When Reality Sets In…
As the alarm clock goes off and my wife tells me it’s time to get out of bed, I wonder, how can it be 6:00 in the morning already. It’s time to go get all the boys up and get them ready for school. In about two hours, I’ll walk down the hill in the cool fresh African morning air and go teach my computer classes… Then I open my eyes and reality hits me, I’m not in Africa. I’m not with the boys. It’s 7:00 a.m. and it’s time to get up and take my kids to public school here in the U.S. It only seems like yesterday that we were supposed to be on an airplane heading “home”, but we are here at home in the U.S. It’s days like this that I really miss Africa and long to be there with all my heart. I know that right now God has us where He wants us and that in order to return to Africa we have to be diligent with the tasks at hand. Many of you may not know that my wife and I are expecting our third child in October and we were advised to stay in the States until our precious baby is born. We know that our God is faithful and just and that He knows our hearts desire is to be in Africa. As I have been really missing Africa recently, I reread the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 in the Message Bible and really like what it says: “I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” We know that in everything we are right where we need to be at this time and moment and God will bring us back home. I would like to say a personal thank you to every who has prayed for us and continues to support us on a monthly basis. It is our goal to return to Africa as soon as possible after the baby is born, and we need all the support that we can get, both in prayer and financially.
A Servant’s Heart
Servant! What does that word mean to you? When I think about the word servant, the scripture John 13:4 comes to mind. This is the scripture where Christ stoops down, and begins to wash His disciples feet. At first, they are hesitant, but eventually they let Him wash their feet. Many times we are given the opportunity to serve, but it may not always be what we had originally imagined. Being in Utah has given us the opportunity to experience different ministries and church outreaches. One of the ministries that we have been able to volunteer at as a family is the Utah Dream Center in Salt Lake City. The Utah Dream Center has a clothing distribution and food program every Tuesday. Different places each week donate clothing and food and it is sorted and passed out to those who are in need. It has been a great joy being able to help by sorting food, passing it out, and help set up tables with clothes on it. Through all this our kids have been wonderful. They have been extremely helpful and willing to go and help as much as possible. The pastor who leads the Utah Dream Center has become a good friend to them and they look forward to seeing him as much as possible. One of the greatest things happened the first time that we were able to help. The pastor came over and thanked us for helping him and then asked when we would be seeing him again. The kids, without skipping a beat, said, “We’ll see you next week.” It was so refreshing being able to see their willingness to help and to be a blessing to others. Now if only as adults, we can remember to be more like children and say, “God, here I am, use me. Let me be the one who is helping, not to get praise, but to just be a blessing to others.” I hope that this encourages someone as much as it has encouraged us as a family.
33rd Birthday
Sometimes I wonder where the time has gone. It is now February 22nd and I am 33 years old today. It doesn’t seem like that many years have come and gone. As I look back at my life over the past 33 years, I am continually amazed at how God has blessed me and allowed me the privilege of visiting so many different places in this world. I am so thankful for my family and for all the wonderful friendships that have been made over these past 33 years. As I look forward to the future, I realize that there is still so much more out there for me and I look to God to be my guide. May we all choose to trust in and rely on God for our daily direction in our life. I know that right now at this moment in my life I could not be any happier. Yet, I know that new things lie ahead. New adventures, new friends, and even new opportunities to minister. May God bless you this day and keep you as you follow Him!
On The Road
We are now on the road heading West. Our first planned stop will be in Colorado where we will be staying with Brooks’ dad and visiting friends and family. We are planning on meeting with people and talking in as many churches and small groups as possible. After about 3-4 weeks we will be leaving Colorado to go to Utah for the next few months to do the same thing, except we will be staying with Brooks’ mom. Please pray for safety as we travel and that everything will go smoothly. We are believing God for divine appointments and opportunities to speak. As we travel we will be updating the blog more regularly and posting information on our Facebook Page and Twitter accounts, so make sure to follow us. If you happen to be in either Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, or any place in between, please let us know if we can get together. We would love to see as many people as possible, but our schedule will likely fill up fast. Thank you for praying and continually supporting us as we seek to raise support so that we can return to Africa and to RVA as soon as possible.
God Bless!
Just Another Day?
I wrote this a couple months ago and stumbled on it today. I had meant to post it then, but it seems equally viable today as I look out the window through the rain and bone chilling cold. The truth rings through even if the weather has changed! – Brooks
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I awoke early enough this morning to see the radiant reds and bright oranges that signaled the beginning of another day. I was awed by the beauty and simplicity of what I saw. When I thanked God for another beautiful sunrise, I was reminded of the reality that this was unique. No matter how closely it resembled something I’ve seen before, no matter how familiar in style, location, or color – this sunrise was individually created just for today! Wow.
The verse: “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad” reverberated through my mind. – It seems so simple, and yet so profound. It doesn’t matter how familiar it is – today is unique.
That got me thinking, of course. Just how that correlates to the life we are in right now. That each day, each moment – no matter how normal it seems, is still unique because it is a new, fresh time. It’s been strange coming back to the States, knowing how much we have experienced and recalling all that God did in, through, and around us while we were in Kenya, only to come back in a life and area that seems so ‘normal’ and routine and similar to what it was before we left. Don’t get me wrong, we are aware of the dramatic changes in some people’s lives and the economy, but life in general is still very similar – there’s high speed internet, consistent running water and electricity, food for the tables… but I digress.
Today, no matter where I am, no matter how familiar it seems, is new – a chance to continue good decisions or start afresh in what I choose to do or at least, choose to respond to each situation and moment. More importantly, today has new opportunities to learn more about whom God is (sounds easier than it actually is living it sometimes); to share what God is doing both in us and in Africa, and to enjoy the new moments of each day. We really are not guaranteed any time beyond what we are currently, in this moment living in – we’ve seen enough lives suddenly end when we least expect it to know that this is true. So, just how am I choosing to live today? With purpose, with adventure and wonder at what’s around me, with boredom at the monotony of a repetitive routine, with clarity of steps or at least faith that God will help to guide my feet if I cannot see where we’re going? The choice is mine, but it will affect more than just myself. The best memories as well as the greatest moments to share and minister to others often come at unexpected (and sometimes inconvenient) times – am I ready? Are you?
Today’s new – so what are we going to choose to experience today?!
