As she was talking, I noticed her precious little son who was 20 months old but looked like he was about 8 months old. He was very small and frail but had the biggest smile that melted my heart.

As the woman kept talking, she proceeded to ask for money. We were given strict rules to not give out money to beggars. Very gently my husband told her that there is a lot of need in Cape Town and it would be wrong for us to start handing out money. He then made it very clear that we are here to help, we will not ignore her. She reacted very well and said it was great talking to us. As she waved and said goodbye, the little boy waved and smiled really big.

I will never forget this mother and baby. Their images are etched in my heart.

Psalm 104:24, 30

How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures…When you send your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.

I feel like God has been giving me a burden for the people of Africa and specifically for women and children. God is daring me to move in a direction that is more glorifying to Him. I know that God is sovereign and that He loves every single one of us just the same. It is hard for me to fathom that thousands upon thousands are dying each day due to starvation and poverty. I know that I can not solve this problem, but together we can help shed the love of Christ among all the nations. My heart desires to see this happen.

Daily Strength with Joe Stowell

“They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11:16

Have you ever felt the pull of past comforts, wishing things could go back to the way they used to be?

Imagine how Abraham felt. Having once lived in Ur of the Chaldeans, a highly sophisticated culture in ancient times, Abraham responded to the call of God to move to Canaan—a journey which, quite frankly, had its fair share of rough moments. Like the time when there was a great famine (Genesis 12:10) or when Pharaoh took Abe’s wife Sarah into his palace (12:15) or the years that Sarah spent as a barren woman when God had promised to make Abraham’s offspring as countless as the stars (15:5) or (déjà vu) the time when the king of Gerar took Sarah into his harem (20:2) or—the ultimate test—when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his long-awaited son Isaac (22:2).

I can almost picture it: Sarah sitting in her tent sulking, telling Abraham, “Remember back in Ur when I used to meet with all of my friends for tea at 3:00 on Friday? I really miss that. What on earth are we doing out here?”

Imagine if Abraham had said, “I know, I miss tennis with my buddies. Let’s go back.” What if he had caved in to the pull of past comforts and had decided to go back to where life was more familiar and more rewarding? Although God had made some amazing promises to Abraham and Sarah, I can’t help but wonder if in the dark moments they struggled with their decision to follow God.

On our journey of faith, you can count on it—the road will be littered with challenges. And the temptation will be to look back and say, “I wish my life could go back to the way it used to be.” When someone offends you, maybe you say to yourself: I remember when I could not only get mad, I could get even. Or when you’re alone at the computer, you think about the rush of adrenalin you used to feel when you looked at forbidden sites. It’s easy to think of how rewarding it would feel to spend all your money on yourself like you used to. The list of things in your past life that beckon you back is long.

But remember who is behind the urge to put your life in reverse. Satan delights to lure us back into the sludge of life the way it used to be—the toxic dump of what ultimately leads to regret, guilt, and brokenness.

So, while life may seem challenging going forward with God, we need to remind ourselves that in spite of the challenges, God is taking us to a better place. The writer of Hebrews sheds some light on this when, speaking of Abraham and Sarah, he tells us, “They admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. . . . If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Remember that you are “aliens and strangers.” You’re on a journey, and you don’t belong here in the first place. And remember where you are headed—to a better place. Don’t let the potholes damage your resolve!

Aaron and I know that God has placed this discontentment in our lives, especially in the last few months. We believe this is specifically there to cause us to get out of our comfort zone, move across the world and spread the Gospel to all the nations. And at the end of the day the most important aspect of Christianity is to bring Glory to God.

Even though I have always viewed discontentedness as a bad thing, I now see it as a blessing to drive us away from our own sinful nature and closer to becoming more and more Christ-like in our walk with Him.

He had me hold the iPod while it played a slideshow of videos and pictures of us from when we first started dating. The slideshow was played with sweet lovey music and at the end it said “Turn Me Over”. When I turned the iPod over, I was amazed to see the engraving of “Will You Marry Me?”  Aaron got down on his knee and said “Will You Marry Me, Nichole?”  I don’t remember much after that but it was one of the happiest and sweetest memories.

Video of our Engagment

The “New” Wedding Band

Because of where we are wanting to serve in Africa, I decided that it would be best to leave my engagement ring here with a family member.

Aaron surprised me at 5am a couple of days ago with a black velvet box. I had to rub the sleepers out of my eyes to take a good look at it. Inside was a beautiful antique silver band.  It was very simple yet absolutely gorgeous. I took off my engagement ring and wedding band to put on this “new” ring. I was so excited but overwhelmed with sadness and started to cry.

Though it was beautiful, I realized that it was not my favorite ring. Memories of when Aaron and I got engaged flooded in, and I felt the sting from letting go of my most prized earthly possession.

Lesson from God

What I learned from this whole experience is that God is stripping me of material things. I realize it’s ok to have sentimental emotions and memories of certain material things, but God is showing me much more beyond that. He is teaching me to find value and worth in Him and in Him alone. We have been getting rid of almost everything we own and I realized that this was the last material thing that I have been holding on to. I pray that God’s glory will be shown through the Gospel and not because of the things of this world.

As I was listening to these words from Natalie Grant’s new song “I will not be moved”, I felt even more affirmed that the Lord is my rock and my protection from all evil. Since my husband and I have decided to move to South Africa, it’s like Satan is continually feeding me lies specifically about being inadequate to share the Gospel with others. I know this is NOT true, simply because as a believer, God calls us to go and spread His name to all the nations. Jesus said in Matthew 28;19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

I know I may stumble and may even fall, but at the end of the day, it’s grace that I am standing on. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other grounds are sinking and I will NOT be moved for anything other than Him.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worth of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. Psalm 18:2-3

I am blessed with amazing parents, two sisters, a sister-in-law, three brother-in-laws, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and almost eight nieces and nephews. I am so grateful for our family and the amazing presence of all of them.

Even with the family expanding and growing larger, I still feel that yearning for a “bigger” family. As God is calling Aaron and I to do full-time missions overseas, he is putting a burden on my heart for the people of Africa. I am anticipating and longing for those deep relationships that will form while we are there.

Global Families for the Glory of God

John R. Stott said,” I pray that these words, the families of the earth, may be written on our hearts.” And I pray the same thing. I know our God is a missionary God and He wants us to make family with all of our brothers and sisters of Christ, even if we are of a different race, social class, ethnicity, political group, etc. The point is that we are all here to serve one purpose; that is to bring glory to God.

I am excited to leave for Africa with my husband in just five and a half months! God has been stripping me from earthly things and opening my eyes to what is really important. And one of those important things is to build a bigger family.

As my husband and I were walking the other night around our apartment complex, I realized that I want a new cookie cutter. Growing up I dreamed of the Cinderella fairy tale; getting married, having children, living in a nice large home with comfort and stability, and living happily ever after. There is only one problem with that scenario. God does not call us or me to a life of comfort and stability. God calls us to live radically. And the more I realize that, the less I want to live the typical American “Cookie Cutter” life.

Finding My Value in Christ, Not in Material Things

As Aaron and I are preparing for Africa, I am realizing the things in life that matter the most to me. The small things that I used to idolize are slowly fading away, and the closer I am growing towards Christ. We have been literally giving away almost everything that we own, and it has honestly been the most humbling and rewarding thing that I have ever done. As much as I thought that I was not a materialistic person, I still placed value and meaning in my life through these material things that I have had for so many years. As I was giving things away, I realized that I could give everything away and still have peace and contentedness because I have Christ in my heart.

I know that Africa is going to change my heart and that is exactly what I want. I yearn to be more Christ-like in a way that I never thought possible.