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!!!!