Rainbows in the Van

Right now, there is a LOT going on here. It's easy to get caught up in everything and let the stress rob me of my joy (even though I'm praying and trying not to let it, of course). One thing I've been trying to do is just focus on each moment and not think about all the worries, questions, tasks, etc. Whenever I focus on the kids around me, I can forget about all the other things at least for the moment. Today in the van was a perfect example...

As we were driving around picking kids up for Club, a few little boys were sitting up front. When the van was facing certain directions, it would catch the sun and act as a prism making "rainbows" appear on the floor of the van. "Un arco iris!" Saul shouted when it appeared, and each time it reappeared, he would gleefully announce it again and giggle to himself. Then, he would try to put his hand there and say how there was a rainbow on his hand now, too. As I laughed along with Saul and the other boys, I loved watching their sheer joy and excitement over such a small, simple thing, and I was filled with joy too in that moment. Thanks Lord for moments like these...

Missionary to Missionary

Last Sunday, a missionary came to our church here in Frensillo to share with us about her work in Africa. Her name is Daena, and she is 24 and from Zacatecas (the state capital, about an hour away from Fresnillo). She has been in Mozambique for the last eight months and is now raising support to go back there for a year (at least) at the end of this month.

Daena's visit really encouraged me in several ways. For one, I just really enjoyed talking with her. You know those people that you instantly "click with" and easily fall into great conversation even when you've just met them? :) She definitely fell in that category, and I was glad that I got to go out to lunch with her and a few other people that afternoon in addition to visiting with her at church.

However, her visit also really encouraged me about being a missionary myself. As I was sitting in church, eagerly listening to Daena share about her ministry in Mozambique, I had flashbacks to times I was sitting at church back in the U.S. and listening to missionaries share. I would always get excited about their stories and testimonies, and I would also pray and wonder if missions might be something God was calling me to at some point in the future. Suddenly, it hit me that I was still getting excited hearing about all that God is doing around the world, but that at the same time, I was in the exact same spot as the person sharing--a missionary myself! While that might seem obvious, the Lord both renewed my passion for being a missionary and reminded me of His faithfulness in my life and how He's led me to this point. It was a sweet realization.

Daena shared one story that especially touched me. She talked about a woman in Africa who had just heard the story of Jesus' death and resurrection for the first time and was very moved by it. She asked, "When did this happen? Last week?" She couldn't believe that this had happened 2000 years ago, and no one had told her until now. Wow, talk about convicting! What an awesome privilege and responsibility we have to share the Good News each day...wherever we are.