Ay go ga ni ba gumo--Yesu ma konda cimundi. (you can see some of my friends in this video, as well as the countryside and faces of the people)

Millet Curtain

No one said he had AIDS.
He lay on the dirt
like a small child without a pillow.

We didn’t know how much he
could understand our greeting
from beneath his groaning nothing-blanket;
we did it for his mother’s grateful eyes.

Maybe he could hear us
from behind the millet curtain,
greeting the elderly lady who
fed him and maybe who
dressed him, sometimes.

Today he has remembered to put on underwear.
But even the long loose shirt cannot hide
every rib we count, his face
sunken to reveal the cheek bones,
jaw bones, white teeth, red eyes,
skin thin-stretched over bones and shrinking organs.

The woman says he is sick.

Heather With the Weather

"I" in DISC

OK guys....here's what the DISC assessment says I'm like. Who agrees/disagrees?

Aesthetic (good eye for nature and art)
Bubbly
Carefree, Changeable, Charismatic, Charming, Childlike, Compassionate, Compromising, Contagious, Conversationalist, Curious
Disorganized
Easily distracted, Easygoing, Emotional, Emotionally unstable, Enjoys life, Enthusiastic, Exaggerates, Expressive, Extroverted,
Friendly
Impractical, Impressionable, Impulsive, Influencing, Insecure (masked by apparent self-confidence), Insensitive, Inspiring,
Lively, Loves being in the limelight
Natural grace that is magnetic
Optimistic, Outgoing
People-centered, Persuasive, Popular, Positive
Responsive, Restless
Self-indulgent, Spontaneous, Superficial
Talkative, Tender, Too now focused
Undependable in meeting schedules/deadlines, Undisciplined
Warm, Weak-willed

you thought...

Aha! You all thought I died. You thought that I would never write on this blog again. You thought that I had gone 100% technology free. You thought my fingers were in a finger accident and unable to type. Or that I'd gone back to school and have no time.

You were wrong, except for the school part. My fingers are well, but that I'm getting a callous from using a pencil so much. And my guitar callouses are fading away. So sad.

I am back in school, and it is where I am to be for awhile yet.

Tonight I watched the sunset from my window, over the Rocky Mountains. I know I often complain about the mountains obscuring the sunsets and making them wimpy. But not today. This was one of the most vibrant sunsets since I watched the huge red sun set over the Molli rice fields. It wasn't a plains sunset, but the orange sun made a cloudless sky pink and tangerine, my view only obstructed by a small pine that almost blocked out the city and gave me the sun. I was silent from the time it touched the mountaintop to the moment it was behind and invisible. I thought of you, Brandy. I though of you.

I hope you are all doing amazing and please, email me or write to me. I will give you my address if you ask for it! Much love, MillieJo/Malika
yeshuasisters20@gmail.com

I'm going away for a week or two

Hey everyone. I'm going away for a couple of weeks. I'll be in the mountains, enjoying God and ministering to Jr. High and High School kids at Camp Salvation.

I hope your summers are all going fine. I may share about camp when I get home if I feel like it. If you call me this weekend, I'll be able to talk on Saturday!

MillieJo

A Teaser for Jenna

hanging with the monkey's

I bet you guys are all wondering where I am. Well, I'm still alive, and here. I've been working alot, and also writing alot of letters. More and more I dislike technology and spend only a few moments on the internet.

So basically, I'm just hanging out. Nothing exciting, nothing amazing. But all good.

Because my Savior is still my friend and the sunsets have been amazing.
So has the sunshine, and the green outside. I'm thinking, maybe I'll start swimming for exercise. Because I'm always so hot and tired after mowing all day. Maybe some cool water would feel good. Maybe I will go for a walk now. Or maybe I'll read Esther. It's the greatest.

Oh, and Camp Salvation is coming up in a couple of weeks. I LOVE camp! It's like the highlight of my summer!

You guys should write to me. yeshuasisters20@gmail.com I want to hear from you!

Random Saturday

Ready for some random facts? Yess??!!! OK!

• I got a job. YEAH. And praise the Lord, He has granted me favor with my boss, as well as given me a job I just plain enjoy. I'm mowing all day long in the sunshine. My freckles came back.
• My family went to a movie together last night. My WHOLE family! At least, all of us that live here at home. It was AwEsOmE. The movie was UP and it was a great one. You should go see it. It will make you cry. Well, if you cry as easily as I do it will.
• I love sleeping in on Saturdays.
• It is cloudy and a little rainy here today. I love that too.
• I have a pair of Justin cowboy boots and a periwinkle Troxel helmet. Now if only I had a horse...
• I love receiving and sending handwritten letters. my email is yeshuasisters20@gmail.com and if you email me I'll send you my address so we can write to each other!
• My red roses are blooming.
• I love peaches.

Entrusted With

Hey there beautiful readers! I have a blog to share with you. I added it to my blog list, but this one is so encouraging that I think it deserves a post of it's own. It's called "Entrusted With" and it's this lady sharing her thoughts on real life gospel sharing! It's so encouraging to me because she means it, and she is a normal every day person in our own culture who has the courage to speak about Jesus--not a missionary far away. (although they encourage me too)!

Check out

http://entrustedwith.wordpress.com/

And read about what it looks like for Jenny to go and make Jesus-disciples. I'm praying that her faith will strengthen yours, and more of us will be sharing the truth that saved us with our neighbors who are dying!

My first rosebud is opening!

How I love a do-nothing Saturday. I've been so cynical lately, annoyed with my self and with others, annoyed with the world and humanity, annoyed with failure, annoyed that I am not God. But there is something about a do-nothing Saturday that is healing, I think. Maybe some of the cynicism will wash away. Maybe Someone can change my attitude.

So this is a good do-nothing day. I did nothing while I weeded the garden, and I did nothing while I checked on my herbs, just to see that they are looking healthy. I did nothing visiting Grandpa, too, and walking to the post office for the mail. Nothing while I hung freshly washed sheets and towels on the line, and nothing as I helped rescue a soaked cat from the swimming pool. I love doing nothing as the warm sun touches my skin, nothing as I caress the first of my red roses opening. Nothing as I ate ice cream, and drank limeade. Nothing at all.

I love a do-nothing Saturday. Maybe I will finish that amazing story I got partway through when I had to quit reading last night because I was so tired. It was about David, when Absolom tried to take the kingdom, and right before I stopped reading, there he was, climbing the Mount of Olives, barefoot and with his head covered, and weeping. Weeping and weeping, the King and the people with him. I should find out what happens to him. Hmm...I think it was in 1 Samuel...

And whoever reads this book outloud...

My Water Bottle

So you know that post awhile back that listed all the things I'd lost and then how I'd found them?

Yes, yes, my blog is lame and boring.

But I found my lost nalgene water bottle.

And I thought you all should know.

Rejoice with me.

1 1/4 inches???!!!

My parents have a special wall in our kitchen. It's covered with names and dates, lines telling how tall we were and are, the story of our growing.

I was surprised today, by that wall. My dad was measuring my 5 year old brother. He grew about 1 1/2 inches since last September. So I asked him to measure me, knowing that I am done growing, and would be exactly as tall as the last mark, which was in January of '07.

I grew 1 1/4 inches! I couldn't believe that I would grow between my 23rd and 25th years. I hadn't grown taller in several years before that.

But maybe it is a symbol. I had a huge spiritual growth spurt during that time period. Maybe my King just wanted to give me a physical reminder that He cares about my growing.

Who knew I'd grow 1 1/4 inches taller while I was growing closer to my King! Thank you Jesus, for caring about all of my life :) I love You!

Hmm...summer's finally on it's way??

Did you know that it is uniquely difficult to find worthwhile subject matter for this blog? Maybe I just don't find much of interest to share from my life these days. Or maybe I'm too busy living it to take the time to share it! For example, in the past two weeks I've lived:

One ninth birthday...complete with special breakfast, dinner, presents, and "cake." (it was brownies).

Two days of gardening...planting potted herbs in my particular spot, tilling and raking the larger vegetable garden, testing the soil, adding compost (mmm!) and beginning to plant the veggies.

One beautifully restful Sunday complete with Pride and Prejudice...the book.

Four days of preparing and enjoying the company of my sisters Cher and Rach, including another Birthday celebration and all that it entails.

Three days on the road searching for a prom dress.

One sister's first prom.

And today? Marissa and Sully have been wearing the goggles they got for her birthday and dunking their heads in a bucket of water (ya, my idea). Then they run to the swings saying "we did it, we did it," in a singsong voice, and repeat. And repeat. And repeat. Hey, they're having fun!

Hope you are also having some summer fun.
I dread the busy life I will have soon.

Ay Corey kang go Molli ra

Ay bay kang boreykulu mana faham wone tirra. Amma, ay ga ba kang ay Afrique borey ga faham, zama ay gonda sanizey a se.

Zarma borey, da ay cele, AY GA BA NI!
Ay go ga ni faaji.
Ay ga Irikoy sabu ni se.

Fati Myma, Irikoy ma konda cimi ni se. Cimi, da cimibeeri, da baafuna. Irikoy ma konda arrawaso hanno kang bay Yesu ni se, da Irikoy ma ni konda nwari, da bani, da coro hanno, da coro kang bay Yesu. Fati Myma, ay go ga adduwa ni se, kang ni ma du gabi, ni ma ci borey boobo Yesu bong, ni ma du farha Yesu ra. Ay ga ba ni gumo!

Fati Bubacar Beeri, ay go ga ni faaji. Ay faaji ni suru, da ni care-bandayang da ay. Ay go ga adduwa ni se, kang ni ma faham Yesu baafuna ni se, kang ni ma du cimibeeri, kang ni ma du Yesu, da ni ma te Yesu sani. Ay go ga adduwa ni se, kang Irikoy ma konda ni se bani, da cimi, da Yesu baakasinay.

Bubacar, ay go ga adduwa ni se, mo. Irikoy ma konda ni se biya bani, da cimibeeri, da Irikoy sani, da gabi ga te Yesu saniboobo. Ni ma te Yesu sani, zama ni ma ti Molli Yesu Alfaga. Ay go ga Irikoy ba ga ni no gabi kang ni ma ci Molli boreykulu se Yesu sani, da Yesu cimi. Irikoy go ga ni ba gumo. Ni mana dirgan kang Yesu ga no jineykulu kang ni gonda moradu se. Mo, Irikoy ga ni no haykulu kang ni gonda biya moradu se. Ni ma miila bong Yesu sani zarakulu.

Sadi, Ay go ga ni faaji. Ay ga ba ga te cowyang da ni, da ay ga ba ga ti ni beeri. Waati kang ni maa Irikoy sani, ni ma maa hanno, da boori. Irikoy gonda cimi. Ni ma maa, ni ma te. Zama ay ga ba ni. Ay ga ba ga di ni beene ra! Irikoy ma konda cimibeeri ni se!

Irikoy, Ay Yesu, Ay Baba, fonda goy ni goy Molli ra. Ay go ga Ni sabu gumo zama ni baa ay Molli borey, da Molli boreykulu. Ni ma te borey se hannokulu. Iri ga ni beerundi zarakulu. Iri ga ni sabu, zama ni Iri zunubu teeri. Ni faham sanikulu, da Iri beerundi ni Iri biya ra, carebanda. Ka, ga te iri se. Zama Iri ti ni izey kayna. Yesu mayo ra, Amen.

I'm really still alive...

:) he he:) sheepish grin...

The above sheepish grin is because I've not blogged in FOREVER. I haven't had anything interesting to say. I've had interesting things happen, but no interesting things to say.

I still don't have anything interesting to say, except that Spring is finally here and my heart loves Loves LOVES it!

Hopefully I'll have something interesting in the future. Until then, enjoy the amazing Spring weather!

"For He is our peace..." Eph 2:14

Abide in My Love

Jesus said to her,
"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him,
"Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her,
"Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic,
"Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her,
"Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
~from John 20 ESV

It is raining today. Not a fierce, driving rain, nor yet a steady soft rain. But it is raining a gentle drizzle that is just enough to get you significantly wet if you're in it for more than a few minutes, but not so much as to make it miserable to be out. The clouds make a grey light that lulls one to sleep. Indeed, it is a very sleepy day.

But it is not a very wintry day, and for that I am grateful. I'm so tired of winter. Spring is almost fully here, and I love it.

My Savior is alive.

I was reminded as I was walking in the beautiful weather, how intensely Jesus impacts my life. Actually it is His life that gives me life. I think of so many things I look to for pleasure, and how they always fail to satisfy unless I am walking in Jesus' love. Only then does anything have meaning for me, and then, everything does. "Abide in my love," He said. "If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love."

For example, I was helping mom get the garden ready a couple of days ago (we got nearly all of it tilled). Doing home things often reminds me that I desire my own home and family. But I want nothing without Jesus. I want singleness right now, because I have Jesus' life in my singleness. I would walk in His love in all times of life. Should I marry, it would be hell without Jesus' life in my marriage...in my very heart.

Maybe I am being confusing. What I mean to say is this: Jesus in me is my worth--not the approval of men, the discovery of pleasure, or being in control--, and living in Him is all life. Without Him I can do nothing. And I'm so glad He is alive...is giving me life!

"If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love."
Jesus, may I keep them!

~from John 15

Pampered Recipe

Recipe for a good Pampering

First, clean the tub and fill with warm to hot water.
Second, turn on the tea kettle. When hot, pour the water into a small teapot. Add one chamomile tea bag.
Third, go find your favorite CDs and a player.
Fourth, search for that bath salt or oil given to you last Christmas.
Fifth, find some clean PJs and a towel. Put them in the bathroom.
Sixth, grab your journal.
Seventh, turn on the hot water in the tub because it's cold by now. Add the salt.
Eighth, bring in your tea, music, and journal.
Ninth, light a candle and take the phone off the hook.
Tenth, climb in and reap the rewards of your hard labor (searching, heating, gathering).

Be pampered.

Spring

As anyone who has spoken with me knows, I am ready for spring to come in full. We have had some very nice weather here and there in March, but we have also had snow, and snow is in the forecast for this weekend.

Today it was very much like spring. It warmed my cabin-fever-ish heart.

I dug in the garden! Yep, and helped Rissa and Sully make a volcano with baking soda and vinegar. We walked to the park with Jack, our cockerspaniel, and we felt the warmth of the sun on our shoulders.

I hope that real spring--the almost summer spring-- comes soon. Until then, I will thank God for the spring that comes and goes.

Believe in the LORD your God

"Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

'Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever.'

And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."

2 Chronicles 20: 18-22

Tea Update!

I said I'd share my impressions on the teas, and here I am! This is what I bought, the package description, and my own personal impressions.

China Keemun. The burgundy of teas from the Anhui province in China. Full bodied with a light, toasty taste. I tried this tea first, and to my chagrin, although not to my surprise, I didn't like the "toasty taste." Other than that it had a pleasant, I thought light, flavor. Maybe the toastiness grows on you, I don't know. My friend thought it reminded her of smoked salmon. Yech.

Kopili Assam. Bold but very drinkable, this unique Assam is bursting with rich, round flavor. In a class by itself, this tea is very appealing. I liked this tea. It was...dark. In a way it was almost bitter, but it made me think of a heavy tea that would be awesome with chocolate. I'll definitely be drinking this one! Probably in the morning, as a strong wake up.

Kenilworth Ceylon Estate. From on of the most famous tea gardens in Sri Lanka. Long attractive leaves equisite flavor subtle body. Excellent afternoon tea. I really, really liked this tea. It wasn't as dark as the Assam, had no aftertaste like the Keemun, and was almost sweet, with a kinda flowery flavor. I'll drink this one up too!

Black Needle Yunnan. This classic tea has large, wiry, open twisted buds of gloriously tippy tea. It's delicious and full-bodied, with a classic, clean and brisk Yunnan character. I haven't tried this tea yet.

Black Pearl. Tiny pearls of hand-rolled black tea produce a brew with a pleasing aroma and a delicate sweetness. Start with 5-6 pearls per cup. From the Yunnan province in China. I haven't tried this tea yet either, but I'm guessing it will be similar to the Black Needle Yunnan because they come from the same province. I look forward to finding how I like them!

I hope you've enjoyed this taste test with me! If anyone wants to try one of these in person come on over and we'll have a pot of tea together and chat. Tea is the best kind of social drinking! :)

C.S. Lewis on Tea

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me - C.S. Lewis

Camellia sinensis

You'll never guess what I ordered last night.
That's right, TEA.

Loose tea from Stash. Black tea, Assam, and tea from China.

To find some of the wildest, fanciest possibilities in tea drinking pleasure, visit my link at the right to the Stash Tea Company in Oregon.

I am so excited to discover the new flavors now in route to my house.
Updates on the kinds and impressions to come!

It's All About Perspective!

OK so I'm weird. I know it. But aren't these cool pictures involving perspective? Especially the hand...my middle finger isn't really that big, honest! (ps. who am I being with the big icicle? comment if you know :) We had a great time with that big icicle. It was everything...even a light-saber. It was almost as tall as my brother!

beautiful alone

sometimes, you wonder where
you thought you were
when you looked into
the flames you fanned into being
and in the silence
your failure becomes real

sometimes, you wonder who
you wish you were
you tried to be
who you want to be
and are, or aren't
when you realized you were alone
by that fire

sometimes you forget
what you want
and you release your
desire
or maybe not your desire,
but rather your lust, that
grasping desire that wants for self

sometimes you feel the warmth
when the cold breeze begins
to cut into your skin
you turn to the flame with new eyes

sometimes you turn your back
to the fire and
look up at the stars

you see a shooting star
and the red flame of Betelgeuse
in the shoulder of Orion
like a bleeding wound on that great warrior.

you realize,
not for the first time,
you are small.

and you are beautiful,
alone.

Moon Prayer

Why do I forget

the wind is tossing

forget you are here
the moon glows tonight very clearly: you can see the face in it, and the clouds are orange beside it, cotton candy orange
for some reason
the sunset is like a painting, with living colors behind the silhouettes, colors always changing, so vibrant
I look at my life
depressed, as if you left me
behind.
the silence embraces me with clean passion
as if my plans are what I need
and they don't matter to you
the passion is sinking into me, as stars come, now faintly, now brighter against the deep blue of the sky
but then I
let go
the night wind is getting colder and clouds begin to creep in from the south
I confess my sins
the clouds are making shadows in front of the moon, a beauty so subtle, so wild
And looking around me
I hear the hoot of an owl, the smallest noises piercing the silence, life
I let you love me.

In Honor Of A Lost Charger Found

Yep. Today I'm sharing photos. Unfortunately I don't have photos of some of the things I want to share the most, like the sunrises for instance, or for some of the things that happened between the time the charger was lost and found, but hopefully after next week I will have some sunrise pictures, at least. For now, here are a few so we can celebrate. Praise the Lord I found my camera battery charger!

This is the captivating book that I couldn't put down for a week. Unfortunately it is not the last book in the series, which means I have to WAIT for the rest of the story!

THIS is how I feel after a day of working outside when I've forgotten to take benadrill the night before!

This is the dirt moustash I always get. (and a normal I-didn't-forget-the-benadrill face!)

This is the amazing mp3 player that made the days go so fast and my work go so well....until that fateful day...day before yesterday to be exact....when it DIED.

Anyone interested in attending a funeral?

lost things found

So the reason I am free to write this post is that the wind came up alot and I am not able to work outside. Instead, I'm writing scholarship applications today, and, as you can see, blogging. But I wanted to share a small thing with you. A little thing that means alot to me, because it reminds me how intricate God's dealings with us are!

I lost:
mp3 player last July
my camera battery charger
my capo yesterday
my left leather glove worth 12 bucks
my cap
my brush

(the last three out in a field which is like a black hole---you lose it, it's gone!)

I found:
my camera battery charger (after 3 weeks)
my cap
my brush
and my left leather glove (after 3 days)

Isn't God sweet to show me such mercy?! It seems like I always ask Him to help me find stuff and He does! Not that He's my maid, but I love knowing He's interested in every part of my life, even the fact that I'm frustrated with losing things. Not that I'm annoyed with not having them, but I do get annoyed with my losing them!

He knows where the mp3 player and capo are too. Now I wonder...

Tired

OK everyone, just so you all don't feel left out, here's my update.

I've been working.
And I am tired.

So I am going to go to bed, and share life stuff with you later...after the work is done...

Is work ever done?

My Father is greater than all...kickin' down the cobblestones/looking for fun and...love heals your heart

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all ; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." ~John 10:27-30

"When you think your life is shattered/And there's no way to be fixed again/Love heals your heart//at the time you least expected/You're alive like you have never been/Love heals your heart..." ~ThirdDay

"Slow down, you move too fast/you've got to make the morning last..." ~Simon and Garfunkle, 'Feelin' Groovy'

I'm working out under the beautiful blue sky today. I love it. And in this not-too-warm weather it reminds me how much I love wool! I should spin again, knit again. Soon. Anyway, these are some quotes that sort of describe my life lately....hope you enjoy them. Maybe soon I will be able to write more about the things in my heart. Maybe I will find time(so sparse!), and words. Till then, happy last few days in February!

P.S. I finished reading the book, Brisingr, and it left me frustrated, because the story isn't finished and now no other book satisfies. Any suggestions out there for a riveting story I could read?

My Very Favorite Rhett&Link Song Ever (It's hillarious!) (At least, I'M laughing!!)

Dancing

Let me, let me, dance before You
In the beauty You bestow
I may not be earthly pretty
But before your Face I glow

Let me show my heart with motion
Let my body join my soul
Let my spirit sing emotion
Let my glory in You grow

So I will dance, yes,
I will fly
I will sway and weave and swing and glorify

I will run, beneath Your
Beautiful night sky
I will dance, I will fly.

Jesus, you have all emotion
You have all strength, all might
You are keeper of all beauty
Everything my heart delights

All to your sweet love releasing
All my body, all my life
I am jumping off that mountain
Into the waterfall of Christ

And I will dance,
I will fly
I will swirl and spin and sing and glorify

I will run
Beneath Your beautiful free sky
I will dance; I will fly

Creme De La Creme

Worth Dying For

What is the meaning of loneliness?

What does it mean to be lonely? To feel acutely the need to be known, perhaps. But what is the meaning of loneliness? Is there a bigger meaning than just the feeling?

Maybe it's the fact that we are never alone. Our choices never affect only our own lives, our lives never affect only our own soul. We are a part of one another--of every other life on this earth--whether we choose it or not.

I wonder what Jesus thought about loneliness. How he understood it; how he felt it. He was always in intimate contact with the Father.

Except for those hours on the cross. There he experienced probably the most acute loneliness anyone ever could. To be rejected by men, deserted by His friends, and then: His Father turned away. But He endured for joy.

And the joy that was set before Him was me. You. Us. Every human being that ever lived under this sun, under the toil of life on this earth.

Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross...

So we could know the ultimate solution to our loneliness, a friend Who never leaves and is able to reach inside and understand, even commune with, the most intimate parts of our souls.

That's a love worth acceptance.
An offer that just can't be turned down.
That's a God worth dying for.

Jesus, please give me your courage.

So what do YOU think?

I've heard and read varying opinions on the book "The Shack." I want to know what you all think! Have you read it? If so, did you find it doctrinally unsound, sound, inspirational, outrageous....what was your reaction and what is your opinion?

I haven't read it yet, and would dearly love to hear your thoughts.

Awaiting comments,
MillieJo

Say Something

I guess there are probably people...maybe one person...out there waiting for me to say something.
Here it is: SOMETHING.
Just kidding.
But seriously.

I think I may go back to school, and finish that English degree I dropped like a hot potatoe.
Thursday I'm visiting a Christian College.
I hope I like it.

Ok, this post is LAME.
The next one won't be the SAME.

Are there rocks AHEAD?
If there are, we'll all be DEAD.

...anybody want a PEANUT???

Cardboard Testimonies from West Africa

I know some of these people!!! Kinda long, I know, but worth watching.

Brayma

Brayma. What will become of you? You are so handsome, so much like your father. He is seeking, searching, he is beginning to follow. You are young, sweet, spoiled. You know the Arabic words of the call to prayer by heart. You know what it means to be a Muslim.

Will you see the desire for God in your father? Will you learn truth from him? What will you choose to believe?

Brayma? Are you well? Have you been injured while you work? Do you have malaria? If you get sick, who will take you to the doctor? You are too old to go for free. I hope your father is willing to spend his money on you. Brayma, make sure that you watch out for your little brothers and sisters. Don't ever hit girls, but protect them. And Brayma, remember that Yesu loves you. He always will. You can always go to Him. He has the answers. He knows how it feels to hurt. He's worth trusting, even more than your dad. And I know that you have a faithful man for your father. Don't forget to say thank you to him. Listen to what he says to you.

I don't know if you know it, but I love you. I'm not sure I knew I love you before, in time to tell you. But I do. I'm over here in America, loving you. But someone loves you more: Yesu.

Brayma, Irikoy ma konda cimi ni se. Cimi, da cimibeeri, da bani, da bina kani.
Irikoy ma konda baafuna da fonda hanno ni se. Nda Brayma, ni ma maa Yesu waati kang a ci haykulu ni se. Ni maa. Zama Yesu go ga ni ba gumo, oho, baa soho.

healing plains

I just wanted to share a snapshot of the healing plains I experienced for a couple days a few weeks ago. I know what some of you will be thinking....just don't. What is barren for one is beauty for another, for ME. If only I could have seen this countryside before human beings were here. It must have been a taste of heaven. The silence, the sky....

I'd forgotten...

So...
I
d
a
n
c
e
d
the
t
a
n
g
o
the
o
t
h
e
r
day.

it was only for 2 seconds and without music and I don't even know the tango.

But I remembered something:
I LOVE DANCING!

hm.
I guess that's all I have to say, just now. I mean, there's so much more to say, like, about my visit to see my little sister and all the things I got to do there....like about getting re-acquainted with some of the most important people in my life and about the ideas I have for my future...but for now, all I have to say is this.

I'd forgotten how much I love to dance.
May I dance again soon!

letting go and cement

Probably you all wonder where I've been...lost in real life, not blogging at all. Well, all four of you :) I've been here...but I've been a little wounded at heart and not quite up to blogging. Besides being busy.

I don't know what wounded me, but I know what is healing my heart. God has been treating me with the tenderness of a physician who is also my father. Maybe that's what I like about Jesus so much. He is to me every sort of man I can need. He is my Father and my Brother and my King and even my Husband...all in a spiritual sense of course, but really, aren't we spiritual beings first? Where does all this grasping for physical things, for earthly things come from? Why do I want to cling to something that isn't Jesus?

Pretty much I've stopped grasping for anything. At least, that's what I'd like to think, what I want for my life. In some ways I think I'm learning to let go, in others, I still cling to those things I think will save me, forgetting that Jesus is the One Who was faithful to me when I doubted His essence. But I don't want to live clinging to the things that keep me in bondage: the money, this friendship, this potential friendship, a car, even America and "safety." I want to let go. And just trust that when I fall either Jesus will catch me and hold me in His arms or else I will discover in the end that hitting the cement was really the good thing, as crazy as that sounds. And anyway, isn't that meekness? Not grasping for anything, but accepting God's providence and will, whether it hurts or is not painful, whether it is slow plodding or you see progress, whether you abound or suffer need?

The problem is, when you do fall on the cement, it hurts like the dickens.
Maybe trusting enough to believe in goodness through the pain is what faith really means.
I don't know.
Please don't say I've done amazing things.
Please don't say I'm humble.
Please don't ask me not to cry.

Because I will cry. But I will also accept every single balm and sweet tender mercy He sends my way. I will receive joyfully the sunsets and the wind; these prairie heavens.

May I be permitted to love the Prairies till the day I die.

God's Word...Every Day. Period.

Jesus,

I have ignored your Word.
I know it is my life, because You are my life.
I want to be faithful to remember You, to soak You up in Your Word.
Please forgive me for ignoring it.
I am coming.

Millie

Friends, I have a challenge for all of us. First, listen to Revive our Hearts for Monday, Jan 5th. here. I accept the challenge to spend time with God every day for a month. Will you join me?

I love the little ones

Rukea I miss your smiling, silly face! May many Jesus people share truth with you and love you.