The Thorn

I thought I blogged this before, but I couldn't find it. I love it.

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged Him for a priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord, this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift that Thou hast given me.
He said, “My child, I give good gifts and give my best to thee.”
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore;
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added Grace.
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

“The Thorn,” by Martha Snell Nicholson

The Road to Mali

Turn up your volume.
I hope this brings some clarity to what is going on in our lives. Please feel free to share this video. Pray that we get all the support we need to leave by August!

Loss and Gain

My mother-in-law (affectionately known as 'belle mere' or Janou) wrote me an e-mail to let me know she is praying for us. She included a quote by David Livingston.

< "I never made a sacrifice." -David Livingston

But I think my belle mere said it better. She was a missionary in Africa for 25 years 'ish.'

"We have encountered, which you and Heidi may have as well, individuals who talk about the sacrifice we make in going to Africa. We have said that no—is not at all true. In fact the sacrifice would have been to have stayed in the U.S. and sacrificed God’s blessing on our family since He had called us to go and we must obey that call. Africa was where He wanted us to be. It was not without its difficulties, the hard times, the sickness, the separations—all like Livingston mentions. But, the blessings far outweigh and overshadow the other things."