Home Sweet Denton

Drove back from Austin area this morning after floating on the Guadeloupe River with good friends yesterday. The river was both fun and relaxing. Thank goodness for the cold water to keep us cool in the 100+ Texas heat! Yesterday was my first time ever to swing on a rope swing into the water. Brady somehow convinced me to do it, and I must admit I have no regrets. I couldn’t help but go again.

So when they tell you about your trip down the river, they mention a little waterfall near the end and tell you that you have a 50/50 chance of falling out of your tube when you go down it. Well, I didn’t fall out, but Mandie and I did get caught in the current and had to be rescued by a nice man we didn’t know (the guys with us just watched us struggle, silly boys). After surviving the waterfall, I had no choice but to go once more, this time without getting caught in the current

Today was very busy. After I got home in the morning, I packed up and headed to Denton. Last time to move!! I am officially back at my apartment and no longer living between three homes. In Denton, I met with my beautiful friend Ericka at Starbucks to chat before heading off to a work meeting which involved paperwork , paperwork, and (what do you know) more paperwork. I then came home to a delicious dinner of chicken parmesan, thanks to two very sweet girls (Rachael and Whitney).

God has been so good to me this summer. He has taught me much in this short period of time. I am still a broken sinner, but He has given me some direction and focus as I take on this next semester. This will be the first time I work and go to school, should be interesting. I know I will have to learn how to prioritize my time better and be willing to say no to people.

Talking about saying no, I have realized a very big flaw in myself: people pleasing. I oh so many times put other people’s thoughts and opinions over God’s, and this is so terribly wrong of me. I am a self-diagnosed perfectionist who wants everyone in the world to like her. This is not possible and always unsatisfying considering I am never able to please everyone or to be a completely perfect person. Thank goodness Christ loves me so much that He came to die for me anyways. I am so unworthy of such a sacrifice.

Anyways, I could go on and on forever, but I won’t. God is good and gracious and his love endures!!

For 5 Minutes Life Was Simple

With our last day over and everyone heading out in the morning, I am both sad and pleased. It has been such a joy to have such flexible, easygoing trip participants. What a blessing!

Last night we held a block party for all the children and families of the colonia in which we had given out shoes earlier in the morning. After enjoying a few hours of playing with the almost 150 children and eating a delicious meal of hot dogs and hamburgers cooked by our most fabulous cook, Maurice, we all sat down to listen to the new and upcoming band, The Running Back, put on a short concert.

To really understand the experience, I must first paint a picture of the scene that lay before me. The sun had just sunk below the horizon and a most lovely breezed flowed through the valley. The band was facing toward the wind as, like a ginormous fan, it blew their mid-length hair from their face. The children and families sat all around both talking softly and listening intently to the refreshing sound of both guitar and voice intermingle, pleasantly permeating the air. To counter the dark night, the vans had been pulled behind the crowd and their lights turned on as makeshift stage lights for the cement parking lot "stage." At different points throughout the performance, children ran between the performers or danced joyfully behind them. As I sat on the steps of the church to the right of the band with the wind blowing the hair from my face, I marveled at the sight in front of me. For just a moment, the world was at peace. For just a moment, the worries of life dissipated. And for just 5 minutes, life was simple.

Tonight at our devotion, Craig, one of the band members brought up the following verse:

Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment"
Matthew 22:37-38

Through these words, Christ condenses all of His commandments into one, simple command. It is us who complicate life with all our worry, distrust, and tendency to put other things in life, good or bad, before our love for Him.

McAllen - Day 1

Today has been both a success and a blessing. I just finished spending a wonderful evening with all of my fantastic trip participants. It has been so neat to see people ranging from age 13 to 84 come together for the sole purpose of reaching out to the children and families down here near the border.

Tonight after dinner, we went around the room and had each participant introduce themselves and tell about their past experience with missions. Many of them had never been on a trip before, both old and young. I cannot wait to see how Christ touches their hearts as they see the poverty and brokenness that exists right here in our own backyard. I pray their lives are forever changed by this experience.

It has been almost exactly two years since I have been to The Valley, and I am so thrilled that God has given me the opportunity to once again come to this beloved area. No matter how many times I have been here, I am always broken and blessed when I leave. It serves to remind me of how much I really have, and how much I really owe everything to my loving and redeeming Savior. To Christ be all the glory!!

Please continue to pray for the children we will encounter tomorrow. May we be Christ's hands and feet to them, and may they see Christ, not us, through our presence. Also pray for the mothers we will be reaching out to. Pray for softened hearts and open ears as we share the gift Christ offers for all who will believe on His name and give their lives over to Him. Muchas gracias y buenos noches.

Rest and Border Trip June 9-16

After a busy but productive week, today I am taking a day and resting up for the week ahead. And what a wonderful rest day it has been, church first thing this morning, then a peaceful afternoon reading, watching some videos about Buckner, and now blogging.

A lot has happened in this past month. I finished my fall classes, took a trip to Bonham with I Am Second, started my internship with Buckner, turned 20, and finished a maymester. Life has had its ups and downs (more ups than downs) but thankfully Christ has remained the same.

Last night I had an official meltdown out of pure exhaustion and need of rest from the craziness of the past few weeks. I absolutely love my internship with Buckner, but I am still adjusting to working 35 hours a week and spending up to an hour and a half if not more in the car each day. My weekends have also been pretty full and my maymester time-consuming. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I have taken one day completely devoted to rest until today and now fully understand why God commands us to take time to rest. It is important not only for our body but also for our spirit, mind, and soul.

Enough about my issues, on to the important stuff!

This Wednesday I leave for McAllen, TX to serve as a co-leader for a Shoes for Orphan Souls trip with Buckner, and I ask you please pray for my team as well as the children and people we encounter during our trip. May my team be filled with compassion, and may Christ's love be revealed to the beautiful children we touch. Pray for safe travel and protection. Also pray that I serve as an effective team leader as well as representative of our wonderful redeeming Savior, Jesus Christ.

"Come to me, all you who are wear and burdened, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

Father, I pray that all the children and adults we come across this week will be able to run to you for rest, because you alone can provide the rest and peace we all seek. You are so worthy and so mighty and such a blessing. You are to be feared and loved and honored, and I thank you for all you have given me . . . so much more than I ever deserved. I love you Abba, and it's in Your name I pray.

Break My Heart

Almost broke down in the car tonight on my drive home from seeing my family as I pondered what life would be like as an orphan. Little or no family, no place to call your own, facing the uncertainty of what the future might hold. My mind cannot wrap around such a concept. I have a family, a place of my own, as well as a sense of security. While I sit here on a nice soft couch in my air conditioned apartment typing on my own laptop, it burdens my heart to know somewhere in this world a child sits hidden in the shadows afraid and alone with no one to protect, feed, and guide him or her.

As I look forward to my internship this summer, I desire to no longer turn my back on the realities of the world around me. I am determined to make a difference, and I plan to use every opportunity Christ gives me through this organization to help provide support and hope to orphaned children all over the world. I pray God breaks my heart each day and moves me more and more to work hard to serve through my role as an intern.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Love you Mom, Dad, and Rach!!!

Loving this week!!

Tuesday mi madre came to my apartment, where we fixed an amazing lunch of Asparagus, Goat Cheese, and Lemon Pasta with oven roasted tomatoes and a strawberry salad on the side. If you've never had goat cheese before, you must and soon. Words cannot describe its heavenly creaminess and tangy flavor. Mix it with asparagus, fresh herbs, lemon zest, olive oil, and pasta topped with a little salt and pepper and voila it makes for a marvelous meal. Simple, yet oh so satisfying. Appetite appeased, we headed outside to enjoy the splendid weather as we talked while walking to a wonderful little boutique just off the square, where I bought the cutest lavender skirt. By the time we finished and walked back to my apartment, it was time for mom to head out. We'd had a good time, and through her visit I was again reminded of how blessed I am to have such an incredible Christ-loving woman for a mom.

Wednesday was yet again another great day. Mandie came over to go on a walk with me after class . . . well, turns out we actually ended up consuming delicious calories at one of our favorite places to go in Denton - Yougurt Story (the blueberry with graham cracker crumbs and salty granola is my favorite!!). Sweet teeth satisfied, Mandi dropped me off at home and headed off to class. Once inside, I immediately set to work putting together an Italian feast for my rooomies and our soon to arrive guests, my new friends Kotomi and Kana. Our feast consisted of Giada de Laurentis' succulent Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-dried Tomatoes along with popovers and a side of broiled asparagus (thanks Kasey). Everything came out perfectly, except for the fact that I almost set off the fire alarm as I broiled the asparagus (no worries, no food was burnt during this incident). As we were finishing up, Mandie returned to join us, and we sat and talked the evening away, discussing such topics as movies, where popovers originated from, and popping popcorn with cell phones. NOTE: it is a proven scientific fact that you cannot pop popcorn with cell phones. All of us now know from personal experimentation. It all started with Amber talking to some guy on facebook who told her he was getting rid of his cell phone because they emit microwaves strong enough to pop popcorn, so one thing led to the next and before long Amber had found a video on YouTube to "prove" it and we were sitting around a pile of ringing phones circled around a few kernels of popcorn which we had sacrificed to come by. FAIL - as I stated earlier, you cannot pop popcorn with cell phone, but it did make for an entertaining night (thanks to Amber who always manages to make my life a little more interesting). Before we knew it, it was unfortunately time for Kotomi and Kana to leave. What an evening it had been: good food, wonderful company, entertaining conversation, all mixed with lots of laughter . . . pure bliss.

Trust

Registered for classes today. I can't believe this semester is coming to a close!!

I officially have a summer internship!! I am going to be an assistant missions coordinator for Buckner International in Dallas. Not only is it an amazing opportunity to serve alongside some incredible people for an awesome organization, but I will be paid to do so. It has been so humbling to see how God has worked everything out.

I'll start at the beginning. Since January, I have been on the lookout for a job. I had applied for a practicum at Cooks Children's Hospital and was hoping to spend the summer working there two days a week and working a job in Denton on the others. As usual, God had other plans. About a month ago, one of my professors sent me a list of paid internship opportunities for this summer. As I looked through them, the one with Buckner International immediately caught my eye. I have always loved both the international and families, so working with such an organization appealed to me. I applied for the position and received a phone interview within the week. I couldn't believe how well everything was going and was so sure I had the position. I was told I would know by the 16th of March at the latest. When the 16th rolled around with no phone call, I felt very disappointed. I had been so sure God was working it all in my favor, why were things not working out? Since it is extremely competitive, I was not completely surprised when I also did not get the practicum at Cooks. Still, I felt at a loss for what God wanted from me. Only two months away from summer, I had no job, no internship, and no set plans except for attending summer school. Many of my friends already had their plans for summer figured out (mission trips, working, summer trips, etc.). I was given no choice but to trust my Lord completely. As soon as I reached that point of total and absolute trust, He opened the doors. More than a week after the date by which I was to be contacted, I received a call from Buckner telling me they would like to have me work for them as an intern this summer. I had to trust Christ completely, and as always He took care of me. I now have an internship as well as a job through that internship, and my summer school is being paid for with a scholarship I received through UNT. To Christ be the glory!

Words of advice from my amazing mother:
Keep your gaze on the Lord at all times . . . in the good times . . . bad times . . . happy times . . . and sad times. When you're excited or perhaps afraid . . . when you feel weak . . . when you feel strong.

Mom wrote this to me in a journal she has been keeping especially for me since I left for college. I feel so blessed to have such a caring and wise mom. Hope her words touch you as much as they did me.