Beautiful Girls Like These

The first line of a blog post is always the hardest to write. There’s a lot of writing and deleting and writing and deleting and writing and deleting. Which is exactly what I’ve done this evening. The past two days have been so full of contrast that I don’t know where to start. So I’m going to start at the beginning and warn you in advance that this is the unabridged version. In other words, it’s long.

When I was packing for this trip I thought to myself, “Wow, there’s nothing like packing for a trip to Africa to reveal my idol of materialism.” Because it’s true. And also makes me want to gag a little. I mean let’s be honest, as I was coordinating my “outfits” I went to my drawer to pull out some tops when I came across three white V-neck tops and two gray tops. And I have a feeling that if I would have kept digging I could have found more. How many do I really need?

Yesterday that hit me fresh all over again.

We walked the dirt roads of Maai Mahiu and visited the homes of each of the six girls moving into Lulu Place next week. It was humbling, to say the least. They live, for lack of a better word, the most simple, humble life, and are full of joy. While we live the most complicated, full of options kind of life and want more. I don’t want to speak for everyone, but this is my simple observation. Maybe I should just speak for myself. Either way, it always leaves my speechless.

 

Before I left for Kenya, I was with my discipleship group and I explained to them that I had to get out of the mindset that this was just an eight day trip and I’d be back home to my comfortable life after that. Because the truth is, it’s really easy to be sent out on a short-term trip when you know you only have to endure being uncomfortable for a short amount of time. And I know myself really well and I have this fear of coming back unchanged. But after the past two days especially, this I know, the Lord is faithful. Unless your heart is made of stone, it is impossible to come back without an imprint, and even joy, in your heart.

Because it’s hard to put into words the homes we were invited into yesterday, I want to invite you into their homes.

Three sisters. The older two are going to Lulu Place. The little one, Mercy, is staying with her mama. She needs healing on the complete left side of her body. Would you join us in prayer for her?

 What you see is all there is.

Showing us her bed. 

It’s gut-wrenching. And unfair. And hard to understand. I think of the scripture in Acts 17:26 when the Lord says, "From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and fixed the limits of the places where they would live." That gives me hope because that means He knows every detail, because He placed us there. And He sees. Because He placed us there. He sees these girls. He sees their moms. He sees their eight brothers and sisters that all sleep on three beds in a little 12x12 square room lined with blankets to create bedrooms, and planks of wood for a roof. Does it make sense to me? I don’t think it ever will. But it gives me hope. 

Last night as we debriefed around the table, Angela brought up the fact that this trip is different than most because although yes, we have seen where the situations these girls are living in, we know there is relief. Talk about hope! We don’t have to walk away, fly back to the states, and pray about what to do. This time we get to come alongside a faithful couple from Kenya who is doing the very hard work. They have dreamed, they have prayed, they have planned, they have developed relationships, and now they will run a home for young girls alongside a church they already shepherd.

A church we got to visit today and celebrate the opening of Lulu Place! What joy! I love watching the Lord do His thing as people pursue their dreams. That will never get old to me.

Lulu Place. It's beautiful, isn't it?

Is this when I admit that we have a lot to learn in America? We think we know how to throw a party, but I submit that we have yet to scratch the surface of celebrating others. Don’t get me wrong, I love our traditions, but Rift Valley Fellowship take seriously “rejoice with those who rejoice”.

After getting out of the van, they carried each girl on their shoulders. Priceless.

 Each girl and her mother being introduced at church.

 Rose and Laura praying over the girls, dedicating both them and Lulu Place to the Lord.

The girls seeing their new home for the first time. 

Feeding the 500 after church.

Today the six Lulu girls were given dignity. And love. And security. And a celebration fit for queen, as Debra so eloquently put it. We all met on the lot of Lulu Place (imagine just a small group of 500), set up tents, prayed, sang songs, and then as the girls pulled into the driveway, each of the women of the church ran to greet them singing a beautiful song in Kikuyu, a tribal language. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life. Because our reason for coming was to dedicate and commission Lulu Place, it is safe to say the eight of us, while videoing and photographing, we’re crying big tears of joy. We later joked that it was the only reason for our sunglasses, to keep from looking like absolute fools. The extreme of seeing their situations yesterday, and their future today was simply overwhelming. It was fitting that the celebration lasted five hours.

We weren’t just celebrating the girls, we were ultimately celebrating the Lord, His faithfulness and provision. And His glory.

Praying over the home before the girls came.

Today I asked Esther what words the women were singing in their song, it went like this, “Beautiful girls like these, where have you ever seen them? God is good; He has allowed us to see them.” Heaven help us, I could cry just typing out those words again. After she told me the words in English, she then proceeded to tell me that this is the song they sing as brides are coming to meet their groom. Sobs. I don’t know a more appropriate song to welcome these girls to their new home.

This is Esther. We love her.

“Beautiful girls like these, where have you ever seen them? God is good; He has allowed us to see them.”

Beautiful girls they are. God is so good. He has never let them out of His sight, and He gave Esther the privilege of seeing them, too. A stunning love story. My prayer for all of us is that the Lord would give each of us the privilege of seeing someone as well.

Give us eyes to see and a heart to love your people, Jesus.

P.S. Here is a video we made for Bayou City Fellowship yesterday. It's a 38 second clip of Lulu Place. No pressure to watch, just thought we'd share!


My Movie from Debra Parker on Vimeo.

Also, if you're interested in even more photos, you can follow #KenyaDigIt on Instagram.

 

Meet Rose

Hello from Kenya! We landed safe and sound about 24 hours ago, but feel like we've been here for seven days already. Here's our team before boarding in Houston!

And here we are after just landing in Nairobi.

It’s currently 10:00 PM in Maai Mahiu and we just finished our first full day here. Our eyes may be a little (a lot) tired, but our hearts are full and ready to work.

We spent the majority of the day sitting around the table getting to know one another, learning more about Lulu Place from Isaac and Esther Karanja, and meeting the rest of the staff of Rift Valley Fellowship. (A few of us had the honor or meeting Pastor Isaac and Esther a few months ago while they were visiting Houston.) That honestly sounds like a really light day, and while it was, we were also briefed on the history of the girls who are moving into Lulu Place this weekend and that was far from light. Esther, Isaac’s wife and also the one who dreamed up Lulu Place, is an angel. I think if you asked any of us after listening to her tell her story, they would agree. What I love about Esther is how she trusts the Lord. Every other word out of her mouth is about her belief in a GOOD Father who provides endlessly and takes care of them. We ended that time by praying for Esther and Carline. It was sweet and I think both parties know that they can only do what they do by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My favorite part of the day was after our conversation; Esther took us to meet Rose. Rose lives here and is a housemother to seven street boys, works hard and loves Jesus. Before we met Rose we were told she could pray the house down. Unfortunately, we have yet to experience that but are looking forward to it, no doubt. Rose radiated joy.





















Later this evening after dinner, we went back to see Rose and meet the young boys she mother’s. We were surprised to meet not only seven boys, but 30 of them. THIRTY. To our delight and surprise, the Lulu Place girls were also there, which means between the 36 kids, there were plenty of hugs to go around. We discussed later on that after our day of learning their history, and then seeing their faces, we each could have wept. It’s an indescribable feeling when you see that hope and brokenness can co-exist. Dare I say it exists in all of us? These girls come from so much hurt, so much brokenness, so much damage, and yet they have a future with so much hope. Not to be cheesy and quote Jeremiah 29:11, but the Lord, through Esther and Isaac, is giving these girls a future filled with hope, with, God-willing, redemption, not to harm them, but to give them Himself. And that is the best news of all.

I feel like we’re just now in the shallow end of what the Lord desires to accomplish this week while we’re here. But I know it’s going to be good. And hard. And hope-filled. Just the small glimpses we’ve had have left us in awe of all the Lord has already accomplished, the tapestry He’s already woven and the details He has taken care of. And it’s just the beginning.

Tomorrow we are going to visit the girls’ homes. Not Lulu Place, but where they are currently living. We’ve been prepped for what we’re going to see, but I have a small inkling words don’t do it justice. Will you pray for us? For these girls? For their mothers who are bound to a lifestyle they assume they’re never going to leave? Or even have the opportunity to leave? We know that Jesus is bigger. That He alone breaks chains and sets people free. And not just that He can do that, but that He WANTS to. Because He loves them so much.

Signing off for now. It’s time to shower and head to bed, and we’re all ready. We still can't believe we're actually here and get to be a part of what the Lord is building here. You guys are the best. Thank you so much for your support and prayers.

 

Kenya Bound

In two days I will board a plane, along with eight other women from Bayou City Fellowship, headed to land, God-willing, in Nairobi, Africa. We will then take a van bound for Maai Mahiu, Kenya.

This is not the most important into, but because I like visuals, here are the eight of us going. Just call us the Brady Bunch. Grin. (From top left to bottom right: Amber Burger, Debra Parker, Micah Allen, Lindsee Eddy (me), Corey Wetherell, Laura Fedorko, Angela Stamps and Danielle Gunnels.) That is for the two of you who enjoy detailed information as much as I do!

Our mission? To commission, open and celebrate a home called Lulu Place for young girls, a teenage girls safe house, all of who come from a history or are at risk of being trafficked or prostituted. Lulu Place was recently built to provide a safe haven for these girls. A place they will call home that will not only offer a place to live, but provide schooling and care as well. I've added the link above, but in case you missed it, you can click this link to read more about Lulu Place for yourself.


And if for some reason the link isn't working, here is a short two minute video explaining Lulu Place.

 
His Voice Global - Lulu Place from Paul Go Images on Vimeo.

A little background information that might help you understand how we came to know of Lulu Place is that, for the past three years Bayou City Fellowship has partnered with His Voice Global, founded by Vernon and Amber Burger. Vernon is one of our pastor’s at Bayou City Fellowship. About a year ago, His Voice met a pastor from Kenya who shepherds a church, Rift Valley Fellowship in Kenya. Rift Valley is located in Maai Mahiu and, “The town of Maai Mahiu in Kenya consists of 5000 people and 600 prostitutes. That’s about 1 prostitute for every 8 people. Maai Mahiu is located on the “HIV Highway” also known as “The AIDS Belt” in Africa. The prostitutes, or CSWs (Commercial Sex Workers), are mostly made up of teens and young women.” (Taken from the His Voice Global website.) 

Needless to say, Isaac and Esther Munji, the pastors of Rift Valley Fellowship (I promise after this post things will be far less confusing) had a heart to reach out to these women and their girls and dreamed of building a home for the young girls, in hopes that it would prevent them from being the next victims of prostitution. After this dream was shared, it was presented to Bayou City Fellowship and they felt led to sponsor this task and a year later, a home has been built. Praise God! 

And THAT is how this trip came to be! God is a God of provision and to be a part of the story is a sweet gift. We are not just going to take pictures of the home, though there will be plenty of pictures to share, and we’re not just going to decorate these girls rooms with really cute, homemade, pinterest worthy décor, though there will be a lot of that as well; we’re going to get to know these girls, to hug them, to laugh with them, to pray with them, to share the love of Jesus with them. This town has a reputation of being “dirty” and “bad” and “sinful”. Our prayer is that those words would be exchanged for “worthy” and “good” and “beautiful”, not because of who we are, but because of who Christ is. He loves these people more than we could ever dream of loving them.

Lulu is Swahili for precious, protected, and containing great value or worth. Yes, Lord! May these girls live under the conviction that they are precious, protected and contain GREAT value and worth in the eyes of Jesus. They have dignity. And hope. And a future that is good.

It is the desire of Isaac and Esther that God redeems and delivers people in this town. What better way to answer that prayer than by using young women?

So, why am I telling you all this? For one, to pray. I have so many thoughts about this trip in my head and I am going to try my hardest and post some prayer requests before we leave on Wednesday, but also, for support. The Lord has provided above and beyond for the eight of us to go on this trip, but now we’d love to see how God provides financially for these girls as they move into this new season of life. It would be naïve of us to think that just because the home has been built, that there are no more needs. Each of us has a responsibility in the Great Commission to either go, give or pray; so my desire is that each of us consider what is the Lord wants us to do, of course, not out of obligation but out of a generous heart.

To give initially, you can click here.

Over the next week I will be blogging, hopefully daily, about our trip in hopes to represent both these precious girls and His Voice Global well. In those blogs I’ll share more needs and specific ways you can give. YOU, yes you, get to be a part of this story as well. And for that, we are so grateful.

 

That Time I Stood on the Same Field as Tom Brady and Beyonce

I know very, very little about football.

Like, I can’t even explain to you how unaware I am of the plays, the terms, the rules and what is actually happening on the field.

I don’t even feel a little bit embarrassed confessing this because I’m either going to lie to you, or tell you the truth, so I’m going with the truth.

Over the years my knowledge has increased a smidge, but unfortunately, not enough to keep my attention on a three-hour game. Usually when the Texans or Broncos are playing my family has a live text feed happening so I am aware of what is going on, but during any given football game, that is the extent of my involvement, and really, investment.

Someone once told me that if I knew the players stories a part from their playing football, I would probably be more interested, and I understand that. I’m so not emotionally invested in football that it’s hard to keep my interest. So maybe I should start doing my research. If I can find a few “30 for 30” episodes I’ll try and start there.

(Aren’t you proud that I know what “30 for 30” is?!)

The tension is that I really WANT to like football. Every year college football starts and I see friends and family wake up on Saturday morning like it’s Christmas day, I feel a little bit of jealousy in my heart. I really want to wake up and be all, “It’s college game day! I can’t wait to sit and watch football all day!” but that dream has yet to pass. Again with the emotional investment. It’ a vicious cycle.

All of that to say, what little I do know about football, keeps me in the know for most big events. I have most likely heard of and even watched a few games of big players. And by big I mean high profile, not necessarily big as in body type, but I can see how that might sound confusing. Because football players, I understand, are large.

For instance, when you say the name Tom Brady, I won’t give you a blank stare. I’ll know where the conversation is going. Can I contribute to the conversation? Most likely not, unless it has to do with a scandal I may have read online. And we all know that everything we read on TMZ is 100% truth. (And for the record, I've never read a scandal about Tom Brady on TMZ. I've never even visited TMZ intentionally.)

Anyway, almost eleven years ago to the day, I stood on the same football field as Tom Brady. And I can even prove it to you.

The Super Bowl was hosted in Houston in 2004. (By the way, 2004 sounds much closer than eleven years ago.) The event planners contacted my former choir director and originally asked if he could get a group of kids together to sing the National Anthem with Beyonce’. No big deal. (Wait. What? I'm still bug eyed over it.) (And side-note, the choir I was involved in was a city choir, not an actual school or church choir.) Unfortunately, that gig fell through, but they asked him if he had any older or former choir members he could pull together instead, to sing with Josh Groban. Houston Children’s Chorus is a very large chorus, with many members still active as alumni, so he knew he could make it happen. (I could talk about all of the experiences I've had with HCC for years. Like singing at Carnegie Hall, and the Vatican in Rome, but I also might bore you to tears. But really, I appreciate them so much more now that I'm older.)

After multiple rehearsals, recordings, excitement, being escorted to the stadium via a large bus and security, and waiting backstage with the rest of the E! anchors, we found ourselves on the field of Reliant Stadium standing on risers waiting to sing “You Raise Me Up” with Josh Groban. To this day it ranks as one of the top experiences of my life. Our role for the pre-game show was to honor the families of the fallen astronauts from the space shuttle mission, Columbia. A tribute to their families and NASA. It was equally as exciting as it was humbling. I hope to never forget it as long as I live.

(Tall girl here stood in the back row, but if you look closely you can see me around 1:50 in the upper right hand corner. And you can catch a great glimpse of Jen at 2:32. Brien and Kevyn, my brothers, were also there. It was just a fun family outing. Oh, and you can see a close-up of Tom Brady around 1:42.)

We were slotted to sing right before the National Anthem, so as soon as we were done signing, we stood in our places on our risers, and watched as Beyonce and her orchestra took their places. I can still vividly see Beyoncé’s face, and all her bodyguards, as she walked out on the field. I can only imagine how overwhelmed she felt. If I was nervous to sing WITH people, she had to have been shaking in her stilettos. Because of timing and logistics, they made us stay in our places while the stadium sang our National Anthem loud and proud. We were not sad about that at all. It’s basically like we sang the National Anthem that day. With Beyonce. Basically.

The only thing that could have made the day perfect would have been to get to stay for the game, but unfortunately, they escorted us out and straight to our fancy bus the minute the National Anthem was over. And lest you have forgotten, that was the year of the Janet Jackson escapade. (Insert awkward smile.)

I knew what teams were going head to head that day, and well, that’s about it. As we watched the game at our director’s house, we were on cloud nine. It had been a good day.

Every year the Super Bowl approaches I think about my day the pros. And then I remember, oh yeah, I stood on the same field as Tom Brady. And I laugh. And then I tell people about my claim to fame. (It may not be throwback Thursday quite yet, but I'll just call this post Way Back Wednesday.)

Because you know, Tom Brady and I are totes best friends forever. 

A Million Little Moments

I like my bedroom in the morning as the sun starts to peak through my windows.

And looking into my bedroom to see a bed that is made.

I like rainy days at home.

And the white noise of a thunderstorm.

I like using a straw.

And buying fun straws with different designs on them.

I like writing deep and surface things down in my journal.

And reading those journals ten years later.

I like approval and guidance from family and friends on life choices I'm making and shoes I am purchasing.

And knowing that ultimately, who I really want is approval and guidance from is God Himself.

I like how cold the sheets feel when I first crawl into my bed at night.

And stretching like a baby first thing after waking up.

I like singing anywhere and everywhere at anytime.

And trying to find a harmony to any and every melody.

I like Netfilx, and Hulu, and Amazon, oh my.

And having the freedom to watch my shows whenever I want.

I like sunsets.

And knowing that not one sunset or sunrise has been or ever will be the same.

I like reading the Word of God.

And I like when IT reads me, when the words jump off the page.

I like sending snail mail.

And receiving it, too.

I like painting my nails at least once a week.

And spontaneous adventures.

I like washing my face before bed.

And falling asleep on the couch at night.

I like dressing up and feeling cute and pretty and like a girl.

And also, I like the pajamas-all-day kinda days.

I like not knowing how it’s always “supposed to be”.

And learning to go with the flow.

I like quiet bookstores.

And restaurants that serve brunch.

I like laughing until it hurts so bad and you can’t breathe.

And shedding a few tears, too.

Most of all, I like the simple and small joys that a million little moments in life brings.

Let Us Reap in Joy and Singing

Four. That’s how many Word documents I currently have open on my computer with unresolved blogs. The cursor blinking at me wishing I’d just finish one complete thought. But it’s not happening right now so instead I open up just one more blank document in hopes to finish just one post before the New Year. Because then at least I will feel I accomplished something I've been thinking over all day. The last day of 2014.

When 2013 ended I was not sad to see it go. I welcomed 2014 with open arms and quite frankly, high expectations. I had plans and dreams and hopes and wishes for the New Year and I think the constant “It’s your year, I just know it” comments towards me made me feel all the more confident about the months ahead. I don’t always understand the “it’s your year” comments people make, but I also am a glass half-full kind of girl and I realize that sometimes people have to breathe courage into you by way of encouragement and I guess that’s one way to do it. Plus, I’m old enough to know that when our faith is weary, sometimes your people step in and believe God on your behalf. It’s a really beautiful thing.

So here I sit on this New Years Eve and with everything in me, I’m not sad to see it go.

In complete transparency, this year has been marked with loss, disappointment, hope deferred, confusion, sadness and many tears. I realize it sounds somewhat depressing, and I can even say there has been some of that as well. Those expectations of mine, if you looked at the external, were not met.

But what would be even more depressing is if I just let my blog post end there. Because while that may have been my 2014 experience, I can assure you those are not the characteristics of my God.

This I know, He is good, because He can be nothing but good, and He is near.

I often don’t understand His ways, but I’m not made to understand them. (Isaiah 55:8) No one can understand them. We were created to trust Him. And I do. Despite different circumstances, He has proved Himself trustworthy over and over and over again. I don’t always understand why He uses certain events to teach us about Himself, but I’m thankful that He pursues me to get through my stubbornness. I’m thankful He doesn’t leave me like He found me.  And He loves you too much to leave you the way you are.

I’m a big fan of journaling and just recently I thanked God for two things He’s taught me this year, even though I may have learned them kicking and screaming. And even though I'm still learning them.

He’s taught me about identity. I have said to nearly a million (that may be a slight exaggeration) people in that past few months that I could tell young girls all day long that their identity is in Jesus. Not a boy. Not a job. Not money. Not a house. Not family. Not friends. Not popularity status. Not beauty. Not anything. But it’s one thing to say that and it’s another thing to live it. My identity is secure in Jesus, nothing more and nothing less. When all else fails, I have Him. When all else goes away, He is my anchor. And He is enough.

I don’t know which is more important, but besides identity, He’s not just taught me about His nearness, He has been near. On the nights I couldn’t fall asleep until 4AM, He was near. On the days I spent ignoring Him completely, He was near. On the days He has been so quiet, He was near. On the days I spent trying to hold back all the tears, He was near. On the days I spent crying those tears, He was near. On the days I spent doubled over in laughter because of the crazy people I do life with, He was near. I’ve never known His nearness like I’ve know it this year, and as He says, His nearness is our very good. I’m tempted to say it’s what’s best for us. (Psalm 73:26)

As common as it is this time of year, I was recently asked if I had any New Years resolutions. The truth is, I don’t. I understand them, but I usually don’t end up keeping them. Thankfully, my God is a merciful God and His mercies are new every morning, not just every New Year. And I’m learning that it’s the small moments between Him and me that are the ones that shape me and make me more like Him. Yes, the big moments do, too, but the small, almost unconscious moments are the ones I like to remember. When He’s been near. And when I’ve been the slightest bit attentive to His work in my life.

Today I remembered Psalm 126:5 and bookmarked it for myself. In faith, I want to claim in over 2015.

I don’t know what your year has consisted of. It could have been the best year of your life, and it could have been your worst. Most likely you and God know the intimate moments and details that have made you more like Him.

But for those who have maybe had a year like mine, can we just take note of this Psalm? Those who have sown in tears in 2014 will reap in joy and singing in the year to come! Yes, Lord, let it be!

2015 is upon us, friends. It’s a blank slate. Only God knows what it holds, which is why He holds the paintbrush. I sincerely hope and pray it is filled with joy, but more than anything, I pray you feel and know His nearness. Because it is for your good. And He is for you. Make Him your refuge.

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; 
I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” Psalm 73:28

“And now, God, do it again - bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
. So those who planted their crops in despair 
will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
 So those who went off with heavy hearts 
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.” Psalm 126:4-5 (The Message)

Happy New Year!