Words on paper,
thoughts in writing,
the crazy clouds of my mind
settled, still, and visible.
For weeks now, I've missed writing. I've journaled more these last few weeks than I have in a long time. Even though I'm journaling, I miss writing for school or to share a lesson I've learned in following Christ or to simply put thoughts spinning around in my head on paper. I have missed it.
I've been working on my budget (thank you Mint.com) and pre-marital counseling homework tonight. I didn't want to call it a night just yet. There are lots of things I've wanted to write about over this last week and these last months, but tonight I simply want to write a life update.
Wedding - Less than 8 weeks ago, I asked Lauren Marie Raikes to be my wife. The frenzy of January and February, getting ready for the engagement and the anticipation of placing that ring on her finger, seem a faint blur on the horizon of my memories. And yet, they are incredibly sweet memories: planning the details of the proposal, picking up the ring from the store, and hoping she caught a glimpse, in those things, of the depth and richness of my love for her - both my bubbling, giddy school-boy love and the fullness of my commitment to pursue & love her every day of my life. It's hard to believe we're now less than 7 weeks away from the wedding. In the midst of wedding planning, pre-marital counseling, and trying to see each other as much as possible (living 300 miles apart) - some days (and weeks) feel as though we're barely holding on to France's TGV bullet train, leaving romantic Paris and speeding towards the beautiful port of Marseille.
Summer - I am looking forward to the wedding celebration on May 29th. After that, I'm taking 2 weeks off for our honeymoon. Two weeks to spend with my best friend, my new wife, and the life-long companion God seems to have so custom-made for me. It's hard to know what it will even be like. Thoughts of the future are full of sweet and wonderful unknowns. Having seen confidently God's hand at work this last year in bringing us together - and His hand at work even now in wedding plans - it's an adventure I can't wait for! Chasing, together, after a Savior and a God who has shown Himself completely faithful - calling us to simply continue following hard after Him. He's already providing in huge ways with housing for June & July!
Oxford - We're going for it! There are lots of things we don't have yet - important things, like money, housing, and plane tickets. What we do have is a growing confidence of God's leading and a peace that following Him is worth it. Over the last several months, God's brought both Lauren & I to a point where we feel like this is the open door God wants us to pursue. He's given both of us a passion for Kenya and a desire to tell others about life in Africa. He's given Lauren the dream of staying at home and raising kids and provided a way for me to earn a degree that would allow me to provide for a family and He continues to give me favor with leaders in African history at Oxford.
There's a lady, she worked in France as a missionary for the better part of 20 years, who once told me,
"Daniel, too often I think we stand around waiting for a green light from God. More often than not, I think God wants us to get up and go, and trust Him for the red light if it's not where He wants us. Trust Him to guide, but be courageous in pursuing opportunities."
I've never forgotten that challenge. So, Lauren & I are pursuing this open door. God may close it. If He does, we've lost nothing. If it's where He wants us and we didn't pursue it, we've lost an adventure He had dreamed for us and a chance to trust Him for big things.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
It's an incredibly exciting time in life. Following Christ, my Savior and my Lord, continues to be a mind-blowing, culture-defying adventure! It's not always sunshine and beautiful days, but, in 26 years, I have found that it is always worth it. Whether He's with me in the mud, helping me grow in determination and faith, or in the sun, holding my arms open wide in a smile big enough to hang the world on, Jesus Christ has shown himself true to His word:
that he will never leave me, nor forsake me.
(Hebrews 13:5)
5 comments:
It sounds like you have a crazy couple months ahead of you--it'll go faster than you can imagine though, be sure to breathe!
Lindsay and I got married on May 23--we figured out that we'll have a long weekend every year for our anniversary (assuming we're living somewhere that celebrates Memorial day).
I know what you mean about missing writing...I get like that too. That's why I blog alot!
you should look at my friend heather's blog. I read yours. It helps me,am in US in hospital so I do not get uch access and i read more than write, I cannot help. Heather should look at your blog, too. I havent talked to her since her ordeal and my newst health ordeal. Its as almost too much too tell her. But I read her instead, Maybe your kind words can help. I cannot. Heather was always my friend, when I had cancer the first time at university after turning 18, she helped to save me and truly be there. She graduated, moved to LA, met many big stars... for years she had dream jobs but would go with her church to help build schools or homes. But one time, she didn't come back.
She is now in Thailand, a foster mom, poor and working hard.
here is part of her story:
http://www.thethaisthatbind.blogspot.com/
Kate again, I just wanted to say that I will not post again, I just read her blog, and I never hit "next blog" and that was awhile back, and this time I was particularly thinking about two seperate people who should know eachother. But you shouldn't change settings I won't reply after these anymore I just had to for some reason, I never have done anything like this. Oh and this is her email she sends on her own.
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Sophie (not her real name) is a bright, outgoing 14-year-old who has had one of the worst years that anyone could imagine. First her father died tragically and unexpectedly. Within a year, her mother had also passed away from kidney failure, leaving Sophie an orphan. She has no siblings and neither of her parents have any living relatives, so she had no one to take care of her. She is also from the Akha tribe, and does not yet have Thai citizenship (read below to hear more about this issue), despite being born here, so she would have been a prime target for human traffickers. Thankfully, she has had Taw Saeng (the i go to) to help protect her from those who would try to harm her.
I joyfully took on the responsibility of being her foster mother in July, and soon she was diagnosed with severe tuberculosis. She then spent two months in isolation in the hospital, nearly contracting hepatitis from the powerful medication she was taking. Obviously this whole period of time was a powerful bonding experience for us and I would love to adopt her officially. Unfortunately, without Thai citizenship, the government does not acknowledge her existence, and she can therefore not be adopted. They will, however, allow guardianship. If left as a ward of the state, she would be sent to live in a government orphanage with hundreds of other children and very little supervision. Physical and sexual abuse runs rampant in many of these places, so I am desperately trying to avoid this outcome and am applying this month to become her legal guardian.
Since coming home from the hospital, Sophie has been thriving. She has gained back all the weight she lost while fighting TB (at admittance, she was down to 79 pounds), she is back in school, passed all her mid-terms, despite only having one week to study, and is back to playing guitar and piano as well as wanting to learn bass. For more about Sophie's story, visit my blog at
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www.thethaisthatbind.blogspot.com
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Kate (last forever comment)
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cont,)
Life Without Citizenship
In Thailand, citizenship is not based on whether you or your parents were born here, it is based on being able to prove it.
Hill tribes were traditionally nomadic, so they were not granted the rights of citizens when some decided to settle here. So, even though some have been here for generations, they still have to go through an application process to gain citizenship. If you do not have Thai citizenship, you are unable to purchase health care, cannot own property of any kind, you can't get a job in a hotel, a store, or most restaurants. You are only provided free education until the 6th grade and are unable to attend university. The future for someone without citizenship is bleak and difficult. This is why Taw Saeng has been working with International Justice Mission to go through the process of gaining citizenship for many of our students, including Sophie. Sophie's case is one of the most complicated IJM has seen due to a variety of circumstances, so it is a very difficult, long and expensive process to get her the rights she should have been born with.
These days everything costs money, and in Thailand, citizenship is no exception. Costs incurred include those for travel (gas and housing), fees for government officials to help process paperwork, court fees, lawyer costs, and other incidentals. The total amount we need to raise is roughly $2575.00 US. (We conserve as much as we can because, we wouldn't want to take more when it could help another).
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Because I came to Thailand not expecting to become an instant parent, I only did fundraising for myself, so we have started a sponsorship program to help cover Sophie's living costs as well. The monthly budget for Sophie is $280 which covers food, school fees, toiletries, cell phone, and other necessities as well as saving for medical and dental exams and medication.
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How YOU Can Help!
Sponsor Sophie: We are still looking for 3 monthly sponsors at $30/month. Email me if you are interested.
Donate for Sophie's citizenship or guardianship process: If you don't care about getting a receipt for taxes, donate through paypal on my blog: www.thethaisthatbind.blogspot.com If you need a receipt, donate through BillPay or send a check to my church at Catalyst an Evangelical Covenant Church, PO Box 452916, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Make sure to specify "Sophie" in the memo line.
(that was heatherrs writiing. Thanks. Even if all you do is read a few of her blogs,,, you can send prayers for healing. We all miss heather but we know she is trying to help. I hope she is ok and "sofie" to).
Bye.
thank you for your blog too.
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