Monday, April 19, 2010

Things i (Eric) Can’t do that I Can Do

I think we often forget that the times when we reach the end of our own abilities is when God steps in. I often wonder when I take some time to read through the Old Testament if David or Gideon or any of the other successful kings and judges were really gifted generals and leaders or if they just have more faith than the rest of us. Did they know what to do in each specific situation that they stumbled into or did they just have God so much at the front of their minds and lives that they followed him wherever they went.

If they can do it what is stopping me? For a while I thought that I just wasn’t as faithful, or maybe that kind of stuff doesn’t happen anymore. It took me a while to realize that in actuality I was not living my life outside of my own abilities, I was holding back. I was too worried to step out on a path too difficult for me to finish myself. Now there were times when I chose to follow God’s way of doing things instead of my own even in the easy part of my life and it turned out well, but for the most part I tried to stick to stuff I could do myself so that I could do it my way. I am now in a place in my life where I can’t do it myself anymore.

I am about to embark on the adventure of building a school for the children of Angel House and surrounding community. We will start with the foundation, move on to the walls, roof, doors and windows, and eventually finish up with the plaster (inside and out). The process reminds me so much of what guiding the growth of kids at Angel House can be like. We hope to lay the foundation of God, add the protection of walls and a roof through good living and education, and pray that in the end they chose to put on the finishing touches of plaster in a way that honors God. In both of these processes other people will be there to help and even be in charge of different parts, but I know that the parts I will be responsible for will not be within my normal capabilities.

I will have to be able to focus on God throughout this project so that when I lose my way I just have to follow his path, the one laid out for me through experience, faith, and the wisdom given through his word. I have a feeling that if I asked those kings and judges of old they would say the same thing. Look toward God and he will provide what is needed, do his will and he will not leave your side. We know that God is faithful and my prayer is that I can be as well. How is your faith and what are you willing to do in the near future that requires you to trust in God more than yourself?

Saturday, April 17, 2010

little miss Winnie




Winifrida William was terrified of us the first day she came to Angel House. I'm not sure what they told her about white people in the village she came from, but I mean literally terrified. Screaming and crying when any of the three of us would come near, hiding behind the staff or under the table...and these days all of that couldn't be further from the truth. She is a lovebug, hanging on my arm everywhere I go, asking to be held, lovingly gazing at me with a big smile on her face.

She actually has a mother that is still alive, but she has what I'm assuming is severe diabetes...they called it sugar cancer...so seriously that she has lost all sensation in her fingers, has no teeth, and can't move around well enough to take care of a growing child. So last month Winnie came to live with us. She's a spitting image of Nossi, who used to be our youngest, in the craving attention category.

She started into school when she came, and is studying in Nursery class, which is the equivalent to Kindergarten. But...she is the teacher really, because lately she has taught me an important thing or two about going through life. Wherever we go, she wants to be holding my hand. Which is great, but she walks really slow. I'm constantly reminding myself that I have no reason to really be in a hurry, but after years of feeling a bit hurried, I can't help it. There are times when I have wanted to just have my own hand back to itself, because the walking will be a bit easier. But I'm reminded that people are placed in our lives to teach us something or another, and with her, I feel blessed to have a continual reminder that, though life can seem less complicated if you're doing it independently, it is actually more enjoyable in the long run to go through whatever comes on the path with someone else. Who would have thought a 5 year old could teach a 29 year old a thing or two about sharing?

A big thanks to Rho Kappa Sorority & Amy Weber for choosing to be her sponsor; your giving will send her to school at St. Jude English Medium School's Kindergarten class this year.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

3rd grade's day out

Only here, can you say you're going into town to study, and all age levels of children will want to come. 3rd graders have been working hard on English and Math lately when they're off school, so Wednesday they got a trip into town to have a lesson at the volunteer house, and enjoy a soda afterwards...happy campers were they.


Siza
Angel and Bahati
ChuChu


Salome enjoying Pickles after class
,

Saturday, April 3, 2010

faces too precious not to share...

nyanokwe sweet grace


chacha yusuf
angel