I'm Not Afraid of Many Things

I saw a little of myself in her.

She was smitten.

Just like me that first trip.

One of my teammates.

Danee Davis.



My blog today.

Is about helping Danee.

This is her story.  

In her words.

My name is Danielle Davis.

And I am trying so hard to listen.

For years.

I knew I was supposed to go to Africa.

It was always a dream of mine.

People are often surprised.

I'm a mommy to six kids.

Yep.

Six.

I take care of my own four children.

Plus, two more that I foster.

I'm also a faithful, loving wife.

To my hard working husband.

I go to church at Newspring.

But something was missing in my life.

I soon discovered.....what that was.

Out of nowhere.

Someone gave me their spot.

On Newspring's last trip to Kenya.

A lady at church.

She had saved up all of her money.

But she wanted me.

Me.

To take her place.

Unbelievable.

She even gave me her suitcase.

With all the clothes I needed inside.

And I heard Him.

In that moment.

And He said to me.

Go and use the gifts that are inside of you!

And I did.

Because I'm not afraid of many things.

In those ten days.

I experienced way more than I imagined.

The Kenyan people.

Were the most kind and loving people I've ever met.

They welcomed me with hugs and kisses.

And open arms.

Everything I saw there.

Broke me.

I was more than humbled.

I was changed.

And I knew.

That was my purpose for being here.

I have another opportunity.

To go to Uganda.

This summer.

Newspring's first trip to Kampala.

Our church is ministering to street children there.

Who have no parents.

And live off of very little.

Garbage from the street.

And no shelter.

My heart is heavy for them.

And I know what I have to do.

I know without a doubt.

My God.

Will pave a way for me to live out.

My mission here on earth.

Because I'm not afraid of many things......and I want to go!

Kampala, Uganda

Danee has quite a challenge.
Raising the money she needs to serve Kampala, Uganda.
In just a few weeks.
$3500.
I want to help her go.
That's why I'm sharing her story on my blog.

How about you?
Would you be willing to help Danee?

Any donation will help.
Whether you have a little.
Or maybe you have a lot to give.

I've seen this woman in action.
She's terrific.
And she's willing to go.
What would you do for her?


Responding before April 30, 2014 would be greatly appreciated.

Many of you can sit down and write a check today.

Your tax deductible gift can be made to: NewSpring Church.

and mailed to:

NewSpring Church
P.O. Box 1407
Anderson, South Carolina 29622
Re:  Uganda  Mission Trip - Danee Davis


Thank you for being generous.
Thank you for helping Danee.




For more information:
http://newspring.cc/uganda

Shifting Me

I have seen this work so many times in my life.

The shift that takes place.

When I get intentional about changing my own bad attitude.

I'm sure you've never have a bad attitude.

When you've had several tough days at work.

Or maybe things just don't seem to be going.......right.

When you hear yourself say more times than not.

That's not fair.

Why did that happen?

When will I just catch a break!

I wish "I" could do that.

Seriously!?   they want it THIS week?

Why did....that....have to happen?

I don't understand why everything has to be so hard!

If I find myself on that path.

No, joke.

It's usually a dark path.

And, I generally know when I'm on it.

I try to call it out for what it is.

It's my own terrible attitude.

Hopefully.

I won't choose to waller in it.

Because I know what can shift it.

What can shift me.

Gratitude.

It works.

Sometimes I get in my car at the end of the day.

Nobody but me.

And if I'm feeling that the world is against me.

Oh, Lord.

Slightly dramatic, I know.

But, we all feel that way sometimes.

I start saying out loud.

One after another.

What I'm thankful for.

Other times.

When I don't have the privacy to talk out loud.

And I know I have to change my mind set.

I pull out my journal.

Go sit in my room.

And write them down.

One after another.

What I'm thankful for.



It's amazing.

I start listing.

What may seem very ordinary.

And insignificant.

Those are all things.

I have to be thankful for.





For heat in my house on a cold morning.

And for the bird that's singing at the top of his lungs.

Just outside my window.

For my keurig.

And fresh coffee in the morning.

For clean water that comes out of the faucet.

(sorry.....my Africa obsession is showing.)

And the fact I can walk into a grocery store and buy what I need.

For my job.

And the people I get to work with everyday.

For my car.

That gets me to where I need to go.

For my neighbor.

That bakes wonderful pound cake and shares it with me.

For my mama.

Who's always in my corner.

For garlic and onion cream cheese.

And "Flea Market Flip."

For my husband.

And his love for me.

For skyping with my girl across the country.

Or getting a hug from the one that's still at home.

Thankful.

But  even more importantly.

I get intentional about my thanks to Jesus.

And it looks like this.

Thank you for being a refuge to me when life is hard.

Thank you for never changing.

When everything around me is.

Thank you for always hearing me.

When I pour out what's on my mind.

Thank you for your patience.

When I screw up.

Thank you for your grace.

When I fail to show it to others.



Whether I speak it out loud.

Or journal it down.

When I get intention about "thanks."

My bad attitude shifts.

I shift.

Gratitude......shifting me.




"But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me."  Psalm 50: 23

A Breath

When I was a kid.

The hardest thing for me to wrap my mind around.

Was this thought.

What happens to me when I'm dead and gone?

Does the world keep going on?

And.

How could it...........if I'm not here?



As a kid.

I hadn't seen much death.

My grandpa Wister was the first person close to me to die.

But, even then.

I noticed.

Things did seem to go on...... just like they always had.

After he was gone.

The sun came up every day.

I still went to school.

Christmases came and went.

Life went on.

And I began to understand a little.

Of this world.

And my place in it.



Today.

I don't think so much about that early question.

In the years that have passed in my life.

I've seen people live out their lives.

And pass away.

Some from old age.

Some from illness.

Some from tragic circumstances.

And.

It's still interesting to me.

That for all of us to have that fate.

The very same outcome.

There's very little talking about it.



I do think about my time here, though.

Mostly, I think about how really quick it seems to go!

Oh my gosh!

Time for me is FLYING.

With no sign of slowing down.

And what I know is this.

I want to be about living.

Living  out my purpose for being here.

And do the thing.

And live well.

Live on purpose.

Without fear.

I want to love well.

And be of some use to people.

And be of some use in this world.

But especially.

Be of some use to Him.


"Lord, remind me of how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered -
how fleeting my life is.

You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.

For I am your guest -
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me."

Psalm 39:  4-5; 12.


A traveler doesn't stop and settle down.

We keep moving.

We keep traveling.

If I'm a guest.

This is not my permanent home.

I am just passing through.

Wanting very much.

To do it well.

What I'll Hold Onto

Have you ever been through an experience.

And not been sure.

Exactly what to do with it?

That's how I'm feeling this week.

Last Sunday I came home from Kenya.

It was my first time serving with a medical team from NewSpring.

In the very remote village of Ereri.

And I was deeply marked by what I saw.

Hardship and suffering.

The likes of which.

I've rarely seen with my own eyes.

I'm not a medical person.

So, my experience with suffering has been pretty shallow.

And limited to what I've seen in my own family......or myself.

Yeah.

Very little.

But.

This trip.

I had a front row seat.

To people in the village coming through our clinic.

Many with colds and coughing.

Some with rashes and fevers.

A few with full blown infections and swelling.

Dental trouble.

And some that required way more care.

Than we could ever provide.

We dispensed medicine.

We freely gave them what we could.

Medical attention.

Care.

Love.

Prayers.

And despite the hardships and the needless suffering that I witnessed.

It was still there.

I still saw it.

 Joy.

On the faces of the children.

And I still saw hope and peace in the faces of the people.

I saw the beauty of the land.

And the biggest sky I've ever stood under.

I held hands and linked arms.

I whispered and sang and laughed.

And witnessed a rain fall.

The first one in the village.

 After months and months of drought.

I saw animals in the wild.

That few people ever get to see.

I touched the face of a blind rhino.

And slept in a tent by a watering hole.

I said goodbye to friends there.

Many I won't ever see again.

This side of heaven.

Crispoh.     Joseph.     Paul.   Susan.     And  many others.

I saw my teammates.

Growing in their view of the world.

And their place in it.

Growing in what God was showing them.

Because He showed it to me as well.

His power.

His love.

His provision.

Yes.

I saw suffering and hardship this trip.

And it will stay with me.

For a very long time.

But,  I will also remember.

The joy.

I saw it too.

And that's what I'll hold onto.

When I'm not sure.

What to do with the rest.

My circumstances......His timing

My bag is packed.

I've done my checklist.

Malaria pills?

Check.

Passport?

Check.

My favorite travel pillow?

Check.

Stash of dark chocolate?

Are you kidding me??

CHECK!!

I'm leaving for Africa in the morning.

And if I sleep well tonight at all.

Yeah.

(That's not going to happen.)

But if I do sleep well tonight,

It'll be my last solid sleep.

For close to two days.

Our flight is not as direct this time.

Atlanta to Chicago.

Chicago to Paris.

Paris to Nairobi.

My youngest is a little bitter about my Paris connection.

(hehe)  

I'm traveling with several former teammates.

Including my roommate, Heather.

There's also trip veteran, Brandon & our team leader, Barron.

Barron usually tells us.

".....it's really not a big deal to go to Africa....I usually throw a few things in
a suitcase the night before we leave..."

Yeah.

That would not be me.

I've thought about the timing of this trip a lot.

About fourteen of us were originally going last September.

But plans changed.

The terrorist attack at the mall in Nairobi caused concern for safety.

And.

The trip was cancelled.

Four days before departure.

And we stayed home.

Today.

I'm in a totally different set of circumstances in my life.

Than I was five months ago.

And I have to believe.

That's for a reason.

God's going to use my current circumstances.

In this trip.

He's all about timing.

What's true for me right now.

May be true for you.

It's been an  incredibly busy time.

I don't remember a season quite like the one I'm in right now.

My plate has been loaded.

Projects.   Responsibility.    Deadlines.

Just carrying a load.

It's been like that for months.

And what does God allow me to do.

Literally.

Right in the middle of all my busyness?

Step out.

Of all that's going on.

Get on a plane.

Fly to the other side of the world.

With people I know.

And many that I don't.

To go to a place.

Not dictated.

Or restricted by time.

Or deadlines.

Where the pace is slower.

Needs are simple.

And Jesus is often bigger.

My circumstances......running head long into His timing.

We'll see what He has planned.

Thanks for your prayers as our team goes.

Tomorrow morning.

I'm

On

My

Way.

A Window Seat in Kenya

We were heading back into Nanyuki that afternoon.

On the big green bus.

All week long, we'd driven many miles back and forth.

Just over an hour one way.

From our hotel out to the bush.

An area called Segera in the northern part of Kenya.

I love the ride out to the villages where we serve.

On that bus.

Most of it on a dirt path......not sure you could even call it a road.

I settle into a seat by the open windows.

And take it in.

Some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen.

 In my life.

We drive for miles to and from the villages of Ereri, TuTu and Mbogoni.

With Mt. Kenya looming off in the distance.

Nothing but flat Africa landscapes in every direction.

Everything you would imagine.

Acacia trees.

Big open skies.

Occasional herds of goats tended by very young children.

Spider monkeys darting in and out of a fence line along way.

Random camels.

Even zebras.

And little "Pumba's"

That afternoon.

As our bus slowly passed her on the dirt road.

I was absolutely struck by the sight of her.

Herding a single......huge.....white cow just steps ahead.

She was incredibly tall.

Naturally elegant.

Statuesque.

And dressed.

In the most vivid pink I've ever seen.

She was Masai.

And I knew instantly.

It would be an incredible photograph.

Camera already in hand.

I raised it out the window and took aim.

Her expression changed in an instant.

To an immediate offense and frown.

Her hands objecting in defiance.

She never said a word.

But her meaning was clear.

NO picture!

Whatever her reason.

I immediately obliged.

Lowered my camera.

Just as quickly as I raised it.

And just looked at her.

And in return.

She rewarded me.

With a bright smile.

And an appreciative wave.

I'll never forget that image.

As long as I live.

I've thought about it many times.

There are .....of course......countless other images.

Not to be forgotten.

This is scheduled to be my church's last trip into Segera.

And I wouldn't miss it.

I'm leaving with my team in just twenty days.

20 days.

And my plans?

Be where my feet are.

And take it all in.

The land.

The children we've worked with and known.

Enjoying the rides on the green bus.

And what I might see.


By

       The

             Window

                        Seat.

What Looms Ahead

Sometimes.

You just need to believe that you can do it!

It......meaning whatever is looming ahead of you.

I told someone close to me recently.

I do not remember a season of time in recent years.

When the "whatever is looming ahead "

seemed to be so towering as they are in the present circumstances.

Responsibilities.

Projects.

Assignments.

Deadlines.

And they all decided to get together in the month of February.

I've really been asking God in my prayers.

For strength.

Not just to check all these things off my list as successfully done.

But to get to the end of them.

Without looking  -    (spiritually......and maybe even physically)

as they say in my family....

"like a piece of bad Georgia road."

I'm really not wanting that.

And what's happened as I've prayed for strength?

God has given me a word.

Every time I pick up my bible.

Or my devotional.

On providing strength for what lies ahead.

I don't know about you.

But I realized some years ago.

I am not the super woman I thought I was.

I know.

Amazing, isn't it?

It was a stark realization, I don't mind telling you.

And as I'm looking ahead at some mountains I have to climb.

In the guise of projects, assignments and deadlines.

They do look daunting.

And I could revert to fear and discouragement in a flash.

Fear and discouragement are there every day for the taking.

But Jesus says otherwise.

And because I've asked Him to give me what I need.

He's been providing it.

Morning.

After morning.

After morning.

I'm terrible at memorizing scripture.

When I spit it out in my blog.

Very often I have to go back and find it.

(o.k.  .... every time I go back and find it.)

So that I get it down right.

But,  believe it?   Believe what it says?

Yes, I do.

So.

It's Saturday morning.

I'm up earlier than my man again.

And I crack open my devotional.

And I turn to February 1.

And, what do you know?

Another message of strength & courage is there waiting on me.

That's one of the very cool things about a relationship with Him.

His faithfulness.

An invisible.

Impossible to define, God.

Hears my prayers.

And just like I want my children to have what they need.

He wants the same for me.

He knows exactly what I need.

And continues.........to give it...... to me.

I'm sorry.

You just cannot beat that.

There is nothing else in this world that can give me that.


February 1        

"Jesus Calling" Sarah Young

"Follow me one step at a time.  
That is all I require of you.
You see huge mountains looming,
and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights.  
Meanwhile, because you're not looking where you're going,
you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now.
As I help you get back on your feet,
you tell me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead.
But you don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow.  
Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains.
There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from the distance.  
If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb.
I will even give my angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.

Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying my Presence.
Walk by faith, not by sight,
trusting Me to open up the way before you."


Psalm 18:29;  Psalm 91: 11-12;  2 Corinthians 5:7