2009!

As I think about what I want to say about these past five years, my mind swirls with all that has happened in our hearts and lives since we have been here.  I have had joys and sorrows.  I have learned much about myself and even more about the Lord.  

I am so grateful that the Lord is FAITHFUL.  He really is and always will be.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3

Fifteen

Yesterday, I celebrated 15 years of marriage with my husband.  It has been an eventful fifteen years.  As a brand new bride, I was immediately thrust into the role of Pastor's Wife as Jeff was already pastoring a church when we first met.  

Nineteen months after our wedding, we were on the mission field in Costa Rica.  Three days after we arrived in Costa Rica, I found out that we were expecting our first child.

Twelve major moves, three children and four countries later, here we are at fifteen years of wedded bliss.

As I have looked through our pictures, I'm realizing that we have a huge gap of pictures before 2005 but here are a few pictures from the (recent) past:

Levi's baby shower in 2007 by our wonderful church family at First Baptist Church - Buna, Texas.

Our brand new family of five.

 

Leaving Texas - packing up everything we had in 3 1/2 crates to ship to Zambia.

One of the prayer card attempts in Virginia - at the end of our eight week mission orientation.

The kids' typical appearance while we were in language study in Mongu, Zambia.  

Notice the difference between the prayer card picture and this one...

Ministering to children in Lukulu, Zambia.

A recent picture taken in our yard in Lusaka.

Fifteen roses (you can't see them all) for fifteen great years with my wonderful husband.  I am so grateful for where the Lord has brought Jeff and I - physically, spiritually and emotionally.  It seems like we have been around the world together and there is more still to come.  

On to our next 15+ adventurous years together....! 

Risky Pursuit

Christ never intended those who walked with him to feel comfortable and safe.

This was meant to be a risk-it-all pursuit.

-Jennie Allen, author of Anything

The word pursuit in the above quote gives the connotation of movement.  Not just ambling along or even fast-walking but flat out running.  The Bible also has some things to say about running.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us..."

I am reading Anything by Jennie Allen with three other women.  The book is about how her husband and she prayed 'anything' to the Lord - they would go anywhere and do anything.  This intrigued us because in so many ways, we had already done our 'anything'.  We all had left our family, friends, church and everything familiar to us to obey the Lord and follow him to the Zambian bush.  Some people might think that we are done.  Through the guidance of this book, our comments to each other and most importantly - the Holy Spirit, we are all learning that there are more anythings out there for each of us.  Anything doesn't stop with one act of obedience.  Anything continues and as I am discovering through The Word - it is a race.  We are told to RUN with perseverance.

So, as I take stock of my spiritual life, I think that I am feeling like I am not running in pursuit of the Lord.  I am exercising - doing my quiet time each morning - but I am just kind of jogging in place.  I want this risk-it-all pursuit.  I want to RUN.  Am I crazy?  Did I just write that?  I am not a runner - just ask my marathon loving husband.  I don't want to just amble along this race that the Lord has placed before me; nor do I just want to fast-walk it but I really do want to pursue the Lord in a brand new way.  I'm thinking that this pursuit won't be easy.  When I think of running, I think of difficulties and pain but as my husband will tell you, as you persevere, it gets easier.... 

Who's with me?  

All Creatures, Great and Small

Weary Feet

I have been trying to blog a bit more lately.  I follow several of these Christian women bloggers who are brave and real on their blogs.  As I have contemplated my spiritual temperature lately, I have been a little lonely recently.  In the past year, I have lost three friends, in different ways.  One was from the hard realization of different expectations from our relationship.  One left the mission field and life just took her in a different direction.  The other will always be a friend but I lost her physical presence in my life.  Really, all three have been extremely difficult for me.  

So, why am I writing this?  I'm not sure.  I really have been avoiding this post for a couple of weeks.  It has been rolling around in my heart and mind for a while.  I would start a post and then delete it, not sure really what to say.  

Loss is a part of life.  We all have lost things and people that are valuable to us.  As we have been away from the States for almost five years now, one of the hardest things for me is the lost of relationships.  We loose the every day connection with our families.  When we come back to the States for Stateside Assignments, it is hard just to plop down into their lives again for 5-6 months.  Our children have lost relationships with grandparents, cousins and friends they had five years ago.  Even on the mission field, people seem to always be coming and going in our lives.  It is hard on my heart and sometimes, these 'beautiful feet' are a bit weary.  

I would not change the life we lead because it is what the Lord has called us to do.  We have not doubt that we are right where the Lord wants us.  We take comfort in knowing that He is always in control and that he redeems everything for His glory.  There is nothing better than living a life of obedience, no matter where you are and no matter what the Lord has asked you to do.  At times, we just feel the cost a bit more than other times.  

Below are some quotes from Jim Elliot that really fit in my life right now:

Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living.

The will of God is always bigger than we bargain for, but we must believe that whatever it involves; it is good, acceptable and perfect.

Wherever you are, be all there!  Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.