following the LEADER

What’s one of the most fulfilling, tiring, and awe inspiring (for us) things we do here?  With out a doubt hosting teams.  So much goes into hosting a team, and there is always a ton of work to be done behind the scenes, but it’s work that Dave and I (and Sammy and Nata too) love.  From preparing 50 sandwiches or an evening meal, to counting out each team member’s spending money to going grocery shopping to moving tables, chairs, and people across town to fixing electrical problems at the bible school (something Dave has done a lot of lately)… the jobs are varied and many.  And we love it!  (Did I say that yet?)  There is nothing for us, quite like the feeling you get when you experience this culture for the first time through someone else’s questions and gasps.  Or the pride you feel when you read a team update like the one I read this morning from our medical team.  It gave me a moment to reflect on the awesomeness of the body of Christ.  You see, I’m not qualified to prescribe malaria medication or a pair of glasses, but by hosting this team, I get to be involved.  I get to help in the work that these amazingly qualified people are doing in this culture that I love.  You are awesome in this place mighty God!  Enjoy the team update…

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick”.   Matthew 14:14

One of our eye clinic team helped a middle aged woman with cataracts be able to read again.  The grateful woman lept out of her chair, hugged our clinician, and actually said “I love you”. Laughter is often heard through the eye clinic door as many people who entered with vision problems leave seeing clearly once again.

One young boy sat perfectly still while the dentist numbed his mouth.  As soon as the dentist extracted his tooth, the boy began to weep inconsolably. Apparently when the dentist explained the importance of good dental hygiene in order to avoid the possibility of losing all of his teeth one day, the boy misunderstood. He thought the dentist was going to extract all of his teeth.  Even with interpreters, some things still get lost in translation.

We had a truly great weekend.  Overflowing with great moments.  And then it was Monday again.

This Monday morning was the first morning that I have had the pleasure of bringing Sam to school by myself.  Dave has done such a good job at sending Sam off to school every day with the love and support that he needs to venture out on his own.  Some mornings I’ve gone with them, and some mornings I’ve been already gone to school myself.  This Monday morning things were kind of crazy at our house.  We were already late and Daddy needed a few more minutes before he could make it out the door.  So Sam and I piled in the car.  It was quiet as we drove, and then a voice pipped up from the back seat, “Mommy are you gonna pray for me?”  With a twinge in my heart, I realized that this was the routine that Dave had developed with Sam.  What a good dad!  “Of course, Buddy.  Do you want me to pray right now?”  Huffy breaths.  “No, Mom.  You wait until we’re there.”  Expectation of the routine.  So when we got to school I turned off the car and took a minute to pray over my eldest Son.  Trying to keep it short and upbeat because I knew the other part of his routine was to shed a few tears before saying goodbye.  As I went to get him out of the car he stopped and looked at me with earnest eyes.  “And let my light shine?”  he questioned.  “And let you light shine, my sweet boy.” I replied with all the reassurance I could muster.  Another thing Daddy must say every day.  I think this was part of the prayer that I neglected.

As I drove home alone, I thought about Daddy and Sam and their moments together.  I thought about how we live our lives on two levels.  There’s the every day business that seems, sometimes, to rule our world.  The coming and going.  The being late and getting things done.  And then there are the moments when our heart speaks truth.  When we stop to slow down and listen to the voices inside of us.

We’ve had so many moments of joy in our full family life, as of late.  Nata giving kisses.  Sammy learning about friendship.  Dave helping our friend Larry weld together the metal frame to a church.  Swimming, tickling, building train tracks that take up half the living room.  These moments are filled with a God given joy.

And then there is a deeper level.  This is where I stop and think about the matters of the heart.  And lately, for me, these have been things like unity. friendship. honesty. humility. openness. sacrifice.  selfishness. servitude.  There have been difficult questions rolling around in my head and my heart.  Questions about the kind of role I play as a wife and a friend.  The kind of example I set as a mother.  And my ability to be authentic and alive in Christ or only just existing on the surface.  It’s here, in the deep places, that I believe God is really able to mold my character.  And if I’m honest, and I listen to him teaching me, disciplining me, and molding me, then it is here that his character really begins to take root in my life.

It’s easy to use this blog as story board.  To give you the picture book version of what’s happening at Chez Jo.  And I know you enjoy those posts.  Our kids are gorgeous aren’t they?  But maybe more gorgeous is the dance you can’t see.  It’s a little more difficult to describe.  I have a maker.  He formed my heart.  And he loves me with a love than goes to a place I’ve never been with my husband or my kids.  He has been faithful to carry me out of the pit of depression and self pity.  He continues to gently remind me that there is more going on in this life than what we can see with our eyes.  He challenges me not to stop growing.  With him there is life and life abundant.  And I pray that he continues.  I want to be honest.  I want to bear fruit.  I don’t want to hide behind a pretty smile.  I want to show you who I really am.  This is really difficult some times.  When I take off my mask, I’m standing there exposed, vulnerable.  But that’s what I believe my God has called me to be.  And when I obey him, and listen to His voice speaking to my heart, I find greater intimacy with him.  And THAT, dear world, is the (some times forgotten) goal of my life.  The thing I have found that brings satisfaction like no other.

And that’s what’s going on with me.  Really.

If there is one thing that certain in life, it’s change.  I have felt this so much more on the mission field than I did living in the United States.  In addition to the normal changes that come with aging and life, on the mission field people are constantly coming and going, leaving and arriving.  While, as adults, these changes can sometimes be difficult to adjust to, they are felt to a greater degree by missionary kids.  Since March, Sam and Nathaniel have said hello and goodbye to Grammy and Papa (Dave’s parents), Grandma (my mom), Joanna (my friend from Texas), and The Thaler family (from VA).  Who have all stayed at our house.  They have also said goodbye to Krystal (who lived with us for 11 months) and Julie and Danika who are both new on the field and who they interact with almost every day.  Also we’ve had the Wilson family come to help with Kid’s Camp.  Sam calls Dennis Wilson Papa Dennis.  He’s spent about as much time in his short little life with Papa Dennis as he has with some of his own relatives — making families like the Wilsons and the Thalers (not to mention the Teagues and the Rivases who live here in Niger) just about as close to him as his own Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins.

Lately, we’ve all had this change in our sights as well.  That is, the changing size of Mommy’s belly.  And her changing appetite. And her changing moods.  And Mommy are you going to be sick?  The good news is that Mommy has been feeling much better lately.  And God has given us 6 more months to get prepared for a third sibling.  It’s amazing, as parents, to see our boys growing up and to see God preparing them to both be big brothers.  Sam is very interested in baby and everything baby related.

There have been some very big boy things happening in Sam’s life.  Including his first day of school.  The jury is still out deciding whether or not he will actually like this new, DAILY activity.  In Nigerien culture it is very normal for a three year old to go to school 5 mornings a week.  Sam is in a bilingual class with a teacher (Miss Julie) who is fluent in French, English, and German.  He has kids in his class from all over the world although we think he is the only American.  He will be learning colors, numbers, shapes, and will have lots of time to make new friends.  Speaking of friends, Sam has also been developing some of his first true friendships.  He got his first birthday party invite and had a blast celebrating his friend Trey’s 4th birthday.  Trey’s family is here with SIM as youth pastors at Sahel Academy.

This weekend Sam has had his friend Jeremy over.  They’ve had lots of fun running, squealing, and playing cars.  And we’ve had our moments of learning to share.  Jeremy and Sam live very different lives.  Jeremy lives in the village of Sansane Hausa where his Dad pastors an AG church.  They have not had electricity in their home since they moved in 2+ years ago.  BUT with some help from Dave’s Dad, Dave and Daniel were able to finally get the solar panels up and working this week.  Now this precious family have lights and fans.  Jeremy and Sam have really been enjoying spending time together and somehow communicate even though Jeremy speaks less French than Sam does.

One other transition we have made as a family in the last few weeks is my new part time job.  I have been really enjoying the two mornings a week that I am spending in the Music Room at Sahel Academy.  This English speaking missionary school is full of amazing kids from all over the world.  I’m teaching music to all the kids in grades K-6.  None of them had music last year, and they are all thrilled to visit my classroom twice a week.  I am thrilled as well, to be able to be back in the classroom.  I’m reminded that teaching music is something that the Lord created me to do.  Something I love.  And I feel honored, to the point of tears, that the Lord is giving back to me this gift that I gave up when we decided to move to Niger.  He is so faithful.

This morning in church, in light of all these transitions, I was reminded of Matt Redman’s words that I love so much…

Blessed be You name
in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow  Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
when I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness  Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in, Lord  Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
when the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be  Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
on the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering  Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name