5 Years Ago

"And when I passed by I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became MINE."
~Ezekiel 16:8

"Love is a great thing, a great good indeed, which alone makes light all that is burdensome, and bears with even mind all that is uneven. For it carries a burden without being burdened; and it makes all that which is bittersweet and savoury. The love of Jesus is noble, and spurs us to do great things, and excites us to desire always things more perfect.

5 Years ago I walked into a closet alone, afraid, unsure, and ready to give up, only to answer a call that would change the course of my life forever. I walked out of that closet a new person, clothed in righteousness , crowned by glory, never to walk alone again, every fear wiped away, certain that He would always be in control and ready to embrace what would be the adventure of my lifetime.

Nothing is sweeter than love; nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing broader, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller, or better in Heaven and in earth; for love is born of God, and can rest only in God above all things created.


Never before have I been more in love than I am right now, at this very moment, I sit in awe of all that He, Jesus Christ, has done in me and through me. The places He has brought me, the people he has used to speak His love into my life, the things He has taught me, I have never been more in love than I am now.


The lover flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and not held. He gives all for all and has all in all, because he rests in one supreme above all, from whom all good flows and proceeds.

Never before have I felt so free, so safe, so certain.


Love knows no measure, but warmly glows above measure.

Never would I have guessed that I would be here right now, all of my wildest dreams coming true. On my own, but never alone, weak but made strong, empty but made full, filthy but cleansed.

Love feels no burden, regards not labours, would willingly do more than it is able, pleads not impossibility, because it feels sure that it can and may do all things. It is able, therefore, to do all things; and it makes good many deficiencies.

No matter the distance, the pressures, the burdens, the strife, the uncertanties, the unncessaries, the things unknown, the things undone, the dark valleys, the dry streams that may come I will stand. Because I know, "it will become a place of refreshing springs." "Each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me." "Though I may stumble, I will never fall, for the Lord holds me up by the hand." and that "The Lord's plans stand firm forever, his intentions can never be shaken."

Love watches, and sleeping slumbers not; weary, is not tired; straitened, is not constrained; frightened, is not disturbed; but, living like a flame and a burning torch, it burts forth upwards and safely over-passes all.

5 Years ago I took His hand and have not left His arms since.

Love is the answer to all things: love ends all questions.

When all is said and done, whether I am to spend 6 years or 60 years with the Love of my Life, I know each day will be spent falling more in love with Him.


italics: Amy Carmichael

Yako

Welcome to Yako!
(yes that is what they are spelling with their bodies)

During our trip the youth did 3 VBS programs, a youth night, and a food distribution. This was taken during the first day, I think we were singing Il n'y a vraiment Personne comme Jesus (there is truly no person like Jesus), one of my favorite songs I might add.

Friday we ventured out to Gobila, a village just outside of Yako to do the same VBS program.

This picture describes perfectly what Olivia and I did all week, took pictures. I witnessed the entire trip trough a differnt lens than everyone else, never have I been on a mission trip that I was semi-leading, stepping back to observe, and trying to catch those precious moments on camera. It was strangely bizare to realize that I was on a mission trip in a foreign country to which I came as a missionary. I learned so much from this experience and had such a blast being involved.

Even though I was a leader (as was matt as well) we still found time to join in the games, but not without my most recent growth, aka the camera).

The only (horrid) picture that we have of the 3 of us, this is Oliva and Sarah, 2 interns in Yako, they are INCREDILBE! We got to stay the whole week at their house, sleeping on their terrace under the stars and bathing with buckets!

One night we had "Team Night" where we built a bonfire and had such an incredible time of worship and prayer, no smores mind you...and we had to sit literally 25 feet away from th fire because it was sooooo hot. (ps. props goes to my girl scouting past for this one, I built this entire fire by myself, minus the guys lighting it was bug spray, oh the ways of africa).

One of our attempts at a team photo.

At the end of saturday this is exactly how I felt. We did a food distribution to some sponsored children in Lynn Peters, a missionary in Yako, program called Burkina Faso Outreach. We were literally there past dark, my station, you guessed it, pictures! We took over 150 pictures of the children so that they could be sent to their sponsors back home, and after it all I don't know a single person who wasn't exhausted.

The message that the youth chose to present on the trip was that of David and Goliath, they did a fantastic job and picking songs, dances, games, skits, and crafts that related. This was the skit of david and goliath, always performed once with goliath, aka Kevin, on a unicycle and then another time with kids involved.

This is the unicycle time,he make the fall seem more than real.

A thursday group picture at the site with all of the sponsored children.

This was taken at Gobila, this games is similar to duck, duck goose, but in french goes; le rena passe passe, chacun a son tour, chez le coiffure, mamadou, aisa. Translated means: the fox passes, everytime is your turn at the hair dressers, mamadou (a mans name) aisa (a womens name). No one quite understands it but ALL the kids know it, no matter where you go, they also play it with a flip-flop, setting it down behind the person who will chase them.

Henry blew me away with his ability to get on the kids level, always doing something to make them laugh, entertain them, and make them feel loved.

Kari did such a great job of leading, she lead songs, games, and always kept the children entertained.


Matt loving on the children!

They also played a game similar to skip-it, where they spin a bottle tied to string around and the kids jump over, there were some massive wipe outs during this game but it was a favorite.

These next pictures are just some of my favorites from the trip:

Overall the trip was incredible, I have never been so impressed by a group of youth then I was during these days. They gave their all and then some more, to pour out their lives for these children, even in the moments of complete chaos and stress they were pushing through, encouraging each other, and making the kids feel cherished. I loved being on this side of the spectrum for the first time, seeing things through the eyes of a leader, helping where help was needed but mostly watching as they took control, met the needs of the children, and showed the love of Christ through their words and actions.