The Joy of the Lord is Her Strength

The Lord has once again absolutely provided more blessing than I could ever even think or imagine.

I was praying for my very 13 year old daughter,

  Miss Esther

 a few months back.

  I was more like tattling to God about a few areas we are struggling in.

The Lord heard my prayer and brought

 His Word and some healing and restoration through my good friend Deborah.

Deborah came and spent a week pouring

 God's love and Word into all these beautiful Ugandan girls. 

It is just God's mighty love that He would not only answer my prayers for my daughter, but would make it bigger and better than I could think to ask.

It turned into a week of celebration and connection and growing closer to God and to one another.

 These girls and Deborah all share their birth country and culture. 

 They all speak the same languages. 

 They all started life in Uganda and now call America their home. 

They all still love and enjoy so much about their birth country.

They all have a story and some serious loss  in their lives, but God has absolutely carried them and loved them through it all.

Deborah is a living example of God's faithfulness and healing power, and not only is she healed, she is exploding with JOY!

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS HER STRENGTH!

She truly lights up the room when she's in it without even saying a word.

She probably has the purest heart of anyone I have ever met.

The girls got to listen and learn from the best.

They spent some time celebrating their birth culture with their favorite Ugandan foods and songs and they did 

each other's hair and giggled like girls.

As the girls celebrated their birth culture, me and these kids celebrated ours as well.

We loaded up on McDonald's food and headed to the lake for some time in the sun and water.

Blessings ALL THE WAY AROUND.  

We had to say goodbye (for now) to our special friend and we hated to see her go, but she left us with more of Jesus and His truth and love and we are so thankful to God for sending her and for her willingness to come and love on us and all the girls and their families.

Nehemiah 8:10New International Version (NIV)

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”