Africa Comes To Atlanta

13 old friends from 7 countries in Africa all in one place at one time. Can you say HEAVENLY? It was not Heaven, but I can say I am pretty sure I saw a glimpse of it. This weekend we celebrated all that God is doing across this great continent. We sang songs in multiple languages, there was lots of dancing, and of course got to hear amazing stories of people coming to know their Lord and Savior. Tuesday night a group of us welcomed our friends from Zimbabwe with a Mexican fiesta at La Paz. I walked by the table and saw a bowl of untouched cheese dip, I said, "who let that go to waste?!" Definitely Patson - that is probably really weird food to them. haha. Throughout the week they slowly started arriving in town. Friday afternoon after school, Neema and I headed downtown to meet them at the Varsity. They were all wearing the hats and were bringing that place to life! I went to get them some drink refills and they all wanted their sodas with no ice. I guess they are not used to drinking their sodas cold. After that we headed down to the Martin Luther King, Jr. museum. That was awesome.We did go to a theatre to watch a film on MLK's life and I had to cover Neema's eyes a few times because of the violence. Truth be told I wanted to cover my own eyes out of shame at the horrific ways black people were treated. I wish I could find comfort in that those days were behind us but unfortunately, I know that racism, blatant and subtle, still firmly remains. The divide is as deep as it's wounds.

After the museum, we needed to be in a hundred different places. Someone needed to pick Martin (Kenyan) up from the airport, Papa Deo (Tanzanian) needed a ride back from the dentist. Moges (Eithiopian) and Simon (Ugandan) needed to get to their hosts house. And everyone else needed to get to their stuff as well. It took a lot of organization but it was a pleasure to serve them and take care of them as best as possible because when we go to their homelands, their worlds stop for us.

Finally it was time to start getting ready for the long anticipated event. I will stop writing here and just let you see for yourself.....

BAMBOOLAYLA!!!!

MLK's grave sight. 

Papa Deo (Tanzania!)

Mama Irene (Tanzania!) 

Nkosi (Zimbabwe) 

Alexis aka Neema's BEST FRIEND (Tanzania!) 

Zimbabwe LOVE

a picture of the Kingdom......

I miss them so much!

For some great gift ideas that go to support YL Africa and give opportunity and dignity to African designers visit www.karamagifts.com

I can feel it rising up in me like a pit in the stomach, panic attack, out of control feeling that I can do nothing about. I have been having a lot of these moments lately. In this season of life where there are so many question marks for me, I find that when I think about all the uncertainties and all the circumstances out of my control for too long it's enough to send me into hyperventilation mode. I feel like there are a world of opportunities ahead of me but I can't get to them until some other pieces in my life fall together first. Herein lies the problem.....when are those pieces going to actually come together? Or are they? Am I waiting in vain? I feel like I am playing the game SORRY and I just sent someone home and I get to move 20 spaces but I can't move because there is a blockade. I can't do anything about that blockade, I am at the mercy of the person who has set up the blockade before me. This is such an aggravating feeling!!!! I think I have finally hit the pinnacle of frustration that on Sunday it brought me to my face and I found myself confronting God about it. I have this resentment towards him because I don't understand. But in this crying out to Him I realize he is drawing me back to Himself. I need Him so badly to open my blind eyes. To remind me of His sovereignty of His goodness. Will I continue to be patient even if *I* think I have already been patient......will I keep trusting Him even when things don't make sense? Will I receive his words even when they are not what I want to hear? Questions I am asking myself and reexamining my heart. I know He is good and His promises are true but this life is hard!!!!!!

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

I have been waiting for 2012 for a long time. This is a big year for us. Neema will hopefully be granted full citizenship, I will complete my graduate studies and student teaching, and for the first time in 2 years Neema and I will be free to travel together anywhere in the world! Oh the possibilities! We have definitely been and continue to be in a season of waiting. The uncertainty of our futures is most evident in my life because this could be a year of major transition for us. We don't know what plans the Lord has as I start this next leg of my journey. Will I get a job in Atlanta? Will He call me back to Tanzania? What are the implications of either of these decisions? Will I hear Him clearly? Will I obey? Will I be thankful regardless of the road He sets out before me? I know I can trust Him because I have seen his faithfulness - His faithfulness in bringing Neema and I together. Granting her a visa. Giving me an awesome and supportive family here and in Tanzania. Making a last minute spot available in grad school, Opening a door at Trinity - for myself and Neema - the greatest school ever! So when I struggle with these strenuous times of waiting, I try to look back at how far He has brought us and how He has loved us and provided. I have so many reasons to be thankful for last year and I am very excited about the year ahead! 

I remain confident of this: 
I will see the goodness of the LORD 
in the land of the living. 
Wait for the LORD; 

Psalm 27 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Ok I have not updated in FOREVER. I feel like I always say that.....so my New Years Resolution is to blog more frequently. I am hoping that next semester only having class one night a week will allow more time. So enjoy Halloween to Christmas.....

Neema picking out the perfect pumpkin. 

Enjoying the pumpkin patch

  The dancer - Happy Halloween!!!!!! 

Neema's 5th Birthday! I have to admit this was actually kind of a hard day for me. I can't believe she is already five. You always hear mamas talk about how fast it goes, but it's true! At the same time I am very grateful that God has been so faithful and is continuing to grow her into the wonderful little girl she is. I know He has such amazing plans for her life.

So classic. 

"Fairies" enjoying their cupcakes with fairy dust. 

Neema was Mary in her class Nativity play.              Getting excited about Christmas!!!
 
Decorating the tree. Singing Christmas songs. Drinking Hot Chocolate. Love Christmas!  

 Christmas Eve Service. Silent Night
Christmas Eve.....

Why does no one tell you about FOUR?

In the last year or so, I would say I have had new experiences in my parenting with Neema. Experiences I can't say I wanted to deal with at 4 years old! Sassiness....Sneakiness....Testing me... I could say it's because she has begun going to preschool everyday or that I am away from her for three nights a week in my grad classes. But the truth is, I believe she is just getting older and experimenting with her boundaries and discovering more independence.  I am all for that, but there is a line and I'm really asking God to help me find it. Disciplining her is hard because nothing really seems to 'phase' her. She has this inner resilience which makes finding a consequence for her a bit difficult. Neema also has a sense of "spiciness" in her and she always has, it is one of the first things I remember loving about her personality. And I believe that little spirit, naughty as it might be at times, is a gift from God. I do not want to squelch it, in fact on the contrary my actual desire is to nurture it. But there are certain things at our house that just have to be understood. I cannot tolerate disrespect, dishonesty, or disobedience. I am on an all out pilgrimage talking to every parent I know and trust about what to do and how to handle the above situations when they occur. I have gotten lots of advice but none better than from my own dad the other night. When I was younger there were not many boundaries. I kind of did as I pleased and usually got what I wanted. But as I have grown up I have learned that the 'real world' does not cater to my every desire and I cannot always talk everyone into giving me my way and my most recent struggle with realizing my lack of CONTROL over situations. Looking back it's ironic, because I wish there had been more expected of me, maybe I would have been more prepared for this demanding world. But my dad was quick to remind me that no matter what they should or could have done differently, I have always just been a bit "spicy" and even though I may not have always made the best decisions it's that "pushing the envelope" part of my personality that put me on a plane to go and live in Africa and end up adopting a child! So when Neema is toeing that line, I will try to remember that my prayer for her should be that God would ignite that fire inside of her for GOOD, for his PURPOSES, for the KINGDOM!!!!

Neema and I met up with some of our favorite friends - Taylor and Lilla (wearewises@blogspot.com) - at the Y tonight around 5pm. I thought we would just swim for like an hour or so to get out some extra energy, but around 6 they started cooking hamburgers and hotdogs and set up a jammin DJ. We decided to stay for the cookout and dance party and while weekends look way different than they did a couple of years ago, I'm loving my simple Friday night agenda. Here is a video of Neema Girl and Lilla B breaking it down in the pool. :)

I did not know this until Friday but I have 2 friends who have been pursuing a homeless man in Atlanta for over a year. This man stands on the corner off of a busy exit downtown and I would venture to guess that many of you have maybe even seen him. They have invited him to church several times and he never accepted, but they have been able to convince him to join them for lunch a few times. They have developed a relationship with this dear man and last week he took them up on their offer to take him to church. Christin and I had a bachelorette party this weekend and because we carpooled together, she asked me if I wanted to come to breakfast and church with her, her husband, and their friend Johnny. What a blessing it was. We picked him up at 9am at the exit and he was so excited to see their car. He had his bicycle and so we pulled over and let him put it in the car. He also had his Bible and the biggest smile. He told us that he was so excited about church and he had decided that even if Sandor and Christin didn't come get him, he was going anyway. (Many people from Kairos know him as he stands at the exit where so many people come from) He told us he had been talking to God all week about finally coming and how he was going to take a chance and trust him. You see, Sundays are a busy day at "work" for people like Johnny, because there are more people around on the weekends and maybe he can get more handouts. But this is not the life Johnny wants. He wants a job, he wants to contribute to society, and he wants friends. Johnny is God's child and longs to be loved. And let me tell you something....he is. I could not believe how many people recognized him at church and came by and stopped and talked to him. I will also say that Johnny knows the Lord. He talked about him all morning. When it was time to take up the offering, he pulled out all the change in his pocket and put it in the basket. Here is this man that sits on the corner rain or shine and has to ask people for money for food, but still gives what he has to God. It was powerful. This is the story that came to mind....

Mark 12: 41-44

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Do we trust Jesus? This is a question that I find to be asking myself ALL THE TIME. One of the reasons I love Africa so much is because of the blind faith that I witness on a daily basis. These hearts that are so eager for Jesus is refreshing and humbling. But there is also struggle and injustice. And praying is not enough. These people who are sick, poor, hungry, they know Jesus. He is with them. What they need is love, dignity, and sometimes a helping hand. Today at church, I learned that several people have spoken to Johnny about his skills, one guy has helped him make a resume, another guy has been searching for employment opportunities for him. People love him. And today I hope he felt that. And I hope it might open doors to welcome more of our many brothers and sisters around downtown Atlanta who need that love and encouragement. I hope we can be a community who says 'we want to stand with you. you matter.'

Neema was not at church with me this morning, so tonight before bed I told her a little about my time with Johnny. We thanked God for him, we praised Him because we hope and believe that good things are on the horizon for Johnny and that a new day is coming where he will not wonder where his next meal is coming from, or if he will have a safe place to sleep. We humbly asked that God would remove invisible barriers that we all have against people who are different than we are and asked for eyes to see each other as he sees us. All poor. All lost. All in desperate need of a Savior.

At the end of the prayer, Neema said, "I want to give Johnny all the money in my piggy bank."

Lord, help me have a heart like Johnny and Neema's - heart full of faith and generosity. Eyes to see to see you for who you REALLY are.