I will love you at a standstill, today.

Descending to Buja with Bell to get some work done, down a 45 minute road that many are hesitant to tread due to the massive amount of car crashes and detours off the side of the mountains unto destruction. 

I call this my “healing decent” as it never fails in the times when I am alone or with the little ones, the Lord brings just what I need, at just the right time.  Honestly, this has been such an exhausting time in our lives in which I would have hoped to get a grip on things upon Isai’s return.  However, these last weeks have seemed to be never ending with the needs of our kids, staff, transitions, death, absences, new projects, what do we think, feel and want to do’s about just about everything…. Plain and simple, I just needed some encouragement.    

Interestingly enough, I needed some encouragement and the Lord brought just that through encouraging me to pour myself out all the more and He would fill me, once again.  You know, with that good peace (that peace that … yes, surpasses all understanding), the joy… sound mind and all the other amazing things He fills us with.  As I continued down my “healing decent” these are the very thoughts that flooded my mind and have restored my heart.

I don’t want to just love you driving by.

I want to love you, face to face at a standstill.

I want to care enough to know if you’re hungry and lacking,

To care enough to embrace you in comfort,

 as you mourn the loss of yet, another one of your precious children.

I want to love you at a standstill.

 

I want my love to be compelled and compassionate,

The love that does and just doesn’t observe saying “what difference would it make, anyway..”

I want to lay my comfort and my long organized to-do-list down

Moving every excuse aside that justifies and makes me feel just fine

With turning a hungry belly away, or a troubled soul to go on their way without prayer.

I want to love you at a standstill.

 

I want to look into your eyes and know your burdens are real.

I want to care enough, to try to help, in any way that I can.

I don’t want to be overwhelmed that there are thousands more hurting like you around me.

You, alone are at a standstill before me, not the other thousands hurting just like you.

I can bring change to your world, because there is only one you,

and there will be the next you and yet another you…

 

May your hope be restored, today.

I want to help you lift the world off your shoulders, today.

I do care enough to do something, today.

I won’t make any more excuses, today.

I will give you all I have to offer, today.

I will love you at a standstill, today.

Help me to see things the way You do...

God I look to you, and I won’t be overwhelmed… give me vision.

Help me to see things the way You do.

                                                               - Words from a sweet song to my soul. 

Isai returned home, and told me – my heart will be where I am; Burundi is our home because our hearts are here, and we are here.  And thus, our vision is strengthened and Isai is back… refreshed, refocused and we are reminded of the call, the call we responded to in moving our lives, our hearts to this beautiful broken nation of Burundi just about 4 years ago.
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We are recommitting to pouring ourselves, all the more into our staff, our kids… our community in the way in which God has intended, to give it all.  Every ounce of Jesus, we have in us… every bit of counsel, love and patience that we can live out.  Our times in our weekly ministry time with the staff have been precious and a real change is coming forth in their hearts; a tangible hunger for Jesus, a desire for righteousness and holiness.  With the kids, we started teaching those in 4^th and 5^th grade computer programs starting with basic typing.  They are all growing up… how time is flying as some are entering into their teens - turning into fine young ladies and young men through much guidance and correction… love and grace upon their lives.
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We have had visitors come, visitors go.  Recently, three amigo’s from Idaho came for a few weeks.  They left a mark on our family and stirred the fire within our hearts for Jesus, many precious moments shared together.  Day 1, they were visitors… day 3, friends.  The next day, they became family. 
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The ball is officially rolling for our clinic as we turned in our first of many documents to the Ministry of Health.  A clinic in which will be a huge testimony of compassion for a community that is suffering.  A staggering statistic heard a few days ago at a meeting concerning Burundi’s Healthcare system; 50% of doctors in Burundi are catering to 6% of the population located in Bujumbura (Burundi’s capital), the other 50% of doctors support the remaining 94% of the population living in upcountry rural Burundi.  In Bukeye, our recent research has confirmed that there is one registered doctor to a population of 80,000 people.  We will in fact relieve an immense burden and the suffering of so many through our clinic… that will be located on a beautiful mountain top surrounded by valley – The Village of Jeremiah 29:11, where futures are restored.
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As for our little and big bundles of joy, Kai & Bell; it has been a priceless time lately.  Kai for one is just sweet yet strong, courageous yet wise… sometimes I watch him while he sleeps in awe of how beautiful he is. (It’s true!) Bell is 4 months today, captivated by the presence of Isai and me.  Trying “oh, so hard” to sit up and be a big girl.  Malaki falls asleep holding her hand, every-single night.  That very same hand he occasionally bites (really hard) to get a reaction from his sweet little sister.  Life has been a sweet story, written by the hands of a good, good Author.  And for that, we together are grateful.  All our love, until next time...