Returning...

I’m not sure what happened that I lost interest in writing.  But it happened.  I’m hoping to regain interest.  I’m hoping to be able to watch with an eye that desires to retell the story.  So much has gone on lately.  But more and more the time here becomes less amazing and more normal.  For your sake and mine I need to return to writing.  I need to share stories.  I need to watch life go by as I live it.  I need to love every minute and seek to retell the story.  I’m trying.  

The prayer day was such a blessing.  I have sent out some more emails to those of you who emailed about joining us.  I want to hear your stories of the day.  We want to share those with others you don’t know so that you can see the union that took place on that day.  We started at my house.  We spent several hours here before stepping out into the city and praying for people in the places we were praying for: an Orthodox church, mosques, the ERC, a mountain that overlooks the city.  The day was moving.  I’m not good at praying for extended periods like that.  I’m really not a good at praying in any fashion.  But that day was inspiring.  It gave me a burning desire to spend more days doing nothing more than approaching the throne on behalf of the 5 million or so that live here.

The house has changed a lot lately.  In the last month I have gone from living alone, to living with six, to four, to six again.  Two more will join us Friday, but we’ll also lose two on that day.  It is stretching.  Life looks so much different when the house is full of people.  It demands I be more flexible.  It demands I move past my own wants and desires.  It is a great teacher.  

One of my current roommates has stolen my heart.  Her name is Olivia.  That is actually her new name.  She has only had it for about three days now.  Before that her name was Ababa – flower.  (A day or two before meeting her I had thought about naming a kid that.  I think I like the name Samantha Ababa.  But I would want to call her Sam.  So maybe I should name another kid Ababa and call her Abby.)  Olivia is about 2 ½.  Her new daddy came to pick her up.  He needed a place to stay and ended up with us.  She is absolutely beautiful.  Everyday I tell him, and her, that it is completely okay for him to leave her with me.  He already has five kids does he really need another?  She is beautiful.  One day I will have a couple.  I want to have some kids and adopt some kids.  I want to give a home to those who don’t have that privilege.  

Great progress being made on the maps, although we are at a bit of a standstill.  It is important to have a vehicle while I map.  I have to get into some pretty shady spots.  Taxis would never go on these roads, and I’m to fat and old to walk the all.  Continue to ask for progress.  

No water since yesterday.  It is starting to stink in this house.  I’m hoping it will return today.

I don’t have a visa to be here at the moment.  The stolen one has proven quite difficult to replace.  Pray with me as we seek to resolve this issue.

I’ll try to get some stories out soon.