day 130: struck by the hunger

we "book-ended" our day with more nesting in the new place. it's amazing what making a house your home can do for the psyche! highlights from that part of the day?
- finding a massive rug for the living room at a decent price
- buying paint to "warm" the place up
- sanding & staining some of the hand-me-down furniture. now we're no ty pennington (extreme home makeover) but we are enjoying the process & little by little each day we're settling in.

the table still has green legs...can only do so much!!

BUT...the best part of my day was getting away & spending some time w/ the Lord! life has been going non-stop for weeks (or more) & i've really been craving (NEEDING) some uninterrupted, alone time with the Father. where did i go? the beach, of course.

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?"
Yahweh, that's who.
Isaiah 40:12a

even there, though, i found it tempting to put the Word aside. there was a beach volleyball game going on & i was constantly being asked by "beach vendors" if i wanted to buy a painting, or sunglasses...or a hat ("oh sissy, looking is free" they ALL say)...or donate money to an orphanage...or talk about where i was from...or what i was doing. when they find out i'm from america, they always want to talk. (again, i TRY to fake an accent & today they actually thought i was italian...it's progress. i'll take it)

& yet, as annoyed as i sometimes get by constantly being asked for money, i never want to quench the spirit. i actually had one gentleman ask me today where my "Scriptures" came from & later what i could "teach" him. it was an interesting conversation.

also talked for a few minutes with a lady who asked me for money as i walked to get a cup of coffee. i told her i couldn't help but i asked her if she was hungry. she nodded so i told her to wait there & i'd return. i brought food back for her & the 9-month old little girl who was with her. as i knelt down i realized she didn't speak great english so i had a hard time understanding her, but i remember looking into her very sad eyes & wondering her story. we spoke just briefly & as i walked away i found myself wondering if she knew there was hope for a life beyond the here & now. i wondered if she'd ever have another opportunity to hear. & i wonder how many opportunities i miss everyday to share.

everyday here it seems i'm struck by the overwhelming presence of HUNGER. it's inescapable. our students are both physically & spiritually so hungry. i'm becoming more & more aware of my own hunger for that intimate time with the Father on a DAILY basis. but i think what breaks my heart most is the incredible amount of people who are hungry [spiritually]...but they're not sure what it is that they're hungry for. they've never heard. Father, gives us Your eyes!

have we planned at all for next week? absolutely not.
is that what was most important today? absolutely not.
"abide in Me & i will abide in you." -john 15
we cannot pour out what we have not first been filled with.
PRAY that we prepare well tomorrow in the midst of worshipping w/ a xhosa church & celebrating sarah's 25th birthday!