I'm the one on one type. My friends tell me I have a non-existent small talk tank. I love knowing someone's story because I feel I get to know them through their life experiences. I know these kids at Wellington Orphanage have stories that are beyond what I can even imagine. Some will want to share and some will not, but my heart and ears will be ready for whatever they want to share with me. I feel I have this love in my heart ready to pour out onto these amazing beautiful lovely girls. I'm going to Sierra Leone to love and to teach them that perfect love only comes from Jesus (and do whatever the Holy Spirit prompts me to do while I'm there.)
Another thing that is important to me is that we are connected as a team. I think if we know each other as well as we can over the next few weeks it will help us work well together and for the kids. I can't wait to get to know each of you on a deeper level, what makes you tick, what gets on your nerves, what might scare you about this trip and what totally lights your fire.
My fear...roach bites. Lights my fire...giving my heart away to the kids.
Karla
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What makes me tick?
ReplyDeleteOn the deepest level...the new life birthed into me by God in grace through faith in Jesus the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit! God's Word and prayer keep me ticking.
On a deep level...authentic relationship with family and friends and deep, revealing, and sometimes challenging conversation
On the surface level...Coke Zero and cookies
What makes me tick?
ReplyDeleteWhen somebody says it can't be done!
There's two kinds of impossible. The kind where the world tells you one thing but God says "Hang in there, I can do this, and be glorified in it"...and you do! And He does!
Then there's the other kind of impossible where someone bets you that you can't stick 10 m&m's in one nostril...and you do! And they do!
I'm in for both ways - every single time.
I love you guys for starting this. Thank you.
What makes me tick??
ReplyDeleteHelping those in need!!! To be a servant leader and show others how God's love can change their world. His love has changed mine. ;0)
My fear??? Bugs, when I lived in Japan, the bugs were bigger than the people. I am not fond of roaches.
I am so excited to meet these kids and just be someone for them to hang out with. I can't wait to just love on them. They deserve it!!!
What makes me tick for Africa?
ReplyDeleteThe hope I'll experience a significant moment of divine connection with one kid that unravels my ball of sin, stress, inadequacy, and failure while liberating them from their pain, sadness, abandonment, and loss of love. Please, I know I'm not their savior, but for a moment we can both escape into a love that passes all understanding. I pray for those more than anything else; that for a moment, we share in the struggle of what it means to be a human being, and with each other, we're ok. That they may understand, and I know they do, that in the exchange both were givers and both receivers. It's in those precious moments we feel ONEness, how God originally intended relationship with those of different race, religion, or dissent.
For me it was an hour of hitting a balloon back and forth with Fatu until the poor balloon finally wore out, popped and fell to the ground. It was then that I picked it up, rolled into a dirty ball and opened my mouth as wide as I could to show Fatu my next plan of action. She opened wide and we continued to play by throwing that filthy thing in one another's mouth. I would've eaten a 100 of those dirty things for her smile to last deep into the night.
I've shared those moments with Paul, Precious, and a few others. I love all the ideas of schools, Bible study, buildings, and on and on, but for me, I simply go for those priceless moments when two people who live so far apart have an experience that can only be explained by a provisional, loving, and merciful God who chose for me to reveal Himself through an interaction with someone He knows will ravish my heart and inspire me to do and be more.
My biggest fear is always that my actions will not speak louder than my words and that although I possess the ability to lead I will become the focus. This is not the place to be "center of attention" and I often pray for God to silence and still me until I achieve the proper perspective.
What a great idea this was to set up a blog!!
ReplyDeleteFor me I would definitely say having authentic relationships makes me tick! I'm a very relational person, I absolutely love connecting with people, hearing their stories and having deep meaningful conversations. One of the things I'm anticipating very much about this trip is although those of us on the team and especially the sweet kids there all have different backgrounds, cultural customs, experiences, and life stories we all will be connected together through the name of Jesus and are bound together in His family. I look forward to the amazing intimate times of worship, bible study and praying we will get to share together as God works and moves dramatically in everyones lives.
I'm so thankful to be getting the chance to make this journey with all of you. I look forward to getting to know y'all better in the coming weeks. Blessings to each of you!
What makes me tick...
ReplyDeleteKids do....God has given me such a heart for kids of all ages. I have loved every opportunity God has given me to serve where He is working. I love all the relationships I have with students over the years and seeing them grow.
I have recently come home from living in Los Angelos as a missionary to the LA Dream Center and when I went. I was excited but had no idea what God had in store, nor was I even remotely close to knowing how much I would love these kids. I loved these kids more than any kids I have ever taught. I thought I was going to teach and work in youth ministry. But my fondest memories were driving the kids home from services, basketball leagues and golf. Some of these kids lived 30 and 45 minutes away and would catch a couple of trains and buses just to come to school. Many of them could not go to public school. But all the time in the car and conversations that were priceless, running out of gas, even got chased by gangsters and guns. The kids probably remember nothing from the classroom that I taught them but everytime I go back we all share stories from field trips, and just hanging out. I am sharing this because just as I had no idea those kids would always be apart of my life and God would give me the biggest heart to love them. Every time I go back we just hang out and it is so wonderful and so wonderful to see how some of them are sooooo in love with the Lord. I think getting to know ya'll and these beautiful kids is already tugging at my heart strings. Everytime I look at the picture of the kids outside of the orphanage it brings tears to my eyes.
I love the word of God and seeing how faithful He is and knowing I can trust in Him for all things. I love when there is a task ahead that seems impossible that I can have faith and trust that all things are possible through Christ. And have seen God work out the most amazing situations. I love having a front row seat to His miracle working territory.
Fears, well I am not fond of bugs or rats.....
I am so excited about this journey.....it has also been so fun to share with others and have them be so excited about what God is going to do and to know that they are also praying for the kids and for us while we prepare. I have loved seeing the pictures of the kids and cannot wait to hang out with them and ya'll....hugs and prayers to all ya'll and the kids too!
What makes me tick...well let's see. I love God and I love people. I am relational to the core. I feel so deeply loved and forgiven by the Lord that it drives me to want to share His love with any and every one! I tend to be drawn to the underdog or the outcast...probably because this was me for so many years. I feel things deeply so therefore I tend to cry a lot :) For years I had no tears and with His healing tears came and are still coming! The more I understand God's compassion for children who have expereinced things children shouldn't experience, the more I understand His compassion for me from birth till now...the more I understand His compassion for the world...everyone was once a child. His love is life-changing and it is all we need here in America and it is all those precious kids in Sierra Leone need. His love is better than life. I am understanding more through my trips to SL that I need to let Him have full access to the most wounded places of my heart so I can love others deep enough to change the world! I must live a life of sacrificial abandon of self!
ReplyDeleteI love God's Word. It has transformed me and been the only Truth that is really Truth, the kind that is unchanging, that I can count on. It was the life boat He through me before I became a christian...After I became a christian it was a light that led me out of darkness!
I am a WORSHIP JUNKY! Oh my I just can't function without it. I am a stay at home mom and I homeschool...and I have 3 boys...so my house is CRAZY...it is joyful chaos...I play worship all day to keep me sane :) I truly connect so much with Him through this venu.
I am still such a mess, but I am so addicted to Him.
My biggest fear would be not going where He leads me. I would miss out on some of the greatest adventures on this earth!
You all are such incredibly godly women filled with His love. The kids are going to be so blessed! I can't wait for me and the kids to meet you all!