They're Here

My heart overflows with blessing. I am in awe of a God that gives so many gifts to a person that is undeserving. The last few months have been an intense battle of wills, I want to do the Lord's will, but I can't seem to give up my own. This battle has left me exhausted at times, but as I look back I feel like the Lord has done a great work in my heart. I would never pray to be put in the fire, but it is sweet when, at last, you come out of it, and see how it has refined you. I feel like God has given me a gift in bringing our parents here, it has given life to a tired servant. To hear familiar voices and see and touch people that I love; it has blessed me beyond measure. I don't deserve this gift, but God has given it to me anyway. Isn't that just like Him, it always come back to grace, unmerited favor. Time and time again He gives me such great gifts, and I stand at His throne empty handed; nothing to give back, but a willing heart, and a poured out life. I pray that the Lord will steadfast my willing heart. I want to give my life completely over to him, but I tend to get distracted by the unimportant. Thank you Father that you are all powerful and can take my willing heart and use it for you glory.

Thank you for letting me preach, sometimes I am just overcome by the God I serve. My family arrived yesterday morning and after we picked them up it was a busy day of getting settled. One of the highlights of my day was a video from home that my mom brought. I got to see friends and family doing life and being silly, I cried all the way through it. I will watch that video many times over before I come home in December. It is my connection with the people that mean so much to me. Cassie has now taken it upon herself to send a video message home, so get ready, "The Westfalls Live" is coming to your town soon.

I also wanted to report that we now have a car, thank you God and Shelter Cove. Buying a car has been such a frustrating journey, but now it is finished!!!! Our church at home raised the money for us to buy a car, and I am so excited to finally send them a picture of it with a big note of thanks. I couldn't have asked for a more supportive church, what a blessing they are to us.

While Tom was getting our car in Nairobi, Lindsay and I had a slumber party. All of you who know me, know that I am a big chicken and hate to stay alone. So I made Lindsay, my big protector, spend the night with me, she may be small, but she's feisty. We had a blast, for one blessed night, we were no longer the mothers of children, we were school girls at a sleep over. We watched a movie, stayed up until 3:00 am talking (which has taken me the whole week to recover from,when did I get so old?), and did African beauty masks. The mask promised, "pretty face". We decided "pretty face" didn't sound half bad to us, so we mixed it up, slapped it on, and eagerly awaited the results. I don’t think I achieved pretty face status, for when Zach woke up the next morning he asked me if the mask worked. If that wasn’t bad enough, he then went on to inquire if I had done it right. Thank God for the honesty of children, it takes you from being a giddy school girl to a haggard mom in mere seconds.
Here is a picture of the two pretty faces!!