Wow it's been hard saying good-bye to life in Liberia. I came home months ago. It took about 6 weeks until I really felt a true sadness about it all. I've been torn between thankfulness and sadness. Had I left the states before this time I don't think I would have felt it quite so deeply.

I'm still in the States - waiting on God. I wish I could throw patiently into that phrase, but most days I'd be lying. As many of you reading this, I wish I knew what was next. But in God's wisdom and kindess to us, He doesn't and won't reveal that until it's time. I'm glad that he loves me enough to deal with my persistence.

So in the meantime, I am praying - a lot. Yesterday, I heard a pastor say "prayer doesn't always change things, but it does change people." I believe that's true. I know the Lord's after my heart most of all. He's after all of ours. Trust Him. Your heart is best in His hands.

And I know it's been a long time since I've posted - sorry! To encourage myself to post more often, I decided that I'm going to make this a much more general blog - not just Liberia. My mom came up with the new name and I liked it. :) So here it goes....Life to the Fullest....A Dieu soit la Gloire!!

Prayer for Peter

(Peter and I on our way home from our last M&E field visit together)

I learned yesterday that my close Liberian friend, Peter, lost his younger sister while she was giving birth to twins ... he wrote me this note:

"Things were really moving fine until on November 11, 2008 when I lost my younger sister in child birth at the JFK Memorial Hospital in Sinkor. The news came as a complete surprise to us the family members as she was not sick at all.

But we can't ask God why cause He giveth and He taketh. We ask Him for strength and courage to carry through. The Burial is scheduled for saturady, November 22 , 2008."

My heart breaks for Peter. I agree with my friend Marcel, it's all so confusing sometimes. Please feel free to join me in praying for Peter and his family...to cry out to God with Peter today...our Lord promises us that He hears our cries.

"Lord, do not hold back your tender mercies from Peter and his family today. Our hope is in your unfailing love and faithfulness." Psalm 40:11

Dancing with my namesake

I think about Malawo a lot. I think about my namesake, Gdobo Dede. Always smiling when she spoke to me. I remember how she took care of me and the other ladies. Making sure we had hot water for evening bucket baths on the hill. I remember our instant, seemingly unconditional friendship, when she found me and spoke my name. There was something of God in that.

I wonder with hopeful tears, was she one of the 30-some that accepted Jesus Christ?

I remember dancing with her and the other ladies of Malawo. I was so excited when she pulled me over! It was so much fun!! (And this was a dance I could do.) Man, these ladies can dance I tell you.

I think of that day - of that joy. I think of the little bits of love we got to share. There's really something of God in that. God is so good to have given us that time together - that bond - that dance - that love. He really is something amazing.

Praying for Gdobo Dede today. That she would be dancing for joy because of what our Father has done for her. That she would know His love and love Him too. That we would get to dance together in Heaven someday!

"Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love. "

Saint Clare of Assisi

**Photos courtesy of the wonderful, talented Joni Byker

Home Sweet Home!

Liberia seems like a dream already and Pennsylvania feels like home again. I have so much more to tell you about Liberia - especially more photos to post. I plan on doing it soon.

If you're from PA and want to hear a little about SP Liberia - please feel free to come to Mt. Zion Church in Girty for a little prayer and praise service at 6pm on Nov 2nd. I'll be speaking to folks about what God's doing across the ocean and showing a wonderful Malawo video that my friend Joni made.

So what have I been up to these days? Hugging my mom, four wheeling with my dad and hanging out in his treestand, surprising my Providence family, making apple dumplings with my gram, talking for hours and hours with Dane-girl, and wedding-planning with Sarah!!

HAPPY ENGAGEMENT SARAH AND JONATHAN!!!

Sarah was so good to let me use her computer this morning. And I was so happy to be able to steal these photos for my blog.

I love you, Sarah!!

Christ in Mafi Conadu

Mafi Conadu is a muslim, Mandigo village in Lofa County, Liberia. Today, Peter and I visited our Community Health Education/Evangelism (CHE) program there. We were hosted by two young men, Stephen and Octavius, who are currently living in Mafi Conadu in order to train them on safe health and hygiene practices while teaching them about Jesus for the next year. The village people just adore Stephen and Octavius. They both speak Mandigo and Octavius grew up a muslim and accepted Christ as his Saviour just two years ago.

One of my questions for the Mandigos was, "what have you learned from Stephen and Octavius?"

"We learn about Abraham and how God provided a sacrifice for him so that he didn't have to sacrifice his son."

"We learn about Jesus. Jesus is in the Koran too. We know that he is really Son of God."

"Then, we learn about cleaning. That we must clean dishes and wash hands so that we don't get mosquitos and so we don't get malaria."

We continued to talk about God and Jesus. They don't think there should be division between Muslims and Christians. Amazingly, Amara smiled and said today,

"My children are free to be Christian."

Peter said, "God set everybody free." Everyone smiled and agreed.

"What could we do to make CHE better for your community? " I asked.

"Films - we'd like to see films about Jesus."

"We also have land we could give for a church to be built."

INCREDIBLE!! I am amazed at the work our Lord is doing in this muslim village through Stephen and Octavius! Please pray for the Mandigo tribe in Liberia. That they would accept Christ as their Saviour. That a church would indeed be built in Mafi Conadu. That they may enjoy Christ's love at work in their lives.

Pray also for Stephen and Octavius as they continue to minister to this village. For strength, perseverence, and encouragement in the weeks and months to come.

Thank you so much for your many prayers, my friends. I cannot say this enough - God is hearing and answering them every day! He loves us so very much.

(I will post a photo of this village shortly...my apologies for the delay.)

More about Liberia

Liberia’s 14-year civil war displaced an estimated 500,000 persons, of which eighty percent were women and children. During the war, schools were demolished and learning ceased, resulting in approximately 35 percent of the population never attending school - including nearly 44 percent of females. Furthermore, Liberian women and girls have suffered from an epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV). It is estimated that 40% of women and girls were raped during the war and currently teenage pregnancy, which is often due to forced early marriages or rape, is as high as 68%. This lack of schooling and violence against women and youth has created a significant need for education, skills training, and psychosocial care throughout Liberia.

I've been working on a proposal intended to procure funding that will provide skills training, literacy instruction, and psychosocial care to the war-affected women and youth of Lofa County, Liberia. I just thought I'd share with you a little more about the people of Liberia tonight. Please remember these women and youth in your prayers.

Blessings to you all.

God is Good -- Here we go Steelers!

This is my new favorite Liberian photo! Let me tell you why...

First, there is my wonderful friend Phil, sporting his favorite t-shirt -- you can't hear him, but he's chanting "Here we go, Steelers, here we go -- Pittsburgh's Going to the Superbowl!"

Then, we have the amazing new volleyball net that Phil set-up in our front yard this week! I am LOVING it. I even beat him in a game of quadrant ball yesterday. Life is good!

Don't miss the beloved UN car escorting all the Speedos home for the day. :)

And last but not least, we can see the beautiful sunset over the Atlantic.

This photo reminds me of God's goodness. That He has wonderful blessings in store for us, a great sense of humor, and He loves us so much. May we all give Him more of ourselves today. Trust Him. Enjoy Him.

"Delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4