counting my blessings

Sometimes its hard to be back in America. Sometimes I just want to be sad. Sometimes I want to forget all of the hard things that I have seen. Sometimes I want to go back in time and help more or love more. But then, I remember all of the blessings I have experienced and all of the miracles that the Lord has allowed me to witness and then I can't be sad anymore. I can't go back in time so instead I rejoice. I praise my Savior, my Redeemer, and my friend for the incredible transformation that He has done in and through my life. And I count those blessings again and again.

I witnessed the miracle of new life (over and over and over again) 

I got to hold hands of children starving for attention.

My heart was filled with more love than I thought was possible.

I was able to reach the literally unreached with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Praise the Lord that He does not give always me what I want. Praise the Lord that He has given me these opportunities so that I can tell others in America about the undeniable ways that I experienced His love, power, and grace. Praise the Lord that one day if it's His will, I will return to the place that has so captured my heart and my affections. Praise the Lord!

Eyes of Our Hearts [Must Read]

Please take time to read this post from a mom that I have followed for quite some time. This post is hard to read but it is so important that people are made aware and the word is spread about these children. May our the eyes of our hearts be opened and the love of our Savior shine through us to these lives.

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2012/09/for-sake-of-saving-one.html

Thankful for...

Today I was looking back through my journal from my trip and stumbled across this list of things I was thankful for at the time. It's so funny how things change when you come home.

June 29, 2012                                           Day 22
Today I'm thankful for:
   -Running water
   -Bug spray
   -Mosquito nets
   -My Bible
   -Fans
   -Emails from home
   -Medicine
   -Toilets that work
   -Pillow

After rambling in my journal about what we did that day, I wrote out this prayer to end the day.

Father,
I cannot do this on my own. I can't even begin to try. You have to strengthen me. You have to keep me. It's only in Your power that I can help and only with the boldness from You that I can share Your word and Your name with these people. Please work in and through me. May I never be the same.
-Mary

Ghana Movie

I made this movie after I came back from Ghana and I thought I would share it! 

Disclaimer: It is really long but hopefully worth it :)