Tea in Congo, Birthday Party, and More

Sarah, Gwen, and I at "The Source"

The group of us at the Congo Zambia border

So today we got to go to Zambia's local touristy "hot spot"...the source of the Zambezi River, which is actually really just a puddle in the middle of the bush! It was quite enjoyable going there though, and really seeing how something as big and long and the Zambezi River starts out as just a little tiny puddle! Hmm, spiritual application? I think so!

We also got to go to the Zambia/Congo border, where the family that had planned the whole trip, pulled out some snacks and tea! So yes, I have officially stepped into the Congo, and had tea at the border!

On Wednesday night we had the term birthday party, which is quite a big event, and lots of fun. Each term the staff picks a theme, and all dress up accordingly, and this term the theme was Nursery Rhymes. I dressed up as Mother Goose...and if you look carefully in the picture there is a goose in a basket at my side. Sarah, my roommate, actually made it for me, and I'll have you know that it is a Canadian goose, she even labeled it. As you may have guessed, she is Canadian!

Last, but not least, is a picture of some of my second graders, working hard in math class! I am very proud of the work that they have been putting forth within the last couple of weeks. Just the other day I was watching some of the kids as they were waiting on line for dinner, and it just hit me that it won't be long until they re older and making decisions and life choices on their own! May the work that is being done here at Sakeji School impact their lives and make them like Jesus! May I model Jesus in my class room, and may He use me as a tool in their lives!

Science Question Answers

     Yesterday in class we were working on rephrasing the questions from the Science book. These are some of the results at their attempts to rephrase questions: 

     Q: What is instinct? 
     A: "An instinct is something that is the hobby of an animal."
     A: "Instinct is to hold for his dinner."

     Q: Why did God give each animal instincts?
     A: "Instincts are a thing God gave to animals."

     Q: How do animals help us? 
     A: "Some ways that animals help us by giving us eggs and eat ants and eat them with its beak."

     Q: What do spiders do?
     A: "Spiders do make webs."
     A: "Spiders make webs to caught fly."

     Second and third graders are so much fun, but we do need some work with the Science questions! 

Quilting Class!

The 5th and 6th grade girls in my quilting class! 

We had quite a bit of fun today, and the girls are all working hard to complete our baby quilt before the end of term! They told me that today they had the most fun in quilting class...I did too! 

Putting it all into His hands...again

How marvelous it is to know that our God is so good, right? Even when I am wondering what He is up to, I can be secure in the fact that He is my Father, and that He knows best! Today I was struggling with something, and just really wanted to hear an answer from God...He didn't exactly answer me (or at least not the way that I wanted Him to), but He reminded me that He told me to come here...and if I am where God wants me, nothing else matters. 

      As I was spending some time along with God today, I read this passage: 

     "Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" 

     But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 

               And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 

               Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." ...... "For whoever gives you a cup of cold water in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly I say to you, he will by no means lose  his reward."

          ..... "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

                          Mark 9:33-37, 41, 49-50

     This passage reminded me of a lot of areas in which I need work! In particular it reminded me that no matter what we are doing for God (even just giving a cup of cold water to someone for God's sake), that God sees that as a service, and that God blesses that! Sometimes service on the mission field doesn't look any different than service at home, and you can get sucked into the thoughts of "Why did I come here anyway?", or "Why didn't I just stay home since I had lots of big ministry opportunities there?" The reminder to serve, even (especially) in the small areas, is so important for any Christian, in any situation, anywhere. 

    The other reminder in this passage for me is why do we sacrifice anyway? Without salt in the sacrifice, it means nothing. I think that sometimes our (my) sacrifices start out salty enough, but as time goes by, we sometimes lose our vision, our passion, our focus, and our goal. That's when our sacrifices lose their saltiness! I love how Jesus' final statement here is "Keep your head in the game, and get along with each other". 

     This race that we are running isn't about us...it never was and it never will be! This is about serving the Lord Jesus in any capacity, with a right heart, and definitely not about being a "greater" Christian, follower, or server than anyone else! How often do we, like the twelve disciples, lose our focus and actually argue over who should be the greatest, who made the biggest difference for Christ, whose job was more important? That type of attitude does exactly the opposite of the purpose of the role for which we are fighting over.

     Last but not least, even though the disciples here are being so petty and immature (oh, aren't we all!), we know the end of the story, where they do finally get it...live (and die!) for God's glory rather than their own! May I put my life in God's hands, live for Him in every moment and somehow, down the road, give Him a life that was lived only for Him!