Of lasts and firsts and "continuings"

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?/ The LORD is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint
or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable." Isaiah 40:28

Dear Friends,

Yep, I'm sittin' right there,
right where that bear is.
Can't you see me?

I'm sitting on my bed in a home in Kinston, North Carolina. It's the last evening here, the last load of clothes is drying, the last suitcase has been packed and the last of my energy for the day is leaking into my pillows. 

I know, it sounds sad. Don't be sad. Because each last is the beginning of another first and it is good to move on when you're meant to, to finish the laundry, to get it all packed away...to rest. 

And tomorrow, there will be firsts and continuations and some more lasts. It's how life goes. Mostly.

There are some things that never have lasts. For example, there will never be a last time that I am amazed by God's goodness. He brought me here and He is taking me toward Louisville, KY tomorrow and Longview, TX after that and more after that. I know I will see evidence of His goodness, forgiveness, mercy, and grace in each place. 

This prayer card from a kid just wowed
me. He saw his need to forgive and
admitted fear...that's a rare thing in
adults and in children. 

There will be hurting, bitter people that, by grace, find the power to forgive. 

There will be addictions that are confessed and given over to God. 


There will be marriages that humility and forgiveness, grace and brokenness will bring back from the brink of divorce. 

There will be renewed faith and the beginning of faith. 

There will be praise and worship and joy...

I know, because I have seen it in every church and in our team. Some churches are "better" than others, but, truly, if just one person allows God to renew them in each place - if God uses us to start the process in just one person - then it's all worth it and I count our mission as a success. All we have to do is be obedient. We may not see what He is doing, but we can trust that He is working. 

He is working in the good, the ugly, the painful, the confused, the easy....there will never be a "last" moment of His love, patience and purpose.

So, I sit and I yawn and I marvel at all the things that have gone "wrong" and all the things that have gone "right" as hoped in the last few weeks.

And I am content; I will continue to give Him my lasts and my firsts and my "continuings."

Prayer requests:
1. We are jumping from one conference straight into another without a day off. Pray for our attitudes and our energy and for us to remain focused on the people, not ourselves.

This is the concussion culprit.
I - ahem - was heading toward
the sink, and, well...that shelf
looks like the same color as
the wall... That was a first.

2. We've had a laughable number of injuries in the last three weeks. (it's either laugh or cry. I choose laugh.) There's been a minor concussion, a knee cap deeply bruised and swollen, a sprained ankle, a wrenched back, a fractured foot, some not-so-deep bruising of various body parts, and an ER visit that hasn't given results yet, but it's another knee problem and probably requires surgery. We're a mess!
3. Pray for the churches in Louisville and Longview. We want to be reflections of Christ to them and be open and ready to serve them as they seek to be renewed and refreshed. 

i built a random block
tower and made my 2 students
write instructions for them-
selves and then had them rebuild it. I
 love being their teacher!

As always, I am deeply grateful for your prayers and encouragement. 

Love much,
Anna