Mission Africa

Here is an update of HOW this trip came to be, before I post updates on how it is going.

From June 2017:

I am currently planning for a mission trip to South Africa! We will be traveling in August and I am so excited for God to use me through this trip.  Serving others, completing repairs to the orphanage, working with HIV affected children, and allowing some sweet brothers and sisters in Christ a time of respite for the hard work they do Every. Single. Day. makes me cry with gratefulness for the opportunity God has placed before me. I can’t imagine what He is going to show me, allow me experience, and teach me.

Here is my original post about South Africa on my blog: https://serveprayloveblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/16/break-my-heart-for-what-breaks-yours/

While my living situation, relationship status, and travel companions may have changed; my heart for God and my desire to meet His call has not changed.

The phrase “break my heart for what breaks yours” is my life-motto at the moment and I desire nothing more than to fulfill His calling in my life, to chase after Him, and to allow Him to use me however he sees fit.

Thank you all for your prayers! Now, I get to share updates about our trip! ♡

Christmas: Come, Come Immanuel

One of my favorite Christmas songs, such an incredible reminder of the gift God gave us.  And the reminder that our Joy, our Rest is in God alone.

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Four years ago, Ann Voskamp spoke words deep into my soul.  And, this continues as she reminds us, “chronic soul amnesia” people of exactly what this COMING really brings.

We are praying for you, and we are eternally grateful for your prayers sweet friends. ❤

Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours…

God called. And, man, did He call.

This phrase, “Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours,” started showing up in my life. A Lot. God was moving in my heart. He knew His plans. He orchestrated experiences and moments and He led me to be broken- for Him.

I sang in worship to Him on Sunday mornings and I cried, hard. My poor husband probably thought I was losing my mind. I read devotionals, and I cried. I watched videos about starving children ,and I cried. I listened to testimonies about aborted babies, and I cried. I read about addicted people, and I cried. People, I cried A LOT. I’m still crying a lot. My heart is breaking for Him and the things that break His heart.

And, then, He called me to move. Pastor Phil started a sermon series that JUST SO HAPPENED to coincide with my call to move and to serve (does anyone else see the humor in that statement?!).

<<Insert shameless plug for our wonderful church Abundant Life. If you do not have a home church, are looking for answers, or just need a safe place to land sometimes, we would love for you to be our guests.>>

So, we prayed. We discussed. We pondered. We crunched numbers.

Then, one day, these sweet little loves from South Africa popped up on the sermon announcements. My heart knew. Adam’s heart… well, that took a little time because the letters H-I-V are scary when you put them all together and combine it with the unknown.  But, after an informational meeting and lots of prayer and some hard-felt obedience to God (and, maybe, some LOVE for his crazy wife) my rugged husband said to me, “If you want South Africa, I’m in.”

My dear love, he had no idea how little I truly wanted South Africa but God, HE wants South Africa. You see, South Africa is scary because there are lots of sad, scary feelings to be had in an orphanage in a country where 7 million people are HIV positive.  My mommy heart is SO broken SO often. But, God called. And, he called, and called, and called. So, I stand in obedience to the One.

In August, July 31st actually, Adam and I will leave with a team from our church to serve at an orphanage with children whose parents were affected by the AIDs pandemic in South Africa. We humbly ask for your prayers as we navigate through this preparation process and for us to continue to be in God’s will in all that we do.

Our hearts are broken for God- for what breaks God’s heart. We pray your hearts will be broken for the same. ❤

“For David…served the purpose of God in his own generation.” Acts 13:36