good morning. . .

I just woke up from a great night's sleep.  I know it's 11am, but a friend and I were talking late into the night about the things that God is doing in our lives.  I hope you have those friends who can share with you and you with them and that's enough to minister to you for a week!  I love those friends.  This morning I woke up thinking about my friends abroad.  Maybe this is how it will be for the rest of my life--thinking of friends in far away places doing the Lord's work.  I want to share a little bit about them.  

Shannon is in Guatemala (link to her blog at right).  She is learning Spanish and working with kids.   I love reading about her excitement.  She is in the stages still of exploring the are where she is living and figuring out how to get from place to place.  She recently wrote on her blog that she found a little corner store where her and those she is traveling with have gone to get drinks and snacks.  When you are oversees, this is one of the most exciting discoveries to make.  And eventually you make friends with the owners and people begin to recognize your face and greet you.  When I was in China, there was this little boba shop that we called 'Swingers.'  Who knows what it's actual name was called!  All of their chairs were actually swings that hung from the ceiling.  It was a super cute place.  We would go there almost everyday, so by the end of the trip they knew that we wanted 'nai cha, pingde, dade, jenju' (large, iced milk tea with boba).  

Amy is in Tunisia.  She often sends pictures of herself on camels or in exotic places.  It's so exciting to think of her there ministering to women.  She's mentioned some health issues from her time there, which is to be expected, but I am praying that they won't get in the way of her ability to do the Father's work.  

Phil is in Morocco.  He is teaching English and making friends with everyone.  I'm sure that they love him there.  He is exactly the type of missionary that you would expect to just love people and adapt to their culture right away.  I was in NYC with Phil just before he left for Morocco and I know how excited he was to go.  I'm praying that God will do big things through Phil because I know that his heart longs to see things happen in the power of the Holy Spirit.  

A whole group of them are again in my place, Xi'an, China.  It's a great time this year.  I think it's year #5 or 6 that Biola has sent a group of students to Xi'an!  Talk about long-term, short-term missions!  My friends Justin and Sarah are leading the team.  I just got an email from one of the team members yesterday and she spoke of a great transition and many opportunities to learn more about China and it's rich culture.  Maybe someday I'll go back.  

Finally, Adam in Africa.  I just received an email from him this morning and was so encouraged to read his words.  The Lord is going to do great things through him this summer.  He will be preaching in villages in Tanzania!  He is asking for courage to preach, but he is one of the greatest preachers I know, so I am confident that the Lord will carry him through and use him mightily.  He wrote this in his email:

"So far, two nights, two sunrises.  It's the space between, where the sun dances, beating rays across a smooth horizon, ready to surprise Mt Kilimanjaro's hard ice.  The sky becomes alive!  Shhh, oh Africa, I come to wake you, rouse you our of your simple smokey huts.  Serenity is my name, so savor me in the fleeting treasures of the dawn."  

So as I sit here in Puyallup with my toast and my nectarine and my coffee, my friends are all saying good morning to the world.  Who would have thought!  Praise be to God!!