Why Go?

Elizabeth asked why I had to go to Africa again.

I said, "Elizabeth, why does mommy go to Africa?"

E: "To tell people about Jesus"

Me: "Yes"

E: "You've already gone and told them about Jesus, why do you have to go again?"

My sweet and precious girl that doesn't like for her momma to leave. I go because we want ALL to hear the gospel. We go because God desires for ALL to come to know Him. We go because sometimes that seed falls on hard ground and we have to continue to go to soften the soil so that they'll be ready to receive the seed of God's Word.

Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Whether we're planting, watering or seeing the growth, to Him be the glory both now and forevermore.

Mentor Monday

Matthew, Stephen, Rob, Garri (missionary from Russia), Elizabeth

So sometimes you might gain a mentor through marriage. Rob is one of Derek's pre-Alicia friends and honestly I couldn't ask for a better friend. He is Uncle Rob or "Wob" as Matthew said for years.

We call Rob our "modern day Paul". He's a single guy who's given his life to the Gospel. He is a field representative for a Slavic organization called Slavic Missionary Services. He travels to Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet Union countries. He knows the Bible like no one else I know and he's also our "go to guy" when we need someone to pray without ceasing for us. Tough Bible question, he's the guy. If you need someone to be silly with your kids, he's the guy. He always comes with lots of fun stuff that this mom doesn't normally allow in her house....like paint and things that grow up to 600% when you soak them in water, etc.

So he was here for too short of a time this past week. He brought a Russian missionary with him. I loved having them in our house even though I am the very worst hostess alive. Garri spoke great English and so that was so much fun for all of us because Rob didn't have to translate the conversation for us.

For our friend Rob, we can truly say, "I thank God every time I remember you".

Training Tuesday

So, I know you're all dying to know. How's the marathon training going? I'd say it's not really going anywhere.

You see, I got a training partner and her name is Angela aka Big Nanny. Did you read my post yesterday? She's a Barnabus in my life. Sometimes she's a Paul because her kids are older and I bounce all kinds of parenting things off her, but for the most part, she's a Barnabus.

We've known each other for years, but it wasn't until she moved to our neighborhood years ago that we became great friends. She became a "walking partner" and we'd solve all the world's problems and our own as we'd walk.

Big Nanny decided she wanted to run the half marathon as well. And so, I got a training partner and she got one too. Problem is, we're both too soft-hearted for one another. As soon as one of us says, "That's all I've got", we stop running (which sometimes happens after a very short run). In defense of our lack of discipline and endurance, she came home from Africa with bronchitis and then I got bronchitis not too long after that. It's really hard to run if you can't breathe well. I agree that it's a pretty lame excuse, but it's pretty much all we have.

Let's face it. Neither one of us like early morning workout meetings. We don't like to sweat. We don't like pain. We don't like that everyone on the track passes us up because it seems that everyone can run for miles except for us.

And so, maybe we're walking the half marathon or maybe I just donated $100 to Music City. Either way, I'm so thankful for my Big Nanny Barnabus. We may not lose any weight training for this thing (I use the word training very loosely), but the bonds of friendship are deepening. We very well might have world peace by April 30th if we keep at this (I'm kidding, of course).