Life Lately

It has been a few weeks since my last blog and that is mostly do to the switching gears for Beautiful Gate Lesotho. I flew back to Michigan on July 3 and was greeted warmly by family and friends. Arriving back home was very hard last year. I remember having to play catch up with friends and feeling out of place all the time. I vowed to try and not let that happen again this year. I took some steps while in Lesotho to help with this. I stayed connected with friends and family via the Internet and that helped a lot. I was able to already know what was going on in their lives and not feel left out of the conversation. Another big help was having an accountability partner on each side of the ocean. It is always good to have someone who you can be real with and share your honest thoughts, but they feel very comfortable to keep you in check when the doubts and fears come in.

The biggest thing I believed that has helped me transition back to Michigan is God's glory. I didn't want to come back here and feel like I had no purpose. Leaving Beautiful Gate can do that to you. It is hard to go from everyday having people need you to no one needing you. I prayed while I was in Lesotho that God would show me His glory in Michigan. I know He is everywhere. It may seem easier to see Him in Lesotho, but He is just as present in Michigan as He is in Lesotho, it just may take a little more time to find Him. I am amazed how this prayer has brought so much joy and peace.

I have found His glory in...

• Conversations with people about Jesus.
• Phone calls from a friend, just because we can do that now.
• A friend staying late after church, who truly wants to hear all about what is going on at BG.
• A stranger stopping in and praying with a friend and I while we had lunch.
• A backyard landscaping project that brought some great quiet time.
• Participating in worship at Haven Church. (What song did we play? Oh yes, Oceans.)
• Bible Study on Wednesdays.
• Family time.
• Moments with my family that I live with.
• Walks with the dog.
• Pizza with a friend.
• Moments of laughter and joy with people.
• Hugs.
• Time on the deck with my guitar.
• Conversations with people who want reach out to children who need to know their priceless.

The Lord is so good. Being in Michigan the last two weeks has been good. I was already given the opportunity to present to a group of business men and have had multiple meetings regarding Beautiful Gate Lesotho. I am blown away by how many people know this tiny little country and want to be able to help them know Jesus.

Are there days when I miss Lesotho? YES!!! I miss having children in my arms, in my office, in my house, tied to my back and sitting on my lap. I miss my friend and the daily conversations about life and how we never took each other too seriously. ;) But I know that right now I am called to be right here and in being here I want to live life with JOY.

God is everywhere and if I spend so much of our time and energy on focusing on the differences of life in two very different worlds, I will miss Him.

I don't want to miss Him.