yesterday I was inspired

yesterday was Christmas and I went to church and it was there I was again inspired. here you have my notes put into a stupendous INTENSE paragraph I created for a friend. enjoy :)

basically He {God} has unfathomable grace to give us every single day, BECAUSE we cannot boast in anything BECAUSE if we could boast in anything NO GLORY would be given to the CREATOR of the universe. therefore EVERYTHING do must be for the GLORY of God, BECAUSE apart from him NOTHING IS POSSIBLE but with him EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. therefore, we are CONTENT in all circumstances because we are promised eternal life, where there will be NO more sadness or tears, and this life, despite the love, the grace, the overwhelming joy and inspiration we can experience, this life is INCOMPARABLE to the life we will experience IF we give our lives completely SURRENDERED to Him. we can offer nothing except our HEARTS. and our hearts need to be WILLING and GRATEFUL. when they are these, they understand the need to be HUMBLE and when you are humble you are able to love with the love that OVERFLOWS only from Him. God gives GRACE to the HUMBLE. and when we live the life, when we live the plan that is uniquely ours that we are called to, than we live in a CONFIDENCE in the mighty saviour who's burden is LIGHT and yoke is EASY. He will SUSTAIN us and SAVE us and will give us REST in our SOULS. only when you are BROKEN and BLESSED can you be a blessing to others. when you realize your complete dependence on God, for EVERY.SINGLE. BREATH. for everything, when you realize your lack of INDEPENDENCE, but the sweet rewards of DEPENDANCE, you start to willing recieve the wonderous GIFT of INFLUENCE AND POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT. this is when life starts become an INTENSE JOURNEY that leads you closer to God's heart and to the person God has DESTINED you to be. amen.amen.
that is all. :)

prayer

I believe prayer works, I do. However, what worries me is that sometimes I only believe prayer works when I receive the answer is what I wanted. With that said, we all need prayer for the big things and the apparent 'little things'.

Last week I needed prayer on whether I to get my yellow fever vaccine or not. I got my answer after many people prayed for direction and for God's will to be done. prayers were answered when my neurologist advised me to get it, because she recognized my desire to go to Uganda and the importance of getting the vaccine if I was to do so. So on Thursday (the 15th), I will be getting the vaccine with the expectation of God to continue to keep me healthy, for when I get it I have a high chance of relapsing and making my travel insurance complicated.

Also. Last week my computer crashed and as of today, there is a small chance all my files are going to be recovered. It seems like a small thing to pray for, but I think God is concerned with every aspect of our lives. So pray I will. For the big and the small things in life. and right now I pray my computer, my files at least will be able to be saved, and not at all because my life depends on the tangible objects of this world. I know what my life depends on, and it's not this computer, and I have to be willing to accept whatever the outcome is, having faith, God knows best and God will provide.

the 18th year of my life

Often it seems people look back on their lives or on the last last year and can easily pick out what they should of done different. That they should of said this or not said that. Shouldn't of gone there or definitely was right in being here. As I reviewed and contemplated the 18th year of my life last night I can honestly say it just may have been the best one yet!

Looking back on the many lessons God has taught me, the dozens of new people he brought into my life, the relationships I have had, the journey's I've travelled, the decisions I've made...

I had one feeling: proud.

I could not be more proud of my last year and I can't properly express how excited I am for my future.

In the last year :: the three greatest lessons learned : love and thankfulness and patience

credit (besides God that is :) ) ::

thankfulness: one specific boy patience: ten specific girls love: three specific girls : posse

friends gained: uncountable

experiences : relationships, cultures, food, love of people

and amongst all that : small miracles, amazing grace, love, trust, God's provision in my life

In the next year ::

Following God's plan and call on my life!! 1. Get to Africa 2. work 3. more education?

However, only #1 is for sure in the plan. Lord willing I'll get there and come home and then the other 2 may follow :)

A sincere thank you. thank you if you have been involved in my life thus far. Every single moment has been preparing me for this moment, this 19th year. I was created and born to live this 19th year with the lessons I learned in the last 18, with the love and grace that God has poured out on me. Whether this is in Canada or Uganda or Guatemala I know God has something spectacular in His plan for me this year. My family, my church(es), my friends, my schools, my jobs. You all have had and have your place in my life and have contributed to the person I am today. may the Lord bless you and give you peace. muchas gracias!

God's provision. is amazing.

you maybe won't believe me. but read this.

i offically have four jobs.

did you read that correctly?

yep.

four.

:)

I have strength for all things in Christ who EMPOWERS me.

[I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.]

Philippians 4:13

oh and also?

God is awesome.

yep. beware.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. -1st Peter 5:8

he's ready. he's waiting. he's watching.

But He {the creator of the universe} gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). So be subject to God.

Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

-James 4:6-8

blessed.

This weekend, I really just can't believe it. The community I have experienced, just when I thought it was slipping through my fingers. worried. of course God had a better plan. jeesh.

Last week I met a new friend at work, and she has connected me with other people and today we all went to church together. Last night I went out for supper with a friend from school and I cannot clearly express how encouraging it was to talk life and re-connect. This morning I attended The Miz for the first time and this evening I attended E-free, what an opportunity. Two services where I met tons of new people, talked to current friends and most of was

encouraged and blessed by the presence of God.

Two church services with oodles of amazing people, plus I saw my granma and granpa amongst all that!! It was completely reaffirmed that I am surrounded. Surrounded by tons of people, tons of support and ultimately surrounded by God. {community}

So many feelings that can be experienced..

...overwhelming feeling of joy to look around you at a new church and feel like you've been there a thousand times. To feel welcomed into a family of genuine believers.

...encouraging feeling to reconnect with friends who understand. Understand what you are going through and give advice that comes from experience.

...inspiring feeling to have lyrics hit you, right in the heart, so hard that your hands spring up in gratefulness.

...appreciation filled feeling for the rich history my grandparents contain. the truth, wisdom, and love they have to impart upon me is a testimony to God's grace.

...reassuring feeling that God's word is truth. pure honest goodness that I cannot ignore because I know that I know that I know it is true.

once again. gratitude and joy swells within me. my heart is filled.

thank you God.

and thank you if you are a part of my community.

I appreciate and love you immensly.

i.am.blessed

my new favorite song :)

Lord willing...Africa here I come :):)

I really don't know how to say this...so here it goes!!

I'VE BEEN OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED TO VOLUNTEER IN

UGANDA!!!!!

This means I can move forward with booking flights and preparing everything I will need to get together before I leave. Lord willing I plan to leave in January and stay until May. I cannot clearly express in words my excitement for this chapter of my life and how it is all coming together. In the process of this journey God has taken things away in my life but of course He has also given. Given peace, given people, given encouragment through his Word. God is good. He has been continually blessing me and letting me discover grace.

the concept, the mystery, the action, the pure goodness, the amazing blessing of grace.

I realize that the next few months, the next year, the next 10 years are all important and it is okay to be excited with the future and what it holds, however it is also important to remember to live in the moment. The now. God is doing amazing things today and will do great things tomorrow if we commit ourselves to let Him work in and through us. So I will continue to keep my focus on Him, for if He is the centre, everything else shall fall in place in His perfect timing. Good and perfect timing.

--Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is --his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

-- God is interested in the journey, not just the destination.

what did I do to deserve this?

‘What did I do to deserve this?’ is a popular question that many people, especially those in hard situations or with difficult lives ask. A common question of
'why' 'why me' ‘why my family'.
What if we stopped asking 'why me', 'what did I do', and rather embrace the situation? Embrace the fact that you've seen death, seen poverty, experienced pain, felt despair, felt hopeless. Embrace this life you've been given and step forward with confidence in God?

It’s an opportunity to see life as though it is a challenge. A chance to prove to the devil that he holds nothing over you. A chance to daily conquer the nagging question of 'why' and replacing it with a thought or word of thank you.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
-1st Thessalonians 5:18

It’s not a matter of what you did to deserve your life. Quite frankly, you don’t deserve anything. The good, the mediocre, the ugly. God is blessing you with another breathe this second. Oh look, another one. He could easily take it away. This God, who intricately created the world and you, isn’t out to get you. He created, planned for you to be born with purpose, He is a God who loves you more than you could ever fathom.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
-Jeremiah 29:11

Often what you see as completely stupid, pointless and painful turns out to be simply amazing. God has a way of working in his perfect timing. And the basic foundations of life; trust and faith come in here. But also, often we don’t see the purpose, the reason of why things happen in our lives. We get mad, turn and get unfaithful and ungrateful.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8.28

How you see your situation all depends on your human brain and since its human, its limited perception. We need to see our lives not as if we are being reprimanded or dealt a bad hand by chance. Your life is not happening by chance, but being divinely orchestrated by God.

We need to see ourselves as the called beings we are.
Called to love
Called to serve
Called to bless
Called by God

Whatever ‘this’ you don’t think you deserve, you need to recognize its part of a bigger picture. A bigger picture of God to extending grace and expressing His love through you and in you.

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
- Ephesians 4:1

ponder this...

a life abandoned to Christ is never cut short. never.

death is the ultimate fulfillment for Christians. before you gasp, think about it. a life, a Christians earthly life, is never cut short. how could we say it's been cut short when Heaven is in the picture? When God has created each individual, blessed them, filled them with a purpose, a plan for life and injected overwhelming amounts of love and grace into their life? If a person is faithfully loving and serving the Lord, and even if they aren't, they will serve their purpose here on earth and when God decides to call them home He will. In His timing. His perfect, beautiful timing. And we can only hope and pray that we will all see each other in Heaven.

so we need to live with reckless abandonment.

live in moment. love because of Jesus. everything for the Glory of God.

because you don't know when your time is going to be up.

a thoughtful thursday

take the time to read this. it helped me and is very encouraging. allow it to
inspire you and trust God more fully.

Resolution (perseverance) Armed with Prayer XVIII (18)
‘Wait on the Lord, and let thine heart take courage.’ Psalm xxvii. 14 (27:14)

MERE courage may be very inefficient. It can be little more than high spirits, and subject to the swift changes of the surrounding temperatures. Courage may be only a chivalrous impulsiveness, a brilliantly attractive flare, but speedily relapsing into the cold greyness of the advancing night.
There is the courage of the single act.
There is the higher courage of prolonged action.
There is the still higher courage of waiting, when the relief of action is forbidden.
And therefore must we distinguish between the
[courage which is born and dies in a day],
{and that which stubbornly persists through the long, exacting years.}
One is flightiness (unstable behaviour), the other is fortitude (strength).

definition of fortitude : strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.

Now the courage commended in the Christian Scriptures is an evergreen.
It is not brave impulsiveness, but strong endurance.
It is not the exhilarant spirits of a single battle, but the firm, resolute mood of a long campaign. It is not so much the impetuousness (passionate spontaneity) which can take Jericho by assault as the hardihood which can, if need be, tramp round seven times, waiting for the crumbling of its walls. This kind of resoluteness (determined) must itself be armed, or circumstances WILL maim and destroy it.
Courage can lose its blood, not only by disappointment and defeat, but by the lack of suitable food. The noblest courage must be armed by regular and appropriate sustenance (fuel).

Now prayer is the appointed means by which this highest kind of courage is fed.

We are to ‘wait on the Lord,’ and our heart will ‘take courage.’

Through prayer our courage renews its youth like the eagle. The heart is [invigorated] into fresh ambition and endeavour. Its grip upon high ends is established, and it to the dull road with a new song. It is not so much that we acquire good spirits as that we obtain deepened communion with the renewing Spirit of God. The praying soul is the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost.

Such a soul ‘shall not fear when heat cometh’; its resources shall be equal to the demands of the fiercest drought.

He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. -Jeremiah 17:8
13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. –Psalm 27:13-14

Springs in the Desert by Reverend J.H. Jowett, Studies in the Psalms published in the early 1920’s.

a wordless wednesday

oh there I go again...

Well, it's been a long couple months, but yet so short. Since I have graduated, life has actually flown by. At times brutally frustrating and at other times incredibly fulfilling, however as always God has been graciously faithful.

As per a very typical me, I have been anything but. In the good times, often easier times, praising God and acting as if He deserves my time and attention. Considering, in my limited human brain it seems He's acting in my favour. And in those times of unemployment, environments changing, friends being far away well, I did it again.

What did I do? I decided that this amazing God who has planted opportunities, dreams, supportive friends and family in my life, that this God who continually proves faithful, provides blessings, and encouragement in my life isn't quite worth it.

How ridiculous. Absolutely pathetic. Verging on edge of apathy.

ISAIAH 26 3:-4

You will guard him and keep him
in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its
character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You,
and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him,
lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an
everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,

{commit and trust them wholly to Him;

He will cause your thoughts to become
agreeable to His will, and}

He will establish your plans and steps

:: proverbs16

You see it is easy to become comfortable and content when life seems to be acting in your favour. Easy to think that all of a sudden, you can do this journey on your own. This is anything but the case. Life is wayy more enriching and fulfilling when you keep God a significant part of your life. He has got you no matter where you are in the world or what you are doing. You gotta stick it out, even when the going gets tough. Persevere. Don't ditch out cause plans don't go your way. Try your best, be willing to be faithful and continue if you make mistakes or obstacles arise. Cause God is gonna be right there to catch you at any point. Being faithful is tremendously easier said then done. Ultimately what my real point is, is that when God gives you a dream, a passion you have to chase after it.

Discover that passion and explore the opportunities that accompany it. Never let it go!

So what have I done recently? I discovered a dream, Africa and I networked and explored and found an organization, Baby Watoto Child Care Ministry ( http://www.watoto.com/babywatoto ), and chased it.

And I have applied. Sent in all the necessary papers. Applied to work in a home, caring and providing for babies in Uganda, Africa for a few months in the new year. And ... I. am. Thrilled! :) Now it is all down to trusting. They are going to review, and assess all my documents, then get back to be with a YES or NO. Either way, trust trust trust.

A big shout out to gramps and gran who blessed me on my 16th birthday with a $100 bill. It paid for my application fee for Africa. I love you both :)

It's already JULY!!

June and July have flown past like a tornado. It's already July 11th, where has time gone? :) After resume handouts, cover letter creating and continually wishing the phone ringing to be for me....

I officially have a relief position doing assisted living and one more interview to go and 2 interviews done. This is craziness! All three full time positions look to have potential. My two interviews went positively well and now we will just wait for call backs.

Besides being busy with all this job business, I also have been able to spend time with friends. A couple of weekends ago I went camping with friends from college and I just got back from a roadtrip to Montana. We drove many hours, too many actually. :) We ended up getting lost twice, but thankfully we found our way both times! We attended a beautiful wedding while we where there (Congratulations Kyle and Jesse!!) and made a ton of memories. It was so great being with my girls again. My awesome posse :

I'm so thankful I have had the time to spend with friends and that when we get together it's like we've never left each other. we just pick up where we left off. and this is beautiful.

god is working.

The past couple weeks have been filled with uncertainty, doubt and slight fear. However amongst all that, God has been faithful and present. Currently I am still searching for a job, but no worries!! God has definitely has been working during this time of unemployment.

I have spent alot of time leveling my head on life and oodles of things to do with life. I also had the opportunity to visit my cousin and boyfriend in Saskatchewan!! This was an super fun and encouraging weekend! I'm so thankful God blessed me with the time and energy to drive that long, terribly boring drive :)and spend the weekend with them. It was a rewarding weekend.

One of the recent things God has been teaching me is the power of his word. He can truly speak and work through it :: and at just the right times and exactly the right verses too. I hope to never grow older and start to think that there aren't things I can learn or even relearn from his word. You can always glean something new from a passage you've read numerous times.

Just last night I was encouraged and reaffirmed. I had the most randomest chat with a gentleman who not knowing my situation strongly encouraged me to go ahead with whatever I was 'avoiding'. To trust God, be bold and courageous and do it!

Recently, as in the last 2 weeks I have put a dream of mine on the back burner. Been avoiding it. This dream being Africa. yes you read that correctly. Africa. Africa has been on my heart for a long, long time. It is something I believe that God is calling me to do. I know that if it is supposed to be, he will make a way. So I've had my doubts, but while pondering this life of mine the other day I discovered that just because my life plan to get to aFrica isn't working out, doesn't mean I'm not meant to go. Perhaps God just has a different way of getting me there. which doesn't include my perfect little plan of working for 8 months and going for 5 months. This chat gave me reassurance that this is definitely what I need to be pursuing at this time.

So.. I have decided to go ahead and although presently have no job, have a kind of faith in my God that he is going to get me there. I have the application and am going to fill it out. God is powerful and working. trust him.

A couple verses that have inspired me recently that I want to share ::

John 14:27 : Peace I leave with you; my peace
I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid.

2Thessalonians 3:16 : Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all
times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

2Timothy 2:22 : Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith,
love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Mark9:23 : Anything is possible if a person
believes.

i've been busy!

It's been terribly long since I've updated, my only
excuse is...LIFE!! I've graduated
with my :

Certificate

in Intercultural and Leadership Studies

and am now on the job hunt. Tons and tons and tons
of resumes out and a couple call backs. Finally after of being at home, I had
two interviews this week!! Now I am just looking for some direction from God to
make a decisions and although the future (or the next couple months) is
uncertain I'm not particularly worried; I'm pro at uncertainty. God has got
everything under
control : thank goodness I just have to carry out the plan, not make it! :)

Being back at home has had it's ups and downs, but
rightly so. It's an adjustment because of the different environment :: ((one
boy down the hallway{the brother}is much different from one girl across the
room and 9 down girls the hall.)) I have had a lot of time to catch up on rest,
go on coffee dates, have phone dates, attend church and think. And think. And
think just a little
bit more. And what I've concluded with all this thinking is
that :

~God has a plan for every single season of
your life

~We cannot just sit around and wait for something to happen in our
lives. We need to make decisions and jump! Then God can move.

~Family and friends (community in general) are invaluable
to life.
vital to have and keep.

So for now we will just keep on praying that God
continues to lead.

:: For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe
(trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [receive it]
-Jesus (mark 11:24-amp)

more pictures

practicum pictures

it's practicum time....

2 weeks.

Practicum time for Discover in El Salvador.

It shall be influential in both

Discovers' lives

and

the lives of the people we work with.

Pray for us:

as we attempt to work together as a team

to bring glory to God through the relationships we build.

as we step out of our comfort zones

in faith

and

trust God

to do what He needs to do

No internet for two weeks…

talk to you in 2!

God is faithful.

Host Families

my host family

This was my host family and me, minus their eldest daughter. It was very difficult leaving them this past weekend because they left a huge impact on my life. They showed me what true hospitality looked like. I was greatly encouraged by the love that they had not only for me and my broken Spanish for their church, the Lord and their entire family. My parents and their six children live in a beautiful home which is filled with much joy and laughter.

This past weekend we were allowed to take them out or make them a meal. I choose to make them breakfast on Sunday morning. We had quite the bonding experience making pancakes over an open fire. It was the most fun and family-ish experience I’ve had in a long time. I learned that I could make pancakes in a pan over an open fire! With just oil in the pan you can cook a pancake within minutes. At first we made super small typical Guatemalan pancakes and then I taught them American ‘grande’ pancakes and with chocolate chips! It was quite the bonding experience. We then had orange juice, pancakes, jam and syrup – a full fledge beautiful breakfast.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Discover leaves for two days in San Salvador and then on Monday we will split as teams { H’onward / iPoc } and head out to our practicum sites where we will be for two weeks - without internet connection. Remember a while back when I went on the RECON trip? Well since I went on that, I became the ‘leader’ for our team for practicum. I’ve been in contact with our Pastor figuring out all the details. In the last few days our practicum has really been coming together. We have received a few emails that have made our planning easier and settled our anxious thoughts.

Please pray for continued patience within team members, as tensions can rise while living in such tight community. Awesome relationships can also be made.

Also for safe travels as we go to El Salvador, travel within practicum and then travel to Panahachel April 1^st for our trip debrief.

Our Spiritual retreat for the last three days has proved to be super rewarding - I am coming away very well rested physically and spiritually. I feel prepared more practicum. One of the most influencial verses of practicium:

Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV)

About Benjamin he said:

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”

I think that's all for now, see you in 2 weeks!

spiritual retreat

Today Discover moved from Guatemala Bible Seminary to a retreat centre in Guatemala City. Already we have been blessed with loving and hospitable staff, thought-provoking sessions and American-ish food. {Eggs, cold cereal, mashed potatoes, brown bread and fresh fruit} All very different foods than what we have eaten for the last 4 weeks. No beans in a whole day! We don’t know what to do with ourselves. :)

We will stay here until Friday on a ‘Spiritual Retreat’, a time to rejuvenate not only spiritually but physically and mentally as well. This is also a time to prepare ourselves for our 2 week practicum in El Salvador which is what we will be starting Monday March 21^st.

Our first day here consisted of eating good foods, resting in an actual bed that didn’t make our bodies ache when we arose and participating in some excellent bible reading and worship sessions.

I am very thankful we have the opportunity to stay at this centre, although luxurious {because we know of the poverty that exists here this can be hard to accept sometimes} I know and understand this is a well needed and well deserved break.

Today already we had a lot of time together as Discover, learning about our identity in Christ and how to effectively get rid of past hurts.

check this video out:: great song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLy-B9LuqMo&feature=related

I most definitely learned today how blessed I have been to have had a Christian community around me for my entire life.

I am thankful and praise God for my parents and grandparents

who had me participate in tons and tons of Church activities and for all the stories and devos we did at home. It was pointed out that in every person’s life, some people sow into it, some people water and some people harvest.

I am extremely grateful to my family who has and continues to water me as I grow in the Lord.

La Limonada

Yesterday, Discover went to La Limonada. La Limondada http://www.lemonadeinternational.org/about-lemonade-international-2/the-ghetto/ is a 1 mile by 1/2 mile slum in a ravine that is home to
60 000 - 100 000 people.

Last week Discover watched this documentary : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LGRAiWyu14 on the slum. It talks about two people : Shorty who works with gang members in the slum and Tita who works with children in the slum. Both of these people saw a need and decided to fill it. The schools that Tita has built for the children in the slum are filled with love. The teachers and staff not only provide education but the love that these children so desperately need. We were not able to meet Tita and Shorty, but the people they work with and support.

I cannot describe the overwhelming emotion of meeting a man who has worked collecting garbage in the sewer for 30+ years. This is his job, his life. Who comes and gets breakfast and lunch from Tita's school and works without shoes and loves God.

There are people who love life where they are at. They continue to trust and love God despite the circumstances. They are faithful. I am at a loss. I lack words. I don't know how I will come back to my North American home which I have running water and electricity; where my bed is comfortable and food fills my stomach. Where I have tons of space and my house is clean of animals and dirt.

The slum made me think twice about how much I complain about my life. I blow things completely out of proportion. My less than comfortable foam bed, the repetitive food meal plan of beans, tortillas and rice and my limited clothe supply of skirts. The slums and a good talk with my grandparents immensely reminded me that I am blessed. I have no reason to be angry at God or complain. Although I lack plans for next year, I have many potential ideas that make the future look bright. I have been in Guatemala for over a month and haven’t had a single attack regarding MS, I’ve been sick but nothing that brought me down to limited my experience here, I’ve seen the slum. I’ve seen the dump. I’ve seen Jesus and I will not forget.

God is doing amazing things in this slum. Lemonade International is mostly run by strong, courageous women. They work with the poorest of the poor and deal with the most challenging stories of abuse, neglect and poverty. To share the love of Jesus by visiting, giving, sharing of their time, these ladies are truly the definition of beauty and grace. Their spirits of perseverance and love come from the Lord and they are an inspiration to anybody they meet.

⁸ Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

⁹ Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

~Proverbs 31:8-9

Ministry Weekends

For the past two weekends, Discover in their two teams: H'onward {honestly awkward} and iPoc {in Pursuit of Christ} have done 'ministry weekends'. Ministry Weekends give us the opportunity to live in host families and work alongside a local church. Both weekends have proved to be extremely valuable.

I had been feeling confused as to why exactly I was in Guatemala, what purpose it held. We had been doing a lot of learning about the culture here and not much ‘serving’. My view of what ‘serving’ is was different from what we were doing. Time after time I said I wanted to ‘get dirty’. In my journal February 1^st I wrote that I had been wanting to :

see poverty

smell hopelessness

touch brokenness : people and objects

provide smiles

offer a hand to : touch, play, express, and pray

listen to pasts, presents and potential futures

experience another’s life

LOVE

While living with my wonderful host family I have had the opportunity to truly live life alongside a Guatemalan family. From the time my host mom picked me up at the church and those initial moments walking down the path to her house my previous feelings of dIsConTenTmenT started to evaporated. As my pumas got dusty, the smell of tortillas filled my nose and while my hands got dirty with tamale ingredients a smile crossed my face and a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment was in my heart.

Through the last two weekends I have enjoyed my time living with this family and have begun to learn just how well off I have it. Through broken Spanish, I’m learning the family; their ways, their lives, their pasts. Hopefully in the next two weekends we will continue to go deeper in our relationship.

‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.’

-John 15:7

For the first part of February I was upset, discontent and generally didn’t talk to God, but rather at God. I told him numerous times what I really wanted and although I wasn’t faithful in my discontentment and anger, He was. How faithful and loving a God we serve who gives your desires to you, even when you weren’t faithful? Lesson learned. Abide in him for He is faithful.

Updates, updates, updates

Discover has been immensely busy in the past weeks with many new adventures starting and others wrapping up. In the last week I have:

returned from a weekend road trip to El Salvador

finished Spanish Language School,

lived with Host Families,

moved from Antigua to Chimaltenango,

went camping in Chichicostenago

{and here went Splunking, crazy swinging, and marvelled at the vastness of God}

learned about Mayan cultures and customs,

did some shopping in all these places,

and overall have barely had a second to breathe.

My road trip to El Salvador went very well; it was a lot of driving, however this provided ample time to chat it up with some interns and directions. This conversations where very thought-provoking and needed. I was able to connect with the man (and his family) from the foundation that my team will be partnered with when we do our practicum in March/April. What the foundation and what he is doing is wonderful and their base is working with kids. When I heard this I was super excited. They start with the kids then they work their ways into the family then eventually into the community. I am excited to do our practicum here; there are a lot of lessons we can learn from the foundation.

Spanish School finished on Thursday with a written and oral exam, which I believe went well. I haven't got my marks back yet, but I felt confident about how I did. Spanish is coming along ever so slowly but surely. Just need to memorize and keep repeating the verbs. Spanish has tons and tons of verbs.

This last weekend, Discover went CAMPING. Yes, camping in Guatemala. It was slightly chilly time, but a time where we could relax. Take pictures, swing, and go on the zip line or splunking. Some of the camp stuff guided us through a sweet cave, where we only had a few flashlights and torches. This weekend gave Discover some time just to relax and have some fun.

It feels like we have been on the go for quite some time now. Today we had a bit of a day off so we feel more prepared for the week. The next coming weeks are said to be busier than the last few so we will just keeping plugging along; eating beans, getting full nights sleeps, eating rice and practicing our Spanish. : )