.thoughts from a hotel room.

• designing Christmas cards
• sipping coffee from the Starbucks located in my hotel
• knowing that the end is near
• unsure how to process that fact
• my heart breaking that soon I won't hug these precious children
• how do I begin to work through that fact?
• standing on the strength of the One who called me here, for He knows what He is doing. His timing is perfect. He is good. He will mend my heart.

.armor bearer/world changer.

In staff devotions this week I was challenged by a message from 1 Samuel (thank you Auntie Mel). In chapter 14 Jonathan decides to leave camp without telling anyone and only takes his young armor bearer with him. (I wonder how old this armor bearer was because his courage and faithfulness are pretty remarkable.) Jonathan wants to go to the outpost of the Philistines and his armor bearer responds with such an incredible statement, he says:

“Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” (NIV)

“Do what you think is best. I’m with you completely, whatever you decide." (NLT)

"Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your desire." (NASB)

"Go ahead. Do what you think best. I'm with you all the way." (Message)

This one phrase is powerful. From Jonathan's perspective he has the support of one person and it is that support that gave him the courage to pursue his dream. The backing of one man gave Jonathan boldness. From the armor bearer's perspective he knew who his faithfulness and devotion belonged to and no matter what he would stay with Jonathan.

I began to look inside my life after reading this asking myself if I had the character of the armor bearer. "No matter what, I am behind you heart and soul." Is that my heart towards my friends? Would l risk my life to protect them? The second question that came to my mind was whether I have people supporting me in that way. Are my friends with me heart and soul?

Are we in this together? Do we walk through this life embracing courage for one another? I am so blessed by the friends in my life. God has surrounded me with incredible people that support me. I can't even tell you the gratitude that overflows from my heart when I think of these people. Through these friends I have been challenged to dream big and trust and grow. It is because of them that I have the courage to take leaps of faith.

I pray that each of you have an armor bearer in your life. I hope that someone walks alongside you giving you the courage to GO and DO.

I pray that I am that to my friends and my children. Perhaps all my kids need is someone behind them saying, "I am with you heart and soul." While I will not always be near them, able to physically hold their tiny hands I know that I can protect and defend them from afar through prayer and petition. It may just take one person saying "I am here for you" that inspires a child to change his community, his world. Steps of faith aren't taken easily. They require strength, purpose, and courage. Who will give them this courage? It is up to us. It is up to me.

a couple random pictures from tonight :)

New York! New York!

Recently we were so blessed to spend a couple weeks in NY. We spent some time in the city, but also performed at West Point and in Canandaigu (our very own Auntie Amy's church!!!)

The backyard at my host family. Incredible? Yes.

Recreation of the pumpkin scones from Starbucks. Amy and I personally think we did a better job =0)

Sunday afternoon spent at the HF.

We got to bake!!! This hardly ever happens on tour. We made an apple pie, it was my first attempt ever. It didn't turn out too bad.

The end result.

Enter N.Y.C.

We prayed that there would be a Starbucks close to the theatre and you know where it was!??!! Right across the block. We are blessed :)

Taking a break from the green room, we took the kids on a walk through Central Park. Someday I will come back here.

Crossing the busy street.

Alex.

The venue for the night, it was beautiful inside.

Oh Rogers. . .

Ritah applying her chapstick :)

Reagan just hanging around, passing the time.

Sporting their new costumes! They love them!

Well goodnight world. I am in Georgia right now and it has been a long couple of days driving to get here and I am plumb tired. I will post soon about my experiences in the south. :)

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.