muddy patches and rocky climbs

I have been pretty battle weary lately.  So tired....fighting discouragement the temptation to lay the cross down for a bit and go find a quiet job in a Target in the middle of Wisconsin or Utah.  

Come on you guys, I know I am not the only one who has ever felt like that!  Some days are harder than others and some days the road is rough.  I was driving Luis to work this morning and had to manuever my way through an extremely bad muddy patch.  Africa mud patches are unlike anything you have ever seen.  (I wish I had the camera with me at that point) As I picked my way through the thought occurred to me, “This is what my road looks like right now”.  Some days rough and muddy, making the going slow and careful.  You have to be careful about where you put your foot or you will get stuck.  Some days the road is smooth and easy, no rocks or mud or black ice in the way. 

I must be honest though, today I feel like I have misstepped and got my foot stuck in the mud, and would have loved nothing more than to sit there and let the mud harden into a brick around my ankle.  

Sunday my personal road has lead me to a steep mountain path, and it scares me.  You know the kind you see in the mountains of Nepal and Guatemala?  The kind where you have to hug the wall at points and shuffle slowly by, at points on your hands and knees?    It shook me to my core!!!  Still does, two days later, but I read this special promise this morning.  

Psalm 121

The Message (MSG)

A Pilgrim Song

121 

1-2 I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

3-4 

He won’t let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.

5-6 

God’s your Guardian,
    right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.

7-8 

God guards you from every evil,
    he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
    he guards you now, he guards you always.

I hope this lifts your hearts as it lifted mine.  My strength to climb this particular mountain comes from God!  After all He is the same God who made heaven and earth with a few simple words!  He won’t let me stumble over the cliff and won’t sleep on the job!  He will hold the umbrella over my head when the sun gets to intense, and light my way when the path is dark.  HE IS MY GUARD!!!  Its a promise!  HALLELUJAH!!!  

images from my life

Today I went out and took photos of what I see on a daily basis here in Zambia.  This is just a small sample of the places and faces we see everyday.  ENJOY!  

He is a delivery guy for the local shops.  

I don't know if you can tell but the ladies in the back of the truck are actually sitting on overstuffed chairs they are moving.  Hey, if you gotta do it, do it comfortably!  

Anyone notice the Jesus is my Homeboy poster in the window?

These two men are drinking the locally brewed beer called Shake Shake.  It is NASTY smelling stuff, but dirt cheap. 

She is a blind woman begging in an empty field.  There are men and women like this all over the city.

He is a bag seller. I always think of flowers when I see these guys. 

I thought he had the coolest hat. 

This is a wall of Chitenge fabrics.  One piece is roughly 13 feet and costs 5 USD.  

A little girl begging in the field.  

Suddenly I felt like fasting when I walked past this stall.  

My body guards Ollie (left) and Brett (right).  Luis couldn't go with me so I asked these guys from our church to walk with me.  

Dont you think the guy in white looks like Usher?

The picture doesn't really show the gigantic size of the puddle in the back of the market.  I thought the tree in the middle was cool.

Remember the picture above with the meat?  This guy was the chef.   

There are tables of wigs and hair pieces

A delivery guy.  He wanted to make sure I got a shot of what he was delivering.

A shoe stall in the market. 

I found this boy encased in a stall of hundreds of snow white lacy curtains.  I think he has wise eyes.