The Little Children

So today contained more adventures! We went with friends up into a local Mangyan village, a place that is very poor, and seems a step back in time.
Our friends have been visiting this village for several months now and just try to help meet local needs and have fun with the kids. So our medics set up a little clinic and a bunch of girls were cutting and washing kids hair, and scrubbing up their little hands and feet. We also had bags of baby clothing and blankets to give out to those who were buntis (pregnant) or had batas (children).
Really all of these small gifts were for their health, the medic work is obvious, but washing their hair helps keep the children from itching their scalps and causing wounds, wounds which don't don't heal quickly in this kind of humidity. And cleaning little fingers and under nails helps stop the spread of diseases when little kids are always putting their fingers in their mouths. And the clothes also gives them something clean, and something warm.
We had a lot of fun, but it is always sad to me that we have so little real lasting help to offer. That is why I am pursuing Midwifery, so that I will have a real, necessary skill to help impact the health and safety of mothers and babies, and in turn entire communities!
I spent most of the morning playing "photo" with the beautiful children! I took pictures of them and they would ogle and laugh and screech! They loved it and would have loved it until the end of time I'm sure. Anyway I have uploaded all the pics into an online album, so click HERE.

Musings on Christmas - Part 2

A while back I mused on the Christmas story and told you there would be more - well here is that promised more. On the weekend I had the chance to see The Nativity Story, and then I went and saw it again on Monday!
Here's what I'm saying:
GO SEE THE NATIVITY STORY IN THEATRES!!!
The reason I saw this movie twice (and may need to see it again), is that it is teaching me enormous things about God. It is so incredibly and deeply moving my heart and I think it will move you too! When I got home the first night I took out my journal and filled pages with all that was going on in my head. Basically this movie is a MUST-SEE! (I will not bother to review it at all I only say that I recognize that some liberty was taken for dramatic effect, I'm fine with that!)
So onto the enormous things I am learning about our LORD who spread out the Heavens and know the hairs on my head - here's the biggest thing:
- the Christ child came and lived in the smallest way! He, the Ultimate HE did not "demand and cling to His rights as God, but made Himself nothing and took the humble position of a slave." Christ did not come with big headlines in the papers, he did not hold press conferences or revival meetings. He didn't have a state-of-the-art website or the most Myspace friends ever. He just didn't, and that wasn't a marketing mistake! Christ came in the smallest, crudest, most pitiful manner. To an unwed mother, to a couple of kids who were probably terrified at what lay before them. He came and called a small gathering of ragamuffins to his side. He went on no world tours. This Christ child, who came and saved the WORLD, actually went very few places, knew very few people and acted in really, really small ways! What am I learning about God right now?? I am learning that He is the Humble King!
As I have said before - this whole story speaks so deeply, straight into my heart. Mary was met by an angel and answered “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” I wonder and awe at her complete obedience and faith - in the midst of such shock, confusion, fear and emotional upset!! The whole idea of the Christ, growing inside her womb! Ahhhh! Maybe it's because I'm a girl, maybe it's because I'm a midwife, maybe it's because I'm so stinking emotional... Whatever the reason, God's story has captivated me!
I pray that it captivates you too!

All of the 100 Quotes

If anyone is interested in perusing through ALL 100 Quotes just follow this link to The Travelling Team website. You might wanna work through them in shifts, or set aside a good 15-20min to take on the whole lot!
Be moved, inspired, empassioned and then go ahead and MOVE! Much love.

100 Quotes

A friend of mine recently posted these 100 Quotes of missionary "greats", inspirational types and the Bible itself. It was a long list, and I must say a rather convicting one. The missionary voices are rarely easy on Christians - they demand a high standard of service, obedience, prayer and evangelism. They refuse to console our consciences. They are harsh.
But they also inspire, they awaken our hearts to the call of God, to our very small place in His very great work and to the glory of our Redeemer!

After reading that whole long list I thought I slim it down a fair bit and share with you my personal Top 10, here we are:

"What are we here for, to have a good time with Christians or to save sinners?" - Malla Moe

"God's part is to put forth power; our part is to put forth faith." - Andrew A. Bonar

"I am ready to burn out for God. I am ready to endure any hardship, if by any means I might save some. The longing of my heart is to make known my glorious Redeemer to those who have never heard." -William Burns

"His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us no other choice." - John Stott

"Tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ." - Francis Xavier

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell." - C.T. Studd

"There is something wonderfully misleading, full of hallucination and delusion in this business of missionary calls. With many of us it is not a missionary call at all that we are looking for; it is a shove. There are a great many of us who would never hear a call if it came." - Robert Speer

"None but women can reach Muslim Women... So we have a solemn duty in this matter that we cannot shift. The blood of souls is on our skirts, and God will demand them at our hands." - Missionary wife from the Middle East

"We have a God who delights in impossibilities." - Andrew Murray

"You can do something other than working with God in His purpose, but it will always be something lesser, and you couldn't come up with something better." - Steve Hawthorne

Musings on Christmas - Part One

Last night I did something that will make most of you roll your eyes or even groan in disgust:
...I pulled out a Christmas movie. Have you ever seen The Polar Express? The movie came out a couple years ago, but the book, the book was a favourite of mine as a kid. I remember its hard cover, and the beautiful illustrations, and the smell of the book (you know that books have smells right?). It is a beautiful book, and its one I remember well.
But, The Polar Express is really besides the point.
What it started in me was a need for the REAL Christmas story. (You can only handle so much of people extoling "the Spirit of Christmas", "and just believe", and la-dee-freaken happy-shmansey Santa-ness.) So I pulled out my Bible and pieced together the real deal from Matthew and Luke, starting with Zechariah and going on right through to the shepherds... Now that's a beautiful story!
Have you ever considered the Christmas story from the point of view of the two pregnant women? How rich, and how human it becomes. Now I suppose you may both wonder, "Why does Kim think she can understand a pregnant women?" and in the same thought "Well of course Kim would think about the pregnant women." And both thoughts I understand completely.
Here are these two women Elizabeth and Mary, at both ends of the spectrum, one too young, one too old, both unable to conceive - and both do. And both feel the growth and somersaults of one within them, one who has been announced by angels, who is chosen by God, who will fulfill ancient prophecy. And one who will be in fullness God, who will being salvation to the world! I just wonder about the prayers that must have come from the depths of these women's souls as they contemplated all that was going on within them and around them. Consider it. Can you imagine?
Last night I wondered about their spiritual lives, these were godly women, and I wonder how they communed with God. What was their trust like? Were they afraid of what might come? Did they ask God for strength and for courage? Did they spend their prayers praising His name and His plan? Did they fear what the world might say? What went on within them, where no one else could hear?
Consider that. And thank God that He sent His Son to a women too young and unmarried, and that he prepared the way for that Messiah by sending a messenger before Him.
...And stay tuned for more musings on this unlikely, but Heavenly Christmas tale.

The Deepest Ache

There is an article on 24-7 Prayer right now that urge you ever so much to read! It resonates so deeply with where my heart is at right now - feeling like time with God isn't happening. Do you know that feeling, that dull ache - like a hunger, almost tangible? But it fades so quickly because I quickly replace the realization of my desparation for God, with "busywork", with anything, with my entertainment and distraction. I am number one in my life. I am the end, the center, of all my thoughts and time. I feel the call of Christ. I hear His voice. But I am so weak.
I need to be transformed in the ultimate act of worhsip - time with Christ alone.
My hope is in Him, and that lately I HAVE been in His word, what goodness as He waters my soul. (Annie I feel your prayers.) Now I need to stop, and recognize that the LORD, Yahweh, the One who knows all, holds all, made all, He is waiting to commune with me. I want to worship Him.
Read the article and find that maybe you hear the call, and feel the ache. Go be quiet for just a moment, and find that God is there. He is already there. Worship Him.

The Art of True Rebellion

I just read a fantastic article on Relevant that I just had to share with you! Now admittedly it's talking about a different kind of youth ministry than what I've grown up on. But I have seen my share of entertainment-based, babysitting style youth ministry, that was lacking or uninterested in being something so much more.
This article really stirs me, because I want to see the youth of this generation rise up and be "peculiar people". Kids who live lives that are socially responsible and who above ALL are faithful to Christ. Even to give up their rights to a life of safety, security or predictability. The call of Christ is often wild and undomesticated - regardless of where they are living, what school they attend or whatever vocation they involve themselves in.
I really have big dreams for our up-and-coming youth, the kids in my church here at home are really amazing. I have a blast with them. It is these kids who I want more for, I want to see them embrace Christ, and enter the world as His bride!

"I’ve grown to believe that student ministry is about much more than just numbers and telling teenagers to “just say no” to temptation. It’s an opportunity to place oneself at the forefront of a great rebellion, a war on the idea that Christianity is just about your inactions. “Follow” is a verb. Something must be done in order to meet the requirements of the command. If I follow Christ and my students follow with me, then they no longer have to settle for being a shadow of the greater culture. Instead, they can lead the Church into the next generation, making her what God intended her to be—a cool shade for the world to rest beneath. If they can accomplish this, the world will look at the Church and know: This is where I go when I need help …when I’m hurting …when I’m homeless … when I’m addicted …when I’m far from home …when I’m hungry … when I’m sick …when I’m ready to give up … But if I choose not to go to the church, there’s no worry, for I know that she will come to me."

Broken Bodies

It's been a while - but here I am again, recommending some reading for your day. I was thinking this morning that it had been a really long time since I'd done this, and I hope there'd be something worth sharing with you, maybe even this morning. And what do you know but that a beautiful article appeared on Relevant!
So don't let the somewhat dull title block fool you. Beyond that basketball are 3 beautiful vignettes, well worth your time.
I love good writing.

God Speaks Through Philippians

At church today we had Mr. Bruce Kuhn give a dramatic monologue of the book of Philippians. That sounds really uptight-fancy I know, but I say it like that cause I don't want to make it sound like he just read the book in front of everyone. It was really good, it wasn't a play or anything, he just spoke the words as if he were Paul actually saying them to the Philippian church.
Here's what the Spirit was pointing out to me - saying "this is for you"...

• "...you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven."
• "...glory and praise to God." "...to the glory of God the Father." More and more I hear this, I know it and I begin to realize that all of life, all of missions, all of creation is for this purpose: the Glory of God. One of my favourite quotes is from a Moravian missionary leaving home (to sell himself into slavery in order to reach the slaves). As the ship pulled out of port he yelled back to his family, "May the Lamb who was slain, receive the reward of His suffering." I can only hope that I go with the same attitude, and that it centers me in those times when I am lost in selfish ambition, homesickness or petty conflicts.
• "Hold tightly to the word of life..." This goes with the above (they all start to connect), scripture has always been such a source of life for me. I've gone through spurts where I have just reveled in it, running lines all over my pages to pull out my favourite verses. And then I have what is most of my time, where I don't read God's word enough, and I feel it. I need to hold tight to His word through all of life and especially as things get busy, tough, emotional, international!
• "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice!" As above, I need the joy of the Lord, I need to be rooted in Him.
• "Let your gentleness be known to all men." Coming out of this year of work, I have found that my sarcasm has returned, not that I want to discard my sense of humor, but I want to keep it in check. I want bless people and encourage them. I never want to offend anyone. I want my gentleness to be known to all.

And so with 2.5 days left in my Canadian pre-Midwife life this is where I am at: waiting, praying, goodbye-ing, crying, packing, dreaming. The goodbyes are awful. They started in earnest tonight, and even still I just don't let myself think about them, I mean I even feel responsible because people are going to miss me. It feels awful. These next 2.5 days will be busy and they will be hard, but I want to cherish every moment with those I love!

"May the Lamb who was slain, receive the reward of His suffering."