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Hey you!
Thank you for keeping my personal blog alive by being a reader. Believe it or not, even though I don't post much, there are lots of hits on this blog!

You'd think there would be feedback, but there isn't. I reason that when most people read a blog, they're getting something out of it with no intention of giving anything back to the writer. That's totally okay. I often do this when I read. I've never written any of my favorite authors a letter thanking them for the time they put into writing, editing, and publishing. I simply purchase their book, read it, enjoy it, and then it ends there.

Thankfully for me, since I write whatever for free and for fun, I have my buddy Google to give me the analytical data about YOU! Yes you! It's 2012, and I can track you! Surprise! Check out my viewers' map for the last month:

Thanks to Google, I know you care! I am encouraged enough that 508 of you took the time to read my blog last month :) thank you! Whether you ever mention to me that you read my blogs or comment, I still know I have my readers.

I'm preaching tomorrow about prayer, and as I was reading the Word of God, I thought "If I like comments, Jesus must really love comments." Inerrant, applicable, truthful, living words, but how often do I just flip through as if I'm looking up a word in the dictionary... it sounds cheesy, but I wanted to thank God for His word and that I am privileged to have it available to me all the time. He loves me the same, regardless of my number of views.
In the same way that it delights me to look at this pretty green map, it delights Him to see that His children are seeking Him out and wanting to learn more about Him.

Unlike me, the Author is listening in as you read His word. He wants to explain it in a way you will understand. He wants to interact with you as you read. Don't just read as if they're words on a page, because you'll miss out on the most amazing live commentary with the Most High King.

I've been going through the Bible chronologically, and I'm currently in the 4 gospels. It's great to read them all together, but I do have a confession: I am dreading what's about to happen. Do you ever find yourself picking out a movie and think "oooh Passion of the Christ! Yes!"?? Yeah... me either. I know what happened on the cross is awesome news for me, but those are my sins He's suffering for. My heart grieves to know that my Savior suffered for my sake, for our sake. I love Him so much for what He did for me, for paying my debt, for rescuing me from death, for guaranteeing my eternity and my righteousness. But I can't help my tears, and the feeling of helplessness as I prepare to experience the powerful telling of my Savior's brutal sacrifice.

As I inch closer and closer to reading about the crucifixion, I have to rely on Him, the Living Christ, to remind me over and over that it's okay. That He endured it because He loves me. That I'm not resented or blamed, but accepted and free. That the beatings and the mocking and the rejection and the punishment were all worth it. Worth it for us. Worth it for me.

I have no words for that kind of love, no comment.
Though I can't understand it, I humbly receive it.

HOP ON THE CAMEL

Today was a monumental day in my life.

I enjoy the word monumental because I think of a monument being built in honor of this day, which would be fitting. If these were Old Testament days, I'd assemble a pile of rocks and name it something like "THE LORD ROCKS" or "ON THE ROCK I STAND" or I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Why? Well, let's just say September 12th was a horrible day for me for the last 3 years.
That's the understatement of the century. It still makes me want to vom just thinking about it. But the Almighty God redeemed September 12th.

I haven't felt this much excitement and joy in a long time. Of all days, the Lord chose September 12th, because He is intentional and sarcastic and hilarious.

What did I do today?

I applied to seminary!

Essays are written, reference forms are on their way, and my official transcript has been ordered. I've cried over just about every part of it, because I was so happy.
My Father is so stoked for me. He is borderline giddy up in the skies, because I have finally begun to grasp what it means to delight in Him.

I used to get excited about finding a size 2-short pair of AE jeans on sale, or frozen yogurt, or a cutesy text message, or the right song coming on the radio... which are all awesome things, yeah? Well for me they are :)  Believe it or not, I am more excited about what God is doing than all those little fun things that fire me up.  

Sometimes, just to be silly, I ask my friends what the 'front page news' in their lives would be. Today, my front page news is redemption. 

You might be wondering why the title of my site and of my blog is "HOP ON THE CAMEL" and I'm ready to explain it. In Genesis 24, Abraham made his chief servant swear to him an oath (there was thigh-touching involved, which was normal back then, but only when you meant business): to go to Abraham's home town and get a wife for Isaac. Epic matchmaking in the works. So the servant gets 10 camels (ohhh) and loads them up with all sorts of swag. He gets there and starts praying for the Lord to send the right girl, and that she'd let him have some water and offer water for his camels. (Hollywood, why hasn't there been a movie about this? Water for Camels! Duh!) Before he's even done praying, obviously praying with his eyes opened, out comes Rebekah, with her big jar. Sure enough, she lets him have water, and offers some for the camels. This girl is willing and athletic, lifting heavy jars and running to and from the well. The servant figured out that she was indeed part of the family (opposite reaction back then, it meant green lights) and gave her jewelry. Rebekah takes the servant into the house and he retells the entirety of the story. They all agree this is from the Lord, but the family tried to prolong Rebekah's leaving (gee I wonder why). So the servant said "oh no no no, don't detain me!" and the family put Rebekah on the spot. They asked her "will you go with this man?"
Rebekah said "I will go." Her family prayed over her, then she hopped on a camel and left with the servant. God chose Rebekah to be the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. Jacob would be renamed Israel, and his 12 sons were the 12 tribes. Epic!

She left everything she knew. 
She trusted God. 
She made a bold move, a brave step. 
Little did she know the impact of her obedience.
That's what "hop on the camel" means to me. 
When the Lord calls, that I am willing to bravely and boldly obey.


I hopped on a camel today, and I know God will be faithful. 

Please be in prayer for me as I'm still doing full-time ministry in Tanzania. Pray for health and safety! And also pray that I am able to trust and not fret while I wait on the Lord. 

The Spotless Bride

I'm in Tanzania. 

It's after midnight and we start ministry tomorrow. I'm typing as quietly as I can, which is a pain because my poor keyboard has endured various spills, including the great red wine incident of 2011, nearly ruining the a, s, z, left ctrl, and left shift keys. 

Our bus rides here were relatively safe. The first was awesome...

 

 

             Travel buddy: my favorite Chinese-Canadian, Miss Peggy Cheng.

 

But oh that second bus was horrible. I had a lady's butt on me for 6 hours. 

                     Travel buddy: total stranger, Miss New Booty. I found you!

Note to self, dive for the window seat, avoid aisle at all costs. Apparently pinterest does not have an easy, fun, creative way to disinfect one's shoulder. Somebody needs to pin that, stat. I'm sticking with bar soap and desperate prayers.

But here's what the blog's all about :)

Today I stood in one of the coolest churches I've ever been to. 

Mind you, I've been to the "Baptidome" Prestonwood, and I've been to super hipster churches in Denver, Austin, DFW, etc... but something was different about this Tanzanian church.

It had walls and a roof. The inside was painted a weathered Tiffany's blue. 

As for doors, it had none. Windows were just big holes on the wall, through which the children outside played peek-a-boo with me, popping up and down with their beautiful smiles and heavenly giggles. There were no pews or chairs, but merely sand on the ground. The stage was small, just a raised cement step at the front. There were no paintings, no banners, no decorations, yet it was beautiful. The only attention-catcher was the thick presence of the Holy Spirit, blowing through the room. There was no sound system, for it is not needed here. People just listen. There was no lights show, for it is not needed here. People just come to church because they realize they need God. It's not about the building at all.

It was humbling to be reminded of this.

Behold, the spotless bride of Christ:

Upendo sana (much love),

Helena