This is all to witness, that when you do the Lord's work,

you have a target on your back.

After my laptop was stolen,

I quickly wrote and designed a new version of the overdue prayer letter that I owe to those who have committed to pray for our work with InterVarsity.

I quickly remade a power point and three-fold pamphlet for presentations.

I updated my major database.

All on Jake's laptop,

which crashed the second I finished work today.

It doesn't matter if you are getting paid to be a missionary, or not,

you have a target on your back. And you know why things go bad

at the most inopportune times. And you know Who is in control.

This is all to witness, that when you do the Lord's work,

you are in great company.

I could not continue on without my coworkers, diligent ministers themselves, with their own battles. I could not do this without my teammate, my husband.

This is all to witness, that when you realize how desperately you need God, you are not ashamed to sing loud praises or pray in Jesus' name in public.

"By your endurance you will gain your souls."

Luke 21:19

I can't believe this was almost one year ago. I really adore this picture.

Just look at all of those darling faces. (And the lucky stranger in the back.)

We've arrived at late summer, my dears.

And we're all boggled, I'm sure.

I long deeply for fall.
I am an old house, creeking as I settle.
I crave some peace and maturity,
crisp air and romatic candles.

If my summer was a Picasso,
I want autumn to be a Rembrandt.

All that, and still ... let it not pass to soon.

I had dreams of drowning in summer,

and I've got some vitality in me, yet.

I'm not going to light a spiced candle for

another three weeks.

And in these three weeks, I plan to:
drink iced tea, go swimming every week,

have three picnics, take evening walks,

play Mungo Jerry, and see the sun rise.

via

What last bits of summer will you pursue in the coming weeks?

Well friends, my laptop was stolen from me last night.

I'm sorry to share that bad news, but I feel it pertinent to my story.

I'm not going to say anything else about last night,

but I am sure I'll be processing the incident for a long time.

I feel violated. I want justice.

But here's the thing,

next week I start full-time missionary work like I never have before.

And something inside of me believes this robbery was an act of

our adversary, who is trying his best to derail God's plans.

And that simply won't happen.

I am praying my guts out for forgiveness,

Forgive us, oh Lord, our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass us.

I'm fearful of the anger that quickly sent

a poisonous root through my heart.

Is there such thing as a weed killer for the heart?

Pray for me friends, if you will, please.

We all need forgiveness.

There were three post-its on the bottom

of my laptop, I wrote on them in blue pencil,

"Give praise"

"Give glory"

"Give thanks".

I hope those words mean something

to whoever has my computer now.

I hope to hold on to those words still.

oh, california, why do you have to be so magical?
why did i have to leave you when i was 9,
before the age when i could realize that nowhere is perfect?
because now you remain in my mind,
the place where my childhood memories of perfect days are anchored.

memories of sun, bright yellow and moody gray.
memories of three tiny, redhead sisters who played well together.
california, you've enchanted us,
we've all gone back ... and back ... and back.
but it will never be quite like it was.

photo of my darling babiest sis at the beach in the winter.