On Remembering and Thanking - On Visiting WITH YOU in the States (With Pictures!)

Hello, States!
Hello, family and friends! 
Long time, no see! 

A year and a half goes by quickly and slow as snails (and all at the same time!) –
“I miss you,” says me!
Recapping my visit and trek across 9 States -  
Ah, even these nearby memories hold my wistful gaze.

Delighting in "squish" faces with my "growing in front of me," "baby no more," beautiful niece. 
Basking in flowers and sunshine. 
Mountain views. 
Glass lakes.
Cascading waterfalls.

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Horse, ride, hike and bike.

Aching legs - not used to rides!

Plane (neck ache), train, auto, and BUS -

36 hours (yes, on the bus) –

"Go big or go home!"

 

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Interesting people - and stories - from all walks of life (!!!)

And all over the globe - China, England, India, Spain…

Good conversation – that’s a delight.

Lost bag (ahem, bus line I shall not name). 

Then found again.

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Generosity to the utmost - again and again.

Clothes to borrow.

Beds to sleep.

Cars to drive.

Drivers to drive me.

Coffee and dinners – Mexican food –
Ah, in South Africa none’s been in sight!
Sharing and caring.
Laughter and jokes abound.
I think I’m stress free!

- The chiropractors help.
And vitamins – restocking my bags galore.
“Being healthy, eating healthy” is my motto.
But my body doesn’t agree.  

“Is it whooping cough?”
Nope.
“But you’re Really, Very sick.”
“Take these drugs”
and 3 weeks of feeling very yuck.

And nearing the end,
It’s been constant, “quick” hellos
And “let-me-NOT-think-about-the-goodbyes” 
For two months time.
“Man, I hate this emotional ride.”

I still see your Faces – 
Ah, I’ve been poor at capturing the digital kind. 
But my heart –
It’s surrounded by love and friendship,
Generosity and encouragement – 
The “crosses oceans” kind.

Family. 
Family. 
Friends who are family.
Strangers who become friends.
God knows I need them.
God knows I need Him.

He provides exactly what I need. 
“Please take care of my family, friends,
All I’ve left behind.
You know I need them.
You know they need You.” 

I don’t know how to end this message
But for what’s been my heart’s next prayer.
I can always be occupied by “do,” “what’s next,”
Even “work on” and “grow.”
But right now I see JESUS. 

To worship, glorify and thank Him. 
Because He, HE IS IT. 
Nothing else.
No more.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

~ Isaiah 6:3 ~

                                                                                                                                                            

 As I am back in South Africa about a month now, I reflect. 

I am so thankful to God for WHO HE IS - for everything.

I am so grateful to you, my friends and family, for your encouragement, caring, praying, generosity, time, and love while I was visiting the States. 

No words describe how God has used you (and still is!). 

I realize again how important Connection, Community, and Being Surrounded and Supported is - even from afar. 

Thank you for being a vehicle of blessing.

With Love. 

Shannon

                                                                                                                                                              

I'd love to hear from you.

What are you thankful for?
What is the Lord bringing to reflection for you during this season?

The Best Day of All

~ a children's Christmas story (imagine with illustrations) ~
By Shannon Mintz
December 16, 2011

There were two little girls who attended the same little school.

They were the same age and grade and about the same height.

They liked dolls and princesses and playing on the swings the best.

But they weren’t the same in everything.

They had different personalities and different favorite subjects.

One liked science and the other history.

One had two brothers and the other a little sister.

One had a mommy and daddy and the other, just a mommy.

These two little girls lived in two different neighborhoods

and in two very different homes –

One with handsome presents under a sparkling tree

and yummy smells of dinner filling many rooms.

And the other lived with many people and little space.

The only thing made of a tree was wood for a single chair.

No dinner roasted in the oven for all to feast,

only potatoes awaited – a common fare.

No presents were seen in shining paper,

only one small gift was wrapped in a discarded newspaper.

It was time to get up and time to go to school.

It was the day of the class Christmas party – the best day of all.

The one little girl picked up the newspaper-covered gift,

and her mommy stated, “That is your Christmas gift.”

She quietly replied, “I know, Mommy. I know,”

and confidently walked out the door.

At school the children all gathered around the Christmas tree

and sang Christmas songs. They laughed, and they smiled.

They played fun games and ate too many delicious Christmas cookies.

It was the best day of all.

Then it was time for the gift exchange,

and each child was excited for what gift he or she would receive.

The one little girl waited with her newspaper-wrinkled gift.

Her name was called, and she walked over to the other little girl

from the big and nice-smelling home.

“This is my Christmas gift. I want you to have it,” she simply said.

The other little girl tore at the newspaper

to uncover a small and handmade, patched Teddy bear.

She responded with a smile and a “thank you.”

“I’ve never had one like this before.”

The one little girl with little at home returned the smile –

For today was the best day of all.

That evening the one little girl who had given her little gift away arrived home.

Her mommy asked, “What did you do with your Christmas gift?

 You know, I only had enough money to give you one gift this year.”

“I know, Mommy. I know. But she is my best friend of all…”

Her statement was interrupted by a knock on the door.

And there stood the other little girl with her mommy and daddy.

The other little girl said, “You are the best friend I’ve ever had,

and today you gave me all you had.

Will your family have Christmas dinner with mine?”

And for the other little girl with much at home 

that day became the best day of all.

                                                                                                                                                              

As we are surrounded by Christmas spirit this time of year, Christmas trees and lights and songs and food and – not to be left out – Christmas shopping, extravagance, and wealth, someone asked me if I ever thought about the children who would not get a gift this Christmas? About the parents who couldn’t afford to? 

Many children in the U.S. this year will not receive Christmas gifts, but my thoughts also go to South Africa (where I will be serving) where many children, who live in townships, don’t ever receive a single gift, let alone at Christmas. I read a news story the other day about some generous Americans who are paying off strangers’ lay-aways at K-Mart so that these families experiencing economic difficulties will be blessed this Christmas season. As I thought of what to give to others this Christmas, I reflected on how much I already have, and the wealth of things many of us in America are blessed with. But there are families with little; there are children with nothing – here in the U.S. and around the world. I ask myself, what can I learn from these little girls in the above story – that Christmas goes beyond the getting and even the gifts – to the giving from the heart? So what can I give – because I already have so much – in order to bless others?

What or how can you give – it doesn't have to be Christmas but as a new way of thinking and a new way of living – because you have – to those that have little?  

You can demonstrate hope and love to a child and to a family during this New Year of 2012. Maybe they will be blessed, but just maybe your heart will change a little as a result.

Started by Bill Gates, Billionaires are Pledging to Give Away Part of their Fortunes.

It's called The Giving Pledge.

Read the article here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40582683/ns/us_news-giving/?gt1=43001.

I am so excited by their generosity, whether they are Christians or not, I believe that God can use and move His resources the world over. And maybe with their endeavors to think beyond themselves and consider those less fortunate, maybe, walls will be broken in their own hearts to be moved towards the One who calls their names. I pray for this. Will you pray with me?

This makes me think in another direction - to myself. Lately, I have been praying to be a more generous person because really, I don't see myself as that generous. This is especially because I usually consider, "Can I afford to be generous in this instance?" Now I'm not saying to be irresponsible, but I do desire to be able to respond more naturally in generosity, without more negative thoughts running through my head. So if I feel God nudging me to be generous and I respond, can I trust God to meet my needs? It may come slowly, but I am seeking God to change my heart so that I can learn and put legs on my faith!

If I am seeking God's heart for generosity, what is the foundation of generosity? But is it love? So then, how do I love? In the passage of Mark 12:29-34, the greatest commandment is identified as loving God and second is loving your neighbor are yourself. I know who my neighbor is everyone and anyone, but how do I love my neighbor? 1 Corinthians is filled with the theme that "our aim is love" (thank you SBS leader James Lunn) through everything, whether encouragement or correction, our aim is love, the love of Christ. This is to our brothers and sisters in Christ, how to prefer our brother, but Paul also speaks about unbelievers desiring them to be saved (see also Rom 9:22; Eph. 4:12). 1 Timothy has a whole 14 verses Paul devotes to Timothy on instructing the church to help those "who are truly widows" (1 Tim. 5:3-16).  James 1:27 says, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

May what Gates and others are doing be a challenge to us, for me personally and for the church.  I pray for the Church, American and worldwide, to seek God's heart of love so they can in turn demonstrate their love in generosity and care to those around them. And personally, I ask God for a transformed heart to love and the ability to do that practically as God demonstrates this heart through His Word.

...And Here I Go!!! South Africa!!!

Me on a rock bridge in the Badlands of Montana.

I don't even know where to start... because so much has happened in my "transition" from YWAM Montana to South Africa. So I'll try to summarize my usual long windedness - for your benefit.

Here are some points of God's Blessing and Continued Prayer.

#1) God's Provision. Thank you so much for your generous blessings on my journey. I was able to buy things needed for South Africa, renew my passport, purchase plane tickets and a South African visa, and pay for my 1st term of tuition for School of Biblical Studies! I am truly astounded by how God works through you and beyond my little faith.

Please pray for continued provision, especially monthly donations. Consistent giving helps me to be able to plan for how I will pay my expenses and so that I can pay these. I have 2 more terms of tuition due January 1 and April 1 plus personal expenses.

If you would like more information on how to give, please go to http://shannonmintz.blogspot.com/p/how-to-give.html

#2) Blessed time with friends and family. Time flew by as my time was limited and we all were very busy this summer, so I am sad I was not able to see all of you. But I was truly blessed my old and new friends. Thank you for your hospitality and fellowship, coffee and chats, laughter and yes, even some good tears.

Please pray for a few good friendships to develop easily. And a great roommate!  I am starting new in South Africa - it's a good thing to have a few good people around. :)

#3) Safe Travels. God kept me safe through many States, many miles, and sometimes even 12 + hours in the car - alone! And wonderful friends to stay with along the way. The highlight of driving is always North Yellowstone National Park below Bozeman, MT! It's mountains and streams are breathtaking and will get any hikers blood running.

Please pray for continued ease and safety in traveling.

#4) YWAM School of Biblical Studies. Please pray for my studies, transitioning smoothly into the culture, and outreach opportunities. I will be starting the School of Biblical Studies in Muizenberg, South Africa on September 27th. This training will enable me to teach God's Word to Africans with little or no Bible training. I am looking forward to being immersed in God's Word, hearing more of God's heart, building friendships with my co-students from around the world, and connecting with my South African neighbors in the surrounding community through life, study, and outreach!

Thank you every one of you for your friendship, prayers, encouragement, and support!  If you don't know it already, God uses you to help me walk forward in faith when I am weak and hold my head up as you see Who God has created me to be. I only hope to touch people as God has used you to touch my life - to love, to be kind, to be a friend, to be a support SO that others can learn how to be the same - touched by the kindness of God that leads to repentance (Rom. 2:4). And that they may be moved to touch others.

Bless you.

Shannon Mintz