Where to start…

Heart moving thoughts and stories from Jennifer…

Where to start?  Up the mountain from mamas house to Ashebir’s restaurant and city life (upstairs), the high elevation, my cushy life and lack of exercise lately compounded with Asthma leaves me gasping for air until we reach the top.

Our sweet baby we watched be born last time is now 4 months old and plump and happy.  Beautiful to see such a healthy baby.  We were graced by the privilege of walking through the market.  The quiet brothers sticks close to us being careful of animals and anyone appearing to be aggressive.  Eyes peering toward us curious and shocked.  So tempted myself to ogle at the beautiful faces and the collection of treasures.  Corn seeds ready for roasting, red onions, oil beans, and hand woven baskets.  Wishful vendors, mostly women, looking to get a buyer for their wares to allow them to get a needed item to take home.

Foot pedal machines in the middle of the shopping field and hopeful shoppers waiting patiently in the long line.  So excited we are training up new seamstresses.  The quiet brother worked so diligently under Renee’s direction with sewing.  He is being respected and seen in a new light after disappearing years ago.  After the market our sweet team escorted me to a local dress shop, the same one most of our women will have their dresses sewn.  I have been longing to share in the local fashion and to share their way of dressing.  We entered the the tiny shop 8×10-ish with others pressing in all around us.  The tailor measured me and after looking over every fabric pattern chose a beautiful warm brown and turquoise flower print.  The delight and anticipation I feel must be similar to the women’s excitement to receive their own dresses!  I can hardly wait!

Back down the mountain and delighted by our evening.  Misty is interviewing each of our close family Bright Spots.  They are carefully working on the art as well.  Studious, serious faces engaged for hours.  Renee is teaching a sister to sew.  A daughter who because of life’s circumstances is viewed as less, is being give a chance to thrive.  To learn brings hope and confidence.

Simultaneously I am teaching the quiet brother the written alphabet and sign for the very first time.  Once a child banned from school.  Tonight he learned his name for the first time.  Let that sink in. The first time.  Alex floated between all three stations stepping in where needed.  Even our college student was so excited to learn for the first time that his uncle could learn to read and write.  He will be hope for young moms in the future who bring a child with a hearing problem; we are opening minds to possibilities.  Finally while listening to music with a head set I realized he could hear a tiny bit in one ear.  And when he laughs we hear a voice.  Can you imagine if only he had a hearing aid as a child he might have been given opportunity.  My heart breaks for his past.  I am praying that our kids minds will be opened to possibilities and helping others in the future.

So much to say and only one letter at a time on this tiny phone. Thank you all so much for the encouragement and messages… Love and blessings to you.

Making Something Beautiful from Unity that Comes from Him…

An entry written by Jennifer this morning…

As the rooster crows outside my room and the faint sound of the neighboring rooster responds back, I take inventory of my heart.  It’s still early, just before 5 am and our first full day in Arjo, our village.  Today is a new day and all of the preparations I have worked on so carefully and so diligently, with the help of my friends, are finished.  The season of preparing is over and implementation is on us.  Our team is ready for showtime.  Supplies for the kids, dresses for the mamas, little pillowcase dresses, solar lights, the story of Jesus and hope, shoes and so much more.

My heart check reveals some anxiety.  This part of the journey is not as easily controlled by me.  There is a dance of cooperation which God intended to be beautiful, that must come together for two cultures.  When I remember we both have a desire to be kind and gentle and helpful, we both can accomplish many tasks , we both only want good…it helps me to not take offense as easily because our social rules are different even though our heart intentions are the same.  We often are just different in our approach.  Not bad, not good, just different.  Apples and oranges.  When an orange and apple are smashed together being held by two fists, one only gets bruised fruit.  When carefully washed, chopped and placed in a bowl, fruit salad and a pleasing treat is found.  The delicate dance of cooperation brings beauty.

As I ask God, “What do I do with this anxious heart?”  A heart that desires His plan and to join what He’s already doing.  I hear him quietly in my mind…”Bring it to the table.  Remember, blessing the village is about what they need and also what they want help with.  Set down the rigidity of your agenda and place it on the table to pray over together, to review together and prepare carefully in a spirit of teamwork the same way you would carefully step by step make fruit salad.  And I will add the whipped cream.”  That made me smile.  He cares about the details way more than me.  He adds the blessing and the impact that will come.  He prepares hearts.  This is after all His salad as He created all of us.  It’s not shocking that some tears roll down my face and I feel thankful.  He is still growing me.  I still have the ability to learn.

Heart check.  What are you struggling with?  Have you asked Him to show you how to work with unity with others around you?  Even within a culture there are a variety of personalities, lifestyle choices and strong differing opinions.  Ask God to show you how to make something beautiful with unity that only comes from Him and us humbly laying down our own plans.  We are not striving to be the same.  Striving to have unity with differences to produce beauty.

Praying for my friends at home and all who may need a fresh peace today.

And the rooster crows again.

Responding Obediently to God’s Nudges.

Inspiring entry Jennifer asked me to post for her written on February 4th…Blessings.  Lisa

What is this all about? Are we actually making impact? Can we quantify results? And what’s up with all of that stuff?!

My first thought is obedience to the incredible passion God has crushed my heart with.  I’m a fairly normal mom who works hard, enjoys an occasional pedicure, drinks coffee with almond milk, likes my sporty car with the top down and loves my kids and my husband. I have no need to inflict inconvenience on myself.  I have found that while I love the life I have, a passion was birthed inside me for a village.  Little by little and through obedience; one step at a time.  I believe we are all a bit ordinary with an extraordinary God nudging us for his purpose and our own growth.  It’s incredible how my desires have shifted with that God infused passion.

Measurable is all relative.  I know I’m not who I was three years ago.  I know the children in the village, primarily our Bright Spots, are getting healthier, have more confidence and are being exposed to opportunity for a hope and a future.  The measuring stick that shows delight on children’s faces and has replaced a dark look of lack and desperation is incredibly valuable.  How can we truly know in a human sense know what the ultimate long term value will be?  This is where obedience and doing the best we feel inspired to do by God is our hope and motivation.  I believe our children and families will be a lighthouse for all eternity.  The kids are smart enough to be teachers and nurses and pastors and farmers who share with others.  Our gifts of encouragement and meeting some physical needs may just be what God uses to rock a village and pull the hidden talent and creativity out.

What’s more is I don’t want to miss it.  What if I am wrong and I waste my time and money for sheer moments of love shared with the children?  Then we have happy kids for a moment and I miss some of my convenient life.  What if I’m right and God uses me and the friends around me to be a lighthouse for the world?  What if I missed the calling that was only a small nudge in my heart in the beginning…eternal measuring devices are not ours to always judge without a full picture now. “Now we see but a poor reflection, then we shall see face to face.”  I want to hear “well done good and faithful servant.”

And the stuff…well its all just tools.  Incredible tools for learning, opening minds to possibilities and another act of kindness because of obedience and only possible because others have decided to follow a nudge in their heart out of love.

So thankful to walk the journey.  How is He nudging you?  Can you quantify your results?

Miracles can be very personal.

Jennifer asked me to post this to give you a glimpse of how God orchestrated their trip…she wrote it on January 15th…just a few weeks before departure!  Enjoy and keep praying!!  Lisa

I was getting ready to rush out of the house this morning after my walk with Nicole…I needed to meet Misty at the office at 10:00.  It was 9:45 and I needed to leave within 5 minutes…

Very clearly I heard the Lord… “Misty is tired, she needs to be done with her fundraising today…”

Okay…what do I need to do?

And very clearly and within 5 minutes times I had an idea to do an online auction.  I put together four of the five auction items to put on the invite.  I had no idea what I was doing really.

I rushed out the door, got to the office and Misty had purchased me coffee and was so sweet like always.  I knew she had been making knitted head bands and tamales and babysitting and so much more.  I said to her, “Misty, I am so excited, I’ve got something to share with you, God gave me an idea for today!”  We collected everything out of the trunk of my car and went inside together.

She was excited.  We stopped right there in our little Embrace Compassion office surrounded by boxes and tasks to do and prayed…she knew it was an idea from God.  I told her “I need to know how much you have left, I think God wants to finish this for you today.”  She of course was surprised, just like me.  She thought she was at about $2,000 of her $3,000 to cover all of her flight and trip expenses.  I told her “I need your real numbers, check with Shana and let’s get these pictures and packages to bid on posted.”

So we worked together quickly, I took the pictures, she started the invite, I wrote some words and we stared at the screen…
and then one bid…
Yahoo! We shrilled!
Then two and three and finally all 5 had bids!
Okay…what are those numbers???  She emailed Shana.

I forgot to mention when I got to the office I found an extra Ethiopian jersey and over the weekend Renee had brought a Goal Zero flashlight as a door prize that was a little late to the party and so we put together package 5.

We kept hearing FB ding and we tried to stay focused and worked on other things…

On my way home I felt like the Lord wasn’t done, I texted Shana, “Where are we at for Misty?”

Disheartened a bit with the gap because even with Misty’s tamale money and two full days with her and Nicole and Mick working super hard and lots of generous donors buying tamales and that being added to all of her other hours spent earning funds, she was at $1,700… how in the world were we going to get to $3,000??

And then I got a text from a friend…from an Angel disguised as a human.
“How much does Misty have left?”
Seriously?
Even with with a hopeful and wishful $300 from the auction we were still going to be $1,000 off.
I told the person and waited…
She texted back and said “I’m In.”  She would have the check for me for $1,000 that Misty needed to rest. “REST…” yes the very words that God had given me in the morning.  Oh my goodness… yes, it was about the funds for Misty,
AND the miracle for me was so clearly hearing God’s voice this morning to trust him.

And, after I heard how far off we were, realizing as “good as I am” at fundraising, I still was not “good enough” to close the gap. Yes, I was supposed to offer my bologna sandwich to to the potluck…but he was the one making the meal.

He spoke it. I offered my teeny tiny sacrifice and He brought the blessing…

That’s My Miracle.

I’m convinced that everyday we walk in miracles. His mostly quiet voice is guiding us.  Even when we are disheartened, he is with us.  He is moving. He is God.

Be Encouraged…You ARE what it takes.

3AM and just 2 hours until we leave for the airport.  I just couldn’t sleep and then justified my silly inability to sleep by telling myself I was preparing myself for the 11 hour time change amazingly preemptively.  I made a cup of decaf coffee so I didn’t have to grind any beans and make too much noise as the rest of my house is sleeping.  I sliced some banana walnut bread with m&m chocolates. David is the neighbor of our dreams who brings us fresh yummy baked deliciousness on an occasional Saturday morning and yesterday was no exception.

As I sit down in the dining room and open up my laptop computer I touch it one last time before I say good-bye for the next 40 days.  I begin to relax in my own thoughts and just as I am settling in I am jolted and I am temporarily distracted by a few things I have forgotten.  A towel, a razor, a favorite sweatshirt, extra zip ties and my make-up.  I scurry around to gather these necessities  and now I think everything is downstairs and by the front door so I shouldn’t have to lose my focus.  Planning and packing and help from so many for days and still my own personal items get packed last as they are not the treasures that “might change a life”.  Mental Note: I think Shana might need to work on a packing spreadsheet for Fall.  Hee Hee 🙂

Back to my reflections.  It’s amazing how ordinary I am.  How ordinary my friends are.  YET…when we decide to do whatever it is that God puts before us and we set aside our own inhibitions for his glory, we can really appear courageous…as my friend Amy would say, like a warrior for greatness.  As ordinary people, parents, individuals with all walks of life… WE ARE WHAT IT TAKES.  I just think that is so cool.

We are what it takes to brighten someones day with a smile, as Katrina was mentioning today and is something she loves to do.  We are what it takes to show love and kindness to others around us.  I didn’t graduate from Harvard or Stanford or one of those that makes people take notice.  I have never been famous for a really cool youtube video that went viral or famous for anything for that matter.  I am not the sleekest in fashion or fitness.  Yet I AM WHAT IT TAKES.

I have said yes to leaving my place of comfort, whether in the physical or emotional sense.  I use my legs to carry me up and down the mountain in Arjo and my smile to greet those around me, most of the time.  I have stretched myself with unique to me tools that make coping with challenges easier like a urinary re-director, dry shampoo, a snugly sleeping bag and dry fit clothing that lets me pit-out and dry-out quickly.

You Are What it takes.  Never discount and downplay being a courageous warrior right where you are at this moment in life.  Pray for others who are around you, smile broadly and share kind words.  When you can challenge yourself and prepare and plan and gather with others for a plan bigger than you…go for it!  YOU ARE WHAT IT TAKES.  Don’t give up.  It’s not small thing when you give of yourself, especially when what you feel like the gift you have to give feels like less.  Less than what “those other people” have.  Give it boldly, let those teeth shine in that smile, share in kindness with baked goods, or tutoring a friends kid, or watching everywhere for what God is doing and how you can join him, because with HIM…

WE ALL ARE ENOUGH.

Coincidence or Miracle?

While at times it can be quite tempting to recognize something really great and usher it into the category of happenstance or getting lucky, I hesitate to downplay God’s orchestration of events.  Earlier this week I posted on Facebook a heart felt comment about watching for God to shine through during the difficulties.  There are sometimes when hard things are going on and it gives us a special opportunity to see God intervene or give us extraordinary strength or a job to do that no one else can do.

As I get ready to leave on Sunday, yes, Superbowl Sunday…for a 40 day stay in our village in Ethiopia, I am aware of the many challenges.  I can often be very flexible in situations, I don’t really like surprises.  It takes quite a bit for me to be rattled.  Luggage and the airport is one of those “things”.  So not my favorite.  I can remember in college fainting in the luggage receiver at the check in counter because the agent had thrown away my ticket and it wasn’t in my collection of papers.  Another time I was on a runway and passed out in the isle and all I could remember was hearing something like…”Please take out your emergency card in the seat back in front of you and fan her as she is warm.”  How embarrassing.  They took the plane back to the airport and carried me off.

Yet God has been stretching me.  Flying and baggage are not my favorite.  For some reason he has made me passionate about getting the supplies that can’t be purchased in country to our family in our village.  He has made me desire to go and stay even when the circumstances are extremely rough, sleeping on a mud floor, without running water or electricity and fleas…lots of fleas.

Anyway, when I heard this week I was staying overnight in Washington DC and would be leaving the airport with 24 pieces of luggage plus carry-ons and then returning the next morning to go through security all over again with these same bags, in the freezing cold on a shuttle to an unknown hotel…well I was not please.  I was shocked.  I was quickly reminded that I needed to watch for the opportunity.  Seriously?

God gave me so much.  He gave me friendship and encouragement through gals who I really had not known before who shared with me ideas and thoughts and contacts.  I got excited about seeing the Lincoln Memorial for the first time and having dinner in DC.  We could have a fun evening… I got to pray and seek God for my doubt and fear, and I watched others pray protection over us.

Tonight I received an email back from the Director of the Airline we are using to fly into Addis.  It was a long shot.  An email.  He responded and chose to be the one to pass on a little miracle which I believe is not coincidence and a gift from God himself.  I believe God uses people to show his power and favor.  The director is going to have someone meet us in the airport, take all of our baggage and hold it for us and allow us to leave without it.  That is not normal.  That is not easy.  That is not coincidence for God to give us such favor and demonstrate his desire for these treasures to be taken to our families.  For some reason he has chosen to comfort me.

I am so thankful for all of your prayers, for your words of encouragement and walking this journey with me.

From Sleepless to Sweet Peace, His Peace

It’s getting harder and harder to sleep at night.  So many thoughts fill my mind.  It’s like I am in super alert mode, the overdrive has been shifted into gear and the anticipation of being in God’s presence and walking with him in Ethiopia is enough to make my eyes stay wide open.  12 days.

I am aware of the tug-o-war.  The moments of celebration and the needs to overcome.  Thankfulness floods me.  The blessings that overflow from our friends are like standing under a waterfall and trying to contain it.  Adorable pillow case dresses from Maggie today, it’s like I can almost hear the excited chatter of the little girls.  Reviewing songs that Michael Schmidt has edited and put together so that Suzanne and Rachel Coggins can finish prepping our tech pads with the message of hope, music and an opportunity for higher learning.  The FB auction to help pay for travel expenses  for Misty and the words of encouragement at church like from Holly Schweitz and Beth Yancey who say they can hardly wait to follow the journey in just a couple of weeks.  Shana is working hard to push out end of the year receipts and Karla celebrated  with me  today over the GoalZero catalog and our first published picture.  Renee is prepping her camera and David and Jenny give me a two thumbs up when we talk about ideas of how to share the story when I get back.

And then discouragement can creep in the door…what if our driver doesn’t come?  What if the fleas are as bad as last time?  What if we can’t get our treasures through customs?  What if the internet doesn’t work or I lose my phone?  Will our friends be proud?  Will they think we worked hard enough, did enough and shared enough of the story?  What about me?  I am filled with imperfections.  I am human.  Who am I to think I can make a difference?  Sleep escapes me.

I pray.  I talk to myself.  I remember that it never has been about me and that we will do our best, we have prepared and now it is all in His hands.  It will be what it will be and He says I am enough.  To come as I am, with all my imperfections.

As I begin to overcome, at least for the moment, the inadequacies of my leadership, my thoughts shift to my children.  My precious babies of my flesh.  I am asking them to share me.  Will they resent me?  Will they love who I love and sacrifice with me?  I am aware of Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and one of my favorites to share notes and words of love with my kiddos.  This year’s celebration we will be on different continents, just like last year.  And what about their questions?  Their needs?

I take up that prayer again and have a meeting with myself to remember the truth.  Even for the sparrow, He knows when it falls, God knows my children.  He has provided in so many ways and brought miracles into their own stories over the years.  I reflect for a moment and take in the good God who loves so much and has held my children and provided for their needs even when I couldn’t.  I remember Harrison and his tiny little body when his permanent front tooth came tumbling across the gym floor and with a severed root that had no hope…except that we stuffed it back up into his head and God grew the root back.  Or when Kaytlynn was an infant with hip dysplasia and was told she wouldn’t be able to walk well or ever run.  And one week when we went back for more x-rays, the hip was miraculously perfect.  No more treatment, nothing.  Just perfect.  What about the miracle of them even being born in the first place and being blessed with their lives touching mine.

Surely I couldn’t doubt any longer.  Too much evidence points toward His handy work and my tagging along as part of my own journey rather than him needing me.  Okay, maybe my obedience, he wants it, he uses it to grow me for my own benefit, but truly he is already working and has been in my family, with my children and in our village before I ever came on the scene.  Here it comes.  But what will others think?  Loyalty and authentic friendships are my soft spot.  One more angle, that stupid voice is taking a cheap shot.  I thought I was over all of that.  I went through that season already years ago of others looking in and judging, living in a glass house where perceptions and lies told by others were so painful and untrue that it took my breath away.  Betrayal.  Wounds that were deep.  Why am i wincing?  What I am worried about?  God is my defender, he goes before me and behind me, he is to my left and to my right.  He has restored all of what the locusts have eaten and stolen.  It isn’t about them.  It isn’t about me.  It’s about what God is and has been doing and how much He loves me enough to give me the desires of my heart when they align with His will for me.

I guess it could be a little like standing in the boxing ring after a few good punches to the head, not like I really have any idea what that might be like, and the coach grabs your face between his hands and makes some eye contact and says…”Snap out of it, you have got this kid, you are way better than this!”  Sometimes I just want out of the ring.  I don’t like to fight this fight sometimes, not with myself, not with others, not with the enemy who is roaring like a lion ready to devour me…

“You’ve got this…”, He says to me…”but not tonight.  Sweet daughter, get some rest.”  So while tomorrow might bring more rounds, more self doubts, for tonight I feel sleep and his peace coming over me and I am ready.  Ready to rest in his strength, his covering and knowing that each day has enough trouble of it’s own and tomorrow he will guide be each step.  A few tears trickle down my cheek, maybe it’s relief, maybe the vulnerability and reading back over my own weakness embarrasses me a bit or maybe it is just the Love of a my heavenly father tucking me in for a goodnight sleep and peace.

Sweet peace.  His peace.

Who am I when the light shines in?

It’s dark and grey outside.  Rain pours down every surface imaginable from the neighboring roofs, trash cans left alone on the streets, the mailboxes perched upright at attention waiting for their once a day greeting from the delivery person.  Water gushes through the streets as if it is on a mission to somewhere very important.

Grey is not my favorite.  When it is grey life tends to be dull for me.  Even turning on lights inside the house are not quite the same as the bright sunshine streaming through the windows. 

One day last week I was admiring the sunshine and the brightness that shone into my living room where I was sitting on a pretty but uncomfortable purple tweed couch.  I bought it for beauty and hastened not to take into consideration what it would be like to sit on for any length of time.  It was the first time to have such bright light in a few weeks perhaps and everything was illuminated.  The wood floors were bright and shiny, the walls looked clean and sharp.  Even my own skin had a rosy brightness when I glanced down at my hands on the keyboard.

When I looked around further I noticed dust bunnies and dust crouching around the walls of the room on the hardwood floor.  I noticed for the first time the difference in color of two clashing chairs that I thought had matched before.  It didn’t really matter but I hadn’t even noticed the contrast hues.  It’s amazing what the light can do to a perspective.

I was reminded of another time during the week where I had taken a phone call from a business colleague who was asking me questions about something I thought was quite obvious.  I was short and a bit rude.  Besides, I was busy taking solar for Africa out of packing and working with my precious daughter to organize and sort gifts for our families.  I was too busy to be sweet and kind and patient on the phone.  Ouch.  When the phone call was over the quick lurch in my heart stopped me.  The Light was shining on my words that had escaped and I was not able to pull back.  Stink.

At least with wood floors, the dust bunnies can be mopped up.  Furniture that shares an alternate hue of color from another, really doesn’t matter.  My mouth, my words, my kindness or lack there of?  I only get one chance.  One opportunity to be kind in a conversation, especially with someone I have never met before and could potentially not be in contact with again.

I did quickly send an email to the woman I had never met and apologized for being short.  I believe God can give us favor when we humble ourselves and come under his mercy and grace.

I am thankful for the sun, for the brightness it brings and the clarity when the sky has been grey for a season.  I am thankful for THE SON and his conviction and brightness he brings to behavior and attitudes I might not pay attention to on my own.  Humbled by his gifts, for the seasons and for his light of Love.

Survival…a tiny little trailer dancing in my head

New Year’s day took Shane and the kids off to the Callen’s farm, our real life friends.  Shane and his buddy Dan are working on restoring the little teeny tiny trailer we purchased from Craig’s List over the summer.  When we got her she had that old musty smell, used to be white grey dirty color and in general kind of icky.  The challenge and my desire to bring the 1969 Shasta back to life was one desire that my sweet husband willingly conceded to.  He has quite the gift with remodeling and fixing yet had never taken his hand to a tiny tin box of this sort.

My ideals are mostly sentimental, not really about the trailer itself.  It’s more the comfort it brings when I day dream about our summer trips, trips as child in the wilderness of Washington State with my parents, hiking, biking and traipsing through the woods  or with the Royal Ranger group, similar to the boy scouts, my dad helped mentor.  My most recent memories bring up homemade marshmallows from Mick, camp packets with aluminum foil and veggie yummies inside (Nicole has finally conceded to the expensive extra strong foil) that go over the fire and more recently a happy tent we like to call the “love shack”.  Harrison doesn’t especially appreciate that nickname since it has two rooms and one side is his…  So the trailer is an upgrade.  I will enjoy personalizing the inside touches and tucking away little gadgets over time that enhance the camping experience.  Picking the perfect vintage printed fabric for curtains and cushion covers as well as old light weight unbreakable plates and containers are all part of the fun.

While the family was away I took time to read, clean up a bit and I have a little corner in my room where I stash some of my favorites for my journey next month.  My annual 40 day trip is only a month a way.  So many preparations.  Often the items I need the most for “survival” are not as much about the actual physical need but about overcoming my own weaknesses.  While I do take some emergency food resources that basically cover quick sugar, electrolytes, fat and salt which in real food looks like nuts, dried fruit, fruit chews and buffalo jerky, I’m not really worried about starving.  I take medication to help me sleep, help me breathe when my asthma struggles, prescription cream for my flea and other bug bites as well as my vitamin stash including my trusty old zinc.  The majority of items I take that are not the basic survival necessities really are more like my  little trailer, little things to help me remember home.  To help me remember how much my family loves me.  I love being with my African family.  I love everything about being in the village, in mama’s mud home and surrounded by the children.  Every once in awhile I just am weak.  The over sensory of blatant needs and the spiritual fronts that push in on all sides give me a need for a moment of relief.

Today I tucked away a new tube of lotion from Harrison from Christmas.  Two tiny candy canes in my stocking from Sheri, my mother-n-law.  A pretty necklace and a soft hat, a fuzzy notebook and cover and a new gel pen from Shane.  Little treasures.  Little gifts that for a moment will ground me in the love I left and yet that same love  that gives me wings and allows me to travel across the sea.  There is work to be done, children to love.  Opportunities for my own growth, stamina and resistance to my own insecurities, sinful nature and internal ugliness.  Africa has it’s way of showing them to me brightly and yet giving me grace.  It seems as if Jesus uses this opportunity to help clean me up or refine me.

When I am weak, in those moments of aloneness in my own skin, just Jesus and me, I put on a little lotion, suck on a candy cane, open my journal and write a few notes with my gel pen and think of my pretty little trailer that’s waiting for me at home.  Yup, I’m weak.  I’m human.  I have needs.  I am so thankful for a God who allows me to be fully me, who he created in my strengths and weaknesses and fully hugs me in his arms just as I am.  As this New Year begins and I continue to stash away my necessary treasures for survival, I am continually aware of the Love of my friends, my family and my God.

Making the Connection, “Immie and Mixie”.

So many heartfelt gifts of love this year.  My heart melts as I reflect on the generosity and kindness toward our families and how Embrace Compassiona is blessed to be the conduit to help make some of the deliveries.   So many of you make it possible to make dreams come true and to literally change lives!

I can hardly wait to watch this dream unfold for one of our families…  a dream that began with two hearts in Oregon.

We were let in on a secret inner office email from one of our Champion Sponsors, Immix Law Group… I hope you are blessed by peaking into this story and then in February will have to watch to see how the story in country is revealed.

A secret inner office email from Robert to his fellow attorneys…

Your gift this year comes with a story.
I struggled to decide what to get everyone.  How much should I spend?  Should I get everyone the same thing because that seems most fair?

From Jerry and Heather, I learned about Embrace Compassion and the work they are doing for families in Africa.  Donating a gift for a family, on behalf of my Immix family, seemed like a good idea.  I looked at the Embrace Compassion Wish List and didn’t see anything that fit the bill.  I was hoping for chickens or something, so that each of you could give a chicken, or a goat.  But those were not on the Wish List this year.

Near the bottom of the Wish List was a request that jumped out at me for a couple of reasons, “Two Oxen for Plowing to Help Someone Provide for Their Family.”  That sounded great!  It was a family gift, like I wanted.  But they were pricey, those oxen.  Why couldn’t you just buy one ox, I thought.  I wasn’t quite sure why, but I really wanted those oxen.  Over the next few days, I thought long and hard about the oxen, and it clicked.

A pair of oxen is a team.  They are inseparable.  They work together.  A team of oxen makes life possible for a hard-working entrepreneur and his family.  With a team of oxen, a family can plow a field, sow the seeds, and reap a harvest that will support that family for a lifetime.  Without the oxen, there is no field and there is no harvest.  Yet oxen are humble creatures.  They need no credit.  They work hard with no complaint, as if that is what they are designed to do.

We are like the oxen.  We work best as a team.  We work hard to empower our clients.  If we do our jobs well, their fields will be fertile, and they can sow the seeds that will grow into thriving enterprises.  And we are humble.  We do this work.  We love this work, because this is what we are called to do, at least right now, in this time and in this place.     

This was the perfect gift, I thought, but this expenditure would require spousal consent.  The first response was an unequivocal “no”.  I will save you the details.  Suffice to say that I was disappointed and back to the drawing board for a couple of days.  After much consideration it seems, and quite out of the blue, Sonja looked to me and said, “You can buy the oxen, but only if I get to name them.”  I will play this game, I thought.  “And what would you name them?,” I asked.  With a big smile, she replied, “Immie and Mixie!”  I was impressed by the spirit of the answer and conceded to the condition.

Thus, your gift from Sonja and I this year is a 1/12th interest in the undivided whole of the charitable contribution of Immie and Mixie, the team of oxen, to a family in Africa.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you Robert and Sonja, we are honored to be your messenger.  This story is To Be Continued…