Advent: Joy

Joy: a simple word for a complex emotion. What is joy? We know that joy is an emotion that we feel but is there a difference between joy and happiness?

The word happiness comes from the root word, happen/hap. “Hap” means chance or fate. Happiness is merely what comes to a person by chance or in reflection to something that happened.

Joy, however, is a source of true delight. It lies under all emotions no matter what happens to a person. Joy comes from one source and one source only: our Heavenly Father. This world is corrupted but His love and His joy is pure and untainted.

The second week of Advent is focused on Joy. We talk about the joyful season of Christmas and we sing our songs. Let’s pause to take a look at the lyrics for this week’s carol.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Our joy is arriving because the Lord is coming. While we focus this holiday on the little baby that is born, our joy and hope are so much bigger than this one moment in history. Yes, a baby is born but where our real joy lies is in who that baby was and what He did. He is our Savior, His coming has been foretold for ages throughout the Old Testament, and the moment of His arrival has finally come. Take a moment to reflect the emotion from going to hopeless to filled with pure untainted joy because your Savior has arrived.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

This song is about eternity, and what it will be like now that Jesus had been born. It is genuinely the essence of joy: try to imagine a world without sin. It is difficult to conceive but that is what Jesus’ coming promised. Have you prepared room in your heart for Him? Have you allowed His joy to fully and completely overtake your soul? He has come to make His blessings flow and no matter what this corrupt world brings, we have an underlying joy that can’t be tainted. No one can take that away from us. That is something to rejoice about! No matter where you are right now, Jesus meets you there and lifts you up with His truth, grace, and His unblemished joy.

Advent

Recently I was asked by someone what the advent season was – and to be honest, I didn’t quite know how to respond to her. I know that I love it and I know that it is in preparation for Christmas.

What is Advent? Advent is a season of expectation and preparation. The Lord is coming and we are yearning for his arrival that will change the world. The term literally means “coming” and was used in the preparation for the coming of a great person or a king. Advent gives us a month to fully prepare our hearts and our minds for the coming of our saving King.

The first advent’s focus is on hope. A couple weeks ago I touched on the epidemic that is sweeping across the world: the epidemic of hopelessness.

Hopelessness is a condition that eats away at the soul of man and rips him apart from the God who sent His son to save him. For hopelessness is the loss of future, the loss of present, and the collapse to self-centered torment. Many put on the mask of survival only to have the undercurrent of hopelessness eroding who they are and who they were meant to be in Christ.

There is hope. Advent is the season of hope. Our savior is coming. The cure for this epidemic is simple because it only takes a flicker of hope to set the contagious flames afire in our souls. The flames that will heal the damage of the dark hopelessness.

Hopeless people are everywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if the person sitting next to you on Sunday morning was infected. It’s the weight of the fallen world and Satan’s tool of separation. This isn’t a new thing. Hopelessness has been around forever. Before the arrival of Jesus, the chosen people cried out for that hope, that saving Grace called Emmanuel. We sing the song every year – have you ever focused on the lyrics?

O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Wow, the power of these words shakes me to the core. I can image the people of Israel, on their knees begging for help. They cry out to their God who they have faith is there but they are captive. Imagine the hopelessness of being captive and exiled and having the loss of present and future. Israel is begging God to pay their ransom, to free them because they mourn deeply in being exiled.

Their only hope is the Son of God’s birth. Their only hope is a prophecy of the coming King. So with hope they rejoice knowing that one day, Emmanuel will come and will save them but when that will be no one knew.  

God heard their cry, He knew their pain and He listened. Even though He knew the fate of His son would be torment and death, He was willing to sacrifice Jesus, to pay that ransom and to save His people…to save me. This is the season of hope. For God paid it all and the flicker of hope is ignited in the birth of his Son, Jesus.

Today, if you find yourself in a hopeless situation know that this advent marks the coming of the King. We have hope in Christ and he is coming! Rejoice! Hope is coming!

This month, I pray that everyone can help spread hope to all who suffer from this epidemic. For there is hope and it can be freely given to all who need it, reach out and help bring life back to the world’s hopeless and helpless.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Update: Little boy with damaged legs

Hello everyone!

I just want to give you a quick update on the little boy I blogged about not too long ago. I asked for prayer and I just want to show you a picture this says a thousand words in regards to how he is doing :)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!

Epidemic

It creeps in from the darkness of night and over takes the senses. This epidemic is not only found to be an extreme problem here in Conakry, Guinea but it also has spread throughout every major city and community across the globe. It is a serious condition. Eating away at the souls of mankind, hopelessness is spreading throughout the world as people drift further and further away from their purpose in life.

Two days ago, I found myself sitting at Mercy Ships HOPE center. It is an off ship outpatient center where patient live while they are waiting for complete healing from their surgery. I was sitting across from a woman who had a large mandibular tumor (tumor surrounding her lower jaw). Her being at the HOPE center before surgery meant that she was from up country and waiting for her surgery. We met eyes and I saw the epidemic thoroughly infecting her entire being. She quickly looked down and I could feel the pain rolling off of her – the pain from a long history of people staring at her and rejecting her. I walked over to her, looking her straight in the eyes and asked what her name was – Ramatoulay she said quietly.



Meet Ramatoulay - She is so beautiful and I am hoping she will be a patient I can become close to!



I brought my translator over and sat down next to her trying to start a conversation. Slowly, her story started to unfold in front of me and the raw emotion of her hopelessness started to break through the strong exterior. She was married at 14 and even though she only looked like a child herself she had already been pregnant four times. Two of her children had passed away and the other two were 12 and 3 years old. Pure raw hopelessness filled her words. Her husband left her because of the tumor that started to grow on her face ten years ago and now she lives alone with her two children. I asked her if her oldest daughter would be getting married soon since she was married at fourteen. Her response was a filled with love for her daughter. Ramatoulay made sure her daughter was getting an education. An education meant that she could choose who she married but Ramatoulay didn’t have an education so she was married off quickly as a child.

I asked Ramatouly where she was from and if a caregiver came with her – “I’m from far away, no one visits me, and no one talks to me.” Her hopelessness breaks my heart and I can’t imagine the strength she must have to go through this alone. I place my hand on her shoulder and simple ask, “May I visit you in the hospital?” She laughed and looked down in an automatic response but then she looked back up and looked deep into my eyes. Was I serious? Would I really care about her? It was in this simple moment that hope started to blossom inside of her. This simple action created a new spring of life from within her because this simple action was fed from God’s love for Ramatoulay.



Seeing hopelessness means to look at a person through God's eyes.



We are the conduits of God’s love for the hurting and hopeless. I am here being the conduit for the people of Guinea but there are hopeless people in every town in the world. It could be your neighbor, the guy sitting next to you in church, or the elderly in the nursing homes. God calls us to reach out our hands, touch someone on the shoulder and ask, “Can I visit you?” When I first came here, I was worried with about difficult it would be to break through these barriers of hopelessness. After living here for a year I can now tell you that it is easier than you would ever imagine and all it takes is to be the person to talk first. After that, God will guide you because we are His conduits and His love WILL pour out of us and into the hurting and the hopeless people of the world.

So I give you a mission - try it – try reaching out to just one person and see how it goes. I am here to tell you, God’s love flowing through you leaves traces behind and you will feel His presence like you have never felt before.

Life's Perspective

Walking through life, we often find ourselves focusing on the negative aspects of every day. We can become so overwhelmed with things we can’t have, achievements we can’t reach, and struggles that seem to plague our days, months, and years.

I am not excluding myself because often I can find myself thinking along the same lines. Just yesterday, I longed for a bath – a real honest to goodness bath. The 2 minute showers are wearing me down and my poor thick hair just can’t seem to be cleaned in this amount of time.  

But then I meet someone like this:

Imagine living your young life

all alone

under a bridge.

I think to myself, how could I possibly survive living under a bridge? (Even on the ship, I have all of my needs met – 2 minutes shower and all)

Imagine the only way your parents will talk to you is if you get enough money from begging. (Wow, my parents always wish I called more than I do and I have a family who loves me and wants to see me more…)

Do you think this is a hard enough struggle?

Imagine doing all this not having the ability to walk because your legs have been dramatically distorted.

Meeting little guys like this really put my life in perspective. I can complain about so much, but there is this little boy who has suffered more than I can imagine and he can be seen smiling and laughing with more spirit than I can muster on a good day.


Please pray for this little man as he is having surgery today!

A little dose of Sunshine

Everyone needs a little bit of sunshine in their life. While I was home this summer, I purchased a solar flower to put in my window at work. It’s very simple – when it is sunny, the leaves and flower move back and forth. When you see this flower moving you can’t help but smile and wonder about the little thing dancing in the sun.

On numerous occasions, people who walk in my office notice the dancing flower and ask where I got it from. As they stare at it, they can’t help but smile and it brings a little bit of joy to everyone who sees it.

The other day, a man was hanging outside my window painting the ship. He is a day worker who lives here in Guinea and comes to the ship to help us maintain the ship. As I looked at him sitting on a plank of wood outside my window, I noticed he was smiling. I followed his gaze and he was staring at the little moving flower. I waved at him, but he was so focused on this little flower he didn’t notice me waving at him.

It was such a bright moment of my day realizing that this flower was spreading joy even off the ship.

Precious Purple Balloon

Yesterday I was privileged to witness one of the most joyful things I have seen in a long time. I was walking down the gangway. A four year old boy, dressed in a hospital gown and underoos, waddles down in front of me.

He refused to grab the railing because the most important thing to him is the balloon he is carrying. It took him a while, but he finally made it to the dock. He lifted his balloon up triumphantly, his face showing only victory and joy. It was in that moment, the wind blew and he lost his grip on the precious gift. It took him a second to realize the tragedy of the situation but he soon when running after his prized possession: the purple balloon.

While all of this was going on – one of our local Guinean guards was watching this boy very carefully. He was enjoying seeing the boy so happy with his balloon. The guard saw the balloon take flight and immediately ran to catch the balloon for the boy. He quickly passed the 4 year old and charged after this boy’s happiness as it floated away. The boy just stopped and stared at this man sprinting after the balloon.

By the time the guard reached the balloon it was at the fence and blowing towards the barbed wire. As the purple balloon intertwined with the barbed wire the guard plunged both hands into the wire trying to protect the balloon from popping.

It was a success! He freed the balloon and ran back and gave it to the boy who was now cheering on his champion for saving his precious purple balloon.

It was something so simple. It was something so precious. It was definitely something that has made me smile for days and that makes me appreciate our guards even more.

a tribe to pray for......

The other night we were all given a tribe of Guinea to pray for. There are many of them throughout this country. Here is a little information about my tribe that was recorded by the Joshua Project.

Tribe: Badyara, Badyaranke

Population: 9,400

Main Language: Badyara

Main Religion:  Islam

Bible: NONE

Christ-Followers: around 1%

“The Badyara people live in the Koundara Region. They also live in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. They earn extra money by extracting Honey from beehives and also by producing excellent cotton cloth. Most primarily earn their living as subsistence farmers. Most villages consist of only 100 to 500 people. They are very proud of their unique historical and cultural roots.

They people fled to Senegal from Guinea approximately 110 years ago due to war in their regions.

They still practice female circumcision. Boys are circumcised at 8 years old and are then taken away from the village for about one month, during which time they are taught the ways of the people. This event is followed by a public washing and a huge celebration involving the whole village. This is the only time that the men dance.

They speak a language called Badyara and are part of the Atlantic people cluster. The Biafada language is somewhat similar to their language.”

http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10550&rog3=GV

Approximately 1% of the population of the Badyara, Baryaranke of Guinea are Christians. That means, out of 9,400 people from this tribe only 94 are Christians.  Imagine the struggle of the 94. Can you hear their cries to God for help to come? Can you hear their plea for revival, to no longer live in persecution?  Maybe they feel alone and cut off but the reality is they are not alone. They are a part of this family – our family…your family.

Will you join with me to lift these 94 up to our Father in fervent prayer?

Will you join me in lifting up the 9,306 who do not know the saving grace of our Father?

We live in a land where our streets are filled with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – imagine yourself being one of the 94.

Lord, today I lift up the 94 to you. Today I make a stand for them, a stand on my knees as I lift them to you in prayer. Wrap them in your peace and hope – let them know they are not alone – others know about them and others are praying for them.

Psalm 107

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say this—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.

6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.

8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11 for they had rebelled against the words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains.

15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.

FINALLY: AN UPDATE!!

As we slowly descend from the sky the island starts to come into view with its bright lights carving their way through the coastline. The streets that wind their way up the mountain sides look like lava flowing from the volcanic center and I think to myself how crazy it is for me to be here. The small volcanic island with its dramatic coastline is where the ship is currently docked receiving maintenance (Tenerife, Canary Islands – Spain). The view outside my window is breathtaking and I praise God for giving me this last little reprieve before heading back to West Africa.

In less than 2 weeks we will be setting sail for the coast of West Africa – onwards to Conakry, Guinea! From the moment our lines secure us on the docks – we will all be running into action. In fact – we aren’t waiting for that point. Next week (after a mandatory day at the zoo due to a technical test on the ship) starts a string of meetings and planning sessions. Our screening day is not far away and the month of September is jam packed with patients arriving, events, and media team visits.

My time home was relaxing, healing, and busy all at the same time. I am so thankful I was able to come home and get my health back in order and start organizing the food shipping schedule for my parents. Talk about a blessing – my parents are gathering food for me and will have to ship it to me every month. Due to gluten allergy, I found it very difficult to stay healthy on the ship over the past 10 months. Now, I am blessed to have parents who are stepping in the gap to help me out. It’s a fine line between having enough food to last me a month and having space to store it (please pray I am allowed a 3-berth that has an amazing amount of storage). This is why my parents are dehydrating my meals. It is a tedious task that requires a lot of work on their part and in turn, it makes life a lot easier and healthier for me. The fact is, it is what keeps me here in West Africa serving our Lord and the people who desperately need our help.

If you would like to help my parents there are several ways you can do this.

1.      There is an amazon wish list that is filled with items they need on a regular basis to provide me with full meals. As things come available, you can purchase online and have it shipped to my parent’s house or you can purchase it in the store (especially if it is cheaper) and give it to my parents. (MORE INFORMATION CAN BE SENT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS)

2.      As things start to get organized a little better, my mom can set up “food assembly days” that could allow people to help her package 30 breakfasts, 30 lunches, 30 dinners, and 60 snacks.

3.      Support my Mom as she works tirelessly on trying to make yummy meals out of very little. She is a genius in the kitchen and I appreciate her. She can always use meal suggestion ideas for dehydrated meals! Feel free to contact her with ideas, praise, and encouragement in this regard!

I do apologize for not updating my blog in so long! Now that I am back in the field, I will get back on a regular schedule of stories from West Africa. I appreciate all of the encouraging words you have shared with me – it is so nice to hear that people are reading and enjoy this blog!!   

Do you have questions? Would you like me to write about specific things Mercy Ships is doing in West Africa? Do you want more pictures? Please feel free to contact me!! I am open to suggestions and really want this blog to be used as an informative tool connecting you with this mission in West Africa!