and i'll be my SISTER's keeper!

So to day night, i went to go see my sisters.

i feel so much shame to say it, but it's been several months since i've last seen them.

and i WAS contemplating whether i would go to pay a visit or not
but I'm beyond glad that i did.

upon arrival, i was so taken back at my baby sister's reaction.
my BUM sister (that's a toddler) turned and went back to sleep after seeing me!
but it was hilarious.
anyway..

so here's how it went down.
i got to the house and i walk in.
and my baby sister's awake and the bum's asleep.
my baby sister, when i walk in has this offended and pained look all-throughout her
but she can't help but embrace me.

and i can't help but hold her.


it's been too long

we embrace. i hold her and kiss her.
she's quiet. she's holding back tears.
she didn't make a noise for ...i don't know how long


and it made me feel such sorrow and love for this girl


but she is AWESOME.
she's SO cute.
and my aunt and cousin are telling me about her
they talk about all the cute things she does. she's quirky and so awesome.
[sidenote: they don't know that i'm a Jesus Freak..i'm working at it though.]

BUT!
the thing that EXCITED me..
when they say the customary islamic greeting to her,
she says, "hello"
JUST LIKE I DO.
YES. SCORE.
PRAISE JESUS.

So, embracing her, i speak to her as though we're both psychics.
I say...or think..to her, rather, "Jesus loves you so much. and i want you to love Him too. i love you so much."

I love this girl and i NEED to see her more often.
this girl, i PRAY will grow to LOVE the Lord.
daddy would be proud of her.


God,

Thank You so much for urging me to see my sisters today
I love them both so much
I pray that emaan and jeenan both grow as wonderful women of Your Holy Name.
I LOVE YOU, GOD. and i want my sisters to LOVE You too.
i HOPE one day to spend eternity with You alongside them.
You are worthy, amazing and so loving.
and because Your love is BETTER than life,
my lips will glorify you -- for as long as i live.

Blessed be Your Name.
-simon. Your humble servant.

family

I love my family.

I love and miss my daddy.
I love my brother.
I love my grandmother.
I love my sisters.
I love my uncle noni.
I love my uncle asif.
I love my uncle khalid.
I love my uncle nassir.
I love my uncle taheer.
I love my uncle amir.
I love my other uncle amir.
I love my uncle aslam.
I love my uncle amin.
I love my popo thuy.
I love my popo ruby.
I love my popo khalda.
I love my popo zharina
I love my popo baji.
I love my chachi.
I love my auntie assiya.
I love my auntie jamila.
I love my auntie rumana.
I love my cousins: umar, hassan, mariam, ava, imaad, azim, ihsan, abdullah, shaan, rehan, asmat, tariq, taheer, naveed, ibrahim, amna, ishmee, usman, abubakr, zhukina, safiya, jia, farrah, nyla, aleena, aisha . . .

I love them and they're all unsaved.
I love them all and my heart is breaking.
They don't know Jesus and it constantly breaks me.
God,
I pray that they grow to know you
and PRAISE Your Name.
I love You, Lord.
and I hope they do too.

I just..

ate my weight in fruit and cereal.

ANYWAY
something that deserves to be tried
-early morning devotions.

George Mueller was a Christian Evangelist and director of orphanages in England
He cared for 10,024 orphans in his time
and was a total man of God.
(he's got a story -- and just from skimming, i can say that it's totally worth reading. so i will soon.)
What he did, i adopted.
he would wake up early in the morning, go on a walk, and meanwhile, spend time reading the WORD and listening to God.
GRANTED. i do not wake up early.
but something i try to do every time i wake up is to turn to my left, pick my Bible off of my amp and read.

It's been a total blessing and really really helps with the struggle that is, staying pure and righteous, throughout the day.

Now...you might say, "pshh, i need to get ready! i don't have time for this!"
but think about it, foo.
This is the God of the universe.
think hard and deep.
then read this --
it's Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version)

At the Home of Martha and Mary
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
-----

"ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED."
so i urge you to try it. get that time in the word.
call it breakfast.


George Mueller on Morning Devotions
George Mueller's Bio (i trust wikipedia.)

DR Support Letter

Dear Friends and Family in Christ,

I want to start this letter with my sincerest apology for not sending follow-up letters explaining what happened in the DR last year. So I'd also like to begin with that. In the Dominican Republic, in 2009, it was amazing to see fellow church members grow in compassion towards the poor and the needy. We witnessed people who had so little and in a heartbreaking way, saw the phrase, "One man's trash is another man's treasure," as a daily reality in some regions. Some people lived in the garbage dumps so that they would find little bits and pieces of whatever they could use. Truly, we are rich.
However, it was a MAJOR blessing to see the passion and love for Christ that we saw in some of the folks in the DR. Pastor Manny, the pastor of the village we worked with was an amazing man of God who was super well known in all of the villages he pastored to. But not only that, he knew everybody in his villages just as well (how often does that happen?). We also saw the passion for the Lord and worship in a man named Mendula. Mendula was a very elderly man who was a true blessing to us and the trip. He belonged to the nursing home we visited and was able to help us with language barriers, as he spoke Spanish and Creole (and we had no translators for Creole). To be able to witness his joy when he asked for my guitar and began to worship was one of the most awe-filled moments I can recall. How Great is our God!
It was also pretty crazy to hear about the blessings upon our group. The strengthened and renewed relationships with Christ -- and even newborn babies in the family struck my heart and the hearts of others with encouragement and awe. All of us were struck with the affection of Christ and grew in love and tenderness. To see the suffering of many healed was truly a work of God. Nobody is without suffering in this world. But we have Christ. (John 16:33)
This year, I have the awesome opportunity to take on the Great Commission in the Dominican and go again. And what I humbly ask for is prayer. PLEASE BE PRAYING for us! That we may clearly and humbly share the Gospel so that lives may be saved! That God would have us be a blessing unto the people and that we would be effectively used. I do not want to ask for any monetary support (although if you feel called to support in that way, it would help). We will be in the DR from August 1st through the 7th.
This year, I hope to do things differently. I will be taking a camera and a laptop so that I can update you while I'm in the Dominican -- so that I wouldn't clumsily inform you so long after the trip. You can see the pictures and updates on my blog @ http://www.SimonDR.blogspot.com/.
I am so humbled and excited to see what God will do in the Dominican this year. Thank you so much for reading this. God Bless.

-Simon
"All that is within me cries for You alone be glorified. Emmanuel, God with us." -[MercyMe]