Understanding

It's something we desire so much from others. Yet we often have a hard time having it for the people we come in contact with, especially those that are closest to us. 

Thomas Edison believed that the concept of understanding comes from the two simple words under and stand. When one acknowledges that he stands below someone or something else, he makes himself receptive to obtain and retain information from it, thereby allowing for understanding to occur.

I wonder how often I really allow myself to acknowledge I am below someone or something, that I may be receptive to the information I am getting.

Little actions, Big lessons

A blog from our time in N. Ireland. 

Wondering if you are having an impact on the kids you teach?

 

I know that I do. We have been here a while now and it seems as if we are not making any head way at times. Recently, I had been thinking how I would like to see something to know what we were doing is having some effect. I had not told anyone I was a little discouraged, so I wouldn't bring them down with me. Then God allowed me to see something so good that I thought I would share.

It was a Tuesday night at the youth club, like any other. John Silverson, Stephen and I played some games with the kids until half 7, then John gave a lesson from the bible. The lesson was about the women who gave all she had to the Lord for her offering. I thought the kids listened well about the same as they do every week. 

I believe God was doing something in their hearts I couldn't see, because the next Sunday Amy one of our faithful Tuesday night goers came in for sunday school. Now from what I understand Amy used to come in for Sunday School but has not been in for a long while. Well I was sure glad to see her. She looked a little out of sorts, her long hair not fully brushed and kind of sleepy eyed still, but she was there and I praised the Lord in my heart for it. 

The service began with some songs and then the offering. That is when God let me see something very special that the others apparently didn't notice. Amy went up to give her offering and very shyly so no one would notice she pulled out a bag of coins from her jumper pocket and placed the bag gently into the bucket so none would hear them then she meekly made her way back to her seat. She left that day never bragging about her gift or bringing any notice to herself.  

It has been a couple of weeks since that event and Amy has not been back to Sunday school, I don't know why? I hope she starts coming back in soon. She is a very good listener and really enjoys the fellowship at our Tuesday club. So I don't understand what is keeping her away on sundays. 

I just thought it was a great blessing from the Lord. I had been a little down in my heart about seeing some sort of effect for the work we are doing. God had apparently spoken something to her for her to be there, maybe it was the lesson on Tuesday about the women giving to the Lord, I would like to think God moved in her heart about it. 

I pray the Lord continues to move in the hearts of the people we are working with. 

Sometimes it is the little things God uses to show me a big lesson. 

Visiting with Mom

One of the Joy's of being a missionary is you get to see the world or the part of it God has called you to, which also means you are not able to spend as much time with family as you would like. 

So today my mom decided to make the 3 hour drive and come visit with me for the day. I am very excited about getting to spend some quality time with her. 

Blogging made perfect

I am afraid my blogging has been next to nothing. Mostly because I have been struggling with what to write. Sometimes I just over think things and would rather do nothing. Glad nobody else has that problem. 

Lately, I have really been struggling with comparing myself to others. When I read the other wives blogs, I get discouraged about some aspects of my life I can not control. God didn't make us all the same and He doesn't have the same plan for our lives either. God has really been helping me see this in my life recently. I am a slow learner. 

My hope is to be more faithful in blogging. I heard this statement again, "I will only be more tomorrow, what I am today."  over the last few days and it really has been eating my lunch as Bro. Tony would say. 

So I figure I got to start somewhere. So please forgive the roughness of this blog. 

It's been two years...

I can hardly believe it myself when I say how long I have been married. Wow, where does the time go.  

More then once this year has someone congratulated us on our first year of marriage. While saying thank you, I simply add it's been two. Their response is the same, "Wow, Really, It doesn't seem like two years."

Honestly, it hasn't felt like two years to me either, it has gone by so fast or maybe the years went by slower when I was single, who knows.  

Over the past two years God has opened many doors and we have had a marvelous time going through them together. We are excited about the future and look forward to what God has in store for us.