Daring to be....Me

My thoughts are muddled right now as I've sat down to write about my experiences of this past week. I am not really sure how to begin or where to end. I feel as though every day has been full and worthy of expressing and sharing, yet somehow...words seem insufficient in this moment.


This week...
I spent 4 days out visiting 10 different villages with my 4 other national staff.
Man, I wish you all could see this place...these people. (And those of you who have only been in Ktown…there’s a whole other world that we’ve missed out on!) I found myself wanting to take a million pictures as we drove off into these seemingly uncharted territories. I refrained for cultural and relational reasons, but I just kept thinking how National Geographic would kill to get a glimpse of what I was seeing. But I am also confident, that even if I did get some shots, a camera wouldn't do justice to the beauty that was before my eyes.

Seriously. The landscape of this country continues to take my breath away. Of course, there’s the obvious beauty found in its rugged and desolate terrain. The way the mountains cut into the sky…the clouds that cover the road at a certain altitude…the river that rushes by as the snow melts from the beginnings of spring. But I tell you; it’s the faces of these people that have captivated my heart. Their espresso eyes…lines on their faces…toothless smiles. I found myself mesmerized a million times over this week.

This week…
I watched women hope--most for the first time in who knows how long.
After a thousand and one greetings and a mile long list of needs (clean water, doctors, medicine, education, jobs, cars, etc.), our team shared with these ladies the hope of empowerment. Instead of bringing a doctor to this village for one month or two, we’ll figure out the root of the problem (i.e. what’s causing them to be sick in the first place) and learn how to stop it. It’s education in its simplest form. But in the period of our hour-long conversation, I saw their countenance change and their spirits lift. There IS a way out of their suffering. There IS a reason to hope once again.

This week…
I moved to a new house.
This is the fifth time I’ve moved since November, and I’m happy to say that I think this is it for a while (barring any major outside issues that may arise). Lord, let it be so.

This week…
We moved to a new office.
Yes, that’s right. Not only did we move houses, we also pretty much simultaneously moved office buildings as well. Needless to say, things have been a bit chaotic and un-orderly for the past several days!

This week..
Our team has been wrestling with how to help a brother who has come to us because his life is being threatened because of his beliefs.
Man, they don't teach you about this stuff in college. There are no pat answers. But oh, how I wish there were. My heart aches at the realities of this nation. But I am also encouraged, because I know that HE is working in this place.

So that's a brief overview of my week. I'm exhausted and would appreciate your prayers.

Tomorrow we will be hosting a national couple for the remainder of the week and on Thursday, Lord willing, I will head out to another city for a week of training and then on to Ktown and then to see Trix in the desert region! :)