Defining moments

Well as yesterday came and went I was reminded again about defining moments in our lives. As generations passed, we too have defining moments. My grandparents, bombing of Pearl Harbor; my parents, assassination of JFK, Andrews, 911. I began to to think of what is our defining moment? I remember clearly sitting in a dorm room watching the beginning of Desert Storm. A new era of war. I remember as a child sitting in mrs malvern's class watching president Reagan being shot, I remember as a new mom, watching the towers in NY fall wondering what in the world. What does this mean for my children. How does this defining moment change us as a nation. As Americans. Realizing now more than ever that the world was effected. The shot heard round the world, if you will...

As believers, we have defining moments. For me there are a handful, most joyous occasions, but not all.

As a ninth grader, my uncle was shot in his home. For many years to come I was afraid. Quoting, my God is with me, for whom shall I fear. Many days.

As a senior in high school learning our youth minister was leaving for a new church. Our group of seniors sat and talked about our responsibility to lead. To help those you get than us. To lead them in the way of God.

As a junior in college trying to get into pharmacy school, telling the school counselor that The Lord had sent me to this pharmacy school to go to pharmacy school. To an atheist of whom I am sure thought, WHO is this girl and why does she think she should get into the number 3 pharmacy school in the nation, with THOSE grades (although not bad, just not straight A's). Standing up to the keeper of my fate. Or so she thought.

I remember as a young adult deciding, do I go back to my home town or move off in a completely new town? Having left McKinney saying I didn't want to come back, but The Lord changed my heart over the course of my 5th year in college. Having homesickness of note and feeling as if I HAD to return.

Meeting David Even, knowing soon into the relationship we would be married. But, David having, let's just say cautions, to getting married again, I let him go....I remember having a hard conversation with him and with our GOD. Whoah...only for him to return a couple of months later. A LONG couple of months later.

I remember one Sunday being about 8 weeks pregnant and began to spot. May 31, 1998. Suppose to leave for extreme camp the next day. Realizing a few hours later, we were loosing the baby. Our baby. I remember sitting in what was to be our baby's room saying to David. This will be a defining moment. We will use this for God's glory somehow. Those tears and a broken heart choosing THAT moment for The Lord.

Defining moments...remembering in Oct 2007 in room 1 at Camp Eden, J-Life South Africa saying, God is calling us here. We've been looking at what all we could do to make this missionary thing happen and it was HIS plan all along. HIS timing. HIS people being called from First McKinney to send out a family not prepared only willing. A step of faith. A defining moment. Five and half years later and joining with us, almost 15 families out in the field from First McKinney.

Defining moments....over 600 people involved this weekend at DNow. I am praying for defining moments for youth, leaders, adults, Drivers. Neighbors, anyone able to see and hear. I want my BIG GOD to do BIG things. I want defining moments from THIS weekend to be written and spoken about for many years to come. We LOVE DNow. Miss it muchly. Every year. But my heart knows that The Lord makes these defining moments. Moments for us all.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:South Africa

Zambian Adventure Part 2

ok, ok, so it's taken me a little time to get back here with the second installment of the Zambian adventure story.  Life gets in the way of this blog thing, but I am determined to do better. Once into Zambia, our journey was thankfully quite uneventful. We drove from Victoria Falls to Lusaka the second day and then from Lusaka to Ndola the third day. The reason for this is because for about 40km (25 miles) before Lusaka there is no road. Just a dirt path off and on. Remember, this is the MAJOR highway going across east to west Zambia. Construction being the reason for no road, but non the less still no road.

Our time spent with our new J-Life Zambian staff members, Jason and Claire Stonier, was wonderful!! They had been in South Africa training and prepping for the move to Zambia since January of this year. They are slotting in nicely and are going to be a huge asset to J-Life Zambia. We miss them is SA.

Reuben, Claire, Daniel and Jason 

We got to see J-Life Zambia training center which was exciting. It is very usable for training right now, but with a little maintenance and cleaning we could take on bigger camps and training groups. There are a couple of mission trips planned for this purpose next year. We know for sure a group from Poole, UK is coming and with Jason and Claire's knowledge of project management the campsite will hopefully be able to support itself and some ministry opportunities in the near future. 

 Front of J-Life Zambia Training Center

 Dorm Room         Inner Courtyard

 Hall for Dining and Training

 Kitchen

 Back of training Center

Caretaker's house and storage

Next stop was to see Lifesong Zambia and the Spenglers and McBrides. So fun! The kids played all together. David, Liz and Grace went to a group Bible study with them. Matthew stayed behind with the McBride's older boys and the two boys that have been  "adopted" by the Spenglers. A great time was had by all. The older boys stayed home and cooked by themselves. You know, I will never stop learning that kids are kids. Teenagers are teenagers. Doesn't matter where you come from, what language you speak or the culture you grew up in. They love food and music. The international language of sorts. 

We also went to an auction held by a Bible College. The college had cleaned out some storage sheds filled with old furniture, shelving units, beds, mattresses (yep, old mattresses) and other sundries.  Quite the interesting experience. Not what you would say was anything like any auction I have ever attended. It took the first hour of the auction to get rid of the first 5 things. Wasn't quite the pace of any Auction Hunters I've watched either. Fun none the less. We found a few things for the training center such as a couple of tables for training and wood for shelves for the kitchen. Jason and Claire also found a few things for their house as they have now made TWO moves to TWO different countries just this year alone. Talk about cultural adjustments. 

One afternoon we spent with the J-Life Zambia country leader, David, and his wife, Lydia. You might remember back right before we left for the trip that Lydia's family had been in a car accident. Nine of her family members were killed. It was and still is a devastating trial to go through. 

All in all, the trip was successful. Much of business stuff David was going to discuss with David M., Jason and Claire had to understandably put off until another Skype meeting. David and Lydia were still greeting family members coming from far away to give their respects and the timing wasn't appropriate for business. All in the Lord's timing.

What an experience. I, as a mom, wanted my kids to be able to see other parts of Africa and see that the world is bigger than themselves. This world and life is not about us and what we have and do. It's about sharing the LOVE of Christ and seeing that there are people out there who still need to hear. We often get so wrapped up in our own circle of life that we forget and become selfish. It happens, but we need to guard against it happening. 

ok....all for now....

much love-liz