Renewed

Romans 12:2:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Today I had some time to renew my mind. Finding solitude and uninterruptedness can be a challenge on the road, but today I found some. As my mind began to dwell on things above I realized that I am not renewed enough. This is a daily habit that should be at the forefront of my days and yet it is so easy to push aside the seemingly invisible things that are in actuality most important. Each morning I should be drenching my mind and heart in the redemptive words of Christ. These words are a medicine to the soul and when they take full effect they will transform us. Transform. A powerful word that stands for change and difference in our lives, developing our character to be more like our Maker. And the beautiful promise after this is that we will be able to know what God's will is. Why? Because we have filled our minds with truth instead of lies, we have tuned our hearts to know what is from the Father and what is not. This verse holds beautiful hope for me.

And as I begin to think about being renewed it makes me question who I am. Perhaps this is also brought on due to the close approaching end of tour and I begin to wonder how much has changed. Have I changed (for the better) as a person, as a servant, as a child of the King? Have the children changed? Have they grown spiritually and personally? Have I been an example of love and sacrifice to them? These are all questions that loom in my mind and heart and in a month and a half I will know the answers. When tour is over and the children board the plane I will know. I will then fully understand the great adventure that just took place and how much has changed from last year.

We are never the same. We are always going somewhere. It is our choice to choose the path that leads to self-preservation and self-fulfillment or to choose the path that leads to holiness and sacrifice. I will hold onto the hope of this verse, that as I am renewed and transformed I will know His will.

(Photo taken by the wonderful Amy)

Excitement.

I am just so excited that I got my haircut that I had to post a picture.

When 2 Choirs Collide!

Yesterday was quite the day! By the end of it I was emotionally exhausted from all the excitement of the day. My family came to see our concert in Goshen, Indiana and I was able to stay with them for the night. It was so fun and I loved having them experience a bit of Choir 35. It has been months since I saw a few of them and I loved catching up, it gives me some excitement for after tour and being able to spend some more time with them. I was sad to see them go, but I know that I will see them in a couple of months.

Parents, sister, and cousin :)

After leaving Goshen, I was in a half sleep on our bus ride when Naomi, sitting next to me, exclaimed, "Look!!!! AN AFRICAN CHILDREN"S CHOIR BUS!!!!!!" I sat up and to my amazement there was Choir 37 on the same overpass as us! The kids started yelling and were so happy (as were the chaperones). So along a random rode in Ohio our two buses followed each other looking for a place to park. And when we did and the doors opened one would hardly believe the happiness that followed. There were lots of hugs and a few joyful tears.

An "ACC bus sandwich" as the children liked to call it.

Yesterday I was blessed with seeing familiar and new faces. Choir 37's children are so small compared to ours and it brought me back 14 months ago when our beautiful children came to North America. I am reminded how much our children have grown and changed and learned, as have I.

Saying goodbye to Choir 37 was bittersweet. I am excited to witness the adventure that they are embarking on, but I was so sad to leave dear friends. The miles grow between us, but I am excited for the next (hopefully) reunion, because when 2 Choirs collide wonderful things happen.

Ode to fall.

Tonight something strange happened. One of my girls said, "Auntie, I hope that it is cold tomorrow." I was shocked and just stared at her. Here before me is Ritah and if you knew Ritah you would know that she HATES the cold. It could be 58 degrees outside and she will have a winter coat and hat on.

Exhibit A:

I decided though that she is in love with fall. Now this may be my own bias entering the picture, but I am pretty confident about my conclusion. The crisp air, changing leaves, vibrant colors, and apple cider, how could these things not overtake her? Deborah also commented on the ride home tonight that her favorite season is fall.

My only sadness in this for them is when they go home there is no fall. So I have decided that I will make this fall the most memorable time for them. I am hoping that the colorful leaves will hold onto their branches an extra week or two, that host families will feel the need for the children and I to carve pumpkins and then make pumpkin pie, that Jesus would turn our apple juice to apple cider, and that the children will understand the importance of change.

We are moving east. Currently we are in Wisconsin and in two days we will be in Indiana and then two days later we will be in New York. I am confident that we will follow fall and enjoy autumn in New York.

Holding hands.

About a week and a half ago we arrived back to the lower 48 from Alaska. We docked in Bellingham, WA and had a great day spent with the office staff there. Soon after we headed to Seattle to perform at a Rotary event. Upon arriving to our hotel we walked to a restaurant for dinner. Dinner was over and it was time for the children to get ready for bed. Walking back to the hotel I was holding hands with Reagan and this thought came into my head:

Whose hand are you holding?

Of course I am holding Reagan's hand. As I kept thinking about it though I still couldn't shake it. Whose hand am I holding? Someday Reagan will create, hold, comfort, build, work, and change the world with his hands. God will use him and all the children. Perhaps I am holding the hand of the one who will one day find the cure to AIDS. Perhaps I am holding the hand of the one who will comfort the orphans and the widows. Perhaps I am holding the hand of the one who will change a nation.

I don't know whose hand I am holding, but it is a beautiful thing. I am part of who he will become. Now that is an honor and responsibility. Because what I pour into these hands is what will come out of them. Do I sow love and care? Do I sow patience or selfishness? Do I sow faithfulness or imprudence? Thankfully there is the grace of God to fulfill what I am not for him.

And one day I will let to let that hand go. I will release his little hand and he will fly back to his home. I will miss holding hands with him and the other children. I will miss talking and seeing their eyes light up. But if I don't let his hand go the world won't change. So for today I will pour every good thing I possibly could into his hands hoping he will be equipped.

Dear Lord, help me. I can't do it on my own. I can't give them everything they need, only you can do that. You know exactly what they need. May I be your vessel to deliver what they need?

A perfect fall day.

A trip to the countryside to a lovely apple orchard in the middle of fall. It was perfect.

We love fall :)

Haha, this one is for Amy.

Apple picking!

It's a pea pit. Yes, a pea pit. A pit full of dried peas. The kids loved it!

Thank you Auntie Tina for taking us.

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,

and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth

seeking the successive autumns."

- George Eliot