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2011 was the most painful year of my life hands down. 

Composed on the outside 

but my insides were just a big ball of heartache. 

I came to the conclusion that if I truly let my heart feel all the 

pain, sorrow and hopelessness that I encountered…

I would seriously implode and die.
Melt away. 


Looking back it’s obvious that the Lord took over me and did work.

There’s no way I would’ve survived on my own even for a second. 




Every three to four weeks we hopped from culture to culture like it was normal.

I found myself blotting out the pain that I had endured the month before
in order to stay focused in the current month.


So, I chose not to deal.

I chose not the miss.

I chose not to feel.
I chose not to cry.
I secretly tried not to love.. but it was impossible. 


For 11 whole months I tried to protect myself.
Guard my heart from all the infectious emotional pain I endured.





The only problem with the mindset is that it didn’t stop.

I got home at the end of November and

my heart instantly saw it as a new month.

I hopped immediately into the culture…

protecting my heart from the pain that I had seen and felt the months before…

and diving head first into making the American culture my focus.




I have had my moments that I have reminisced on the year…

Prayed for faces in particular,
and secretly wept into my pillow for the lost souls I have encountered,


but for the most part I keep it all in the back of my mind.

It’s extremely hard to talk about it all.

It’s hard to comprehend that i even experienced half the things…

and if I can’t comprehend them myself, how on earth am I supposed to vocalize them?




I miss my street boys like nobodys business yet… 

yet I am more worried about American boys attention than interceding for them.

I am well aware that my Swazi babies eat less than 10 cents of food a day…

yet It is easy for me to drop $20 on a meal that doesn’t begin to satisfy.

I know of the girls around the world that are forced to prostitute their bodies nightly…

yet I am caught up in who thinks I’m a beautiful based on the worlds standards.

I know the Lord is the only thing that will ever satisfy me…

yet I whorishly pursue anything but the attention of my one true Lover. 

I know the Lord has plans for my life that I cannot even comprehend…

yet I find it necessary to manipulate and plan out my life myself.




Lord, It blows my mind yet again that…

you’ll take such a measly little sinner such as me

and call me your bride.

That you never ever stop pursuing me 

even when I run away like Hoseas wife…

Even when I cheat on you like David did…

Even when I spit on your grace daily like Israel…

Even when I run in the opposite direction like Jonah…

Even when I convince myself that i’m not worthy and run…

Even when I choose to betray you in fear that I’m not good enough…

You forcefully pursue me.

You see my sick ways and just whisper that you
 don’t care.


That even if I cheat, run and betray… You are still there.

That You aren’t afraid to brutally fight for me. 

That even with my bruises and torn clothes and tired eyes

I am still the most beautiful thing in your eyes.

That I am redeemed.




Basically, Lord, I think you’re psychotic.
I can’t comprehend You.
But I’m okay with that.
I surrender to you because that’s all I can do.
I’m done running.
I’m done spitting.
I’m done pretending.
I’m done cheating.
I’m yours.