The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
Sue took this candid photo of me capturing some of the sights on the streets of Kenya by video...I hope to post video soon after we edit it down so that you can have a better picture of what really happened and what we experienced... 
I didn't blog at all yesterday which is rare to almost non-existent! It has been so hard getting back in the swing of things since I came back.
We arrived on Saturday night but our luggage didn't. Since there are absolutely no liquids allowed in the carry on bags in Kenya, I had some things in the checked baggage that I really wanted for Sunday morning. The bags came at 5 am and I got up and unpacked them and got ready for church. As most everyone knows, Sundays start real early for me anyway and I have worship rehearsal, teaching SS, then service and the day just keeps going like a locomotive...
We had a good service and Sue and I testified in both Sunday School and service for just a few minutes. I will post more once our video is ready. The people seemed to really love the brief video footage we shared and our testimonies.
After church Larry took us to Pizza Villa which is one of my favorite places. I was in the mood for pasta since I haven't had it in so long. I had a salad and some manicotti which was sooooo good I just inhaled it.
Sunday afternoon I took a nap and it was so difficult to wake up. I was looking forward to the Thanksgiving Dinner that night at church however my body wasn't. I went and everyone remarked how tired I looked even though I was trying to hide it. We had a wonderful evening. They were also celebrating pastor appreciation that night and giving thanks for us. After the dinner I led a few songs from the grand piano in worship and then the board members had a presentation with people expressing their thanks for us and then they gave us cards and took an offering. It was a lovely evening.
I came home Sunday night and immediately went to sleep but the night's sleep was not enough to feel rested. I went to work yesterday but was still dragging. Although I slept the majority of the 30 hour trip home, I was still so in need of rest. I can't even express how little sleep I got the previous 10 days while on the trip. Maybe 2-3 hours a night and that was about it, coupled with giving out so much of myself all day long. So right now is catch up time. Somehow I made it through my workday yesterday. We laughed about the first day back to the office and how it's difficult to ease back in. The phone started ringing off the hook immediately and I had a blast of e-mails and people wanting to know, "did you get my mail?" (Answer: yes, but it takes time to answer them.) And also requests for meetings. I am so tired and have so much in front of me to do for Thanksgiving that I have had no problems saying it would have to wait until the first of next week.
There was no food in the house so Larry said we absolutely had to go to the grocery after work. We did but I was honestly too tired to go in. I laid my chair back in the car and slept while Larry did all the shopping and then slept all the way home on the drive, and then came inside, took my clothes off and without even washing my face or brushing my teeth I collapsed in bed and went to sleep. I did wake up at 12:45 am and washed up and brushed my teeth quickly and then went back to sleep until 5 am today, getting a total of 11 hours sleep last night. I'm hoping I'm now caught up and rested and able to get on with the remainder of my work today and thanksgiving preparations. We are having some folks over as usual and I have to get the house and the meal in order. Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember, however the last 2 years it's been a real challenge with being away in Africa til' just days before.
We have a funeral today. While I was in Africa the young adult son of one of our beloved church members was hit by a car here in Tampa and was immediately killed. It's such a sad situation. My husband had texted me in Africa about it and I had been praying there. The young man's father was one of my prayer warriors for Africa and I knew he had been praying for me. It just broke my heart to hear this had happened.
I am hoping to post a few more photos of the Africa trip here as well as ultimately the edited DVD that we do. Stay tuned...I'm just easing back into life in the USA and it's taking a while longer than I expected.
Since I'm up an hour earlier than usual, I think I'll go make Jordan and Savanna something special for breakfast. Toodles for now...have a great Tuesday everyone...
Comments
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Take it as easy as you can and don't commit to anything that isn't necessary. Love ya!
I love you and am so glad you have been given the chance to help the women in every part of our world to become strong women of God! Thanks again for saying yes to God in every area of your life!!! What a privilege it is to be one of your friends!
Love you much!
So sorry for the loss of this young adult son. Oh, my heart aches.
Take time for YOU, Deanna. You've been giving and giving. Let there be time to replenish your sleep, your health, your strength. The Lord is good, and will provide.
((Hugs))