Now My DC Experience is Complete

Rush hour traffic got the better of me this week. I got in a slight scrape with a big truck. Ah, well, I suppose now my DC experience is complete. Thankfully, no one was hurt. And if I had to get in an accident, this was absolutely the best guy with whom it could happen. (Well, on second thought, it wouldn't have hurt if he was younger, single and cute, but...) At any rate, he was quite gracious (uncharacteristic for this area). The cop, too, was incredibly nice. It ended up being an unreported incident as far as the Fairfax County Police Department is concerned. So, I'm counting my blessings and double checking my blindspots -- especially now that I'm out a passenger side mirror!

Confessions of an Africa Addict Part 2*

* subject to change
click here for Part 1 (Disclaimer: it's a bit raw...)

A godly woman from my home church recently emailed and asked, "Anything particular we can be praying with you for now?" Her email made me realize how grateful I am for the wisdom and care of older, mature Christians. I really think one of the key components in developing a living, thriving faith in generations to come is mentor relationships. I am so grateful for people like the Masons; their presence in the church as well as in my life is invaluable.

Following is an excerpt from my email response.



Since coming to DC, my desire to work in Africa is only stronger (not in any way a negative reflection on my time here). I'm pursuing opportunities to, in the near future, spend 1 year + in Africa. I'm specifically feeling drawn to Central Africa (Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya) -- probably, in part, because I am most knowledgeable about the circumstances in these areas. If I had to label the target population I desire to work with, the biblical phrase that comes to mind is "the fatherless and the widow" -- this is where my heart lies. Currently I'm looking into opportunities to work with several different organizations, but I'm wide open to other options.

These past few months have been (and continue to be) a time of honing my focus, reevaluating, questioning (i.e. Do I really have what it takes to live/work in Africa for an extended period of time? Can I truly be of any help, or am simply seeking to satisfy personal desires?), and seeking the Lord.

A contact who recently returned from working Uganda and pursuing a dream to start her own NGO there wrote, "The funny thing about a dream is that it requires it be surrendered over and over again to something greater than ourselves because otherwise we will get in the way of it." I think there's a lot of wisdom in what she's saying. I want the dreams of my heart to be in line with God's heart and will for me and for Africa.

So...that's the latest greatest on my end. Nothing conclusive, really; still in process. (I suppose that will be the case until the day I die!)

EAD Conference Update

The Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference went well. Thank you to all who prayed, inquired and/or were mindful of this event. The ecumenical experience is somewhat new for me. It was interesting...

My primary involvement in this conference was in developing the prayer room. I also had the privilege of helping facilitate Andrew Briggs’ involvement with our (Africa Track) Child Soldiers workshop. Andrew just returned from Uganda where he was using art as a form of therapy with former child soldiers. He spoke on a panel re: the issue of children in combat and exhibited the artwork of the children he worked with in Uganda, bringing a poignant perspective to the discussion.

I've uploaded pictures from the conference to Flickr for all who are interested. Check them out by clicking on the flickr badge in the left side bar of my blog.

Remind Me

On his live recording, "Remind Me", P.W. Gopal says something to the effect of, “I really believe that God puts people in our lives to remind us that he has never forgotten us...” In my life, I have found that to be true time and time again! Last week began with a visit from my dear friend, Alicia, from MI. We had a wonderful time together. I love how different friends reflect the heart of God in different ways. Lish is a friend who reminds me to slow down, keep it simple, laugh, savor life, and find good in every situation. I’m so grateful for this!

Not a Friend's Friend

I find it hard to believe what I have just read. I've been busy. Emails have been piling up in my inbox. I just opened an email fwd. from a name I didn't recognize with the subject line, "A family from Grace Community Church Needs Major Help." At first glance, it looked like another sad prayer/money request for someone I didn't know - a friend's friend. Then I start reading the details: 7 kids in the family, another one on the way...husband/father just suffered a major aneurism that took his life... He was only 37... His name was Bill. At this point, I started to connect the dots, while thinking/hoping I was wrong. No. It couldn't be Bill Hermonat...could it? No. I scrolled down through my inbox and opened a couple of other telling emails. My fear was confirmed: Bill Hermonat, who used to attend my church, whose kids I babysat, died of an unexpected brain aneurism on Thursday. Period. End of sentence. Bill died. BILL HERMONAT died.

Oh, Jesus. My heart is heavy for the Hermonat family. Bill had no life insurance and the family has no health insurance, so in the wake of this horrific, unexpected tragedy, Kim (wife/mom) is also faced with overwhelming financial burdens. The kids must be devestated... Kim must be in shock... God, be near.

Some thoughts:

I need to call my family and let them know I love them.

"Each man's life is but a breath" -Psalm 39:5b

“…I used to believe that trusting God’s goodness meant I would not be hurt. But having been hurt quite a bit, I know God’s goodness goes deeper than all pleasure and pain – it embraces them both.” - Gerald May, Simply Sane

Folks reading this post who are interested in providing financial support for the Hermonat family can find more information on how to do so here.

Crowds v. Closets

Thanks to Tara Leo for the use of this precious photo!

This weekend the Africa Faith and Justice Network (organization I'm interning with), in conjunction with a wide number of Christian denominations nationwide, is hosting a conference with the theme, "and How are the Children?" We've been working on this for a while now. I'm thrilled that the powers that be are allowing me to put together a prayer room for the weekend. In DC there is such focus on changing policy, petitioning law makers etc. While I recognize the importance of this advocacy work, my hope is that the prayer room will serve as a reminder of our need to draw from the source of true change -- the power of the Holy Spirit, our great Advocate. I keep reminding myself that even if only five people come, this will be a success, for as George MacDonald asserts, "God's greatest work has never been done in crowds, but in closets."

Conversations

Sara Groves

I don't know how to say this, I don't know how to stand,
I don't know where to put my feet, or where to put my hands.
I've got them in my pockets, my fingers are freezing cold,
they're wrapped around a ticket stub that's four weeks old,
and I don't know how to say this.

I think we've figured out this world is bigger than you and I.
We've exhausted our wealth of knowledge
and have no more answers for mankind.

We've had every conversation in the world
about what is right and what has all gone bad,
but have I mentioned to you that this is all I am,
this is all that I have.

I'm not trying to judge you.
That's not my job.
I am just a seeker too, in search of God.
Somewhere somehow this subject became taboo.
I have no other way to communicate to you.
This is all that I am. This is all that I have.

I would like to share with you what makes me complete.
I don't claim to have found the Truth, but I know it has found me.
The only thing that isn't meaningless to me
is Jesus Christ and and way he set me free.
This is all that I have.
This is all that I am...

I don't know how to say this,
I don't where to start
I just know that I care for you
and I'm speaking from my heart

Confessions of an Africa Addict Part 1*

* subject to change

I've been corresponding with a friend on the whole "missions" thing. I love what he writes here:

...God puts these things in our personalities and then waits for us to get it, or get so unsettled that we seek out that which will settle us... all my excuses are sounding hollow now or false, self-induced. I don't want to merely go to a people group with skin darker then mine (and therefore in "need" of my pity) and preach the gospel... I think Jesus meant us to go to a place and be/do/show/live The Gospel(!) of the cross, but also the empty tomb, equally... Maybe the missionary needs the people group more then they need him/her, or maybe the people group will be cold and closed or even hostile. No matter. The Gospel is more then a sinner's prayer; it's loving others enough that you work for their best even if they never reciprocate your love. So it's justice, care, education, protection, etc. The cross is just the beginning; Jesus was all about life, and newness, and healing, and looking out for people who couldn't look out for themselves because some have resources others NEED, and believing/doing the impossible in spite of ourselves...

"...believing/doing the impossible in spite of ourselves..."

I want to go to Africa. I feel "called" to go to Africa. I want to work with children - children with AIDS, child soldiers, orphans... I want to go; I want to get my hands dirty. And yet, sometimes the thought scares the shit out of me. Who am I to go to Africa? Who am I to think that I can be of any help? I fear I may crumble under the sorrow of the suffering in Africa that calls to me. I don't know if I can deal with the insecurity that will, no doubt, accompany me if I go... What if I come back ruined? What if I come back and no longer believe in a loving God? What if I drown in a sea of despair? What if I'm alone, all alone, too alone... This is not exactly the type of material I can use in a prayer/support letter, but it's the cold hard truth about where I'm at right now.