Moving Forward

Beautiful Love and New Orleans!

Today I took my dad to a doctor's appointment because he was hurting too bad to drive and I love chatting with him anyways. Well when we got there I decided to wait in the car because I wanted to read my book as long as I had time and it was nice and warm out. I was parked in the space next to the handicapped spot and of course my windows were down. As I was sitting there reading, a big 'ol truck pulled in next to me. It was an old man and his wife. He got out and came around, he opened her door and the back door. He pulled out a step stool and a walker and then stood there ever so patiently, with his hand in hers as she painfully got down out of the truck. Her head appeared to be bald, but some hair was starting to grow back. She was clearly a chemo patient. She also had a large brace on under her pants, but over her shirt, like maybe she was healing from a broken hip or something. With every step she winced in deep pain. She moved ever so slowly up the sidewalk towards the building. Without any regard the man took the woman's purse from her to make her load a little bit lighter and easier. He never walked ahead of her, but either next to her or right behind her in support. He loved her with all of his being, you could just tell by his actions. They didn't say much, at least not much that I could hear (I'm such a deafo), but they didn't need to say anything. They had clearly been together all their lives and the only thing they were focused on was keeping it that way. It was the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time. I'm confident that the man wished he could take her place. Even though I'm sure he had a bit of a heavy heart, he would never show it. He was probably physically tired himself, but that didn't matter to him. All that mattered was caring for the woman he loved more than life itself.
That's all kinda sappy I know, but it was so uplifting to see that in a world that tells us to take care of ourselves first, this man was clearly all about taking care of his wife first. This is definitely the way we are called to live. There are some verse from Philippians 2 at the end of this post. I encourage you to read them.
Now, an update...
This is what my life has looked like for the past couple of weeks: We left for New Orleans on Sat, June 28th. Got to Memphis and stayed in a beautiful UM church for the night. We left Sunday after worship and got to New Orleans for registration. After stepping out of the van I was promptly greeted by a TEAMeffort staff person named Jon. I went and registered my group while everyone else unloaded the vans, and thus our week began. We were given our work-site assignments and our TEAMeffort staff. My crew was very blessed to be able to work with Jon and Patrick all week. Both of these men are absolutely hysterical and amazing. I worked with Patrick mostly during the day, but got to know Jon a little better during our free time and evenings back at the church we were staying at. The guys are at the perfect age to really click with youth... mainly because they were 18 and 20. It was great though because no matter how crazy they got or how many silly things they did and said, at the end of the day it was clear that they were living for God. It was just great for my kids to see that I could act stupid and crazy (as I normally do) with these people and still remain focused on the purpose of the trip. TEAMeffort does a really good job of bringing the Word to the kids at chapel each evening. They get to see the boys run around and be crazy, but then lead worship, praise God, and learn more about God from each other.
I'm excited to say that we have a new sister in Christ and I'm really pumped to watch her grow in her new life. Praise God! We got to hang with Jon and Patrick in the city on the 4th of July. Jon did a great job of showing us around the French Quarter and picking yummy places to eat. One of the best parts of my day was meeting up with Trent and his senior high kids. Their trip to Houma was over so came up to New Orleans for the 4th. We got to hang in the French Quarter and they basically spent the day exploring with us. They spent the night at our church Friday night before heading home. What a cool thing to have our youth together for a little while! It was nice relaxer to have Trent there, even for a short time.
It was so difficult for the kids and I to leave on Saturday. They really bonded well with Jon Boy... it was rough. He was amazing with them. One of my boys really needed another male figure around and he and Jon connected really well. I'm hoping that they're able to stay in touch. On the last night I stayed up til the early morning hours talking with Jon and Ed... I learned way too much about both of them, but I'm so glad I did. Anypoo, we got up and left Saturday morning and got to Memphis pretty early. The youth pastor there had dinner ready for us and we even hung out with some of his kids. Sunday we got up, they made us breakfast, we worshipped with them, and then we got on the road. The last 3 nights of the trip I got a combined 8 hours of sleep, so needless to say when we got home Sunday night I was exhausted. It was worth it though... and really I had planned on not sleeping much more than that anyways. I love late night chats.

So all in all the trip was a huge success! I had no behavior issues, no one got really hurt or sick, and people sought the Lord fervently. They were an awesome group of kids and I can't believe how little drama there really was. When I went on mission trips in high school there was always an injury or some boy-girl drama that consumed everyone. Not this time. You would never have known that we had two girls from another church with us. The group bonded so well... it was fabulous. It gave me a chance to just hang out and be one of the youth. Which is what I really wanted. I did not want to have to babysit all week. I got to play hours (and HOURS) of 4 square, chat, play cards, and just hang out with my youth. Let's be real... I'm about as mature as a high schooler sometimes, so this job is right up my alley. :)
Moving on... I can't believe July is here! It's insane to think that I'm leaving soon. I've had a couple of rough moments involving Uganda, but as of right now, this very moment, I'm still going. Please, please be praying for this trip. Some things have changed and I may have to tweak some stuff, but I'm working on it! Can I just say that the Lord is so amazing?! Because He is. It's not always easy for me to say that, but right now it is. He's so sovereign.
Something really cool... my mom went to my church this past Sunday! I wasn't even home from New Orleans yet, but she went! She and my dad finally came a couple of weeks ago to hear me speak... they had never been to my church... I've been working there over a year. They haven't been to church at all for like 13 years and when they were going to church it was very much just a routine thing they were in. (I grew up in the Catholic Church.) But she went to worship by herself! I would love it if you all would be praying for her. I think my decision to go to Uganda is really affecting her and she is trying to understand why I would do something like this. Pray that she continues to go to church while I'm in Africa and that she allows God to come into her life! Thanks!
Other exciting news, this weekend I'm going to a wedding for two of my favorite people ever! Rob and Katie are getting married and I can't wait to join them on their special day! It's going to be beautiful! Next weekend my college homies are coming to stay with me, and then the next weekend is my going away party. Busy, busy, busy, but I'm stoked to see all my favorite people in a just a few weeks time. I'm also trying to figure out the easiest way to get a house full of stuff into my parent's basement without having to rent a truck. I'm hoping my cousins will just bring their trucks and help me get my stuff moved outta here. I'm not a fan of moving... at all! Yikes. It's okay though and it'll be really awesome in the end.
Well I've still got to play some guitar/sing, and read before bed, so peace ya'll!
Philippians 2:3-11 (NLT)
3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,[a]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
he took the humble position of a slave[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

posted by Moving Forward @ 4:30 PM