and again I say REJOICE.

I am sorry for those of you who have not had the opportunity to experience worshiping with our kids at The Covering.  It’s one of the most beautiful things you will ever participate in. I used to get caught up in the words…I lead worship for kids and wanted to make sure the songs were theologically correct and developmentally appropriate and all that…but now I don’t even know some of the words and I don’t worry one bit about it.  This morning we sang a song where the main word is Bellow or Mellow or something else that rhymes with low and I love it! You sing that word, whatever it is, over and over and over along with a little hip action and hand waving and then you sing “see what the Lord has done!” I just have to laugh and trust that the Lord is honored by the intention of our hearts to praise him!

Here, there are no lyrics on a screen, no guitars or “mood” lighting, no prescribed set or timing (except we sing Praise a.k.a. fun and fast with louder drums first, and worship a.k.a. slow and prayerful last), no arguments over hymns or choruses or whatever, and no quality controls or standards! The only thing is that you should sing as loudly as possible and dance or clap or play your harmonica if you have one. I didn’t do such a good job of the clapping and singing loudly today…I found out about 1 minute before the service that I was giving the message for the morning! I remember being told that a pastor should always have a message ready in case they are called on but I didn’t have anything ready; it’s hard to sing loud when you are trying to figure out what to say. I finally just gave up, picked a verse I’d underlined in Thessalonians and “winged” it and enjoyed some loud singing!

I hear them now, a block away, singing praises and I am sure that God is smiling with me.

This, for me today is joy: witnessing and participating in the praises of children being lifted up to the Lord!

Joy and Meaning

          The strangeness of all of this is that 6 months ago I never thought I would make it this far…to actually STAY and live in Freetown for more than another day was CRAZINESS to me. But just over 12 months ago I thought I might just be moving to stay here forever—the glamorous life of a missionary was calling my name. And now, just over 2 months away from the time when I’ll leave this not so glamorous but not torturous season of my life, I am amazed that I made it here…and I don’t really know where here is but it’s where I am and where God is meeting me these days.

I have been reading a book…okay, I know some of you can’t imagine me NOT reading a book so that statement is really unnecessary; I don’t think I’ve been without a book to read since I learned to read which I’m sure was when I was 3 or 4 judging as to how brilliant I am. HA! Anyway, I digressed big time…I was challenged in this book today to make a list of things that bring joy and meaning to my life and compare them with the things that I would say are my goals. I don’t really have a goal list right now save a hot, clean shower and a big glass of ICE COLD MILK but I am going to work on the joy and meaning list. So I started this morning and didn’t get very far; it’s harder than I thought! I decided that I will “study” my life over the next few weeks and months and see what really brings me joy and makes “my heart sing”, and to keep myself accountable I’ll share some of these things with you on a some-what regular basis. I’m also praying that God will reveal through these things what He might be calling me to do in the next season.

Day One: Today I threw peanuts at William and Joseph! They snuck in the office, whispering and nudging each other like there was something BIG going on. They sneak in nearly everyday and just stand quietly or hang on someone. Seriously, it’s got to be the most boring place…imagine a 11 year old boy wanting to stand and watch 5 adults type! So today, when they walked in I grabbed some boiled peanuts (which DO NOT bring me joy of any kind, YUCK!) and attempted to start a food fight. Yesterday and lunch I wanted so badly to fling a spoonful of cassava and rice at the older boys. Just for fun but I was afraid they’d make me clean up the mess which would not be fun! The boys looked at me like I was the crazy white lady (nothing new) and picked up the peanuts and ate them; then they sat down in the chair next to my desk, and stared at me while I typed. I was disappointed that they didn’t start chucking peanuts back at me or laughing or screaming in outrage…they acted like it was just another day. Hmm…must do something crazier next time!

I won’t be putting “throwing peanuts at 11 year olds” on the list! Instead I’m thinking…doing the unexpected or acting like a child once in a while or getting kids to smile or maybe all threeJ

Rejoice always! 1 Thessalonians 5:16