Waiting for something beautiful

Per usual- I don't even know where to begin. My life is chaos but its a preordained, beautiful, and majestic chaos. It just so happens that last week I was driving in the car, windows down, two sweet baby girls in the back seat singing The Little Mermaid and it hit me: I love where I am right now. It is so far from where I ever imagined that I would be at the ripe age of 25 but God knew this whole time exactly where I was to be in that moment. I wonder why we (believers) bother planning our lives? Is it because that's what society requires of us? Because our parents tell us to be ready for anything? Or does anyone out there really just enjoy planning your day hour by hour like me? (No, I'm not at all Type A.)

If my planned life would have come true I would have been a nurse at 21, married by 22 at the latest, living someplace exotic with a kid on the way. Instead I have a tangled web of jobs that include nannying, babysitting, dog sitting, and in a few weeks back in the saddle as a nurse. I'm single and live with two amazing friends and roommates whom I can't imagine my life without. My room is extremely eclectic with any cheap furniture I can get my hands on and paint black. I fill my time with friends who overflow radiant love and truth into my life. I've learned how to fight for myself, how to ask for help, how to be humble- especially today around 4:50 PM. I've learned to sit back and watch God spin His story of My life. He knows what I need. He knows how different I am today from the woman I was on January 1, 2012. I think about a ring my mother once gave me that her parents bought in Spain many years ago. It says, "Más que ayer, menos que mañana." “More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.” They said it represents their growing love for her, but today I see it as how I view the forest in place of the trees. My friend reminded me the importance of the forest tonight. During a tribulation in his life, he was able to see the Lord at work, tugging at his heart, which so obviously made him the man of God he is today. Day by day I see just a glimpse more of what really matters. I see trusting in the Lord my Savior as the foundation of this forest we call life. I praise him for giving me my needs and not my greeds. I praise him for being a just and envious God.  I see him molding me into who he wants me to be.

"Something Beautiful" is a song by NEEDTOBREATHE that I listened to for an entire 20 minute car ride home tonight and if you happened to drive by and hear my voice over theirs I apologize but there was no way to stop me. 

Hey now, this is my desire

Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful

To touch me, I know that I'm in reach

'Cause I am down on my knees.

I'm waiting for something beautiful.

When I was fighting to save my name in January and February, I heard a message about the refining fire God uses to sanctify us. I didn't particularly remember asking to be sanctified but I guess it was never really my choice to begin with. Regardless of whose call it was, I did change and I still am changing. This song reminds me that our lives are filled with struggles so that we may grow in Him so that we may further His kingdom, not ours. I found myself smiling because I sang along asking for the fire because I truly desire to be more beautiful. Maybe there will be scorch marks but maybe I'll have a glossy finish that you could never have see without the fire. 

I see his actions begin to align with my words or maybe it’s the other way around. I had every intention of writing a good faith check before this trip to Burundi. I just assumed I would be paying off the rest of the trip when I returned home this summer. I've learned not to let money get the best of me and have seen God provide, so I guess I figured he would lend me some money in July to pay off the trip. I cried last week. I called my roommate into my room and cried because God has gone above and beyond and exceeded all expectations I could have ever had. My trip is paid for. I have all the funding. I don't know who did what and I won't find out until after the trip, but I tell you what I do know: I have friends and family members who fear the Lord, who love him and listen to his voice and are still faithful to bring him glory. That is something beautiful. I pray for the rest of my team that their lives are filled with these same kinds of friends: friends who sacrifice and give back to God and to God's people. It's all his anyways. 

Intercede. Invest. Invite.

This is the strategy Forest Hill has laid out to pursue the Great Commission, to make disciples. Literal translations often cite the Great Commission to say, "as you are going, make disciples." Going certainly doesn't necessitate global travels, it could be going to your local shelter, going to your neighbors house, going out of your way to invest in someone's life. But going is certainly a verb - an action - a call.

I interpret the investing portion to be the Go - in order to invest in someone, you have to meet them where they are. I am called to leave the comfort of my own life and routines to give my life away. Losing my life is the investment. As a banker I think of investing as a financial decision...a person sacrifices the short term enjoyment from spending today's dollars to invest for an even more enjoyable future. It is obvious that I should invest for retirement, it is routine; I don't even think about it - in fact most of my investment dollars are taken out before I even see my paycheck.

Why then is the investment of my life not as apparent to me? Investing my time today following God's will is going to have far greater returns than any financial instrument in the market. Even if I had been an original investor in google - I would not be as rich as the poorest person in His eternal Kingdom. I once was asked,  "how much money do you think Warren Buffet will have when he dies?"  I, of course, stuttered and stammered thinking I was supposed to come up with a sophisticated model of prediction...my friend chuckled. Then, he answered - "the answer is nothing, silly...he doesn't get to take any of it with him." My money, possessions, and things I prize are all going to burn one day - but I hope that the legacy I leave will reap eternal rewards.

As this team goes to invest in Burundi - please be interceding with us. Please pray for the people of Burundi. Pray for the people we invest in to feel the love of God pouring out of us. Pray that they accept an invitation to live in relationship with Christ or feel encouraged to continue in their walk with the Lord.

I ask that you intercede for this team also. I pray that our hearts are completely broken in Burundi. That we leave with an entirely new perspective on what it means to give our whole heart, soul, and mind. I have heard stories of Burundians shouting to the Lord with joy and thanksgiving - even though it is the second poorest nation in the world. As I am typing to you tonight from my wireless internet connection in the comfort of my air-conditioned apartment, I ask that you intercede for this team. Ask for our hearts to soften, for us to be less tied to the things of this world and even more invigorated to make the greatest investment possible. Pray that we be alert and listening for His will and that we have agile feet in pursuing it - even at the cost of worldly successes.

I also ask that you invest in this team with your money and talents. Your call to action may not be across the globe but you can be a vessel in this journey. Come to the event on Sunday, spend an evening getting to know this team, laughing with us, being a part of God's provision for us, and learning about those we are going to invest in with our lives.

http://www.cltcomedyzone.com/buy-tickets/?Page=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketbiscuit.com%2FComedyZoneCharlotte%2FEventPage.aspx%3FEID%3D117106

Take this journey with us. Start your own journey. If you cannot attend Sunday or don't feel led to invest dollars in this team - please invest time. Spend some time interceding for us; spend some time serving those around you. Go and make disciples - nothing could ever support us more than that.

How did I get here? by Brooke Cashion

How the HECK did I get here? Growing up in a very small rural town where everyone knows everyone’s “people”, gets married early, has children, and never moves away, you couldn’t have paid me enough money to predict my current life. Instead of hanging on to familiarity, I am now living in Charlotte, NC. There are millions of faces that I do not know and don’t know who their “people” are. I am 25 years old and single. My roommates and I don’t even have time for a dog (even though there have been many occasions where we have had to stop ourselves from going to the animal shelter just to “look”…yeah right). Again, how the HECK did I get here?

Since graduating college in 2009 from UNC-Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!), I have been on a serious mission to find my identity. Over my 25 years, I have placed it in various things such as academic success, musical talent, being a girlfriend, being thin enough, being an excellent teacher. I was convinced these things would bring me the life I wanted and thought I deserved. I would find happiness in a life that other people continued to search for. And then I would play it off to others like it was something that just fell into my hands. In reality, there was an incredible dark side to my efforts. I was selfish in my desires and wanted people to look at me a certain way. I sought to control every situation I was in, believing that I had the better way and knew what was best for myself. It was Brooke’s world and everyone else was just living in it. As you may have already guessed, it eventually blew up in my face.

Over the last 2 ½ years, the Lord has aggressively convicted my heart and forced me to tear down my protective walls that I built with my own two hands. I was stripped of the things that I thought defined me, which meant a wild goose chase began. Who am I? How do people view me? What is my passion in life? Where do I look for my sustenance? The experience has been extremely humbling, to say the least. However, in this waiting period, I have found life. True life. A life that brings me pure joy, even when I am hurting. A life that is centered around Christ and His desire to love and protect His children. In your mid-20’s, it is obnoxiously easy to go with the flow and feel like you don’t have an impact or influence on your environment around you. What real change can you make? Can’t I just wait until my 30’s? That is when everyone gets their life together and starts settling down, right? This way of living no longer suited me and caused restlessness in my soul. I know that the Lord has given me the desire and gift of nurturing little ones and being that representation of His love and compassion. I want His children to feel that unconditional love from adults and have a safe place to run to. Isn’t that what we desire and find in Christ? I do and have!

In John 10:1-5, we see a portrayal of Jesus as the Shepherd who provides guidance and direction for the lost. He steps up to lead those who are seeking. I now ask myself, “Am I going to step up and make the first move, just like Christ did? Am I going to place my identity in Him and Him alone, allowing him to merely work through me?” Understanding that this life and this trip is not about myself and my capabilities takes so much pressure off. All I have to do is be willing to relinquish control of all I thought was best and be His vessel. I cannot WAIT to see what He has planned for this trip and for His children in Burundi!

So again, how the heck did I get here? Christ. And I am so joyful I am here.

Consider it Pure Joy by Jordyn Saunders

“I’ll be quite honest. When I found out I had to write a blog for

Burundi, I was not a happy camper. I don’t like to write. I’m not a

good writer. I have nothing to write about, but…you know now that

I’m going to contradict everything I just said. I found something to

write about. My dream, my everything was taken from me in one swoop.

And in these past two weeks I have changed. My faith has strengthened

and I am not the woman I was.

Here is the background:

When I was 16 I wanted to be a nurse. That’s all. I have a heart and a

passion to serve others and knew that being an RN was exactly the

perfect job for me. During my undergraduate time at UNC-Chapel Hill I

was not accepted to nursing school. That weekend my pastor, JD Greear,

spoke the first message that I ever felt spoken directly to me. He

talked about giving everything to God and that included college

students and their majors. Well done. That definitely wounded my ego;

the message was heard loud and clear. I reapplied, thinking God had

His own timing, but again I was shot down. To most people the next few

years of my life were well-spent, traveling and learning. I studied

abroad in Quito, Ecuador and after graduation moved to Madrid, Spain

to teach English as a foreign language. As I told people more and more

that I wouldn’t change anything about it, I thought that I would

actually start to believe it myself. Sure I trusted in God’s will for

my life, but I was trying to make the most of whatever I had.

Fast forward to December 2009 and I was accepted to Mercy School of

Nursing. I was overjoyed and realized that God’s plan was for me to be

an RN. He gave me the passion and now He was making it apparent to me.

The next 20 months of my life were some of the most difficult

balancing school, clinicals, babysitting, tutoring and student

government. I was so thankful to the Lord for providing me a job

before graduation and getting me through the end of school. In January

I passed my NCLEX (boards) and was ready to fulfill my dream!

Now let me tell you that I set my date for boards on December 20, 2011

and also set my employee health meeting. I knew exactly where to be,

when, and what would happen. What I didn’t know was that my life was

about to be forever changed. I tested positive for the use of an

illegal substance I’ve never once seen or touched in my life. False

positive. Anyone and everyone who has ever known me knows that I would

never do something like this to harm my body, my career, or anyone

else that I may come in contact with. It was my tea. Tea from Ecuador

that causes a false positive. The evidence is extensive. The proof is

there. I await a final decision.

Less than a week of learning this our pastor, David Chadwick, spoke

about Great Faith. Now this is the second message spoken directly to

me. There are three faces of “Great” Faith: the expectant, miraculous

faith; the fog of faith; and a thoughtful faith. If I have ever seen

fog around me this must be it. This fog of faith is a wind that blows

out of nowhere, but what it should do is that it should strengthen our

faith, provide a more thoughtful faith. It is “a faith of the mind

that goes deep with roots.” I must admit that my roots are growing

right now.

I have never seen the body of Christ more around me then they are

right now. I think of Psalm 22 when it says “But you my God, do not be

far off. For trouble is near and there is none to help.” Yes, trouble

is near but I am so grateful to know that I am not alone. I know this

trial does not come from the Lord. It is spiritual warfare. Spiritual

Warfare is a game I played on the computer as a child, never fully

understanding how real it is…until now. The Lord is with me. He has

also sent his children, my brothers and sisters, around me during this

time. See I serve a Great God and he can turn all things for the good

of those who love, honor, and obey Him. I pray for his glory to shine

through all of this.

My life verse is James 1:2-4.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds.

For you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish it’s course so that you may be mature and

complete, not lacking anything.

I challenge myself to be joyful. I already know that the Lord, my

Savior, is going to work this out to bring glory to His name. It’s not

about my name or my reputation being tarnished but it is about His

name. He is my reputation and it’s His name I take when I call myself

a Christian, a Christ-follower.

It seems that many people on this Burundi Team are facing challenges

and hardships that are not of this world. It is due to obedience.

Obedience to the Creator, to his mighty plan, and obedience to follow

Him to the ends of the earth. All this time I thought my calling was

to be an RN, but now I realize it is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus

Christ. To share of his great love for us, that as we are all sinners,

missing the mark of perfection, He is the example of what perfection

looks like. He, being perfect, died a painful death to save me from

what I deserve: the justice of Hell. For him I declare to live my

life! Whether my name is cleared or not. My story may not have a happy

ending but it is not about me. It never has been. The greater story is

that of Christ, the happy ending that he rose from the dead and

continues to save me, to forgive me day after day.

Now you know the struggle so close to my heart. My deepest wordly

desire is gone. But I have a greater and much deeper desire, it is

rooted in my faith in the Lord Most High. His love for me has freed me

from an eternal punishment so I live this life for Him with the goal

to share the story of His love to all who listen. It isn’t an easy

journey but it is what I’ve chosen. I know He will always carry me.”

Meet the Team

Here is the team partnering with The Discovery School in Bujumbura, Burundi, in June. We are going with the specific tasks to teach and model cooperative learning for teachers, to teach Science lessons to the children in primary school, ages 3-8, and to love and encourage the staff of the school. We would love your support both in prayers and finances. If you would like to donate to us, click the donate button on the left. It will direct you to PayPal. You can choose a specific team member to donate to or the team as a whole. We look forward to sharing more of our journey with you.

Adam Wirt

Occupation: EComm Mortgage Sales
Activities: Family, anything outdoors(hunting, fishing, boating, camping), College football, reading, cooking
Secret Talent: Has done a few archery tournaments
Favorite Bible Verse: "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it- they will be blessed in what they do." James 1:25


Nan Gray

Occupation: Marketing Director, Northlake Mall
Activities: Mentoring, Books, cooking
Most Excited About: Embracing a small nation that has struggled in ways that I cannot begin to wrap my arms around, but I can't wait to wrap my arms around.
Secret Talent: I'm so transparent that I'm not sure anything about me is secret these days!
Favorite Bible Verse: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even when youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
 Isaiah 40:28-31


Jordyn Saunders

Occupation: Registered Nurse
Activities: Running, serving, traveling, Spanish language, Latino culture
Secret Talent: speaks Spanish
Most Excited about: loving on the people and spending time with them , learning more about their culture and loves.
Favorite Bible Verse: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4


Brooke Cashion

Occupation: Kindergarten Teacher
Activities: dancing, singing, trying new restaurants in Charlotte, UNC basketball
Secret Talent: I went to Governor's School for Choral music...first soprano!
Most Excited About: to invest in the children at the Discovery School and show them an example of Christ's love for all His children.
Favorite Bible Verse: "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9


Loren Burris

Occupation: Volunteer Coordinator
Activities: spending time with family, reading, hiking, drinking coffee, blogging
Secret Talent: I am extremely accurate throwing a football
Most Excited About: building continuing relationships with The Discovery School and the staff and families they represent. Also, experiencing this with my hubby and LifeGroup.
Favorite Bible Verse: "When Jesus said, 'I am he' they drew back and fell to the ground." John 18:6


Josh Burris

Occupation: Elementary P.E. Teacher
Activities: Grad School for Educational Leadership, Playing anything(basketball, crochet, tennis)
Secret Talent: What you see is what you get
Most Excited about: Supporting and encouraging teachers in Burundi
Favorite Bible Verse: "Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, 'Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few.' 'Do all you have in mind,' his armor-bearer said. 'Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.'" 1 Samuel 14:6-7


Chelsea Heath

Occupation: Business Analyst
Activities: Discovering new music, serving, traveling, learning about new medical discoveries, economic and public policy perspectives, exercise, cooking
Secret Talent: Wordsmithing
Most Excited About: to have my heart broken, to see hope and joy from a different perspective, to love with intention
Favorite Bible Verse: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16


Courtney Godwin

Occupation: Speech Pathologist
Activities: spending time with friends and family, serving others, music, tennis, running, and working with children with special needs
Most Excited About: seeing His light in the children and people of Burundi, sharing His love and the gospel with them, and serving them in whatever ways God calls us to. Also, seeing how God uses this time to change my heart and bring me closer to Him.
Secret Talent: I can touch my nose with my tongue.
Favorite Bible Verse: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:5-8

Why I am Going to Burundi - by Nan Gray

I have a confession to make. I have an ego. You might be sitting there thinking, “Well, we all have one!” But, you see…mine’s been nurtured and fed for the last twenty or so years. I had a career where my ego was what drove me to success. I was in the entertainment industry and no, I wasn’t famous or anything, just making a living traveling the country telling jokes to anyone that would listen.

As a child, I was told to never speak up. And, when I did, I usually got in trouble. When I got in my twenties, I found my voice. It was loud and bawdy and irreverent. Let’s just say, I don’t think I would feel comfortable showing one of my old performance videos at church today. You might have known me back then. Or, you might only know the new me, the one that almost three years ago was reborn and rededicated to living fully in partnership with my Heavenly Father. Either way, the point I’m trying to make is that I’m working desperately on taming my ego and replacing it with God’s love and grace. It’s a struggle every day. I’ve grown to love the attention, to be the life of the party, the one with many friends and a person who has a reputation of “making things happen big and bold”. I can still do that, and am doing that today by writing this blog, but now it’s all for His glory and not mine!

Almost a year ago in prayer, I asked God to reveal to me a new path in life, to reveal His plan for me using the gifts he gave me and the story I’ve lived to further His kingdom. It became very clear that going on a mission trip was one of those things He wanted me to do. To leave the hectic world behind for just a short period of time and just be...compassionate, loving, quiet, and with a servant heart.

The current series at Forest Hill is called “The Great Eights”. How to be great in the eyes of God. This past Sunday, I was reminded of how as children of God we should always be a work in progress of decreasing us (our ego) and increasing Him. I’m a hot mess most of the time, but I really am trying to let Him be my all, my everything.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” I wasn’t following His plan for 25 years, but I am now and have a lot of ground to make up!

I’ve been told by several friends that have been on mission trips that once my foot hits the soil in Burundi, Central Africa, nothing in my life will ever be the same again. Can I confess to you that I can’t wait for that very moment?

Nan Gray

Love. Agape. Uru-Kundo.

On January 7^th our team traveled to Rutherfordton, NC to do a radio recording with the Satisfied life. While we were there, the women of the program showed their love for us by hosting us, listening to our heartbeat for Burundi, and our passion for this trip. I was overwhelmed by abundant love. These women and their families, whom we had never met, sacrificed their time and talents to serve and encourage us.

            A year ago, I didn’t believe in short term missions. Now everyday serves as a revelation of why we are called to go. As these women served us – I felt loved, cherished; I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in that cottage. As this team goes to the ends of the Earth to serve and love people we have never met – I know that God’s presence will be that much more overwhelming and transformational. I pray that our team comes back forever altered as we seek and serve the least of this world, who are first in His kingdom. I pray that they feel loved as we leave America – the land of the free and convenient - to go to them.

            Burundi is the second most impoverished nation in the world. They aren’t inundated with media; they don’t see the wide world through the lens of an instantaneous web – our presence shows our love for them, our presence brings joy; our presence is what connects us.

Many people will never have the opportunity to travel to Burundi – but our team is taking every person supporting this mission with us. As you partner with us in prayer, read our hearts in these messages, and feel called to partner with us financially – you are carrying us across the ocean on your backs.

Cooper – a nine year old has already decided to journey with us. His dad promised him $20 if he spent his Saturday helping film our group. Every moment of that Saturday he was accompanied by his Lego idea book and his dreams for what he would purchase. As the day came to a close and his dad handed him the bill – he shyly left it for us on the table. His father shared with us that he decided he would rather invest the money in Burundi and our team.

We know that your partnership comes as a sacrifice. We know that you are giving up your time, talents, prayers, and purse to send us. As you sacrifice for this team, we are forever grateful. We covet your prayers, feel cherished in your support, and are traversing the world on your shoulders. Thank you for journeying with us. You are fueling our heats with uru-kundo, strong and everlasting love, which will take us to Burundi and pour out of our lives as we present there. 

Chelsea Heath