An absence that can be explained in one word

Exams.

Only one more this Wednesday, however, and I will be done my first semester of University! It's been a whirlwind of emotions, studying, and amazingly fun times. I wouldn't trade this school for anything. People told me I'd stray from my faith if I didn't go to a Christian University - but last I checked, I've been growing so much here. I get to be in the city and be God's hands and feet to the people that need it so badly. There is a great community of believers here who encourage me and pray with me :)

Here's some photos of the winter wonderland back at home:

What's stopping me?

(click photo to go to the Hands At Work webpage)

Malawi.

Population of 14 million.

1.1 million orphans.

12% of adults affected with HIV/AIDS.

Life expectancy: 48.

I've been asking myself lately...what is stopping me from going there - right now, right this very second? I have enough money to buy a plane ticket. I have somewhere to go, an organization to volunteer with. What if I just got up and left, didn't say goodbye to anybody, and just went to serve there for the rest of my life?

I'm being serious here.

Satisfaction

I'm reading through Hosea right now and it's really convicting me to change some things - okay, a lot of things. But I'm taking it one step at a time, starting with addressing the issue of chasing after other lovers - lovers that aren't God. This is a central issue in the book of Hosea, which is about Israel straying from God and being unfaithful to Him. Israel goes after her lovers yet completely abandons God. When I think about this illustration, I am struck by how similar I am to Israel...and just how badly I need to stop chasing.

It's not that I abandon God and seek a life far from Him...but at times, I forget He's the most important in my life. I am prone to looking for acceptance and satisfaction in the people that surround me - earthly lovers - instead of in my Heavenly Lover. This becomes a problem when people let me down or don't respond the way I want them to. And it's an even greater problem because I put other things above God.

Hosea has been a great reminder of just how loving God is. Despite Israel's sin, He woos her back and promises her a satisfied life - away from the lovers she chases but is never happy with. God knows that we will only be filled by Him, and He extends that love to us freely and without abandon.

"I will betroth you to me forever, I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord."

- Hosea 2:19-20

This is where I want to be in 4 years...

ps. this is my 100th post! God is so good :)

Something to Think About This Christmas

Thankful for Health

It's easy for us to take our health for granted - I know that I'm guilty of it! Reading my Geography textbook, however, opened up my eyes to how utterly grateful I should be for the health I have. Here are some statistics that broke my heart:
- over 25 million people in Africa are infected with AIDS. In Botswana and Swaziland, 40 percent of adults have the disease. There is no vaccine available and drug treatments that slow the disease are expensive - 15,000 a year per person. - tuberculosis, a disease of poverty, affects 40 million people a year - there is still no fully effective vaccine- malaria is the main cause of death in the developing world with 90 percent of infections taking place in sub-Saharan Africa. 300 and 500 million people a year are infected by the disease. Over half of the people that die (around 3 million per year) are children.
So, on this beautiful November day while I'm sitting in my warm, comfortable room, I cannot forget that there are people out there who do not have the blessings that I do. Today, on November 11th, I also remember the soldiers who have fought for freedom and for a better life. I am thankful for my good health and for a beautiful country. :)

A video I made for my Mom's birthday :)