Thought I would write a quick tribute to Mom's today because it is my mom's birthday! Although I'm not in the states at the moment, I have thought a lot this past week about how important Mom's everywhere really are! Maybe this is because I had the chance to exercise my ability (?) to be a mom this past weekend with the girls while their parents were out of town. I know that they have an incredibly loving mom and I can't imagine ever trying to fill her shoes!
My Mom has meant a lot to over the past few years moreso maybe because I realized just how big of a responsibility she has had. She truly has been a person who prays for me daily, wonders how I am and wants my best. I know that I can call and complain to her and gripe for an hour straight and she will still see what my best interest is in the situation. She is quick to remind me that things are for a greater purpose and that I'm not always the center of that! She is probably my biggest cheerleader and my number one go to (here on Earth obviously ;) ). I'm on another continent and am so thankful that back at my home and in the place where I grew up that there is a lady, my Mom, who is pursuing Jesus for me, her daughter, and praying for my best and wanting my best in the future, today, and always.
I hope that you have a Mom and a set of people behind you who encourage you today!
Happy Birthday Mom! Love you lots! -Melissa
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Facelift Time
I felt like my life is receiving a sort of facelift so maybe my blog needed one too :) In all seriousness, I feel like the new look and everything has come at just the right time. God is literally doing a brand new thing in my life and I am a nervous wreck and completely thrilled at the same time. So I feel like my blog actually fits me now... maybe the bird on my last template was a sample of me running (or flying-- same difference) from something, rather than the freedom I had hoped it would encourage. I could say that this weekend has been somewhat crazy for me and not making any sense but then I might just add that to the last year of my life. I feel like life has kinda turned upside down in a lot of ways. The last group of kids I had at school was so heartbreaking for me. I turned 26 which means that I am past a quarter of a century and I embarked on my second 6-7 week Africa trip... so praying about that while I'm here. What I have also realized over the last 6 months is that maybe I'm not as self aware as I had hoped. I'm sure I've talked about this before here before in one way or another. I've had even more realizations over the last week in reading this book called Every Thought Captive. I think the book was probably written for someone a little younger than me but either way, it totally applies to anyone at almost any stage.
At the end of every chapter, there are questions and so I have been journaling my thoughts on some of those questions. Part of taking captive thoughts is getting rid of the lies of Satan and dwelling on the Truth of Jesus so that's what I've been doing. The other day I wrote down this statement and I realized that it was actually profound for me in my recent thought processes. I wrote: "For me to find myself in Christ means to look to him first and long for Him most." Whoa for me there... in the midst of some of my confusion, God restores my ability to see Him more than anyone and anything else. I've spent some time over the last few months trying to figure out who I am and what my purpose is... and just not fully doing that in Jesus, which is exactly where I need to find it most. I see and understand more now than maybe ever before that my identity can never be wrapped up in me but Him first. Me being in Africa makes no difference, Him being in me and my longing and pursuit of Him in Africa makes all the difference. The same applies to my family, relationships, work, kids and everything. I can want to see change and do everything I can to get there but it will make no difference if Jesus is not in me and He doesn't make a change. I have got to realize that. You have got to realize that you alone do not make a difference. Your pursuit of Jesus, and more importantly His pursuit of you grants you an authority that you would not have otherwise.
May you seek to find all your identity in Him alone. May He make the difference in you.
Love you... Melis
At the end of every chapter, there are questions and so I have been journaling my thoughts on some of those questions. Part of taking captive thoughts is getting rid of the lies of Satan and dwelling on the Truth of Jesus so that's what I've been doing. The other day I wrote down this statement and I realized that it was actually profound for me in my recent thought processes. I wrote: "For me to find myself in Christ means to look to him first and long for Him most." Whoa for me there... in the midst of some of my confusion, God restores my ability to see Him more than anyone and anything else. I've spent some time over the last few months trying to figure out who I am and what my purpose is... and just not fully doing that in Jesus, which is exactly where I need to find it most. I see and understand more now than maybe ever before that my identity can never be wrapped up in me but Him first. Me being in Africa makes no difference, Him being in me and my longing and pursuit of Him in Africa makes all the difference. The same applies to my family, relationships, work, kids and everything. I can want to see change and do everything I can to get there but it will make no difference if Jesus is not in me and He doesn't make a change. I have got to realize that. You have got to realize that you alone do not make a difference. Your pursuit of Jesus, and more importantly His pursuit of you grants you an authority that you would not have otherwise.
May you seek to find all your identity in Him alone. May He make the difference in you.
Love you... Melis
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Giving and Living Generously.
Living in Africa is always interesting and you know what else is interesting? Teaching 2 girls who grew up primarily in Zambia and placing them in the city with a big back yard and moreso a big imagination. I'm sure that I am completely crazy, but felt that my family may think that I'm even crazier because after reading a few chapters of a book, Little Britches, which is about a farming ranch in the early west, the girls decided they should tie one another up with a rope. Yep, that's what happening here. I have had some very funny moments with them and I'm learning a lot about myself, as well as them which is good.
Today, I was personally challenged and didn't even mention it to them but I will share it with you. If you read my last blog post, you know that Coen and Suria are so incredibly generous and giving. After having the other American girl stay here, they told story upon story of times they had opened up their homes to people and also about people who would look for their house because they knew that they would find refuge nowhere else. This morning, the girls and I were in the middle of a break from school when one of them had ran outside. She ran back in and told me that there was a man who was asking for food at the gate. Her mom was in a meeting and her dad was on the phone but it became a very urgent issue. She and one of the other sisters ran outside to ask Suria what they should do. By this time, the man was literally digging through their garbage in the front that had not been picked up yet. I watched as Chara and Toto (Rachel) ran out to ask Suria what should be done. It became more urgent as the girls received an answer and ran back to the house and into the kitchen. Chara said, "Mum said give him as much as we can... a lot." They grabbed fruit, bread, canned meat and milk and even a couple of other things and placed them in bags to take out to them.
You may be thinking, what's the big deal? That is a small amount of food and you would be right. It's not very much... to think of how much I sometimes eat in America sickens me at the moment because I am never that hungry, I just eat to eat and that is actually an embarrassing thought for me now. And you would also be right in saying that it's not a big deal that they gave the man food... people do that kind of stuff all the time all over the planet. What really stuck out to me though was the attitude in which it was done... it was urgent, required, and needed. It was also normal. The kids here have been taught that it is what you do as a part of this household. I'm blessed to be able to be here.
So I challenge you to not just think about what you do but more of the attitude in which you do it. That means way more than what you did. It's like the saying that I tell my 8th graders all the time, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." I would say to you if you can't do something with the right heart attitude and motivation, then just don't do it. Harsh maybe yes, but truth is better and good :)
May your attitude and heart reflect that of Christ Jesus and may that change your actions into nothing less than glorifying your Father in Heaven.
I'm praying that I'm living there... Melis
Today, I was personally challenged and didn't even mention it to them but I will share it with you. If you read my last blog post, you know that Coen and Suria are so incredibly generous and giving. After having the other American girl stay here, they told story upon story of times they had opened up their homes to people and also about people who would look for their house because they knew that they would find refuge nowhere else. This morning, the girls and I were in the middle of a break from school when one of them had ran outside. She ran back in and told me that there was a man who was asking for food at the gate. Her mom was in a meeting and her dad was on the phone but it became a very urgent issue. She and one of the other sisters ran outside to ask Suria what they should do. By this time, the man was literally digging through their garbage in the front that had not been picked up yet. I watched as Chara and Toto (Rachel) ran out to ask Suria what should be done. It became more urgent as the girls received an answer and ran back to the house and into the kitchen. Chara said, "Mum said give him as much as we can... a lot." They grabbed fruit, bread, canned meat and milk and even a couple of other things and placed them in bags to take out to them.
You may be thinking, what's the big deal? That is a small amount of food and you would be right. It's not very much... to think of how much I sometimes eat in America sickens me at the moment because I am never that hungry, I just eat to eat and that is actually an embarrassing thought for me now. And you would also be right in saying that it's not a big deal that they gave the man food... people do that kind of stuff all the time all over the planet. What really stuck out to me though was the attitude in which it was done... it was urgent, required, and needed. It was also normal. The kids here have been taught that it is what you do as a part of this household. I'm blessed to be able to be here.
So I challenge you to not just think about what you do but more of the attitude in which you do it. That means way more than what you did. It's like the saying that I tell my 8th graders all the time, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." I would say to you if you can't do something with the right heart attitude and motivation, then just don't do it. Harsh maybe yes, but truth is better and good :)
May your attitude and heart reflect that of Christ Jesus and may that change your actions into nothing less than glorifying your Father in Heaven.
I'm praying that I'm living there... Melis
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Beginnings of an African Adventure
Hope all is well wherever this may find you! It is safe to say that I made it to the continent of Africa in one piece, very exhausted yes, but well. There are so many stories already that I could tell about God's sweet, loving faithfulness to me but I will tell you just a few. It is a crazy thing to be honest enough to say that I have had some really rough patches and moments in life and God sincerely brings me through each and everyone with enough courage to help someone on the other side.
While flying from Vegas to D.C., I found myself begging God to show me evidence even then that He wanted me in Africa. I already had my yes on the table and I was completely willing but still somewhat fearful that I could somehow miss something else that He actually wanted for me. However, He always sees fit to take care of me in every small detail. I prayed and prayed that there would just be mission teams on the plane on the way to Ethiopia from D.C. I didn't even ask for a conversation, I just asked for there to be proof that God is alive and at work all over the world. When I arrived in D.C., I didn't have a boarding pass to get to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and so I went to the desk to ask and as I walked away, I saw an entire group of women wearing shirts with the continent of Africa (anyone who has ever been on a church trip knows that at some point, there will always be matching outfits or t-shirts and so this was a clear sign ;) ). I walked over and just asked where they were from and what they were doing-- missions, yep, thank you Jesus for your evidence. I almost started crying when I saw them and realized how good God is to me in every single thing I ask. After I got myself settled there, I was charging my phone when another lady, Vicki, who was part of another team going to Uganda came over. She was a sweet mom, with a 16 year old daughter also going on the trip. We talked about different places we had traveled, differences between places and how God really is at work all over the world. I met her daughter, Lizzie, after that for just a moment and then they sat with their team. Later on, Lizzie came back over and we talked about her going to college after she finishes her last year of high school and what missions could look like for her. I was thrilled to share my heart for Africa and people to love Jesus with Lizzie and was so compelled by her passion to see change in the world.
Anyways, I know I am sharing so much detail but feel that I must especially because I am able to easily communicate now.... I board the plane to Ethiopia and we leave DC about 45 minutes to an hour late. There was very little time between when I landed in Addis and when I left for Johannesburg but I felt sure I would make the flight. The closer that we got to Ethiopia, the more I realized that I was probably going to miss my flight and I was already thinking of a million worst case scenarios about what could happen because of it. Little did I know that by the time I had left the plane, a worker from Ethiopian Airlines was waiting for me because they had already booked me onto Johannesburg (going through Nairobi, Kenya mind you--the homeland because this is my name and all-- haha). However, there was another girl, Leah, who was going to miss her flight to Jo'burg which would also set her back from getting to Botswana to see her brother and sister-in-law. I am standing there witnessing this sweet American girl be told that she can stay in Addis overnight and they will cover her hotel expenses and everything and tears from her eyes... I flashed back to 2 years ago that this same thing happened to me in the UAE and I was stuck there for 24 hours waiting for a flight out (another story for another time if you do not already know this). God spoke so clearly and said tell her to go to Jo'burg with you and she can stay there for the night and fly out of Jo'burg tomorrow to be with her brother. I said those words out loud and it was a clear calm. This was a much better solution than going into a city unprepared alone. I called Suria to confirm that she did not mind and she, of course, was fine with it. They picked us up from the airport that night and Coen was able to take Leah to the airport on Friday for her to go on to Gaborone. In that time, we were all able to share just through the overflow of our lives what God has been doing and what has caused us to walk away, as well as walk toward Jesus. It was interesting to spend time with her in the airport, on the plane, and back at Coen and Suria's house for her to just sit back and relax and us to just chat. I think it was beneficial for all of us. Who knew that I would have to take a 35 hour trip to get to Africa for that?? Yet, so worth it... and some good moments at the beginning of my trip.
I will try to make this as short and sweet as possible but I do want to share just another moment I had with Jesus on the way over. A lot of you reading this know that I have an incredible passion for genocide and the causes of it, as well as the effects (I continue to wonder how this will play out for me) and so flying over the Sudan is like a hidden treasure for me. We had approached Europe and the Mediterranean at night and began toward the continent of Africa as the sun was rising. I don't know if you have ever seen the deserts of Egypt and Sudan as the sun is rising but it is truly incredible.... so much so that I'm sure that my mouth was wide open the entire time as I stared across the vastness of it all. As I watched the colors change, I was reminded of a clip of Beth Moore that I have recently been listening to. She describes the sun setting over her subdivision on the way home from a conference and how much love she had for Jesus in those moments. In her message, she shares that she just begs of God, "Why do you love me so much? Why?" In her moments of realization, she understood that God is and was love, that He is the creator of love but that more than anything, He is the epitome and description of all that love could every imply. As she watched the sunset over her subdivision, she felt that God was just teaching her to just love Him too... He already loved her, she needed to love Him too. In the moments I watched the sun rise over the desert of Africa, there was so much love that God poured into me and all I felt my response could be was, "I love you too." What a faithful Jesus I serve.
I am praying that your heart may be overwhelmed with God's love for you in every small and slight detail, and in every big picture. May you see Him, hear His voice, and follow Him every step of the way. Thank you so much for your prayers for me. I am looking forward to sharing Africa with you soon. Love you all.
-Melis
While flying from Vegas to D.C., I found myself begging God to show me evidence even then that He wanted me in Africa. I already had my yes on the table and I was completely willing but still somewhat fearful that I could somehow miss something else that He actually wanted for me. However, He always sees fit to take care of me in every small detail. I prayed and prayed that there would just be mission teams on the plane on the way to Ethiopia from D.C. I didn't even ask for a conversation, I just asked for there to be proof that God is alive and at work all over the world. When I arrived in D.C., I didn't have a boarding pass to get to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and so I went to the desk to ask and as I walked away, I saw an entire group of women wearing shirts with the continent of Africa (anyone who has ever been on a church trip knows that at some point, there will always be matching outfits or t-shirts and so this was a clear sign ;) ). I walked over and just asked where they were from and what they were doing-- missions, yep, thank you Jesus for your evidence. I almost started crying when I saw them and realized how good God is to me in every single thing I ask. After I got myself settled there, I was charging my phone when another lady, Vicki, who was part of another team going to Uganda came over. She was a sweet mom, with a 16 year old daughter also going on the trip. We talked about different places we had traveled, differences between places and how God really is at work all over the world. I met her daughter, Lizzie, after that for just a moment and then they sat with their team. Later on, Lizzie came back over and we talked about her going to college after she finishes her last year of high school and what missions could look like for her. I was thrilled to share my heart for Africa and people to love Jesus with Lizzie and was so compelled by her passion to see change in the world.
Anyways, I know I am sharing so much detail but feel that I must especially because I am able to easily communicate now.... I board the plane to Ethiopia and we leave DC about 45 minutes to an hour late. There was very little time between when I landed in Addis and when I left for Johannesburg but I felt sure I would make the flight. The closer that we got to Ethiopia, the more I realized that I was probably going to miss my flight and I was already thinking of a million worst case scenarios about what could happen because of it. Little did I know that by the time I had left the plane, a worker from Ethiopian Airlines was waiting for me because they had already booked me onto Johannesburg (going through Nairobi, Kenya mind you--the homeland because this is my name and all-- haha). However, there was another girl, Leah, who was going to miss her flight to Jo'burg which would also set her back from getting to Botswana to see her brother and sister-in-law. I am standing there witnessing this sweet American girl be told that she can stay in Addis overnight and they will cover her hotel expenses and everything and tears from her eyes... I flashed back to 2 years ago that this same thing happened to me in the UAE and I was stuck there for 24 hours waiting for a flight out (another story for another time if you do not already know this). God spoke so clearly and said tell her to go to Jo'burg with you and she can stay there for the night and fly out of Jo'burg tomorrow to be with her brother. I said those words out loud and it was a clear calm. This was a much better solution than going into a city unprepared alone. I called Suria to confirm that she did not mind and she, of course, was fine with it. They picked us up from the airport that night and Coen was able to take Leah to the airport on Friday for her to go on to Gaborone. In that time, we were all able to share just through the overflow of our lives what God has been doing and what has caused us to walk away, as well as walk toward Jesus. It was interesting to spend time with her in the airport, on the plane, and back at Coen and Suria's house for her to just sit back and relax and us to just chat. I think it was beneficial for all of us. Who knew that I would have to take a 35 hour trip to get to Africa for that?? Yet, so worth it... and some good moments at the beginning of my trip.
I will try to make this as short and sweet as possible but I do want to share just another moment I had with Jesus on the way over. A lot of you reading this know that I have an incredible passion for genocide and the causes of it, as well as the effects (I continue to wonder how this will play out for me) and so flying over the Sudan is like a hidden treasure for me. We had approached Europe and the Mediterranean at night and began toward the continent of Africa as the sun was rising. I don't know if you have ever seen the deserts of Egypt and Sudan as the sun is rising but it is truly incredible.... so much so that I'm sure that my mouth was wide open the entire time as I stared across the vastness of it all. As I watched the colors change, I was reminded of a clip of Beth Moore that I have recently been listening to. She describes the sun setting over her subdivision on the way home from a conference and how much love she had for Jesus in those moments. In her message, she shares that she just begs of God, "Why do you love me so much? Why?" In her moments of realization, she understood that God is and was love, that He is the creator of love but that more than anything, He is the epitome and description of all that love could every imply. As she watched the sunset over her subdivision, she felt that God was just teaching her to just love Him too... He already loved her, she needed to love Him too. In the moments I watched the sun rise over the desert of Africa, there was so much love that God poured into me and all I felt my response could be was, "I love you too." What a faithful Jesus I serve.
I am praying that your heart may be overwhelmed with God's love for you in every small and slight detail, and in every big picture. May you see Him, hear His voice, and follow Him every step of the way. Thank you so much for your prayers for me. I am looking forward to sharing Africa with you soon. Love you all.
-Melis
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