I'm so excited. So, I think, if you'll notice at the beginning of my web-log, if you read into it just slightly, you can see the boredom that is oozing out of my words. For a while now, I've struggled with being utterly unsatisfied and bored to the point of ... well, not a good place. So, my father in heaven sees me and knows my heart. His desire IS to delivery me from myself, my selfishness, my self-centeredness, and all that great stuff. But he's also the greatest. Father to the fatherless, and the best giver of gifts. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." He once told me that he would fill my life with great spiritual adventures. Through that promise, he's also filled my life with hope. Every once in a while, some really funky stuff happens, and when these type of events occur, it is very much God setting me up for something, and also stretching my limits. Today, Klinton, Grant, and I hosted a crawfish broil. That was exciting. 41 lbs. of water roaches. When we started cooking them, Pastor Joy called me and told me about some 200+ people from Sudan, Africa who were living in Houston. These people kind of know God, but perhaps not all of them are saved. She asked me to join her today in visiting them at their apartment complex, and for me to lead worship. I was like, "uhh, I don't really do that, but I'm willing to go." I called Vincent and he agreed to lead worship tonight. After we ate crawfish, a few of us headed over to their apartment complex. It turns out they live right across the street from me- in a complex on the other side of Gessner. Literally a 2 minute drive from my house. I was very much apprehensive at first- not knowing how the night would be is scary, not knowing who these people are, not knowing how to share about my savior, not knowing what were the right words to say, not knowing if God would do his thing. Very scary. But the word of God says, "cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." Oh yeah. That's my daddy. So very scary becomes very exciting. Woohoo, I love adventures. Man, what an absolute eye-opening experience. Back in Sudan, over 13 years ago, a civil war started. Many parents, fearful for their own lives and the lives of their children, gathered all the kids together and sent them alone, escaping out to Ethiopia. After living there for several years, they moved to Kenya. During their journey across Africa, many were swept down rivers, never to be seen again. Some were literally eaten by wild animals. Finally, a decade later, many have been sent over here to the United States. A new hope for life. The lost boys are scattered around the US, and still more are coming over. There's still a lot of issues that I'm dealing with. It's hard, but fun. In a conversation with two of the Sudanians- John and Peter: Me: What's your favorite food? John: Different here and Africa. In Africa, like those [potato chips] but bigger. Me: Very good? John: Very good. Me: You too [Peter]? Peter: My favorite too. Me: What about here in America? Have you ever had McDonald's? John & Peter: Huh? Me: McDonald's ... burgers, fries... John: No. But pizza is very good. But its very expensive so we cannot eat it often. Wow. Other conversations: you have a car? you finished school? you have a driver's license? you know how to use computers? you have a job? Almost incredulous at the opportunity here. I'm know in my head that I should not to feel guilty for growing up in America, because I know that for each individual, God has "determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live" (Acts 17:26). But in my heart, my heart, since I was young, has always been for the poor, has always had compassion on those who don't have much. Today, in their midst, I wanted to give, give, give. My life has been filled to abundance, with so much! They, now living in America, have so much more than they've EVER had in their entire lives, yet our lifestyles are on entirely different scales. (Note comment several days ago about do I live like a king or what). Yet, a part of me tells me that they are really the ones who are blessed. That any sense of pity that I have is misplaced. For I've put far too much value on material blessings, and not realized that all the struggles they've gone through will manifest themselves in the form of great spiritual blessings, which is worth farr more than anything money can buy. Anyways. I'm very much excited. I think that God definently has a plan for me in this, and I am very very grateful. God knows best, and having that confidence in my heart satisfies me so much. They were so grateful for everything! Here I was, worrying (in the flesh- against my own will) about how things are going to turn out, and they were utterly grateful just to have someone share the word of God with them. Oh man. Here I am, worrying about stupid doctrinal issues and who's right and who isn't, and all they want is so simple- they thank the almighty God for delivering them from death and they want to hear his word. So simple. It really meant so much to them that we were willing to go and hang out with them tonight. I can't wait to be with them again. I think we're going to have a small group every Saturday night. Yay! There's so much more that occured tonight. Too much to talk about. One of them said they might go back to Africa, and I can go with them and they'll show me around. ^_^