More tears...this time for a good reason

This Sunday at church we sang a song that was so powerful that I immediately started crying when I saw the lyrics. I can't get the song out of my head (and I don't want to). The song is The Power of Your Name by Lincoln Brewster. Here is a sampling of the lyrics:

Surely children weren't made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be

Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can't be what you saw

Surely life wasn't made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Lord, break this heart

And I will live
To carry your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be your hands and feet
And I will give with the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion
To see this world be changed

Do you have any idea how powerful it is to sing those lyrics while living in a country where there are orphans on every corner begging for money and war is very real (as in terrorist attacks just a few hours away)? Not to mention the millions of broken and hurting people all over the place. I actually did not sing a single word of that song because I was too busy crying and realizing that I am doing just what the song says. I am giving the life that I have been given to love a world that's broken. And I am going beyond religion to see this world be changed. Wow! That's powerful stuff...

No Earthquake For Me

I was checking my e-mail late last night and when I logged out I saw the news on msn.com that there was an earthquake on the island of Java in Indonesia. Obviously, I was not affected by it at all since I didn't hear about it until 9 hours after it happened. I thought it was weird that I didn't hear anything about it here in Indonesia. I mean, I live on the island of Java so you would think I would have heard something but, nope. I had to go to a good old American news website to find out anything. So, don't worry about me in regards to the earthquake. I didn't feel a thing.

Well, I finally got internet at my house last week. So now I can e-mail, blog and Skype from the comforts of home and not the smoke-filled coffee shop. Yay! I've already been able to Skype with a few friends. Whoever invented Skype is one of my favorite people! It's amazing that I can be in Indonesia and my friends and family can be in America and we can talk and see each other in real time. The other night I was Skyping with a friend while I was eating dinner and he was eating breakfast. It was like we were having a meal together! Amazing! I am so thankful for technology!

Earlier this week I had dinner with some friends from church. One of the ladies went to school at Jamestown College and Trinity Bible College, both in North Dakota. Ah, it was great to get a little piece of home! She has 3 cute, little blonde kids. I offered to babysit them anytime because they remind me so much of Louie, Jorie and Sylvia. I miss those little rugrats so much that I am willing to babysit any little blonde kids I see here in Indonesia (which so far has been 3)! This lady said I could spend the night when I babysit because she likes to make pancakes for breakfast. Yummy! She also loves to bake and has an oven at her house. I am so going to her place to bake some goodies one of these days!

I received my first package in the mail the other day. Thank you, Robin!! It was filled with snacks from the US. Yum! Yum! I also got some dental floss and an US Weekly magazine. Ah, now I can catch up on all the celebrity gossip! It was so great to get a little taste of home. I've already polished off the Doritos and am working on the granola bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Things are going well here. I'm ready to have some visitors so let me know when you all want to come see me! :)

Love and miss you!