I'm Not Sure About This

As I have mentioned in previous posts my family is supposed to be coming for Christmas.  It is something I have looked forward to for a long time.  However, there is a chance that they will not be able to come.

My youngest sister, Caitlyn, has been sick for the last 3-4 months. The doctors are unsure of what it is however they are throwing around 2 theories right now, neither of which they are very confident about. They are trying to get her into see a pediatric gastroenterologist but the wait is 12 months. Hopefully by then they will either know what is going on or she will be better.


Two weeks ago she ended up in hospital so sick because she was dehydrated and couldn't even swallow her own saliva (I am sure she will love that I am telling you this).  She was prescribed some stronger and better drugs and she got a lot better, but that only lasted 3 days.  Now she is as sick as ever. Of course this is very disouraging and stressful for my whole family.  They are at a loss of what to do next.

Needless to say, we don't know what to do as far as them coming over.  If she is feeling better and then something was to happen on the plane...  Despite whether they can come or not we are really praying for a breakthrough so she can just enjoy living again.  She is only 14 and has missed so much of this last year.  Please also pray for my parents and other little sister for wisdom and patience as they make decisions.

As you may or may not have noticed, I haven't written very much recently on here. For the last few weeks it has been crazy busy and just a little stressful. This week, thank goodness, has been rather boring.  I have longed for a boring week with not as much going on for I don't know how long. So naturally, I don't have much to write about, but I do have a few thoughts. Not very profound, but it is where I am at right now.

I was leading worship yesterday at the base and with all that has been happening in the lives of our staff I wanted to lead us in a quiet time of meditation and reflection. While music played in the background words and pictures flashed on the wall in front of us

At the end of our time the verse Romans 12:9-13 came up:


It always amazes me as I lead a devotional, intercession or worship how God usually challenges me more than the people I am leading. As I reflected on this verse, I had to ask myself,  "Am I really doing this, not only with the immediate people around me my husband, family and co-workers, but also with my community and city?" and the answer is no.

As our DTS students arrive in January and my life gets crazy busy again, not only is God calling me to really love these students, but to model that to a much broader community.

Jamie has been looking at who his heroes are in a recent blog and it has made me think about it. Besides Jesus and my family, do I have heroes in my life and if so, who are they? I guess when I think of a hero I think of someone almost not human but in reality the people who have inspired me are just normal people who have done extroadinary things. There are three people who I thought of straight away that have influenced who I am and what I do.

In 1995 the story of Janine Shepherd was published, "Never Tell Me Never".  Janine is an amazingly strong and determined woman.  While training for the winter Olympics she was hit by a truck while riding a bike. She was told she would never walk again, however, not only did she walk she had a family, went to university, she took up flying and gained her private pilot's licence, commercial licence and her instructor's permit. I was fifteen when I read her story and watched the movie made about her life, I was young and at the stage of my life where I was struggling with an illness that the doctors couldn't diagnose. She inspired me to be strong, determined and most importantly to truly live! I can't thank her enough.  Without her story I wouldn't be the woman I am today.


I grew up in the Anglican church and while I wouldn't necessarily call myself Anglican, it was here that I was first introduced to Desmond Tutu. Tutu headed the very successful Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the body set up to probe gross human rights violations during apartheid. While I know that it was not perfect he taught me what true Godly justice and forgiveness meant. He continues to speak out against racism, injustice and peace issues that are very poignant to the community I work with.
The third person who has been a major influence in my life is Jay Bakker. The son of the well-known televangelist Jim Bakker, he had a trubulant youth.  Jay started a ministry for people who were being ignored or rejected by the church due to their appearance and lifestyle. "Revolution" shows unconditional love and grace without reservation to the lost and hurting. I love hearing stories who are meeting the needs of the urban world.

I'd love to hear who your heroes are.