Skip to main content

The Tickle Monster

I see him across the room, as he tries to conceal a smile. Creeping over, I peak around walls and furniture with my tickling fingers ready to pounce. The closer I get, the bigger his smile grows. He tries to sneak away, but I reach out and grab him and tickle him until we are both on the ground, laughing so hard we have tears running down our face. This, of course, starts a full on tickle war between me and three little boys, two that speak no English.
I cherish these moments. I cannot express the joy that fills my heart, as I am able to be apart of bringing the hope of Christ to children, especially with the language barriers that exist. Being able to pour into a child without speaking sounds terrifying and impossible. However, I always let my mouth get in the way. I say the wrong thing, or let angry words slip my lips. Mix in a language barrier, and my words no longer pose such a threat. I am able to use the international languages, such as laughter. Tender actions and loving touches speak the love of Christ in more powerful ways than I will ever be able to understand. As the language barriers slowly are chiseled away, then knowledge of Christ can partner alongside the actions.
I stand awe struck before God. There are so many more qualified people in this world, people with better education and more experience, people who know the language and fully grasps the culture. Yet He chose me; a twenty-two year old girl from Idaho. He allows me to spin little ones until we collapse! He brought me to pour into kids who are thirsty for knowledge of Scripture. I will never be able to wrap my head around that, but I am forever grateful.

I will continue to tickle and love. That is my calling. So simple, and I am the one blessed.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Every Fleeting Moment

I joined a huddle of friends in time to hear the words, "she didn't make it," followed by gasps, tears, questions, and heart break. As I quickly catch up to what is happening, my heart shatters along with everyone else. A dear woman (one which impacted all that gathered) was in a car accident. She didn't make it. Can this be real? Death brings such a flood of emotions. A sudden death, as with my friend, starts with denial. "No! This can't be. There has to be a mistake, and any minute, my phone will go off with a text asking me to babysit. And this sinking feeling of my heart will pass with a sigh of relief!" Then when all the doubts have been stomped out and reality sets in, memories, questions, and hurt flood the heart. This is where I stand at this very moment. Maybe I should not write in such a raw state. But this is where I heal. Maybe a blog shouldn't be for healing, yet here we are.  My friend has two sweet boys. They mean the world to me. ...

It's Been A Year... Now What?

What a crazy year! I never would have guessed that my year back in America would be crazier than my year in Africa, but alas, God moved mountains and worked through many situations that reveal what His will is in my life. Yet the biggest question I am asked, "When are you going back to Africa?" Well, I may finally have answers to that question. At the end of October, I traveled to Richmond Virginia to attend the International Conference on Missions (ICOM). My intention was networking, and network I did! If you have never been to ICOM, it is an experience you must try if you are even slightly interested in what God is doing around the world. Speakers from all around the world come and share about their ministry. Workshops are set up for different ministry strategies or on mission topics. My favorite aspect of ICOM are the booths of ministries from all around the globe. I love wandering for hours, meeting different missionaries and hearing their stories. I am always encouraged...

State of Praise

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 reminds us to have a spirit of praise in all circumstances. It does not say to rejoice in the good, when ministry is smooth and all things are going the way you pictured them. Nor does it say to give up in times of struggle. It says to ALWAYS rejoice, to be in a spirit of praise through thick and thin! The past few weeks have been a battle. Living in Uganda means you are surrounded by images of poverty, brokenness, and death on a daily basis. That alone will encourage anyone to lose a spirit of praise. But of course, that is not all I deal with. Lately, it seems like everything is coming down at one time. Dear people in my life are struggling, including people back in the States. These are people who I use to be there to hold a hand through difficult times, and now they are going through something else and I am halfway around the world. A couple have confessed they wished I were there instead, and no matter how much ...