Teach Me to Pray

Tumi hanging on my leg

Time is so strange here. I am learning just to live life- learning to walk moment by moment by spirit and in truth- because I am being watched.  There are not many "big moments" of challenge or revival, but thousands of moments to be faithful.


I knew that when I decided to come to South Africa for eight months, it would not be like all the missions trips I have been on. I knew it would look different in the way I would invest, and spend my time. 
With missions trips you are always busy, everything is new, and it seems like God always makes seven, set apart days to change your life. When you are coming for a longer amount of time, it takes a little while to truly settle in.  I am realizing, that you I am building, and investing in longer terms.


These last two weeks (or however long I have been here...) I have been learning how to settle in. I am learning how to be poured out, and also how to rest. It is difficult retraining my brain to really listen to what God wants me to be doing with each task.  And noticing that in all this, I have many little eyes watching me, seeing how I respond. I am accountable for baring whiteness of what it looks like to walk as Jesus calls us to walk. I am leaning to live ( not just act) like Jesus did, and love as God does.


 ::The Character of God:: 

doing hair with the older girls

I was just thinking and praying for ways that I can walk that way, and  in the character quality of faithfulness. Being faithful is not something you from moment to moment, but rather moments built upon each other that become consistent. Oh man, and consistency it hard... To be faithful is a spiritual discipline, that takes work!Discipline doesn't really sound fun either... but God's word speaks of discipline like a good Father. Discipline trains you in the behavior you Father asks of you-this is to walk and live like His son Jesus.

Lerato

:: The Other Day::
I am excited for all the opportunities I have to " just be" with all the kids. The other night, Laurie and I were up at the older girls house, just sitting around talking. It was great! We covered so many topics of conversion, (cell phones, school, boys, favorite ice cream, etc.)We just had time to "be". It was sweet time for me, because in each of those topics, there is opportunity to meet with God the Father.
 Each of those things in those girls lives God is interested in, and loves, and wants to hear about! We can even praise Him for ice cream! :) Each of these moments are teaching ones. 

Monica

As I  kept thinking about being faithful, I was thinking  "HOW in the WORLD can I learn to be consistent in the way that Jesus is?!" This is going to be SO hard... and I really don't even know how to start. I asked God, how I should pray.  

Paulina, Sthembile, and me

My brain is so small, and I am so silly sometimes, always taking things into my own little hands, when all along Jesus has told us how we are to pray. Like a good Father, He has taught me to pray.

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

(Matt. 6:9-15)

Laurie with Sthembile and Inseeki

God is good! and faithful,  and never changing.  He has been faithful to teach me, and train me to look more like Him in the U.S., so I know He will be faithful to do the same here in South Africa! He has proven consistently His goodness, and provision for me, so I can have confidence.


::Opportunity At Hand::
This week from Thursday morning- Sunday afternoon Laurie and I will be house parents for the older girls house. There will be so many opportunities to get to know the girls deeper, and be able to speak truth into them, in many topics. But.... none of this will happen unless, the Lord makes a way, and gives us moments of grace, to be faithful to do as He wills. This means we can pray for this weekend as He has taught us to. 


::PLEASE PRAY::

• Baby Inseeki: to sleep better at night this weekend. ( Laurie and I are newbies no-sleeping-baby- nights :) )

• Mallory: to be faithful in the way God has asked me to live like His Son. 

• Laurie and Mal together: to continually seek the Lord in all circumstances, and attitudes.

• The Missionaries: The Niehoff's, to be encouraged, and steadfast with the busy weeks to come; and the O'Tool's to speak clearly about RHI ( Restoring Hope Int.) and have people be excited to be involved in supporting their ministry.

And... sorry this was a long post. Thank you those who stuck it through and read it! :) :)