Discernment

Internet has not been working, and it is too slow to upload more pictures besides for one. 

Day 2:

Dear Lord,

I can already hear your gentle reminders that you knew had gotten away from me.  How can you be patient with someone over and over again?  Nevertheless, thank you for your grace.  Today my arms were always full, something you know I’ve missed for too long.  My arms were made for and need children.   I woke up 13 hours after going to bed, clearly I was more exhausted than I wanted to admit.  It seems that only in Uganda where my heart is so thirsty for the Lord is where crying babies, preschoolers singing, dogs howling, and chickens squawking all account for your beautiful creations to wake up too.  In America, I would never be at such peace to wake up to these sounds, but here my heart is changed depending solely on you.     

I can see your divine handiwork behind each person you placed here at Amani this summer.  There is a wonderful coordinator here named Helene.  Wow, is she one of your faithful servants.  She spoke so much wisdom into my life this evening during our volunteer bible study.  Thank you so much for our wonderful bible study and worship session.  How wonderful is your name.

Lord, I love your little man Judah.  What a beautiful tiny creation of yours.   He loves to be held, but of course he knew to cry for the right person because I was going to hold him even if that meant for over an hour when I needed to go to town.  Sometimes, it’s good to remember to just pause and savor the moment.  Things really are not that necessary to get done. I would not tried all those smiles and coos for anything.  All the other things that needed to get done can just wait for another day.   Thanks for your faithfulness and your ability to teach in every circumstance.

PS. Bedtime is my absolutely favorite and tonight with that little Grace.  Be still my heart.

Love your Princess,

Lindsay

During my time at Amani this time, I get to be with the girls.  There are 3 sets of twin girls and about 15 others older than 6 months.  Tomorrow, I’m temporarily taking over for someone and helping teach the 2 year old preschool class, which I’ve been told is an adventure.   Anything with Eric or Grace involved is always an adventure, so I’m sure they are telling the truth.

My Lesson from God of the Day:

Solomon prays for a discerning heart.  He doesn’t pray for a situation or things, but rather God gives him the ability to discern between right and wrong, good and evil.  God always has fun teaching me different things, so tonight when I was praying for different situations, he showed me this passage in 1 Kings.   The Lord is giving me an answer to my questions, but it is not by a blatant sign or a letter with instructions on it.  Instead, it is with the ability for me to use my judgment and wisdom that he has blessed me with.  Discernment is something that I usually choose to ignore when it is not the answer I want to hear.  But once again, Jesus reminds me to not follow the path my worldly flesh desires, but the path less followed for greater fulfillment.  Once again, being pruned is so hard, but it’s the slow steps along HIS path that make me fall in love again with my King. 

So for now, just enjoy this cute little thing.    

Mercy.  Yo chick she so thirsty.  

 Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus. Take this world from me, but give me Jesus.

All of Me.

We finally have some internet. No pictures yet, but those should come soon.  This was written my first night back.

7/4/12

Dear God:

Today was a long and exhausting day, but I arrived safely with all 4 of my bags back to your beautiful country of Uganda that has stolen my heart and was greeted by your wonderful servant, Pastor Rich.  You knew exactly what you were doing all my life when you planted the seed of Africa and children into my heart.  As soon as we landed, my heart was a flutter.  Tears just rolled, and I tried to soak up every intricate detail of this land that an ocean separated me from for 6 months too long.  Satan clearly had his handiwork all in this too as he puts doubts in my head about returning.  He makes me think that I can just stay at home doing whatever pleases me, but I’m reminded by the King of Kings:

 

You say it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
You say you can give it to me and you will take my burden.
You say this isn’t about you, it’s about me and I want you to be a part of my beautiful story.
You don’t need this because all you need is me.
You say I have a plan for you far greater than you ever could imagine or dream, and I don’t need your help or schemes, just willingness.
And he whispers, “Princess, I love you, and I want your WHOLE heart and all I want you to do is give me all your dreams, wishes, opportunities, and people, and be obedient when I call you.  It’s not going to be easy, but you have me and I will overflow your cup and guide you along.  And that my princess is enough."

I’m amazed at the support that you provided even when you knew I wouldn’t have time to work for the money.  Money ballooned out of nowhere and extrapolated.  I’m so humbled by your grace you extol even when I’m not patience, stubborn, and forget it’s not about you and less of me.  

Thank you for my blessed sister Susan.  I absolutely love her so much, and I'm grateful to be back living with her.   I thank you for this opportunity to be surrounded by your beautiful children and mamas who live very special lives.  Thank you so much for your grace and ability to lead even when there is darkness.  Thank you for the celebration of the 4^th of July in community with strangers now united by you and Uganda, and thank you for allowing my best friend to be on this journey with me.  Thank you for the time to pour out our hearts together on the plan.  You knew exactly what you were doing when you placed each other in our lives.   Thanks for bringing me back to my first true love, you.

Love forever,
 Lindsay Alexandra

It's Time.

As I'm sitting in the hotel room, I just can't believe what blessings the Lord has lavished upon me.  Not only has he broken my heart for the fatherless, but has abundantly provided for me to travel to Uganda for the third time this year.  Wow.  The body of Christ has been so generous, and I cannot wait to see little princesses in their pillowcase dresses.  Of course, my Amani little men will love all their pajamas too, and everything else that is in our 7, 50 pound bags. :]

Tomorrow, Allison and I fly Ethiopian Airlines, and our favorite Kenyan Pastor is picking us up from the airport.   Allison is headed back to Pallisa, and I'm headed back to Amani Baby Cottage.  We will meet back up our last week in August and spend it together.  My heart is fluttering with excitement to have my arms full of my babies and to see how much they have grown.

Red dirt.
Burning trash.
God's creation.
Savoring quiet moments with the Lord.
Full of the spirit.
Fuzzibunz. 
Chapati. 
Dancing.
Singing.
Hugs.
Kisses.
Laughter.
Joyous unfailing LOVE.  
Holy is the Lord, our King of Judah.        

We were made for this.  SO blessed to have this page in God's story.

I have asked the Lord for one thing – this is what I desire!

I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,

so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Love, 
Lindsay and Allison

PS.  Sorry for the lack of blogging.  Training for track nationals and taking a summer class took up a lot of time, but I'm back and will also try and play catch up on our amazing trip in December/January! We will update as much as we have power and internet.  Thanks for the prayers that we will completely abandon our lives to Christ and hearts be focused and adorned with praise for the only one who is worthy of our lives.

Today is the Day!!

I leave today.  My heart is so happy and excited to be reunited with the rest of my heart!  God is SO faithful.  Allison and I have SO much to catch up, and I absolutely cannot wait to see my best friend in the ENTIRE world!  

It's BEEN WAY TOO LONG. 

 Can't wait to reunite with her in the country that has stolen BOTH of our hearts!

Can't wait to love these little ones!!

A Poem that speaks TRUTH.

The Children

Do you hear the children crying?

I can hear them every day,

Crying, sighing, dying, flying

Somewhere safe where they can play.

Somewhere safe from all the dangers,

Somewhere safe from crack and AIDS,

Safe from lust and lurking strangers,

Safe from war and bombing raids.

Somewhere safe from malnutrition,

Safe from daddy’s damning voice,

Safe from mommy’s cool ambition,

Safe from deadly goddess, Choice.

* * * *

Do you see the children meeting?

I can see them in the sky,

Meeting, eating, meeting, greeting

Jesus with the answer why.

Why the milk no longer nourished,

Why the water made them sick,

Why the crops no longer flourished,

Why the belly got so thick.

Why they never knew the reason

Friends had vanished out of sight,

Why some suffered for a season, 

Others never saw the light.

* * * *

Do you hear the children singing?

I can hear them high above,

Singing, springing, ringing, bringing

Glory to the God of love.

Glory for the gift of living,

Glory for the end of pain,

Glory for the gift of giving,

Glory for eternal gain.

Glory from the ones forsaken,

Glory from the lost and lone,

Glory when the infants waken,

Orphans on the Father’s throne

* * * *

Do you see the children coming?

I can see them on the clouds,

Coming, strumming, drumming, humming

Songs with heaven’s happy crowds.

Songs with lots of happy clapping,

Songs that set the heart on fire,

Songs that make your foot start tapping,

Songs that make a merry choir.

Songs so loud the mountains tremble,

Songs so pure the canyons ring,

When the children all assemble

Millions, millions, round the King.

* * * *

Do you see the children waiting?

I can see them all aglow

Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting,

Who of us will rise and go?

Will we turn and fly to meet them

Will we venture something new? 

Come and go with 

me, would you?

I intend to rise and great them.

Come and go with me, will you?

And my sweet little baby girl.  I pray that God allows me to see her, but if not trusting in his promises.  To be so close, but oh so far away is just so hard on my heart.  I know that I have a God of the EXTRA ordinary and LOVES to show me his mighty power and love for his children.  Saying many prayers that it's for my girl and that's she's not sicker than she was before. 

She loved me back.  

PS.  God already has been at work because I didn't get charged extra for my extra weight fee!  God is GOOD!  

Thanks for all the prayers.

Soaking in his goodness while I fly for a LONG time!

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  

1 John 3:1