These are my friends.

For 3 nights, I served alongside friends, sharing and loving on some very special people .

Our church does something called BYBC (backyard Bible club) where we invite others to our back yards for games, music and the Gospel. Many families will be hosting their own throughout the summer, but there are also a few of the BYBC where we go to them. 

I've been getting to know some of these people for around 7 months now, but this was still a first for me. I felt out of my element a time or two, but you want to know what helped?

Knowing many of these women. When they saw me coming, they would smile and open their arms to me, they consider me a friend.

Every night, there was a time of worship.

And I had the opportunity to spend time with some women I really admire. Dwan, I'm talking to you!  

Then a time of teaching.

Yeah, out of my element. (Notice most of the kids look either bored, or are looking away.)

Great thing about children though, is they are forgiving.

And kids, no matter their color, or status in life, are all the same.

I'm sure I should have figured this out a long time ago, but my blinders kept me from seeing.

I am blessed to have come to know these women and children. These are my friends.

My sweet friends.

For about 5 months now, I (along with many other ladies) have been going twice a month to visit with some women. These are women (men and children) who live in a foreign land to them, living around unfamiliar people, learning an unknown language, and have very limited resources. Can you imagine how scary that would be?

Let me back up a little bit though. This for me, is all very new. I've never been out of my comfort zone, and always lived a very sheltered life so to speak. Reaching others, and people in need was never on my radar, for various reasons. Main reason though? Just plain selfish. 

I was always too busy thinking about me. My home, my needs, my children, my hangups, my people's hangups. ME. ME. ME. 

But you want to know what can change all of that real quick, fast  and in a hurry? 

Lose your possessions.

All of a sudden, things become clear. Crystal clear in fact.

  The things you once thought were important? Eh, not so important after all. I can remember begging God, "If you would just help us out of this, I will help others, I promise."

Well, God answered, and now it's my time to do what I can. I'm sad, it took all of that to open my eyes, but I'm grateful to have finally had them opened. But this really isn't about me. All I wanted to do was introduce you to my sweet friends....