Lisa: Something I learned in Africa

It's been awhile since I sat down to write to you.  Lots of life has happened since we last chatted.  Marty and I went went to Africa to see Erin and some of her team, Marty brought back a piece of Africa with him that landed him in the hospital for a few days, catching up on work since coming home is always fun and then just the day to day stuff--laundry, cleaning and eating.  Of course my healthy food habits and exercise took a back burner the last 3 weeks but hey, tomorrow is Monday so I can start anew--haha!

We had a great time in Africa visiting Erin and catching up on all her stories and hearing some of her adventures that God has taken her on.  He has taken her to amazing places and she has met some incredible people along the way.  She made a comment on the trip that she has probably forgotten about since we were there but it has remained in my mind since she said it to me.  One of the great perks--or not so great, depending on how you think--of her trip is the time she spends everyday with her team, living in community.  She has enjoyed hanging out with her team and doing life together.  We were talking one day about her time with her team and she mentioned that they "speak life with each other every day" as well as lifting each other up to be more like Jesus.  Can you even imagine how your life would be if each day people were speaking life to you and encouraging you to be more Christ-like?  That is exactly what Jesus and his disciples did the 3 years they were together in ministry on this earth, what a great example of friendship and love!  Not all of life speaking, if you will, is pleasant.  Sometimes we are called to share the good and the bad about ourselves with others and listen to what they tell us in love.  Sometimes we are called to share things we see in others that can help them in their walk. Not something we usually are encouraged to do. Speaking life to someone is not on the top of most people's to-do list.  It is easier to go through the day and not do this to be honest.

What I learned in Africa (besides the obvious--don't drink the water, watch out for hippos and you can shower in a single stream on cold water) is how important it is to surround yourself with people who love you and people who will not be afraid to speak the truth in love over you and with you, even if it is hard to hear. What a great gift we can give each other--to encourage to be more like Christ.  I am excited to see who the Lord will place in my community when we are in the DR.  I pray that we will be able to love each other and show Christ's love to each other and those we will be serving.  I pray that all of you reading this will find yourself sharing life with us in the DR sometime in the future. We would love to have you stay with us and share the journey God has called us on.  May God help us to be bold with each other, love one another and share the easy and the not so easy together.  God bless all of you!  Lots of love!

Lisa