Clean Up

This morning Chelye and I started a project with a couple of Nationals. Out back of our house here in Lusalite there is a patio area that last week was black and green with mold, overgrown with weeds, covered in sticks and dirt, and looked more like a large pile of trash than anything else. Over the past week others had started the clean-up process, clearing out the weeds, sticks and random debris. This morning the four of us used steel brushes and began scrubbing away at the layers of black mold. As we knelt in an inch of water scrubbing off the tiles I couldn't help but think about how difficult it was to get all of the mold off. As I type this now, the patio is covered with colorful tiles and clean concrete. The barrier of concrete is partially covered with clean white paint and the vision for a fire pit isn't far away.

Everyone was pretty quiet as we painted this afternoon and I thought back on the morning. It was another reminder of Christ's work in my own life and how stubborn I can be to the change He wants to bring. And it was another reminder of His beauty that would shine through, if only I would get out of His way.

Mad

Sometimes I just get mad. With "good" reason or not, sometimes I just do. Like when my computer battery doesn't last as long as I had planned on. Or when my mosquito net is laying on my head. Or being in a room surrounded by people speaking Portuguese and not having a clue what they're saying. I get mad when I fail to meet a goal. Or when I watch LOST hoping for answers and only end up with more questions. Or reading that Mark's blog will be "changing." Or like when I hear stories of people losing their homes. Or when people make fun of those in serious need. I get mad when I think about the number of deaths everyday that are so very preventable. Or when people talk out of complete ignorance. Or when I watch people so caught up in themselves, they miss an opportunity to help someone else. Or when I realize the danger that rain is to so many with homes made of mud. And I get mad when I realize I'm only mad because of my own pride. Or when I look back and know my motives were completely selfish. Or when I look ahead, knowing my motives are selfish, and I do it anyways. Or when I think of all the time I've spent on nothingness, or the opportunities I've missed, or the money I've wasted.



And then I take a deep breath and realize that I've been more focused on myself, and the mistakes of others, than I have been on Christ's overwhelming love and my responsibility to simply love others.

My Way is Best

I think I am right a lot. I believe that my way of doing things is best, otherwise why would I do it like that? I like to share what I think is right with others. Why would I want them to do something in a way that isn't best? The type of activity doesn't matter; my knowledge of the subject barely matters...It doesn't take much for me to think that I have found the absolute best way to go about things.
I am being reminded day after day that there are always different opinions, different options, different "right ways," different "best" options. And these differences don't always, in fact they rarely, need improvement... especially from me.

Proverbs 12:15
Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others.

I am working on being a little less foolish and a little more wise.

Friends

This is my first post since arriving in Dondo almost a week ago. It's about 10:30pm and I am ready for bed. I would reach the Word Limit on Blog Spot if I were to relay all the stories that I would already love to share. Today though was the first day us interns sat back and relaxed. I did a few computer related things around the house in Lusalite and that was about it. We spent the day talking and laughing. Eating some candy and popcorn. Simply enjoying each others company.
And as we sat in the living room tonight singing some songs and laughing some more, I began to think about the truly life changing friends that have been in and are in my life. I was thinking about old friendships and how some have faded away while others have grown. I was thinking about the friendships that will last until the Lord calls us home. I was thinking about the friendships that fell flat right from the get go. I was thinking about when my family also became my friends and vice-a-versa. And as I look ahead to the rest of this summer, looking forward to building upon friendships here and back home, I simply want to make the most of what God has put in front of me. This summer...this week...this day.

Bush has opened the last few mornings of our prayer time together with a passage from Numbers and it is what I am praying for my new friends, my old friends, my close friends, and my "not-so-much anymore" friends.
'May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.'

the ever-faithful One

This has been an intense week on many levels. My mind and heart have been all over the place for the things in my own life and the people around me, here's a peek..

It's been a week of:
-excitement and sorrow
-stress and relief
-addiction and freedom
-judgment and love
-tears and smiles
-ambition and laziness
-laughter and hurting words
-hellos and goodbyes
-worry and peace

That is my feeble attempt to describe the roller coaster of emotions I have been through just this past week. As I look at my packed bags, ready to head out for Mozambique tomorrow I am praying that God will take every one of the pieces in this puzzle and mold me with it. I am praying that I will stand strong on the shoulders of Him who has sent me on this journey. I am praying I would be faithful each and every day, thankful for the path He has set me on. And I am so thankful for all of you who have stepped out and joined me on this adventure. No matter what lies ahead for any of us, let's commit to serving a purpose higher than ourselves.