Dance with me, oh Lover of my soul, to the song of all songs.

God enthralls
me. I am completely captivated by him. The other day I was going to spend time
with him, but instead I just basked in his presence and was completely
satisfied! It's so hard to pick one 'major' encounter with Him because honest,
where do we go where we DON'T have a God encounter?!

When I found
out we were going to Kenya, I got so excited! Kenya definitely has a huge tug
on my heart. One night, though, specifically sticks out with me while we were there, where I definitely had a God encounter.

One of my
favorite weeks we were there, we spent nearly all day, everyday at this one Primary
school. It was on a hill, practically in the middle of the African plains and
had a completely breathtaking view everywhere you looked. We got so close to
the kiddos there! Everyday, though, we noticed this massive mansion next door.
We asked Pastor Steve about it, and he told us it was once owned by a extremely
wealthy family, but was burned down partially and it has been abandoned ever
since. After ministry one day, we took a look around inside. It was a 'stereo-typical'
burned down, abandoned mansion, so beautiful it all its brokenness.

A couple
nights later, our leaders told our 2 guitarists to get their guitars, and our
violinist to bring her violin, and then to get in the matatu (our van), but they
wouldn't tell us where we were going.

We finally
pulled up at the mansion, and by this time the sun was completely gone, and the
stars were doing an excellent job exemplifying our Daddy's glory.

We went to the
ballroom. It was on the first story, looking out onto the vast plain, and it's big,
shattered front window allowed a clear view of the sky above us. This ballroom
was also the most musically acoustic room I have ever been in.

There is
something about music that it's like, me and God connect on a whole new level. I
can't get over how flawless it all fits together! How there are literally
unlimited ways harmonies and melodies and notes and rhythms can fit together. I
love the key E minor, and how you can go to major and minor keys still using
the same notes. How many different instruments can play the same thing, yet every instrument can also do something that no other instrument can do. I love different genres of music, and how music can bring people together. I love how it has been used to glorify God from the beginning! It completely enthralls me. I am far from the best singer or dancer, but I
definitely love to worship by music. I love dancing and going crazy worshiping loudly
with my whole body, or on my knees in a quiet voice that only He can hear. It's
so freeing!

This night we lit candles around the dark ballroom and
just worshiped for hours. Whatever was on your heart, you just sang it! And we
just sang and worshiped in the beautifully acoustic room. And let me tell you,
I felt my Husband in a completely intimate, personal way. I can promise you, he
was dancing with me that night. 

God knows what makes my heart leap, he knows what captivates me and makes me fall head over heals for him. He knows those these things, because that is how he created my heart to be. He knows just how to win me over! So once again, on that one night in Eburru, Kenya, I fell in love with my Creator all over again.

The mansion is now being remodeled to be used as a hotel
to raise money for the Primary school next door. www.davidshope.org