Happy day…
By: Sandy Echols
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I love this song. It is a simple song. The lyrics are not complicated, or overly emotional. It is simply an anthem about the happiest day of my life 🙂
Enjoy! (If you are reading this on Facebook click here to see the song.)
Ramblings at 3 am…
By: Sandy Echols
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I am awake at 3 am, I can’t seem to get to sleep tonight. My mind is running with all the things that need to happen before we leave. My mind is filled with thing, places, and mostly people that we will miss when we move. My mind is restless with so many thoughts about mankind and this planet that we call home. Sometimes it is truly overwhelming to think about all the hardships and heartaches that is endured on this tiny blue rock. Like a celestial ball of pain drifting in space. It is at such times that I understand why some people choose Deism, the thought that God created this planet and then left it to fend for itself seems to make sense in the face of the pain that man endures.
Yet, as these thought fill my mind, I am reminded of the message that we heard today. The message was about Jonah, the prophet who tried to run from God. The one thing that stood out to me over and over is that God is relentless. He is relentless in saving man. Throughout the whole book I kept thinking that God should just smite Jonah already and pick someone a little more obedient, but, thankfully God does not give up on Jonah. In this book God does not only go to great lengths save all the inhabitants of Nineveh, but He takes a personal interest in Jonah. God the creator of all things, greater, better, and more terrible that anything in the universe stoops down and takes a very personal interest in the life of one man. The preacher pointed out that the revival in Nineveh is the largest one recorded in scripture, with over a million turning to God. This is impressive, but at times when I feel small and insignificant like a worm, as the Psalmist put it, I am comforted by the Great God who took interest in little Jonah. He took enough interest in Jonah’s life that a whole nation was saved.
When you are trodden down and crushed, remember that God is God, He is there, He cares.
You are not alone.
62, 2, 350, 1
By: Sandy Echols
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Sixty two is the number of days we have left in the USA. The one way tickets we bought are sitting quietly in my email inbox, waiting to change our lives forever. In these sixty two days that we have left we will be travelling, packing, meeting, eating (African pizza is just not the same), preparing, and praying. Pray with us as we count down to departure day.
Two is the number of suitcases that we have to fit our lives into. We each have two suitcases, but that is all the space we have. In packing and getting rid of things we own, I have been challenged to take a hard look at all the things I own. At first it was saddening to think that I would have to get rid of my snow globe collection, and it broke my heart to think I will no longer be using the wedding cutlery and crockery that we have. But then I realized that all we are getting rid of is stuff, stuff that have been weighing us down, stuff that can be broken, stolen, or lost. Ultimately stuff I don’t really care about. In the grand scheme of things a human soul is eternal, but a commemorative beauty and the beast snow globe is not. The process of getting rid of all this stuff is freeing and helps one to concentrate on what is truly important in life. (If you need anything give me a call, I could probably hook you up with some cool pyrex.)
Three hundred and fifty is the amount of dollars that we still need to raise a month to be able to go. We have already bought our plane tickets, so we have 62 days left to raise that amount. If you want to get involved, or if your church does, please contact us so that we can reach our support needs before we go. We are able to visit with you or your church to give more info on Namibia and the ministry there. Also if you know of any churches or individuals who want to support missionaries to Africa let us know! And THANK YOU so much to all who are already supporting us. We would not be able to do this without you.
One is the most important number though. Without it we would all be lost. God sent His ONE and only Son to earth to die for us. To die for you and me. One sacrifice enough for all people for all time. One act of propitiation that is enough for America, Haiti, Namibia, South Africa, and all other nations out there.
Thanks for reading, and if you have not yet done so today please take a moment now to pray for Haiti, Namibia, our Visas and the support that we still need to raise!
Much Love!
“I am secure in Christ.”
By: Sandy Echols
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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of need.
Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains are moved into the heart of the sea, though it’s waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter, he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth, he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the chariots with fire.
Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is out fortress.
Psalm 46
With the turmoil that we see in the world we live in, it is sometime’s easy to become overwhelmed. I wanted to write this blog entry today so that I don’t ever forget what the preacher said in church this morning, or the feeling or release I felt when he said it. As he preached from this chapter of the Bible he said: “Even if the breath is taken from my body, I am secure in Christ.” That is it. That is all that matters in this life. It doesn’t really matter what is going on in life, on earth, He is God. Nothing can change that.
When we were in Namibia, in the car accident all those years ago Nadia read this Psalm, focusing on the first verse. God is an ever present help in time of need.
So remember, “Even if the breath is taken from my body, I am secure in Christ.”
Help in time of need…
By: Sandy Echols
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Those looking for a place to give in order to help the Haitian people there are many options. First of all, go over to thepioneerwoman.com and comment on her blog. She is giving away money to readers selected charities, and will donate a dime for every person that comments on her blog, right now it is up past eleven thousand comments, so keep it going!
Then go take a look at Living Water Christian Mission, this is a ministry that was started by Salonique, a CCCB grad, in Haiti. He is keeping the website up to date with what is going on on the ground in Port au Prince, this would also be a very good place to send money to!
Also check out ides, they are a great organization that gives aid in times of disaster all over the world. Furthermore, by texting HAITI to 90999 you can donate ten bucks to the red cross relief efforts, or text DISASTER to 90999 and ten dollars goes to Compassion International for their relief efforts.
Now is not the time to look the other way, give up eating out this week or going to starbucks and give to help! People like you and me are using their bare hands to dig up their trapped neighbors before they suffocate. By giving some money, that you probably won’t even miss you can make a difference. Maybe get some friends or family members together and give as a group.
Above all else pray, pray for the hands of those searching to be fast and effective, pray that those that are trapped will last longer and be found faster, pray that those who have lost loved ones will be comforted, pray that the hearts of people will be touched so that they will give, pray for Haiti as a whole. Spread the word.
Don’t let the cries of Haitian fall on deaf ears!
Please leave a comment if you know of anywhere else to give, or if you have specific prayer requests for your friends and loved ones in Haiti.
2009 in review…
By: Sandy Echols
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It is true that 2010 may be one of the most exciting years in our life. We will finally move to Namibia as missionaries. This is something we have been working towards since we were first married in 2003. However, this blog entry is dedicated to the year that was 2009.
We spent the holiday season of 08-09 with the family in California. This picture is of all us grandkids with David’s grandpa. It is one of my favorite memories ever. This trip was the last time we were able to spend time with Grandpa…
We graduated College as Co-Valedictorians!!
We adopted a cute pair of horny toads.
My parents visited the United States for the first time ever…
We ate sushi for the first time. The jury is still out on whether we will ever try it again.
Sara found out they were expecting a beautiful baby…
We celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary.
We celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary in Branson Missouri.
I went to my first Christian camp. It was a lot of fun, we were guest speakers. In this picture we asked the kids to come up with their own culture. It was a hoot!
We got and beat the swine flu…
Our dad’s figured out that they are long lost BFFs.
We tried out Samantha’s baby clothes on George. We had to make sure they fit…
I found and am now addicted to Flickr.
Samantha Joy Wright was born in November. She is the cutest baby and one of the most loved babies ever!
We celebrated Thanksgiving in May with our family in Colorado.
We said goodbye to David’s grandfather. He died of cancer in June, he is desperately missed by the whole family. He was a good man, totally committed to his family.
I found “Jesus Culture,” a brilliant worship team with beautiful music. You should check them out! This is the first song I heard by them:
I got Carple Tunnel and had to quit my job at Wal Mart. It was bittersweet.
We drove over 12000 miles. (ignore the junk food reflection)
We flew over 5000 miles.
We were fortunate enough to spend some time with our three gorgeous nieces.
In November we met with John and Suzanne Hunter, missionaries to Namibia.We decided to partner with them and will in the near future be working along side them at Community Hope School. A school started by them in one of the poor areas in Namibia. This video tells more about what they are doing.
Our last winter in Missouri seems to be the coldest one in history. This picture was taken at noon with the sun shining, but it was unable to make a dent in the ice covering this bush.
Adam and David invented a new “sport.”
I finally joined the “digital decade” with a hot pink ipod. So far I love it!
We spent Christmas with friends, and the unfortunate egg eating contest took place. You can see the shock on Sara’s face.
We learned and experienced the generosity of God’s people and the beauty of His plan in 2009. I hope and pray that 2010 will be a blessed, prosperous, fulfilling, and beautiful year for you and your loved ones!
Dolf meets Hermanetta…
By: Sandy Echols
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Car problems and Namibia are two things that go hand in hand. David knows this as well as any person who has owned a car in Namibia. The car that David owned in Namibia was a small, trusty, Toyota truck, lovingly named “Dolf.” Three people could fit in the front seat, and in Namibia, 30 could fit on the back. Dolf provided a way to get to the “mall” while we were at YWAM, and served as a bedroom for Kyle during the outreach in Gobabis. It was perfect for Namibia.
In July 2002, Dolf met Hermanetta. Hermanetta was a large Oryx, an Oryx is a majestic buck that some say inspired the unicorn myth. There was nothing magical about this Oryx though. In the middle of the night, on the way to Opuwo it stepped out in front on Dolf, causing a horrible accident.
Earlier that month David and Kyle had returned to Namibia after a month long furlough. They brought three fellow Americans with them. Deborah, a fellow YWAM student, and I were in Namibia waiting for them. After spending a few days in Windhoek, buying supplies and planning the rest of the month, we got all loaded up and headed out. The trip up to Opuwo can take anything from six to ten hours. Deborah and Angie sat up front with Kyle, who was driving. And the rest of us slept in the back. The truck was loaded up to the roof in the back. After a few hours of driving, we were sleeping really well in the back, and Kyle was making really good time. All of a sudden the car lurched forward violently, there was a sickening sound of metal crunching, and for a second the car lifted to one side and rolled forward on two wheels, before being dragged to a stop.
I remember sitting up and looking forward, but I couldn’t see out the front windshield, it was obscured by the crunched metal and the smoke pouring out of the engine. The strangest thing is that the choking smell of raw sewage and fresh meat was permeating the air. I looked out of the side mirror, and this majestic Oryx was trapped under the car, struggling to move.
We struggled out of the car, dazed by what had just happened. I remember it being really cold. When the three front passengers got out of the car, they were covered in a sticky dark fluid. At first we thought someone was bleeding, but then we realized it was barbecue sauce (the bottle had been tucked under the seat). The Oryx struggled for a little while and then died. When we inspected the car, we realized that the Oryx had saved us. When we hit her she was sucked under the car and trapped under the back wheel, effectively dragging us to a stop. We had a trailer behind the car, if the Oryx had gone under it, it may have rolled the car.
David, Nadia and I hitchhiked to the closest town to call for help. Help came in the form of some YWAM staff members. They drove out and picked us and the wrecked car up. When we found the car again we realized that we had taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way, and we were half way to Swakopmund, and nowhere near Opuwo.
It took $2800, and three months to get Dolf fixed, and road worthy again. However, in those three months we had to learn to depend on God and His people to get from point A to B. It was an adventure, there was even a day when the person that gave us a ride had a goat on the back of his truck, and David had to sit on that goat the whole way! We look forward to getting back to Namibia, and picking out the car that will carry us all over the country again!!
iHeartfaces!
By: Sandy Echols
Comments: 1
Hey. This picture is one of my favorite ever. It is of my niece. I took this picture when we visited them in California last easter.I am entering this pic in an iheartfaces foto contest. Check it out at iheartfaces.blogspot.com .
Past Adventures.
By: Sandy Echols
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I’ve decided to post some pictures from our trips and visits around the world, and also, to tell the stories that go along with those pictures. I know ya’ll are excited now! Let’s begin!
This picture was taken in Namibia, in 2002. At this point we are camping next to the Kunene River, which borders Angola. I am 19 years old, and I am attempting to prepare dinner. The man holding the goat down is our friend Ephraim, who acted as a translator for us.
This goat was given to me as a gift from one of the ladies that was baptized while we were there.
As you can see I am holding a tiny little knife, and I am standing off to the side a little bit away from the roaring beast. I was terrified! Obviously I had never done this before!! I was confident however, that I could deliver the killing blow. We had affectionately named the goat “dinner” so we would not get too attached to it. Well I bent down and put my knife to the neck, but when I did I could feel the life giving blood rushing through the veins of this equally terrified animal. Dinner’s neck was soft and warm, and begged to be snuggled, not sliced! So I threw the knife down and ran away. I know, yes, I am very hard core, thanks for noticing!
Eppy was quick, he grabbed the knife and the deed was done before I could even turn around.
Later that evening the Watjantja (the lady who had given us the gift) arrived with some friends to enjoy the goat with us. This was greatly appreciated as it was the middle of summer and we had no way to refrigerate any leftover meat. The only snag in this whole setup is that with the guest there we would have to eat all of the goat to not offend them. When I say all of it, I mean all of it. The lungs (spongy but satisfying), the liver (kind of bland, but chewy), and boiled goat meat (this is the best way to eat it, trust me!). Thankfully we had given the stomach and kidneys to one of our friends who had passed by earlier, according to David goat stomach is the worst part of the whole goat. Also I am not sure what happened to the head, but that usually is consumed too!
I am so thankful for Watjantja and her generous gift, that day I learned a lot about the Himba people and their culture. In one of my college classes a professor referred to people groups as a beautiful mosaic, pleasing to God. Get outside of your comfort zone and experience another culture today! See what and who God created, and be amazed at the difference in the people around you!
7000 miles.
By: Sandy Echols
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We’ve driven 7000 miles in the last few months. We’ve been in 9 different states. We’ve spent over 100 hours in our car. We have exhausted our music collection. This has been our life since we graduated from Central in May. It has been fun and exhausting. We have visited some churches, we have had the priviledge of showing America to my family, and we drove to California to attend a memorial service for David’s grandfather.
Right now we are preparing to move to Namibia next year. It is strange to know that next year we may be living is a completly different country. Surrounded by all new people and opportunities. It is really exciting too. I remember the last time I was preparing to move to a different country it was terrifying an exhilirating at the same time.
There is no guess as to how many miles we will travel in the next several years. Our families are scattered around the globe, so that alone guarantees many frequent flier miles. However, we are also guaranteed that there are lost people wherever we go. Above all, we are guaranteed that we will not go alone. “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”