Spidey-style

Welcome to the superhero edition of "Known". 

I'm thinking about Spiderman today.

Spidey-sense.... He senses need, intuitively knows how to respond, and, when it's time to overcome evil, he handles business superhero style. 

With an outstretched arm, he has the power in two fingers to extend a web of protection and power - a sticky fortress to bind, to connect, to climb, and to just get it done. 

Lifa doesn't even know who Spiderman is, but he knows his name. He was given a Spiderman shirt and proudly drives through base on his "moto" with it on talking about him. 

(Clarification: Lifa is still at his dad's house. These are pictures and stories from the last 5 weeks he was here with me.)

My own little super-hero... Please disregard the hairbrush.

Spiderman: He's a super-guy. Super-powers, spidey sense, and what-not. Created at the hand of a Marvel man in response to every human being's (especially little boys') desire for something bigger, better, conquering, overcoming... for the good guy to prevail in larger-than-life kind of ways. Throw in a little romance and make him appeal to the normal, even nerdy-ish everybodies, and he becomes a timeless favorite that everyone relates to.

I started thinking about Spiderman because of the webs I'm so aware of today.

A web of family has been cast by the outstretched arm of my super-God. The uncreated one who invited us in to His marvelous creation to be a part of something bigger, better, conquering, overcoming and larger-than-life... eternal life. A divine romance. And it's personal - it's for you. And for me. And for the whole Family to come together. 

I'm blown away today. 

I've slipped away from my normal environment after spending the last 7 months with non-stop visitors at Ten Thousand Homes, welcoming the nations and the most incredible people in as family to participate in the most honoring and vulnerable work with us.

Drew from New Hope Christian Church in Wiley, TX
Photo by Carly B

And after saying goodbye to my church home in League City, Texas, who spent the last two weeks loving on and worshiping in my church home in Africa. They left committing to stay family, to keep coming, and telling me I'm Home with them.

Me and Mary in the kitchen

And after being welcomed in as a mother and a voice for family in my local SiSwati-speaking church in Mbonisweni, Evangelical Reform Church. After speaking on mothers as the bearers of the intimacy of Christ, my GoGo gave me a mama-dress to wear to church. It's traditional, beautiful, and I feel like a walking African-princess-party when I wear it. The congregation was delighted as they welcomed me as one of them. (Pictures coming soon!)

And after being a part of every family reunion on his father's side that Lifa has ever attended... and being welcomed in as family, as Lifa's mama, instead of as the only white girl and English-speaker. Heads don't turn anymore. We're just part of them.

And after learning family through the most unique community I've ever lived in. Living on base at Ten Thousand Homes this year went from feeling like obligation to feeling like home and like family. They are the people I am delighted to do my everyday with and am almost embarrassed by the indelible ways they love me. 

And after the first of many (I hope!) family members came around the world to know me here, to meet Lifa and to make the web of family stronger, thicker and so much more sticky. 

Me, Lifa and my cousin Laura

And after watching one little boy really love and be loved by my family and friends all over the world, and make a lasting impact in the heart of everyone he encounters.

Lifa and Anda

I've never been more convinced that my God is a super-God. 

He is powerfully and lovingly casting the most unique, unfathomable, super-sticky web, weaving the nations together and calling them Family. Allowing these created hands and feet to join in the super-story and be family together. 

I'm reeling in the sovereignty and the beauty of the Family of God. And the undeserved honor of getting to be part of the sticky.

I'm going to spend the next 3 weeks enjoying the stick. 

I'm going to celebrate the God of the outstretched arms and who doesn't need spidey-sense because He's already overcome the world. 

I'm going to live fully and love deeply with the family around me and the places and people He's stuck to me today. 

I'm going to worship with quality time, laughter and love.

And then I'll come back and blog about it. :) 

You're part of the web, and He's weaving you into His story of family. 

Thanks for sticking with me and Lifa. 

We love doing the super-story with you.

I'll miss you for 3 weeks, but am taking some time away from the computer screen. I'll see you in 3 weeks! 

This is just to hold you over....

One of Lifa's many super-powers: the body roll

love, love, love....

Bathing Suit Season

Let’s just put it all out here for the whole world wide web to see: I think I have a fear of drowning.

There was this one time when I was about 7-years old tubing down the Guadalupe River with my family, and a lady and her jumbo tube came barreling through some white water rapids. She slid right under and then over me, trapping me under my own tube with no idea how to get out. I freaked out. Twenty years later, I’m still talking about it.

A year or so later, I was wading through the wave pool at Water World with my cousin Carli. With the moms and NaNa sunbathing and guarding our jellies, we were set up for big adventure. We inched deeper and deeper hoping each other’s courage would keep us afloat. Then… the waves came on.

You just bounce with them, roll with them and let them carry you. OR you swallow buckets of urine-spiked chlorine while the waves wash over your head, carrying away your scrunchie, blinding you and making every bathing suited body look the same. And somehow find yourself being pounded up against the wall of the wave pool, desperately grabbing for something steady, something to get you out of the never-ending water wall attack. Finally, a tanned lifeguard man-hand reached down and pulled me out- tears, hiccups, chlorine burps and all.

I was so afraid that nobody could see me and I would just be stuck in the overpowering waves forever (5 minutes really is forever in kid time). It just took one hand to pull me out and remind me that the wave pool is just a stimulated attraction. It’s not reality. There was solid ground to stand on. I could come out of the current whenever I wanted.

Lifa went back to his dad’s house on Monday.

My body, my heart and my everything is aching for the most perfect little boy in the whole world and all the other perfect little Lifas who don’t have their own blog or prayers of hope and justice wrapping around the world.

I feel like part of me is missing and am wondering if invisibility cloaks are one-size-fits-all or special order.

How can meetings still happen?

How can emails still get sent and newsletters written?

How can I serve one more plate of food to a child without knowing if anyone knows his birthday or if he’s ever made a wish or blown out a candle?

So I just bake cookies and set my schedule on auto-pilot.

Since Monday, I’ve been lost in the “how can I’s” and “how can you’s”. I’ve been trying to keep my head afloat in the heaving current of emotion- gasping for air but getting slapped with another wave instead, only to find an undertow of numbness that was stronger than I wanted to be.

I’m losing my breath and my perspective in the wave pool.

Waves of poverty, starvation, namelessness and brokenness aren’t going to stop coming. But I can’t stay up against this wall. I can’t keep drinking in waves of hopelessness – you know, the pee-water from the pool.

I can reach up for the sovereign God-hand reaching down to pull me out.

Again and again.

The Perfect Lifeguard, scheming with His children to rescue every bobbing swimsuit from the waves, set their feet on solid ground and serve them Mai Tai’s with little umbrellas. (Ok, I threw that last part in… just went with the bathing suit thing.)

I wish Lifa were here. The waves seem bigger when that little guy isn’t in my arms.

And he doesn’t even know how to swim.

But my real Life isn't confined to the walls of the wave pool.

And neither is his.

Neither is our family's.

With one hand holding on to our Lifeguard, we’re going to take on the waves in faith.

Together, even when we’re apart.

I won’t live in fear of the wave machine, generating man-made currents.

And trust me, the waves have really cranked up this year.

Today I’ll choose to swim in springs of life. And drink up Living Water.

Even though our bodies and bathing suits live this life in the wave pool, we don’t have to live wave-by-wave or in the “how can I’s” and “how can you’s”.

Our Lifeguard never leaves. He’s holding on. He’s bigger than every wave and never lets go.

He is for me.

He is for Lifa.

He is for you.

Photo by Jillian Hamp

He works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)

Gettin' Down With Gideon

My home church is coming back to Africa!

In a week!

I can’t wait!

Bay Area Community Church, we are thrilled and honored to host you at Ten Thousand Homes.

It’s powerful, profound and indescribable to experience the up-close and personal parts of the Body of Christ coming together to do His thing. A small team of 4 are coming in the name of Christ and on behalf of a growing, loving and Kingdom-hungry church body. I can’t wait to have even more shared experiences, stories and family moments with them on this side of the globe!

Team member, Mary, wrote me an email saying she had a picture of their team coming as Gideon did – a small number coming in faith to a BIG battle. When God’s presence falls and He overcomes against the odds, you know it has to be about Him and not the names, faces or credentials of anyone coming.

So I spent the morning, first of all, thanking Jesus that Lifa is still sleeping… Can I get an amen!?!

And secondly, flipping to Judges 6 & 7 to check in on Gideon. You know, after I had to look up where to find him.

Gideon was given a promise. (Judges 6:36)

This promise, and the way he was told to live it out, seems a little out-of-control… I’m talking, “build an arc in the desert and invite two of each kind of animal” crazy.

Who does that?

Oh… right…

God told Gideon He would save Israel by Gideon’s hand. This guy, Gideon, was no Clark Kent, everybody. He was from the bad side of town. And he was the youngest kid in his family, which sort of made you a nobody back then. (Not you Sister, you’re a big deal and I love you!)

AND God didn’t give him a shiny new coat of arms and the latest, fancy-schmancy enemy-squishing devices. He made the promise, and then Gideon rounded up 22,000 people. And God weeded them down to 300!

Gideon was afraid. He kept asking for reassurance from God. But he never ever doubted God’s promise.

So God responded. God reassured. And God got the job done.

Gideon didn’t physically do much but blow a trumpet.

A little live music on the battlefield, and God handled the rest. He actually turned the enemy against themselves.

God made a promise. Gideon lived, breathed and led by that promise. And that was that.

When the concert, killings and what-not were over, and it was time for Gideon to receive his big-deal badge, the Israelites begged Gideon to rule over them.  His response: “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” (Judges 8:23)

The shiny new big-deal badge, fame and fortune were not what it was about.

How could it be when there were 300 Israelites hanging out in the dark, blowing horns around masses of murders and oppressors?

Or 12 missionaries with a small army of 9 children (soon to be joined by a family of 6!) standing up for Hope and Homes in the middle of a country laden with racial and economic brokenness, an orphan crisis, and a rampant case of hopelessness?

Or 4 Americans taking 2 weeks away from “normal life” to encircle these missionaries, Ten Thousand Homes and every orphaned and vulnerable child they come across for two weeks, blowing trumpets of Truth and  Love?

God, show me how to  cling to Your Truth and Your Promises in every circumstance. Help me to see and repent from the worldy ways, hopes and promises I’m clinging to – from believing that Your promises are all about my personal happily-ever-afters.

I cling to you. I run after you. I am running toward the prize – the prize of every orphaned and vulnerable child knowing You are the big deal and they have a place in your family. To see their reflection in the sparkle of your big deal badge.

God, how do I know or turn toward Your promises rather than try to decode them to how they translate on earth? How do I live Kingdom life in daily life? How do I stand in the gap when cultures collide?

Fill me – and the team from BACC – today with Your words, Your breath and Your promises. Gideon-style.

Let every person reading this prayer catch a glimmer of your big deal badge in the center of their hearts – the part that You created with hope and invitation. Show us all how to live like Gideons together, clinging to Your promises and letting you mark the path.

Amen. 

Life Lessons from a Marathon Runner

One of my closest friends in Africa, Keri Dodge set a goal for 2011: to run a marathon!

Being the supportive friend that I am, I also set a goal to cheer her on... from the sidelines... with snacks and small children! (Heaven looks a little different to each of us.)

Marathon running is tough work!

Keri is far into her training now and is creatively planning safe ways to do her long runs on the weekend. She's up to over 16 miles now! Lifa and I have become her marathon roadies and are happy to cheer her on as she goes up and down the mountains of South Africa, arranging running partners and water stands throughout Mbonisweni.

Last weekend, Keri got us all set up, and Lifa and I brought the party to GoGo's house. GoGo's yard was a water station for Keri and our friend NhlaNhla, a dance party, and a popcorn and juice party!

She's doing it the right way.
She cannot safely train for a marathon alone in South Africa.

So, she's making it a family affair... even though it takes so much more time, money and communicating. 
She's trusting people to come into an important part of her story and her dreams. 
One kilometer at a time, she's getting stronger and believing in reaching her goal.

As her head cheerleader with her #1 fan in tote, God is teaching me about marathons and endurance through Keri.

Lifa cheering Keri on!

First things first, I've realized I will NEVER run a marathon. But, DANG, Go Keri Go!

There's two weeks left before I take Lifa back to his father's house. God is whispering that it's not about a sprint... it's a marathon. This back-and-forth from house-to-house feels unnatural, painful and broken. But it's part of a long and beautiful plan and path God is laying for our story. Our family. 

Mornings like this morning - pancakes, snuggle parties, and praying and worshipping together on the way to school - are like our water stands. I feel His Spirit pouring Living Water and blessing our family. And I'm praying - and asking you to pray - for us. Pray that during this next two weeks together, His Spirit sings to our spirits and puts a seal of family, security and joy on Lifa, his father and myself. 

With hiccups, hang-ups and African-time, this family story is definitely a marathon. I'm in it forever and ever. 

Today and everyday with Lifa, I will cherish each moment as a gift and as a part of His promises. There's not a finish-line or a due-date here. We will continuously run after His Kingdom and always be learning how to seek Him more and more. We are keeping our eyes fixed on His promises and calling His Kingdom down. And we're asking for lots of dance parties, kisses and miracle moments along the way! 

Lifa's got his own blog now. www.lifewithlifa.blogspot.com
This kid's a big deal! His blog is a way to share his story, show him off and keep him connected to friends and family back home. It's a space to testify the Truth and mark the path God is laying, one promise at a time. Thanks for checking it out! We love you!