A rain day? Really?

Here in Namibia, they don't have snow days. But rain days, yes. Below are some pictures of the river that we have to cross to get to school. Up until the past few weeks, it has been completely dry, and we just drive across it in the fearless combi (van). But with all the rain we've had lately, the river has flooded and it prevented us from going to school on Thursday, and called for an emergency evacuation on Friday!

Here is the river on Tuesday, the first day we had to "forge the river" (I felt a little like I was in the old computer game, Oregon Trail) on foot.

Friday morning, some of the girls coming over to the other side of the river before we decided it was safe for us to cross.

Halfway through the day on Friday, a man from the farm came on horseback to inform us that more water was coming and the river would rise quickly. (They opened one of the dams). So we had to make an emergency evacuation from school in the quickly-rising, strong-current water. I love adventures! :)

A raw heart and A worthy cause...

Maybe this post is finding you in a place similar to where I have been the past couple of weeks…feeling burnt out. Those words provide such an accurate description of that feeling: that something that was once lit inside you, giving off light and heat, is suddenly barely hanging on anymore. Tired, weary, worn down.

I have been feeling this way for a variety of reasons, but mostly as a result of realizing that my time here is quickly nearing its end and I am experiencing a sense of helplessness in my work with the children at Kwakwas…that so little is ever going to change for them. And that, in addition to many other reasons, the language barrier between us puts limits on the relationships that I have with them. It feels too overwhelming to wrap my mind around just how desperate these children are for so much in their lives: their physical needs met, safety from evil that is done to and by them, love, nurturing, and more than all of that, their desperate need for a Savior who will add all those other things to them that they need (Matt 6:33).

And what can I do about ANY of that? Teach, tell, talk, listen, and love them. And even in working hard to do all those things, I have seen, day after day, a lack of understanding in all of those areas. And it is heartbreaking. It’s enough to make me feel “burnt out,” and ready to give up.

But as I thought about those words this week, I realized that while that is an accurate description of a feeling, it is a quite inaccurate description of a life that is lived IN Christ, through Christ’s strength. Burning out implies something finite, a wick that runs out sooner or later. But Christ is absolutely infinite, and absolutely capable of accomplishing all of it. Feeling burnt out means that I have, yet again, been relying on my own strength to do something. So how do I pick myself up, continue to work hard and finish well in my work with these precious kids, not burning out the finite candle that is my strength, but rather, burning tirelessly in the strength that Christ provides?

As I was listening to one of my favorite artists, Sara Groves, God moved my heart in such a strong way to recognize the importance of my LOVE for these kids, in spite of whether or not they understand it. It’s not about their response to it, and it never has been. It is about offering truth, which is the purest form of love, and trusting that Christ’s strength will keep in burning in me.

I know that written song lyrics don’t always have the effect that they do when they are paired with music, but humor me and read some of the words that have been such an encouragement to my heart.

When you count the cost and it all seems lost
Love is still a worthy cause
When you’re pressing on though your strength is gone
Love is still a worthy cause

Friend, I know your heart is raw
But love is still a worthy cause
Picking up and pressing on
Oh love is still a worthy cause

It’s the beauty in the tales we tell
It’s the pressing on and ending well
And the joy that comes when we give ourselves away
And I love because You loved me when I had nothing…

The fact that Christ loved me enough to die for me while I was still a sinner (Rom. 5:8), that He loved me when I had NOTHING, is enough to motivate a life of love no matter what the response is from those who receive (or choose not to receive) our love. No matter if they understand it or not. Love is always a worthy cause…no matter how tired, how hopeless, how ineffective it may feel. It is the right answer. And there is joy when we give ourselves away like that.

I pray that if you too are feeling “burnt out” yourself in one way or another, that Christ reminds your heart of this incredible truth. HE LOVED US this way… He loved us while we were ungodly, unrighteous, and the Bible describes this as “JUST THE RIGHT TIME.” Now is just the right time to love others the way we have been loved. And I am praying that Christ gives you and me the endurance we need to press on even when the cost seems too great and all our strength is gone. You can be praying for all of us, that as followers of Christ, we will always count it JOY to give ourselves away for the glory of the God we serve.

Jesus, don’t allow us to grow weary of doing good for your glory, and give us the strength we need to love the way you have loved us.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone… Galatians 6:9

Thanks for your prayers in this, my faithful friends and family. God is continually using your prayers to encourage me and teach me, and I am grateful.

Much love,

Kristen

Encouraged...

Yesterday was such an encouraging day at Rehoboth High School. Mackenzie and I started up our Bible Study and discipleship group with the girls at the hostel. We opened it up to anyone who was interested, and on our very first "official" meeting, we had 15 girls come. We have been praying that God would draw out the girls who are really seeking Him, and that He would work on their hearts in a mighty way. I wanted to write today to ask my amazing prayer supporters to join us in praying for the hearts of these girls and the girls who will join us in future meetings. I really believe that the Lord is going to work on their hearts in His own timing, and I am overjoyed that I get to be a part of what He is doing in their lives already. I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to know and spend time with these girls and have this amazing opportunity to share the truth and hope of the Gospel, and how it has transformed my life. We left them yesterday with a challenge to ponder over the next week... "Do I have a relationship with Jesus Christ?" AND "How does it affect my life and everything I do?" Please pray that God would prompt their hearts and draw them nearer to Himself.

Here is all 17 of us from yesterday's meeting. I'll share the names of the girls in case any of you want to lift them up in prayer by name:

Fabiola
Yvonne
Katrina
Claudine
Lavinia
Dore-Ann
Jasmine
Menesia
Grace
Luzelle
Francina
Taimi
Cardinochelle
Kearene
Ndeshi

This is Grace and I after our meeting yesterday. Every single one of these girls are so sweet and such a joy to get to know!

Thank you for joining us in prayer for this exciting opportunity. I will keep you updated and will also write more soon about how the rest of life in Rehoboth goes and what God is teaching me through it all...

Much love and gratitude,
Kristen