Art in Christchurch

 

Yesterday we got the Justice Staff together and went into Christchurch to see the art exhibits at the museum. There was a Hearts for Christchurch exhibit which is what the picture above is from. There was about 4,000 hearts in the gallery that came from all over the world. It was cool to see how people came together during the earthquake relief a couple of months ago. Even though there was great devastation it really brought communities together. This was a good representation of the world coming together and giving their hearts out to Christchurch. 

Brian Brake had an exhibit which was called Lens on the World. He's a kiwi and it made my heart leap  to see his photographs. Most of them were from the 1960's and are from all over the world including India, China, Japan, and Yemen. I always wonder how traveling by boat was back then. I find that fascinating and wish I could have experienced it. I'm sure many of us take traveling for granted. This photograph below is from India during the Monsoon season. I found that a lot of these photographs brought me joy while others brought tears. I have come to have a deep love for Asia over the past three years. The colors, smells, people, hospitality, and culture make me want to go back for more. A lot of these photographs made me think about my own. Reasons we take pictures. What is beautiful to us? What draws us in? What the reason is for photographing the world around us? It's been a blessing to have time to process these questions. What does that looks like in my life with missions? I'm still on that journey. I look forward to seeing what lays ahead next, but am content in the present. I'm blessed to have an opportunity to experience the world around me through my eyes.   

rainy day

It's been raining outside for the past two days and I have to say I don't mind it. It's peaceful in the house and that is allowing time to rest. It's been a busy season, but I wouldn't have changed it because it was in that season where I grew the most. There are days where I miss being with the team in India trimming finger nails of the slum children. I miss Uganda's children who all want a piece of your lap to lay on. I miss Thailand's relationships. A woman, who spoke no english, went out of her way to take us to restaurant for Kristy's Birthday (walking in the pouring rain for 20 minutes). I miss Kenya's orphanages who are filled with children that are in need of love. I can see how God's hand was at work during outreach and it continues to be at work when we remember. When we remember those moments and pray for the nations.

 I have been enjoying being home. I love my community here and am so blessed to have such a great support team. I have mixed feelings leaving so soon, but I have to continue to live in the present.  There are some obstacles that always seem to come my way when it gets to this point of leaving. I know the enemy is out there to kill and destroy. It makes it hard when it seems to all hit at once. I've recently expressed the desire to want punch the enemy to a friend and he replied with, "You can, in prayer." I have to keep that in mind. The car, finances, tickets, all of that is just material things. God is our Father who knows what we need and He is more than capable in providing it. Being more focused on Him and who He is allows us to take the focus off of worldly things which get in the way and create worry. Worrying is not being dependent on the Lord. I'm choosing to be dependent on Him alone. He has never lead me astray. So I'm choosing to take on this rainy day with joy. Joy that I cannot do any of this alone. Joy that He is allowing me to walk in this next season of surprises with Him.