Well, Adam and I have a opportunity to go to Kenya this summer with Global Impact, the ministry with whom we worship and align ourselves these days. One of my hopes before I'm 40 is to go overseas for kingdom purposes. So, I've been asking God if I am to go or not. Of course it is really up to Him to decide, but I have been blessed beyond measure from the land of Kenya. How?
I met Jennifer and Mwanghi Waithaka in 1996 at a prayer meeting at Pullman Fousquare Church where we quickly became kindred spirits. I had a car and was able to pick up and drop Jennifer off from our weekly prayer meetings. Jennifer must have had the gift of faith, or maybe it is the type of faith we all should all have; I learned that faith truly can move mountains. Yet Jennifer, my lovely friend from Kenya, died from cancer in 2006. Her youngest son was our ring bearer and she stood with us in prayer on wedding day as well. But I know God sent Jennifer to Pullman to plow in prayer. I am convinced her 4 AM prayer walks, weeks worth of fasting, holding Friday prayer at her home caused mountains to move in Pullman. Jennifer truly inspired me to war, to win and to love as an outgrowth of prayer. She led numerous people into the kingdom, she had her own businesses in order to be able to give into kingdom pursuits and she heard the voice of God.
So, I've always felt like since Kenya blessed this land, blessed Pullman, blessed me in deeply profound ways, that maybe God would give me a chance to give back to Kenya. So, I'm asking Jesus for direction, provision and eyes to see how to bless this beautiful nation. Kenya is forever in my haert. Jennifer, I look forward to seeing you some day, my sister!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Dream Fulfilled
2/1/10 - Day 8
I promised Vikki I would let you know which of the 12-year-old dreams I have completed before my 40th Birthday. As listed in my blog on January 24, 2010 here are the dreams I have fulfilled:
1,3, 6,7,8,12,13,15, 16,17,& 19
I’ll comment on #1 for now, and will save other stories for the many posts yet to come.
One evening in early December 2006, Lisa Laird phoned from Edmonton, Alberta. I never get calls from Canada, so I decided to pick up this call. It was toward the end of my sabbatical and I was in the middle of cooking a new Indian recipe with chickpeas. Just weeks before Urbana ‘06, Lisa invited Adam and I to be part of a prayer team to lead 20,000 Urbana Delegates in prayers of repentance. Well, I nearly fell over in my kitchen when Lisa Laird asked us to do this. But, since it was a good friend asking, and Lisa invited both Adam and Steve Luten as well, I felt much more comfortable with the notion of stepping onto the platform with 40,000 eyes peering up at us. And frankly, God reminded me of #1 on my dream list.
When I was in elementary school, I participated in spelling bees, poetry recitations, and speech contests where I would get so nervous, I nearly passed out, but I LOVED the challenge and had a burning desire to win! I was mildly addicted to the adrenaline rush of fear when I got up on a stage to compete or speak. I wondered what kind of rush it would be to speak in front of a crowd of 20,000 people – an unthinkable dream! I dreamed of giving a political speech as the first woman president, or offering words of wisdom as an inspirational business leader or perhaps a spark a revolution as a social justice advocate. All I knew is that I wanted to impact thousands of people with my words – and could I do it without passing out?
While I only had seven minutes on the platform, and I was primarily leading prayer, I still count Urbana ’06 as the fulfillment of this dream. I may not have been sharing wise business principles or offering an arousing political platform, but I am sure I am part of a revolution to change the worlds! And…I didn’t pass out!
1. Speak in front of a group of 20,000 people w/o throwing up;
2. Travel to all 50 states and every continent but the cold ones;
3. Marry a loyal man;
4. Parasail;
5. Go on a Hot air balloon ride;
6. Have a flourishing career;
7. Tithe all through my life;
8. Grow ‘in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ”;
9. Publish a book – of poetry or something else;
10. Go to Disneyland when I can remember it well;
11. Go to Japan – visit family plot;
12. Write thank you notes to people;
13. Have a positive attitude;
14. Try to live the golden rule;
15. Go to a good college;
16. take piano lessons;
17. learn to speak Spanish;
18. Help poor people in Ethiopia (or other countries);
19. Visit NY City and Washington D.C. ;
20. Grow my stuffed animal collection/save for kids
I promised Vikki I would let you know which of the 12-year-old dreams I have completed before my 40th Birthday. As listed in my blog on January 24, 2010 here are the dreams I have fulfilled:
1,3, 6,7,8,12,13,15, 16,17,& 19
I’ll comment on #1 for now, and will save other stories for the many posts yet to come.
One evening in early December 2006, Lisa Laird phoned from Edmonton, Alberta. I never get calls from Canada, so I decided to pick up this call. It was toward the end of my sabbatical and I was in the middle of cooking a new Indian recipe with chickpeas. Just weeks before Urbana ‘06, Lisa invited Adam and I to be part of a prayer team to lead 20,000 Urbana Delegates in prayers of repentance. Well, I nearly fell over in my kitchen when Lisa Laird asked us to do this. But, since it was a good friend asking, and Lisa invited both Adam and Steve Luten as well, I felt much more comfortable with the notion of stepping onto the platform with 40,000 eyes peering up at us. And frankly, God reminded me of #1 on my dream list.
When I was in elementary school, I participated in spelling bees, poetry recitations, and speech contests where I would get so nervous, I nearly passed out, but I LOVED the challenge and had a burning desire to win! I was mildly addicted to the adrenaline rush of fear when I got up on a stage to compete or speak. I wondered what kind of rush it would be to speak in front of a crowd of 20,000 people – an unthinkable dream! I dreamed of giving a political speech as the first woman president, or offering words of wisdom as an inspirational business leader or perhaps a spark a revolution as a social justice advocate. All I knew is that I wanted to impact thousands of people with my words – and could I do it without passing out?
While I only had seven minutes on the platform, and I was primarily leading prayer, I still count Urbana ’06 as the fulfillment of this dream. I may not have been sharing wise business principles or offering an arousing political platform, but I am sure I am part of a revolution to change the worlds! And…I didn’t pass out!
1. Speak in front of a group of 20,000 people w/o throwing up;
2. Travel to all 50 states and every continent but the cold ones;
3. Marry a loyal man;
4. Parasail;
5. Go on a Hot air balloon ride;
6. Have a flourishing career;
7. Tithe all through my life;
8. Grow ‘in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ”;
9. Publish a book – of poetry or something else;
10. Go to Disneyland when I can remember it well;
11. Go to Japan – visit family plot;
12. Write thank you notes to people;
13. Have a positive attitude;
14. Try to live the golden rule;
15. Go to a good college;
16. take piano lessons;
17. learn to speak Spanish;
18. Help poor people in Ethiopia (or other countries);
19. Visit NY City and Washington D.C. ;
20. Grow my stuffed animal collection/save for kids
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)