The Wedding Day

The day is coming. The day when grown men cry. When people travel from distant lands. The day when reality sets in. The day when little girls dreams come true... It's the wedding day. Coming soon to a church near you! 

My wedding is coming up in a week and as I pack my bags and get ready to move to the foreign country of Mississippi, I feel like Esther (of the Bible). She was prepared for almost a year to go to a new place, with a new culture, to live with a man she hardly knew. I definitely know Jacob better than she knew the king, but as every married couple has pointed out "you think you know the person you're marrying, until you marry them". There is excitement to be stepping into this new phase in life, but sadness that I'll never return to my parents home single. I told God I'd go wherever he sent me, I wish I'd known before that it included Mississippi, but since I'll be with my best friend, I know I will grow to enjoy it. 

Everything is prepared as much as it can be, and I know it won't be according to my dreams in every way, but I'll marry the man I love in front of the people I love and that's what will matter. Thank you to all those who helped make this happen, who contributed/ will contribute to our trip to Guatemala and thanks be to God who has walked with me all these years and will never leave me nor forsake me.  

Hashtag

Using today's slang when trying to tell about a traumatic event in your life, just isn't able to convey what you're really trying to say. Using #seriousmoment doesn't really seem to cut it, neither this :( , or this :,( or a sad face photo; sometimes you have to use your words. 

Malaika Lorraine was born January 25.

My fifth niece came into this world after twelve hours of labor and a last minute C-section, but that wasn't the only event that captured that day, it was also the day my sister almost died. During the C-section my sister, Rochelle, lost too much blood and was given a blood transfusion. I sat in the operating room holding my niece praying to the One who could save her, He whispered to me "She will live and not die", peace came over me and I knew I would see my sister laugh again. I tell you this story because as some of you know my sister is a missionary in Africa and she desired so much to come back to the states to have her second baby, if she had not she might not have lived. This is not the first time her life choice to follow God has been threatened, BUT GOD... He has a plan for her life and for her husband and two children, they will live and not die and they will fulfill his plan for them here in the States and in Uganda, Africa. 

You may feel as though something in your life is dying, but God is saying that it will live and not die. God is in control. Let his peace be your strength. Trust him to be faithful to his promises to fulfill the dreams in your heart. 

"I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground. I will plant trees in the barren desert— cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means— that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it." (Isaiah 41:18-20 NLT)

Coming Alive

I came to Mississippi to visit my fiancé, to get to know his family and see how I would fit here when I eventually would move here, but when I came my first thoughts were that I didn't belong. The south may be in the United States, but they have their own set of rules and language. I thought I knew what the south was like after living in Dallas for three years, but big city Dallas, is nothing compared to small town Mississippi. I was very discouraged that I might not like this place as much as I hoped I would. I met Jacob's friends and family, and although they were all nice people and treated me with Southern hospitality, I couldn't help but feel that I still didn't belong with these people. God has implanted on my heart to be a missionary to other countries, not just my own. I've always been more comfortable being the only white English speaking person. On Sunday afternoon, Jacob took me to a Spanish church. The moment we arrived and the music started, I felt something come alive inside me. This was my home. In a place where people didn't speak my language and didn't look like me. This was where I belonged. Among those of other cultures.

On our way to church we stopped at a very run down trailer, to pick up a hispanic mother with her four children. Her husband had recently been taking by the police and they discovered that he was living here without the proper papers, so he was sent back to Mexico. So we did what we could and where able to connect her with this church and bring them hope. I know more clearly what my calling is and where I belong, and although the Southern culture is not what I hoped it to be, I know that I can adapted with God's help and learn to "become all things to all men that I may by all means save some".(1 Corinthians 9:22)

Falling On Purpose

The common phrase is that we "fall in love", but that has been disproven, and the greatest example we have is that God did not just happen to fall for us, but instead chose us. I didn't happen to fall in love with my best friend, it didn't sneek up on me one day. I chose to love him, and I choose to love him every day. Feelings have a way of working themselves into the mix, so there are still rose colored glasses when I look at him, so in some ways it's easy to chose to love him today, when tomorrow it might be difficult, but love is a choice not a feeling. I think in some ways I knew the moment I met him that God had a plan for us, and so over three years of bible school, we became friends. We shared our hearts and dreams and got to know each other on a friend level. After my trip to Guatemala (Jacob was on the same team with me), he made it clear that he wanted to be more than friends, and now after family approval and five months, I've said yes to marrying this man. I didn't find Mr. Perfect, but what I have found a man whose heart beats for the nations to know God. I found the one who loves me for who I am, who accepts my flaws and see's me as beautiful.

Our plan is to be married end of this spring than head to Guatemala for three months to learn Spanish and minister along side local pastors. God is leading us to live in Mississippi, Jacob's home state, for the first couple of years and minister to the Spanish community there, as well as growing in the Spanish language.

Please pray for us as we make plans for the next couple of months, and as Jacob takes a short term trip to Peru to see the potential of moving there in the future to start a disciple ministry among the locals. May God bless you!

When Life Shows Up

I walked beside my brother (Gideon) down the aisle as everyone starred on. It was his wedding day. I was his best-(wo)man. It was a beautiful day full of laughs and beauty, but it was only the beginning of new things to come for the Bishop family. 

One month later came little Zoie Marie into the family, brother Caleb and wife Jessica's first baby. She has been a wonderful joy! But that's not all!!! 

After traveling more than 36 hours, sister Rochelle and one and half year old Dylan finally landed in Portland from Uganda Africa, greeted by family. 

While our family is busy growing and changing, I am continuing to see what God has for me. As I am here in Oregon, I know I am first to serve my family as best as I can. I am also serving with my Pastor's ministry, helping in the office with various projects. 

My plan is to head to Guatemala next spring for a couple months of language learning. 

God is so good! Let's praise The Lord for our families, let's remember to thank him everyday for His goodness and faithfulness. 

Amen! 

Living For

You know that moment when you're in that moment with God and everything seems so perfect and you make a little comment, or so you think, and God kind of just slaps you in the face? It was Sunday, really enjoying worship, but in my head I wanted to be in Guatemala, and The Lord asks me why? If he's the same here as he is there why would I want to be there? What am I really after? Fun and adventure? Other cultures? Or am I after Jesus? What am I living for? 

I realized that it's ok to miss the people I love in other countries and miss the culture, but I am living for Jesus and wherever he is, is where I want to be. 

Jesus is the goal. Not missions. Not adventure. We are here for Jesus. 

So I ask you: what are you living for? 

Waving Goodbye

Fernando and I waved through the gate at the bus. We were saying good bye to the rest of my team, who were headed to Guatemala City to fly back to the states. I on the other hand would board another bus to head back to Honduras for a couple of days before heading stateside. Graduation had come and gone. We had said our final good byes and hugs and kisses. It was time to move on. There were relationships that had been made that will last a lifetime. Ten weeks had flown by, but I can still remember the first day, passing through the city at 6 am just as the town was waking up. 

For every season there is a time and the season of Guatemala has come to an end, the next season is of rest and family and friends. I wish learning came to an end but it doesn't so I will be ready with an open heart and open ears as The Lord leads me into the next step. One step at a time. A lamp onto my feet. A light onto my path.