Ordinary Moments #1

See that paint? Right there, on the wall under the table. 

Ya, that little girl produced the masterpiece.

A couple weeks ago, our neighbors downstairs were playing with a bunch of us on our roof. The rule is, if the kids are in the house they have to be supervised. Well, that little girl is pretty mischievous and somehow manages to get herself into a lot of trouble. I came in from outside, sat down on our floor cushions and looked up. My jaw dropped as I noticed all the paint and then I began to laugh. I knew that it was one of the kids, so we called them all inside and sat down on the floor with them. We simply asked, "Who painted on the walls?" They responded by shouting every name but their own. We explained that if they just admit who did it and apologized that it wouldn't be a big deal. But that little girl just refused to admit that she was the one who got into all the paint. Eventually I looked down at the sweet face who was determined not to get caught, and I noticed her figure nails and her hands. The were covered in red, yellow, and blue paint. We pointed it out to her- and she began to deny it even more- we began to chuckle. But she was persistent, refusing to admit that she was the one.

Eventually, we got her to admit it and there were apologies, correction, and forgiveness. But we ended up talking about telling the truth. Such a simple thing, but at the same time, so destructive when it does not take place. I laughed a lot during the whole process, and I still laugh at the story. It is funny to think of a sweet little girl refusing to admit she painted on the walls even though her hands are covered in the paint. But when it comes to our hearts, its not so funny. Patterns are made in our life, and we have to be committed to being truth-tellers and to calling others to live in the light. As funny as the little event was, it reminded me of how easy it is to choose deception. I was thankful for a light-hearted reminder. I am thankful for the invitation to be a truth-teller. And I was thankful for an opportunity to invite a little girl to also choose the way of truth.

Nine things of Thanksgiving

1. Sunsets at the end of the day. 

2. These gems- who know how to play hard and laugh loud! 

3. This boy! 

4. Our kitchen, where a lot of life together happens & a lot of processing the day over tea! 

5. This double rainbow, that was a gift from the sustainer of creation just for our desert town!

6. Arabic coffee and being able to make it successfully! It's funny how small cultural victories can be so encouraging:)

7. This girl! She melts my heart and her sass is so funny and reminds me of what it looks like to be full of life. 

8. Zoo day! (Check out our video on my facebook page- it was awesome)

9. Internet &  these pumpkins (+ the other 2) who are my favorite kiddos around! 

Like a Child

The summer after my Freshman year at Covenant, I decided to move to Pensacola and work there for the summer. I knew no one living there, I had never lived near the beach before, and I had a new job. Everything was new- but I needed that. I needed new tasks, new faces, and new ways to step into deeper levels of dependence and trust in the one who is forever faithful!

Dependence became a theme for my life during that season in Pensacola. 

He continued to teach my about dependence in him as I became an RA, as I made an effort to befriend high schoolers, as I taught ESL for the first time, as I knocked on door's of people that I did not know, and most recently as I bought a ticket to Jordan.

He continually asks me to trust and depend in him as a child would.

Recently I have found myself thinking, "I need to speak Arabic," at least a hundred times a day. When I think about speaking Arabic, I think about being fluent- not just understandable. And to say it bluntly, I just don't speak well yet. And so I notice the way he is once again asking me to DEPEND on him and on others. He is asking me to come to him like a child who believes that he will provide all I need.

"Be like a child. 

Put yourself in a position of humility, 

of having to learn from."

I consider him, who knew everything, and yet decided to come in a form where he had to listen and learn how to talk. He had to learn the names of things in the kitchen and how to buy and make food. When I consider him, the task of learning a new language becomes a joy! 

Thank you all for loving me well in the midst of transition. 

I miss you all and thank God for you! 

[A LITTLE REMINDER: please be very intentional with the words you use. I work for The Hope Project, which is a psycho-social company working among refugees. We do not say our political views- so please do not post yours on any of my social media or e-mail. A good rule of thumb is don't say anything that I do not say in my updates. Thank you for being careful.]

I'm here!

My life has drastically changed since seven days ago. I have gone from living in West Knoxville to living in a desert village in Jordan. As I think about the crazy contrast of the two- I am reminded that He who calls us is forever faithful! That phrase, "forever faithful" has marked my first little bit here, and I am sure it will continue to!
Maddy and I each had empty seats next to us on the plane, we arrived in Amman on time, all of our bags came, and we even had time to grab a coffee before our Jordan family arrived to pick us up. It was a smooth trip, which both of us were thankful for after many hard goodbyes. We drove out to our desert village, where we got settled into our room. 
The transition has been very smooth and there has been a lot of joy in the process. Being back among Arabs feels like one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. They are such beautiful people, full of hospitality and joy even in the midst of so much conflict. 

For the past week we have been focusing on how to live well as a family; how to honor one another in the way we talk, joke, clean up after ourselves, and engage in conflict. Normal community life type stuff:) We also have spent time sharing dreams and our hearts for this community. It has been a joy to sit under the people here and learn from them! Every single one of them offers so much truth and life to our Jordan family. 

Even though we have spent most of our time as a family, I have still gotten to experience some of what The Hope Project is up to around town. I have sat with multiple refugee families and learned their names, and bits of their stories. I have laughed hard with young children, colored lots of pages, and learned little arabic songs with fun dance moves. I have loved it!

The other night four of us went out to give some heaters to refugees living around us. When asked why we would do that for them, we got to simply say that we love them and their people with a love that is not our own. Love looks like something, and during the winter it often looks like a heater with a full gas tank. Heat is important for these families! They are cold, and often their food coupons barely cover their food for that month, much less their heat. Every house we go into feels humanly impossible, and that is why feasting on his faithfulness is so important.

There is an abundance of hope and joy here! 

I am forever grateful that I get to be Jordan sitting with refugees.

I need to go and study Arabic now, I have my second lesson tomorrow.

Much love friends and family!

and thank you for your prayers!

[A LITTLE REMINDER: please be very intentional with the words you use. I work for The Hope Project, which is a psycho-social company working among refugees. We do not say our political views- so please do not post yours on any of my social media or e-mail. A good rule of thumb is don't say anything that I do not say in my updates. Thank you for being careful.]