Restoration

Hey ladies! So it's a little late in the week but I wanted to say thanks for everyone who was able to make it on Monday. We had a good discussion about chapter 7 of our book. It was a tough one to tackle but here are just a few very general points that we talked about. We missed those of you who couldn't make it and hope to see you next week!

• Having an eternal perspective shapes our desires here on earth
• Through the Holy Spirit working in us, we are given glimpses of God's perfections- glimpses of heaven
• The idea of heaven should evoke excitement within us. The idea of a place where all is restored and perfect. We have no sin or shame separating us from God and there is no brokenness, insecurities, fears, or self doubt.
• Heaven is meant to be mysterious- we don't have to have it all figured out. We choose to live by faith and not by sight; to believe the unbelievable.

We also heard some great testaments about God's faithfulness to answer prayer in the lives of our friends. Some praises include Carmel's new job! Laura & Jess getting a new wonderful roommate! And my financial debt under God's control! Thank you Jesus for listening and caring about the needs of all the women in our group and revealing answers in your perfect timing.

See you all next week!

Greetings from Nigeria!

Hey ladies!

I have been meaning to blog, but it's been hard to put into words all the things I want to say...

I am well--- really, really well, actually. Being here is so good for me. I am learning what it really means to want this career that I have chosen. For me, anyway, it is easy to latch on to a desire and claim that I want it really badly and yet not be willing to make the sacrifices or put in the work to make that desire a reality-- even when God is giving it to me.

Work is going well. It is hard enough being your own boss, talk less of managing other people... some mornings I wake up and wish someone else were giving the orders. I am trying to remember that Someone Else is and only through Him will anything get done, talk less of getting it done well.

Adjustment has been a non-issue! Honestly, my life here is very much the same as life there-- minus seeing all of you... but I am still very much connected and accessible via email and phone. Lisa keeps me posted regularly, too. My dad managed to squeeze in a half day to see me this week, which was such a treat and my aunt and I have a standing date on Sundays (to watch West African Idol!!!). I get to talk to my cousins and grandmother often, and might be able to get some time off around Easter to see more family, and party in Lagos!

I think I have found a church home here-- House on the Rock Church... the demographics are very similar to NCC's, so can you say handsome single men?! I am keeping up with you on our study, and often wish I had bugged Daphne's apartment so I could listen in on Monday nights!

Prayer requests: Please keep praying for the political situation here and upcoming elections April 14th and 21st. There have already been some demonstrations and police force in some areas. Pray for peace, pray for a calm transition... Also, please pray for God's direction on next steps for when I return. I have a couple phone interviews lined up for next week, so pray along with me for discernment and for a heart to trust God.

Much much love,
L

Pictures!

Hi everyone,

Finally got around to uploading my pictures from my trip to Vietnam and Australia -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/11151982
Still learning to manage this site; pictures will make better viewing sense if you click on the albums on the middle-right of the page.

Enjoy!

As you all know, Godspell is coming to NCC in a few weeks.

Godspell, a musical based on the Gospel of Matthew, comes to the Ebenezers stage March 30-April 8.
Set in modern times against the backdrop of the DC metro system, Godspell tells the story of Jesus and his disciples and the history-changing community that they formed.

Tickets are $10 General Admission. Tickets purchased online will be held at will-call. Tickets also on sale at Ebenezers (check or cash only).

Here are the performance dates:

Friday, March 30 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 1 at 2:00 pm
Sunday, April 1 at 6:00 pm
Thursday, April 5 at 8:00 pm
Friday, April 6 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 7 at 10:00pm **Easter Vigil Performance
Sunday, April 8 at 2:00 pm
Sunday, April 8 at 6:00 pm

Let me know if you plan to come to either the Friday, March 30th or Friday, April 6th. We should grab dinner before the show!

Where I've Been

Those of you who know me may have observed or been told by me that there has been a heaviness in my soul over the past several months and a struggle with God about a sadness within me. I felt restless for change. I was fairly quiet during our prayer request times in the fall semester and even now because of it. I couldn't put into words what I needed prayer for. I've been taking comfort in the Psalm below which explains where I'm at. The good news is I am moving out of this phase and find that I am bracing myself for change that God has been preparing me for.

Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?" These things I remember
as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.