This last week I've said goodbye to 2 of my churches here in (or near) Cardiff. I've had some good times in both churches and I've met some amazing people.
This last Sunday, I was helping in the Sunday School, and we were having a goodbye party with cupcakes and ice cream and sprinkles (I'm sure the parents loved us when we sent the kids home), as well as some fun dance music and balloons.
The kids had made cards for me, which were super sweet! One of the cards read "You was a good person and we will miss you." Haha. I love kids.
At one point, while we were playing musical chairs, one of the little ones had missed the music ending and thus was out of the game. She immediately curled down with her knees on the floor and her hands over her face and she didn't move. I had been out for a couple of rounds already and was batting a balloon in the air with one of the little boys, so I went to the little girl to pick her up and move her out of the way. As I lifted her up, her body didn't shift, so she stayed in her "ball" position. I just held her for a bit, sensing that she might just need some cuddles for the moment.
I ended up holding her for the rest of the class and she didn't uncover her face for a good 15 minutes. I would sing to her what ever songs happened to be playing, or I'd bounce her around like we were dancing. Eventually, we sat down at a table to eat the cupcakes, pizza, and ice cream. She still hadn't uncovered her face, so some of the other kids were asking her what was wrong. I think she was a little embarrassed by now, so I just told the other kids that she was just in a bluesy mood at the moment. I started asking her what she was sad about. I asked her if she was sad because she was out of the game and she nodded. I asked if she was sad that I was leaving? She nodded again. I asked if she wanted cake? And she didn't. She just stayed in my arms. It was so sweet!
I'm not a mom yet, but I love it when children let me cuddle them as their mom would. I feel like I'm doing what I was made to do, when I can just hold a little one in my arms. I feel called to be a mother to the motherless; to give the love that some children might not have received from their mother. But more than that, to share the love of Jesus with these kids. I fully believe that God has given me a piece of His heart for these little ones. When He hurts for them, I hurt for them. I know that what I've been called to do will not be easy, but I know that if I keep God as my Rock and my source, He will be the strength that I need to keep going and to keep loving unconditionally, as He has first loved me.
I couldn't have asked for a better way to say goodbye to these kiddos than to be able to do what I love doing: comfort a child. And a while after this little one had gotten up and was playing with the other kids, she shouted for my attention and proudly announced "Hey look! I'm happy now!"
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
What Will You Let Go Of To Gain?
These past 3 weeks, I've been out. And when I say out, I don't mean "out to the store" or just "out with friends". This past week, I've been out and about the UK! I got to spend 3 weeks with my beautiful cousin, Dorita, exploring London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff, 3 big cities in the UK. We went to some amazing places and met some amazing people along the way. Happy times.
We went through London by bicylcle (the cheapest mode of transport) and got to see some places that the average tourist might not see. We fell in love with a market place in Greenwich and got to walk through some other markets that we don't know the names of. We went through the Royal Naval College and walked UNDER the River Thames. We got lost numerous times and while it was frustrating, Dorita insisted that it would make for better stories later. Still not sure about that, but needless to say, we did (eventually) find our way back to our hostel every night.
We took a walking tour through the popular spots in London and our tour guide was brilliant in that he told more than just the dates and names of the places, but also some of the funny happenings that occurred in those places. Such as, a drunk man breaking into Buckingham Palace, but still getting off with only a fine because it wasn't illegal to break into the palace until after 2004 because is was considered public property! Our guide was quite a sight to see as well, as he held up a red ladybug umbrella so he could be easily spotted in a crowd.
We eventually made it up to Scotland and to be honest, we were so exhausted from London, that we spent the first day in a cafe resting. We were hosted by the sweetest couple who not only let us stay at theirs, but they drove us to the places we wanted to go and waited around when we were out doing things! They even took us to watch a Shakespearean play! They were fantastic hosts and we couldn't have asked for better.
In Edinburgh, we got to climb up a mountain (really big hill?) called Arthur's Seat. When we got to the top it was just about sunset and the perfect time for taking pictures and looking out over the city. I did a dance while on top and the setting was beautiful! (footage will be put up sometime after I return home)
Now, Dorita and I have wanted to travel the world together for a few years now, and it was fantastic to be able to check the UK off of our list of places to go! We hope to do more traveling in the future, but whether or not that will be done together has yet to be seen. We know that this was the trip of a lifetime.
Sometimes I feel sad about not being as settled as most of my friends; most are married, or at least on their way there, some have kids, some have great jobs and make a lot of money. But I know that had I been in a relationship this time last year, I probably never would have come to Wales and I never would have traveled with Dorita to all of these amazing places. I know that if I had stayed settled, like those I sometimes envy, I would never have come to Cardiff and made the amazing friendships that have brought me through this year. I know that God is in all of it, whether I settle or continue moving, but one thing I've learned: God's plans for my life are way better than any dreams I could have come up with for myself.
My church over here has had a theme for the last couple of weeks of giving your everything to God. To go all in, being willing to give up everything to follow Jesus. And from an earthly standpoint it seems like you're giving loads up, but in truth, you are gaining more than you could have seen if you'd stayed where you were. I know that God has done that for me, and in all likelihood, will continue to do this with me.
So how much are you willing to give up to Jesus? Are you willing to let go of what you have to grab hold of the bigger something that God is just waiting to give you?
We went through London by bicylcle (the cheapest mode of transport) and got to see some places that the average tourist might not see. We fell in love with a market place in Greenwich and got to walk through some other markets that we don't know the names of. We went through the Royal Naval College and walked UNDER the River Thames. We got lost numerous times and while it was frustrating, Dorita insisted that it would make for better stories later. Still not sure about that, but needless to say, we did (eventually) find our way back to our hostel every night.We took a walking tour through the popular spots in London and our tour guide was brilliant in that he told more than just the dates and names of the places, but also some of the funny happenings that occurred in those places. Such as, a drunk man breaking into Buckingham Palace, but still getting off with only a fine because it wasn't illegal to break into the palace until after 2004 because is was considered public property! Our guide was quite a sight to see as well, as he held up a red ladybug umbrella so he could be easily spotted in a crowd.
In Edinburgh, we got to climb up a mountain (really big hill?) called Arthur's Seat. When we got to the top it was just about sunset and the perfect time for taking pictures and looking out over the city. I did a dance while on top and the setting was beautiful! (footage will be put up sometime after I return home)
Now, Dorita and I have wanted to travel the world together for a few years now, and it was fantastic to be able to check the UK off of our list of places to go! We hope to do more traveling in the future, but whether or not that will be done together has yet to be seen. We know that this was the trip of a lifetime.
Sometimes I feel sad about not being as settled as most of my friends; most are married, or at least on their way there, some have kids, some have great jobs and make a lot of money. But I know that had I been in a relationship this time last year, I probably never would have come to Wales and I never would have traveled with Dorita to all of these amazing places. I know that if I had stayed settled, like those I sometimes envy, I would never have come to Cardiff and made the amazing friendships that have brought me through this year. I know that God is in all of it, whether I settle or continue moving, but one thing I've learned: God's plans for my life are way better than any dreams I could have come up with for myself.My church over here has had a theme for the last couple of weeks of giving your everything to God. To go all in, being willing to give up everything to follow Jesus. And from an earthly standpoint it seems like you're giving loads up, but in truth, you are gaining more than you could have seen if you'd stayed where you were. I know that God has done that for me, and in all likelihood, will continue to do this with me.
So how much are you willing to give up to Jesus? Are you willing to let go of what you have to grab hold of the bigger something that God is just waiting to give you?
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