Asia's African Day

Potholes and Cow-Poops

We were walking home from a goodbye party for a sweet British family. Jason balanced the leftover lasagna pan while Judah raced around potholes at lightening speed. I was holding Ezra’s hand, avoiding “cow poops,” and Emily gripped a very squirmy, upset, but quite precious, Zoe. For some reason that night Zoe shied away from her usual giggles and two-toothed smiling by crying and screaming at the top of her lungs. She wasn’t happy being held and she wanted “down,” but her limited one-year-old encephalon didn’t process that “down” meant a pot-holey, cow-poopy, and dark terrain. Emily, being the caring mother that she is, wrestled with this little ball of unhappy energy while trying to explain the reality of the situation. But no matter how logical the explanation, Zoe had a limited view of reality and still wanted her way.

If we change the characters of this story by substituting the nurturing mother, Emily, into God, and the grumpy, agitated Zoe to Asia we find an applicable lesson.  Sometimes I am the squirmy and stubborn baby because I find myself questioning God’s hold on my life. I want down now! I want to be overseas now! Give me a mission’s team now! I want to do what I want NOW!  Overtime, I have been forced through experience to accept that the Big Man Upstairs actually always knows what is best for me. Through rocky relationships and identity reconfigurations God has always stayed true to the song He’s God the Whole World in His Hands. So, as I find myself in an unfamiliar country surrounded by new people speaking a vowel-happy language, I cling to the steadfast fact that God is in control and that, my bloggy followers, is the most comforting truth this world has to offer.

Eden Norris was my partner to Mwanza for about two months prior to the departure date. Out of all the people who love people, I found it amusing that Asia Todd would be a solo-intern. Funds for $5,000 miraculously pulled together within a 100 day span of time. Family time in Thailand wobbled back and forth. The R.A. status determined where and when flights landed. There were many potential potholes and cow-poops throughout the preparation for this summer. Yet, the internship in Mwanza, Tanzania is ready and set to go for whatever God has next. He is good and I do not doubt that. Ever. So, whether we are disciplining a cranky baby, sending a precious one to college, working a summer job we can’t stand, or screaming “DOWN NOW” in other realms of life, I hope that Zoe can teach us to trust God with our discomfort.  Sermon over. Initiate Tanzania recap tomorrow. Thanks for reading. 

Time Does Funny Things to People

Life is a journey full of finish lines...but more on that in another post. I would like to dedicate my first post to these guys right here. My team. My MKs. My brothers and sisters. My น้องน้องs. We are the youth group. We are the party. These folks here are my home.

Some of my greatest memories are with the MK team. We have videos of "Erkii Erkii Appendicitis Erika" to intense ปูอัด competitions at Chaa-amm (Butt Butt, we totally won that one by the way.) The nude Karate memories of Branson and the delicious fish-eye-stories of Erika are snippets of my life that will always stick no matter how much time passes by. Although some things have changed (Yam doesn't babysit Hippo anymore, and Butter became a beast of a basketball guard,) I think that the core of my family is still very much made of the same stuff. Rebellious Branson. Sweet Erika. Loud Butter. Cute Yam. Wise Brielle. Chill/Crazy Brianna. Entertaining Ben. You know, not much has changed besides size and style. As Brianna climbs trees and Brielle one-up's me in Bible maturity, I continue to see a genuine joy of the Lord in this unit of my family. While I have always been a huge fan of this gang, I don't think I truly appreciated everything we were until I left for a year. So, here is just a quick shout-out to my dearest friends as I reminisce a bit. 

Erika: You are the sea to my weed. The ต้ม to my ยำ. Whether its matching pink shirts or Tyler Scott conversations, we act as sisters because that is what we are. You know that terrible pick up line,

 "Did it hurt?"  "Did what hurt?"  "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven? Because with a [heart] like that, you must be an angel."   I do think you are of a different breed of human sometimes, and its not because you eat slowly. Who you are encourages me to love living life. You're adorable, and I love you.

Blas/Branson/Hooch: You, sir, have a very unique and sassy personality. You add the attitude to our group. Coming back, I noticed that you accumulated a sense of style with your spiky hair, skinny jeans and sick BKK shoes. You are at a figure-my-self-out stage right now in your life, and I am super excited for you. You have a good head on your shoulders and a knack for getting along with people. You keep staying fresh Branson, you are blessed to be a blessing.

Butt Butt: Oh my goodness. Butter, I think you could rule the world if you put your mind to it. You are one of the most determined, motivated and hard working people I know. Even if you are really bad at waking up in the morning, the leadership I've seen in you on the court and in you relationships just wows me. You are cool, calm and collected, but you are never too "cool" to care for the people around you. Please please keep striving to be like Christ and you, my dear, will be an unstoppable player in His game.

Yamster: Lovely, you are super cute, and I hope you know that. Your love for all things adorable adds a beautiful element to life. As you shop and socialize I see a fun and joyful angle of your personality, but when we sit down and talk I see a deep and wise thinker in you. Your beauty does not stop at the skin. Your beauty seriously comes from the heart.

Brianna: First off, you have the most model-esque hair I have ever seen. Panteen and Herbal Essense are on the hunt for you! Brianna, you are a very mysterious person and I confess that sometimes I can't figure you out. You can be quiet and crazy, and you can be goofy and super super insightful. I love that about you. I can't ever predict what you will say or do. You are unique. Never ever ever let anyone tell you who to be. 

Brielle: I wouldn't know, but I'm guessing it can get really hard being the baby of the group. While we're all talking about highschool and college you're approaching middleschool. We watch different movies, listen to different music, but you know what? I have never seen you upset with your situation. You are always super positive and patient with the rest of us old people. You still want to come hangout with us. You don't feel intimidated by us, so you share your thoughts in youthgroup. I look up to you so much because your maturity surpasses your size, big time. Keep doing what you're doing. Enjoy every stage of life, you are wonderful! 

Ben: Psh. You. I wouldn't be me without you. Simple as that, you basically complete me, and this whole distance thing isn't my cup of tea to tell you the truth. Sacrifice at its worst form. But. When I come back and see  how you've grown not just in muscle, but in art and in character, I swell up with pride in being your sister. You are ridiculously talented and smashingly handsome. You can shoot hoops and draw a homo-sapien from any angle. You are jam-packed full of "awesomeness" and I hope as you grow up you figure out ways to use it to bless others. I wuvvoo Koos Koos.