Thursday, May 29, 2014

Week 15 + 16 + 17

My name is Emily, and I'm the worst blogger ever.

Here are some photos from the past three weeks! 


I let a four year old paint my face. SO fun. 


Got care packages from home! 


Within one of my care packages from home was this pair of glasses. My friends convinced this guy from the coffee shop to try them on. He's such a good sport. 


I'm so glad to be back at the school after the holidays- I missed this girl so much! 



Photo shoot with friends


Can you say, "Rapunzel"? 


Ivan. Love this kid. 


Stargazing with friends. 
These guys are all heading back to their homelands over the next couple of weeks. I'm enjoying the last moments I have with them- what a blessing they've been to me. 
Thanks, Jesus. 


Evening in Namatala with these awesome kids! 


Caught a baby frog! 


GUESS WHAT WORLD: my seester is here! 



Em 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Week 14

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16. Arguably the most well known scripture in the Bible.

I was preparing a lesson for my P-6/P-7 kids over John 3:1-21, the story of Nicodemus. I've read this story before and I've known John 3:16 by heart since I was a small child, but I never put together that Jesus spoke these famous words to Nicodemus.

Nicodemus. One guy. One very confused guy. Who came to Jesus in secret. In the middle of the night. In the dark. What?

Doesn't it seem that the most important words in the Bible, the most famous, the sum of the Gospel, should have been spoken to someone really important? Or perhaps a multitude of people? Shouldn't it be recorded when Jesus was standing on some hilltop, speaking to thousands?

Nope. Jesus chose to sum it all up to one man. In secret. In the dark. Why were they in the dark? Because Nicodemus was afraid.

Jesus tells him about what it means to be born again, gives revelation of the Holy Spirit, and the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven.

I started to think: if Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of such important things, one man in the strangest of settings, is He possibly revealing things to you, in your fear, in the darkness, that are of great importance? Things that could rock your world, things that need to be shared, things that the world needs to know?

Em

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Week 13

Hello everyone!

Another week of my kiddos out of school means another week of tagging along with other ministries. I attempted to do some tutoring and Bible study with my kids this week, but it never seemed to work out. I guess that's just how it goes with school holidays. I'll catch up with them when they're back in school in two weeks. :)

I went with some friends to a Bible club in town. They had a team in town from the States. The team was doing some teaching on listening to God and praying for healing in a way that young kids can understand. They explained to the children all of the different ways that God speaks to us, putting special emphasis on the fact that no way of hearing from God is better than any other way. They gave the children an opportunity to listen to God for an encouraging word for their neighbor. I partnered up with a little boy named Joseph. God gave me a picture of Joseph as a cornstalk in a field. He was growing up rapidly, surpassing all of the plants around him, reaching up into Heaven. God showed me that Joseph is going to grow strong in the Lord, in knowledge and understanding. After God gave me this picture, my mind began to wander and I started thinking about a friend in America that I miss very much. When the listening time was over, I told Joseph about the picture God gave me of him. I asked him if God told him anything for me. At first he shook his head no. Then he said, "God told me to tell you that He loves your friend very much." Wow! It was awesome. The team then taught the kids about praying for healing. They shared a story from the Bible then taught the kids about basic steps to use to pray for people. The kids then practiced by praying for one another. It was an awesome day of learning- I absolutely loved it!



A friend of mine works for a local children's home and invited some of us out to the home for a day of fishing with their kids. We split the kids into two groups and went in shifts. We started by collecting grasshoppers in a nearby field to use as bait. The kids found poles on the way down to the river. We helped them tie string and a hook on the end, along with a small piece of cut up flip flop to float like a bobber. Baiting the hook with a grasshopper was probably my favorite part. I think the final count of fish caught by the group was something like six. I didn't catch any fish, but I did catch ten grasshoppers and of that fact I am quite proud.



This week was my lovely roommate's twenty-fifth birthday. Happy birthday, Callie! Here are twenty-five of my favorite things about her:

She always has good advice.
She’s always ready to have fun.
She isn't afraid to make fun of herself.
She loves the kids in her care with a fierce love.
Self sacrifice is second nature to her.
She loves people.
She makes me laugh.
She makes me food.
She always knows when something is wrong. Always.
She never shames people.
She always smells good.
She loves people.
She watches New Girl with me.
She always tells me I’m pretty even when I am really, really not.
She encourages me.
She loves people.
She gives the best hugs.
She laughs at my jokes.
She loves people. Like, she seriously loves everyone.
She’s honest.
She wants everyone to feel comfortable.
She tans really well.
She speaks life into people.
She smiles all the time.
She loves people.





I really couldn't ask for a better roommate, workmate, and friend. You’re the best, Callie dear.

Em