Be ready with an answer in season and out of season!

Ok, we are in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, right? We go to get a vaccine for Mariama downtown, at the only place you can get this vaccine. Anyway, while waiting to tell the man at the entrance what we need, this American woman in front of me turns around and asks if we are American. She asks where we are from, and I answer Texas. So she asks if I like Bush, which I answer affirmatively. She then asks how long we have been here and what we do. She then asks, "And you like Bush?" She asks what we think about the war, and the lives lost. I was so taken aback by this questioning in this particular setting. What could I have said? "Well, God tells us to pray for our leaders whether we like them or not, whether we agree with them or not." Did I say that? No! Did I say, "I have confidence in our troops and their training, particularly since my brother is one of our finest and they can use our prayers as well"? No! I said something like, "War is the way of the world," though I did not get my thought finished about it being due to man's sinfulness. I really hate feeling stupid! I also hate missing an opportunity to witness to anyone! I do not know what this woman is doing here in Senegal. But I lost a chance to share truth with her, because I was so caught off guard by the situation. Rich said he wanted to chime in that I am smart, really I am, but I was not coming across very smart nor very Christ-like. Colossians 4:6 instructs, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." I pray that my encounters like this will cease to exist as I wait for God's answer to others, rather than my own pitiful excuse for a reply.

Happy Birthday, Rich!!!!

Happy birthday, honey! You are turning 38, almost 10 of which we have been married. You may not be perfect, I know I am not, but you are the perfect husband for me. You balance me so well. Where I am weak, you are strong. Where I am strong, you encourage me to be stronger. It is such a blessing to have you in my life. You are such an example of generosity and giving. What a joy it is to know we are headed in the same direction, which is to follow God's will. I look forward to sharing many more of your birthdays together, in Africa of wherever God has us! I am so proud of you. The kids love their daddy, and it is not hard to see why. Have a super day!

Why do you do what you do? Why do I do what I do?

In the last few days, I have encountered a few situations that have made me inspect my motives for things I do, particularly that I do for God. As a disclaimer, remember I am only seeing these things from outside of the situation and do not know all the details, thus I tell it the way I see it.

First, it is Ramadan. The Koran instructs that young children, elderly in ill health, and pregnant women are exempt from fasting. However, a neighbor who is pregnant is fasting. Another coworker has said that they often will because others who are fasting will shame them for not fasting, because they are jealous of not being able to eat/ drink themselves. I have not heard anything of this sort said to them, but I do not know all that has occurred. I have however heard them during the day tell a child about William’s age in their home not to drink water and poured his cup out. Why?

Second, a coworker in another country has been very ill for the last eleven months, since she went to the village. Much of her illness could be contributed to things she has eaten that are not wise to injest. Others have done so and not gotten sick, thus she has continued to do as they do. Does she think she is not roughing it enough if she does not? Is that just her lot in life? Why?

Why would someone disobey their holy book in preference for others? Are they fasting for God or for man? Why would someone not take better care of themselves, doing reckless things? For God’s attention or that of man? Oh, but Lisa wait, do not get too ahead of yourself! Why am I in Africa? Why do I do the things I do everyday? Am I looking for God’s approval or man’s? Am I wanting a pat on the back from man or am I looking toward God to say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” I realize this question never gets answered completely, but rather is a day to day question, particularly with so many things to bombard and demand my time. It is a daily choice and requires constant discernment in everything I do. I cannot make choices for others, but I am responsible for my decisions. I choose to make God smile today, tomorrow, the day after, the day after that, etc.