Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Destination: Manakambahinikely~Morarano-Chrome

No greater satisfaction is there than serving Christ. With each new offering we give, He fills our lamps anew with sweet oil, burning ever brighter. Only once I experiences this refill does my previous hoarding of time and energy prove to be the most foolish decision I have made. Some how I convince myself that by holding back from giving everything I will have some leftover. Little did I know, that those leftovers pale in comparison to the flood He pours on those who do not hold anything back.  This overwhelming truth continually resounded on a trip to two villages, Manakambahinikely and Morarano-Chrome, taken with a mission team from Mooreland, OK and my family. I entered the trip knowing that it would be my last time to travel to such a place (at least for quite some time), and I hoped that big things awaited me. God's big things are always so incredibly surprising.

On Sunday morning Debbie, a beautiful woman of faith from Mooreland, gave a short devotional to the children of the small church there. She told the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. Beginning with the small boy's packed lunch, she did little but recount the tale. One packed lunch. 5,000 people on a hillside. Twelve doubtful disciples. A boy willing to go hungry. And one Savior who knew better. Simple yet so profound. The disciples objection to the boy's lunch, convicted me to the core. The boy's complete offering proved to be more powerful than they ever could have imagined. Christ took the entirety of the lunch, and then proceeded to pour out an overwhelming abundance on not only him but every single person on that hillside, including the men who first saw no potential in it. What a flood of provision and blessing Christ poured out on those present that day. A seemingly difficult sacrifice for the little boy became the best one he ever made. Debbie closed with a statement along the lines of, "God can use the little you have for big things" and a shrinking feeling came over me. Father, why do I convince myself that somehow I am fully satisfied with my five loaves and two fish, when you have demonstrated to the world that you do not ask self-sufficiency of us. You do not give us gifts for us to hold tightly to them, afraid they'll slip away. You did not die on a cross and carry the weight of our sin so that we could settle in on the hillside instead of running to you with all we have like the boy did. Open up the eyes of your children, that we might once again see your promise of an overflowing cup. One that cannot run dry, but continually runs and runs and runs. May we not become satisfied with stagnant water, but let all its contents flow freely outward, as we anticipate, thirstily, a flood from our Savior.

I returned from this trip humbled. Eight years in Madagascar, and still I learn more than I ever think I will. God's immensity astounds me continually. It's not a fair deal: my loaves and fish for His infinite grandeur. But I guess that undeserved grace is what is so astounding about Him.





Magical Mahajanga.

A trip to my favorite seaside town provided me with major bonding time with friends, as well as, precious moments of praise to God for bringing me to such an island, and allowing me to grow up here. I am a piece of glass stained by its red earth. 




Tuesday, June 14, 2011

10 Things I look forward to about returning to Oklahoma...

The reality is settling in now. Each day I pack up a little bit more of my room, the walls grow bare, and my shelves look less and less cluttered. It's bittersweet, yet growing sweeter. As I  ponder on all the newness that awaits me, I can't help but smile. God has got it under control, my worrying leads to nothing, and serves no purpose. And so I what else can I do but sit in this sweet spot of dependency on the One who hung the stars?
He has good things for His children, and these are some that I look forward to:

1. Family 




2. Antiques

3. The season called: Fall

4.Farmer's Markets 

(Oklahoma City Farmer's Market)

5.Snow

6. Starting school at Oklahoma Baptist University, in Shawnee, OK. 

7. The sunsets

8. Sonic Drive-In

9. Pick-up Trucks


10. Starting over

Monday, June 13, 2011

a wind chime souvenir.

In an attempt to string together the random trinkets I've collected over time here in Madagascar. I am trying create my own wind chime. 
Materials:
One rusty metal hoop. Made by welder up the hill from our house. 
Several giant wads of wild Malagasy silk, and believe they smell pretty WILD.  
Ribbon. 
In's and Odd's of the Island. 
Stones from the Greek city of Nafplio. 
Recycled wine bottle parts. 






Tune in soon for the finished product. 

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Graduation!

I am officially finished with high school! June 3rd was our graduation ceremony, and what a freeing moment it was! All the moments when I didn't think the end would ever come, seem so far away now. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time at the American School of Antananarivo to the fullest extent. Such an obscure little place, on an obscure island, with obscure people attending it (myself included). I truly believe that God used the wacky place to draw me deeper to Himself, to teach me how to love people of stark different backgrounds, and to prepare me for greater challenges ahead. Thanks be to the Master Planner who knew exactly what such a place would do for me; amounting to so much more than just knowledge of the Napoleanic Era and Statistics. 

ASA Class of 2011

Speech. (I was shaking inside)

Sarah Jane and I.

more seniors...
My big brother.
The options are endless now! I feel as though the entire world is an undiscovered sea, just waiting for me to dive into it and bask in the beauty bestowed upon it by the Creator. So many places to see, people to meet, jobs to work, organizations to join, ministries to pour into. The immensity gives me goose bumps. My heart beats faster and a smile breaks out each time I think about the new chapter that awaits me.