Matthew 19:26

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

I was watching “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” the other day. That is one of my favorite movies, after I finished watching it Luke said you love those fictional non realistic movies.

Well I actually do. Because that is life. Life is full of impossible unrealistic moments that just happen.

Like the time:

• I was a bridesmaid in a wedding and my zipper broke as we were going out for pictures and I had to be sewn into my dress. It got fixed right before the wedding started. That night Luke had to cut me out of my bridesmaid dress.
• When Luke and I were at the airport and a guy was a little tired and didn’t want to take his shoe off going through security, he picked up his shoe and through it at the table, missing and almost hitting the security guard. Then the guard called the police.
• At 11:00 at night when Luke and I were fighting over the phone about pink and purple icing for a Mickey Mouse cake. I turn around and our dog had eaten half the cake we were getting ready to ice.
• I was working and while I was stopping teenagers from fighting with canoe paddles that 2 other teenagers missed their exit and got lost on the river.

You know crazy things like that are only for the movies. But you know what? They happen all the time. I didn’t even get to ones with my kids. But then you put God in the mix and all things are possible with God.

• The miracle of our daughter- We may have waited 2 ½ years for her, but right before we got the referral we were told it would be 2 more years. The agency said they had never seen anything like it.
• Or our friend that was in a motorcycle accident and they told his family he would have a 1% chance to live. He is going home today.
• Or parents that thought their dreams were shattered with an adoption that fell through. And then they got a call that a beautiful baby was waiting for them, born the same day of the other child’s due date.

These things are miracles. They are impossibilities. But they happen every day because God is a big huge amazing God.

To tell you honestly. Some days I get really overwhelmed. I think; God what you have called us to do is too big. The poverty is too much. There are too many kids that are starving every day. There is too much government corruption. You know that is true. It is too much for me. But I was not called to fix it. I am a vessel of the Lord’s. I am called to do Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

When we were in Malawi at one of the orphanage care centers. I was surrounded by so many little kids ages 3, 4, and 5. These little kids were all vulnerable children- meaning they had lost 1 or both parents or live in dire circumstances. I was thinking Lord what good am I doing here. I am playing with a balloon with them, but they are still hungry and still thirsty. I heard the Lord say, but you are giving them Joy and Hope and that can change them for a life time. The Lord just showed me Isaiah 55 and the whole chapter is encouraging. But in verse 12 it says “You will go out in Joy and be filled with peace”. So may we all go out with Joy and be filled with peace. May we all go and make disciples of all nations. May we know that with man things are impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Warm Heart of Africa

They call Malawi the Warm Heart of Africa. We cannot disagree with this as we have met some very lovely people that have been so gracious and kind to us.

Here are Lily and Blessing. They went with us one day and were gracious, kind hosts. Lily has been a widow for 15 years and has raised 3 girls. She has an amazing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which has helped her go through many trials. She has had a job as a pharmacy tech for 10 years now and only makes roughly $140 a month. But she so lovely opened up her home to us and served us tea and enjoyed our company.

Here is Bishop Francis. He has been so incredible with us and showed us so many different places, facilities and types of services. He is the one in all the other pictures that wears the really tall hat. And here he is playing balloons with us. We are so excited to continue on this journey and with our friendship with him.

Here is Gracious their grandchild. We have had the opportunity to play cards and games with him a lot. He is Mark’s age, so it is so fun getting to know him.

Here is Nery and Immanuel and Gracious. Nery was a wonderful host and went out of our way to make us comfortable. In Malawi they normally just give you the whole fish, they don’t debone it or take off anything. We didn’t tell her, but she figured out we didn’t like it and she made fish off the bone for us. It was a very wonderful treat for us. She also made us mashed potatoes and popcorn one day. She is very special and we are grateful for her and her family. Immanuel is their youngest son, he is pretty awesome too.

We have met so many kids on our journey that after a little bit of time, they just love to play with us. These kids loved getting their picture taken. The little boy in the back with his hands raised followed us around for a little while as we looked at the property. Then when we started playing we were surrounded instantly by 30 kids, then we passed out candy and sang songs and it went to around 50. Our hearts are forever changed by the children and the joy they had on their faces. These kids ran after us when we left. We pray they get to know the Lord and have a closer relationship with him. Many of these kids didn’t go to the church, they were just in the village next door. Our prayer is to reach all of Malawi to show them the heart of Christ.

Here are some pictures of the very rural areas. As with any place, there are nicer places and houses where we will stay and have stayed and then rural areas where the majority of the people live and try to make a living.