I'm down to one week before I take off for Haiti. I'm excited! I'm busy working through to do lists that won't be finished before I leave. C'est la vie. ;-)
It is good to be approaching July 1 and know that I have to go to Haiti. I thought, when I began making plans, that it was what I was supposed to be doing, but making decisions regarding plans for later this year kind of grabbed all the attention during that time. As I've shifted my focus to Haiti, it's been good to find that this trip feels very necessary and important for all kinds of reasons, ranging from what I can take to and do in Haiti and then bring back to the States to the way God can use this trip to provide another bit of clarity regarding what decisions and opportunities are down the road.
It's really great to be going for only a month (compared to Africa's four) because now, post-Africa, that feels so easy logistically, which allows me to focus on the work I'll be doing rather than the logistics. I'm excited that there'll be less adjustment, that traveling is less new to me know, so I can dig into the stories more quickly and better. I'll also be heading off to Haiti much less tired and somewhat less stressed than the shape I was in when I struck off for Africa. These are good things.
Over this week, please pray that I'll get done what needs to be done and won't stress about what's not crossed off the list and that I'll stay rested and healthy so I can arrive in Haiti in tiptop shape for working. Please also pray that the remaining support money will come in, and that I won't stress about finances in general. God's taught me a lot about trusting Him during the slow months financially, but it's still hard when you encounter a slow month financially. :-)
I likely won't have time to write much more here this week but am looking forward to sharing Haiti's stories and photos with you soon!
Also, if you're in Nashville, you're invited to join us this coming Sunday night at 7:30 at Grace Community Church for a pre-trip prayer time. If you're not in Nashville, you're welcome to join us in prayer from wherever you are.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
two things
Thing One:
You can now click here to go to devozine's Web site to read my "I Dream of Africa" series of articles and blogs. One article and one blog are online now. The remaining six stories will be added over the next few months. Devozine is a teen devotional magazine published by the Upper Room.
Thing Two:
A Facebook group I joined is organizing a prayer vigil of sorts for Zimbabwe as they approach the June 27 presidential run-off election. Reports coming from the country are describing increasingly desperate and terrible acts being committed against people to keep them for voting against the current leadership. Whether you "officially" join the vigil or not, please pray for God to intervene in Zimbabwe. What I heard while I was in Zimbabwe last fall is that the people of Zim really don't want a war. The current administration continues to commit physical atrocities, though. How are people to defend themselves? There are many Christians in Zim. Please support them by praying for their country, praying that they will get good leaders. The message below offers some specific ways for praying.
We are inviting you to join us in the Zimbabwe Global Prayer Network for the Zimbabwe Presidential Runoff Election. The purpose of this network is to mobilize God's children to set aside time to pray and intercede for the nation of Zimbabwe. The prayer network will start on 8 June 2008 until 27 June 2008. To be part of the spiritual movement all you have to do is follow 3 simple steps:
1. Choose any time of the day which you will pray.
2. Specify your 5 minute interval of prayer.
3. Send us your details - Our goal is to have 1 million people praying for Zimbabwe all over the world at any given moment in time. In order for us to keep a record of all those committed to this movement we need to know:
1. Your name
2. The interval of prayer that you have committed yourself to
3. Your location
So please email this information to us at presidentialrunoffelection@gmail.com or presidentialrunoffelection@yahoo.com ors us on +27 78 323 3579.
Please encourage your friends and family to set aside time and pray for restoration to be brought to the nation of Zimbabwe.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Successful, peaceful and conclusive presidential runoff elections (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
2. Economic and social restoration and prosperity of the nation of Zimbabwe (Jeremiah 29:11)
3. Reconciliation of all tribes, races and political parties leading to all Zimbabweans living in harmony (Psalms 133:1-3)
4. A spirit of forgiveness where the lives of the people are rebuilt in a constructive and empathic manner to achieve national unity (Luke 4:18)
5. restoration of human dignity and respect for human life (Genesis 1:26)
6. The ability for every individual to have the choice and access means and resources to achieve their God given purpose. (Philippians 4:13)
7. A peaceful transition after the elections (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
You can now click here to go to devozine's Web site to read my "I Dream of Africa" series of articles and blogs. One article and one blog are online now. The remaining six stories will be added over the next few months. Devozine is a teen devotional magazine published by the Upper Room.
Thing Two:
A Facebook group I joined is organizing a prayer vigil of sorts for Zimbabwe as they approach the June 27 presidential run-off election. Reports coming from the country are describing increasingly desperate and terrible acts being committed against people to keep them for voting against the current leadership. Whether you "officially" join the vigil or not, please pray for God to intervene in Zimbabwe. What I heard while I was in Zimbabwe last fall is that the people of Zim really don't want a war. The current administration continues to commit physical atrocities, though. How are people to defend themselves? There are many Christians in Zim. Please support them by praying for their country, praying that they will get good leaders. The message below offers some specific ways for praying.
We are inviting you to join us in the Zimbabwe Global Prayer Network for the Zimbabwe Presidential Runoff Election. The purpose of this network is to mobilize God's children to set aside time to pray and intercede for the nation of Zimbabwe. The prayer network will start on 8 June 2008 until 27 June 2008. To be part of the spiritual movement all you have to do is follow 3 simple steps:
1. Choose any time of the day which you will pray.
2. Specify your 5 minute interval of prayer.
3. Send us your details - Our goal is to have 1 million people praying for Zimbabwe all over the world at any given moment in time. In order for us to keep a record of all those committed to this movement we need to know:
1. Your name
2. The interval of prayer that you have committed yourself to
3. Your location
So please email this information to us at presidentialrunoffelection@gmail.com or presidentialrunoffelection@yahoo.com ors us on +27 78 323 3579.
Please encourage your friends and family to set aside time and pray for restoration to be brought to the nation of Zimbabwe.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Successful, peaceful and conclusive presidential runoff elections (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
2. Economic and social restoration and prosperity of the nation of Zimbabwe (Jeremiah 29:11)
3. Reconciliation of all tribes, races and political parties leading to all Zimbabweans living in harmony (Psalms 133:1-3)
4. A spirit of forgiveness where the lives of the people are rebuilt in a constructive and empathic manner to achieve national unity (Luke 4:18)
5. restoration of human dignity and respect for human life (Genesis 1:26)
6. The ability for every individual to have the choice and access means and resources to achieve their God given purpose. (Philippians 4:13)
7. A peaceful transition after the elections (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
another article for your viewing pleasure
I finally have another bit of evidence for you that I really did write "official" articles from my Africa months. :-) I think if you click here you'll be taken to a soon-to-release-in-print article I wrote for devozine. This article is the first in a series of four Africa-related articles and four blogs I've written for them.
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