Loaves and Fishes

My Pastor Rich was the first person I heard say this about our Nepali- Bhutanese church plant. They are like "loaves and fishes" more and more keep showing up.

When the opportunity came for me to first interact with our Nepali girls, it was to drive them about an hour and a half to a youth conference. I borrowed our Pastor's mini-van and according to the numbers and seats in the car we were good to go. Until that afternoon when there were even more kids who showed up.

Two weeks ago was the first time I met with the young Nepali women to disciple them. Six girls showed up. My heart was full.

This time however, a larger group gathered including the teens, one young girl and several older women, including a sweet old lady dressed in traditional clothes with paint on her forehead who pressed her hands together in a prayer pose and greeted me with "namaste".

We gathered in a cozy room filled with sofas and as I began to speak, there was a knock at the door and one woman entered. Another knock, another woman. "loaves and fishes" came to mind as this happened over and over again. The last I counted was about 14 women. And again, my heart was full.

The age range, the culture, the Gospel being told with the Bible and life stories, sweet translations of a foreign tongue. Captivating.

I'm learning more and more that 1) "missions" isn't a place, it is a mind-set, a way of life and 2) I always thought God would bring me overseas to serve as a missionary, but here in our great city of Manchester, NH, God has brought overseas (international people/ refugees) to me. What a beautiful thing.

Our new dear friend Silvanus reading Abigail her favorite Dr. Suess book after
 introducing him to a dinner of chicken pot pie and pumpkin scone.

TEA + tea

Anyone who knows me (even just a little bit) could know that I LOVE tea. This simple joy found in a hot beverage has been passed down to my Little Bear.

Cousins sipping tea at our Feb '12 trip to Washington

Tea is my love language. I bask in the moment when I pour tea set for two. Even more sentimental, when I visit a friend who has prepared tea, not just for us, but our 3 Littles as well (and DELISH homemade scones to go with it!)

Breaking New Grounds in Portsmouth, NH for my 25th birthday.

Abigail and I partake in daily Tea Parties, which she shares her passion for with others! Just this morning she asked to "go to Meme's house and have a tea party?" We nibbled these little treats hot from our wicker basket carried over to "Meme's" house.

My classy lassie sips from my antique gold-rimmed china cups at home that were gifted to me by my husband the morning of the day she chose to be born. Our anniversary. How can I hinder these little gems from their purpose? Not just being tea sipping receptacles, but the daily reminder (our sacred moment of Communion perhaps) of that glorious day two years ago. The day we celebrated my husbands 24th birthday and our one year anniversary. The day our little girl emerged into the world.