This was the last night of the conference. It is nice to be back home resting, but in a way it is sad that tonight was the last night. Even though busy at times, it has been a nice and refreshing past few days.

I have truly enjoyed getting to know the other missionaries--especially the dear, sweet couple who seem to have "adopted" me. :o) I have their email address and plan to keep in touch with them.

And I feel the Lord answered our prayers for tonight -- hearts seemed to be touched; I even had someone ask me how to give for tsunami relief. Yippee! :o) I've decided that in many ways there is just about nothing that thrills me more than getting to share with God's people what He is doing on behalf of those who have never heard His name. It is so encouraging to me when people want to be a part of that work.

The last several days have been a blur of yummy food, speaking engagements, fellowship, things to prepare for the children, yummy food, listening to other missionaries share, and more yummy food.

We have had luncheons and suppers. Now, we only have one session left -- a potluck supper tomorrow night, followed by a closing ceremony I have the privilege to share at. In a way, I'm sad it will be over.

It sure has been a nice time. There has been one missionary couple in particular that I have so much enjoyed getting to know better. They are really sweet and encouraging. So of course I wanted to sit by them at lunch yesterday. I have kind of "adopted" them. :o)

Yesterday I shared at the lunch program, and I think it went very well. Of course, that was the Lord! I was thrilled when a lady came up to me with $4 she and a friend had gathered between them -- She wanted it to go for Gospel tracts and said she wished it were more. I told her it meant 1,000 people hearing the Gospel and she was happy. : )

I was thinking again yesterday how there's nothing like getting to be with God's people, sharing about the work of His kingdom. It's one of the best feelings! I pray the Lord will touch hearts during tomorrow night's session -- and that I won't be nervous as I'm not naturally a public speaker -- and that there will be much fruit for the harvest. :o)

Today I had one of those moments where everything stops.

For the conference at my home church this coming week, I will be sharing several times with the "grown-ups" and children. My mom had the idea that I could have pictures of children from SEND! magazine on a posterboard, as a visual.

When I saw one of the pictures, the whole world seemed to stand still. I started to cry. It was a small picture of three little children --the youngest couldn't be more than 3 or 4 -- with round cheeks and big brown eyes. But what jumped out to me were the sweet (but in a way somber) looks on their faces and their mismatched, disproportionate clothes. I felt in a way that my heart was breaking for these precious children.

Even when I went back to the posterboard and looked at the picture again, I felt sad all over again for these little ones. Though it can be a little painful in a sense, I am so thankful for moments like these -- They show me that my heart isn't too hard yet -- that the Lord is giving me, even if in ever the tiniest measure, a piece of His heart and burden for a lost and perishing world.

Now I am about to get ready so I can attend a missions fellowship supper with my parents. But I know I won't soon forget what happened today.

Okay, so I haven't written here in a while. Guess I've been being a goober. :o) Nah, really, things truly have been quite busy ... been working on many writing projects related to the tsunami ... not to mention preparing for when I will be sharing at my home church missions conference. I am so thankful --the Lord has really been going before me these past couple days and giving me much grace -- I feel like things are beginning to come together for the conference, in a relatively short amount of time.

I haven't felt up to much these past couple weeks -- shoulder and neck pain off and on, and been unusually tired. But ... these past couple days, overall I haven't really had much pain at all and have felt pretty well physically -- and today I've had so much more energy than I've probably had at any other point in the past week or so. Very thankful for that!

I feel bombarded by the attack of the enemy (Ephesians 6) --but, yet, so encouraged at how the Lord is helping me in amazing ways as I prepare -- And excited about what He is going to do. I truly believe that the fact I have encountered so much spiritual warfare lately means He is going to move in incredible ways. Truly, what a privilege to be rendered His ambassador -- to beseech and encourage others to be a part of reaching precious souls on the other side of the world. Thank You, Lord. I so much don't deserve it.

I had an incredible moment as I was walking and praying just now. It felt like it was just me and the Lord -- nothing else mattered but Him. My circumstances, my desires, my uncertainties -- none of that mattered at that moment. It's all about Him. He is so good to us! We can trust Him. It was a wonderful moment, one that I don't want to forget. (The peace I felt was immense.) And I want to live that way throughout this year! Truly we can rest in Him. He is our dwelling place, our Rock. Thank You, Lord.