The Sickle and Guards

I came home to visit my parents a final time before leaving the States. I enjoy the stillness of the country. Through the years I have learned many things from my experiences on the farm. Below I share some thoughts my dad shared with our fellowship.

The Sickle and Guards (By: David, Lora’s dad)

Ephesians 6:11-13 says to polish your spear and put on your armor. Hebrews 4:12 says for the word of Father is living and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword. LIVING AND ACTIVE! Could it be said that Cs carry out the Word in our lives since it is LIVING AND ACTIVE? The last few weeks my sister and I were cutting hay. The mower has double-edged sections to cut on both sides. Consider yourself as a section. I move back and forth yet move forward at the same time. Having Father’s word in my heart I can stay sharp as my sickle has a breastplate for armor.

Here is a picture of a sickle or section with a double guard and a single guard. The double guard has been broken, like a marriage or relationship that is broken.

Father still uses the single guards! 

It gets even better, these sections slide back and forth in a guard. Perhaps we could call it a guide or better yet our Good Counselor to lead our way as a protector. The field has many rocks of all sizes. Many are hidden. If I take my eyes off Jesus and hit a rock or Satan won his attack then a breakdown happens. A mower bar has 17 doubles or 34 individuals guards and sections like a C Fellowship. If one of our flock is hurting in any way the people all stop for the one in need. The mowing is put on hold till relationships or whatever is broken is rebuilt. As we go through life we need to raise the bar when the rocks are attacking.

Each bar has a head, Ephesians 11:3 says our head is Christ. To conclude, Because of sin in all our lives these guards and sections do wear and eventually need taken off or replaces with new. Like my body it is aging each day. The wore out mower parts will be recycled at the salvage yard. They’ll be re-melted to make new again. My new body after this will never wear out. (Rom. 6) Jesus was resurrected from the dead through the glory of the Father we too may live a new life. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for our Savior, Jesus.

 Imagine your last week as a sickle, how have you faired? Has it been good and active? Or, have you had a bad day and do you have a section coming lose? No matter our situation Jesus can freely forgive us all. 


The neat thing about doing hay is you get to have family time while working and storing up beautiful smelling hay for the winter months. It reminds me to consider where I am storing up my treasure, hopefully someplace where moths and rust and field mice can't destroy the treasure. 

I'll miss you Kansas! Maybe next time I come for a visit you won't be 107 degrees! I will definitely miss your sky! Had to pull over on my drive tonight to take in the sweet smell of the corn and the sun beginning to set. My dad helped be package some alfalfa to take with me (going to see if I can bring the awesome smell to China)!

Shepherding and Saying Good-bye

Saying goodbye really stinks, or as my dad prefers to say, "Stinks, what does it smell like, it must be rough!"

 I'm curious if there are people who actually

enjoy good-byes?

Maybe someone who's going to be with Papa? ... I'm not sure.

Needless to say, this week is difficult. Not necessarily because of all the details or paperwork that has to be done (because most is already finished). Not even because I'm trying to read two and a half journals and pull out important entries with only a few days left to finish the project. These past few weeks I have been reflecting on how tremendously blessed I've been to meet so many incredible people. Folks who have spoke Truth in my life, who have loved me, encouraged me, mentored me and who are now letting me go to a new pasture. 

Today I visited the LinC office at Washburn. As always, our conversation ranged from serious life questions about the status of society in the world to shepherding. Yes, shepherding! The question was raised of what does a shepherd actually do all day? From our 'city-folk' perspective it seems a shepherd basically watches the sheep graze, occasionally moving them to a new stand of grass. They also shear the wool once it's grown long enough and help make sure the lambs grow up to be sheep. I wonder if a shepherd every is sad if they have to let some of their flock move to be under the care of a different shepherd.  (Keep in mind this is from someone who has never raised sheep, I am completely open to the insight of an actual shepherd!)

I share this story because I see how Father has brought people into my life to be my shepherd. I have been cared for, I have felt loved, I feel I'm learning what it means to be a sheep who follows the Good Shepherd. 

How does this relate to good-byes?

I feel I'm the sheep coming back to thank the shepherds in my life. I want to promise I can return to be in their herd again, but deep within me I recognize that is a promise I'm not sure I can keep. After all, I don't know what this coming year brings. Today I visited Washburn to say good-bye many of the professors and former colleagues who have had a profound impact in my life. I also said see-you-later to a couple who have been there exactly when I needed them. They were there the times I was ready to throw in the towel and tell Father, "You're wrong, you've told me the wrong path to take! I give up!" Thank you for being in tune with Papa's direction to come alongside and encourage me to pick up my bags and keep going! I wouldn't be in this place today without your faithfulness and obedience.

In packing news, thank you Laura for helping me pack. Here's the pile from the other day (and yes the stuff is in the bags with space to spare!) After the weigh-in for the bags tomorrow we'll be calculating how many chocolate chips will make the journey!

(The award is from Camp AJ. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness, I was given the "Foreign Ambassador" award.)

A Walk Down Memory Lane

I love to journal! A significant part of journalling is to re-read what you've written. It is a habit of mine to reflect on the past year during the week between Christmas and New Year's. Since I couldn't justify the space a box of journals would take in my overseas bag I've been working to read through five years of journals and extracting parts that point to Papa's presence. If you've ever journalled (even if you haven't written a new entry for months I encourage you to take some time in the evenings to take a walk down memory lane). This process for me has helped be see clearly where Papa has brought me. I see how he has answered requests (sometimes in ways completely different than I was expecting). I see how I've grown and areas that time and time again I struggle with. I want to share an entry I wrote Christmas of 2010. My hope is that it might encourage you.

The Lies We Believe

Why, oh why, troubled soul do you believe the lies you've been told?
By the ones who seek to belittle you. 
By the enemy who seeks to destroy you.
Why, oh why, do you fail to see the truth about who you are?
You're not a mistake.
You were made for a purpose!
You're part of a plan, part of something greater, bigger than we'll ever understand.
Dear child, please listen, open your eyes, rejoice!
This life is not meaningless. You now have a choice. To choose life or death, love or emptiness.
Don't falter, don't wait to make a decision to move forward in life towards love and meaning.
Move towards the light, towards life!
The past is gone, it's already written, grab hold of today and live with purpose.
Bless you dear child as you embark on this journey.
May you be greeted with cheerleaders and challenges.
May you grow and mature and lead others too on a path of hope and reconciliation.
Take not the responsibility lightly, but take your cross with conviction.
Do not lose heart when you meet opposition.
Just draw closer to your life source of meaning to love the One who intentionally made you with all your being.
(Jer. 1: 5-10, Jn. 14: 15-18, 15: 4-7, 2 Chr. 31: 20-21) 

Now, back to packing!!

The Wheels on the Bus Go 'Round and 'Round

Leg #4: Camp AJ to Kansas: 

It feels good to be out of the bus system. It was nice to see more of the country side. There was some detours that took us off the interstate. Winding through the Tennessee countryside, up and down the mountains was beautiful. I just took a motion sickness pill and enjoyed the hundred foot tall trees with the sun glistening through their leaves.

I was surprised how many kids at Camp AJ I recognized or who recognized me from years ago. It is awesome to see how they've grown from wanting piggy-back rides to beating me in basketball and talking to me about their interest in leadership and other cultures.

I had a blast bringing some Chinese culture to Camp AJ. I introduced them some Chinese food (including dried squid), gave some lessons on using chopsticks, helped them count to 10 and taught them some basic Chinese vocabulary. This group of girls gave me a Chinese name, 五练 (Wu Lian). They chose it because they think it sounds cool.  I think the name means something along the lines of 'Five Skilled/Experienced'.

It's good to be back in Kansas! This is going to be a tough week of finishing up the odds and ends (packing... ugh) and saying good-bye to friends and family. Most of this week is not planned, so if you would like to get-together, give me a call!

In Pursuit of Love, Lora

Roadtrip of Goodbyes - A 15 day long Greyhound trip

So, how have you been world traveler?

Do you speak Chinese?

These are the most common questions I’ve heard during the past week. I am currently at about the half-way point in my fifteen day journey around the states catching up with friends and family who I haven’t seen in years. The trip has been wonderful thus far. It is amazing how encouraging it can be to visit with old friends. The trip is divided into four legs. We are just starting the third leg of the journey.

Leg #1: Topeka to Indianapolis

Enjoyed catching up with my cousin Jacquie. Had an amazing lunch at an authentic Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chão® (fo-go dèe shoun). Delicious! We had a blast trying on hats in all the little shops in Nashville, IN a cute little town.

 My cousin Jacquie in the adorable hat we found!

Leg #2: Indianapolis to Washington D.C.

It was such a blessing to spend several days with this year’s Fellows and Cornerstoners. You all are an incredible group! I am still pondering the thoughts and discussions we had about selflessness and what does it mean to be a wife who is honoring and respectful to her husband.

A new song I was introduced to: Chris Tomlin's "Your Heart"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O-m6GxEX2o 

Leg #3: Washington D.C. to Camp AJ (Kentucky)

I had my own seat for almost the whole ride to Kentucky! If you haven’t taken a bus trip before, this sounds minor, but it’s so much nicer to have your own seat to curl up in and nap. Now I’m at Camp AJ preparing for teen week. This is my favorite week at Camp because the kids are older and we are able to have conversations with them. I’m looking forward to doing a workshop about China for the teens. My goal is to teach them how to count to ten in Chinese, how to use chopsticks and I’ll be introducing to some Chinese food including dried squid!!

Leg #4: The return to Kansas (has yet to happen)

Looking forward to this pretty sight again! The sun setting on our farm in Kansas.