Wonderful Musician & Friend from Rwanda

Hey everyone: Check these videos out! These are from a guy from Rwanda named Ezra. Girls from my trip got to know him really well. He and his friends have an awesome ministry to street kids in Rwanda where they teach the kids about recording, music, and video production and give them a hope and skill for the future! There hearts are so big! Please enjoy their music and pass it on!

Some very "Classy Llamas"

As you have read below I have been working at Smoothie King and Kevin has been doing freelance work on the side while continually applying for full-time positions. This week Kevin made it through a few interviews and is now starting a 2 week trial with a web design company called: "Classy Llamas". We love the name as I'm sure some of you may have guessed. He started today and I know that made him feel great to get out of the house and actually do some work. Although it will be no pay during the two weeks we are praying for the Lord's will to be clear during these two weeks.
Well anyway, check out Classy Llamas site here: http://classyllama.com/

Other than that, Smoothie King is going well. It is a really easy job but I think what is a new experience for me is the random hours. I have realized I work better under consistent hours but I'm getting used to it and God is teaching me a lot through this experience. I have met some really great people at work as well including a girl who was born in Kenya (her parents were missionaries there)  and her grandparents have lived in Uganda most of their life.

Here is another little something for you all. I think that this is something that everyone should take the time to listen to. This woman is so inspiring and I just love to see her speaking such truths with such innocence. God is good. He will share his truth through anything and anyone!  Here is the video:

Recent Photos and Update

Happy Fall Everyone!
Today I got a job at Smoothie King! Praise God! So, come to me for all your Smoothie needs! haha!
Besides me getting that job, Kevin and I have become more active in the Northside Christian Church in Sprinfgfield. We started Sunday School and Small Group this Sunday and really enjoyed getting to know more people in the church. Fall has walked proudly and beautifully into the Mid-West with it's cool breezes and toasty sunshine. God's creation is magnificant!

Here are some photos of my photo shoot with Brooke and Andrea and also some random photos of our time here in Springfield. Enjoy.

Mountaintop vs. Valley

"Just a few more steps..." you tell yourself between each breath. With 40 pounds on your back and blisters that have popped and are now screeching for air you begin to wonder if the summit is really all it's cracked up to be. 

If any of you have ever experience climbing up the side of the mountain with some doubt that you will never make it, you know the reward in the end. The Mountaintop! Once you have reached the glorious summit all your doubts are washed away. You have a sense of accomplishment, relief, thankfulness, and joy all wrapped up in one deep breath. Mountaintop experiences are one of my favorite feelings that I have ever had. You can see God's creation from so many different angles. You begin to review your climb and remember the laughter and the struggle.

Today I read a note from Oswald Chambers about this very experience. In Mark 9:2, Jesus brings his disciples up the mountain to be alone with him. While they were with him Jesus decided to transfigure himself. Wow, what an amazing experience! Can you imagine that!? I can only imagine what a great honor that would be for Jesus to be with the disciples like that. I think that experience would trump all others. But then they leave the mountaintop and go down into the valley again where they find a demon possessed boy. Chambers mentions the significance of only being on the mountaintop for a moment and then going right back into the valley where there are hard things to deal with, confusing things, personal struggles, etc. We often go to the mountaintop expecting Jesus to teach us something but instead He transfigures himself. In some ways the disciples were probably confused by this: "why isn't he teaching us something new?".
Chambers says this:
"The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something."  

Chambers wants us to realize that we are always wanting the answer asking: "What's the use of this experience?" but this is a dangerous trap according to Chambers. He says that we can never measure spiritual matters in this way. We need to trust God that instead of teaching us things on the mountaintop, He is preparing our character and heart for what's to come in the valley. The valley is our destiny while on earth not the mountaintop. God will bring us to the mountaintop for inspiration and encouragement only to tell us to go back down. Seems kind of backwards but also so right.

As Kevin and I struggle in the valley with not having jobs and wondering when things will be back to normal... we are beginning to question what the true norm really is. What is "normal" to God? What is His will for us? In the same way Kevin and I have had some mountaintop experiences recently where the Lord uplifted and encouraged and then asked us to go back down the mountain into the valley again. It is SO hard to be present. I find myself continually trying to climb back up the mountain side only to keep slipping and getting nowhere because God knows it's not time yet. I frustrate myself. If only we could truly understand His ways. But like Chambers said, we cannot measure spiritual matters with human logic.

Today my Lord has blessed me with Oswald's words of wisdom. Hopefully they have spoken to you as well.

Blessings.