a dream within reach

today i came to the realization that i really am married. you may laugh at that and say the realization came over a year too late, but i assure you if you are ever fortunate enough to marrry your soulmate and the man of your dreams-- you'd want to pinch yourself a couple of times every day too!

this morning we had a big departmental meeting-- consisting of about 70 or so people all led by russ, our MIS director. on the second half of the agenda was talking about what our department could do as a mission because though people sometimes take it forgranted, we do work for a church.

but before we talked about the mission we would do, he showed us a dvd of bruce wilkinson's talk during the robert h. schuller institute that we had so widely promoted last january. bruce wilkinson spearheads the never ending gardens project in Africa as well as the dream for africa foundation. after he told his story of how he aims to end hunger in africa by planting a million gardens or more by december this year, i could tell that everyone in the room wanted to go join him.

and he has extended his invitation to us, to all who wanted to be a part of the experience. and russ, being very passionate about this mission, has promised that he will find a way to make the trip possible for those who are interested. that is about three thousand dollars per person to go to Africa for ten days and plant 100 gardens with the people there.

to go to Africa. to be a part of a mission feeding the children. it was like candy being dangled in front of my nose! and of course i said i would go-- before i even asked my ever supportive husband. i said that i would to our MIS director too-- and he said if we wanted to close our department for ten days, it wasn't going to be a problem with him.

you know what my husband said? he said we were going:) and better yet, he said he was willing to give fifty percent of the proceeds of our best of asian-night event to raise funds for sponsoring people to go. isn't he the most wonderful husband a woman like me could ever pray for?

i've always wanted to go on a mission trip. i've always wanted to do something to make the world a better place. i've always wanted to go to africa. the trip even includes a bonus game reserve tour before going home! and now i can:)

and you know what just slipped into my mind? i thought about asking my mom if i could go. and i realized that though i cherish my mom's advice in all aspects of my life, this was really up to me and my husband to decide. because we are married and he is my family now.

as bruce wilkinson had said, it is unbelief that limits what we do in this world, it is unbelief that keeps us afraid to ask the question-- what does God want done. when God wants to feed the hungry, you don't need to worry that you can't do it or that it is impossible-- because there is nothing impossible for God. and nothing is impossible if you believe in Him.

nothing is impossible, including being married to the most wonderful man in the world and doing God's work side by side:) how cool is that?!

My ABC's

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Courtesy of one of my closest friends, Adora. Just thought I'd share it with you:)