Thoughts of a Listener: Overflowing

So, it's been a while. Life has been ticking along. There have been some struggles and frustrations, actually, more so annoyances, but overall I am feeling so so blessed. Thank you to the precious friends who have responded to my Africa news with personal notes and funds to help me along the way. I identify with David when he says, "My cup overflows." I have experienced abundant blessing this summer. I came to Branson with some expectation. I felt as though the Lord was going to give me rest. He has. Not in the sense that I just get to sleep all day. But in the sense of things in my heart just feeling right and refreshed. You have no idea what it is like to be around so many healthy, well adjusted people and experiencing healthy, life giving relationships after being so consistently exposed to so much pathology for the previous seven months before arriving here. Those experiences were good and needed and helped me to learn and grow in a way that I never would have otherwise, but God knew that I needed to be in a different environment for a while. He has shown me restoration in many other areas as well, most of which I am not even equipped to put into words at this moment, but I am able to say that IT IS GOOD!

Some fun things that have happened here: Birthday celebrations, skit night, Fourth of July celebrations, a tea party after dark, leadership ladies tea party (for some reason there has been a lot of tea consumption in Branson lately), and just some phenomenal one on one time with my small group girls.

I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pics from this segment. Thanks again for your friendship and for all of the prayers and love you have sent my way.