On Blessing

I've spent the last several weeks attempting to come up with a cohesive short and sweet post but turns out the connection between my head and my hands has been short-circuited. I have wanted to share about my birthday (22!), World Gospel Mission's retreat in December (Santa visited), my trip back home to Puyallup to spend the holiday season with family and friends, a recent visit from a Friends of Tenwek board member who came to love on children in nearby Nakuru, and - last but not least - my constant battle with my health (i.e. kidney stone!). Those events have passed now but it's amazing to think about how much life has been lived since my last post in November.

Harrison at the Nakuru Children's Rally.

It's still incredible to me that 2014 has arrived in full force, not to mention we're already more than half way through January. I've been thinking primarily about time and how I view and use my time and from what I've deduced, I still think in semesters. It's like I've been a student all my life or something. But it's 2014 and I have six and a half more months of service in Kenya to learn from the culture, grow from the experience, and be challenged to seek all that the Lord would have me find.

But I have a story for you.

Last week, I was welcoming several visitors to the Guesthouse and one of the many Kenyan helpers, who cleans and takes care of all of us here, volunteered to carry some of the luggage to their designated apartment. After getting everything up and sorted for our visitors, this woman walked out of the apartment before me and I noticed she was wearing a shirt that looked oddly familiar. It took me about 5 seconds to realize that the shirt she was wearing was mine.

Well, it used to be mine. A few weeks ago I went through my clothes to get rid of some things that I didn't need. This particular shirt, a blue and white striped polo, had several significant stains on the front of it from various eating incidents and was discarded. A few more tattered items were thrown out while others were saved to give to local children's homes. I didn't think anything of it.

But then the shirt shows up several weeks later, being worn by a woman who, I'm speculating, took it out of my garbage.

Two emotions flooded over me: gladness and shame. Gladness because what was once mine was being used to clothe someone in more need than myself. Shame because I didn't consider gifting it or donating it in the first place.

What disqualified the shirt from me wanting it any more? Why didn't I consider it as a valuable piece of clothing? The thought didn't even cross my mind that someone else may want this particular shirt due to its stains and general warn qualities. But the real issue is that I had the option of discarding it. I had other items of clothing to replace the old stained polo. I had the choice.

The shirt. And Julia and May, two lovely MK's! 

After sharing this story with a very wise woman, she wrote me and said, "There are blessings to be had in many ways. Not just in having things, but for someone who doesn't have many things, the gift of adding something, is meaningful. Those of us who have many things, find joy in seeking what we don't have and often those things are intangible, like having your room cleaned or a smile when you're down, or a 'Thank you' when you're feeling unappreciated. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they will inherit the earth."

What we have (or don't have) physically, emotionally, and spiritually are our blessings. The Lord has gifted us with treasures that we are to share and utilize for His glory. He created people to live in community for a reason, to bless each other with what we've been given. And for all my Wheaton people, "Community is messy!"

View of my backyard in Puyallup.

So considering the multitude of blessings that we have, how are we sharing them? Are we harboring them for safe keeping, or expelling them to glorify the King? How do we reconcile the immense quantity that we possess to the great quality that is shared when blessings are exchanged? 

Prayer requests 

1. That my health continue to improve. Still having a little kidney pain here and there but praying it's nothing more serious than a stone. 

2. For our long term missionaries that they continue to be encouraged by each other and by the Lord. 

3. For the short term visitors that their hearts be strengthened by the challenges God places before them. 

4. All the children involved in Bible Quizzing at Bethesda Africa Gospel Church. Nearly 300 children from around the Tenwek area, including several children's homes and schools, are participating in this years Bible Quizzing where they will memorize and learn verses from 1 Samuel! 

5. Praise... GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!! Heading to the Superbowl! 

|| Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:3-5 ||