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I had one of the most frustrating but rewarding experiences today.  For the conference, I wanted to invite a new, upcoming minister from the DC area: MWS.  Before I invite a speaker, I've been trying to make it a practice that at least more than one committee/board member agrees to the invite. (Like Proverbs says attain wise counsel ).  I asked MWS to give me a copy of one of his sermons so I could share with select members of the committee.  When he gave me a CD I thought " No problem.  Just download to my computer and send it out via email"  Boy was I wrong.  It literally has taken me about 2 days to get the file sent.   First, I tried email but was told the file was too big to be sent as an attachment.  Then, I tried to send it as a Google document but 2 out of the 3 people I sent it to couldn't retrieve the file. I tried to resend it as a Mp3 file as opposed to an Mp4 file, but that failed too.    I couldn't figure out why this was so difficult.  Was God trying to tell me something?  Should MWS not be invited? Should I just go ahead and invite him without any consensus?  I just couldn't understand what was happening.  So I decided to pray, walk away, and  take a break so I wouldn't become too upset and overwhelmed. 


Later, I thought about sharing the file via YouTube.  However, when I tried YouTube the first time, YouTube rejected the file because it was audio and not video. Fortunately, YouTube in its user friendly awesomeness provided a link to a page that gave step-by-step instructions on how to convert an audio file to a movie file using Windows movie maker.  Yea, finally a light emerging out from the end of the tunnel!! Though it took me another 1-3 hrs, I was able to take the message, break into three clips/videos, and upload them to YouTube.  I was sooo happy.  The links to the videos worked and people were able to listen to the message and give me feedback.  



As I reflected on this challenge, I reminded of the patience needed at times to learn lessons from the Master Teacher. He taught me to relax and trust Him when things are tough.  Also to open my heart and mind so I can see and understand the message in the mess.   There's is something to be gained in every struggle.  Find the lesson in the struggle and focus on it. The lesson won't necessarily make the struggle any easier, but it will keep the struggle from being pointless.  We have to be diligent and persevere, so we can learn the lesson.   Through it all I learned some new skills that I'm excited to use.  I now know how to use Window movie maker and upload videos to YouTube.  I'm excited about how to use these skills in various ways to share my stories and help other people.   

Something to Think About: 

Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought. Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

Napoleon Hill

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Dr. Martin Luther King was a minister, activist, and prominent leader in the civil rights movement. 

Today in the USA we honor and reflect on his life and legacy.  For me, what I admire most about is his ability to truly put is faith and love in action. Dr. King saw the injustices occurring in the US.  He didn't just pray and fast, trusting the God to magically make the world a better place.   Instead, he prayed and allowed God to use him to be the change he was praying for.  Dr. King's legacy challenges me to not only dream for better world where peace, justice, and love reign, but to be actively involved in achieving the dream.  Additionally, Dr.  King's life reminds me of a common church saying " Only what you do for Christ will last."  While alive, King probably  wasn't too worried about what people thought of him.  He most likely thought about how he can honor God with his life.   When he was discouraged or weary during the fight for justice and equality, he may have been encouraged to push forward thinking about how he honoring God now.   One of the best ways to ensure you live a legacy is to serve Christ and be obedient to Him.  If we do everything we do to the honor of God and not unto man,   then we will leave legacy.  

Something to Think About 

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his 

individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. --- Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Today is my sister's Birthday!! I love her.  She's a wonderful person with a great future ahead of her. She is my closest confidant and best friend.  


Without question, one thing love when I'm working in a group or team is when everyone is on the same page.  Especially, in ministry it's awesome when God places similar thoughts and ideas in everyone's heart.  While working with another youth coordinator and as God would have our ideas and goals were along the same line.  Praise the Lord!!  Additionally, they were very similar to that of ACF DC leadership.  Will you look at God!  Our meeting was so efficient and productive. I pray that God blesses the plans we developed and uses  all the YAs and adults involved to minister the youth.  We really want the youth to be excited about learning more about God, Christianity, and their God-given purpose.

Something to Think About:

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." Andrew Carnegie

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While I'm not always excited to talk to people, I do take time to listen to people when they want to share issues of the heart. Often I consider it a privilege to listen to people's problems and remember them in prayer.  Two stories I heard this week, both relations, really made me sad.

•  A woman who lives here in the US lost her mom who lived Nigeria.  Even though, the mom was ill for some time, so she knew her mother's death was near the pain was strong. what's makes this woman's story disheartening is that she has an older brother here in the US who has decided not help/host traditional ceremonies.  This woman doesn't have a lot of money and is in a very tough job situation.  She thought that she and her brother would work together, but the brother has abandoned his responsibilities and left her to work alone.  On top of that, her husband is offering no emotional support. Now she's feel alone, overwhelmed, and is grieving.  

• A young adult is now living with her extended family.  Her mother has a mental illness and may or may not be taking her medication.  Mom is unable to keep a steady, good paying job because she makes poor decisions.  The young adult has a 30k job.  The money she makes goes to not only pay her bills, but some of her mother's, and her grandmothers  

When I heard these stories it reminded me of the painful truth that people face struggles regularly.  Behind smiles, mean glares,  and nonchalant faces are sometimes hurting people.  I'm learning to only be there to listen but to also pray and care.

Something to Think About

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.  ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

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It's time to recap the week, the first full week of 2012 ( at least the days I remember).

Sunday started out on downward slope but definitely ended on the upside.  ACF had Legacy Day and to say the least the planning was subpar.  I felt a little overwhelmed and frustrated ( mainly with my self) because  how the program was going to pull together was unclear.  I dropped the ball and didn't put forth the time and effort to planning I thought I should have.  Looking back, I think God was trying to remind me that I am not perfect.  I will forget, become busy, etc and not do everything I plan to do.  He understands that and already makes provisions for things to come together for His glory.  He's always there and prepared to cover for my shortcomings.   Our first idea got somewhat shut down, then got a somewhat green light, and ultimately I gave it yellow.  In the end I praise God because the final (combined idea) program worked really well.  We had a POtL testimony day.  The adults shared their stories and lessons we should learn from it.  Praise and Worship was......we'll let's just say there's obvious room for improvement.   The evening ended with chill family time at the Adewoles.  They cooked food over the weekend and invited us over to help them eat some of it.  The food was sooo good.  My cousins can cook!!  Even though, we rarely do anything exciting or out the norm when we go there  and at times the awkward silence feels fatal, I do enjoy spending time in their presence.   


Monday was time to 'celebrate' the New Year.  Which means sleeping in to at least past 9.  I started off with about 2hrs in the gym.  It wasn't too bad.  Picked up one or two exercises two incorporate into my routine.  Then I went with Joan to finish returns at the mall and grab a bite to eat.  I took an amazing 2hr nap when we got home .  I helped my dad organize hos prescriptions from work.Then had to say goodbye to my sister.  :-/  She headed back to Philly to finish strong her last semester at Drexel ( hopefully as a non medical student)

Tuesday it was back to work.  My supervisor was on his second week of vacation and I had the ongoing task of keeping myself occupied and productive.   Fortunately, a co-worker needs help clearing her work desk and a few other tasks.  Though I'm  not doing anything too exciting, I am doing something so i;m not complaining.   One benefit of working with her is that she's impressed with my work and tells the other employees.  So a positive reputation is floating around the office about me.  Praise God. 




Thursday  I made a mistake at work that hopefully won't hurt me too bad.  I sent out a mass email to people on several membership lists.  Unfortunately, I put the email addresses on the "To:" line instead of the "Bcc:" line.  I realized my error about 5 minutes too late.  I received several emails from people basically saying they felt their privacy was invaded and they didn't like that others could see their email address.  I felt awful.  Later I realized that emailing lots of people at one time also causes the emails to be bounced back.  So I had to redo the task at hand.  Talk about frustrating.   Thursdays work day just ended on such a sour note. 




Saturday-  I love these kids!!  Such an energetic bundles of fun.  They always do or say something that simply hilarious.  These two are a definite blessing.  I considered it an honor and privilege to babysit them.  After a day of errandsand cleaning, I'm happy to end the night with them.

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A Message From The Word

Three weeks into the new year and already some of us have ditched their new year's resolutions.  Others of us are beginning to feel discouraged.  And some of us are still going strong.  No matter where we are on the spectrum, God's word has encouragement and advice to guide us along the way. 

Two stories I heard this morning were very inspiring.  Coincidentally, both are found in the book of Genesis (SN: Genesis means beginning, sometimes the best decision you can make is to Begin!) .  The first is Genesis 19:1-29 which tells the story of Lot and his family being rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah.  The other is found in Genesis 11: 27-32 which tells of Terah, Abraham's father, moving his family to Canaan.  Read both stories carefully and thoroughly and  I'm sure you'll find some amazing points. The two I want to share are: 1)  Don't look back 2) Be careful not to stop, settle, and stay when you're pursuing your dreams. 

Lot's wife was headed to better life ( like seriously anywhere other than Sodom and Gomorrah had to be better) but she couldn't be obedient to God's plan and instruction.  She just couldn't let go of her past.  She looked back.  When moving toward your dreams, you can't be bound to people, places, and things that will not help you achieve your dream and god-given purpose.  God has called you forward, so leave the foolishness behind.  Don't look back, and be stuck in your past.  Look ahead, live in your present and always prepared to walk into your future. 

Terah made plans to move his family to Canaan, what would eventually become the Promise Land.  He gathered them together and set out.  Unfortunately, when he arrived at Harran he stopped.  Terah didn't just take a quick break to get some  rest and be refreshed.  No he stopped and settled.  He stayed in Harran.  This wasn't his original destination.  When in pursuit of your dreams, don't settle for less when God has more.  Don't be content with a high school diploma, if you're dream is to earn a doctorate.  If you want to loose 50lbs, don't get content with loosing 25lbs.  Whatever your goal or dream is, continue to actively pursue it until you've achieved it.

Something to Think About:

"The only real difference between someone who "made it" and someone who will always wonder "what's making it like?" is that someone who "made it" BEGAN and then NEVER LOOKED BACK."  --Exceptional Living