Gabrielle.

I was wanting to post photos, just for a little more insight into my life recently. However with Facebook it's been more tricky to copy pictures, it may take me a while to figure things out.

Anyway...

This morning I'm at my base director's house, babysitting their precious girl from Togo. She'd woken up this morning and was all dressed and ready but when she tried to eat breakfast she conked right out. I've been watching her sleep and I have to say, there's nothing more precious than watching a content child...snoring. This little girl, Gabi, has a special place in my heart.

I think about when I first met her last summer. She was a small 3 year old with big wondering eyes. It must be strange to be pulled away from everything you've ever known, from a small village in Africa to a bustling city in the south. Now if you saw her you almost wouldn't be able to recognise her. She's grown a bigger belly, she's far more responsive and walks without any aid.

I've been pondering on how much I love this bundle of joy, and my thoughts soon change from me to God. How He's always had her on His mind, from before the world was made. How He has a BIG plan for her, one that is bigger than she could ever imagine. And how much more He must love her, His precious princess.

We've shared some sweet moments together, giggles, hugs and talks. I can't wait for my little friend to wake up.

The Pocket Book.

I was expecting to wake up these May mornings to the sun streaming though my window...in Cambodia, however because of visa situations I'm writing my thoughts out in my bedroom of Monroe, North Carolina. I don't mind. Yes, I'm sad that I can't smell the Cambodian spices or hug a dirty child on the side of the road or listen to the honking of horns on the busy road sides but I know that God has something bigger in mind...

Already I'm learning the importance of placing God first. I still fail at this all the time but each time I pick myself back up and say "okay God! Let's do this again!" Why is it so easy to put the things of this world before our Creator? There's no sense in it, yet I do it all the time.

Another big thing for me is learning to rise up to the challenges that are placed in my path and overcome them in the name of God. Through this I realise that the areas that I'm strongest in, are not the ones that I've succeeded in, but the ones that I've failed the most in.

People often ask me what it is I do, I'm sure it can be funny to meet a 21 year old girl who's a missionary, in the Bible Belt of all places! You want to know? I'm going to let you in on a few more details than I give the everyday grocery shopper.

My day starts (or should start!) at 5:30...getting up and getting my butt out the door to exercise for an hour. 6:30 and I'm ready for a shower! 7:00 rolls around and I'm sitting on the Front Porch having breakfast with Jesus as the sun rises. At 8:00 I'm finishing up things that need to be prepared for the day, such as, making sure I have hand outs ready, announcements sorted out, that whoever is leading has all the notes they need etc. And at 8:30 we gather together, WISE School and staff to sing our hearts out or to intercede. 9:30 and the guest speaker comes in to take lectures until lunchtime. The afternoons are then filled with administration work, evangelism and Front Porch (our kids club ministry). All I got to say is life is fun and I wouldn't have it any other way.

A couple of months ago my friend gave me a small notebook, from India. Receiving gifts is one of my love languages and with this journal, it really hit the nail on the head. As she gave it to me our guest speaker for the week said, "I know what you should use this for! Little by little fill this up with quotes that you can gain wisdom from. And would you allow me to be the first to write in it?" So I now carry this pocket book around with me in my purse and slowly but surely it is getting filled up with treasures. I want to learn.

So life trundles on whether I'm in Cambodia, India, England or the US and the most important thing is...how am I going to make the most of every day, wherever I am? I don't want to miss a second, each one is too precious.

Hillsong - This Is Our God - With Subtitles/Lyrics - HD Version

I'll be leaving on a Jet Plane...

I realise it's been a month since I last updated. My bad. It's been a time filled with welcoming teams back from India, having lots of meetings, having teams from other places come and stay overnight, worship, evangelism, fun and laughter, prayer and lots of Jesus.

We've had guest speakers who have challenged us on our theology, people who have called our rubbish out and others who have encouraged us. Hard but good! I think these are all things that need to happen as part of the transformation process.

This weekend has been a free one. Three of the students went home and the rest of us stayed on "base". Yesterday the sun was shining, so I slapped on the sun screen and ate my poached egg breakfast on the front porch with the lover of my soul. Can't think of a better way to start any day. We joked around, we sat in silence and we had deep conversations...ones that are continuing as we speak.

Last night we hooked up the projector to watch Pride and Prejudice on the big screen however we began to watch worship songs online and ended up singing our hearts out and dancing before God for quite a while! :) We eventually started the movie...And then it was late to bed and late to rise.

Recently a song that the Lord has laid on my heart is This is our God by Hillsong. You'll find it in the post below this one. YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH, MORE THAN I NEED.

I can honestly say that my life has been transformed this last month. It's been a time of me falling deeper and deeper in love with my Creator. I would dearly love to be able to write how much I love Him on this page, but words wouldn't do it justice. I know that by my actions, my love for others, the joy in my eyes and the way that I praise Him, that will explain it. "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." -1 John 3:18.

Starting April 11th, I have been asked to lead our Discipleship Training School students on their outreach to Cambodia. I feel so privileged to be a part of this. We'll be there for a total of two months, working with those in poverty, children and the lost. I will give you more details later on. In order for me to do this I need to raise a total of $2000. Please will you prayerfully consider financially partnering with me in this? I also need prayer for wisdom, strength, patience and lots of love! :)

So many of you are already supporting me financially and prayerfully and I am very blessed by your generosity. Thank you all.

Until next time...