If I could change the world..

Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world. The day recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of those who risk their lives to give others help and hope. It is also about inspiring the spirit of aid work in everyone.

Love is really what it's about. Showing love in tangible ways to the most vulnerable and marginalized amongst us is not easy. It requires sacrifice and getting outside our comfort zone. It can mean being misunderstood and disenfranchised. But that which we do for the least is also what we do for God.

To all the incredible people I've had the pleasure of meeting since starting on this journey, happy humanitarian day! I am blessed by the efforts of my team-mates, colleagues and former classmates and friends. May we never forget what a privilege it is to live this life as we do.

Moving again

photo credit: marydoughtery.net

Moving again. For the 11th time in 10 years.

Sometimes I wonder when the constant motion in my life will end. Don't get me wrong - I have loved my life. I'm SO thankful for all the experiences - good and bad - that my little heart has gone through. But I'm SO done with packing/rearranging and starting over! I wish all my peeps were all in one zip-code. Or how about one time-zone?

All the exhilaration and the newness of things inevitably gives way to the familiar. And my eyes always scans for the familiar - even in the midst of so much unknown.

And I'm grateful to have a life where I have experienced what I have: several international and domestic moves, friendship, loss, joy, love, grief, uncertainty, comfort, beauty, sadness. Through all this, all the wonderful people I've met who have taught me so much!

Part of me is always scared with every new step I've taken. And another part of me always says, 'Do it Devina, take that step. If you don't, you'll always wonder'. I think I get this spunky part from my amazing mother, who has taught me so much!

So - here I am. Taking yet another step in the unknown and about to start a new life.

At least this time, it's not completely unknown. I'm moving back to Washington, DC, where I lived for a short 6-months last year. For a new job that I'm so excited about! Doing work that I feel called to do. With an organization whose mission I believe in.

Seriously?! Who'd have thunk? Me - a simple girl from Mombasa, Kenya would be here? If you had told me back in Kenya that I would be here - a masters-degree doing work that fulfills the calling that God has placed in my life - I would have laughed at you!

This simply gives me so much hope for other areas of my life where I'm still waiting. My Lord is a giver of good things! He has provided for me beyond measure, and He will continue to be faithful. So, in-spite of the uncertainty and potential nuttiness that life will bring in next months as I acclimate back to our nation's capital, thankfulness is still the song I'm singing!

5 ways to listen better

Evangelicals without Blowhards

Christian evangelicalism has been given a bad name, but there’s a strain that is extraordinarily generous and compassionate.

In this article, popular writer and journalist Nick Kristoff argues that religious people and secular people alike do fantastic work on humanitarian issues — but they often don’t work together because of mutual suspicions.

If we could bridge this “God gulf,” we would make far more progress on the world’s ills.