sons of lwala.

thursday night was the preview of a documentary tieing my worlds together - nashville and africa.

taken from www.sonsoflwala.com:
Milton and Fred Ochieng’ are two brothers from Kenya whose village sent them to America to become doctors. But after losing both parents to AIDS they are left with a heartbreaking task: to return home and finish the health clinic their father started before getting sick. Unable to raise enough money on their own, the brothers are joined by students, politicians, and a rock band who launch a fund raising drive among young people across the United States. Sons of Lwala follows Milton and Fred on their incredible journey as they find a way, despite all odds, to open their village’s first hospital....It takes us along on this moving journey of two brothers who lose their parents in Africa, but discover a family in America.

milton and fred go to vanderbilt. barry simmons, a friend and my boss's former roommate, is the producer. a bunch of our musician friends in town donated their songs for the film. my friend jena, who directs another non-profit here, was very influentual in helping milton and fred raise thousands of dollars for their clinic, including $10,000 from a benefit at a nashville sounds game -- our own minor-league baseball team! it really was the nashville community coming together to help the community in lwala. so what better way to show the first preview, than by 1000 of milton and fred's closest friends gathering at the tennessee performing arts center to celebrate the film and more importantly, their vision and their hope becoming a reality.

the night was amazing, and another reminder of how i am SO blessed to be right where i am - in the midst of a community in nashville that really cares and loves well...while having my hands and my heart totally immersed into what God is doing in africa.

barry will be taking sons of lwala to film festivals in the coming months -- but you can also buy the DVD through the website. even if you feel no connection to nashville or africa, i highly recommend seeing it -- you won't be able to help being affected by an amazing story of hope.

there's hope.

i'm kinda obsessed with a fine frenzy right now -- specifically this one song called "hope for the hopeless". here's the lyrics:

STICH IN YOUR KNITTED BROW, AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW, YOU'RE GONNA GET IT OUT
CRUSHED UNDER HEAVY CHEST, TRYING TO CATCH YOUR BREATH, BUT IT ALWAYS BEATS YOU BY A STEP, ALL RIGHT NOW
MAKING THE BEST OF IT, PLAYING THE HAND YOU GET, YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS
THERE'S HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS, THERE'S HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS, THERE'S HOPE
COLD IN A SUMMER BREEZE, YEAH, YOU'RE SHIVERING, ON YOUR BENDED KNEE
STILL, WHEN YOU'RE HEART IS SORE, AND THE HEAVEN'S POUR, LIKE A WILLOW BENDING WITH THE STORM, YOU'LL MAKE IT
RUNNING AGAINST THE WIND, PLAYIN THE CARDS YOU GET, SOMETHING IS BOUND TO GIVE
THERE'S HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS, THERE'S HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS, THERE'S HOPE

especially with EASTER this weekend, the sole reason we HAVE HOPE, it's so important to remember.
even when life seems unbearable...there's hope.
even when the world is sad and broken....there's hope.
even when you're lonely and your "heart is sore"...there's hope.

"find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my HOPE comes from Him."
- psalm 62:5

in repair.

so apparently i'm on this john mayer kick :)

i hadn't really listened to the lyrics of the song "in repair" he did - but i watched an interview of him talking about it and about us being on this journey, either on the way up, or on the way down, and not enjoying the moments...."never really ready...not together...but getting there"...and a beauty about the idea of being in repair.
life is about us continually growing and changing, but never really acquiring perfection here on earth.
i loved it. it's totally the theme of my life (and my blog!) of finding joy in the journey, finding purpose in the process God has us in...constantly repairing our hearts and refining our character. it's hard, and often times it hurts, but it's good.


"in repair" - john mayer

Too many shadows in my room, Too many hours in this midnight
Too many corners in my mind, So much to do to set my heart right

Oh, it’s taken so long, I could be wrong, I could be ready
Oh, but if I take my heart’s advice, I should assume it’s still unsteady
I am in repair, I am in repair

Stood on the corner for a while, To wait for the wind to blow down on me
Hoping it takes with it my old ways, And brings some brand new luck upon me

Oh, it’s taken so long, I could be wrong, I could be ready
Oh, but if I take my heart’s advice, I should assume it’s still unsteady
I am in repair, I am in repair

And now I’m walking in the park, And all of the birds, they dance below me
Maybe when things turn green again, It will be good to say you know me

Oh, it’s taken so long, I could be wrong, I could be ready
Oh, but if I take my heart’s advice, I should assume it’s still unsteady
Oh yeah, I’m never really ready, yeah
I’m in repair, I’m not together but I’m getting there

blast from the past.

this john mayer video was shot at the georgia theatre when i was in college - circa february 2002 - and if you pause it at 3:15, you'll see me. hilarious :)