Restoring Us Daily

This whole blogging world is new to me. I am just getting started, but I just wanted to share a little bit of my heart and what I will be writing about on here. This summer I have been given an incredible opportunity to spend two months in Zambia, loving on orphans in the AIDS-affected community through Every Orphan's Hope. This organization has established its roots in the heart of Zambia, building homes where children and orphans in the community are able to build new lives together, and are raised by a "Mama" to know the personal love of Jesus while surrounded by their peers. While I am there, I will be spending my time getting to know these kids of all different ages on a deeper level and will be sharing my experiences through journaling and blogging. I am so excited to share this experience with you all, and see the ways the Lord shows Himself this summer. When thinking of a name for my blog, my mind kept coming back to the sweet and powerful lyrics in the song Restoration by David Brymer.

"You've taken my pain, and called me by a new name.

You've taken my shame and in it's place you give me joy.

You take my mourning and turn it into dancing.

You take my weeping and turn it into laughing.

You take my mourning and turn it into dancing.

You take my sadness and turn it into joy.

You bring restoration, You bring restoration

You bring restoration, to my soul.

Hallelujah, hallelujah You make all things new."

The picture painted in these lyrics is something that has been such a powerful message of the gospel to me in my own life. When I think of the beauty of the depth and meaning of Jesus restoring us, literally bringing us back into existence, through dying on the cross for all our sins -all the hurt, all the ugliness of this world suddenly has new meaning. I love the picture this paints in reference to these orphans in Zambia. Jesus has died for them just as He has for you and me, so that they can literally be brought back into existence and have new life in Him. This is something I need to constantly be reminded of -Jesus is restoring each of us daily into new life with Him. This is my prayer this Summer as I immerse myself in the culture of Zambia -that Jesus would restore not only the orphans of Zambia I will be working with, but that He would continue to restore and renew my soul as well.
"For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for." 2 Corinthians 13:8-9

I will be continuing to update on here about my trip, and I am so excited to continue sharing stories and the ways in which the Lord shows Himself to me and my fellow interns on this trip. I ask that you all would join me in prayer daily as I seek after the Lord in this exciting season -that the He would do a mighty work in the hearts of these children, that He would be strong when I am weak, and that He would bring us steadfast joy knowing that He is Restoring Us Daily.


Finally, if any of you would like to and feel led to give a monetary donation as I am continuing to raise support for this trip, you can donate online here:

http://everyorphan.org/how-to-help/support-our-ministry/donate/

and writing my name in the "Missionary's Name" box.