I can't sit still when...

I can't sit still when there's so much suffering and pain in the world... However, I know I can't fix it all and that's painful in itself. I constantly pray for opportunities to serve God's children all over the world and another opportunity has arrived! I am so amazingly grateful for family, friends, a job and a landlord who are understanding and supportive of this calling in my life!! 

Life here in the States isn't always grand. Bills come in and pile up but the money doesn't... people are sick... folks around us suffer from substance abuse and major mental illnesses... loved ones lose jobs... However, there is still so much to be thankful for. I ask each person who reads this new post to think of four things you are thankful for: A/C? food in the fridge? supportive friends? love? reruns of Golden Girls? afternoons at the pool? fresh water to drink? Advil for headaches? yummy smelling shampoo?

For real! RIGHT NOW- think of four things. DO IT! :-D

Okay, good job! Now- know that there are people around the world who have nearly NONE of what I listed above and still have smiles on their faces, laughter on their lips, and joy in their heart!! 

Well... not sure what I was getting at with all that- except that I want to continue to go on serving the smiling, laughing, joy filled children around the world!!

Please support me with your prayers! The current plan is to go to Honduras in late Oct for a week and a half or so... Once I get info on the supplies we need I'll be sure to let folks know! If you'd like to donate monetarily to help myself and others from my congregation as we travel on mission trips you can make your check out to WSUMC with VIM in the memo line... (WSUMC, 115 S. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314.) 

I look forward to sharing more of my adventures with all of you! If you're every looking for a ministry or mission to work with or donate items to, please let me know and I'll find one that's fit for you :)

Have a wonderful evening!

Much love,

Mupenda 

(I recently remembered an evening out with friends in DRC last summer when a couple of the guys picked new names for Hanneke and I... Mine was Mupenda- which means 'love' in Swahili)

Also, if you haven't checked them out already- here's a link to the photos from the trip in Feb/March... we'll be going back to the same place!! :) Here are the photos...