2 days to Rwanda...

On the brink of departing, 2 days to go and begin maleria meds tonight. 

This has been an incredibly trying week on physical levels and spiritual ones too. I have not been feeling well, took Connor to the ER @ 5am on Sunday as he woke shaking, teeth chattering. Where he is on meds for his heart, had a flu shot that day and the shot has an egg protein and he is allergic to eggs, I quickly decided he needed to be looked at. Off we went to the ER. He was having a flu like reaction to the shot and we were home by 8am. I missed Brendan as He was on the Cape. Then, just as he got home and we had some alone time together, we learned of charges filed against a man we know, a man our children adored and have been around, a man we respected and admired who was charged with sexual misconduct w/ young boys. Needless to say we were horrified as this alleged development and it has left our family reeling and questioning so many things. My friend Mary said, I am learning that when I put my faith in people, I will always at some point be let down, but when I put my faith in God, I am never. So true as both our families are sharing in this shock.

I am very aware that good and evil exist in this world and believe on a spiritual realm, battles ensue. I have no doubt, as I am to embark on what I hope is a journey to provide encouragement, hope and love, that things are trying to thwart my enthusiasm, steal my joy and my peace. 

Yet, it will not be done. 

"The joy of the Lord is my strength" and over the past few days, as just as much bad stuff has come my way, God continues to show me His love and care in human tangible ways. He sends and gives me a loving encouraging husband, funny kids that make me laugh and strong Christian friends committing that they will cover me in prayer on this journey. I had lunch today with a dear girlfriend and 3 friends came over at the restaurant to hug and greet me. Yesterday was dark with the sickening news. Today is light. I am uplifted.

I will overcome this blow. Jesus taught that we are over comers in Him and that nothing, nothing is impossible with God. He is our refuge in trouble and will uphold us, guide us and protect us. Thanking Him today for His love and for sending such visible reassuring signs that He is with me...ones I know of and I bet so many I am unaware. 

Then I came across this and would just like to preserve it here.

Thanks for reading and sharing in this journey. 

If my days were untroubled, and my heart always light, 

Would I seek that fair land, where there is no night? 

If I never grew weary with the weight of my load, 

Would I search for God’s peace, at the end of every road? 

If I never knew sickness, and never felt pain, 

Would my soul seek sweet solace at the foot of the Cross? 

If all I desired was mine day by day,  

Would I kneel before God, and earnestly pray? 

If God sent no winter to freeze me with fear, 

Would I yearn for warmth of spring year after year? 

I ask myself these things, and the answers are plain, 

If my life were all pleasure and I never knew pain, 

I’d seek God less often, and need Him much less, 

For God’s sought more often in time of distress. 

And no one knows God or sees Him as plain, 

As those who have met Him on the pathway of pain. 

 

_Author Unknown