Mental Photos

Some of my earliest memories include moving to a new town when I was just six years old and my baby sister, Emily, being born when I was seven. I don’t remember full details, but rather small moments. I remember my first day of 1^st grade in my new school. I remember the classroom, my teacher, Mrs. Goodman, and how nervous I was. When my sister was born, I remember my parents dropping my other sister and I off to stay with nearby neighbors as they headed to the hospital. These are all small snapshots, but so memorable. You could call them mental photos. There aren’t actual photos to flip through or albums on Facebook to browse. These are special moments that I will never forget that have an important meaning to me.

This week has been full of mental photos. As we’ve come home to the US to spend time with Gavin’s dad, I’ve tried to be intentional in capturing special times with our family.  Macy and Connor giving Papa hugs throughout the day…snap. Gavin sharing conversations about every day life with his dad…snap. Sitting on the couch in the living room having worship and praying together…snap. These are the moments I don’t want to forget.

Two weeks ago, Gavin’s dad, Don, received news that he has cancer. He went to the doctor, having a hard time breathing and after having a chest x-ray, he was sent to the ER. This is where they discovered cancer in nearly every organ of his body. He was given two weeks to two months to live. Something no person is ever prepared to hear.

After a few days at the hospital, a decision was made to begin chemotherapy treatments. The day after his first treatment he was sent home.

Days and nights are hard. They coincide through short naps, eating small bites and hopes of a relief from pain. Cancer is tough; it’s not easy. But, we believe our God is tougher. We are thankful this journey isn’t one we walk alone. Even as we sat together for worship as a family on Sunday morning, Don said he doesn’t know how people go through this illness without Christ. He has hope in the midst of sickness. It’s what he clings to.

We treasure this time we’ve had to come back from Africa to be with our family. Please join us in prayer for Don. Pray for comfort, pray for relief from pain and above all pray that we would see the hand of God and know His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Gettin' Schooled

5th grade students

School in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) isn’t free. Schools can cost anywhere from $5US to $50US/per month. The more expensive the school, the better the education. Imagine being the sixth or eight child in a family of ten children and hoping your parents will be able to afford for you to attend school.

The South Katanga District in Southern DRC has seen this need and has a vision to build schools, giving quality education to families who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.  One of these schools has officially opened in the neighborhood of Katuba, in Lubumbashi.

1st grade class

When construction on the school in Katuba began in July of 2014, children would gather around as the first bricks were laid and walls started to come up. When we would ask the children where they attend school, they would respond, “Here.” “No, where are you attending now? This school isn’t open yet.” Again, their response was, “Here!” That’s when we realized so many children were waiting for a good education at an affordable price.

 On October 5^th, Complexe Scolaire du Nazaréen opened its doors to the community of Katuba hosting Kindergarten through 5^th grade for $6.50 per month. Currently, there are over 100 students in attendance and more coming to enroll each day. Students are learning French (since most come from homes where only Swahili is spoken), Math, Science and Bible. Quality education with a Biblical foundation!

Bucket Living

I find myself pretty emotional these days. Well, actually, I’m emotional most other times as well, but this is a different type of emotion. Currently, we are in the middle of the desert, figuratively speaking. Seven weeks without water in our house has left us relying on “bucket” living, meaning a constant stream of filling up buckets from a back faucet and carrying them inside our house. We “bucket” flush, we take “bucket” baths and the dishes get a “bucket” rinse. I’d like to think we are pros at “bucket” living now. Three days ago, we found ourselves without even the small trickle of water coming in our back faucet. “What are we going to do for water?” was my first thought. “Where are we going to get it from?”

I’m reminded of a woman in the Bible. A Samaritan woman going to draw water at a well, Jacob’s well. I can picture the scene well in mind after seeing women draw water from wells here.  In John, chapter 4, we read about this Samaritan woman going to fill her “bucket” with water and meeting Jesus. He asks for a drink from her, breaking a Jewish law. Jews were not supposed to talk with Samaritans. And, being a man, he was not supposed to talk to a woman without her husband present. But, that day, that life-changing day for this woman, Jesus wasn’t concerned with the law. He was concerned with offering grace and a chance to know Him. This Samaritan woman, whose name we never know, got to fill her “bucket” with much more than water to quench her thirst. She was offered living water. “Everyone who drinks this water (from the well) will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I want that water. I want to fill my “bucket” with living water from the Lord. Where am I placing my trust? In what am I placing my faith?

Yesterday, as I used the last drop of water we had in the house, I closed my eyes and prayed to the Lord, “Please provide water for us.” Not a second later, I heard a loud knocking at our front gate. I put on my shoes and went to see who was there. A neighbor down the road was there and said, “If you need to fill up with water, you can come to our house and get what you need.” As I held back tears, I thanked him and went to get our buckets. I praised God and smiled for his perfect timing. I asked and He immediately provided. 

This is where my hope is found. In Him, I put my hope all day long. He is a God who provides.

So, do I recommend “bucket” living? No, not necessarily. But, if it means getting to be reminded of the provisions of my Savior, who offers living water, yes!