Who REALLY Wants To Get Well?!

Arrrrrgh! Sometimes it can be sooooo frustrating to be a Christian. Yes, way! Why, oh why, do we struggle with jumping on board with God's prescription for healing for us? He is such a Great Physician and we (aka ME) are such great sceptics! Are we really that happy and content in "Struggleville?" I truly believe that God has our personal Rx and speaks it little by little to us.  Check out Naaman in 2 Kings 5.   Lord help me to cooperate with You!  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Fix My Eyes On Jesus!
Hebrews 12:1-2

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Lord, help me to fix my eyes, not on my circumstances, but on You.  Practically speaking, I am learning to recognize where my eyes are focused.  The reality of our blurred vision, becomes clear based on our reactions to particular circumstances. So it's always a good idea for me to "examine my selfie" to see just exactly where my "eyes" are fixed.  How can I tell?  It's a pretty simple test.   Who  are you blaming for your ________?  What are you saying about them in your mind?  How often does your mind think of them and how they are the root of your problem?

 If you have a solid answer to these questions, then your eyes are on THEM. It's easier to find fault and cast blame on another human. That's our default mode.  It's in our DNA.  And actually, we can blame Adam and Eve for that fault.  LOL.   Because they started that response mode in the garden after their disobedience.  But Good News!  In Christ, we have a new nature and can learn to keep our eyes on Him as He matures us through various trials.

Keeping our eyes on Him for me means speaking Scripture (out loud or silently depending on my location).  Also, listening to music that sings the Truth is incredibly helpful.  And praying for God to fix my eyes on Him is imperative.  We need divine intervention to stay the course. 

I Liked It!

     A couple of nights ago we had some lovely people from our church over for gumbo.   Of course at the end of the evening, I asked if I could take a picture and all obliged.  Most of the folks were on Facebook so I thought I would post the pic of the group and tag them which I did.  I put it on Instagram as well.

     When I woke up in the middle of the night, a thought was in my head about whether or not I should have posted it.  I seriously do not want to upload anything that brings glory to me but rather I want to glorify God as much as possible.  So I asked Him what He thought about it and if He was ok with it and He said, "Don't worry.  I liked it."

     It took me a second.  But then I got it.  He liked it.  As in, He clicked the "spiritual like" button.  LOLOLOL.  I cracked up and went back to sleep in peace.

APB: Abandoned Walmart Cart

    This is a draft from December 2015 that I just decided to post.

 A word of warning....Do not leave your shopping cart unattended for 3 minutes in Walmart.  I am so guilty of this in just about every store I shop.  Why do I do this?  Well, I leave the cart "unattended" in order to make better time because navigating isle traffic with a shopping cart slows me down.  As a result, I often park it at the end of the isle and jaunt down and back to get what I need.  It WAS a good system.  Until...

     One Saturday last month,  I was on a mission to shop for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes  as well as some personal items.  Needless to say, I was  literally shopping in EVERY department.  About an HOUR into the journey and just as I was about to cross the finish line, I stopped to look for some Christmas pajamas for Silas.  I "parked" the shopping cart in a good spot and ventured around the area for about three minutes.  I confess I did cross over the big isle that separates the boys from the infant clothing, but it was just for a "second."

     When I was ready to proceed to the check out line, "it" was gone.  I thought for a moment that I was truly having a senior moment.  Seriously, I thought I knew where she was parked but after wandering around and searching and not finding, I decided to ask a human.  I was pointed in the direction to speak to a lady that had an ear set on and she politely inquired at the customer service desk as to the whereabouts of the missing buggy.  Sure enough, it had been mistaken as "abandoned" and promptly wheeled to customer service to be unpacked. I was supposed to WAIT next to the food section with her as "customer service" was supposedly gathering up my dispersed merchandise and allegedly bringing the restocked cart to me (honestly, that sounded too good to be true.  And it was.).  After a few minutes, I asked the nice employee lady if I shouldn't just go on over to customer service myself and see how it was going.  She agreed. I immediately saw that most of the carefully hand selected merch was strewn about and scattered in the return bins behind the service desk.  The staff was kind enough to let me go "back there" and search through them.  I did find a few of my items but was quickly becoming furious at the thought of having to shop all over again in Walmart ON A SATURDAY.  Plus one of the employees had already returned ALL of the food items I had selected.  I was so not up for a do-over.  But she sensed my distress and said she'd remembered most of my food items and would gladly go and retrieve them while I worked on re-gathering the other items.  I remember saying multiple times in my head, 'but this is for the Operation Christmas Child boxes."  Be careful what you say in your head....out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaketh!  And it did. In the scheme of things, I knew in my heart this wasn't a real problem.  But my head said otherwise.  Clearly I was in a spiritual battle.

      Long story, long, I pulled it together and check out. As I was leaving, one of the employees came up to me and said, "we found another one of your items."  But I literally said to her, "No thanks, Im over it."  Inwardly, I was furious....not mad at Walmart, but mad at myself for over-reacting and letting the situation control me.  I drove home knowing I wanted to throw something.

      Why on earth did this trial get to me like it did?  When I got home, I DROPPED the shopping bags in front of Mike.  Exasperated,  I ran to my "prayer closet."  I cried out to Jesus and He was there for me.  I confessed my anger and frustration as sin and asked for healing and forgiveness.

     I know God uses situations like these to expose strongholds in our heart that need healing.  I believe God was exposing the fact that I let my emotions control me through situations of distrust and by bringing them to the light, I can see my issue more clearly.  What exactly did He want to do that day?  Reveal a stronghold of control (as if I'm really in control. LOL).  God can and will use Walmart to expose the fact that I don't trust Him.  Control freaks like myself need to grow in trusting Him.  He is trustworthy and is teaching me in a seemingly unorthodox way that He truly is in control.  IN GOD WE TRUST!

Jesus Is The Christmas Light!

Christmas lights will soon go out but the light of Christ will NEVER be extinguished. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." ~ Jesus (John 8:12)

Serve Those You Want To Serve You!

I have issues! I confess I am very critical of customer service these days seeing as how it's pathetic or non-existent in many retail establishments.  And as a former retail girl, I have ridiculous standards.

Last week, I was in my local grocery store and only had a small-ish cart full of items.  At the check out point, I became discouraged as the line was long and only one "normal" lane was open.  Maybe I could have used the self-check out option but in all actuality, I think I had too many items too fit on the scannermabob counter.  So I waited in the only lane available to me as I definitely had more than 12 items to qualify for express.  

My reoccurring issue presented itself as I began to wait and my hypercritical thoughts quickly surfaced because the two people in front of me had extra-large carts filled to the brim and the check-out  process was moving at a snail's pace.  After I found fault and cast blame sufficiently in my mind, I went too look for a human employee.  I asked the first one I came across if he could open up a lane.  He said I would have to make my request at the customer service desk.  Ugh.  Then low and behold, an employee appeared and opened the lane I was walking through to get back to my cart.  I quickly grabbed it and began to unload.  I was frustrated but tried to be kind.   In the scheme of things, this was not really a thing.  But it was controlling me and it had happened several times in the past month  (and/or years) so I knew God was doing something!  He tends to highlight our issues when it's time to work them out!  When I got home, I dropped to my knees and asked Him what I was supposed to do at the moment of frustration when I wanted to complain my head off and give vent to my frustration.  He said this:  "SERVE THOSE YOU WANT TO SERVE YOU BY PRAYING FOR THEM."  "O.K. Lord, what do you want me to pray?" I asked.  "PRAY FOR THEM TO LOVE ME," He said.

Well, that makes good, godly sense!  If I'm praying instead of complaining (out loud or in my mind), I am serving them which is actually serving God.  And if Im praying, I am blessing them and not cursing them (which is my sin-nature/automatic response).  So when I feel my customer service needs aren't being met and my blood begins to boil (I have entitlement issues too! But that's a whole other talk show), I will know that that's my cue to begin praying and serving those I want to serve me.  Imma try it.  P to the T to the L!!!  Gonna catch a ride on the freedom train!!!  Woot woot!

The Day The Orphans Ministered To Me!

    On one of the days Sophie and I had scheduled to go and hang out with the kids at the  CCC Orphanage, she woke up feeling ill.  She informed me that she wouldn't be able to go.  I pondered my options and decided to walk on by myself.  Although I was afraid, I hated the thought of missing an opportunity to minister to the kids.  So I began the short trek out of the hospital compound and prayed the whole way there.  I asked God to show me what activities to do with the kids and to protect me on the road.
      When I arrived, the head admin. guy was not there as it was the day after the Ethiopian New Year Holiday.  I spoke with another employee who said the room with all of the books and games was locked and he didn't have access to the key.  I thought to myself (what on earth was I going to do without the proper "supplies" to entertain these kids) and I thought about heading back home.  I was nervous and out of my comfort zone.  I kept praying for God to SHOW UP.  I asked the guy in charge where I could find the kids and he pointed me to the cafeteria.  They were in the process of sorting lentils which was one of their regular chores.  I grabbed a seat between a couple of them.  I just sat.  They just stared and sorted beans.  They remembered me from the painting party a few days earlier and they seemed excited for me to be there.  They love attention (worldwide human nature ya know) and I believe they love adults who pay attention to them.  They began to sing to me....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  It wasn't my birthday but it was actually only a couple of weeks away.  I believe they knew I would know that song so it was a safe choice.  I didn't prompt them to sing.  But at the painting party days before, at the end, I initiated a "Jesus Loves Me" sing-a-long in which they quickly joined in.  I think they remembered me as a "singer" and wanted to "speak" my love language.  I just sat while they sorted and sang.  They were so content and filled with peace.  I kept praying silently asking God to work out the details of this visit.  He most certainly did.  I kept thinking, how am I going to "entertain" them?!  What with the supply room locked and all.  But God had a different day in mind.  They would be the ones doing the entertaining.  After the Happy Birthday song, they kept going. They broke into "Our God Is An Awesome God,"  and "Give Me Jesus." Their voices were incredible.  And I was mesmerized.  By them.  And by God.  We sat there together.  And they serenaded me, singing of the love of God they clearly had a grasp on and were grateful for.  His love was so evident that day.  I knew He loved me.  Through them.  And they knew they were loved.
    I was sorry Sophie missed it.  But actually I now know I was supposed to go alone that day.  As God held my hand, I stepped out of my comfort zone with Him.  And the "angels" sang to me.

Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,  for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  

The Orphanage

      I had the privilege of returning to Ethiopia this past September 2014, for the second time in two years for a medical mission trip through World Medical Mission.  My husband would be helping out in the orthopedics department at the hospital in Soddo, a town in southern Ethiopia.  And seeing as I am totally non-medical when it comes to nurse-y type skills, I go along and help out wherever I am needed.
      Last year, my daughter, Molly, and step-son, Jonathan,  and I had the privilege of working in a school on the hospital campus teaching English from the Bible.  We had an incredible experience with the students and tremendously enjoyed our time with them.  But this year as we returned, we found out the school would be on holiday break for the entire time we would be in town.  I didn't panic although I was sad that I would not be able to reconnect with the kids we had met a year earlier.  But this year, I would have a new assignment along with my step-daughter, Sophie, who was able to take time off from work and sojourn with us.  I knew in my heart that the LORD would provide work for us.  And He did!  The Children's Cross Connection is an orphanage that houses approximately 60 kids and it is just about one mile from the hospital.  I had not had the privilege of visiting last year even though it was on my bucket list.  But this year, Sophie and I had the desire to meet with the administrator  and see how we might be able to help out.  They allowed us to come and hang out with the children as our schedule allowed and they gave us total creative freedom to spend time with them as we saw fit.
     The first day we planned a "painting party" as I had bought and packed supplies from Hobby Lobby.  The ability to paint and create and allow the "inner artist" that resided in all of them was special.

Unfading Beauty Parlor

"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."  
1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT

I was asked to speak at a local church women's retreat a few months ago about the topic of Unfading Beauty.  To start the New Year (since this is my first post), I thought I would just blog from some of my notes as a remembrance because the theme verses and subject matter so resonated with me and I don't want to forget them.  

The church calls this annual retreat a 3-H "camp" which represent the Head, Heart and Hands.  This year they chose the theme "Unfading Beauty" from 1 Peter 3:3-4.  I had attended girl scout camp as a child but never had the opportunity to participate in any 4-H camps in our area.  I thought it might be a good idea to google "4-H Camp" just to see what they were about.  I was intrigued to find that the 4-H camp motto was this:  MAKING THE BEST BETTER.  I loved that motto and just knew that the women I would be speaking to were undoubtedly THE BEST!  But to encourage THE BEST to become better, sounded like a work God could and would certainly inspire!

I felt the overall goal He had given us was to be strengthened, encouraged and refreshed with a new resolve to go with Him wherever He wanted to take us (spiritually and physically).  After all, we were called to be Spirit-led women who loved the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

So where would one go for unfading beauty treatments?  The Unfading Beauty Parlor!  I realize we don't call it a "parlor" anymore.  Salons are for sure more trendy and hip. LOL.  But I grew up and had the privilege of going on many occasions with my great aunt, Nonnie, to the "beauty parlor" which she visited WEEKLY!  Weekly appointments:  GENIUS!  A standing WEEKLY hair appointment!!!  Why in the world did we ever let that trend get away?!

So what in the world happens at an Unfading Beauty Parlor?  EVERYTHING!  Divine highlights, faithlifts, encouragement injections, strength fill-ins and more!  But the transformation God was after in us wasn't going to happen in a weekend.  No quick fix here.  It would be a process.  And not the 15 minute kind that takes place under a salon dryer.  Transformational processing would take up to a season or longer.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (MSG) says, "God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful--as beautiful on the inside as the outside."   God isn't against outer beauty.  But if that's all we pursue, we miss Him!  And we're miserable.

I had the ladies name some things that FADE and they shouted out suntans, clothing, eyesight, highlights, perms, youth, flowers, and the list went on.  But when I asked what things didn't fade they came up with these...eternal life, works of the Lord, genuine love, God's glory, Truth, and age spots!  Good to know age spots won't fade as I have some and will now save lots of money NOT trying to fight that battle!  

I found out via the internet that we have spent $56 billion dollars on the Cosmetic industry in the US alone in the past year.  But the world can only offer external beauty whereas God goes deeper and invests in our inner self.  "God looks at the Heart but people look at the outward appearance."  1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

Obviously, if "unfading beauty" was our theme, then this was what God was calling us to work on.  It was time to take a look in the spiritual mirror to see if we were reflecting the image of Christ?!   We were going to have to let God examine our hearts.  And we would also have to examine our selfie.  Wouldn't you want to know if you had spinach in your teeth or sushi on your face? (I recently had sushi rice that stuck to my face and Mike failed to tell me.  When I noticed it later AFTER a trip to Dillard's, I blurted out, "Why didn't you tell me??!")  In the same way, we should also care what we are reflecting to our families and others around us.  Because what's on the inside, does come out!  

God revealed some gross stuff in my teeth, I mean heart, Thanksgiving 2013.  Teeth are easier to manage  because you can just brush and floss them clean in a matter of minutes.  But the heart must be EXAMINED AND REFINED.  My family and I would be celebrating Turkey Day at the beach condo that year.  I was super excited to be together and hang out. BUT the day came, and as it did, I became more and more frustrated.  And mad.  At my family.  Poor innocent souls had no clue.  My frustration had to do with all of the preparation and work necessary to pull off the banquet.  And no one was volunteering to prep, cook and help to my liking.  And my mind began to entertain negative thoughts prompted by all of the external circumstances.  To give them credit, they were on vacation.  But the turkey and trimmings weren't going to cook themselves.  I resented having to ask for help.  I became more and more miserable as the day went on.  My life verse SHOULD BE Proverbs15:17 that says, "better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a platter of meat/turkey with hatred."  I have known this verse since the early 2000's.  But that doesn't mean I put it into practice. Back to the story and the point:  God cares about what we think about our family members. And others.  He really does.  What we say to ourselves in the privacy of our own minds DOES MATTER.  

Psalm 26:2 NIV  says, "Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind."  And the NET Bible says it like this,  "Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives."  Why would God care about our inner thoughts and motives?  Because they affect our inner beauty!  Negativity on the inside doesn't stay on the inside.(In the same way that "what happens in Vegas" DOES NOT stay in Vegas!)  What happens in the mind will trickle out....in our words, actions and demeanor. 

I tried to be jovial and thankful and enjoy that day but God would use it to show me what was in my heart that had been lurking for years. This was the time He had chosen to deal with this issue.  Let's just say it was NOT my best thanksgiving.  A few days later as I was flying home, I got sick on the plane.  Literally sneezes and a sore throat besieged me somewhere over the Florida/Georgia line. By the time I got home that evening, I was miserable.  I thought I would sleep it off.  Not so.  Overnight, the cold morphed into the worst upper-respiratory infection on record. So I was bed-ridden for 3 days. And THEN I then had the wherewithal to ask God if there was something He was trying to teach me.  And He said these words immediately in my spirit. "You're not loving your family well."  I gasped and said, "You're right!"  I immediately agreed with God and then confessed my sin to Him.  I asked Him to heal me and teach me how to love like Him.  When Mike got home from work, I confessed it to him. 

Now was the time God had ordained to pay serious attention to what my mind spoke.  And it was a call to repentance.  I knew "taking certain thoughts captive" was important and had even done the Bible Study,  Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild, but it was time to change the way I think!  After all, we do have the capacity to think like Christ as we have the "mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16). I was no longer a captive unaware.  I knew the subject matter I was to work on for the semester.  It really does help to know what we're working on. And God usually makes it crystal clear when we want to know.  Paying attention to what we "say" in our minds is a big deal.  And our love, joy and peace are affected by it tremendously.  He had my attention.  I paid attention.  I am still a work in progress.  PTL, its not how ya start but how ya finish.  Unfading beauty is a lifelong pursuit.  But it's what we really want and ultimately what we're searching for.  Perhaps fading beauty is over-rated. What if what's on the inside is what it's really all about.   #sorryhokeypokey

UNFADING BEAUTY CONFERENCE

FBC Raceland 7/24/14 

CLOSING PRAYER (recite together)

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are so grateful to know You and be in relationship with you.  Your unfailing love is so precious.  We are desperate for more of you and less of us.

We confess the times when we have not loved you with “ALL OF OUR MIND.” Examine our hearts and minds.  Do the necessary checks to expose the areas that need work.  Give us the desire to draw near to You and listen closely.   Please pour out Your Spirit of wisdom and discernment so that we can better cooperate with You on our issues.  We DO want to get well.  And we DO want to reflect the beauty of Your Son, Jesus, to our family, friends, and everyone we meet.

Only You can make us beautiful from the inside out.  We are in agreement that the Spiritual work of sanctifying our minds is crucial to our becoming Spirit-led women.  Teach us how, LORD.  We cannot get this at the beauty shop.  It can ONLY come from You at Your UNFADING BEAUTY PARLOR and we know it!!!  We need an appointment A.S.A.P.  We are thankful that you always have openings and You never have to “work us in.” 

We praise You, Father, for loving us.  Give us hearts to love You more and more. 

In the beautiful Name of Jesus’,

Amen!

Should I be Praying For Her?

Do you ever think that when you run into an acquaintance at a seemingly random place numerous times within in a short period of days that perhaps God is up to something and might just expect you to begin praying for them?   This thought has come to my mind recently.  It just seems strange to me that to continue to "bump" into someone over and over to the point that we laugh about it but then stop short of recognizing divine intervention.  Then we reason it away or merely chalk it up to coincidence.  Or is God more intentional and deliberate and constantly setting us up to "work" for Him in the area of prayer? I believe He is!

I personally think that prayer is the most powerful form of communication.  And I honestly think that, we as His children, have the huge potential to intercede on behalf of His Kingdom and purposes at any given moment.  I don't really believe that we understand just how much influence and power we bear when it comes to helping others with our prayers.  It takes faith to pray.  But it's really an amazing concept if you think about it.  In 1962, the push to stop prayer in public schools began and we were told to stop praying in school but no one can really stop anyone from praying silently in their hearts.  Of course, God knew this would happen and I am extremely grateful that He is so insightful and genius for coming up with this blessed communication line.  He is a wireless God.

So now that He has laid someone on my heart and gotten my attention by putting them in my path several times, I plan to take the next month or so and lift her up in prayer and ask Him exactly what I should pray for her.  He does have prayer requests, ya know.  Why wouldn't He with so many children?  LOL. And He isn't afraid to make them known when we take the time to ask and listen.

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them." 1 Timothy 2:1 NLT

"And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."  Jeremiah 29:7 NLT

Could You Use A CHRISTmas Ham?

What do you do when you don't want to forget a cool "answer to prayer" story?  You blog it!

So a few days before CHRISTmas, Mike and I were blessed with a lovely ham from a friend.  Although we appreciated it, we had already made plans to deep fry a turkey and do the trimmings that go with it.  We knew we needed to pass the ham gift on to someone who might need it.  Before he left for work one morning, we prayed and asked God to show us who we should give it to.  We both knew that He would answer and give us wisdom about the request.  I believe He is thrilled when we bother to ask His "opinion" so I knew He would make the answer obvious in His time.  In my mind, however, I envisioned us taking the ham to someone.  But about an hour after we prayed, an employee of our landscaper/lawn service stopped by to drop off a poinsettia to me as a way of saying thanks for getting him an appointment with Mike for a hand problem he was having.  I was grateful for his thoughtfulness and as he left and got in his truck to leave, I remembered the ham (or rather the Holy Spirit prompted me)!!! I shouted out to him and asked him if he needed one and he said, "yes!"  I ran and grabbed it and gave it to him. A few minutes after he left, Mike called to check in and I told him what had happened and he agreed 100% that he was our answer to the "ham prayer."

 So the Lord didn't answer exactly in the way I thought He would.  Instead of going out to take it to a designated person, He brought the person to us!!!  Glory to God in the highest!!!

DAVID WILKERSON DEVOTIONS: MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE

DAVID WILKERSON DEVOTIONS: MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE: If you think you’re too ordinary to be used of God, listen closely: God is not going to do His last-days work through big-name evangelists ...

God Can Change Your Heart

     When God calls you out of your comfort zone, what is your first reaction?  Or when you “get a word” from your pastor's sermon and you KNOW God is speaking to you directly, what do you do?  I’d love to boast that I immediately jump into the obedience pool but that is generally not the case.  I prefer to “wrestle” with God a bit before I surrender. 

     This summer my family and I had the opportunity to travel to Soddo, Ethiopia, which was a trip 12 years in the making.  When my husband, Mike,  began speaking of doing “medical missions,”  back in the day, my initial reaction was to freak out and think of all the negative outcomes that surely would ensue.  That spiritual battle for me was difficult and I knew that if God really wanted us to go and do something like that, He would have to change my heart.  And that is exactly what He did.  It wasn’t an overnight “transplant” but rather it took a few years of me getting into His Word, seeking Him, and getting to know Him more.  And as you all know, the more you KNOW Him, the more you LOVE Him, and the more you LOVE Him, the more you TRUST Him and are willing to do whatever He asks because after all, He is GOD, our Father,  and He knows best!  

     I remember vividly, the moment of surrender for this particular assignment.  And in my spirit, I said, “Yes, God, I will surrender to medical missions.”  I had no idea when and where He would send us but I had a strong suspicion, it would be Africa. That was back in 2005.  I have found that He often wants us to have a willing spirit before He gives us our exact itinerary.  That way, faith is required.  LOL.  But I settled it with a “Yes” and now we would just wait for the details that would come in His timing.  

     In July 2012, we began to sense Him urging us to get ready.  He lead us straight to World Medical Mission  in Boone, NC, which is a branch of Franklin Graham’s, Samaritan’s Purse.  Their soul purpose is to connect doctors, dentists, and nurses with hospitals all over the world for short term medical mission trips.  They said they needed us in Soddo, Ethiopia, so we traveled there this past summer and worked for 15 days.  From the moment we arrived at the hospital , God’s compassion and kindness was extremely evident.  As Mike did surgery on a backlog of patients with fractures, Molly, Jonathan and I worked at the Hope Learning Center which is a school that teaches English from the Bible.  And God gave us a love for the people like I’ve never experienced.  We miss them and continue to pray about them constantly.  They have asked us to come back and we are inquiring of the Lord as to His will.  

     All I can say is that God KNOWS what He is doing.  We must give Him access to our guarded hearts and let Him change us.  If we don’t, we will miss out on the glorious works He created for us to do. 

     It doesn’t matter where He calls you, go! It’s all a big deal!  If it’s to share Christ with your relative, go!  If it’s to serve your neighbor, go!  If it’s to heal a relationship with someone He’s laid on your heart, go!  If it’s to start that ministry burning in your heart, go!  The point is to go and do what He calls us to do.  For that, we will have no regrets.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Medical Mission Trip

Trip Report –World Medical Mission

Soddo Christian Hospital

July 29-Aug. 13, 2013

My family and I traveled to Soddo, Ethiopia, in order for my husband, Mike, to work in the orthopedics department at Soddo Christian Hospital for a short-term medical mission trip.   The fact that this hospital was a haven of hope for the injured and sick, spoke of His great love. 

We stayed in the guesthouse which was very nice.  It was on the hospital campus so the “commute” was only a 2-minute walk to work.  Mike stayed very busy doing surgery every day as the need for orthopedic surgeons is great.  He enjoyed working at Soddo and did see a lot more trauma than he sees in his practice in the United States.  He loved all of the hospital employees including Dr. Duane Anderson who is the full-time orthopedic surgeon and learned a lot on the job. 

He was asked to speak in chapel and share some of his testimony which he did on Aug. 7^th.  He also participated in weekly bible study with some of the hospital employees.

My daughter, Molly, stepson, Jonny, and I helped out Jackie Anderson at the Hope Learning Center, which is a school on the hospital campus that teaches English from the bible.  The students (ages 10-18) were a delight and we had an amazing time getting to know them.

We also volunteered to do various odd jobs and were able to organize the resident’s medical library by unboxing and arranging medical journals.  Jonny was also able to travel to the foot clinic and pray with patients while Molly and I traveled to a pre-natal clinic and assisted with blood pressure readings as well as fetal heart rate monitoring.  Both of these “daytrips” were out of our comfort zone but God gave us the confidence and equipped us to help out. 

We all thoroughly enjoyed our time in Soddo.  It is definitely a special place and the full-time missionary docs and their families were extremely kind and welcoming.  We are inquiring of the Lord as to when and if we are to return.