Feeling Blessed

Saturday morning I woke up (although I really didn't get too much sleep during the night) feeling pressed down & overwhelmed. I had had a really busy week, with several unresolved problems looming, and a lot left to be accomplished in the few days I have left in the US.

What a difference one morning of worship and a nights sleep can make :) I am sitting here in my comfy chair looking out at a ball of red sun peeking up over the little lake outside. A hummingbird friend I've been watching each day at the feeder outside my kitchen window is busily sipping her morning nectar. This is my quiet, alone time with the Lord. Rusty's sandwich packed and he's off working, Sarah still asleep in her bed. I am blessed beyond measure !

I had dinner Thursday night with some wonderful ladies who are organizing and planning Christmas for the staff and children at the mission. They are working so hard to make sure it's perfect and that no one is left out- did I mention that we care for 170 children and have 40 full-time employees ! What a heart for giving and serving these ladies have.

Friday night several teachers came over to share the progress they've made on developing kindergarten curriculum. These gals have a heart for children and a vision of what can be done to bring our mission school to a new level. They are making teaching materials for hands on learning- and have a really good start on the year- almost ready to be turned in for translation. It's very encouraging to sit with them and share in their enthusiasm.

Our grandchildren spent Thursday and Friday with us, too. My days were filled with swimming, a trip to the library, making tents out of bedsheets, baby dolls and building blocks. We even found some special window paint and painted pictures on all Nanny's kitchen windows :)

Saturday, one of the youth work teams from the River of Life/Builders Care urban missions project came over and helped with moving some things around and loading some heavy cabinets in the storage container we are filling to ship to Haiti. I met some great people from Savannah, Arkansas, and even Colorado! Sarah worked with them last week, documenting their mission adventures with photos and participating with them in some of their worship & fun.

We also packed for our trip this weekend. Together with volunteeers and pastors who will be coming to visit the mission in a week, we sweated through packing 12- duffel bags each filled with 50 lbs of supplies. It was hot, exhausting work... after a hot, exhausting week.

Sunday morning we went to worship with the River of Life youth on mission at our old church that we grew up in. It was good to be a part of their heartfelt & joy-filled praise and also great to connect again with old friends.

See how incredibly blessed I am? It was a hard, busy week. The problems didn't get solved or fixed yet. I still have a ton to do before I leave the country later in the week. But it will get done... or maybe it won't- either way I am resting, safe in God's hands. Safe and loved... and incredibly blessed.