Zambia ~ Part three

Last, but most importantly, God loves His children. In Zambia. In America. In Ireland and
Scotland and Croatia and France and the Czech Republic and Brasil and Australia and
everywhere. Every single one of us. And not because we act a certain way or believe a
certain thing or agree to a certain way of life. But because we are His. That's it. Period.
And our lack of belief in this truth or the world's attempt to disprove it, doesn't make it
any less real. If nothing else, it makes it more real, more powerful, more incredible.

We are His children. He is our Father in Heaven. And we matter so much to Him,
that He allowed His Son to be sacrificed for us. His perfect, sinless, guileless, beautiful Son.
Given for the rest of us--for our joy and happiness and peace in this life. And the next.

That is love beyond comprehension. And that is enough for this world to be okay.
Not because it will take away pain or suffering or heartbreak or sorrow or confusion or
abuse or hurt or hunger or death. But because God's power is bigger than each of these.
And all of these. And our Savior's Atonement is enough for everything. Every single bit of it.

I'm so grateful for a God that loves me so much that He let me feel that love in a tiny
country, on another continent, surrounded by dozens of my brothers and sisters I had
never met. Because my heart will never be the same. It wasn't supposed to be. Not if my
only desire is for it to be filled with enough love for my God and for my family here
on earth, to do what He has asked me to do and to be who He has asked me to be.

God loves His children. This I know. And that is enough. More than enough.

Zambia ~ Part two

Second, I feel strongly that it is important to feel compassion for others we meet, while being
extremely careful not to confuse that compassion with pity. There is no question that my wonderful
life includes freedom and ease that I am thankful for on a daily basis. I have a really good life.
But my time in Africa taught me lessons that made me want to be more like the beautiful Zambian
people I met. It helped me to see where I am lacking (often in significant ways) and made clear
that those living in what we would consider trying circumstances, are handling their lives
tremendously well. And witnessing that in person taught me many life-changing lessons.

And yet...where there is lack, we have a responsibility to show up. It is our duty to have eyes that
see where there is a need in our Father in Heaven's children and then work to lessen that need in
the way that it will help His children the most. Not in how we think we should solve it or how how
it will make us feel better, but in the way God asks us to help. Because He knows His children.
Including each one of us. And letting Him guide us, in helping them, will always have the better result.

Compassion, coupled with great amounts of time on our knees to direct our work, will change the
world. In the smallest of ways. Which will sometimes lead to really big ways. Oh how thankful
our Father must be for every small and big effort made by any of us, toward any of His children.

I'm so grateful for my brothers and sisters on earth who teach me lessons that help me
want to be more like them. And like my Savior. Both are such a privilege to emulate.

Zambia ~ Part one

I can't think of a more meaningful day to share some of my photos from Africa. I still don't have
the words necessary to convey the feelings of my heart. Which tells me that most of what I
experienced and felt should stay where it is at. But there are several truths that I learned, or that
were reinforced in profound ways, on my trip to Zambia. And these feel important to share.

First, Mary's Meals is an inspired organization that is doing incredible good in the poorest
communities of this world. The way the program is set up, functions, grows and blesses
the lives of more than 1.5 million children (and their families and villages) every single day
is humbling and beautiful to witness. I want to be a part of @marysmeals for as long
as God allows me to be on this earth. I feel such gratitude to know of them, and to
be associated with them, for the last several years. And mostly, for the privilege
of my being a small part of their inspiring goodness for many years to come.

If you want to know anything about this organization, please don't hesitate to ask me.
It is one of my favorite things to share about and I promise you will be as fascinated and
in awe as I am. It is a whole lot of goodness my friends. You will love learning more, truly.