Who needs the lesson?

Recently I have had the opportunity to give several lessons and/or sermons. Because I am working with a youth group I have recently started a series on Atonement for the High School students, and I was asked to speak at a Saturday night service that happens every other week. That service is put on by missionaries here in Ouaga and is generally geared towards us.
In any event, I have noticed a pattern in my own life of how my messages come about. Sometimes I am given the topic as I was for the night service, grace, but the rest of the times I get to choose. Either way, you really have the freedom to make it your own, and as I go about preparing for these talks the same thing always happens. I evaluate my life and figure out what I need to hear. Or somehow I stumble across what I need to hear. Take the grace talk for instance, I was actually assigned a chapter from a book on grace, but that didn't apply directly to our situation, so I took the concept and reformed it. But what my end product came out to be, was a talk on freely receiving grace, and freely giving it away. Adding onto that, the idea that Paul has in Corinthians when Christ says, "My grace is sufficient for you". I ended by giving the charge to those there to lean on God's grace in all things, and to willing to seek out and dispense where where it is needed the most. Essentially, that sermon ended up being for at least one person, me. Ya, I realized I needed to hear that possibly more than anyone else there. I don't know if God worked in my life in such a way that I was ministering to myself, I don't know if that's possible, but in any case it really hit me. As someone who struggles with grace it was my own 25 minute long reminder that I'm a sheep in the midst of wolves, and J.C. my shepherd has my back.
So I don't know if that happens to a lot of pastors as they prepare their lessons, or teachers as they get ready to teach, but it happened to me. And so even if nobody else in that room needed to hear what God put on my heart, I know one person did. Me.

6 months and counting!!!

That's right folks, I have officially passed the half year mark! Not only that but that also means that I am 1/3 of the way through my time here. It really is amazing to think that I've made it this far. It is a testament to God's faithfulness to as He continues to give me grace for each day. As I look back I can't help but think about the good times, and the hard times. It really seems like an up and down roller coaster in a lot of ways. Still this 6 month stint have obviously been different from any other time in my life. I know that I am growing and maturing in ways that are fresh and new to me. Still, I am constantly wrestling with my own finitude and inability to be all things to all people here. The children who run to greet me daily don't speak French, and I don't know Morre (that could be spelled wrong). It's just one of many frustrating examples that are apart of my life, yet I have just been wrestling recently with grace as I am supposed to speak on it on Saturday night. I still don't understand grace, I don't know how/when/or why God dishes it out to us, but I'm trying my best to look daily as to how I can continue to doll out grace to others through the Spirit. It's not easy, and I forget often what I'm trying to accomplish, but it is a new outlook for me here that I hope will begin to influence my daily actions.
Here's another beautiful image from Cameroon. Enjoy!

Cameroon

The amazing top picture is over looking the Atlantic Ocean on a beautiful sunset evening in Cameroon. I was there for 2 weeks for a conference and some vacation time. The conference was good because it gave me a chance to meet some other African missionaries doing work in other countries. It was inspiring for me to hear about their work and where God is moving in those countries and cultures. Also, to meet missionaries who've been out on the field for 20, 25, or even 30 years has impressed me. Especially with the missionaries I got to know, and see that they maybe older than I am but they can still be goofy and fun and really passionate about their work. The old, super pious, stiff no fun image of a missionary that I think a lot of people have clearly did not fit this group.
The lower image is a picture of me in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivore. You might not be able to tell from the picture, but I'm in a "mall". Yes, an African mall, with a food area, a couple clothing stores, a sporting goods store and more. I actually went into mini culture shock, and I should have had a more surprised look on my face, because I was really blown away.
The trip to Cameroon was a nice break from Ouaga and gave me chance to see another side of Africa. Now that I'm back, it's back to work recording and Bible Study which I'm excited about.