So, I'm heading off to Gabon in less than 48 hours, which means that I have less than 2 days to prepare not just my suitcase but also my heart... I didn't think that it would be this tough, this demanding, this draining to go on two missions trips, almost back to back. But it is...and I'm kinda struggling. I don't know where to put the spiritual high from Guatemala as I need to focus once more and prepare for another in Gabon.
Anyways, I'm packing, or at least attempting. The Guatemala clothes have been washed, folded, and then placed on my floor to be repacked. But, here goes- clothes are worn and torn, faded and made of memories; they have literally stepped into our shoes to experience everything that makes and breaks our lives. And so my clothes hold a meaning, have captured memories, and I'm not sure that they have room to be filled with more meanings and memories. I guess we'll just have to see...
The clothes on my floor, folded and arranged in a rainbow of fabrics, but it's becoming a flood of colors. Tomorrow morning the team comes over, all 7 of us, and we're going to pack all of our food for the 13 days, all of our supplies for the activities, all of everything we think we may need. But what must be packed is a prepared heart, and that takes time to foster, to grow, to nuture, to encourage, to trim.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Mountains
This morning, I woke up at 6:30, not sure why because it wasn't the screaming of an alarm or the honking of buses in the midmorning traffic. After pretty much packing up all of my stuff, I had a while to listen to some worship music and read my Bible as a sort of devotional time. So I walked onto my little balcony, settled down into a chair, took a glance at the surrounding mountains, and then randomly leafed to a chapter in Psalm, as I normally do to start my devotional time. Today, the chapter was Psalm 125, and it directly talked about God protecting and surrounding us just as the mountains in Jerusalem did for the Isrealites. At that point, I didn't know whether Stephen and Brian would be traveling with me, so I felt this peace knowing that just as the mountains surrounded me at that moment, so God would surround me as I travel, if I had to travel alone.
Well, right now I'm sitting in the Guatemala City airport and I am not alone...Stephen was healthy enough and Brian not sick enough. So, although they're sick, they can at least travel with me - a huge answer to prayer.
Well, right now I'm sitting in the Guatemala City airport and I am not alone...Stephen was healthy enough and Brian not sick enough. So, although they're sick, they can at least travel with me - a huge answer to prayer.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sick
Hey. So I have a minute because we're at Leigh and Josh's appartment/suite. Please continue to pray for us, especially as Stephen is sick with the flu. It hit the morning that most of the team left for Antigua and then Guatemala City. He had a cough, congestion, and a headach. Today, it elevated in the morning and so we walked him over to the hotel to stay with Leigh. The symptoms extended to being diagnosed as a flu earlier today, Please pray because he is not himself, because he is missing the extended part of the trip, and because we travel tomorrow-all not a fun time to be sick.
With everything else, we are staying in a house together, which is a blessing that got rid of one of my biggest fears. The family is amazing, and the mother is actually a cook (somewhat professional), so the meals are amazing and there's lots of love. Meeting with my Compassion child has fallen through, so I think that we'll be helping with ESL tomorrow.
We have to head back to Clara's house, still with hungry stomachs because we haven't eaten dinner yet. Good night.
With everything else, we are staying in a house together, which is a blessing that got rid of one of my biggest fears. The family is amazing, and the mother is actually a cook (somewhat professional), so the meals are amazing and there's lots of love. Meeting with my Compassion child has fallen through, so I think that we'll be helping with ESL tomorrow.
We have to head back to Clara's house, still with hungry stomachs because we haven't eaten dinner yet. Good night.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Heading Out
Today's a hard day for a few reasons. For the majority of the team, they head out to Antigua and then Guatemala City, where tomorrow they will board a plane and head back to the US. So saying goodbye not just to the people here and the countryside but also to the community that we have will be tough. It's amazing how people come together on a missions trip but it's also confusing as to how people break off again once they get back to the States, back to "normal" life, back to comfort.
But today's also a little hard for me, Stephen, and Brian. We'll be staying 2 extra days more than the group, and today's cultural day for them will be our first day of staying with a Guatemalan family. If I may be honest, I am a little scared. The group is leaving, and so the community, the fellowship, and the security of knowing they're around will vanish. Also, I had forseen that Stephen, Brian, and I will be together other then the evenings and mornings, and that expectation has been cruelly shattered. I'll be staying, alone, with a Guatemalan family, with only having the possibility of seeing them once or twice before Monday.
But God will work through my fears to bring about something beautiful. As of the moment, the plan is to be with the family, doing anything and everything that they would normally do. Tonight, a son of one of the three families is in a band and is performing a rock concert, in Spanish, so that should be exciting. Sunday morning we each go to the family's church. Monday we'll meet back at the hotel to maybe do ESL at a school or meeting my Compassion child. I'm just trying to lay it all in God's hand.
The bus that's taking them just rolled in, so I have to go say goodbye. Please continue praying.
But today's also a little hard for me, Stephen, and Brian. We'll be staying 2 extra days more than the group, and today's cultural day for them will be our first day of staying with a Guatemalan family. If I may be honest, I am a little scared. The group is leaving, and so the community, the fellowship, and the security of knowing they're around will vanish. Also, I had forseen that Stephen, Brian, and I will be together other then the evenings and mornings, and that expectation has been cruelly shattered. I'll be staying, alone, with a Guatemalan family, with only having the possibility of seeing them once or twice before Monday.
But God will work through my fears to bring about something beautiful. As of the moment, the plan is to be with the family, doing anything and everything that they would normally do. Tonight, a son of one of the three families is in a band and is performing a rock concert, in Spanish, so that should be exciting. Sunday morning we each go to the family's church. Monday we'll meet back at the hotel to maybe do ESL at a school or meeting my Compassion child. I'm just trying to lay it all in God's hand.
The bus that's taking them just rolled in, so I have to go say goodbye. Please continue praying.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Burried
Being the last work day, many in our group were sad to leave the sites, which was reasonable because of the relationships that we've built and the fun that we've had just working alongside the Guatemalans. Soccer went well last night, even though we lost- which means we payed for the rent of the field for that hour and Gatorades for the winners.
What stuck out most to me today was the devotional time tonight. We had Don, a missionary living on the hotel grounds speak, and having heard a message of his on Sunday, it was really good to hear what he had to say again. He asked a series of questions: What have you burried, hidden so that no one can see, covered under 6 feet of dirt? What kind of building are you building when no one can see? Who are you? He then talked about secrets that lead to hidden lives and the desire of God to restore us to our perfect relationship as exemplified in the Garden of Eden. Walking us through Moses' life as an example of how God chases us even through painful times, he pointed out a word. Hiyah (if I spelled it correctly)- to be fully present. We have to drop everything and uncover and become naked in order to be fully present. Challenging us to interact with someone that we trust about what we're hiding, we were given some time to just journal, pray, and spend time alone with God.
Yep...that's my God experience for the day. What helped me through it was something a good friend told me once: What we think that we need most at the moment is God's grace telling us to rely on Him for that need.
What stuck out most to me today was the devotional time tonight. We had Don, a missionary living on the hotel grounds speak, and having heard a message of his on Sunday, it was really good to hear what he had to say again. He asked a series of questions: What have you burried, hidden so that no one can see, covered under 6 feet of dirt? What kind of building are you building when no one can see? Who are you? He then talked about secrets that lead to hidden lives and the desire of God to restore us to our perfect relationship as exemplified in the Garden of Eden. Walking us through Moses' life as an example of how God chases us even through painful times, he pointed out a word. Hiyah (if I spelled it correctly)- to be fully present. We have to drop everything and uncover and become naked in order to be fully present. Challenging us to interact with someone that we trust about what we're hiding, we were given some time to just journal, pray, and spend time alone with God.
Yep...that's my God experience for the day. What helped me through it was something a good friend told me once: What we think that we need most at the moment is God's grace telling us to rely on Him for that need.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Book
Today, we started with devotions and a huge breakfast (which is my favorite meal, so I’m glad it’s big, haha). After gathering our supplies, we walked up a few flights of stairs to a school that is actually in the hotel grounds, where we held a VBS for 40 minutes or so. Beginning with the dramas, we made crafts and taught colors, played a Bible verse game, and colored with crayons as vibrant as their personalities.
As VBS was going on, Kira slipped in. I noticed her right away as our translator from last summer and afterwards, reminded her of that trip. She asked about school and life and plans for the future, all in Spanish, which I loved. After telling her that my hope is to major in missions, especially in a Spanish speaking country, she now refuses to talk to me in English, so that I can practice my Spanish.
After VBS, we put our supplies away, changed into yesterday’s dirty work clothes, and then headed to our construction sites. We stayed at the same sites because some people, especially me, had made relationship progress and/or process knowledge that would be best to be continued at least another day. Soon at the home, we put up columnas (columns) and wire stuff to hold them in. They would be the support for the walls, and after mixing cement, we made a firm foundation to lay the blocas (blocks). The first row of blocks had to be layed by the mason, Mario, and so we just helped a little with that, watching mostly though. This may sound easy-what we did and all, but I didn’t tell you what we muled around. We had bags full of dirt, weighing about 150 lbs, to move from the trench digging, numbering in about 100 over the last two days; bags of piedras (rocks) to move (they were to mix into the cement to make it stronger), numbering around 30; bags of cement, numbering around 12; bags of sand to mix in with the cement and rocks, numbering around 30; and 200 blocas (blocks) for the walls. Mind you, I’m not good with estimating numbers, and we had to put the supplies in one area and then move them again once needed because we had to get the off the various trucks but didn’t have much room near the house area to put tons of supplies.
Today was another successful day as a translator for our group but also as a coworker with the guys. The Guatemalan workers knew what I was capable of doing, and let me do what a woman normally wouldn’t do and even some American men. Also, Ryan and I, in addition to a few of my team members who could muster out a little Spanish, we grew relationships, talking about stuff that’s more than Spanish class book material. Near the middle, we arranged to have a game- we, our youth group team, would play the workers in soccer tomorrow night after a little break after work. It’s exciting to see that they invite us to see them outside of work, to see them in a different aspect of their lives, to see that they know us enough to ask.
Day 2 of building the house ended as cement that was hand mixed was poured, the columnas (columns) were perfect, and the blocas (blocks) had been partially put in place. Walking into the hotel grounds, I could see the 3 little girls sitting at their spot next to the fountain, with a sister of one of the girls. They had returned to swim, and after my dad got his suit on, the four of them went in. A fifth joined, being the sister of two of the girls but not the two others, and my dad splashed and played and taught them how to swim.
Dinner, devotions, … oh wait. It wasn’t a normal night; we had a surprise baby shower for Josh and Leigh before devotions, which went beautifully. Hannah Harris planned everything- from punch to cake to gifts to cookies to a diaper game. We prayed over them at the end, anointing them to be wise and godly parents and for the child to grow in God’s love everyday.
Now I can say that we had devotions, haha. After searching God’s word and hearing Josh and Leigh’s story, we headed to our rooms, where I now sit after typing for almost an hour. I thought I wouldn’t write a book but I see that, yeah, it pretty much is. Enjoy it! Haha. I’m excited to see how God is going to continue to speak and how miracles are going to continue to happen.
As VBS was going on, Kira slipped in. I noticed her right away as our translator from last summer and afterwards, reminded her of that trip. She asked about school and life and plans for the future, all in Spanish, which I loved. After telling her that my hope is to major in missions, especially in a Spanish speaking country, she now refuses to talk to me in English, so that I can practice my Spanish.
After VBS, we put our supplies away, changed into yesterday’s dirty work clothes, and then headed to our construction sites. We stayed at the same sites because some people, especially me, had made relationship progress and/or process knowledge that would be best to be continued at least another day. Soon at the home, we put up columnas (columns) and wire stuff to hold them in. They would be the support for the walls, and after mixing cement, we made a firm foundation to lay the blocas (blocks). The first row of blocks had to be layed by the mason, Mario, and so we just helped a little with that, watching mostly though. This may sound easy-what we did and all, but I didn’t tell you what we muled around. We had bags full of dirt, weighing about 150 lbs, to move from the trench digging, numbering in about 100 over the last two days; bags of piedras (rocks) to move (they were to mix into the cement to make it stronger), numbering around 30; bags of cement, numbering around 12; bags of sand to mix in with the cement and rocks, numbering around 30; and 200 blocas (blocks) for the walls. Mind you, I’m not good with estimating numbers, and we had to put the supplies in one area and then move them again once needed because we had to get the off the various trucks but didn’t have much room near the house area to put tons of supplies.
Today was another successful day as a translator for our group but also as a coworker with the guys. The Guatemalan workers knew what I was capable of doing, and let me do what a woman normally wouldn’t do and even some American men. Also, Ryan and I, in addition to a few of my team members who could muster out a little Spanish, we grew relationships, talking about stuff that’s more than Spanish class book material. Near the middle, we arranged to have a game- we, our youth group team, would play the workers in soccer tomorrow night after a little break after work. It’s exciting to see that they invite us to see them outside of work, to see them in a different aspect of their lives, to see that they know us enough to ask.
Day 2 of building the house ended as cement that was hand mixed was poured, the columnas (columns) were perfect, and the blocas (blocks) had been partially put in place. Walking into the hotel grounds, I could see the 3 little girls sitting at their spot next to the fountain, with a sister of one of the girls. They had returned to swim, and after my dad got his suit on, the four of them went in. A fifth joined, being the sister of two of the girls but not the two others, and my dad splashed and played and taught them how to swim.
Dinner, devotions, … oh wait. It wasn’t a normal night; we had a surprise baby shower for Josh and Leigh before devotions, which went beautifully. Hannah Harris planned everything- from punch to cake to gifts to cookies to a diaper game. We prayed over them at the end, anointing them to be wise and godly parents and for the child to grow in God’s love everyday.
Now I can say that we had devotions, haha. After searching God’s word and hearing Josh and Leigh’s story, we headed to our rooms, where I now sit after typing for almost an hour. I thought I wouldn’t write a book but I see that, yeah, it pretty much is. Enjoy it! Haha. I’m excited to see how God is going to continue to speak and how miracles are going to continue to happen.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Finding God
Even before the sun, we began our morning devotions, waking at 6:27 to meet as a group at 6:30 and then after a short song, split off for individual devotions. As much as 6:30 was an early wake-up as I swung my feet over the side of the bed, I’ve realized that my day is a lot, although not perfectly, smoother when I begin it with prayer, reading, and listening.
After devotions, breakfast, and getting supplies ready, our group split into four groups: VBS, House Construction, Fence Construction, and Teaching English. I headed to VBS, as it is my and Amanda’s senior projects. There, we began with a drama but also sang, colored, did globos (balloons), and loved on the kids. With the coloring, I had a blast saying a bunch of wrong animals, while the kids corrected me, and then finally saying the right one. And of course, with the balloons, we made swords and fought.
After VBS, which only lasted an hour, my crew headed back to the hotel, changed, and split up to go to different construction spots. As I look back right now, I see how much of a miracle it is that God chose to send me to the house construction because I was supposed to be going to the other spot but got changed last minute.
At the house, we were given the job of digging a trench about 30 centimeters high and 50 centimeters wide where we’d put a foundation for a 10 by 15 foot house. At first, the men were extremely hesitant for any woman to shovel, so we held the bags that would be filled with dirt. However, after getting to know the guys, I picked up a shovel and got to work. We finished most of the trench, and by the next morning, the workers had finished it (cause they stayed an hour after us). While there, though, Ryan and I really got to know one of the guys: Alberto, who’s 18. The other workers are very nice and bear with my Spanish. God seems to guide my tongue, and I’ve been somewhat of our groups translator at this site, which is so much fun.
Today ended with the normal: free time, dinner, and devotions. But after work, as we walked back along the cobbled road to the hotel, I saw 3 girls sitting on the next to the fountain near the main building of the hotel. These girls were shy but opened up quickly. We played hand games, It Tag, and then took them to a room to dance and perform the dramas.
After devotions, breakfast, and getting supplies ready, our group split into four groups: VBS, House Construction, Fence Construction, and Teaching English. I headed to VBS, as it is my and Amanda’s senior projects. There, we began with a drama but also sang, colored, did globos (balloons), and loved on the kids. With the coloring, I had a blast saying a bunch of wrong animals, while the kids corrected me, and then finally saying the right one. And of course, with the balloons, we made swords and fought.
After VBS, which only lasted an hour, my crew headed back to the hotel, changed, and split up to go to different construction spots. As I look back right now, I see how much of a miracle it is that God chose to send me to the house construction because I was supposed to be going to the other spot but got changed last minute.
At the house, we were given the job of digging a trench about 30 centimeters high and 50 centimeters wide where we’d put a foundation for a 10 by 15 foot house. At first, the men were extremely hesitant for any woman to shovel, so we held the bags that would be filled with dirt. However, after getting to know the guys, I picked up a shovel and got to work. We finished most of the trench, and by the next morning, the workers had finished it (cause they stayed an hour after us). While there, though, Ryan and I really got to know one of the guys: Alberto, who’s 18. The other workers are very nice and bear with my Spanish. God seems to guide my tongue, and I’ve been somewhat of our groups translator at this site, which is so much fun.
Today ended with the normal: free time, dinner, and devotions. But after work, as we walked back along the cobbled road to the hotel, I saw 3 girls sitting on the next to the fountain near the main building of the hotel. These girls were shy but opened up quickly. We played hand games, It Tag, and then took them to a room to dance and perform the dramas.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Prayer
Today, we had a chance to attend a church inside of the hotel grounds that is also attended by the other missionaries and their families and 2 other missions trip groups. The preacher spoke of prayer and how the key is for us to see how God is so great and not what He can or should do, if that makes sense. In other words, we are to see His greatness, His immense capabilities, His outstanding love and know that whatever happens, God is great and not necessarily that the prayer was answered.
After church, we headed off to the mercado (market place) for some shopping…yay! Just kidding. I’m not a huge shopper, only buying two things myself, but the day was beautiful with on-and-off rain to spice up the shopping. One man, who I talked to, was such a blessing to just hear his story, to slow down and listen to the people that we’re bartering and buying stuff from. Sunday night ended with an enormous dinner, night devotional time, and the “family” game night.
They're keeping me busy, so the posts may be short, but God is doing a ton despite the little I have time to tell you of.
After church, we headed off to the mercado (market place) for some shopping…yay! Just kidding. I’m not a huge shopper, only buying two things myself, but the day was beautiful with on-and-off rain to spice up the shopping. One man, who I talked to, was such a blessing to just hear his story, to slow down and listen to the people that we’re bartering and buying stuff from. Sunday night ended with an enormous dinner, night devotional time, and the “family” game night.
They're keeping me busy, so the posts may be short, but God is doing a ton despite the little I have time to tell you of.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Focused
A few people have straggled behind after the group meeting, some strumming on a guitar while others are chatting and laughing. Whatever we're doing, almost everyone is tired! It's been a long day of travel, with us meeting at the airport at 4:30 this morning and arriving at the Casa del Rey at 6 pm. To all you in Pittsburgh and the States, the time's about 11:00 but in Guatemala, the time is 9. So, even though we're two hours behind, it feels later.
The flights went fairly smoothly, meeting a few other missions teams and some friendly Spanish-speakers along the way. After loosing only one bag and a few delays while driving from Guatemala City to Chichicastenango, we had a filling dinner and then headed to a group meeting. After going over the schedule and more information, we had a chance to focus on what the trip's going to be about: God. Josh Sevick, our guide for the week, challenged us with this thought-
"We may be here to help those who are impoverished and to lift them up from some of their troubles, but the main focus of the week, the one concern that should be the focus of a short term missions trip is to give God the room to work in us. It is to allow God to teach us about Himself through the Guatemalans, to deepen our relationship with Him, to stop and listen to what God's saying.
So, that's the focus. Stop. Listen.
During worship, we sang a song that grabs this idea by the hand and lets it fly. We sang "Heart of Worship," saying that it's all about God and not just the song, the work, the teaching that we are offering to God.
I gotta go get some sleep. Tomorrow's a busy day and today was pretty full too. Thanks everyone for reading and praying!
The flights went fairly smoothly, meeting a few other missions teams and some friendly Spanish-speakers along the way. After loosing only one bag and a few delays while driving from Guatemala City to Chichicastenango, we had a filling dinner and then headed to a group meeting. After going over the schedule and more information, we had a chance to focus on what the trip's going to be about: God. Josh Sevick, our guide for the week, challenged us with this thought-
"We may be here to help those who are impoverished and to lift them up from some of their troubles, but the main focus of the week, the one concern that should be the focus of a short term missions trip is to give God the room to work in us. It is to allow God to teach us about Himself through the Guatemalans, to deepen our relationship with Him, to stop and listen to what God's saying.
So, that's the focus. Stop. Listen.
During worship, we sang a song that grabs this idea by the hand and lets it fly. We sang "Heart of Worship," saying that it's all about God and not just the song, the work, the teaching that we are offering to God.
I gotta go get some sleep. Tomorrow's a busy day and today was pretty full too. Thanks everyone for reading and praying!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Flexible
Flexible - (adj) Capable of being bent, usually without being broken
This was the theme of the Concert of Prayer last night, and it has glimpses of being an enduring theme of the trip to Guatemala as well. To keep the list short, we've had last minute changes to the team as well as what seems to be a million details that need harnessed and organized. But through it all, God's not going to let us fall. As the definition above states, he will bend and twist and push and stretch us, but, and this is the beautiful part, he will not break us. We will never face a trial that is more than we can bear, and God knows that (that we won't break) even before we look that trial dead in the face for the first time.
As the 27 teens and leaders on the team enter the trip and even prepare for it, please keep the team as a whole and each of the individuals in your prayers. Each team member is entering the trip with different struggles, different expectations, different attitudes, different fears. Throughout the trip, our hope is to be able to blog each night on our team's blog: www.2009guatemalabound.blogspot.com. Three members or so will write of the day's adventures, challenges, highlights, and conversations. My hope is to steal some time each day and write on this blog of my personal encounters, struggles, and accomplishments.
This was the theme of the Concert of Prayer last night, and it has glimpses of being an enduring theme of the trip to Guatemala as well. To keep the list short, we've had last minute changes to the team as well as what seems to be a million details that need harnessed and organized. But through it all, God's not going to let us fall. As the definition above states, he will bend and twist and push and stretch us, but, and this is the beautiful part, he will not break us. We will never face a trial that is more than we can bear, and God knows that (that we won't break) even before we look that trial dead in the face for the first time.
As the 27 teens and leaders on the team enter the trip and even prepare for it, please keep the team as a whole and each of the individuals in your prayers. Each team member is entering the trip with different struggles, different expectations, different attitudes, different fears. Throughout the trip, our hope is to be able to blog each night on our team's blog: www.2009guatemalabound.blogspot.com. Three members or so will write of the day's adventures, challenges, highlights, and conversations. My hope is to steal some time each day and write on this blog of my personal encounters, struggles, and accomplishments.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
What We'll Do
God has been known to surprise us and change our plans around, but, as of the moment, here is what we're planning to do in Guatemala:
Saturday, July 11: Travel, settling in, and a prayer walk at the hotel (Casa del Rey- House of the King)
Sunday: Going to church with the missionaries, shopping at the market, and getting ready for the week
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: Construction, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and teaching English at a school
Friday: Spending the day at Lake Atitlan
Saturday: Stephen, Brian, and I say good-bye to the team as they head to Antigua and then travel back home on Sunday morning; we are staying for a few extra days in hopes of being further immersed in missions and the Guatemalan culture
Sunday and Monday: Josh and Leigh Sevick are planning what we're doing...somewhere, I think Monday, we'll have a chance to meet my Compassion child, Cesar.
Tuesday, July 21: Travel
As for Gabon, we don't have a schedule yet, but we do have a general idea. We'll be visiting an orphanage: Hope House; we are digging a ditch and connecting showers and toilets to Pastor Phillipe's (our host) house; and we are helping with a medical clinic where we'll do general medical stuff but also holding a VBS for the kids. The dates of this trip are July 29 to August 10.
Saturday, July 11: Travel, settling in, and a prayer walk at the hotel (Casa del Rey- House of the King)
Sunday: Going to church with the missionaries, shopping at the market, and getting ready for the week
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: Construction, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and teaching English at a school
Friday: Spending the day at Lake Atitlan
Saturday: Stephen, Brian, and I say good-bye to the team as they head to Antigua and then travel back home on Sunday morning; we are staying for a few extra days in hopes of being further immersed in missions and the Guatemalan culture
Sunday and Monday: Josh and Leigh Sevick are planning what we're doing...somewhere, I think Monday, we'll have a chance to meet my Compassion child, Cesar.
Tuesday, July 21: Travel
As for Gabon, we don't have a schedule yet, but we do have a general idea. We'll be visiting an orphanage: Hope House; we are digging a ditch and connecting showers and toilets to Pastor Phillipe's (our host) house; and we are helping with a medical clinic where we'll do general medical stuff but also holding a VBS for the kids. The dates of this trip are July 29 to August 10.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Ready?
A few days ago, my family and I returned home from a week of vacationing in the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence Seaway. We were spending the week on houseboats, jumping between some of the 1000 Islands. Nature was crisp, vibrant, and refreshing; I felt like I had stepped back into time, back to the third day when land and sea were created, back to when God's mere voice could form and shape and give life. These are the moments that become memories, the memories that connect generations, the generations that last forever. Canada was such a blessing because it prepared me for the greatness of God, and being absorbed in it for a week can do miracles to a busy body.But am I ready? Canada can prepare me some, but am I truly, deep down in my heart, ready for all that God's going to do? Am I willing to let my walls of control and insecurities collapse and tumble down as God has work to do on my heart and through my heart? I don't know; I can't honestly say that I'm ready but I do know that God is gracious and patient. As I stumble and fall and cry out amidst the wall that crashes down around me, I know that He'll wait, He'll protect, and He'll love.
He's not asking me to be "ready", because time's ticking away and we're leaving on Saturday. He's asking me to be willing to allow Him to chip away at my hardness, the walls that I've built up. He's asking me to allow Him to take control of, not just this trip, but my future. He's asking me to just be and not try so hard to do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)