Poor Internet...

The internet decided it didn’t want my laptop to get through the proxies again here at ANU, which is sad.  Yet it shouldn’t stop me from updating when Outlook happily gets me around their proxy, and I can update by email!  Sweet.  So, I’ve had an interesting week.  Lots of traveling in and out of Nairobi which is an exhausting process, but it was worth it for the experience of singing with opera singers from Vienna, Austria.  Also, it’s great to be building relationships with some of the musicians of Nairobi, specifically those who I work with and hang around at ANU.  It has been a trial though trying to stay healthy in this season of late nights and stressful Matatu rides.  Happily, after Wednesday I can take a breather, and re-assess my priorities.  I am hoping to get some students together and get involved with the St. Paul’s children home off of ANU’s campus.  It’s an orphanage that, honestly, I don’t have a lot of information about beyond a referral from the fantastic Mr. Mat Woodley.  Especially in the light of this opera thing, I really feel compelled to seek out people who have tangible needs.  It’s fun to sing operettas for drunk German people and to see Nairobi from different angles, but I can’t help but thing: is this what Jesus would be doing with his time?  Hopefully I can have more info on this new idea by the end of the week.

I’ve been encouraged and challenged by the text of Isaiah 42 recently.  It prophetically describes Jesus as the perfect servant of God:

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands put their hope.”

Does anyone know what islands are talked about in this passage? Anyway, this passage has been challenging for me in loads of different ways, but I should really get to work this morning and you can (hopefully) read and be challenged or encouraged on your own! J  God bless.