Here We Come

We’re leaving for the states in 4 days.

Wow! just 4 days. So much to do, it can’t be 4 days…. but it is.

But why am I surprised: it’s like this every time we go on a big trip. I should be used to it: I guess I am a little, but not all the way. I don’t think it’s possible to get used to it 100%.

I’m excited. Very excited. It’s going to be fun getting back to see friends and family.

I’ve really been praying lately that I’ll be able to communicate with others my experiences here in Africa. I can see how it might be a challenge because it can be so easy to say your doing one thing when you’re actually doing another. It’s so easy to put on a face that’s not yours; especially when you’re in a place that very few people have been to. As a result of their limited knowledge, they’ll believe almost anything you tell them, and our habit is to tell them what they want to hear. I want to be real. I want to tell people what I do here in Africa, and what I like to do.

Yeah, I have fun here. I get to ride motorcycles. I get to go to gorgeous places. I get to hang out with really cool friends. I get to play soccer.

And yeah, sometimes things are hard. Sometimes it’s awkward. But, honestly, not as much as many people think. You get used to it. I’ve gotten so used to it that it is more home than the states are.

It’s still going to be really good to get back the states.

I’m looking forward to:

surfing

playing guitar with my Uncle Michael and Trevor Borden (and hopefully buying another guitar)

hanging out with good friends

family reunion

fishing…..

Easter @ the Coast

This Easter, our family went to the coast. We, well at least I, had an incredible time! If you’ve ever been to the coast here in east Africa, you’ll know that it’s pretty hard not to have a fun time. But this was more than just a fun time: it was a learning time, a moving ahead time. That’s what made it so exciting for me.

The reason we were going to the coast for Easter was not originally for a holiday, rather my parents were teaching at a CMF retreat. (We just tacked on a holiday at the end: how can you be at the coast and not relax–u know?) It ended up that CMF couldn’t find any one to lead worship for the retreat, so they asked Chase and I.

I love leading worship. It’s a gift God has given me that I am just now starting to grow into. I knew that God had opened that door for Chase and I to lead worship at just the right time. It was a big step, yes, but God never expects you to take a step you can’t make.

After the first evening session of worship, I was so hyped. I get that way every once in a while, when there’s a slight opening in the clouds and I can see just a little ways ahead. When I can see a couple more of God’s footprints in the sand ahead of me, I get so excited. I just think, WOW: God you love me so much and you have a call that is especially for ME. You have a plan just for me: for my own life.

The next sessions all went really well. But I realized that performing never really worked out to be the best way to lead worship. Performing is self-centered, not God-centered. Worship is God-centered. Before every session I handed everything over to God. He’s given me the talent and he deserves the praise and glory. The best way to lead worship is to worship not to perform. If you just worship than the music comes freely and from the heart. When I worship, others around me are freer, and almost obligated to really worship themselves.





On Easter morning Pam, Delia, my mom, Chase and I got up before sunrise. We went out onto a deck that overlooks the Indian Ocean. We worshiped. We really worshiped. I didn’t have songs planned out before hand and if I were performing I really wouldn’t have done well; but we were worshiping, not performing. We sat on the edge of the deck and watched the sun come up over the clouds. The whole ocean was purple, red and orange and the sky was shimmering with warm colors. It was so glorious. At that moment I think all of us knew: “He has risen indeed!”

We went swimming in the warm water, made a sand castle, and Pam taught me a new song (“Scandalous Night”: inspiring lyrics). It was such a joyous morning. I love God’s grandeur. It’s contagious.




Huh, I was going to talk about all the fun stuff we did at the coast and try to get you jealous; but compared to all of the
above nothing else sounds like as much fun as it really was. :-)

We swam a lot: I mean a ton. We rode waves in the ocean: had a lot of fun. I did some windsurfing: well I tried. And rode some dolphins: actually, I lied.

Does that compare at all with the worshipping stuff, the stepping into your calling stuff, the glorious Easter morning stuff? …I didn’t think so.

Oh yeah…we all got ear infections. Not fun AT ALL. Chase, Leighton and I had it first and by the time we got back almost everyone who swam in the ocean had gotten it. It’s horribly painful. For two nights I got hardly any sleep at all because I couldn’t even touch my ears without them throbbing. Then one of my ears clogged up completely (couldn’t hear a thing out of it). I think Chase and Leighton had it worse than me though: at one point, Chase had both ears clogged.

But now we are all better. Thank you Jesus.

Happy Easter everybody!!!