my highway to zion

As my dear sweet clumsy luck would have it, Ive fallen down the stairs. Just what it took to get me to stop and rest, which is sad actually. But the worst part of it all, Im not allowed to read! Or watch TV! Or be on the computer (don't ask how this is getting typed!). The truth is, those instructions were only for the 36 hours after the fall, because I broke my fall with my head and got a mild concussion. I was really groggy and had some memory loss. I was also very overwhelmed by life all of a sudden, because I felt like I was in a fog and couldn't see the way forward. I was so thankful for people like my parents, Joe Hudson, and folks at Lanny Holmes office who just made some decisions for me and helped me accept that it was time to rest. This tells you how BAD I am at resting! At doing nothing. My idea of resting is reading a good book, or writing in my journal, or even cleaning my room and getting organized. Who knew that REST is actually when your Ridiculous Expectati...

Last night I visited one of my favorite churches in Nashville, it's called Set Free and is a church plant of   Set Free Yucaipa  (Southern California). I love this church because it's raw, unpolished, and rough around the edges. I just feel so comfortable as soon as I walk in. People walk up to greet me, ask my prayer requests, and shake my hand. Everyone has a hard story, and Im inspired by those I meet. The original church is in California, and thanks to my amazing fellowship at Brentwood Baptist Church, I will be going to visit the Set Free church in Yucaipa, California. After the service, I will be visiting  the Ranch, which I imagine is much like the farm-type rehabs we have in South Africa. Im excited to hear the heart of Pastor Willie who founded Set Free. He is passionate about the lost, the down-and-out, and the ones who have made a mess of their lives with drugs and alcohol. I got so fired up when I watched their promo video last night, and today I want to ...

Today was such a special Sunday. I got a bit of much-needed rest, and then I was able to Skype with my friend Brandon in Cape Town. Hearing a South African accent made me miss my second home significantly. After our chat I was able to spend some great time reading the Bible: The Lord spoke to me from 1 Peter 4.7-11: "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." (vs 7-9) These 2 verses became immediately clear as my Moldovan sister Galina and her dear fiancé Cooper needed somewhere to come and eat lunch and hang out before going about their day. They came over and we enjoyed such a fun time of laughing (at my dad mostly! I love having a sibling to joke with) and being together. I also enjoyed a really nice run in the warm Nashville spring air. The rest of the verses in this section spoke ...

United Pursuit Band

The Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon did wonders for my soul! I have not felt that inspired by the creativity and grandeur of God in a long time. I would recommend anyone go and enjoy this beautiful sight.  I had the privilege of going to Portland for 4 days to visit a dear friend. We had a great day at the  The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm , as well as walking long through the  seemingly-endless forests  of Oregon, walking deep into aisles of new and used books at  Powell's Bookstore , had a fantastic evening of worship at  Door of Hope  in Southeast Portland, and topped off by ice cream at  Salt & Straw . One of the most interesting parts of my time there was Friday night. The biblical teaching at Door of Hope is presented by two different teachers. I had a chance to hear Tim Mackie speak and it was quite profound. He spent an hour explaining the historical context of the gospel of ...

I come to america and look what they do to me!!! just joking! i had to get a Hepatitis B booster shot today. My doctor told me to do it 2 years ago, and I kinda didn't. I wasn't trying to be defiant, I just kept "meaning to". He saw that I hadn't had it done today, and in his gentle doctor way he said "You've been tarrying for 2 years." I felt like i was in Jane Austen novel... shame on me for tarrying!  It was worth it to hear him say that :) Today I realized that there are no good reasons to procrastinate. Seriously, I learned it today! There are such quick and easy (and legit) ways to get all the requirements needed for my visa application for South Africa IN South Africa. X-Rays, physical exams, etc. But for all SA's thriftiness, America takes the cake with FAST SERVICE for us procrastinators!  So, today I also learned that in America, you can totally get away with procrastinating, and here's what I mean: In less that 24 h...