Beauty Comes in Many Forms!

Beauty is so evident in the PEOPLE
Beauty is seen and experienced in many PLACES
Beauty comes in the PROCESS

My week continues to be full of people, places and processes. I am spending ALOT of time this week meeting with individuals, whether it be colleagues, friends, students working on a project, or just hanging out in the township. Tomorrow I will be cooking for 12 of the crafters at African Hope Crafts. I am looking forward to serving these wonderful artists!  

Community Life in a School

One important aspect of the schools we run in YWAM is community life. The school's philosophy is live/learn, meaning our schools are 24/7. Living with the participants gives so many opportunities for informal conversations and real-life discipleship. It also allows for LOTS of good times as we celebrate each other's cultures and lives. This photo is our Brazilian gals - they made a Brazilian dinner complete with dessert that will knock your socks off! 

I so enjoy jumping into the mix of the schools and experiencing all of life with the participants!

Visiting the Young Teens Small Group

I had a great time this afternoon attending a Bible study with these girls. The girls are taking turns leading the study. This week one of the girls said she wanted to study the book of Job! 

During her introduction, one of the young women said - "Job, huh? I never read that book 'cause I thought it was supposed to help you get a job! ! ! ! " Vanessa (bottom left) began the study telling the story of Job and then we read the last chapter and each gave our thoughts. It was fascinating to hear their thoughts on why God allowed all that happened to Job and then to listen to their comments about bad things in their life. I was taken back at how many of the conversations led to a comment about AIDS. This disease is an everyday word to them - a reality that each one of them lives with either in their immediate family or a close friend.  I am so encouraged that they are reading the Bible, searching and asking questions. With all that they face - God is the only One Who can tackle their challenges! 

 

I enjoyed delivering gift bags to the girls from my friend Dianne Lombardo - the gift bags had notebooks, pens, lip gloss, candy and hair ties. The girls loved them and were SO appreciative! 

Teaching in South Africa

The first day of class went well. We had a good morning laying the foundation for the week of teaching and beginning to cover the foundations of the Discipleship Training School. 

Tomorrow is a big day - teaching in the morning, a lunch appointment, and then I get  to go into the township to give some gifts to one of the small groups that gather weekly.   

Restful Sunday - Busy Week Ahead

This is just a quick note to keep you up-to-date on what is happening. I have recovered from jet lag fairly quickly, which is good because tomorrow- Monday morning, I need to be in full gear to teach all morning. I will be covering the purposes and outcomes of the Discipleship Training School. This class will be with a group of leaders from 7 nations who lead and train others in our Discipleship Training School program worldwide. I am thankful for today, which was truly a day of rest and soaking in the beauty of South Africa. We went for a ride on the coast and enjoyed good food and good friendship - it was definitely refreshing. The week ahead is packed full of activities so the restful day today was a blessing in preparation for the busyness. So far, no baboon sightings and the weather is warm in the day and cool at night. I will give more details of our activities throughout the week.

Travel Adventures - is it ever "normal"????

Well, I made it to Capetown - just a few minor hitches along the way! The first hitch occurred when I arrived to New York!
The flight from JFK to Amsterdam was canceled - so they put me on the South African Air flight that I normally take which goes New York to Senegal to Johannesburg to Capetown. So, that all worked out fine and I even had an empty seat next to me between New York and Senegal, which allowed for a decent rest time, except for the minor distraction of the lady across the aisle being sick to her stomach the entire flight ! ! When I arrived in Johannesburg the real adventure began. Somehow, the guys in New York only booked me through to J'burg - not onto Capetown even though my luggage tags said Capetown and my itinerary he handed me said Capetown . . so therefore I was on stand by from J'burg to Capetown along with the rest of the population of South Africa! ! ! I arrived in J'burg at 4:30pm Wed. and by 8:00pm was still not on a flight, had missed a few and there was only one left - which was overbooked by 7 people PLUS had about 7-10 more on stand by . . . I figured no way was I going to make it . . so I started thinking I would find a hotel and fly over to Capetown in the morning. THEN, South African Air said they would give a hotel voucher to all those who were stuck . . . so as I was waiting to find out about the hotel - by this time it is 8:45pm . . . while I was on the phone with my friends in Capetown trying to explain my situation - all of the sudden one of the men who was waiting with me hands the lady at the counter his boarding pass - she rips it up and hands him another one and says - hurry - run to the gate . . . then another guy does the same thing . .so even though I had no idea what was happening or why, I hung up the phone and handed her my boarding pass and she says - OK, here you too - RUN ! ! ! Of course, I had ALL my luggage with me - but I took off at full speed . . . an "angel" appeared at security check and he helped me with my luggage down to the gate - when I ran up to the gate - there were about 15 people hovered around the desk - they all looked at me and said "Do you have a confirmed seat?" I said, "I think so" (honestly, it was all a blur and I had no idea if I had a confirmed seat) . .The crowd said "Give him your ticket" . . .so I handed in my ticket - they swept me through the doors onto the bus - thankfully my luggage "angel" was honest - I had lost track of him in the commotion, but he appeared at the bus door with my 2 pieces of luggage . . .The stand-by crowd at the desk were so funny, it was like they were all cheering for anyone who actually made it on! When we finally got on the plane - it was packed . . . a few of the stand by people that DID get on ended up riding in the "jump" seats back in the kitchen! ! ! So, I am here - safe and of somewhat sound mind! See why people don't travel with me - it is NEVER normal ! ! !

But God OR But, God

When situations occur in your life have you ever heard yourself say "But God, why . . .  But God, couldn't You . . . But God, I thought I was supposed to . . . " This last week - actually this last year, I have said "But God" several times - not understanding the "whys", the "whats", and just feeling like so much of my life has been thrown for a loop. I am so very thankful that this last week, God took my But God and turned it into - But, God has a plan . . . But, God is on the move . . . But, God is working where you cannot see. One week ago, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go to South Africa  because Mom's health was on the edge and there was no one to stay with her. I felt like we had hit a wall . . . But, God had a plan I could not see - tonight I am sitting in my home with a lovely woman from Liberia who will stay with Mom while I am gone. She is so great - even to the point that I am bummed I can't stay and get to know her. She told me today that NEXT time she would come 2 days before I leave so we could spend some time together! My "But God" what am I going to do? - turned into But, God had a poetic twist - Lisa goes to Africa and Africa comes to Mom! I sit here tonight, so encouraged that this last week God turned my questioning, doubtful, pain-filled BUT GOD . . into a faith-building, mouth-dropping, wonder-working BUT, God is still God! 

Justice and Knowing God

This morning I came across an interesting passage . . . Jeremiah is speaking to King Josiah's son. King Josiah was one of the few kings who loved God and led his people in following God and getting rid of false idols. Apparently, his son was not so great and Jeremiah says to him . . . 

"Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this knowing Me? says the Lord." (Jer. 22:15b,16)

I wonder if we sometimes forget what it really means to know God. Over and over scripture points out that action - loving, serving, sacrificing, etc - that is what defines a true follower of Christ. When I pray, Lord I want to know you more - do I really know what I am asking? It is so much more than knowledge of God - it is living in such a way, that identifies and understands God's heart for people - for His beloved creation. 

A God Who Sees

As I continue my study through Scripture on justice, I found myself this morning in the middle of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar's story. This story is from the very beginning full of the injustice of people's choices - in most cases one injustice leading to another. Sarah is barren (I'm sure she felt this was unjust) . . . her response was to bring justice to her situation in the only way she knew how . . . Hagar is unjustly given to Abraham, used as a forced surrogate . . . her response is to seek justice against Sarah by despising her and gloating over the pregnancy . . .  Sarah responds to Hagar's attitude by unjustly kicking out of the house the woman she herself begged her husband to sleep with in order to conceive a child - sounds like day time TV! Enter the just God of the universe - amazingly the Angel of the Lord comes to Hagar in her unjust situation and speaks directly to her heart - assuring her that He will bring justice to her and her unborn child. Hagar's response is to call God by a name that is one of my favorite names for Him - Beer Lahai Roi - You-are-the-God-Who-Sees!  I would venture to say that most of us long for God to see the injustices in our lives - validate the situations we are in and call them what they are. God did not take Hagar out of the unjust situation - remarkably He tells her to return to the very people that brought on the injustice (I'm not convinced that is a principle to use in these situations - still pondering that one) Yet, God promises Hagar that she will bear a  son, whom she is to name Ishmael - which means "God hears" . . . In the midst of this unjust situation, God's message to Hagar is I am a God who sees and hears . . . a message I want to take to those living in the quagmire of injustice - there is a God who sees and hears - you are not forgotten! 

Real Life Questions

Today was a little rough - my Mom fell AGAIN - which she has done a few times lately. She hasn't gotten hurt seriously in the falls , physically- some bruises and minor pain. However, I do think her spirit has been wounded - discouragement and frustration seem pretty close to the surface. It's a little weird how all of this with her failing health falls into the justice of God issue for me. My heart breaks to see her struggle and my admiration for her soars as I watch her get back up with determination and push on. I almost immediately want to ask God the why questions, which I am so very glad to know He can handle. I actually take great comfort in the scriptures when I read so many of the giants of the faith questioned God - I actually think their questioning spirits reveal a relationship with God that is open, honest, healthy and REAL! As I wade through the scriptures in search of truth and revelation about the justice of God - I have some real life questions right before me where I can bring application. I'm sure you do too - it seems we all have questions and situations in our lives that force us to trust God's justice and His love and His care for us. So, today I hold onto what I don't always see so plainly or clearly - I guess that would be called faith! Hope you are hanging on too !