Update from Minneapolis

Marilyn just began her sabbatical and Christin planned a Sabbatical Kick-Off Celebration Day! Everything they did during the day started with an "S!" Some things included: Sleeping in, riding the Swift Light rail, Spring flower Show, Shopping, Special meal and a trip to the Spa for a maSSage!! Marilyn said it was the perfect way to start her Sabbatical!

Here are some pictures from their day.

New York Or Bust!

My mom, sister and a lifelong friend came out to visit this past week. It was so refreshing to be with them and we did so much!

What we did:
-Washington Heights and ate Dominican food
-Times Square
-Broadway play: Phantom of the Opera
-Greenwich Village
-NYU "Campus" and ate Ukranian food
-Nav Night
-Grand Central Station
-the UN building
-SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy
-Ate at Lombardi's-the first pizza restaurant in America
-Empire State Building
-Flower Show at Macy's
-Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
-Financial District (Wall St and NY Stock Exchange)
-Chinese food!
-Central Park
-Ground Zero
-Tribeca
-Brooklyn Bridge
-Brooklyn Heights
-DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass)
-Seafood on South St Seaport
-Ended with Indian food on Sunday!

Easter

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Facebook Says It All

The day after we arrived back home, I saw these "status" comments on Facebook from our team. I love how it captures what everyone was feeling those first few hours back in the States.

A's heart is still in Morocco

G misses Moroccan food

D misses his kids

R "it's not what it used to be"

J likes chocolate and hot showers but not more than Morocco

L felt the mountains tremble

B is not the same person he was last week

A is emotionally overwhelmed

P travelled to rural Morocco and found the center of it all

Everything I Once Held Dear, I Count It All As Loss

I don't know how you can experience Africa and not want to give up everything you once held dear. Our week in Morocco was absolutely life-changing. The more I think about it, the more I realize how impossible it is to sum up in a few stories and pictures.



We sang "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" several times throughout the week and it took on totally different meanings. We sang about dancing on injustice and a mighty river flowing through the nations. We were living out what we saw!!



Here are the lyrics to that song and a slideshow. We really did hang out with kids but they have asked us not to post pictures on the Internet due to security issues.