"KNEE-JERK" MINISTRY

That is mine.  Now.  I've thought about how to describe it for some years.  

I tried to be a good, faithful, consistent ministry person in the past.  Then, I felt guilty, because it didn't seem to work out for me very well.  I got side-tracked too easily.  [Who, ME???]  

The benefit now?  If there's a sudden need, I fit in more easily.  Why?  I don't usually have anything specific on my schedule that can't be readjusted.  Not the same with most of the others who are serving the Lord.  I did it, too, in the past, back in the '70s and '80s to mid-90s.  Mostly, teaching 5th grade-to-teens with my self-written Bible studies, and writing plays, monologues, and skits, and directing or acting.  That was fun for me -- and for them.

Then life changed.  Churches changed.  I didn't fit in very well; or, at least that's the way I felt.

However, I began traveling often in the '90s.  I drove many places around the country and went to Uganda and Morocco when the Lord called me.  And that has continued.  Usually, it amounted to at least a total of 1/3 of the year, on the road and visiting and helping. And, in the past 3 years, much of it has become local connected to the Bhutanese refugees.  Very local, mostly in just a couple blocks. AND, no matter what I'm doing or where I'm going, I have a husband who, when he can't go with me, prays over me, gives me the blessing, and simply trusts the Lord for the consequences.

So.  Here are some "knee-jerk" photos, over the years, that the Lord dropped in:

 Mom's 90th birthday and much of my family, 2010

Morocco Berber Village Kids, 2001

 Our Ugandan son, Sam, when we first connected, '94

Costa Rica, 2000

Minnesota with Susie, 2010

[but frequently visit]

 British Columbia, to see my visiting

 Ugandan "son", Francis,

and his wife and [very] tiny baby, 2011

 My Bhutanese grandson, Sai, and my great-granddaughter,

 Sneha, at birth, 2011 [one of the six babies I've helped deliver at our local hospital.  WOW!!]

Soroti, Uganda, praying for woman who is dying, her family losing her.  Heart-breaking, blessed, moment. 2003

A special man the Lord dropped into my life during my last trip to the Northwest last Fall.  We are friends now, after meeting at rest areas.  Amazing.

Many of my Bhutanese "family" from this past 3 years.  Some came from Nepal as Christians, but many of them came as Buddhist or Hindu and came to the Lord since arriving.

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Now, the newest?  Deidra Riggs has put together a blog retreat not far from me.  She lives in Lincoln; I live in Omaha, 50 miles apart.  The retreat is about half-way in between.  I signed up right away, because I want to meet blog friends that have been dropped  into my life in this past three years.  AND when I was thinking about it after I signed in, the fact that I live a few minutes from the Omaha airport, I suggested that I work out a way to pick up and drop off the ladies.  THEN, because I knee-jerk, if anyone needs to go to an ER, pick up a med they forgot, or just about anything else, that is what I will do to help.  But, hugging my "sisters" is something I can hardly wait to do.

One decision I've also made:  any of us who are picking up and wouldn't be recognized are going to wear purple.  I will wear my sparkly purple ball cap.

After the retreat, I might need to rest a bit, but my adrenalin could still be popping.

Anyhow, that's my ministry explanation.  And, sometimes I do nothing for weeks, except normal house and yard work and grocery shopping, and living in the Word and Godly books laid on my spirit. THEN, something happens, and life changes, and, whether actually or theoretically described, I hit the road.

YIPPEE!!! Love my God-job.