The HELP staff today...I miss them so much!
Guylvi
Orcxance and Dr. Wegner
Chrichina
Orcxance and Dr. Wegner
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Who Can Love
What had impelled Sister Monica Joan to abandon a privileged life for one of hardship, working in the slums of London's Docklands?
(from The Midwife, pg 318)
"Was it love of people?" I asked her.
"Of course not," she snapped sharply.
"How can you love ignorant, brutish people whom you don't even know? Can anyone love filth and squalor? Or lice and rats? Who can love aching weariness, and carry on working, in spite of it?
One cannot love these things. One can only love God, and through His grace come to love people."
(from The Midwife, pg 318)
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Love
People talk about feeling love, being lovable, lovely or 'falling in love.'
People talk about choosing to love.
Love is an emotion, love is a gift, love is a sacrifice, but love is not a choice, it is a command.
"If love were a choice, who would choose such exquisite pain?"
People talk about choosing to love.
Love is an emotion, love is a gift, love is a sacrifice, but love is not a choice, it is a command.
"If love were a choice, who would choose such exquisite pain?"
Friday, 30 January 2015
2014 In Song (idea from Emily)
“It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had…”
So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there,
You start believin' that your situation's unfair
But there's always scars,
When you fall back far
I don't know if you can see, the changes that have come over me
In these last few days, I've been afraid, that I might drift away
I've been tellin' old stories, singing songs
That made me think, about where I've come from
And that's the reason why I seem so far away today.
This is love callin'....
Though it's crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die
Some days life feels perfect.
Some days the tongue gets twisted;
Other days my thoughts just fall apart.
Who do you thank for the knowledge of noon
That stands every shadow on end?
Who do you thank for the neighborhood tunes
That float on the breeze like old friends?
"You know I get sick deep-sea fishin'
And you make the best fried chicken…
I'd take a gold band on my hand
Over being a single man
Cause honestly I don't know what I'd do
If I'd never met a woman like you."
Never too late to get back up again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever
Newspaper notices heralding that great event
Daddy's buddies send the flowers
Mother's friends have baby showers
Welcoming that Heaven sent
That first born son is always the one
The first to be called and the last to come.
So I'm sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a dyin'
And my love is an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain
Future like a promise, you’re a city of gold
Stubborn in your bones and Jesus in your soul
Seeing you stand there, staring at the unknown
I won't pretend that it's not killing me
Watching you walk away slow.
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
As we fight against the odds we realize
There’s a special calling placed upon our lives
In the mundane tasks of living
In the pouring out and giving
In the waking up and trying
In the laying down and dying
But the Father gives the strength to believe.
It’s another nameless morning
And the call goes out, a warning
There’s a precious life that’s hanging by a thread
And so we rush with hearts a-pounding
Knowing every moment’s counting
Remember at night what you knew in the day, Till darkness fades away
The tired old man with a Bible in his hand
Said, “Lay my down upon the cool green grass.
My eyes have seen that river flowing through the Promise Land,
I’m just looking for a shallow place to cross.”
And yonder breaks a yet more glorious day
The saints triumphant arise in bright array
The King of Glory passes on His way
Alleluia, Alleluia
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had…”
So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there,
You start believin' that your situation's unfair
But there's always scars,
When you fall back far
I don't know if you can see, the changes that have come over me
In these last few days, I've been afraid, that I might drift away
I've been tellin' old stories, singing songs
That made me think, about where I've come from
And that's the reason why I seem so far away today.
This is love callin'....
Though it's crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die
Some days life feels perfect.
Some days the tongue gets twisted;
Other days my thoughts just fall apart.
Who do you thank for the knowledge of noon
That stands every shadow on end?
Who do you thank for the neighborhood tunes
That float on the breeze like old friends?
"You know I get sick deep-sea fishin'
And you make the best fried chicken…
I'd take a gold band on my hand
Over being a single man
Cause honestly I don't know what I'd do
If I'd never met a woman like you."
Never too late to get back up again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever
Newspaper notices heralding that great event
Daddy's buddies send the flowers
Mother's friends have baby showers
Welcoming that Heaven sent
That first born son is always the one
The first to be called and the last to come.
So I'm sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a dyin'
And my love is an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain
Future like a promise, you’re a city of gold
Stubborn in your bones and Jesus in your soul
Seeing you stand there, staring at the unknown
I won't pretend that it's not killing me
Watching you walk away slow.
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
As we fight against the odds we realize
There’s a special calling placed upon our lives
In the mundane tasks of living
In the pouring out and giving
In the waking up and trying
In the laying down and dying
But the Father gives the strength to believe.
It’s another nameless morning
And the call goes out, a warning
There’s a precious life that’s hanging by a thread
And so we rush with hearts a-pounding
Knowing every moment’s counting
Remember at night what you knew in the day, Till darkness fades away
The tired old man with a Bible in his hand
Said, “Lay my down upon the cool green grass.
My eyes have seen that river flowing through the Promise Land,
I’m just looking for a shallow place to cross.”
And yonder breaks a yet more glorious day
The saints triumphant arise in bright array
The King of Glory passes on His way
Alleluia, Alleluia
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Flashback
5 years ago...I went to Africa for the first time.
After that, I always knew I had to go back. In two years, Lord willing, I plan to move back to Congo to stay.
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Christmas
It was a different kind of Christmas this year...some things were the same - the Peter Barrys came, gifts were exchanged, the parents, especially Mother, did a fabulous job making the day special, and much joy was shared by all.
But other things were different. I spent Christmas Eve at the hospital with Grandfather, handed out gifts to the nurses and CNAs, and read the story in Luke 2 out loud at GF's request.
With Emily and Anna both gone, I was the oldest daughter at home for the first time ever. Grandfather was in the hospital, even on Christmas Day.
Aunt Elizabeth brought a lovely mini Christmas tree and a stocking, and on Christmas Day our whole family came and sang "For All the Saints" for Grandfather, with Ian accompanying on the guitar.
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