tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23378682759100677152024-03-19T00:34:24.427-04:00Life in Liberiafaith+hope+love in Liberia, West AfricaElenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-65912545964277688202011-08-26T16:46:00.002-04:002011-08-26T16:46:43.779-04:00NEW BLOG!hey all,<div>
<br /></div><div>please have patience with me as i transition everything from this blog over to my NEW one:</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><b>stumblingingrace.tumblr.com</b></div><div style="text-align: center; "><b>
<br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left; ">i'll be sharing photos, stories, thoughts, poems--and everything about my life stateside and in Liberia on the new site from now on. </div><div style="text-align: left; ">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">thank you for your understanding<b>.</b></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-60287120621475569642011-08-25T17:32:00.004-04:002011-08-25T18:10:12.657-04:00remind me.<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">statistics</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> have faces and faces have stories, and [i] just heard his. we were connected in a fractured world. we had to do something. words were not enough. dogma was not enough. the feeling of being close to Jesus was not enough. this was not right." (Tobin Wilson, Areté Again)</span></b></span></div></b><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><img src="webkit-fake-url://E0D177C8-4696-445A-BA93-430161E85FC2/n875315190_5085178_6454.jpg" alt="n875315190_5085178_6454.jpg" /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; ">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"now that i have seen, i am responsible--faith without deeds is dead." </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(Brooke Fraser)</span></b></p></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-3610890382782737422011-08-18T23:12:00.004-04:002011-08-18T23:42:00.283-04:00into the deep endit's Thursday night, and i've been in Seattle for about fifty-one hours now.
<br />
<br />it's been fifty-one hours of unpacking, sleep, reunions, prayer, sunshine, coffee, family dinners. but it's also been more than that. so much more.
<br />
<br />it's been fifty-one hours of excitement and anticipation and joy. i'm eager to start living life here, looking forward to whatever lies ahead.
<br />
<br />it's been fifty-one hours of missing home while being at home, of wondering--for the millionth time--where home even <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">is</span></span> anymore and if i'll ever find my way back there. it's been fifty-one hours of momentary panic attacks, of shaking my head in disbelief: <span style="font-style: italic;">is this really happening? what am i doing? </span>it's been fifty-one hours of having to admit that i'm scared of starting over (again) and a little bit sad that i have to.
<br />
<br />it's been fifty-one hours of questions answered with peace, doubts erased by hope, fears swallowed up by trust, an ache soothed by His presence.
<br />
<br />because in the end, all that matters is He is with me. in these fifty-one hours. in all the changes and my inability at times to effectively deal with them. in the emotional whirlwind swirling within me. in the promise of tomorrow that can only come after yesterday.
<br />
<br />so what have i learned in these last fifty-one hours? well, i've realized that i'm more determined than ever to let nothing stop me from living fully in the moments i've been given. i may hold my breath, i may squeeze my eyes shut--but i'm still gonna jump. i may be crazy. i may be reckless. i may have no idea what i'm doing.
<br />
<br />but i <span style="font-weight: bold;">do </span>know Someone who does.
<br />
<br />so. ready or not. here i go...
<br />
<br />
<br />Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-30856378664200213342011-07-26T12:31:00.004-04:002011-07-26T12:44:09.447-04:00a turn of events<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56biRyLvj6JkEwwySoXnY1jhSc1HGWmJfCbYfUMiXa8JSxLQhocxLsqV2t7n-SFJFfhvHhlEfJy_mCWglJti9Ys-44EMdac2YRkzuB5n08uxdaPp2vHMi_yfS9UUxbiIC-8DwRNkhweI/s1600/transformation-and-change.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56biRyLvj6JkEwwySoXnY1jhSc1HGWmJfCbYfUMiXa8JSxLQhocxLsqV2t7n-SFJFfhvHhlEfJy_mCWglJti9Ys-44EMdac2YRkzuB5n08uxdaPp2vHMi_yfS9UUxbiIC-8DwRNkhweI/s320/transformation-and-change.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633702501904598482" border="0" /></a><br />In my last post, just a few short weeks ago, I filled you all in on the latest news from my crazy-busy life. In it, I mentioned that I was working two jobs and thinking about a possible move to Virginia.<br /><br />Three weeks from now, I will be working one job and living in Seattle.<br /><br />Crazy, right? But that's just how God works sometimes. Not long after I last blogged, I received a phone call, giving me the opportunity to move out to Washington and work in the Orphan Relief and Rescue stateside office before my return to Liberia (which will likely be next year). Honestly, at first, I had no idea what to say. I was shocked and completely caught off-guard. But the more I mulled it over, the more peace I felt. And I started thinking that this actually could be a really great thing. It may not have been what I thought I wanted at the time, but I'm okay with that.<br /><br />The prophet Jeremiah once prayed, "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his [own] steps" (10:23). As I ready for this next chapter, next phase, next adventure and next season, I can only hope to honestly echo his words with acceptance and trust.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-89835477538351184962011-07-01T14:42:00.005-04:002011-07-01T17:58:21.083-04:00an overdue update<div>I realize it's been a while since I last posted, and I do sincerely apologize for that. Life has been so hectic, and time kind of just got away from me. I've been home from Liberia for four months now, and there's a lot going on. Like:<br /><br />i) work, work, and more work! Not too long after I got home, I got a job at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club as the Mentoring and the Arts Program Coordinator. Basically, I run a program for inner-city teens that focuses on one-on-one mentoring and the teaching of various artistic components. I love the job, I love the kids, I love the people I work with. The only downside is that it's a part-time position. So I took a second PT job at a YMCA Early Learning Center, working as a teacher. So now, I work anywhere from 50-55 hours a week, which is great for my bank account--but not so great for my social life and sleep schedule. Prayers for energy, strength, and grace to make it through this chaotic and busy season of life are so appreciated. Thank you!<br /><br />ii) getting in shape! I had forgotten how much I actually enjoy going to the gym. Since I've been home, I was able to get back into my routine. I've lost sixteen pounds so far, and I feel great!<br /><br />iii) road trips! Since I've been home, I've spent a lot of time in my trusty Saturn, visiting places and faces I missed like crazy while I was gone. I spent an amazing day in Philly for the John Mark McMillan concert, and I'm headed out to Pittsburgh next weekend to visit a friend I haven't seen in way too long. And of course, I've made a couple trips down south to visit my new-found love, Virginia. And speaking of Virginia...<br /><br />iv) thinking about a move! Yup, I'm letting the cat out of the bag. I am seriously considering relocating to Virginia (specifically the Newport News area). It's a long story, and I'll gladly tell you all about it sometime. But the short version is that I feel an undeniable pull that just keeps drawing me back there. After much prayer and conversations with God, I strongly feel like a move may be in my future. Prayer for wisdom, guidance, and clear direction is needed and appreciated. I'll keep you posted. Moving right along...<br /><br />v) missing Liberia! Though I am fully confident that I made the right choice by leaving Liberia when I did, there are definite moments (and days...and weeks) that I miss it terribly. Plans for a return are still very much up in the air; I still am not sure when I'll go back, nor for how long. I am learning, however, that I don't need to have things all figured out before their time (no matter how much I would like that). I trust God, and I trust His leading. He'll make the way straight and the path clear when He wants me to go back to Liberia. (In the meantime, though, I can't help but long to hug my kiddos and see their beautiful, smiling faces. Sigh....)<br /><br />vi) a health scare. Yuck. I've been battling an eye infection (actually, two infections...in each eye!) since I've been home, and it hasn't been fun. At one point, a doctor even told me that I was going blind--possibly irreversibly! I thank Jesus that things cleared up after a month or so of antibiotics and some eye drops. As of now, the infection is gone, but I have decided to still wear my glasses most of the time. My eyes are very dry and sensitive, and my contact lenses only irritate them even more. I definitely miss being able to wear contacts but, right now, they're simply not an option for me.<br /><br />vii) getting the creative juices flowing! For whatever reason, I have been extremely inspired since I've been home, and art has become a really big part of my life. I'm still drawing and painting when I can, and I'm writing more than ever. I've long said that it's a goal of mine to publish a book someday, and I'm starting to seriously think about what that might look like. Whether it's in a journal, on a blog, or on a scrap of paper I pulled out of my purse, I'm constantly scribbling down ideas, verses, poems, even songs. (By the way, if you have any ideas or tips about publishing, I'm all ears. Seriously. Please let me know.)<br /><br />So there you have it, folks. (I told you there was a lot going on!) I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who has prayed for me, encouraged me, and loved me through what was truly an extremely tough transition. Your kindness means the world to me; thank you a million times over.<br /><br />Finally, thanks for reading--and don't be shy! Feel free to send me an update of your own if you have the chance. I always want to know how you're doing and where life has you.<br /></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-56525378122194355792011-04-28T08:43:00.003-04:002011-04-28T08:57:25.401-04:00Two monthsOnly two months ago, I was in Liberia, saying goodbye to the kids, to the team, and to my Liberian family. Two months. That's it. Yet somehow, it feels like that was a lifetime ago. It feels like a different time, a different world, a different Elena. I suppose that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just shows how our lives are in this state of constant flux. There's no stopping it. The best you can do is just hang on tight and go along for the ride.<br /><br />These two months at home have been a roller coaster, that's for sure. I've been able to travel a bit. I got to see John Mark McMillan live. I've spent sweet times with sweet friends. I've had Starbucks and Target and Mexican food. I've experienced a spiritual revival of sorts, a time of God bringing spring to my cold and hurting heart.<br />But I've also experienced the loss of my beloved Papa. I've struggled financially to keep my head above water in a country where the cost of living is so much more than I am used to. I've worried. I've doubted that I made the wrong choice by coming home. I've found myself falling into some not-so-healthy places, emotionally and mentally, and have pleaded with God to get me out of them.<br /><br />Not the prettiest picture, I know. But I share that to let you know two things. One: life isn't always easy. And two: but God is good.<br /><br />I'm curious to see where I'll be in another two months. Until then, I want to thank you for all your prayers, for all the love and encouragement you've shown me. It means so much more to me than I could ever say.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-43739651201327130912011-03-24T11:03:00.002-04:002011-03-24T11:13:17.899-04:00greetings from Liberiaa few weeks ago A.B., my Liberian best friend, called me "to say 'ello". our two-minute conversation went something like this:<br /><br />A.B.: "i really missing you!"<br />me: "myself, i'm missing you too!"<br />A.B.: "ehh, Elena. i can miss you plenty! every day, i pray for you small-small."<br />(cue lots of laughing--from both of us)<br />A.B.: "okay, Elena. bye bye."<br /><br />then, just a few days ago, the infamous Momo decided he wanted to say 'ello too!<br /><br />Momo: "Leena! how everything?"<br />me: "everything all right, Momo."<br />Momo: "how your family, your ma?<br />me: "everyone's doing well. what about you? how the Passawe family? how's Liberia?"<br />(short pause)<br />Momo: "ehh, man. we still here. Liberia still here. it not easy but tank God."<br />me: "sorry, yeah? i'm missing you all, and i'm praying for you, all right?"<br />Momo: "yeah, man. alright-o. tell America 'ello! later on."<br /><br />is it any wonder i miss the crazy ridiculousness of Liberian life?!Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-1717762578422906552011-03-15T17:02:00.010-04:002011-03-15T17:30:45.393-04:00Liberia, I missing you-o!Some days (like today), I really, really, REALLY miss Liberia. I want to be with the kids. I want to hug them, listen to them sing, pray with them--all those things brought (bring?) me such incredible joy. So today, I decided to pull out a few of the goodbye letters some of the kids wrote me. And, well, they're just so precious that I had to share!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTJeHydVJFQRGp1Z5LEEjIEDMSpUr1Cn9zBiHxxHd8wBJrlqSoqJYdpzVw8oJjjJlmiYSehyphenhyphenz2wdnGNLrrA2kdx1Bzmb5HlL3TFuo651iIkprxArayMWbZLzffrh-jng-NEwenXJGq7Y/s1600/DSCN2462.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTJeHydVJFQRGp1Z5LEEjIEDMSpUr1Cn9zBiHxxHd8wBJrlqSoqJYdpzVw8oJjjJlmiYSehyphenhyphenz2wdnGNLrrA2kdx1Bzmb5HlL3TFuo651iIkprxArayMWbZLzffrh-jng-NEwenXJGq7Y/s320/DSCN2462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584417730268041426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu___xbZmeGxYKs2d1bKpVqdrKPgXmi5nzeXiPGCwBj6FluZSU-6eIPhTu_2hEAgYPR6ZKD-E4_WcIJJDVNoCRX1wF4aopnS7OzC_xxIY8Vmst7oFzl8gNDel7Z0OYj21K_7cNo1YzTA/s1600/DSCN2360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu___xbZmeGxYKs2d1bKpVqdrKPgXmi5nzeXiPGCwBj6FluZSU-6eIPhTu_2hEAgYPR6ZKD-E4_WcIJJDVNoCRX1wF4aopnS7OzC_xxIY8Vmst7oFzl8gNDel7Z0OYj21K_7cNo1YzTA/s320/DSCN2360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584417166762555426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuxQX28hRIGwETb7zrZx-IrUmXemuCoPB6y7YDo-IuX0rfipOIqjxpu2cX6Xk2sojGcwc99E8FuqF3DK3XmACeKbbs6BW279FlWA_TVWVgaPRXAVdjodpbCwwdPcucSWsAzM2XhtunGs/s1600/DSCN2456.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuxQX28hRIGwETb7zrZx-IrUmXemuCoPB6y7YDo-IuX0rfipOIqjxpu2cX6Xk2sojGcwc99E8FuqF3DK3XmACeKbbs6BW279FlWA_TVWVgaPRXAVdjodpbCwwdPcucSWsAzM2XhtunGs/s320/DSCN2456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584418772800879698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />(thanks to Deb, I even got a video of that song; check it out below!)</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxwlqIgcDaZ9H1z0c-jMFjlZIsvD98eHjeFpBivARz3687D3YM6KCGQme6aAnrM8sKUKi5OLyodabQlmp4k8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-22894513087959727542011-03-01T17:21:00.003-05:002011-03-02T02:14:06.189-05:00so long, Liberia!well, everyone. this is it. my plane leaves tonight. 23 hours and four airports later, i'll be home. my heart is feeling so many emotions right now, my mind racing with thoughts. i'm excited. i'm hopeful. i'm sad. i'm scared. i'm thankful. i've had some of the most beautiful moments with my kids, my team, my Liberian family these past few days, and part of my heart is breaking as i say goodbye. yet i also rejoice as i look at the relationships that have been built, the bonds that have been strengthened, the incredible work i've seen God do in me, around me, and through me.<br /><br />i truly believe a new chapter, a new season has begun for me, and i can't wait to see what God has planned. whether i'm in Liberia, Canada, the States (or anywhere in between), i can say with peace and confidence that He is with me. so today, i say so long to Liberia--until He decides to lead me back.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQoMn9-S2I-wH9l1y_3eAeIkK6xxJUXRRHaAWdquOTktZMzPhcaDOeb0KhSbc44J2OGPSOx6ZaRvU8hF4CqnmYCM9UFjkHLeLuF0lruK9Ql-z5KhHrpJcUaqIJrQtjPkArvFiHCtFdVI/s1600/DSC_1008+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQoMn9-S2I-wH9l1y_3eAeIkK6xxJUXRRHaAWdquOTktZMzPhcaDOeb0KhSbc44J2OGPSOx6ZaRvU8hF4CqnmYCM9UFjkHLeLuF0lruK9Ql-z5KhHrpJcUaqIJrQtjPkArvFiHCtFdVI/s320/DSC_1008+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579377255683123042" border="0" /></a>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-67044352126348729582011-02-28T16:31:00.003-05:002011-02-28T16:45:21.373-05:00i need some serious prayer!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWMB_i-3IPYpJ3PyAthoVX9RQRp_78QNwjv5v8iZLJ35PIz5WZ2AH7BumyoICf3bV0ICctRjNXnfOHjV0OD-qTowWU4-TFoybqAaifPy77QctfeImZ26VdEwJd55HKfS2dcdxO39TNPE/s1600/DSCN2331+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWMB_i-3IPYpJ3PyAthoVX9RQRp_78QNwjv5v8iZLJ35PIz5WZ2AH7BumyoICf3bV0ICctRjNXnfOHjV0OD-qTowWU4-TFoybqAaifPy77QctfeImZ26VdEwJd55HKfS2dcdxO39TNPE/s320/DSCN2331+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578859465931218578" border="0" /></a>Yes, that is a picture of my eyeball. No, that is not how it normally looks. (It's pretty gross, eh?!) Something's going on with my left eye, and I could really use your prayers.<br /><br />All I know is that, on Wednesday night, we were driving home from town, and suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my eye. It was almost like a piece of dust or an eyelash or something had gotten in there. My eyes watered a bit, but I thought nothing of it. When I got home and took out my contacts, I noticed my eye was a little red, but I figured it would be gone in the morning.<br /><br />But it wasn't. Since then, my eye has been constantly fire-engine red, and I don't know what to do for it. It doesn't really bother me, except the strain is giving me a constant headache, and today I started noticing some pain all around the eye. Visine doesn't work, so I've been taking antibiotic drops since Friday. On Sunday morning, it was pretty well back to normal--but then I made the mistake of trying to wear my contacts again (I HATE my glasses). Yeah, that wasn't a good idea. Now I'm back at square one.<br /><br />So, now that you know much more about my eyeball than you probably want to, please pray for it. And me. Traveling on Wednesday will not be fun if this doesn't clear up by then. I really need a miracle.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-28548397418459356612011-02-03T07:23:00.003-05:002011-02-03T07:43:15.564-05:00Leaving LiberiaAs most of you know by now, I will be taking a break from the field and leaving Liberia on March 2. That, my friends, is only 27 days away. And, as I've said many times in the past, time here is flying. It's like I blink, and a day is gone. Then two days. Then a week.<br /><br />As I start looking ahead to my leave, trying to plan and prepare for all that it entails, I find myself on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. So much of me feels torn. There's the Elena that is at home here in Liberia--and then there's the Elena that is so happy to be <span style="font-style: italic;">going</span> home to Pennsylvania. My problem is that I don't quite know how to reconcile the two. In fact, I don't even quite know if that is possible.<br /><br />Now, please hear me when I say that I am very much looking forward to this upcoming season at home. Aside from spending precious moments with my Papa, and being there for my sister (who is expecting), I am also thankful to have been granted a time of rest and refreshment. I believe God has much work He wants to do in my heart, and I feel the best place for me to go through that is at home. I am looking forward to sweet times with friends, family, and my church. And I've been so blessed to be able to stay with my dear friends Bala and Laly again, to be a part of their family once more, and to spend my days with their little ones that I love so dearly. God is <span style="font-weight: bold;">good</span>, my friends. Yes, this time at home is necessary, in some ways--but it is also a gift, and I treasure that.<br /><br />But going home means leaving here--leaving the kids, my team, my Liberian family and friends. I have spent the better part of the last year and a half in Africa, and it's difficult to think about that changing. The kids will be fine; of that I have no doubt. They are healthy and thriving, and they have plenty of "aunties" and "uncles" here to give them the love and care that they need. But <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> will miss them. Terribly. They have been a part of my daily life for so long now. I know their names, faces, stories, moods, needs. We are a part of each other's lives, so it is going to hurt to leave them behind--not because they will not be okay without me (because they will), but because I wonder how okay I will be without them.<br /><br />Same with my team. They've seen me at both my best and my worst, and we've been through a lifetime of experiences together. This past weekend at Robertsport, as we were sitting around the campfire, made me realize just how much of me is invested in them, in ORR, in the work being done in Liberia. Still--I must go for a while.<br /><br />On a more personal note, as March 2 gets closer and closer, I find myself fighting against fears and insecurities that I know are lies but feel very true. Part of me feels like a failure. Part of me feels weak, useless, ashamed, like I'm giving up, like I've wasted all this time and money. I worry about my finances, about being able to survive in the States again, and I worry about disappointing the kids, ORR, my supporters--even God. It is such a heavy burden to carry. And it's a truly sucky (because I can think of no other word that fits so well) feeling.<br /><br />So this morning, as I was having quiet time, I started praying for God to reveal to me His way of looking at this situation. And then I felt Him speaking words of truth, life, and love--cool water upon my parched desert of a heart. He was saying that I needed to stop being so hard on myself. He said I can walk way on March 2 in peace, knowing that I have done the job He has given me--and done it well. I have "trained up a child in the way that he should go." I have "preached Christ crucified." And, most of all, I have "loved deeply--from the heart."<br /><br />This morning, my Abba told me that He was proud of me. And oh, how I needed to hear that. He also gave me this scripture, which I will hold on to in the coming months:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. "Speak tenderly...and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed...." Isaiah 40.1-2</span>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-67244917525982245782011-01-26T17:46:00.006-05:002011-01-27T06:29:33.895-05:00A 'special' day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbvYhLQ7IMziYJqB2WiXl1b5P59IfsoRuaeGPiZb6ZLx4-8WM4gFL7dBFc3fOGqOWil3tBCAHs9DNRCBBsEkvmkzYt_lVuSEjWUIAI8f76n662QHUUUGrvc3dZYndBpfe6YUMx7BtUYc/s1600/DSCN2175.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbvYhLQ7IMziYJqB2WiXl1b5P59IfsoRuaeGPiZb6ZLx4-8WM4gFL7dBFc3fOGqOWil3tBCAHs9DNRCBBsEkvmkzYt_lVuSEjWUIAI8f76n662QHUUUGrvc3dZYndBpfe6YUMx7BtUYc/s320/DSCN2175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566824204568920098" border="0" /></a>Although I love all the kids that I work with here in Liberia, there are six teenage girls that have a very special place in my heart. I meet with them every Wednesday afternoon for our small group. We talk, laugh, pray, read; the activities will vary depending on the day. One thing I always try to communicate, however, is that each one of the girls is special, uniquely created, and deeply loved.<br /><br />Living in an orphanage means that these girls often feel like just another face in the crowd, simply another number in the midst of many. They don't have a lot people in their lives who can affirm or encourage them, to help them see and reach their full potential. As teenage girls, they struggle with self-esteem and image issues. They often put themselves down and call themselves ugly or stupid. I look at them and see some of the most beautiful, talented, amazing young women I've ever met--and it breaks my heart that they don't see it in themselves.<br /><br />In November, I planned a "special" lesson for the girls. We read <span style="font-style: italic;">You are Special</span> by Max Lucado and talked about how all of us are wonderfully created by a God who loves us more than we could ever know. I had also written little notes to each girl, letting them know how much I love them and how much they mean to me. It was a beautiful, memorable afternoon.<br /><br />Yesterday, when I went to the orphanage, I brought a surprise for the girls. I had ordered them each a copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">You are Special</span> and gave it to them as a reminder of how treasured they are (by both God <span style="font-weight: bold;">and </span>me!) As each girl unwrapped her gift, a huge smile lit up her face, and many of them started giggling. After hugs and thank-yous, I asked them, "Do you know why I gave you this book?" All at once, the girls replied, "Because you think we are special!" My heart smiled, as I realized that they finally are starting to believe what I have been telling them for weeks. They have begun to understand just how special they are.<br /><br />For the rest of the afternoon, we had "girl time." We painted our nails, sang songs, did an art project, took photos, and just <span style="font-style: italic;">talked</span>. It was one of the best afternoons I'd had in a long time. As Janet, who was sitting on my left, grabbed my hand and held it, and Teddy, who was on my right, rested her head on my shoulder, I started tearing up. '<span style="font-style: italic;">This</span> is what it's all about,' I thought. I've been meeting with these girls faithfully each week, hoping that love, care, and attention will help make a difference in their lives. And in the process, the relationship we've built has totally changed me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGRSGdO7i6ZVOEig8pA8lH6WwfD1lEYgjls5l1Cl0QzX0hJjTS7Dg8Ha6aEa-4ij_U1LJMYFLSglsg_R2808QAbylIIzpXNX9wW79uuuwknUYHNzjUX0gHmmyeUHnpNqSZ244bGRP6pM/s1600/DSCN2192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGRSGdO7i6ZVOEig8pA8lH6WwfD1lEYgjls5l1Cl0QzX0hJjTS7Dg8Ha6aEa-4ij_U1LJMYFLSglsg_R2808QAbylIIzpXNX9wW79uuuwknUYHNzjUX0gHmmyeUHnpNqSZ244bGRP6pM/s320/DSCN2192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566824216722742450" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikgItxQ7DYVfWeboHuqJfUoYLrT5hV6CdCJagKAcaOilAb7n3QYnFIMcxA1MSL9nR5GIjYsweTKwukhMSPD1-4qzb-9oT8nKAu2xXGpARto3NkOMJPKWZYA8dvZW6po3NztnI3qUKMGw/s1600/DSCN2147.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikgItxQ7DYVfWeboHuqJfUoYLrT5hV6CdCJagKAcaOilAb7n3QYnFIMcxA1MSL9nR5GIjYsweTKwukhMSPD1-4qzb-9oT8nKAu2xXGpARto3NkOMJPKWZYA8dvZW6po3NztnI3qUKMGw/s320/DSCN2147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566824211333841026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu9ih2OmHL3hS34OI6SnSnlhBWJekGltiMUggViJ5pOnKQlTeg6J9uP-lUOsp6mS6s9lew5N7dG03PKWqLa4BomTwMZ-up84PNH0NvrM0ySr3h9nFP6poiaAQPWloncZE6MdbPh0Cgq4/s1600/DSCN2172.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu9ih2OmHL3hS34OI6SnSnlhBWJekGltiMUggViJ5pOnKQlTeg6J9uP-lUOsp6mS6s9lew5N7dG03PKWqLa4BomTwMZ-up84PNH0NvrM0ySr3h9nFP6poiaAQPWloncZE6MdbPh0Cgq4/s320/DSCN2172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566824216774944306" border="0" /></a>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-32013843307226476672011-01-12T14:10:00.004-05:002011-01-12T14:37:25.295-05:00So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. (Job 5.16)For the past few months, God has been showing me more and more of His heart for the plight of the needy. The fatherless. The widow. The poor and oppressed. The abused. The hungry. The sick. The disabled. The insecure and lonely. The ashamed. The broken. Abba grieves over them. And He wants our hearts to grieve for them, too. Over and over again in His Word, I see His love for the needy: Exodus 22:22-23. 1 Samuel 2:8. Psalm 72:12-14. Proverbs 21:13. Isaiah 11:3-5 and 9-10. Ezekiel 34:11-16. Zephaniah 3:19. Luke 18:7. One thing is clear--God cares.<br /><br />Tonight a broken, needy man named David showed up on our doorstep. He used to work for us, but we had to let him go for various reasons I don't need to go into here. Every few weeks, he would call Debbie, begging for her to help him with money so he could eat. I won't lie; it became frustrating after a while. Money is such a quick fix, and we were worried it was only feeding his dependency.<br /><br />But tonight, as David sat crying on the porch, my heart broke inside of me. He wasn't eating. He had been beaten so severely that he couldn't walk straight, and his eyes were blood red. He couldn't see properly, he couldn't find a job, he was utterly alone, and he was sure that he would soon die. I couldn't handle it, couldn't stop the tears from coming. All I kept thinking was, "God made this man, and God loves this man. It doesn't matter what wrongs he has done in the past--he is precious in Jesus' sight. No one deserves this. <span style="font-weight: bold;">No one</span>."<br /><br />So I ask that you would please, please, PLEASE pray for David. The word that keeps coming to mind is "restore." I believe God wants to restore David, to health and to wholeness. This man needs your prayers. He needs hope, and he needs to know that someone out there cares.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-14848127382341031222011-01-10T14:17:00.002-05:002011-01-10T14:42:39.692-05:00BucketThose of you who have followed my blog and receive my newsletters most likely remember <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://http//showsomeloveforliberia.blogspot.com/2010/04/timothy.html">Timothy's story</a>. He had a serious speech problem and, as a result, was often teased by his peers. Since April, I have been meeting with Timothy on a regular basis to help him with his speech and reading, and I am continually amazed by all the progress he has been making.<br /><br />Today, I went to the orphanage to teach Timothy's lesson. Before I got a chance to sit down with him, though, Evelyn (the mother of the home) pulled me aside and said, "Elena, I want to tell you about the good English that your son was speaking today!" She said that Timothy and a few of the other kids had been drawing water, and all of them were talking about the "buck-eh" (FYI: many ending sounds are omitted in Liberian English.) Finally, Timothy spoke up and corrected them: "It's not buck-eh; it's bucket! You have to pronounce the 't'!"<br /><br />It's a funny story, but it also melted my heart because it reminded me of just how far Timothy has come. (It also totally made me feel like a proud parent!) Sometimes, I can get overwhelmed when I focus on the enormity of need here and I start trying to figure out how to help them all. But then I remember stories like Timothy's, and it brings me back to reality. I wasn't called to help them all--but I <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> called to help Timothy.<br /><br />Mother Teresa once said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." I love that. The truth is, I can't help them all. I wish I could, but it's just not possible. But I can help one. And that's a pretty good start, if you ask me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXnzd27edcmIobGN3Z1Q2orTCchMb9m1rM3w0tBFtNskaj6X_5jmFB6-MYZx5pMuECbeNrnRIo_CglhFEPye_KUgr7rbBzeECDdoZ4mB7cq6GEoMuhZYbcHyL_5O9oYF8lFtkhs-6Wjw/s1600/DSCN0689+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXnzd27edcmIobGN3Z1Q2orTCchMb9m1rM3w0tBFtNskaj6X_5jmFB6-MYZx5pMuECbeNrnRIo_CglhFEPye_KUgr7rbBzeECDdoZ4mB7cq6GEoMuhZYbcHyL_5O9oYF8lFtkhs-6Wjw/s320/DSCN0689+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560644805066982642" border="0" /></a>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-18156149438755331592010-12-24T17:02:00.006-05:002010-12-24T17:53:20.849-05:00My (not-so-little-anymore) little guyYesterday, Deb asked me if I would like to go see Beyan and bring Christmas gifts to the kids. My immediate reponse: "Umm, YEAH!" (Everyone knows I can never resist a Beyan-visit!)<br /><br />When we arrived at the orphanage, Sarah was the first kid to come up to us. Right away, Deb and I started oohing and aahing over how much she'd grown. Moses showed up next, followed by a giggly Koiboi. And then I saw Beyan, in his telltale red and black striped jersey, poke his head around the corner and give me a shy little smile. Immediately, I called him over to me and gave him a huge hug (I have to say--there's nothing like a snuggly Beyan-hug! It's one of my favorite things in the world!) He, of course, was his usual frisky, mischievous self; every time I pulled out my camera, he'd start "bluffing", acting all serious and doing his best to hold back his smile:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6Dg_vXxhu-ONCazeyKxol5nZMZdo_b27hvsgk-NkgxQk87flarL6JiNWnQn2vjHjS_UOExwiQyGAQ8Sqh5jgFTlF5cK16jKnEL7x18mZnH4M40NGaPBJfE-QKJ1nY27hnp_YTu1qukA/s1600/DSCN1962+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6Dg_vXxhu-ONCazeyKxol5nZMZdo_b27hvsgk-NkgxQk87flarL6JiNWnQn2vjHjS_UOExwiQyGAQ8Sqh5jgFTlF5cK16jKnEL7x18mZnH4M40NGaPBJfE-QKJ1nY27hnp_YTu1qukA/s320/DSCN1962+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554380095930998658" border="0" /></a>Then I'd make a funny face or pull him close and poke his belly, and he'd dissolve into giggles again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc0sQidb94iSEIG6L-HvfWDasfvzK0eTRIPNXVvSwJ0DjawyZ0oHskWeMHJ1dPDawy8fnoYOXIDu_8X5NW8b1RglvRDWqgzh-tQQ2fzxDjmrhCNHrVDZ5m23lx134HFuKvRD2GfAR4gU/s1600/DSCN1955+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc0sQidb94iSEIG6L-HvfWDasfvzK0eTRIPNXVvSwJ0DjawyZ0oHskWeMHJ1dPDawy8fnoYOXIDu_8X5NW8b1RglvRDWqgzh-tQQ2fzxDjmrhCNHrVDZ5m23lx134HFuKvRD2GfAR4gU/s320/DSCN1955+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554380689653429906" border="0" /></a>Later, as I watched him laughing and playing with his friends, I was struck (yet again) by how much of a change I see in him. When I think of the Beyan I first met in 2008, I remember a pathetic, frail, hungry and neglected little boy. I remember a boy who didn't smile, didn't talk, who just sat in the dirt and stared at me with the saddest eyes I think I've ever seen. Those eyes haunted me; those eyes are one of the reasons I came back to Liberia.<br /><br />Today, the Beyan I saw had no more sadness in his eyes. His belly was full of rice, and there was a light and a joy in him that was never there before. As he handed me three pink flowers he picked off a bush, I felt like my heart was going to explode with happiness. And, when I knelt down and looked into his eyes and asked him, "Beyan, do you know that I love you?", he smiled and nodded yes!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMC2Cegr1QYn4pAg1JE8yRA1lEyqYvCw44sVoO9x27tlFTiJC4Icmm4z4lLo5K0EchGdO0SY3hhQzLM9BJrLWM0wkUqhMgneQ4pb8mWV8DUb4mYtSWPwjf9uQEhi-sxaYTqV0Jboofy8/s1600/DSCN1970+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMC2Cegr1QYn4pAg1JE8yRA1lEyqYvCw44sVoO9x27tlFTiJC4Icmm4z4lLo5K0EchGdO0SY3hhQzLM9BJrLWM0wkUqhMgneQ4pb8mWV8DUb4mYtSWPwjf9uQEhi-sxaYTqV0Jboofy8/s320/DSCN1970+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554384513655653474" border="0" /></a>I know that, as much as I joke about Beyan being my "son", and even though the kids call me his "ma", he is not my own. I know the day will come when I will have to say goodbye, and I know it will tear my heart apart. Until then, I will cherish days like this one, moments of laughter and hugs and love. They're what keep me here.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-26156895320921446772010-12-24T07:50:00.007-05:002010-12-24T11:51:26.254-05:00Merry Christmas, Liberia-style!This has been a long week, and I'm not going to lie; I'm exhausted. But even though it was tiring, it was also a LOT of fun, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.<br /><br />Monday: After days of sorting clothes and shoes, wrapping gift bundles, and writing Christmas notes for the kids, it was finally Christmas delivery time! We spent the afternoon with 31 amazing kids, giving out Christmas gifts and celebrating the season with singing and dancing. One of my favorite moments of the day was watching Aaron hurriedly change into his new outfit to go get his picture taken. He LOVED his new purple t-shirt, khaki shorts, and sneakers, and couldn't wait to show them off!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JBAJhWdJ5OTQVMN8wOypddf80ZAtR0xPrkMAA8z2WMiGQd28o_f67RYKHwwPa3vjnraOHwSzxUS9bnhdtH68MDp1AGAS-tIbo7iaQHof7CQ_gwJMMEpbKX9KNnXad4DQprrjTatJJWU/s1600/DSC_0030+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JBAJhWdJ5OTQVMN8wOypddf80ZAtR0xPrkMAA8z2WMiGQd28o_f67RYKHwwPa3vjnraOHwSzxUS9bnhdtH68MDp1AGAS-tIbo7iaQHof7CQ_gwJMMEpbKX9KNnXad4DQprrjTatJJWU/s320/DSC_0030+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554233263159144562" border="0" /></a>Tuesday: Christmas delivery day two! Again, we loaded the pick-up with boxes of clothes, flip-flops, gifts, books, food, and more. The kids were jumping up and down and cheering as they watched us pull up to the orphanage. I loved watching the girls squeal with delight as they opened their gift bundles to find little purses with jewelry inside, and the boys immediately took their toy cars outside to play with them. They were so thankful and so joyful. Days like that make me realize how blessed I am to be here and be a part of these kids' lives.<br /><br />Wednesday: Final Christmas delivery day--for EIGHTY TWO KIDS! Some of the kids are new to the orphanage, so it was their first time experiencing an Orphan Relief and Rescue Christmas. It was amazing to see their eyes light up when they realized they were getting a new outfit AND new shoes AND a gift bundle AND a copybook AND a storybook! They kept laughing and saying over and over, "It's all for me!" Priceless!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18113831" frameborder="0" height="300" width="400"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/18113831">Christmas in Liberia 2010</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2239703">Orphan Relief and Rescue</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>Thursday: I woke up feeling absolutely drained; I think my body was telling me it was time for a break. I enjoyed a relatively calm Thursday and later wrapped some gifts for a very special Christmas delivery the next day...<br /><br />Friday: Today I went to visit Beyan and three other kids I know living at an orphanage nearby. (It's been about two months since I saw my boy, and I was blown away by how much he's growing!) As I handed out the gifts, I explained that, even though we don't see them all the time, we love them and have not forgotten about them. The kids started grinning as they received their gifts and, even though they seemed anxious to open them, all four opted to save it and wait for Christmas Day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0PDuhwP9A3DIJBPzVpxrPzjGDYjx3i1hSYUeApBUKkH3gtJmLrqxjpe4sFehaSsTRFl0ul4lIAmy2fCLhSSKB_cxRpoMfXm3mo6MYPwv93xfLp_671fBwOo3oJLZE_kYiCxJ6_Th8aw/s1600/DSCN1978+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0PDuhwP9A3DIJBPzVpxrPzjGDYjx3i1hSYUeApBUKkH3gtJmLrqxjpe4sFehaSsTRFl0ul4lIAmy2fCLhSSKB_cxRpoMfXm3mo6MYPwv93xfLp_671fBwOo3oJLZE_kYiCxJ6_Th8aw/s320/DSCN1978+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554287965333773602" border="0" /></a>After that, Deb and I made a quick stop at the supermarket to buy food for the weekend. We were greeted by a Liberian...in a Santa suit...ringing a bell. Yeah. It was awesome.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_D1xFzS94sp6b0Jfwy3CH-6uOIhbe8ofGOrq44pqaD3b7u3TZSJJrdDF86XGyb3vpMo6hqSMzLtts1l6qH7M1J_82yXGpnuXBCQTT6J98NeGqlpX-kvKbIFnFIcxUXQdsfL7FYWlcnQ/s1600/DSCN1982+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_D1xFzS94sp6b0Jfwy3CH-6uOIhbe8ofGOrq44pqaD3b7u3TZSJJrdDF86XGyb3vpMo6hqSMzLtts1l6qH7M1J_82yXGpnuXBCQTT6J98NeGqlpX-kvKbIFnFIcxUXQdsfL7FYWlcnQ/s320/DSCN1982+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554289019773673922" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow, Deb, the Cramers and I are planning to go out for a big breakfast and then spend Christmas at the pool/beach. We'll probably go to Sajj, our favorite local hangout, later in the evening for dinner. After that, I have a week's worth of vacation--which I am more than ready for and definitely in need of. Sun, sand, sleeping in. Lazy mornings. Lots of porch time. Good friends, good food. It's going to be <span style="font-style: italic;">wonderful</span>.<br /><br />Obviously, Christmas in Liberia is different in many ways than Christmas at home. I'm used to white Christmases, candlelight services with my incredible church family, and hot chocolate by a cozy fire--all things I undoubtedly miss at this time of year.<br /><br />What I miss most, though, is <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span>. You, dear family and friends, are missed terribly and thought of and prayed for often. I hope you have a very, very Merry Christmas, and that you are filled with joy as you celebrate our Savior's birth!Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-11706370344732835472010-12-12T07:27:00.003-05:002010-12-12T07:48:34.663-05:00Spread some Christmas cheer!Okay, folks; Christmas is LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY! Eek! This is an exciting time in Liberia, as we are starting to get everything ready to bring Christmas to the awesome kids that we work with.<br /><br />Each child gets new clothes and flip-flops as well as a gift bundle. Oftentimes, this is the only Christmas gift that these children receive--which is why we aim to make it extra special for them! Gift bundles include pencils, a copybook, some candy, a toothbrush, a toy, and an apple. (Apples in Liberia are a sign of love, just like hearts are in the States. So the kids get super-excited when they get their apples because they recognize that these truly are gifts of love!)<br /><br />Now, if you're anything like me, you wait until almost the last minute to get Christmas gifts for your friends and family, and I know that "the last minute" has a way of sneaking up on you. So why don't you check out <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://http//www.orphanreliefandrescue.org/content/christmas">the Christmas page</a> on our website and buy a gift bundle or two while you still can! For just $25, you can give a child in Liberia a gift of his or her very own. You can even send along a Christmas greeting that is sure to put a huge smile on a child's face. Please join us as we bring the joy of Christmas to kids who need it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.orphanreliefandrescue.org/files/imagecache/xsasg-node-preview/files/posts/apple.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://www.orphanreliefandrescue.org/files/imagecache/xsasg-node-preview/files/posts/apple.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-81822606621882067232010-11-21T15:07:00.000-05:002010-11-23T06:18:28.858-05:00two years later.Today is my Liberian two-year anniversary. It was a mere 730 days ago that this crazy, wonderful whirlwind of a journey began.<br /><br />Two years ago, I had just gone through a messy, painful, drawn-out divorce. I was on the verge of losing my job and, consequently, my apartment. I was over my head in debt and bills I couldn't pay, some of my (seemingly) most meaningful relationships had fallen apart, and I was honestly pretty close to falling apart myself. I had absolutely no clue what came next or how I would get there even if I knew what to expect.<br /><br />I arrived in Liberia for the first time on November 21, 2008, shell-shocked and exhausted, still having trouble believing it was actually happening. I had clearly heard God tell me to go to Liberia, and I truly believed that it--whatever it was--was the culmination of a dream He put in me almost two decades ago. I was finally on African soil, and I knew deep down in my core that it was going to change me forever.<br /><br />Liberia both captivated and tore my heart apart. I saw things I didn't want to see, things I didn't know how to process or explain. Poverty became real. It had a face--the face of a beautiful people that deserved so much more. For the first time in a long time, I wept for someone besides myself. Walking away from Liberia almost broke me, yet something inside knew that I'd be coming back.<br /><br />One year ago, I was packing up the remains of a life I once lived, preparing to return to Liberia at last. I'd just gone through a season of intense prayer, of confirmation and later doubt, of waiting, of loss of hope and then hope renewed, of trying to come to terms with the fact that my entire life had become something not my own. Everything was changing...<br />I had finally come to a place where I could laugh again, where I felt a lightness of heart, where my life was filled with good people that I loved and who loved me. And I was saying goodbye to it all. I was going back to Liberia. I remember feeling excited. Happy. Unsure. Scared. Hopeful.<br /><br />During my second stay in Liberia, I laughed, cried, learned, taught, wrote, questioned, prayed. God used that time to grow me in a way I had never thought possible. He used Liberia (and all the experiences that came along with it) to completely turn my world upside down. Each day was more challenging than the last--yet also more rewarding. And when the time came for me to go home, I was once again torn. I knew that I was supposed to come back; I knew I wasn't done in Liberia. Yet I also ached for home, for the way things were. A part of me wanted to just...go back.<br /><br />Even so, today I sit here, back in Liberia once more. Looking back, I am simply awestruck that this is where I am, that this is <span style="font-style: italic;">who</span> I am. I see things with fresh eyes these days; even so, I know I'm only getting a mere glimpse of how all the puzzle pieces from the last two years fit together. Somehow, though, I have peace. I feel stronger...<br /><br />I'm amazed every day as I feel Him working through me. What's even more amazing to me, though, is how I feel Him working <span style="font-weight: bold;">in</span> me. He has promised me newness, beauty from ashes, and I believe this season is the beginning of it. He is taking all my broken pieces and shaping them into something glorious, soon to be revealed. He's rescued my raw and wounded heart and is anointing it with His oil. He's seen my emptiness and whispers to me that soon I will be full. He brought me all the way here, to the "land of liberty" in order that He may set me free.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-19873703940610489952010-11-20T08:08:00.004-05:002010-11-20T08:27:23.395-05:00Please pray for Bill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj8p9roew5nHU2_Vs3XJ4uf1WoQaEEg0pyO5bo1FpDvgslo0U3oV5cC-UD7CCE4wRTdMlkRTWnBFrQPaTFfIBi9kL6F99pHHPLrKKX_xdjBrdzpea6OSKrXX4r7zl1ZrQ7efsUdeFPx8/s1600/DSCN1364.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj8p9roew5nHU2_Vs3XJ4uf1WoQaEEg0pyO5bo1FpDvgslo0U3oV5cC-UD7CCE4wRTdMlkRTWnBFrQPaTFfIBi9kL6F99pHHPLrKKX_xdjBrdzpea6OSKrXX4r7zl1ZrQ7efsUdeFPx8/s320/DSCN1364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541620633278571058" border="0" /></a>This is Bill. He's shy and soft-spoken, and has one of the sweetest smiles I've ever seen. I first got to know Bill last year, as he was in my small group on Monday afternoons. Though he was usually quiet in the big group, he'd often come alive during one-on-one time, asking lots of questions and working hard on whatever project was put in front of him. He likes coloring and drawing, writing and being creative, and has dreams of going to university one day.<br /><br />Last year, Bill started complaining of "bone pain." None of us were really sure what that meant or what to do for it, but we definitely could see that it was real, and that it was greatly affecting him. Hearing him cry out in pain, tears streaming down his face, broke my heart. I can remember going with Ashley to take Bill to the hospital one day; he was sitting on lap, terrified and hurting, crying softly to himself. They released him later that evening, but he still continued to suffer.<br /><br />A few weeks ago, Mary and Piko, two of our Liberian employees, suggested to Deb that it might be sickle cell disease. Apparently, they knew a girl who had suffered with many of the same symptoms, and that had been her diagnosis. Deb then made the arrangements to have Bill taken to the hospital and tested. Sure enough, Bill was diagnosed with sickle cell disease this past Wednesday.<br /><br />I don't know too much about sickle cell, but I do know that Bill has a difficult road ahead of him. Many of the treatments are simply not an option in this country, and the complications of the disease are extremely serious, sometimes even life-threatening.<br /><br />So I'm asking that you would please remember Bill and pray for him regularly. He is such an incredible kid, and I want him to have a full, long, and healthy life.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."</span> I believe these very things for Bill's life. Please stand in faith with me.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-21974836390331699252010-11-19T13:57:00.009-05:002010-11-19T16:42:32.869-05:00Some really special girls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzn2B5OfY7yiHcddeILJrZAR_Czs_YbJNNnm0gbP-1VMVH7jQco-ikw-FLzathy4Z7JAO4jruOI3h6k0F_HhI8-a27BR7IQjIt4uIR2zfziSqO361d3T_96XPUJfS8G6xW4_GeHRNX6o/s1600/DSCN1727+%2528Large%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzn2B5OfY7yiHcddeILJrZAR_Czs_YbJNNnm0gbP-1VMVH7jQco-ikw-FLzathy4Z7JAO4jruOI3h6k0F_HhI8-a27BR7IQjIt4uIR2zfziSqO361d3T_96XPUJfS8G6xW4_GeHRNX6o/s320/DSCN1727+%2528Large%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541340637365481506" border="0" /></a>Everyone knows that being a teenager is difficult. Personally, I think girls have an especially tough time during those years. They worry about their appearance, school, friends, family. They struggle with self-esteem, confidence, and image. They're trying to figure out who they really are in the midst of a world that is quick to tell them who they should be. It doesn't matter whether they live in the States, Canada, or here in Liberia; the struggles are still the same.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.orphanreliefandrescue.org/content/thank-you-making-me-special">This</a> is the story of six precious, beautiful, amazing girls that are very close to my heart. I think one of the reasons their sadness affects me so much is because I see myself in them. I remember being that age and having many of those very same problems. I was lucky, though, to have people in my life that I could talk to about my issues, people to love me and encourage me and inspire me. These girls don't have many people like that, and that's what breaks my heart.<br /><br />Please consider taking the time to write a short note of encouragement to one of these girls. You can use the Orphan Relief and Rescue <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.orphanreliefandrescue.org/contact">contact form</a> or email me directly. It only takes a few moments of your time and will make such an incredible impact. Thank you!Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-10214882932772949462010-11-10T15:52:00.004-05:002010-11-10T16:33:22.675-05:00"the days keep coming; they never fail ya."so many of you have asked me what my life here in Liberia is like. the answer--often unexpected. rarely going according to plans. surprising. hectic. beautiful. challenging. rewarding. atypical. something like this:<br /><br />wake up at about seven o'clock, often still tired from a night of sweating, tossing, turning, barking dogs, car horns, and the other various sounds of our neighborhood. sometimes, i do sleep surprisingly well. especially if it rains at night. rain equals a cool breeze. and that's always nice.<br /><br />coffee. and water. porch time. breathing huge, deep, contented sighs. this is my sanctuary. i read. i write. i sing. i pray. there are usually interruptions. sometimes, it doesn't bother me, and i resume. sometimes, i get frustrated and go back inside.<br /><br />get dressed. eat breakfast. bread. and eggs. lots of bread and eggs. i usually wish for cereal. or yogurt and granola. fresh fruit. a bagel.<br />sometimes there's bacon. that's when i know it's going to be a good day.<br /><br />"work" begins. emails, Facebook, blogs. planning lessons. writing curriculum. reading children's books. brainstorming. more computer work. it's hot. i don't drink nearly enough water during the day. i remember what it was like when i'd plan lessons for my students. so many resources then. such a different world.<br /><br />it's busy inside the fence. people are coming and going. people are just stopping by. people come in and out of the house. two or three people are trying to talk to me at once. cell phones ring. someone is knocking on the gate. i chuckle and shake my head. i can't stay irritated; i love these people too much.<br /><br />sometimes i step away from the computer and run errands in town. i really don't like going to town. it's loud and busy and hot and chaos. or maybe i'll go to an orphanage in the morning. hopefully, i don't need to go near Red Light. or Duala. more loudness. more business. more chaos. it's exhausting.<br /><br />lunch time. or something like that. sometimes i eat. sometimes i keep working. sometimes i read. sometimes i nap.<br /><br />time to go to an orphanage. load up the car with supplies for class. drive--or, rather, sit while Joseph drives. marvel at the sheer insanity of traffic here. lots of car horns. no actual speed limit. so many people are walking. i wish we could pick all of them up. i feel guilty and over-privileged. they're covered in sweat and dust, and they're walking. i pass them in my air-conditioned truck.<br />lots of people staring. some wave. some point. some give me the thumbs up. some look terrified. "white woman!" usually i'm okay with being the white freak show. i don't <span style="font-weight: bold;">enjoy</span> it, nor do i want the attention, but i accept it.<br />sometimes, though, i hate it. i want to cry. i want to yell. i want to run away, back to a place where i can fit in, where i'm not constantly on display.<br /><br />arrive at the orphanage. cheers and waves. running kids. jumping kids. hugs, kisses, handshakes. these days, they look so <span style="font-weight: bold;">healthy</span>. they're taller. fat cheeks and clean clothes. toothless smiles. they hold my hand, play with my hair, fight over who gets to sit next to me. they crawl in my lap, throw their arms around my neck. this is where i have to fight back the tears. i wish i could explain how much i love them. i wish they knew how beautiful and special and talented they are. i feel sick when i think about them being hungry. or ill. or dirty. or sad. or lonely. i want them to have every good thing. i wish.<br /><br />class begins. we pray. they listen and laugh. usually we understand each other quite well. sometimes i can tell by their blank stares that they have no idea what i just said. questions. they're learning to raise their hands and wait their turn before calling out. they've grown and changed so much. we read our Bibles. play games. they color, do a craft. i compliment their work. their eyes light up, and they smile. i want them to believe that it's good, that i'm proud of them. sometimes their work gets taken from them. <span style="font-style: italic;">'don't do that,' </span>i want to say. <span style="font-style: italic;">'it's theirs. they made it. it's special. please, just let them have something special.'</span> we pray again. more hugs, more handshakes. "next week," i promise. they'll be waiting.<br /><br />going home. more people walking. crowds. loud, busy crowds. markets. selling. old, filthy money. never enough of it to go around. yelling. laughing. make sure all the doors are locked. people tapping on the windows, on the side of the vehicle. they want me to buy from them. they want money. there's so many, too many. i don't have enough for them all. i have to look away.<br />crying children. playing children. cool water in the hot sun. dirty feet. worn out flip-flops. tattered tee-shirts. bright lapa. they're beautiful. all these people--so beautiful. i want to apologize to them, but i don't exactly know what for.<br /><br />dinner. 5:00, always. Ma Mary makes sure of it. rice. pineapple. plantains. soups: palm butter, pumpkin, cassava, collard greens, beans. so many starches. and oil. Ma Mary <span style="font-weight: bold;">is</span> the best cook in Liberia. but sometimes i just want a salad.<br />or maybe we'll go to town for dinner. Lebanese restaurant. Bangladeshi restaurant. sometimes a hamburger and french fries. foods i often can't pronounce, and i don't always know what's in them. i don't go hungry. but so many people here do. why? why, why, why? i'm always asking that question.<br /><br />the generator is turned on. charge computers and cell phones. the guard pumps water. the nightclub next door blasts distorted rap songs that were popular almost a decade ago from their blown-out speakers. and Nigerian hip hop. i usually sing along. but i always wish it could just be quiet.<br />watch a movie on the computer. play cards or dominoes, everyone around the big table. take a walk to the beach to watch the sunset. everyone waves. kids run up to shake my hand. i'm thanked for "taking my exercise." the beach is dirty. it smells. but the ocean is so vast, so incredible. the sky so vivid. the breeze delicious.<br />email. Facebook. it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">so</span> good to hear from my people back home. i miss them, miss being a part of their everyday lives. i don't want to be forgotten.<br />showers outside, preferably under the stars and after the water has been warmed by the sun all day. try to unwind--as much as is possible here, anyway. so many noises. i tune them out, but they still find a way to get under my skin and put me on edge. the guard sharpens his cutlass. i pray again that there would be no rogues tonight.<br /><br />lights out. generator off. under the mosquito net. trying not to think about the spiders and cockroaches and rats crawling on my floor. hoping none of them get inside my net. i pray. i drift off but wake up with every little noise. my earplugs never to seem to fit my ears right. i toss, and i turn. or i fall asleep instantly. always amazed by another day. always in awe that this, all of this, is my life.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-20424035255371975502010-10-25T15:49:00.005-04:002010-10-25T16:43:23.885-04:00A Beyan updateToday I got to experience one of my favorite things about Liberia: visiting Beyan.<br /><br />Most of you, I'm sure, remember Beyan's story and have heard me talk about him many, many, MANY times. (If not, you can read about him <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://showsomeloveforliberia.blogspot.com/2010/05/do-you-know-that-i-love-you.html">here</a>). I can't explain what it is, but something about that little boy just makes my heart so happy that I feel like it could burst. His picture remains on my bedroom wall here in Liberia to help me remember why I'm here and why I do what I do.<br /><br />Last year, there was a fire at the orphanage Beyan was living at. I honestly believe that fire was an act of God because it finally persuaded the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to shut that particular orphanage down--a decision we had long been advocating for. The truth of the matter was that Beyan and the other kids there had not been getting the care they needed or deserved, and it was clear that the best thing for them would be alternative living arrangements.<br /><br />So, after the fire, all the kids were placed in various other orphanages and, luckily for me, Beyan's new home was a mere 15 minute drive from my house. I went and saw him once before I left Liberia in June; at that time, he had been in the new orphanage for only a few weeks, yet he already was starting to look like a different kid. He was clean and obviously well-fed. He was laughing and playing and looked healthier than I had ever seen him. It was hard leaving him, knowing I wouldn't see him again for several months, but I had to entrust him to God's loving care.<br /><br />Today I finally got an opportunity to go to the orphanage and check in on my "son." The matron of the home sent for Beyan and, a few minutes later, in walks this little boy that is several inches taller than I remember--and quite a few pounds heavier, too! I used to be able to pick him up and put him on my lap without a problem, as he was so skinny and small. But not anymore.<br /><br />So there's Beyan, sitting on my lap, talking a mile a minute, telling me all about school, showing me his "toy"(which was really a spool of thread), giggling every time I kissed his cheeks or poked his belly, laughing as I exclaimed (for the tenth time) that I couldn't believe how big he was getting. And all I kept thinking was, <span style="font-style: italic;">My little boy is growing up!</span> And even though it makes me a little sad, I can't help but rejoice because it shows me that God truly is taking care of him--and all the other kids here that I wish I could help but can't. It was yet another reminder that, though I love Beyan more than I can ever articulate, God loves him infinitely more than that. He truly does have "plans to prosper [him]" and "...to give [him] hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).<br /><br />I think the light in his eyes and the smile on his face confirms that. Don't you?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqievSFif8BrZZpbw6lHpt4bT5SdvxypsLAJgAa7bb39bMQTYsjglZ9kkZ6HqGdmfQQzAK8vOFXyHKuXV0FUUE1s8x377DT4lfFTueZc0dLwBATXO3-HM9VBsdmv8HkpxcLpYHB9oBtqQ/s1600/beyan+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqievSFif8BrZZpbw6lHpt4bT5SdvxypsLAJgAa7bb39bMQTYsjglZ9kkZ6HqGdmfQQzAK8vOFXyHKuXV0FUUE1s8x377DT4lfFTueZc0dLwBATXO3-HM9VBsdmv8HkpxcLpYHB9oBtqQ/s320/beyan+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532079095620764786" border="0" /></a>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-43171371002100422142010-10-17T10:41:00.005-04:002010-10-17T14:57:54.210-04:00Coming up next...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTqQjzIu_1_KbMEEvp4XmILfBDkbtL6evKC5eHgowuLtRYStuFlLKNB28lItLstWRt3fX4E6mqZBMdmJ4_H__2kvGOu1POFCxkzzc_qReBEj_7drk2tc_hVF6xmLCI4i3VUWolIxDNqY/s1600/DSC_1343+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTqQjzIu_1_KbMEEvp4XmILfBDkbtL6evKC5eHgowuLtRYStuFlLKNB28lItLstWRt3fX4E6mqZBMdmJ4_H__2kvGOu1POFCxkzzc_qReBEj_7drk2tc_hVF6xmLCI4i3VUWolIxDNqY/s320/DSC_1343+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529089556658652338" border="0" /></a>I know that many of you are praying continually for both myself and the kids here in Liberia, and I want to thank you for that. I'd also like to ask for you to join me in prayer about something new that's happening in the Child Development Program.<br /><br />Many of you have heard me say that Liberia is an extremely "religious" country--but that religion doesn't always necessarily translate to transformed lives. See, one of the things I've noticed as I've been working with the kids here is that, while they certainly have a whole lot of head knowledge about the things of God, most of them lack any sort of deeper understanding that translates to their heart. These kids can quote me scripture after scripture, and they know all the right answers to every 'God question' I can give them. But I've found myself wondering more and more often, <span style="font-style: italic;">Do they really <span style="font-weight: bold;">know</span> Jesus? Do they truly understand what price he paid--for them!--on the cross? Do they know how to live their lives as "new creations", loved, redeemed, and f</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ree?</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRxym6-HZb5IrM6FUFuT460FqySo9Td6BjYmRrCMkKg_qUVTCNKOE5l-oKBLyZAYPHeQj-_n7pl3iI3WaJF5IepMfvWWQ_OI242hQZ9CbRrKLhysrTTy6lca7ub_v7i_tlZ2a8QmG5-w/s1600/DSC_0441+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRxym6-HZb5IrM6FUFuT460FqySo9Td6BjYmRrCMkKg_qUVTCNKOE5l-oKBLyZAYPHeQj-_n7pl3iI3WaJF5IepMfvWWQ_OI242hQZ9CbRrKLhysrTTy6lca7ub_v7i_tlZ2a8QmG5-w/s320/DSC_0441+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529089542019745538" border="0" /></a>This year, then, the kids in the Child Development Program are going back to the basics. We're starting from scratch, and we're going to walk through the Gospel together, from beginning to end. It is my goal to "preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23), and I wholeheartedly anticipate that we will see God move in some pretty amazing ways. I believe that these kids will come to know, beyond a shadow of any doubt, that they are fully and deeply loved by their Savior--and I believe that knowledge will forever change their lives.<br /><br />So will you please pray for this with me?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsHfqeYLMlvsobUsAKVtY8cciPDtMXZEUotbxzKmE0A8cKScDHAY-j39x_vf31uRK54aZIFTL2sjmgg_UcwhfeIoqeeX5EKK1j9Hqiaw_tNFCEVTeEgiysComtdBd9FTIud6v4nYXym8/s1600/IMG_5470+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsHfqeYLMlvsobUsAKVtY8cciPDtMXZEUotbxzKmE0A8cKScDHAY-j39x_vf31uRK54aZIFTL2sjmgg_UcwhfeIoqeeX5EKK1j9Hqiaw_tNFCEVTeEgiysComtdBd9FTIud6v4nYXym8/s320/IMG_5470+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529089574975448370" border="0" /></a>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-79257826353634044342010-09-17T18:34:00.009-04:002010-09-18T00:50:18.128-04:00Life lately.First off:<br />a) I realize that the last time I blogged was more than two months ago.<br />b) I apologize. But...<br />c) ...life has been <span style="font-weight: bold;">so busy</span>. And...<br />d)...blogging will (hopefully) become much more regular from here on.<br /><br />As you know, I got back from Liberia in late June, and spent the first month or so resting, relaxing, and catching up with those I love so dearly. August and September (thus far), however, have been an absolute whirlwind. I made two trips to Canada, did speaking engagements about Orphan Relief and Rescue, held two major fundraisers, and packed for Seattle and, after that, Liberia.<br /><br />I arrived in Seattle on Sunday and was happily reunited with some of the team. Along with that, I had the pleasure of getting to know some new people who have joined the Orphan Relief and Rescue family. This week, we've all been meeting for prayer, worship, Bible study, and teaching. The field team has also had the privilege of spending time with a sweet, feisty Cuban woman named Margarita who is a crisis and trauma counselor. She has been helping us process some of the events that happened this year in Liberia.<br /><br />We also had a day of silence and solitude at Mt. Rainier. Honestly, I can't sum up the experience. All I can say is that it took my breath away. It was challenging, transforming, and...necessary. In a word: incredible.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7HUyVAZQ2tcZL3u0YYCNyOHbMCJYg7B9hFQQ_27El6GosmpZbzzTCbofdDOpLILTPhCmJvDkzR-UpW4rL7hv7yDNRdZiKAqJZOQqGDqixLKfzy5q8BZoqgCTnEefjCybP2nsv9hF-24/s1600/FSCN1302.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7HUyVAZQ2tcZL3u0YYCNyOHbMCJYg7B9hFQQ_27El6GosmpZbzzTCbofdDOpLILTPhCmJvDkzR-UpW4rL7hv7yDNRdZiKAqJZOQqGDqixLKfzy5q8BZoqgCTnEefjCybP2nsv9hF-24/s320/FSCN1302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518106949261030050" border="0" /><br /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Finally, </span>despite all the headaches from rising airfare costs and ever-changing itineraries, I was able to purchase my plane ticket back to Liberia! I leave Seattle on September 30 and will arrive in Liberia on October 1. Though I wasn't able to get the exact itinerary as Debbie, she and I will be leaving Seattle within just a few hours of each other and have plans to meet up in Brussels. Please keep the both of us in prayer, as we make our final preparations to go back.<br /><br />Again, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making memories with me these past two months. Every coffee date, concert, sleepover, shopping day, road trip, sweet prayer time--all of it was just <span style="font-style: italic;">amazing</span>. I love you guys, and can't wait to update you again from Liberia in just a few weeks!<br /><br />Much love.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2337868275910067715.post-85117749339673199302010-07-11T14:33:00.003-04:002010-07-11T14:54:32.108-04:00Home sweet home.I know, I know -- it's a been a while since I've posted. Please forgive me. Life has been...well, <span style="font-weight: bold;">crazy</span> (to say the least) and blogging has simply fallen to the bottom of the to-do list.<br /><br />As you know, I made it safely back to the good ol' US of A on June 29th for a time of rest, relaxation, and fund-raising before I head back to Liberia in the fall. I'm in Pennsylvania until August 2, and then I'll be driving up to Ontario to visit my family in the Guelph/Toronto area. I'll be back around the 14th, only to fly out on the 17th to see my Mom and siblings in Alberta. I get back to Pennsylvania <span style="font-style: italic;">again</span> on the 26th of August, and have a little time left at home before I have to head out to Seattle sometime around the 9th or 10th of September. And after all of <span style="font-weight: bold;">that</span>, it's back to Liberia.<br />(WOW. Talk about a full schedule; it's even making my own head spin a little bit, to be honest!)<br /><br />Life at home has been wonderful, though. Busy, yes, but also absolutely wonderful. It was definitely a little weird at first; part of me felt like it was still in Liberia while the rest of me was trying to jump into life here head-first. After a couple of days of adjusting and getting acclimated, I quickly fell back into the routine of life here. I have <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">so</span></span> enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones, talking about all that has happened over the past seven months. It's so much fun to share stories and pictures and videos from Liberia, and I am continually overwhelmed by all the love, encouragement, and support I've received. (You guys are the BEST!) And, of course, I can't deny how nice it's been to take a hot shower. To walk around Target and bookstores and sit around my favorite coffee shops. To drive my car again--on paved roads! In a place where there's actually traffic laws...and people who abide by them! To grab my iPod and hit the trails at Gring's Mill (one my most favorite ways to unwind!) To see my church family (who, by the way, are amazing. Absolutely, hands-down, 100% amazing. I love you guys!) To straighten my hair (I know--totally girly and a little high-maintenance. But I'm being honest. I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> missed my flat iron while I was in Liberia!) To eat something besides rice or bread. Liiiike....salads. And cereal. And Panera. Oh, wow. I'd almost forgotten how much I love Panera...<br /><br />Anyway, like I said: life at home has been wonderful. I am so thankful to have this time, and I want to savor each and every moment.<br />(And if you and I haven't gotten together yet...well, we really need to. Send me an email or Facebook message, and we'll make it happen.)Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14058870232864561248noreply@blogger.com0