talk about humility...

I've been really thinking today about how Jesus was born.... homeless! Then He was a refugee. You can't get much more poorer than that. Then poor Mary giving birth with all the animals staring at her and Joseph having to deliver Jesus. Woah! I don't think dudes typically do that in Jewish tradition. Or any tradition for that matter! They're called 'midwives' not 'midmen', if you know what I mean. So yeah, there's Jesus, sleep'n on some hay. I mean that really is the poorest of the poor. Picture the contrast. Humble King. Taking off his crown, coming down, literally to be born on a pile of poo... killed by the worst execution method still known of today (don't really see any terrorists dieing that way either. Something about human rights violations.) Then to to be exalted above anyone. You don't get much lower... and you don't get any higher. Our Humble King. Our friend. Emmanuel... Our God WITH us!

Fuel for Encouragement

I was just listening to a Bill Johnson podcast (as I often do) and I need a place to process... no one to talk to so here we go. (disclaimer... 99.9% of this comes directly from the Word or Bill...)

Grace is given to us not simply as unmerited favor... but abundant grace comes for our encouragement... to build and strengthen us. Grace turns us into something before we can do anything... we must become before we can do. This comes in 3 ways:

1.) Personal intimacy with Jesus. Not just seeking him for favor that brings cool stuff. This will happen automatically, but we will be limited in the amount of miracles and cool stuff we see if this is the only reason we pursue him. We must learn how to be with him just because we like him. Better yet, because we love him.

2.) Grace also comes by honoring the gifts in others. We get fueled up when we recognize and give credit to how God is working in other people... and learn to receive from them. It's like the good stuff in them jumps on us. And it does! That's why I'm so encouraged and built up when I talk with my friends. I love hearing what God is speaking to them, how He is moving, and blessing what they do! It really does build me up!

3.) We receive grace when we freely build up others and give away what we have. This means specifically in our speech. God is attracted to our words of encouragement. With our mouths we can build up and encourage or cut down and destroy. When we build up others it's like He says "Yeah! I know that's how they are..." and then everyone is built up!

But we also need to note that when we are in need of some grace or encouragement, this may not come in the form we find easiest. How often do I have a bad day and the last thing I want to do is encourage my housemate? How often am I busy and feeling weighed down and the hardest thing to do is Stop and just be with my King? Or how often do I feel lonely and really need people, but it's easier to sit alone than seek encouragement from others?

Hmmm... Yeah Lord, teach me how to give and receive more grace. Show me how to freely administer what you freely give me. Thank you Jesus you don't limit us to one option, but you've designed us for relationship and community. Your great!

Wooo Hooo!

I feel all grown up! I just walked over to the World Food Program office and asked if I could meet with the director (ha!). To my surprise, and without an appointment, I was taken directly in, explained the Harvest for Christ project with the Batwa, and they said they would be interested in providing food security as the community build their homes!

So... we now have the papers to register the project and get rolling...

A Merry Christmas indeed!

Team GLO!

Simon was here for an awesome whirl-wind 2 weeks... Meg has moved back to the USA... and now I begin the new solo journey.

Loved this last team GLO pic of us!

27

For the last year I've thought I was 27. I think I dreamed 5 or 6 times throughout the year that it was my birthday and I'd wake up thinking "finally I can honestly say that I am 27 and not forget how old I am... and then I realize it was only a dream."

But now I'm here folks and I don't have to lie anymore. What a relief.

i'm inspired...

(... thanks simon)

Car Trouble

Yesterday I was at lunch downtown and went to start the car and the key would not turn! So there Meg and I are... hot and sweating and street kids standing around the car with us continuing to try and turn the key 1,000,000 times in the ignition. Finally, we called Charles... the driver from KCC. Not only did he come, but he arrived with 4 of our top guys from KCC! It was like the ladies in distress with four men racing in a chariot to our rescue. I was laughing really hard. After everyone tried what we had been doing (mind you, I had both normal and the spare keys with me... and neither were working) someone ran off and grabbed a mechanic. So Meg and I are sitting in the back seat with the doors open b/c the windows can't roll down, and the car surrounded by people. Then a mechanic came and did some amazing work of taking out all the panels to removing the entire ignition! Meanwhile an ice cream man appeared across the street! So Meg ran over and bought everyone ice cream. 2 hours later the ignition was out, and some kind of fancy wiring was done so that I could now start the car with a spoon. For the fine price of $20 there will soon be a new ignition... which should be installed sometime today! Oh I love Burundi.

the one in front of you

This weekend I was in the central market with some friends. It's always a busy, over crowded place... and I imagine it's similar to some places Jesus walked. Bujumbura's lame, crippled and diseased are placed there to beg for money and I just want to walk around and pray for everyone. But this time one particular scene caught me. At my feet sat a little girl, probably 7 or 8, but she was hardly a girl... more like a creature. Her arms were amputated and she had one foot. She sat in the dirt with a box by her feet begging for money. As my friends and I walked by I thought "no, not this one..." I had to stop and give her the dignity of a human being. So I bent down and stroked her cheek and told her she was beautiful. I had to touch the one no one else would. And I think that moment will be forever ingrained in my memory. She smiled and for two seconds we were just two people looking at each other. And in that moment I just saw what Jesus saw, a person in need of love. My moment was disturbed by a voice from above saying in English "give her money." Without out thinking I stood up, looked him in the eye and said, "you giver her money and I'll match whatever you put in." Everything in me was thinking "she is Your person too... don't make this the white-man's problem to deal with." Suddenly it was a market show down and everyone stopped to watch. Sure enough he pulled some money out of his wallet and dropped it into her box. So I did the same.

I really think Jesus wants us to be creative in how we give. It's not about tossing money into a box... and then quickly moving on so we can forget about the problems in this world. I think he wants us to love people, and engage with others as humans... and out of that place do what comes next. It might be a meal, it might be a glass of water, or it could just be a hug. Maybe it is giving to an organization you know is doing what you're not able to. But if we separate ourselves too far from our giving it is so easy for the heart to miss what the head just did.

I want to remain spiritually, emotionally, physically, economically, whatever... available to the needs of people. And never be too busy or rush pass an opportunity to love a person in front of me.

Stories from the Streets

Last week I went upcountry to visit the YFC orphanage. It has been 2 months since I've left the city, and I was thrilled for the breath of cooler air.

The drive up country is always interesting... and typically dangerous. We usually have one "Thank you Jesus" moment, and this trip was no different. Semi-trucks coming around the corner in the wrong lane, but Freddy is a great driver, so I just sit back and enjoy the scene outside the window.

More than half way into our journey we turned the corner to find a man laying in the middle of the road with his bike tipped over, and a pool of blood gathering around his head. We stopped and I looked back to see if he was moving. Slowly people from the shops along the road gathered to help him and eventually move him out of the middle of the road. Convinced he was dead I prepared myself to go pray for the dead guy. Great news... he wasn't dead yet. Freddy waited until another car came (because bystanders could say we hit him, and then we'd be responsible for the medical bill...), then I jumped out of the car to go pray and help out. Somehow the guy had fallen off his bike, and hit his head so hard it knocked him out. At first everyone said they didn't know him (so they wouldn't have to help...) but after we loaded him into the car and drove him to the nearest clinic, the guys who came with admitted he lived near by. To cut the story short, we got him to the hospital and found out the next day he was okay. Hooray!

Later as we approached the orphanage Freddy quickly recognized a little boy walking along the side of the road. He looked about 3, but when he spoke you could tell he was much older. This little boy's name is Amani.

Last year Freddy was showing the Jesus film up country somewhere outside Gitega. At the end of the film he felt a tug on his trousers and a little voice saying "Director, Director." Looking down at the tiny boy Freddy said, "who are you?" "I'm Amani" He replied. When Freddy asked where he lived Amani told him he lived on the streets. His parents had divorced and neither wanted to take him. That night Freddy placed him in his sleeping bag, and thus the story of Amani began.

Every time Freddy returned to Gitega, Amani would appear. They'd have a chat, and Freddy would try and help him in whatever way he could. Amani had found himself a place to exist... a little shack along the side of the road leading to the orphanage, where he helped an old man by fetching him water, or gathering enough money to buy a drink. There wasn't any food.

Determined to change the situation, Freddy was eventually able to talk with Amani's mother and found out that her new husband's other children did not want Amani in the house because they were afraid that he would one day want their father's land. The headmaster at the newly constructed school was eventually able to speak with each of the father's kids (who are much older) and convince them that this would not be the case and YFC would look after Amani, as long as he could live at home. Finally they agreed and Amani now has a home... one year after Freddy and Amani met. (I still need to find out what happened to the old man...)

Amani really got to me. This little being, was extremely mature for a 7 year old. He held adult-like conversations and is really loved by the kids in the orphanage. During the songs he closed his eyes and cried out love songs to Jesus while the other kids giggled or joked around. There is a tiny little spirit in him that sparked the heart of God who aligned things to change His situation. I know we're all God's favorites... but Amani is really one of God's favorites.

I know that there are millions others in this world like this.

I know that there are countless stories that turned out different.

But for me it is just a reminder that I can help the person in front of me. As Mother Theresa says... "I can't help everyone, but I can help my neighbor".

Rather than thinking about all the things I can't do... I hope to always be a person who does what I can. To change a situation that is in front of me, and never walk away when more can be done.

Got Milk?

Oh yes I do! So my neighbors have this cow. No, it's not at the house but somewhere else... and once a day milk is magically delivered to their house. Alison and I decided that we wanted to have fresh milk and learn how to be Martha Stewart Africa, so we are paying for a liter of milk every other day. When the milk is delivered to the neighbors, someone dips out a 1 liter ladle that looks like a tin Nalgene bottle with a stick on the end... and then pass it through the fence and give it to our house guard. (This just cracks me up because all I see is an arm sticking through the fence with holding out milk) The guard then knocks on our door, we open up, pour out the milk, wash the container then give it back. Now the domestication comes in...

We have to boil the milk for 5 minutes in a big pot and be careful to not let it boil over. Then pour it into a smaller container and let it cool. Then it goes in the fridge. The next day we take it out, and pull back all the cream that rose to the top, as we pour it through a filter to catch the extra bits of cream. Milk is now ready... but there is more!

Alison just learned how to make butter, yogurt, and ice cream! Hooray! So butter we collect the cream for a few days, then mix it with a hand blender until it turns into butter and add a little salt. Yogurt requires a little starter yogurt from the shop and I haven't worked out how to do it yet, but Alison knows so I'm happy. And ice cream... well that's my family's business so if my parents ever get sick of CO, I'll have them move here and open up a shop!

Counting the Cost

I'm pretty relational. My family and friends mean the world to me. So while I am doing great stuff... tra la la ing around the world... and living my dream smack in the middle of Africa... there is still a cost.

This came back to mind last week when I was meeting with the YFC guys. We were reflecting on what it costs us to follow the Lord. Most of the time I quite easily press on and do not have to think about the voids... but there are moments when it comes flooding back.

My cost is being 2 days journey from my family, and a ridiculous scattering of my closest friends who are considerably spread across four countries.

I'm not complaining, just surveying the cost.

Last night I phoned my great aunt who is dying in a hospital in central Texas. Another funeral I will not be able to attend. So I'm somewhat processing what I'm missing and who I'm not there for.

But I would be so wrong if I were not here. It's just that everything has a cost and for me relationships are priceless. One of those things in life that when the Lord says 'lay down your life and follow me' I have to be obedient and intentionally position myself so that I can truthfully say "I'll follow Him no matter the cost." It is one thing to say... but another thing to live.

And there is a cost.

I choose to invest who I am where I am... give fully and freely of everything I have... so this means that whenever it is time to go, I have to lay down my relationships once again and count the cost.

It takes a while to establish relationships. I do not really have a community in Burundi yet or a place of belonging. It will take time.

Meanwhile, I press on. I enjoy the skype chats, emails from friends, and sprinkling of letters. Community will come and I'm glad God made us relational for a reason. It means we're not meant to live our lives in a vacuum or withhold who we are from others. It is a reminder that we're created in His image and that if I'm relational... He most certainly is. It encourages me to be intentional about my relationship with my Father... and intentional about my relationships with others.

YFC

So the week has passed…wow, the first month back has passed!

Meanwhile, I’m finding various places of belonging, but know that it will still be a while before I am fully settled and make more friends.


Because I want to and because it is the passion in my heart… I have committed every Thursday to being with a group of young leaders from Youth For Christ. They’re outstanding and I know these will be the guys I run with. They’re hungry for more of God and will do what it takes to get Him. When I gave a challenge of cultivating a life of deeper intimacy with Jesus, the guys responded by committing to calling each other every morning at 5am to pray and seek the Lord for an hour! Two weeks ago I spoke on Sunday night about more of the same, but how intimacy with our Father lets us bring the Kingdom in really fun and cool ways. Before I spoke I asked God if He wanted to do anything. I saw a picture of someone’s right leg. Just as I was finished talking I was reminded of the leg and asked anyone if they had a problem. A woman in the 2nd row raised her hand so I asked anyone who had faith to see her healed to come up and help pray. She explained that she had pain from the top of her hip to the bottom of her foot. So we prayed. Moments later she was 60% better. Not satisfied to let her go, I had her sit down and held her foot in my hand and just asked God to heal it. Then she stood up and started dancing around. She then explained that she has had pain for the last 10 years! She was also the mom of one of the girls I see on Thursdays, and I could tell that Lola was ready to start seeing God move more. We all started singing, again, then another lady came up to Freddy and I and said that she had pain in her right ear. There was a painful buzzing that had been there for a few weeks. So we started praying again but nothing was happening. Then I felt the Lord remind me that it’s His love that heals us. So I had Lola come over and whisper in her ear “Jesus loves you” in Kirundi. She kept repeating it over and over, then suddenly the ear popped open and everyone celebrated. So that was fun!

I'm not afraid of malaria

Nope... I'm not. I prayerfully made the decision to stop taking malaria meds after some research showing that no one really knows the long term effects on the liver and other parts of the body, not to mention the expense. This felt like a right of passage, and I have now entered the local non-malaria-med community. Mom wanted me to take a more holistic approach, so we found some time-tested products from Australia... and we'll see how that goes, but anyone who is smart about wearing the proper clothing, sleeping under a mozzy net and carries a canister of bug spray, should be protected.

But I'm not afraid for another reason...

Last week I came to work and sad down with our chef, Eric, who quietly told me he was coming down with Malaria, would probably be going home soon, then off to the hospital. A lot of local people have a spat of malaria once a year. It's a parasite that gets into your blood, and stays there unless treated. Well, I know the Jesus is a great cure-all so I asked if I could pray for him.

As I was praying I got the sense that he was going to experience all the malaria symptoms, and then be healed. (This is what happens when one undergoes treatment.) Sure enough, he was suddenly very hot, and sat down. I ran off to get some water and when I returned he was completely better! He said he felt an intense heat all over his body (more than the usual dry-season hot room sweat) and then everything left his body! Praise Jesus!

This week he is at work which is awesome because the conference centre is extremely busy and we needed him here. My faith was encouraged as this is the first time I've prayed for a disease and it left.

So I'm not afraid of malaria...

But if the blood bug should ever get me, the first person I'm calling is the one I know has faith to see me instantly healed.

Redefining the Grid

Everyone has a grid by which the perceptions of ‘normal’ are based. My grid is evolving. For example, in the USA, a ‘normal road’ consists of wide streets, typically enough for 2 lanes in each direction, each person sticking to the right side of the road. When I moved to England ‘normal’ was redefined as narrow roads where everyone shares the middle but tries to be as far left as possible. Now… normal roads mean bumpy, no speed limits, and very much like playing a video game but rather than running over bananas and such to gain points, I must suppress the increasing temptation to knock over the bicycle overflowing with bananas and remember that I will not hear the Mario Kart “Baaaalllliiinnnggg” if I happen to knock it over. Such fun but no game…

Today another grid was altered. It involved a dead car battery, 2 wrenches (“spanners” for the UK audience), and one super handy conference center driver. My housemate’s car was dead. Charles was quick to say ‘no problem’ and ran off to grab 2 wrenches. He proceeded to remove the battery from a functioning vehicle, held the battery while touching the two wrenches + to + and – to – and ordered me to cranked up the vehicle. I was terrified that he would be zapped by the current; alas, Africa innovation circumvents my Western safety procedures. I was highly amused by event and learned a new way to start a car!

one that made the news

my cousin just sent this to me...

thankfully this is no longer a regular occurrence...

but this article does articulate the neglect and oversight typically known in Burundi.

(I know you have to register with the NYT if you want to read the article... but it's well worth the effort if you want to know a bit more about Burundi and some recent news)

train sprain

Some things are just too good to keep to myself. I thought I'd share the fun...

I'm in Brussels learning french. The other day I was on the train going to class when a lady sat down in front of me 3 stations before my stop. She had a sprained wrist. Thinking she didn't speak English I figured it was worth a shot and asked her. She said yes so I asked her what happened. She had been hurt for 2 months and was going to have to have physical therapy. I figured it would be quicker if God just healed her. I told her I had seen some crazy stuff and asked if she wanted me to pray. She said yes. She was completely healed by the next stop. Then I got to spend the next two explaining that her healing was a sign of how much God loves her, there was not any crazy Harry Potter stuff going on... just the love of God touching her and making her well. Then I went to class.

My days are just so much better when they begin with a miracle.

why pearls?

The other day I was talking with a family member about the hard stuff in life and about how lessons in life are often pearls that are produced from our pain.

Our conversation immediately reminded of a story about a pearl of great worth. It was worth someone's everything to buy this one pearl. Can you imagine? One pearl so valuable you would give up everything you possess just to have this one thing.

I love pearls. We all know that a tiny grain of sand causes a little critter lots of pain but the result is a pearl. When I think about the pearl of great worth I know that it was created through unimaginable pain. It cost everything... so it costs our everything if we want to posses it.

Jesus says this is what His Kingdom is like. Do we believe it? If we saw someone selling everything they own to buy a precious pearl we would probably stop them and say 'you're crazy!' And yet, the person buying the pearl knows that they wouldn't do it if the pearl wasn't worth it. That person has studied pearls and searched all his life for one worth everything.

And that is what I have discovered. The Kingdom of God is worth everything I possess just to pursue the One Thing. So that's it. I've give up everything to go after the One Thing. Some say I'm crazy... I know the Kingdom is worth it!

In this current season of life I am in a place where pain is all around me... and yet there are pearls to be harvested from every situation. Things to grow and learn from. Things that I'm hiding in my heart and trying to figure out. And while I'm in the process I kinda felt like I should let others know what I'm thinking.

So here you go. It doesn't matter if I'm the only person who reads these because they're my thoughts and I like them, but I felt like sharing them with you.

Feel free to write back, comment, etc. I'd love to know what you think about what I think and hear any pearls you have.