Monday, March 21, 2011
More pictures!
Showing the kids the battery operated fan!
Luke and little Hanna...they play together every day. She is one of the teen mom's children.
Luke at the guest house
Baseketball notes
Basketball notes
At the National Soccer Stadium where they did the bball clinic
Lakin and Shelby at the center with the kids
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Vashti
Ok, so this morning I have been reading in the Book of Esther. The story in chapter one is about King Xerxes and this lavish party he had. He put on a full-fledged BASH. He had all sorts of food, drink and entertainment. It says he brought in gold and silver couches, told the men to drink all they wanted, and the party lasted for 180 days!!!
B-A-S-H!!!!
So, here is where it gets good. In verse 10, after seven days of feasting (and drinking), this King decides he and his men need some eye-candy! You see the men partied in a different spot than the women. King Xerxes had his little gig going on and at the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the wome in the royal palace, (v.9) separate from the men.
Well, like I said, by day seven, (and lots of wine) the men were craving a little of the women!! And King Xerxes, who thought his wife was beautiful, and also was in "high spirits" (v. 10) wanted to share her beauty with all the men.
So he calls for Queen Vashti.
"He told the seven eunuchs who attended him to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head." (v. 11)
And this is the kicker....SHE SAYS NO!
Can you just envision this my sisters? Your husband is drunk. He is surrounded by his drunk friends. And all the sudden he is pulling out the "You are my wife...come to me and give us a good look card!"
Yeah right... I am with Vashti..."NO WAY!"
So, then...just like can often happen in our marriages...this turns into a BIG deal. SHE REFUSED HIM! SHE SAID NO! SHE WAS NOT GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE!
So King Xerxes, instead of going to his wife, and actually communicating with her, instead he decides to consult with his advisers (v. 13). It lists them as "wise advisers" but I am not so sure.
His "wise advisers" don't tell him to go talk to his wife. They don't stop him right there and say, "Hey man, maybe you should go see why she doesn't wanna come over here." Nope...instead they leap to conclusions. They say that if this gets around that his wife has disobeyed him, EVERY WOMAN will do that with her husband too. EXAGGERATION!
"Women everywhere will begin to despise their husbands when they learn that Queen Vashti has refused to appear before the king." (v. 17)
So..it is easy for us to blame the men here ladies. It is easy to look at the King's actions, and his adviser's lack of wisdom, but haven't we been there? Haven't we had an issue in our own marriages and instead of going to our husband or going to our LORD, we take advice from friends?
And the advice comes wrapped in fear and doubt and exaggeration!
"Well, Jen...you can't let that go on...my goodness, Faith will see it, your students will see it...everything will crash down!"
"Jen...that is just wrong the way he acted...you have to do something!"
"Jen...can you believe he/she said that? Did that? OMG!"
Yes...OMG...my friends...OMG...where King Xerxes should have been looking was to our GOD!
He should have been communicating with his wife, not his "wise" men!
He should have been going to his Lord instead!
And we should too! It is tempting to go to friends, even Godly "wise" friends for advice in our marriages, in our lives...but quite honestly, the Bible is pretty clear that we should be bringing ALL of our daily trials and coversations to GOD!
B-A-S-H!!!!
So, here is where it gets good. In verse 10, after seven days of feasting (and drinking), this King decides he and his men need some eye-candy! You see the men partied in a different spot than the women. King Xerxes had his little gig going on and at the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the wome in the royal palace, (v.9) separate from the men.
Well, like I said, by day seven, (and lots of wine) the men were craving a little of the women!! And King Xerxes, who thought his wife was beautiful, and also was in "high spirits" (v. 10) wanted to share her beauty with all the men.
So he calls for Queen Vashti.
"He told the seven eunuchs who attended him to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head." (v. 11)
And this is the kicker....SHE SAYS NO!
Can you just envision this my sisters? Your husband is drunk. He is surrounded by his drunk friends. And all the sudden he is pulling out the "You are my wife...come to me and give us a good look card!"
Yeah right... I am with Vashti..."NO WAY!"
So, then...just like can often happen in our marriages...this turns into a BIG deal. SHE REFUSED HIM! SHE SAID NO! SHE WAS NOT GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE!
So King Xerxes, instead of going to his wife, and actually communicating with her, instead he decides to consult with his advisers (v. 13). It lists them as "wise advisers" but I am not so sure.
His "wise advisers" don't tell him to go talk to his wife. They don't stop him right there and say, "Hey man, maybe you should go see why she doesn't wanna come over here." Nope...instead they leap to conclusions. They say that if this gets around that his wife has disobeyed him, EVERY WOMAN will do that with her husband too. EXAGGERATION!
"Women everywhere will begin to despise their husbands when they learn that Queen Vashti has refused to appear before the king." (v. 17)
So..it is easy for us to blame the men here ladies. It is easy to look at the King's actions, and his adviser's lack of wisdom, but haven't we been there? Haven't we had an issue in our own marriages and instead of going to our husband or going to our LORD, we take advice from friends?
And the advice comes wrapped in fear and doubt and exaggeration!
"Well, Jen...you can't let that go on...my goodness, Faith will see it, your students will see it...everything will crash down!"
"Jen...that is just wrong the way he acted...you have to do something!"
"Jen...can you believe he/she said that? Did that? OMG!"
Yes...OMG...my friends...OMG...where King Xerxes should have been looking was to our GOD!
He should have been communicating with his wife, not his "wise" men!
He should have been going to his Lord instead!
And we should too! It is tempting to go to friends, even Godly "wise" friends for advice in our marriages, in our lives...but quite honestly, the Bible is pretty clear that we should be bringing ALL of our daily trials and coversations to GOD!
"I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Psalm 121-1-2
Friday, March 18, 2011
Another Update from Doug...
4:30 here. Just finished with another day of basketball camps and clinics. Went great again. The ride to and from the stadium is just mind blowing. Just the sites and sounds and smells. It reallys is hard to explain. I remember always asking you what it was like and you really can't explain it until you have seen it. People everywhere all the time. I did take some video to get an idea of what its like. Again, not gonna do it justice.
Luke had a great day.VERY sunburn. Yesterday we didn't put any sunscreen on and got fried. Today we put it on 4-5 times and still got burned. I knew I was a redneck before but now I have one to go with it.
We went over to the center in the moring before we left. Went up to see Lucy and when someone said go over to brother Luke she walked rite over to him. He had a big smile on his face. Didn't really know what to do. Kinda sorta hugged her. About 10 seconds was enough for him. We are going to go over to the cetner when they are in classes so he doesn't get bombardered. Makes it easier.
Luke has developed some pretty good relationships with the coaches. They even have their own hands shakes with each other. Pretty cool for him to open up a little with them. The ALL want to play and talk to him.
The girls went up to the secondary school day. They said the walk was torture. I guess straight up hill and thru rocks and dirt paths. Of course I said well, at least it was down hill on the way back. I think they like seeing it too.
We are all going to the "friendly" basktball game tomorrow morning. After the game I will be presenting them with 5 basketball and 5 new nets for there courts. Should be good.
No real plans for Sunday but worship/church service. On Monday we will head to market and do those things.
I'll email again tonight after prayer. Gonna go eat.
Love you.
D
Luke had a great day.VERY sunburn. Yesterday we didn't put any sunscreen on and got fried. Today we put it on 4-5 times and still got burned. I knew I was a redneck before but now I have one to go with it.
We went over to the center in the moring before we left. Went up to see Lucy and when someone said go over to brother Luke she walked rite over to him. He had a big smile on his face. Didn't really know what to do. Kinda sorta hugged her. About 10 seconds was enough for him. We are going to go over to the cetner when they are in classes so he doesn't get bombardered. Makes it easier.
Luke has developed some pretty good relationships with the coaches. They even have their own hands shakes with each other. Pretty cool for him to open up a little with them. The ALL want to play and talk to him.
The girls went up to the secondary school day. They said the walk was torture. I guess straight up hill and thru rocks and dirt paths. Of course I said well, at least it was down hill on the way back. I think they like seeing it too.
We are all going to the "friendly" basktball game tomorrow morning. After the game I will be presenting them with 5 basketball and 5 new nets for there courts. Should be good.
No real plans for Sunday but worship/church service. On Monday we will head to market and do those things.
I'll email again tonight after prayer. Gonna go eat.
Love you.
D
SAVE ONE!
SAVE ONE!
That's the saying that TRS uses.
It's the saying that I have clung to when I have let Satan lead me to believe that the problem is too great.
That our small acts don't matter.
That the money to get there is too great for the impact.
SAVE ONE!
This was the first picture we received of Lucy.
Malnourished.
Handicapped.
"Abnormal"
A cast-off.
This is Lucy now...
And Doug's words about her:
"Lucy is awesome. She is just like everyone says. A bundle of joy.
The girls LOVE her. Played with her all day!"
SAVE ONE!
Some more from Doug and Luke's trip:
Friday morning. Just had breakfast. The guest house is great. They have a cook for breakfast and dinner. We are on our own for lunch but seems like we won't be here much for that anyways. The kids at the center attack us each time we go over there. Kinda freaks Luke out. He just doesn't like people touching him and they ALL want to touch him. EVERYONE loves him and wants to talk to him. Been a little hard for him. But he is getting better. Pray for him. When its just one or two of them he is fine and plays with them. Its funny because even the adults all want to be his friend.
Going over to the basketball camp today and then tomorrow they are having a "friendly" basketball game. Its been fun talking hoops to a bunch of African ballers. And learning the lingo has been interesting. The coaches were trying to teach us some yesterday. All want to shake hands. The SL way of shaking hands. Saw only 2 hoops yesterday and those were the 2 we were on. The court is OK actually. Right by the National soccer stadium which holds 40,000. We got lots of pics.
The streets are always full of people. There are street vendors everywhere selling everything. Kinda wild. Osai and Quami really help a ton with getting us around so that is a blessing.
Luke wants to go to the market and spend some money. We will see how that goes. Maybe Saturday. Not sure yet when that will happen. Luke is fascinated by all the people carrying things on there head. All they are everyone. Men and women. 3 or 4 feet high of stuff on there heads. Trys to take their picture everytime. Hes been good though. Got a little overwhelmed and hot yesterday but he's good.
Read this morning Proverbs 11:25. "The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." You just feel like you want and need to help.
Have to tell you about prayer time last night at the guest house. Auntie Alice leads the teen moms each night in prayer. It was REALLY cool. The sing songs and then pray together. Amazing really. It was the baby kids and 6 adults. We all prayed and then Auntie Alice would ask question of how God was working in our lives to help teach the 2 teen moms. She is an amazing women. Pray for her. All of her faith and trust is in Jesus and loves her country.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
more news from Doug
We were able to talk to Doug and Luke tonight. They are doing great. They said that at the Welcome ceremony Lucy came right up to them and then when they went to the nursery later again she ran to Doug! Ah...
Lakin and Shelby played with Lucy today for a long time and they said she was a ball of fire! Love it!
Doug's basketball camp went great. They had tons of coaches there, all asking for lots of advice and Doug was able to share his faith in Christ with them all through questions they asked. Luke and Doug did get a bit sunburned but all in all a great day!
Luke told me the cook at the guest house knows what American people like to eat so they have already had spaghetti and french fries!!
Continue to pray for them. Pray for sustained health, for personal connections, for opportunities to be ambassadors of Christ, and for leadership through Doug and Tina!
God is great!
Lakin and Shelby played with Lucy today for a long time and they said she was a ball of fire! Love it!
Doug's basketball camp went great. They had tons of coaches there, all asking for lots of advice and Doug was able to share his faith in Christ with them all through questions they asked. Luke and Doug did get a bit sunburned but all in all a great day!
Luke told me the cook at the guest house knows what American people like to eat so they have already had spaghetti and french fries!!
Continue to pray for them. Pray for sustained health, for personal connections, for opportunities to be ambassadors of Christ, and for leadership through Doug and Tina!
God is great!
Email from Africa!
First email from Doug. Please pray for his witness of our Lord and Savior through the basketball outreach. Pray for their health. Pray for Doug's leadership in decision making.
Hey. Yes we made it. It's Thursday morning I think. Wow. Thats a LONG trip. Luke is great. Girls are doing great. Just gonna go over to the cetner this morining and see the kids. I am planned to do the clinic from 11-1 today. 10-1 tomorrow and then some game on Saturday. Should be interesting. It is Africa hot here. We do have AC at night so that was nice.
The whole airport and boat ride was CRAZY. People everywhere and you really have no idea if your bags are coming and who is working with you. Kinda wild. We made it about 10 last nights so about 30 hours of traveling.
Luke is gonna help with the basketball camp today.
Hey. Yes we made it. It's Thursday morning I think. Wow. Thats a LONG trip. Luke is great. Girls are doing great. Just gonna go over to the cetner this morining and see the kids. I am planned to do the clinic from 11-1 today. 10-1 tomorrow and then some game on Saturday. Should be interesting. It is Africa hot here. We do have AC at night so that was nice.
The whole airport and boat ride was CRAZY. People everywhere and you really have no idea if your bags are coming and who is working with you. Kinda wild. We made it about 10 last nights so about 30 hours of traveling.
Luke is gonna help with the basketball camp today.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Obedience
Hanna and I will be presenting to Pella Christian High School on Tuesday. Here is the video we will use. Might God get the glory as we try to encourage the kids to help us help the kids of Sierra Leone! Thank God for the opportunity! And as my cousin reminds me today, "Simple Faith and Obedience...that is all He asks."
Jen
Jen
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Livin the dream..
My sister and I sat at my kitchen table. Coffee was brewing. Dishes were piled in the sink. There was still a stain from the red Kool Aid spilled on the floor. My three young childen were running throughout the house, stopping by the table just long enough to grab another handful of mini vanilla wafers. Dragon Tales blared from the TV screen in the living room.
But I longed for these moments! Kate worked at the mall just around the corner from our suburban housing development. She would pop in our back door after working a 6 hour shift. Her hair would be meticulous, her accessories looked better than my entire "stay at home mom" outfit, and she always had on an amazing pair of jeans and six in heels! You would think this alone would put me into the "Oh my goodness if I get spit up on one more time" pity party mode, but instead the sound of the back door closing always put a smile on my face.
I'm not sure why Kate always came over. I mean I am sure there were other environments, rather than a diaper and sippy cup filled home, that she could have frequented. I am sure there were others more fashionable and exciting than myself during those days. But none-the-less she came.
Sometimes for a few hours. Sometimes for just a few minutes and a cup of coffee. For me, these moments at the table, while the kids ran and played and bumped their heads and argued over the Dora the Explorer backpack, were God-send moments.
We would talk and uplift. I would listen to her stories about working at a mall in a large city. I would live vicariously through her stories of romance and dating. I'd steal her away for a few minutes to my bedroom closet to pick out my next "out on the town with my hubby" outfit. But, beyond all that, we would share our hopes and heartaches, our prayers and petitions, our desires and dreams.
"Hey Jen...do you remember sitting at your kitchen table in Charlotte?"
Now, almost 8 years later, Kate was reminding me of those days.
"Do you remember what you used to tell me would be your dream life?"
"Do you remember?" She probed, but didn't wait for my answer.
"You said it would be to teach in a small town, at a small college. To live close enough for students to stop by and say hi to you. To have a simple life. To love. To live."
"Yeah...I remember." I said, my mind reverting back to those days in Charlotte when the kids were so small. To the days before I returned to school for my Ph.D. To the days when my nights were filled with late night laundry and my mornings began at 6 a.m. with a crying infant. To the days before my husband was a born-again Christian.
"And do you know what else you said?" Kate wasn't finished with this yet.
I could barely muster a "What?" because I knew Kate was about to share something I had already remembered. Something I knew God was reminding me of through the words of my baby sis today. Something I would later be lifting up prayers of gratitude over, because of the blantant reminder of our Savior's never failing answers to prayer. Answers that might not come as soon as we expect. Answers that might not look the same as our dreams. Answers that might take years to come to pass. But answers.
"You said you dreamed of adopting a child from Africa!"
Silence on my end.
"Jen...You have a son from Ghana in your home. Your husband and nine year old son are on to meet Lucy. Jen...God has given you your dream!"
Wow! A simple reminder, but a complex conviction!
GOD KNOWS YOU!
GOD WILL PROVIDE.
But I longed for these moments! Kate worked at the mall just around the corner from our suburban housing development. She would pop in our back door after working a 6 hour shift. Her hair would be meticulous, her accessories looked better than my entire "stay at home mom" outfit, and she always had on an amazing pair of jeans and six in heels! You would think this alone would put me into the "Oh my goodness if I get spit up on one more time" pity party mode, but instead the sound of the back door closing always put a smile on my face.
I'm not sure why Kate always came over. I mean I am sure there were other environments, rather than a diaper and sippy cup filled home, that she could have frequented. I am sure there were others more fashionable and exciting than myself during those days. But none-the-less she came.
Sometimes for a few hours. Sometimes for just a few minutes and a cup of coffee. For me, these moments at the table, while the kids ran and played and bumped their heads and argued over the Dora the Explorer backpack, were God-send moments.
We would talk and uplift. I would listen to her stories about working at a mall in a large city. I would live vicariously through her stories of romance and dating. I'd steal her away for a few minutes to my bedroom closet to pick out my next "out on the town with my hubby" outfit. But, beyond all that, we would share our hopes and heartaches, our prayers and petitions, our desires and dreams.
"Hey Jen...do you remember sitting at your kitchen table in Charlotte?"
Now, almost 8 years later, Kate was reminding me of those days.
"Do you remember what you used to tell me would be your dream life?"
"Do you remember?" She probed, but didn't wait for my answer.
"You said it would be to teach in a small town, at a small college. To live close enough for students to stop by and say hi to you. To have a simple life. To love. To live."
"Yeah...I remember." I said, my mind reverting back to those days in Charlotte when the kids were so small. To the days before I returned to school for my Ph.D. To the days when my nights were filled with late night laundry and my mornings began at 6 a.m. with a crying infant. To the days before my husband was a born-again Christian.
"And do you know what else you said?" Kate wasn't finished with this yet.
I could barely muster a "What?" because I knew Kate was about to share something I had already remembered. Something I knew God was reminding me of through the words of my baby sis today. Something I would later be lifting up prayers of gratitude over, because of the blantant reminder of our Savior's never failing answers to prayer. Answers that might not come as soon as we expect. Answers that might not look the same as our dreams. Answers that might take years to come to pass. But answers.
"You said you dreamed of adopting a child from Africa!"
Silence on my end.
"Jen...You have a son from Ghana in your home. Your husband and nine year old son are on to meet Lucy. Jen...God has given you your dream!"
Wow! A simple reminder, but a complex conviction!
GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF LOVING US!
HE LOVES US SO MUCH HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON!
JUST FOR US!
JUST FOR YOU!
JUST FOR ME!
JUST FOR YOU!
JUST FOR ME!
JESUS!
GOD KNOWS YOU!
HE KNOWS YOUR DREAMS.
HE KNOWS YOUR NEEDS.
HE KNOWS YOUR WANTS.
HE HEARS OUR PRAYERS!
GOD WILL PROVIDE.
IT MAY NOT BE WHEN,
OR HOW YOU EXPECTED,
BUT HE WILL PROVIDE!
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
More pictures from our life...
Sixth Grade Baller
Team Prayer before taking 1st place!
Great men of God
Sam and Faith at Lake Red Rock
Again...
More...
So good with each other!
Bald eagle out at Lake Red Rock
Winning team!
LOVE THIS ONE!
And this one...
One more...
Best friends!
Hmmm.....game strategy session?
Faith...Central College Dance Clinic!
LUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Psalm 118:24
"This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
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