“Being a missionary is the worst thing you can do with your life.”
Imagine hearing those words from your pastor. When you are only nineteen.
: :
I wonder what he’d say if he saw me now…
[...] own pastor told me that being a missionary was the worst thing I could do with my life. And yet, at 19, I up and moved to Africa. I’ve been told over and [...]
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I am guessing he would be wanting to eat those words!
Have you ever seen the movie Simon Birch? In that movie he was in conversation with a pastor who was putting him down with scripture but little Simon had more scripture to prove himself. Sometimes people want to put us down to look good themselves. That is why we, like Simon Birch, need to have the word planted in our heart to protect it.
Wow! From a pastor! How encouraging that must have been!
Hi,
Your pastor must be good in reverse psychology.
Now I am wondering if you will be that great if he did not “motivate” you.
Keep it up!
that’s it! he was using reverse psychology on me!
thanks for making me laugh, AC!
@cassgirl says:
He probably would be speechless.
11 years later, here’s a missionary that stands before him who is confident, strong, founding member of her organization, who stills lives and labors there.
he would speechless!!
Ha! I did! Well…sorta… i visited a friend’s church (before I came out as an intern) because there was a popular speaker there that night. He told me that South Africa was already Christian and that I wasn’t very perceptive to God’s call if I thought He had called me here.
Good thing we didn’t listen!
If he knows God at all, he’d realize that you’re sacrificing for the sake of Eternity. And he would thank God for your service.
kelly — i’d forgotten about that! don’t you love those stats that say SA (like america) is 80-whatever-percent christian!? hmph. i’m glad you didn’t listen to pastor dude.
@atangie says:
From a missionary in Bolivia during our prep process: Don’t come to Bolivia.
From a missionary teacher in missions school: If you are not called to go then stay. And you better be really sure of that call.
From a guy at a garage sale we hosted as a fund raiser to get to the mission field:You should stay in the States because the people in the States need help too.
From the pastors wife before we went to missions school: You know there are lots of wonderful things that you can do here at the church. You don’t have to go to the mission field to be used of God. (That church is now our biggest supporter. I love it when God does things like that.)
I am curious to know what you said to him then. Is he still alive? I wonder what you would say to him if you saw him now?
@cassgirl says:
Yea… I’m on @ngie’s band wagon!! What would you say?
all I can say is…………………….. WOW!!!!
@mandythompson says:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oookay….where does he live???!!!!!!! Count me in as having done the “worst thing ever” for 8 years of my life……it was the BEST WORSt thing I’ve ever done!!!!! ;)
I have a few different reactions to that…
First, when I was studying Spanish for my major and going on my second short-term mission trip, my mom lamented that missions would be “a waste of my intellect.” (!!!!)
So obviously, I relate to your experience.
But second, I have to wonder: Do these people who give the warnings like “be sure you’re called” or “I don’t know if it’s right for YOU” really have our best interests at heart?
Stay with me here: I know I’ve met some pastors and missionaries who appeared to be totally burnt out and bitter — and I wondered if they had mistaken enthusiasm and the newness of faith for CALLING. I think I saw this with the missionary wife at an orphanage I served 2 weeks at in Guatemala. She clearly did NOT want to be there. I felt bad for her and her husband and the kids they were there to serve.
Don’t get me wrong – based on results, I don’t think your pastor was right. But I wonder if his comment was a misguided attempt to protect you from the challenges that come with mission work — challenges that are impossible to deal with without God’s anointing.
What do you guys think?
@danielleH says:
You’re kidding me!
When I read the post my brain just read “the best thing”….(cuz that’s what a pastor would say, right?!)…then I started reading the comments! Reread. Funny how the brain works.
What in the world kinda person thinks we shouldn’t do missions?
@moweezle says:
Shame! Now that I’m going to Israel, for the first time I’m getting, “Are you sure God is calling you there?” I never got that in Brazil or Africa. I think its a comment more out of fear than anything else. Maybe your pastor was pushing his own fears on you..who knows. Whatever it was, its not a very encouraging thing to say to someone…’specially a teenager.
@coloraturajoy says:
thank goodness you didn’t listen!!!!!
@coloraturajoy says:
thank goodness you didn’t listen!!!!!
whoops!!
WHAT! That is a crazy remark. You are so awesome and I’m sorry that silly folks don’t get it sometimes.
shame.
Good job for not listening! Who is this guy, didn’t he read his own bible??? Thats a commandment in there!!
@atangie says:
Just reading through Steph’s and Danielle’s responses.
To tell you the truth I do believe that some are called to go and some are called to send (Romans 10:14-15). We have to know what God has called for us to do and become fully committed to that.
There also needs to be a trial period before they are given a serving position (1 Timothy 3:10). An immature or uncalled person should not be thrown out there to sink or swim.
Good thoughts, gals. :-)
WOW. Pastor??? I’m amazed.
From your PASTOR?!
Is he still a pastor? geesh.
well I think you’ve done something wonderful with your life and I love you. ;-)
From @ngie:From a guy at a garage sale we hosted as a fund raiser to get to the mission field:You should stay in the States because the people in the States need help too.
This morning at MOPS meeting, they talked about Christmas boxes to send to kids in need in other countires and a lady across from me said: “I have a problem sending gifts to kids in countries that want to see us dead. There are plenty of kids here who need things.” *SHOCK*SHOCK*SHOCK*
I could NOT believe I heard that. I had never heard anything like that before….well I’ve heard people say “there are kids here who need help” but never the other part.
What @ngie said just reminded me of that and how irritating it is. Yes, there ARE kids here who need help or gifts or something….but the kids here live like rockstars compared to kids in third world countries. Even the kids here that have less than the norm have way more than those kids.
*sigh*
and that was WAY WAY off topic. ;-)
Wow. I can’t believe anyone would say that, much less your pastor. Wonder how his ministry ended up? Makes ya wonder.
Brandy thats crazy!! Most of the world does not want us dead! sure maybe some people in some places, but not most! some people are just so……
Sadly and thankfully our words have power behind them. In Ezekiel, the prophet spoke life on the dry bones (Ezek 37:4). And, there are a multitude of verses in the bible about watching our words, about words that bless, about not using our words to curse, about the tone of our words, about our choice of words. Words can be a self-fulfilling prophecy (thankfully, his weren’t for you Alece) or they can be a spring-board. Our words can bring life or they can bring death to spirits, souls, people, relationships, marriages, family, projects, lives, and … Scary to think that God is recording all our words and we will give an accounting for them in heaven. (Matt. 12:36-37) Ugh! Don’t even want to see my list. Even words we speak about or over ourselves can be in agreement with satan (the liar who plants lying thoughts in our mind) or in agreement with the Lord. I mean God did “speak” this very world into existance.
Thank you Alece for reminding me to watch my words … to be a blessing … to speak blessings … to build up my husband, my daughters, my family, my friends and those I come across with my words.
@ngie,
Loved what you said about the trial period and importance of calling.
I think that we humans have one huge weakness (okay, one of MANY): we try to see farther than the light God shines ahead on the path. So we look at the few steps that we CAN see, and we start to make assumptions about where we’re pointed. At those times, it’s really easy to take over and go in a direction that LOOKS really good. And when we’re first learning to serve God, we often assume, understandably, that our service will occur in vocational ministry.
But God is so much bigger than that. Many ARE called to be missionaries and pastors, etc. But there are so many other spiritual gifts. And how God chooses to use ours can’t be put in a box.
I guess my point is that (and I’m giving the pastor a BIG benefit of the doubt here) IF that pastor meant that missions is the worst thing you could do IF you weren’t called to it, I think he’d be right.
Not about you, because it seems clear that you ARE called. But we each have to seek God every step of the way. And serve where HE calls us to serve, whether across the world or across the street. When we do what he calls us to, he always provides all the strength and equipping we need.
Boy, I ramble. Sorry. ;)
Wow…what a way to encourage others to fulfill the great commission! I’m glad God had ahold of you heart and kept you close to His side. How awesome that He led you into missions even with someone you should have been able to trust telling you something discouraging!
Hey Alece! I’m Faith’s sister and I thought I’d drop by your site.
I have some intersting things to bring to the table on this subject. I left my home and so much I loved there to move to Mexico and work in an orphanage. I had longed to do something MORE with my life and since I had grown up five years here (in Mexico) where my parents were missionaries, I figured this was a great place to come. I visited in April and felt that this was where I belonged, it felt like home again. I moved down here in June and plan on going home for Christmas. I had commited to six months and figured I’d see from there. These past four months have been very challenging and I find myself very much looking forward to “going home”. I have a lot to sort through right now as I realize that when I was home I longed for something “more” and now that I am here, well, let’s just say I find myself doing a lot of questioning. Am I just not called to missions in Mexico? Can I be content with a life in the States now that I found out what it’s like “out here”? I am praying that over the next couple months this all becomes more clear but I thought I’d just throw this out there. There are so many things I am learning here but I wonder if this is really where I belong. Any thoughts?
@tamhodge says:
huh? wha? pastor or not….who would say that?
alece…i can totally take him. i can. let me at him!
i mean…lets love him and show him grace and the beautiful amazing missionary you have become.
then kick his….
no. scratch that.
dang.
ive got nothing good here.
im gone!
no he didn’t…
I’m so glad you didn’t heed his “pastorly wisdom”…
So Alece, what DID you say back to your pastor??
Alece
I just wanted to tell you that I normally read your blog when I am at home because my daughter, Hope (13), LOVES the little boy at the top. She always asks Mom I want to see the cutie! :)
She wants to sqeeze him. Thank you so much for all you do for these children. I hope you are blessed this weekend. If you had picked something else to do with your life where would all the kids be? Where would you? You would be somewhere feeling like you know you are suppose to be somewhere else and just aren’t sure where. I am happy you didn’t listen!!!
So I guess mom was right. If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything.
I wonder….
what you’re up to today. ;-)
miss you. love you.
@cassgirl says:
I wonder too..
Did she get lost??
I miss you too
lovin and prayin girl.
Heidi and I are going to send out a search party. yep.
@cassgirl says:
Do we need bloodhounds?
it’s official: she has a life with out all of us on the other side of the planet! AHHHH. This morning I got on here early because I thought she might be on to chat. boo-hoo!
I would like to give a special WELCOME to my sister JOY!! She finally dropped by and commented! Hi Joy!
And to answer Joy’s question, I don’t think you always need to be called to go, sometimes you can just GO. It’s like the army, some volunteer and some are drafted (thought I don’t think they draft anymore) God’s not going to turn away a willing heart to serve just because He didn’t specifically CALL you.
Like I have told you so many times as of late; THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER!! When you are here you will want to be there, and when you are there you will want to be here. Thats how it goes with almost anything.
Thank you Lynn (Faith)! So true!
@cassgirl says:
H.e..l.l.o??? can you hear me in SA???
akemm hmmmm (clearing my throat))
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW????
I’m here! I’m here! Sorry!
I got side tracked! haha!
I was researching some “feminine” woes online. ;-) ha!
@cassgirl says:
feminine woes??? enquiring minds want to know?
don’t cringe…..
cloth sanitary napkins. A friend was telling me about them tonight so I thought I’d do some research. ;-)
@cassgirl says:
No way… Like clothe diapers in which you wash? in what you recycle?
@cassgirl says:
Who would put those into your washer?
I would definately go to the BIG SPIN AND TUMBLE TO DO THAT LAUNDRY..
no, like cloth PADS for women. And yes you would wash them. ha! At least I HOPE you would. ;-)
haha! Oh yes, I would wash them ALONE for sure. She was saying that chemicals from disposable stuff can have an affect on your amount of bleeding and that after a month or so on cloth your bleeding decreases substantially. That is what I’m researching now. ;-)
Alece is going to LOVE reading THIS discussion! hahahaa!!
@cassgirl says:
I understand completly, I was using diapers as an example. For some reason, it sounds gross.
I know. I’m cringing reading some of this, but the benefits sound pretty good. I wish I had done cloth diapers with the boys. Of course now I say that after I’ve done disposable for all three.
My friend said she had to switch to them b/c she had allergic reactions to disposable stuff so for her is wasn’t really a choice.
@cassgirl says:
I guess it would be okay, if I threw them away. But washing them makes me cringe. I tried to go clothe with my 1 st and it was just too difficult
if I threw them away. hahaha! ;-) That’s the whole point though….to not throw them away. ha!! ;-)
Yeah, I never did cloth at all with the boys but they have amazing cloth dipes now…with snaps and everything…no pins. I still contemplate switching to cloth but I figure at this point why bother, but then again, that would save so much money.
@cassgirl says:
Hey who was running neked a your house earlier?
OWEN! hahaha! All three of them were actually but Owen is so dang cute when he’s neked. That honkin belly and his little butt cheeks. So stinkin cute!
I love a naked baby!
@cassgirl says:
That’s one of the perks of motherhood. Especially right out of the bath, giggles.. laughter.. the smell Unfortunately mine grew up and now they have B.O.!!!
yeah, they were all coming out of the tub one at a time. ;-)
I am NOT looking forward to the BO. Dylan and Aidan have bad breath already and when I go in to give them kisses at night while they’re sleeping it STINKS so bad. ugh. ick. And they brush their teeth!
I told Jake “the baby smells are leaving!”
Mr O still has wonderful breath and I love smelling it. :D I stick my nose right at his mouth after he’s fallen asleep nursing and man oh man it smells so sweet!
@cassgirl says:
I never got to breast feed I so wanted to, but my body doesn’t produce it.. a genetic thing. But I loved that soap.. Baby magic.
Then the smell of Destin butt cream…
I miss those days
@cassgirl says:
Send owen To San Diego!!!
Genetic how so? I’m sorry. :(
Desitin butt cream! haha! I love it too!
I especially love the lavendar scented stuff.
@cassgirl says:
I don’t have milk ducts.. ALL the women of my family don’t.. they say its genetic. I tried with Colleen but no milk.
You know what kills me is that I am BIG.. way big and no milk :(
@cassgirl says:
It’s 5:30 in South Africa, I wonder when she wakes up what she’ll do when she see all the comment notifications in her email inbox.
She knows we really love her to come here and talk about feminine stuff, butts, big boobs that can’t be mistaken for a cow, and milk breath of Owen.
She’s going to either kill u or die laughing.
you guys make me crack up!! cons breath is still so sweet and the only soap we use is johnsons no tears, then he smells like me sweet baby boy! my grandma used to use cloth “napkins” and she was so happy when they came out with disposable ones. I should ask her if she noticed a difference in the flow. My sisterinlaw once looked into a plastic tampon that was reusable. so weird!
@cassgirl says:
That was a typo — no u , I meant us
i was just thinking if we are all on here long enough we might meet Alece, but it is Saturday. Thats so weird about your boobs!
Heidi you are killing me! hahaha!!!
I’m sorry about the milk thing. :(
And yes we really love her!
brandy I loved your post today, so encouraging for me! thanks
@cassgirl says:
Yep… Big boobs that are useless.. O well.
I’m afraid to still be here when she arrives.
Everyone asleep at your house?
@cassgirl says:
Your blog post was AMAZING!!!
Heidi, are you in sales of cars, I was not quite sure when I read one of your posts.
@cassgirl says:
No way!!
I’m an insurance adjuster. I work in the field estimating damages after accidents.
I’ve been estimating cars for over 18 years.
I heard from through my daughter – Rebecca or “Roo” to some of you … that there were some wildfires in the area of Thrive. She sent me a text message and asked me to pray as they were evacuating the cabins.
I don’t know anything more – just that I received that message at 12:30 pm Central – on Friday.
Rebecca is in Indiana at Taylor University – but she has connections to accurate information. I haven’t heard any more, as she is away at a retreat.
I was just checking this blog to see if Alece had mentioned anything about it.
I hope she doesn’t mind my posting a request for prayers for safety. Sorry I didn’t have time to do it earlier today.
I heard from through my daughter – Rebecca or “Roo” to some of you … that there were some wildfires in the area of Thrive. She sent me a text message and asked me to pray as they were evacuating the cabins.
I don’t know anything more – just that I received that message at 12:30 pm Central – on Friday.
Rebecca is in Indiana at Taylor University – but she has connections to accurate information. I haven’t heard any more, as she is away at a retreat.
I was just checking this blog to see if Alece had mentioned anything about it.
I hope she doesn’t mind my posting a request for prayers for safety. Sorry I didn’t have time to do it earlier today.
I heard from through my daughter – Rebecca or “Roo” to some of you … that there were some wildfires in the area of Thrive. She sent me a text message and asked me to pray as they were evacuating the cabins.
I don’t know anything more – just that I received that message at 12:30 pm Central – on Friday.
Rebecca is in Indiana at Taylor University – but she has connections to accurate information. I haven’t heard any more, as she is away at a retreat.
I was just checking this blog to see if Alece had mentioned anything about it.
I hope she doesn’t mind my posting a request for prayers for safety. Sorry I didn’t have time to do it earlier today.
I heard from through my daughter – Rebecca or “Roo” to some of you … that there were some wildfires in the area of Thrive. She sent me a text message and asked me to pray as they were evacuating the cabins.
I don’t know anything more – just that I received that message at 12:30 pm Central – on Friday.
Rebecca is in Indiana at Taylor University – but she has connections to accurate information. I haven’t heard any more, as she is away at a retreat.
I was just checking this blog to see if Alece had mentioned anything about it.
I hope she doesn’t mind my posting a request for prayers for safety. Sorry I didn’t have time to do it earlier today.
@cassgirl says:
Thank you … I’ll get the word out..
Thanks Roos mom! a friend had posted that she was praying for thrive but I thought she meant in general. My husbands two siblings went to Taylor.
@cassgirl says:
I’m going go now Faith…
I need to go and pray..
Love you Lece
have a good night!
your job sounds very interesting!
ACK! I leave for a few minutes and come back to FIRES!!!! :(
thats what happens Brandy, I’m watching sex and the city! but i hate this episode where she looses pete, aidens dog. hey did you steal your boys name from this show?
I was thinking the other day that all of your boys names were ones that we thought of and I still really like.
No I didn’t get it from that show but I LOVED Aidan on there. Hot hot. ;-)
Dylan’s name though I got from tv. 90210 baby! haha!!
Okay I’m really stressing sad right now worrying about Alece and her friend Amy’s family with the kiddos. Really. :(
oh thats great, I bet shes ok one of my friends was just in Gaborone thats not to far from there and she got back home fine.
so where are the fires then exactly? Do you know more?
no maybe we should look at a SA news site
Just got a text from Rebecca that says the wind died down – answer to prayer. She said everyone is ok, but has no other news.
Just got a text from Rebecca that says the wind died down – answer to prayer. She said everyone is ok, but has no other news.
Just got a text from Rebecca that says the wind died down – answer to prayer. She said everyone is ok, but has no other news.
Just got a text from Rebecca that says the wind died down – answer to prayer. She said everyone is ok, but has no other news.
Thanks for keeping us posted! That means so much, especially since we’ve not heard from Alece today.
@cassgirl says:
I googled it… I know she’s in harrismith. But I didn’t find anything.
Ya, I just looked on some sites but I cant find anything. thanks for the updates. I hope we hear from her soon
I just got done looking too and couldn’t find anything. Shame.
its too cute when you say shame!
Dang Alece rubbed it off on me. HAHA!! Whenever I say it she says it makes her happy to know she rubbed off. haha!!
One of the boys even said it the other day!
THIS SUNDAY is the DH premiere!!!! woohoo!
Yeah, fires = fine.
They’ll have some tired men from fire-fighting, but Thrive’s base is fine. Becca let me know earlier what was going on.
So – ‘Lecey is prolly busy’ish. :-)
wait you watch desperate housewives? the name turned me off to it, but it does look addictive. I watch Lipstick jungle on nbc.com they have the whole first season and the new one is on Wednesdays online. its a lot like sex and the city
oh Faith DH is great! And if you can stand S&TC then you’d love DH. It’s awesome! My top 5 favorite for sure! :D
Roo! Thank you!! You can be our fire communicator!
I feel awful for them. :( I hope it didn’t do them much damage. :(
Okay pals, I gotta go. I am STARVING and TIRED so I am just going to down a glass of water and head to bed. I am beat.
night all!
love you alece!
night, hope to hear from you soon Alece! Have fun reading your comments. oh and GOOD MORNING ALECE!
You have so many comments not sure where I could comment. Somehow I wondered onto your page. How awesome God called you out there. I just wanted you to know-I will be praying for you. My Pastors good friend is heidi baker and they just got back from mosambeki, not sure if I spelled it right, but it was a life changing experience………. really I will keep you in prayer.
Oh, like this place will be back.
C. Apana
We had a pastor at our church say something similar to us when we told him we had decided to answer the call to move to Albania. “You don’t want to take your family there.” Well, yes, really, we do. And you know what? It has been the best thing we ever did. Hard, but worth it. And it has radically changed how I see and view the world and more importantly, how I see God- without the rose colored glasses.
i am ALIVE!
i wish i’d had more time to be on the internet this week because there has been some great stuff happening in the comment sections of all my recent posts.
heidi and brandy and faith — y’all cracked me up with your conversation up there!
roo’s mom — thanks for calling in the prayer warriors!
everyone who prayed — it was unbelievably windy here — over 50 mph gusts — blowing the fire right toward us. as soon as we all started praying, the wind SUDDENLY stopped to almost completely nothing. they were able to stop the fire before it got to our property line. praise God!
as for how i answered my pastor — his remark was the end of a long monologue about how i could do whatever i want with my life: “you could be a doctor or a lawyer or anything you want!” he said over and over. when he finally paused, i told him i AM doing what i want — that i WANT to be a missionary. he just looked at me with a look of total bewilderment. he simply couldn’t fathom it.
steph — my pastor also saw it as a “waste of my intellect”. i went to the christian school at my church, so my pastor knew i was a good student. he thought being a missionary was “beneath me” and that i could/should do better than that… ????
BENEATH YOU!!! Being a missionary is hard work and is not JUST for idiots!! Ok that was meant to be funny. What kind of people does he think do missions??!! Have you ever heard from him since or do you know if he knows what a big organization you run?
i have no idea how that thought process worked in his brain.
i’ve seen him only once or twice since that time, and the last instance was years and years ago. i have no idea if he’s “followed” me or has any clue what God’s been doing through thrive…
Leesh, Maybe, and it’s a very big maybe since i have no idea what kind of man or pastor he was, but just maybe his thought processes could be discerned from his words to you – maybe he told you what he thought?
Maybe he thought that there was something truly great in you that at 19 you might not have seen in yourself and he just ‘knew’ (if he was truly a man of God as the title sort of implies a little) that of ALL the greatness you would achieve in your life that in choosing to be a missionary that was the worst thing you could do…
Now, as horrible as it is… imagine, given all that has happened and that you have achieved in your ‘chosen’ path….
What if he was actually right and this IS the worst thing you could have done with your life… just how much Glory would you have achieved then had you chosen one of the other things he saw in your potential??
It can only boggle the mind. :-)
Well SOMEONE had to put a supporting view up here for the Pastor Dude – right?
Sometimes what people say is actually what they mean. On rare occasions they are even right!
I am NOT saying such is the case for you, but many times, we humans ‘settle’ for achieving our greatness (His Glory) in areas where it does not seem to ‘matter’ that much if we fail.
Such people don’t usually make very good surgeons ;-)
You seem to make a very good Missionary/wife/friend/leader.
Did you ever try doing anything other?
<B
nope, i guess i never really did try doing anything else. i was an associate manager at old navy for a while (definitely not a CAREER for me!) and i worked as someone’s assistant for a year, which plays in largely to what i do now — but i never pursued anything else. maybe i should have?? maybe it’s good i didn’t????
When I first read this in my rss reader, I thought maybe he was speaking of “this earthly life.” Ala, “to save your life you must lose it…”
I often say my life was going along great but then Jesus came along and wrecked me. Thank God. That life, that sought selfish comfort and pleasure, is gone. Jesus is the worst thing for a selfish life. He will wreck it.
Gauging from the comments, I gather this was NOT the gist of your pastor. Perhaps it WAS the gist of the holy spirit prophesying through a reluctant child?
hmm… thanks for a unique perspective… which even if that wasn’t the intent of my pastor’s heart, you’re right – the Holy Spirit was still at work. even if i don’t see or understand how.
worst…as in loosing your life…good for you!
My view? (not that it’s worth any more than anyone else’s)…
i think you were probably ‘destined’ for greatness – whatever ‘career or ‘calling’ you chose for your young life. (Or He chose if you prefer – it’s a joint effort – He gave us power and free-will after all)
If the greatness you do ministering is any greater (or lesser?) than any other sphere you could have put as much love and dedication into we may never know and only you will have the final ‘say’ in.
I like to think Kindly of your Pastor though – He was doing God’s work as best he could – surely?
Guard your Heart Dear Alece, protect it from those things that can break it. :-) Never lose your connection to it – just to the things that are of the earth which corrupt and fade.
love you.
<B
i do need to guard my heart — from what goes in as well as what goes out.
thanks, bub.