Meet the team August 12, 2009

I wanted to take a few moments to introduce you to the incredible team I get to travel to Africa with. Here are their photos and below that a little about each of them 

That photo in the upper left corner is me and it feels kinda weird talking about myself so I’ll just say I am so blessed to be used by God in such an incredible way

The top row middle is Amy. Amy has an incredible heart and can make just about anyone laugh.  She likes to serve and loves to live.  She has a knack for the crazy fun stuff that makes life a fun place to be. She has a heart for God and His people. I have the priviledge of working with Amy and I can not count the times she has had me laughing so hard my stomach hurts.  When I first decided to go to Africa she was the person I asked to go with me.  I told her I needed someone I could trust to tape me down to the seat so I wouldn’t jump off the plane and she said she would

The upper right corner pic is Courtney.  I am just getting to know her but can tell she is sweet and has a heart for the mission.  I am looking forward to getting to know her better on our trip

The bottom left corner is Michelle   Michelle is our fearless leader.  She has made several trips to Kenya and has a passion that is absolutely contagious!!  She is incredibly sweet. She has a perpetually positive attitude and an unbelievable heart for God.  She works with Tumaini, the organization we partner with and who helps AIDS orphans in Kenya find sponsership.  I am tremendously blessed by Michelle and by the little girl she found for me to sponser.  I am excited to be on her team.

The bottom middle is Mike.  Mike has a heart for God and to serve His people.  I also have the priviledge of working with Mike. He is the lead pastor at Parkcrest and does an outstanding job!  He is very geniune, hard working and kind.  His heart is in truly reconciling hearts to God and helping everyone to become a person of great character.  One of my favorite things about Mike is his love of tensions and living life in them   His logical approach to my silly fear of flying is what convinced me to get on the plane and go.  He said if the only thing stopping me was a fear of flying then I needed to go and so I am.

The bottom right is Teresa She is incredibly sweet. She has been such a great encouragement on this trip.  I also have the priviledge of working with her   She has been on an out of country mission trip and I have asked her a million questions on packing light and she has helped me to feel better about my crazy fear of flying.  She is fun to talk to and has a heart to serve.  I am excited she is a part of the team

Now that you have met the team would you pray for all of us?

• We will all begin Malaria meds next week so pray for all of us to tolerate it well
• Please pray for safety on our flight leaving August 21 as well as all connecting flights. Then for safety on our flights coming home.
• Pray for God to help us all go forth courageously. Pray he will give us the wisdom, words, patience, gentleness, character and kindness we need. Pray that we would be energized far beyond anything we can imagine.  Pray that we would be gracious toward each other even when we’re tired.
• Pray for the hearts of those God would have us reach.  Pray that we would hear Him and listen to his voice as to what we should be doing.
• Pray for the AIDS orphans and adults we get to hang out with and serve.
• Pray for our families who will be here…man am I gonna miss my boys.

We are all very excited about this trip!!  We are all excited to be serving and can’t wait to go!! We are all very thankful for your prayers and encouragement.  So from August 21 at 11am until September 1st and 11:40pm we will be across the globe rocking the world for God!!

Thanks for reading my brain splatter   Words of encouragement are always welcome   Have a great day!!

Love this :) August 11, 2009

Someone sent me an email with this quote and I loved it!!!  Somehow, I think this is probably the case   The quote is:

“Be the kind of person that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says “Oh no, SHE’s up!”

Have a great day!! Thanks for reading my brain splatter

Wow! August 10, 2009

We had a beach baptism yesterday and 185 people were baptized!!  Outstanding!!  As always, God brought it and left us in awe and realizing it’s not about us at all   I love that!!!

Don’t paint my God August 6, 2009

This blog began in my head about 2 weeks ago.  I have tried to write it several times.  In my mind it’s all clear but walking the concept down that road from my mind to this e-page has been a long one.  Hopefully, it will all make sense but no promises…

The Mona Lisa.  What do you see when I say that?  You see that painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, right?  You immediately think of that smile just in the corner of her mouth.

How about venus de milo? Even if you don’t know the background of who she is you probably associate the statue with her missing arms, right?

How about Michelangelo’s David?  What is the first thing you think of at the mention of this sculpture? David is uncovered. Again, even if you don’t know the history as to why that is, you would recognize the statue because of it, right?

Pablo Picasso, my favorite by the way, what do you associate with that name.  His works of art are bold, colorful, abstract. You know him by his work.  If you came across a simple, pale,  still life painting of a bowl of fruit you would not think Picasso, right?

So, if someone put a painting in the Louvre where the Mona Lisa is with a sign saying it is that painting and replicated every detail but painted a slight frown instead of a smile, would you still agree it was the Mona Lisa or if someone added arms to venus de milo or painted clothes on David would they still be the famed sculptures we have come to know?

So, with paintings we identify certain characteristics.  There are identifying marks that make the paintings and sculptures what they are.  The concept can be placed in a neat filing cabinet in a drawer in our mind so when we see them we can say this is David.  If someone placed a work of art by Monet and one by Picasso before us we could easily identify the Picasso.  Again, his works of art have a signature.

Still with me?  We can not paint God as much as many people try.  He does not fit in a neat filing cabinet, He is not some feel good cliche, He is not any one thing…He is all things.  It drives me crazy when people say isn’t God supposed to (fill in the blank) or shouldn’t God (fill in the blank).  God is not a painting or a sculpture. He is not a concept to be grasped but a concept to be grasped by.  He does not fit on canvas.  When we think of God we can not pinpoint one thing and say this is God.  God is a tension of great proportion. He has no identifying mark and yet is easily identifiable.  Yes, this is where is makes sense in my head but is a littly iffy on paper.  I’ll stop here, although there is so much more to this thought in my mind…much, much more.

Thanks for reading my brain splatter and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this

Africa…It’s almost time July 23, 2009

Wow, time has flown by since I first decided to go on this mission trip.  We are only 28 days away from boarding the plane I am so excited!!  We have an incredible team!!  I appreciate all the prayers, financial contributions and encouragement.  I have a few specific prayers as we get closer and closer to leaving. I would love to have you leave comments of encouragement that I can take with me on the trip and let me know if you are praying   I am still raising funds so if you would like to donate please click on the donate button at the bottom of this blog. The request are….

1. Please be praying for smooth flying all the way there and back.  We will be leaving LAX at 11:00am on August 21 and then changing planes in Detroit and Amsterdam.  We will arrive in Nariobi at 7:05pm on August 22nd.  We leave Nariobi to return home September 1st at 1:15pm Africa time so here that would be August 31  at 12:15am. We will change flights in Amsterdam and Boston and will land in LA on September 1st at 11:45pm.

2. Please be praying for the entire team (Mike Goldsworthy, Amy Naluai, Courtney Foster, Michelle Lewis, Teresa Root and myself, Ginger)  to stay healthy.  All 6 of us have had lots of shots and are still getting some. We will all be taking Malaria meds a week before we go, while we are there and for 2 weeks after we return.  Pray that none of us get sick so we are able to minister at full capacity the entire time.

3. Please be praying for the entire team to have the right words and message. Our goal is to minister to, serve, love on and to let our actions be witnesses to the people in Africa while we are there.  Pray that our hearts and minds would be open to hearing God speaking to us so that he make speak through us.  Pray that we would all be open to whatever God may call us to while we are there. Pray that all fears would be cast aside and that we would go forth courageously.

4. Pray that in these last few weeks before we leave all financial support will be raised.  There are a few that have not raised all that is needed so pray that God will stir the desire to give in the hearts of those who can.

5. Pray for unity within the team.  We have an amazing group of people going. I could not ask for 5 more incredible people to travel with. Pray that we would show grace toward one another the entire trip and that we would stay unified and grow closer through this experience.

Thank you all for being a part of my journey to Africa and for reading my brain splatter.   Have a great day!!

Passion Renewed July 16, 2009

One of the things I have always loved is writing.  I’ve done a lot of it.  Writing requires true passion.  You have to be completely engrossed in whatever you are writing. You want the reader to feel everything you are feeling.  You want them to be able to visualize every picture you paint with your words.  Without passion, you can not do that.

I began writing poetry some time ago and that led to writing longer works.  In the midst of writing my mind came to a hault.  I was uninspired and for the last few years I haven’t written…well except on my blog.  It’s very frustrating when you loose inspiration because you lose passion and then you can’t write.

Through a random post on facebook about a game I play with my kids called story on the spot, my passion has been renewed and I have begun writing again.  I wrote a couple sentences and then my facebook friends added and wow, inspiration.  It’s such an amazing feeling to have that passion well back up within you.  To pick up a pen and paint, to have inspiration flow through your being.  It’s truly incredible. I have 5 different books I want to write…one that I will be finishing.  I’m so excited!!!

I started thinking about some poetry and short stories I have written in the past and one particular poem came to mind…one I actually wrote when I was in highschool.  I thought I would share it with you.

A broken body, a river of blood, through piercing nails he showed his love

A scorching sun, a mocking crowd, through dire pain their torment allowed.

On the third day, he arose, to prove his being, this earth he chose.

When you write, even when years have passed, you remember your writings as if it were only yesterday.  So, back to writing and hopefully someday, my writings will be published for the world to see

Thanks for reading my brain splatter

God Bless America…Happy 4th of July July 3, 2009

Happy 4th of July!!!  I just wanted to take a moment to pay tribute to our founding fathers and the men and women who fight to keep us free. Thank you all!!  Here are bits and pieces of some of my favorite songs because I could not say it better than they already have:

Ballad of the Green Beret – Fighting soldiers from the sky, fearless men who jump and die, men who mean just what they say those brave men are the green berets.

America the beautiful by Ray Charles – Oh beautiful, for heroes proved, In liberating strife, Who more than self, our country loved, And mercy more than life, America, America, may God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness And every gain devined. Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, For amber waves o f grain, For purple mountain majesties, Above the fruited plain, America, sweet America, You know, God done shed his grace on thee, He crowned thy good, yes he did, in a brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

God Bless America  – God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her  Thru the night with a light from above.  From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue by Toby Keith – American girls and american guys We’ll always stand up and salute We’ll always recognize
When we see old glory flying There’s a lot of men dead So we can sleep in peace at night When we lay down our head….Justice will be served
And the battle will rage This big dog will fight When you rattle his cage And you’ll be sorry that you messed with The u.s. of a. cause well put a boot in your ass Its the american way

God Bless the USA – ‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away. And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

The Star Spangled Banner – Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early ligh What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Your a grand ole’ flag – You’re a grand old flag, You’re a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave. You’re the emblem of  The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave

Yankee doodle boy – I’m a yankee doodle dandy, yankee doodle do or die, a real live nephew of my uncle Sam…

Halls of Montezuma – From the Halls of Montezuma  To the Shores of Tripoli;  We will fight our country’s battles  In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean;  We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine.

Anchors Away – Stand Navy out to sea Fight our battle cry We’ll never change our course So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y Roll out the T.N.T. Anchors Aweigh Sail on to victory and Sink their bones to Davy Jones hooray!

What are some of your favorites?  Thanks for reading my brain splatter and Happy 4th!!!

Just to remind myself…. July 2, 2009

Gods blessings trump everything.

It’s not about me.

This is an opportunity to grow and listen and process.

God’s grace and mercy is sufficient and I can only do the things I can because He has blessed me with the gifts to do them.

God sees every tear and will deal with it.  My job is to love, forgive, encourage and edify.

This to shall pass…yes, I take great comfort in knowing that.

Thanks for reading my brain splatter.  It’s been a bit of a rough week so these are things I need to remember and focus on.

Before you throw that stone… June 25, 2009

Do you know anyone who hasn’t messed up at some point in life?  I don’t.  One of the things I would have loved to of seen was the moment when Jesus stood up for a woman who was caught in an adulteress act.  Everyone around her wanted to stone her. They point out that the law says thats what should happen. Jesus bends down and starts writing in the dirt.  I’m guessing that he started writing some of their sins for the world to see.  I’m sure in a group that size at least a few others had committed the same sin and gotten away with it.  What he does next is awesome. He stands up and says “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.  He then bent back down and continued to write until they had all left.  The woman stood, unharmed.  Hmmmm, amazing how our attitude changes when confronted with our own mistakes.

Jesus point was not that she  should continue committing adultery and not face any consequences.  He tells her go and sin no more.  His point was that we are quick to judge others. Actually, he talks about that a lot. We like to judge others and drag them through the mud. Maybe it’s because we can feel better about ourselves for a moment.  Really, in my opinion, a sin is a sin in Gods eyes. We should not be so quick to jump on those high horses because we all fall or will be falling at some point.

In our world today I watch people throwing stones left and right.  The thing that spurred this whole thought process on is Govener Sandford.  I’m watching as his indiscretion is being put out there for public scrutiny.  If you’ve ever been through or close to someone who has gone through something like this it’s tough enough without it being broadcast to the world. In my opinion this is something to be dealt with between he and his family.  Chances are it’s his family, who did nothing to bring this attention, that is suffering most.

This brings me to another thing I detest and do my best to stay away from and that’s gossip.  People don’t really think about everyone who will be affected by their petty insecurities or malicious behavior. It is not only the person they are gossiping about who will suffer but many others.

We should be coming alongside those who are hurting, those who have fallen, those who are about to fall and we should be loving them, helping to restore them because we never know when we are going to be in their shoes.  I’ll stop there because I get very long winded and passionate when dealing with gossip and lack of grace.

Thanks for reading my brain splatter. Be sure you are thinking about what you are about to say because it may destroy someone’s life and come back to haunt you in ways you can’t imagine.

Ginger’s wild ride with incurable insomnia June 24, 2009

Have you ever had a bout with insomnia.  Usually they last about a week, maybe two.  If you have had it you’ll understand. I would not wish it on my worst enemy.  My insomnia began in 1993 and has lasted for 16 years. I have been through sleep studies, psychiatrist, numerous doctors, and have tried just about everything they recommend.  They can not figure out why I have it or how to cure it.  I am not anxious or depressed or stressed out.  The only thing that helps is Ambien but that is where the wild ride begins

Ambien is a hypnotic so it does not cause any grogginess and does not do anything but help you sleep.  It does have one side affect that is bad. It causes memory loss. There is a warning that tells you this. The first time I realized this was happening was when I received a call one afternoon. The gal calling referred to a conversation we had the night before.  I did not remember talking to her the night before so that was interesting.  The thing is, if you call me you do not know I’ve taken this medication and I’m not thinking clearly enough to tell you but can have a completely lucid conversation. I have learned to write down any conversations I have after taking this medication.   I have sent email to people and gotten responses…the only problem is I get the response and don’t remember sending the email. I have done loads of laundry and I wake up in the morning and don’t remember doing them. I have cleaned the bathroom and wake up thinking wow, who cleaned this.

The worse part is I am uninhibited when I take this medication. Things I would never say or do  in a coherent state come out. How do I know this, every once in awhile I don’t delete something I’ve sent and I see it the next day. It’s always fun to try to explain some of those.  I have learned to stay off the computer and off the phone for the most part but every once in awhile I do answer a call or decide to get on the computer.

So, for those of you who wonder what I do when the Ambien is not working and I’m up for 3 or 4 days straight, which for the last couple weeks has been the case.  I do a lot of reading the first couple days.  I write a lot. I research.  I pray. I work. I clean. I watch movies. I ponder the great mysteries of life. I lay awake wondering why I can’t sleep.  There are times I tweet or facebook but not a lot of people are awake at 3am on a Tuesday.

I could write pages on the crazy things that have happened while on Ambien and while trying to function on no sleep.  For those who wonder why I don’t just lay down and close my eyes and sleep…I would love to and I try and insomnia wins every time.

Thanks for reading my brain splatter.  I would love to hear about a time you battled insomnia…even if it was only a night or two