Romania

Very soon I will go back to where it all started. It’s hard to believe that a little more than five years ago, I embarked on a journey that would dramatically change my life and the world as I knew it. It was here I experienced Christ in a way I hadn’t ever before. It was here the Lord met me where I was and gave me a second touch as if I were that blind man from Bethesda. It was here that I learned that loving the “least of these” will change your life forever. Now I go back to where it started. I go back to Romania.

I remember packing my bags to come home after my first trip had come to an end. I was in the hotel and couldn’t seem to get my things into the bag. After a long effort in silence that had resulted in nothing being put in the bag, I spoke. “If I am supposed to go back home, way does it feel so wrong to leave?” I knew I would be back one day. That was true. In fact, I went back twice more the two years following that trip. I haven’t been there since 2007. It seems like a lifetime.

Although my trip isn’t a mission trip to work in the orphanages, I’m still excited to be going. I’m accompanying my husband on business this time around. However, I hope to see many in Romania that I have come to love and pray for over the years. I can’t wait! Please keep us in prayer as we travel abroad. We will take your love for the children of Romania with us and give thanks for you coming along for the ride in our travels.

Haiti

There is a picture stuck in my mind of a woman in pain. She sits on the pavement next to a dead body of someone she loves so dearly. The sound pouring from deep within her is a moan of absolute sadness and mourning. She sits next to the body on a sidewalk as people walk by. She rocks back and forth and wails with sorrow and pain. Bodies line the streets. Homeless children wander for someone to tend to their bloody wounds. The images are heartbreaking. These are just some of thousands facing the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti.

The Haitian people need our prayers. Please pray for my friend Larry (pictured above) who has invested his heart in Haiti. He will make his way there this weekend. He goes looking for his friends who have become like family to him. He goes to check on his children in the orphanage. He goes to find people who need medical attention. He goes to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Prayer is a powerful thing and the very thing they all need. Please lift Larry and the people of Haiti up in your prayers today. The need is great, but our God is greater.

James

I’m a part of a women’s study group that meets each week. Next week we are looking at the book of James. A new member of our group whispered to me, at the announcement of what we will study next, and said “I’ve never read James..have you?” I told her that I had and the cool thing about it was that even if you have read it many times, you still learn something new when you read it again.

Since James is pretty short, I decided I would make it a goal to read it every day for a week. I tend to remember things more if I read something more than once. Plus, I was recently challenged to do more memorization of God’s Word to invest in my spiritual life. It’s full of golden nuggets and words that permeate the heart and soul. Once again I have gained new insight on these same words I have read many times before.

I had lunch with a new friend recently and she told me of a family she and her husband had shown Christ’s love to. At the time, she was only a few weeks from giving birth to their first child. A family of four in their church was in need. They were going through some financial hardships and seemed to need a helping hand. Even though she was just weeks away from giving birth, they offered for this family of four to move into their home and live with them until they could get back on their feet. The family ended up staying much longer than expected and not being the most gracious guests to say the least. I was touched by her generosity of showing Christ’s love. As I did my reading of James later that day, I thought of her when coming across this verse.

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith: others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith, by my good deeds.” James 3:18


I challenge you to read James everyday for a week and reflect on the message the Lord speaks to your heart.