God’s Got It…

 

Traveling to and from South Africa so many times in the past 5 years of my life, I have learned that you should always have a lock on your luggage or shrink wrap it to ensure all the items you placed inside will still be there when you receive your luggage back.  Each year before I travel over to Africa, my Dad graciously helps me set up a shrink wrap line and we get all the bags waterproof (for traveling into the bush in rainy season) and secured for transit through South Africa.  After hours of packing, re-packing, adding things last minute, and weighing all the bags, you can imagine the last thing we wanted to do was shrink wrap them all.  About an hour later, we had all 4 bags wrapped and ready to go…

I check my bags in at Dulles Airport and get on my way to Dubai…the first stop in my journey to Zambia.  After sitting in Dubai Airport for about 6 hours, I get on my next flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.  After 33 hours of already traveling, I arrive around 9:00pm in Jo-burg.  To my surprise all, but one of my suitcases has been ripped open and the shrink wrap torn off, some of the zippers were not closed all the way, and the buckles were not locked at all.  I just about lost it…haha (I can laugh about it now).  At first I was furious with Emirates, thinking they were the ones to blame for going through my luggage in Dubai.  However, once I got back to my lodge and opened them up, I found notes from TSA all through the luggage!! To make matters worse, all that work and effort to protect these school supplies from water damage and theft was ruined 30 minutes after I dropped my luggage at the airport…before I even left America.  I was not happy!!

A friend of mine once told me when things go awry not worry since “God’s Got It”!  So being worn out and tired, I just took a nice hot shower and climbed into bed that night, leaving it in God’s hands for the time being!  

The next day I resolved to pay $10 per bag to get them shrink wrapped again in SA to protect them from the rain with the 2.5+ hour drive into the bush.  I had a peace in my heart, even though I was still unhappy with how TSA handled everything.  I am now checking in for my flight to Zambia knowing that I have to pay for two extra bags and one that will be overweight…very nervous about what the total will come to!  I tell the guy behind the counter that I tried to pay online, but for some reason the systems were down and I couldn’t do it.  Well he told me I can try to tell customer service that, but he is not sure they can give me the online fare.  After I give him my first two bags, the next one was overweight…I told him that all these bag were supplies for a school in the villages of Zambia!!  He called his supervisor and they agreed that they wouldn’t charge me for the overweight bag, just the two extra bags I had!!  What a relief and blessing!!  Customer service could not grant me online fare for extra luggage since there was no proof that I tried to pay online, but they also didn’t charge me for the third bag being overweight!!! 

I also forgot to mention that once I got everything out of the suitcases, it doesn’t seem like anything was missing.  Even with no shrink wrap, zippers opens, buckles undone, and no locks sitting in Dubai for 7 hours and then getting off loaded in SA…God protected those supplies. 

I think it is comical that as much as I see God working out here in the villages, knowing how He physically protects people everyday, heals them, provides food for them, rain for their crops, and many other things they wouldn't have otherwise; I forget and think that it is up to me to keep things together for His ministry.  How silly I was to get flustered and upset at TSA, when God’ Got It and I don’t need to worry about the things that don’t go the way I had hoped!  Everything turned out fine and God even gave extra undeserved blessings…how great He is!! 

 

 

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9

 

 

Packing, Preparations, and Presentations

 

The remaining time I had left in Maryland was too short for all that needed to get done.  Since the majority of my time in the states was spent visiting family, I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked for support raising, presentations, and collecting donations.  In the short week I had to get get everything together, God provided a couple opportunities to share about all that He has been doing over here and passions He has put in the community (and MOL) as projects for this coming year. 

 

I got to share at Grace Baptist Church, and a few preschool classes in Woodbridge, Virginia.  GBC was so wonderful to give me some time to show pictures and briefly talk about the progress of the school and the hope for it this year as we turn it over to the local teachers.  In Virginia, we were able to share about the school and the desire to build a primary school for the children who complete the preschool and need somewhere else to go.  We are selling t-shirts as a fundraiser and this school has graciously partnered with us to send home forms with children giving their families an opportunity to be a part of it.  

     Even with my lack of time and funds, God graciously provided many wonderful people to help out and I was able to fill three suitcases of supplies to bring over for the school to fill the two new additions.  After packing and re-packing for several days, I finally was able to get everything packed and in each suitcase within its weight allotment for the airlines.  What a glorious moment!!

     I greatly enjoyed the time God gave me in the states to visit with family and friends.  I know I was not able to see everyone I would have liked to see, but hopefully when I move back later this year, I will be able to catch up with everyone!!  Thank you to everyone who gave of their personal time to help gather supplies, organize presentations, deliver donations, and to everyone who gave an ear to listen to all that God had done over this past year in and through me…The school would not be what it is right now if it weren’t for each and every one of you and I would not be who I am right now without the footprint each of you have left on my heart!!  Thank you again!!

 

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.” 

2 Corinthians 2:14

Looking Back On 2012

 

 

I can’t believe 2012 has come and gone so quickly…looking back, however, I can’t believe how much God has done in me and through me, in this seemingly short time, so much to be grateful for.  January started my second year living in Zambia among the Tonga people, working with the local community to get the preschool up and running.  I am ever in awe of the opportunity to serve God in such a beautiful place, being out in His creation each and every day, admiring His handy work in the trees, in the flowers, in the moon, in the stars, in the people, and in each child’s face…

 

I am grateful we were able to open the school in February and throughout the year we had over 100 children come through the program.  I am grateful for each and every child that came to the school this year; for the learning that took place, the laugher that filled the walls, and the joy that radiated out of the community. 

I am so grateful for my two teachers: Medis & Mweemba.  I have seen each of them grow immensely since we first opened the school.  They both raised to the challenge of expanding their idea of the “roll of a teacher” and embraced the things I asked of them with smiles and dedication. 

I am grateful to the community for supporting the school in everyway they knew how to.  Many families trusted us with their children, to teach them, to love them, to challenge them, to encourage them, and so much more.  In times of high stress and exhaustion, the kind words and happy smiles from moms and dads around kept us going. 

I am grateful for all the volunteers that came out this year…for their company, hard work, love, testimonies, and energy they brought to our ministry in the bush.  Each individual that came out this year has left a footprint on my heart and the hearts of many women and children in the community.  I know God will bless each of them immensely for their willingness to serve Him out here. 

 

I am grateful that God used our orphanage to save the lives of 4 babies and enhance the lives of all the older children.  That God has provided food, formula, salaries, clothes, presents, and much more for these children throughout the year, giving them smiles they might not have otherwise.

I am grateful for God’s protection and provision over my family while I was gone.  He blessed us with two new babies, a year of great health, full tummies every night, joy and laughter, opportunities to celebrate the holidays together, and much, much more!!

I am grateful that God was my all in all:  that when I cried out to Him, He opened His arms; when I was weak, He was strong; when I was empty, He was full; when I was lonely, He sung praises over me; when I lacked knowledge, He was full of wisdom; when I was hungry; His Word fed me…in whatever the circumstance God was always there leading and guiding, comforting and loving!! 

 

 

There are so many things to look back on in 2012: the blessings, the joy, the laughter, the love; as well as, the hardships, the sorrows, and the trials.  No matter what the event, or who was involved, it shaped what today is and who I am starting this next year!!  I am grateful for every moment of this last year and only hope that I can learn from all my mistakes allowing the love of Christ to emanate brighter than anything else in my life this coming year…

 

So, thank you to everyone who was a part of my 2012, to everyone who left a footprint on my heart!!

^“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” 

Philippians 3:12-14