More Valuable Than Gold

I think the NN blog has exploded! I love all the stories and pictures being shared. I didn't want to leave my last posting on the topic of fear. On a previous posting I said I wanted to be a gardener this summer. I guess I have sowed seeds (God through me) but just differently than I had first thought.

I would like to share with you a daily devotional that was given to me by Diane Blattner after she read my last posting. Diane and Bill Blattner brought the Nigeria program idea over to our church. They are awesome people. Bill is an HIV/AIDS specialist/researcher who personally met Dr.Chris while at a conference. Diane started the Hope for West Africa Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that contributes to both locations that Nativity is visiting and had visited the past two summers. One hundred percent of the donations to Hope for West Africa will fund projects serving people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. The foundation works in partnership with local charities to serve those in need and to establish a personal relationship with the founders of each organization.

This is from Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life.com How God Builds Your Faith - Difficulty

"This means tremendous joy to you. I know even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident - it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold." 1 Peter 1 -6-7

Rick Warren explains that when God gives you a dream, He'll urge you to make a decision, but then He will allow a delay. He says that God does this in order to build your faith and mature you to be prepared for what is to come.

Somehow it has taken a while for this ministry to mature and grow. This is why I so believe our church is following God's will. With our Pastor's guidance, I believe those of us involved or who cared, prayed us and are still praying us through our journey. I am so excited to be part of the team and for what God has in store for us in the future.

That is why we have to be constantly reminded as human beings how precious our time and life here on earth is. And I do believe our time here on earth is a preparation for our time in eternity. It matters what we do here. It matters what kind of life we live - what type of husband or wife we are, parents of our children, friends to our loved ones and family. Basically to me, it is proven over and over again - it is all about our personal relationships with one another.

I am looking forward to serving at Faith Alive again this summer. And I can't wait to see friends I made last summer - Dr. Chris, Blessing,Daniel, Naomi, Mercy, Pastor Ben, Pastor Estelle and the sweet little boy I previously posted about and so many others. Comfort, I hope you will come again to the guesthouse with your great homemade donuts! I have a picture in my mind of arriving at the airport in Abouja last summer - of Dr. Chris and Sister Oresoa waving to us from the other side of the airport line. A rush of excitement went through our team, even though we were very tired. I know it will happen again this summer and we will hear again "You are Welcome!" many times.

The pictures posted are my son Christopher (middle), Kevin Lynch (left) and Nate Lynch (right). Kevin and Nate are the sons of Marina Lynch who is also going on the trip to Faith Alive this summer. Our sons attended River Valley Ranch together for a week. The ranch is beautiful. The other picture is of the ranch's outdoor worship area. The cross is tree limbs extended in the air by wire over the gorgeous countryside.

Teresa Pompa