A Golden Ticket

If you have ever watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory you will connect with this story.

So I was walking home from school today trying to decide if I needed to do anything before I actually went to my house. Living on the top of the hill and working at the bottom of the hill lends to these questions (especially when you don't have a car). I decided to say hello to my mother first (to see if maybe she could drive me up the hill ;) use those connections baby) then check my mail.

I walked up to the finance office and called through her window. My four year old niece use to stand under the window and in her sweet high pitched voice say, "NANA, it's me, PIIIPPPPEERRR!" so adorable! So I tried it. Didn't have the same affect, but hey she opened the door and let me in anyways!

After a nice little chat she asked if I wanted a ride home...yep! She said, "That's probably why you stopped by huh?" Can't a daughter just say hi to her mothe...okay she's right. We who live on the "top" figure out ways to bypass the huff-and-puff of a walk each day! (who needs a gym!)

We walked out and mom decided to go to the post office. I was discouraged with the thought, seeing as I haven't gotten mail in a while, but was pleasantly surprised...okay I scream YESSSSSSSS, when I saw the little golden ticket in my mail box. I had an over sized package. (I am actually not surprised that I don't have much mail because I have just recently sent out my mailing address.)

My mom bugged me that it was probably for her and they had put it in the wrong "Wulff" box, which has happened before. BUT SHE WAS WRONG! It was a gift from my friend Elizabeth. I was so happy. I AM so happy!

I rushed home to see what goodies she had sent. The package even SMELLED good! Some people like to look on the green paper that is attached to the box that says what is enclosed...but not me. I like to be surprised. Each little gift was wrapped in the cutest tissue paper and being a "good missionary" I carefully unwrapped and folded it so I can reuse it. Seriously! Okay well I did for the first two then I couldn't wait! Give me a break, I'm new at this. In three years I will be a PRO at reusing paper! It's like Christmas in MAY!

She had sent Coffee (a story about the coffee pot to come), gum and candy, and a nice CD of Christian music...very pretty. She also sent me things for giving myself a pedicure. HOW perfect! My roommate Joy and I are having some friends over on Friday. We were brainstorming just last night about what we could do....now we know! Pedicures all around.

Well, thanks for making my day Elizabeth!

If you ever want to make a missionaries day, send them something in the mail...even a card will keep them going....plus they will probably cheer up others up by sharing!

over and out

From Mk to Mk

Tonight I shared at Soul Purpose (teen youth group). I shared about my experiences as an Missionary Kid (MK), how I dealt with transition, change, and claiming my faith for my own. I was told I could speak from 20-45 minutes. YIKES! I haven't talked that long in quite awhile...but as a good "Wulff" it wasn't hard to meet that goal.

It was strange to speak to the teens but very natural. Wasn't I just sitting there a few years ago? The seniors this year were completing fourth grade when I was finishing my senior year. All that to say, their faces are still pretty new to me. Time changes but we can still learn from each other.

This place brings back so many memories of high school. Good memories and difficult ones. High school was a hard time of life. Yeah it was great in many ways but there were so many transitions, changes, moves, relationship issues, and self-centeredness. When I was in high school I missed out on so many things because my focus was on me. I wonder what I could have accomplished if my focus was switched to Christ and others?

But if we're honest we would probably ALL say, my focus is not on Christ FIRST, then on others, then ourselves. It's a constant struggle isn't it!

It was a blessing to share what God has done in and through me. The more I shared the more I was in awe of the works of God. I shared about a time when God gave me strength when a friend was VERY sick, a time when I could not speak and the Holy Spirit spoke for me, and a time when I needed peace and it was given to me. ALL of these things were the acts of GOD. Yes I believed but God was at work. He is never far from me.

All I hope tonight is that the kids will not remember the stupid things I said like : "crap" and "high on peace" but rather the verses I read, the challenge, and my push for them to go to the thrown of Christ.

Two verses that I shared tonight that have impacted me over the years:

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. "

1 Peter 3:15-16 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"

Praise God!

Lazy water

The other day I needed to fill up a water container. I decided I wanted it to be from our filter which is connected to our bathroom sink. This filter is VERY slow. I put the bottle under the filter spout and watched the water trickle in. Feeling lazy I called my roommate Joy in to help me figured out a way that I could leave it and not have to hold it...for a half hour!

So strategically wrapped the filter cord around the bottle and propped it up with the soap container. WOW, the things we come up with!

I'm in a different world now...

I thought I'd share some pretty funny things I have come in contact with in the last few days that have made me realize that I am "in a different world now".

While walking down the street I saw a little girl in super white shoes run to visit a friend. She yelled out "Hey, I got new shoes!". The little girl she was visiting yelled back, "I just took my malaria meds!".

A few nights ago I was invited to eat dinner at another teacher's house. She also invited a couple. The husband told me a story about when he was single. He had been watching a movie with a few others when they realized it was past the center curfew, 11:00 pm. They began to worry about how they would get home since none of them had a car and it was late. I thought to myself, "Wow, where else does a guy in his 30's NOT have a car and also WORRY about when he is out at night."

Last night my roommate and I had two families with little kids over for dinner. I was wondering what the kids would do since we don't have any toys, but they had no problem! They walked in and played for TWO HOURS with our two blankets. They became superheroes, babies, and so many other creative things. All that to say, missionary kids do not live on electronics. What a blessing!

Reading through "The Wycliffe International Cookbook" this morning I came across instructions for washing grains like rice and bean wheat. It said, "wash several times until the water runs clear. The chaff and the bugs will float and can be poured off." I laughed when I read BUGS! Only in a missionary cookbook.

Just thought I'd share. Hope you enjoy!