Loving Jesus MORE

Today I feel so grateful to friends who support us. To those who don't know us well, my mom used to come and spend 6 months each year with us, teaching and loving street kids. She was with us in the beginning and set up our English curriculum; she loved teaching them to read and was equally "at home" sitting in a street base or living in a nearby apartment to ours in the slum. Now, she's in a home, with two loving caregivers, and she sleeps most of the time. Seven years ago she forgot my name; this was when I returned from Kenya after not being with her for 6 months. When I got there, she had "moved"; she didn't know where she was. And I didn't know where she was either; she was lost in her mind. Now, she sleeps most of the time, and I think she recognizes my voice. This has been hard on me. I leave her and go to Africa. It's not easy.

What makes it possible is friends who love God and thus love her. Let me just tell you about one friend, Michelle. She's had two wonderful ideas I'd like to share; the ideas might help some of you with a parent like mine. Last time I was there, Michelle said, "Let's run by the mall. I need to do some shopping." Well, OK.... She took me to Build A Bear, and together we picked out the softest animal and do you know, they have a "voice" you can put inside. So I stepped into the restroom, and tearfully sang a song to Mom, and we put it in the bunny. Michelle bought it and I took it to Mom. If you press a bunny foot, she can hear my voice. Mom's two caregivers think it's great and fun too, so they press it a lot. And so do other visitors that come to be with Mom.

Michelle's other idea is that she's made Mom her "MITS prayer partner". Every time Michelle comes, she prays with Mom about MITS. How appropriate. I do know that if Mom could talk, she would tell me to be in Africa, for she loves those street kids too. My other friends come to read Scripture, sing, pray, and (I hope) press the bunny foot, ha. I really, really, appreciate them!

So today, as you live for Jesus in so many ways, just know that as you impact others, we really appreciate it and feel God's arms around us and around those we must leave in our choice of service to Jesus.

Have a busy day! Darlene

SUCH A GOOD TIME

I have been having such a good time that I haven't had time to write.

Reminds me of a story from the early church. The apostle John had survived longer than the other apostles, and he was elderly near the end of the first century. There was much turmoil in the Roman Empire, charges of sedition and disloyalty were being brought against various people, and the new emperor wanted to be called god as well as honored.

So some of the Christians tried to convince John to write his memories -- "you were with Jesus," "you were there at the beginning," "you saw the church at its origin," "you witnessed the resurrection of Jesus," and so on. But John resisted, saying that he wanted to keep on teaching, that he was having the best of times, that the Word received in a heart is the most joyful of events, that the "word of mouth" is the most believeable means of communication.

Perhaps it is the Lord himself who arranged John's exile from Ephesus, so that John would have opportunity to be led by the Spirit to write a story of Jesus and to "see" the apocalyptic or hidden truth underlying life in this age.

Anyway, I have been having a good time -- with the church, with family, with little girls who are learning basketball, with friends. But today begins a period of discipline, in which I will write regularly, and get more work done.

May you get done what you desire.