the ayars affairs: within our reach

The Emmaus Board arrives Saturday, and so these have been busy prep days with my mind whirling...how many breakfasts can I make ahead of time? How many beds? Do I need to get more napkins? Cokes? Chicken? Who is coming when and how and who is cooking what and where?

If we could "run to the store"...

But when "no napkins" means Junel going to the market, when "not enough chicken" means placing an order from our friends a few villages over to get butchering, when "breakfast" means the weekend was full of four loaves of banana bread and 48 muffins and dozens of cookies...and "more cokes" means sending the bottles off to be refilled, and "more milk" means talking to the lady with the cow and getting back to pasteurizing...You've gotta think of it all now and have it covered!

Hopefully I have thought of it 'all' :) More likely, it is going to be an exciting few days hosting twelve awesome people the best we can, and with grace besides!

Though it's a lot of work, board meetings being held here are the BEST...I love our board getting to worship with our students and eat lunch with our staff and chat with the kids and explore our village...it's the best way to be a part of what God's doing here, for sure...coming!

It is a gift, truly, every day, to faithfully tend to the tasks He's put within our care, to tend with patience and kindness the needs and hearts of the people He places within our reach. Even when it is busy, it is gloriously so...even when I'm weary, He meets me.

I caught this image of Him meeting me unexpectedly the other day...the girls and I have mastered Psalm 23 in the New Living Translation, and they were practicing it for me before lunch. Nikki and Alex then commented that, like me, they had learned it in the King James. Wanting to hear, the girls challenged them to remember, and they went through the Psalm, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.

When they finished, Gertha politely smiled, and with a little prompting, she launched into Psalme Vingt-Trois in French, the girls so impressed. As we dug into rice and beans together, I was just thankful for God's Word, a lamp unto my feet....a lamp unto their feet...a lamp unto OURS.

As precious as all that was, there is nothing more precious than listening to Nora's little voice carefully site the Psalm.

Our staff prayer time this past Tuesday was unusually sacred, too...it's just always such a powerful time to be lifting up our students and communities and churches and country together...to know how to be praying for each other. God's at work at Emmaus, in these men and women, by His grace and by the prayers of many.

Ms. Colleen found this graduation program from 1981...and Granny is in it! (head of the kitchen staff...Matt's fierce Mama and Sofie's dearest friend.) I love it.

I've also got some fun projects going on right now...I'm working on some staff, alumni and student profiles, which is meaning lots of good time with some really fantastic men and women...stories coming soon :)

My English four class is always my favorite...we can work in English, we can study through a devotional together, we've all been together for two years, we can joke in ways we couldn't before we were friends...It's a sweet time, studying English grammar and practicing speaking and listening and writing. Never ever thought I'd say that :)

Our dear friends come tomorrow, a few days before the rest of the board, to help us prepare and to have some rare time together! Robert and Jane are Ben's godparents and we are READY for them to meet!! So looking forward to having them!

Short brag on Rick that he will not appreciate me sharing: not only is he so fantastic with all of our kids (all seven considering him to be the most fun ever) but he has such a servant heart of service, and has attended to literally HUNDREDS of jobs that have been needing done badly around our homes and campus this past three weeks. Yesterday I was extra touched when I heard him checking in on a bookshelf for Enoch across the hall from my office, and when he realized Enoch wasn't feeling well, immediately dropped everything to check on him, to get him water, to serve him well...Rick may not be here full time (trust me, we've begged), but his heart for the Lord and for others is what the kingdom is to be all about. We just love having him a part of the team!