Hey everyone! In case you haven't heard, I'm back in the States from Honduras. It was a beautiful, amazing, life-changing trip. And though it pains me to leave all of the precious people I have had the privilege to work with, my heart can't help but be excited for everything God has in store for me in this next part of my life. There is less than a year until I move to the Dominican Republic. Can that be right? I have a lot to do to prepare, and I couldn't be more excited.
The reason for this update is just to share something that God taught me toward the end of my trip through one of my best friends in Honduras, Leslie's five-year-old son Osman David. He is one of the greatest kids I have ever met-smart, funny, adorable. He goes out of his way to show others how much he loves them, and frequently gives up what he wants so others can be happy.
That being said, Osman has a big problem with self-esteem. At times he thinks he is ugly, stupid, and an all-around bad kid. On my last day in Honduras, Shelby and I chased him down as he walked away from us sobbing. The three of us sat on the sidewalk and we asked him what was wrong.
"I can't do anything," he confessed finally.
"What do you mean you can't do anything?" I asked him. We were about to make cakes for our good-bye party that evening and he had wanted to help, but then he suddenly changed his mind and ran away.
"I can't do anything because I'm too small," he answered. He could hardly speak because he was crying so hard. This seemed a strange thing to be upset about, so Shelby and I took turns comforting him and telling him that we needed his help and wanted him to come with us. After a while he cut us off and shouted, "I'm an ant!" My eyes immediately welled with tears and I struggled to choke them back. How could this amazing little boy consider himself as worthless as an ant? I'm sure parents can relate to this feeling if their children were ever down on themselves. This boy, whom I love dearly, has so much potential and already excels in what he does, and yet he couldn't see or believe any of that.
With the help of his mom we eventually got him calmed down and he ended up being a great help to us, but as I was reflecting on this incident the next day, a thought hit me: I wonder if that's what God feels like whenever his children think they are unworthy? I looked back on the countless times in my life when I was crying and shouting because I didn't feel good enough, and I felt too small to do the job I was asked to do. I could picture God in the same position I was, crying and wondering how his creation didn't realize how beautiful and important she was.
With that being said, I'm not claiming that I'm some amazing person that can do anything she wants. What I am saying is that I am a valuable daughter of God, and with his help I am not small. I am important, not because of anything I did, but because God made me and designed me for a purpose in this world. And whenever I forget this truth, I truly think that it breaks his heart.
You are not small. You have a big God on your side who loves you and sees you for who you really are. So let's stop having such a terrible opinion about ourselves and instead look to the one who deserves all the glory. Stop listening to the lies and start looking to your Father, who cries out for you when you feel alone and worthless, and who swells with joy when you decide to follow him. In him you are big, and can do everything he calls you to do.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Snapshots
So much has happened here I don't even know where to start! I will try to give you some of the best highlights:
Shelby and I sang in church a couple weeks ago. We performed a song in English ("Your Great Name") but not before I broke the piano stool and wiped out in front of the congregation.
Two more interns came to El Sembrador for the summer. Ryan will be working on the farm, and Steven in the English classes in the high school. They have already been a great addition to the El Sembrador team, and I know God will use them in big ways.
The El Sembrador interns taking a break at the pool
We were invited to go to a church service one evening at a drug rehab center. All of the churches in the surrounding town were invited to come and participate in the service through song, dance, and preaching. It was a great night, and was inspiring to witness such diverse churches coming together to lift up their brothers who were recovering from addiction.
Enoch's daughter Tatiana finally came home from the hospital! If you remember, she broke her leg and had surgery the day that I got here, which was four and a half weeks ago. She is still in a cast and has to stay in bed for another six weeks. This has been a difficult time for their family, so it is such a blessing that they are all back home together. Thank you to everyone who prayed for her, and please continue to be in prayer for her healing.
A mission team came last week and did a lot of great things around El Sembrador, including VBS, dental and medical work, and a mural inside the boy's dorm. I helped interpret for Bible School and met some of the most precious kids in the world. They were so excited to get to know us and learn about God. We had a competition every day to see if the kids could recite the memory verse, and it blew me away every time how many kids ran up to the front to recite it.
The theme of the week was fish
The mural in the student center
Don't worry, we have had plenty of fiestas, including a good-bye dinner for Rhonda Harmless (a newly retired missionary), a surprise birthday party for Enoch, a tie-dye party with the boys, and a farewell party for Leah, the first intern to leave El Sembrador this summer. Although I only have a few days left here, we still have a few more parties planned yet!
Enoch with his birthday cake
It wouldn't be a party without Uno!
Dinner out with the team
We had a chance to volunteer at some English classes in Catacamas, the town where El Sembrador is. To be honest I never really wanted to go; I have so many people I love in El Sembrador, and I didn't want to leave and take time away from them. But I have realized what a blessing it has been for us and for the people we are helping. Not everyone in the English classes were Christian, so when they began asking us the simple questions of "Why are you here?" "What are you doing?" we were able to share with them about the work we are doing here for God. Tonight we were invited to one of the student's houses (for a party of course) and we talked about everything, from politics to my call as a missionary to which country in Latin America spoke the best Spanish (the final decision was Honduras-I think I will stay neutral). I hope these last few weeks have been a good witness to these students.
I think the most exciting news I want to share with you is that one of my best friends just got sponsored by two women who were on the mission team last week! I was able to be there when they met for the first time-it was one of the most beautiful moments in my life. Nefy is such a great kid, and this is his first year in El Sembrador. He is in 10th grade, and has a huge heart for God. I thank God for people who are willing to invest in people like Nefy, and for people like Nefy, who are such a light for God. This world is filled with amazing people that are so worth getting to know. I hope everyone is taking the time to get to know the beautiful people around them.
Nefy with Leah at her good-bye party
I leave here on Monday, and while it will be hard just like always, I know I have work to do when I get home. I am moving to the Dominican Republic in about 10 months, and there is plenty to prepare for before I leave! Thank you for all the prayers and support, and please continue praying for the two ministries that have captured my heart forever-the students and staff at El Sembrador, and the people in the Dominican Republic that are served by the Least of These Ministries. And never forget how much God continues to move all around the world.
Shelby and I sang in church a couple weeks ago. We performed a song in English ("Your Great Name") but not before I broke the piano stool and wiped out in front of the congregation.
Two more interns came to El Sembrador for the summer. Ryan will be working on the farm, and Steven in the English classes in the high school. They have already been a great addition to the El Sembrador team, and I know God will use them in big ways.
We were invited to go to a church service one evening at a drug rehab center. All of the churches in the surrounding town were invited to come and participate in the service through song, dance, and preaching. It was a great night, and was inspiring to witness such diverse churches coming together to lift up their brothers who were recovering from addiction.
Enoch's daughter Tatiana finally came home from the hospital! If you remember, she broke her leg and had surgery the day that I got here, which was four and a half weeks ago. She is still in a cast and has to stay in bed for another six weeks. This has been a difficult time for their family, so it is such a blessing that they are all back home together. Thank you to everyone who prayed for her, and please continue to be in prayer for her healing.
A mission team came last week and did a lot of great things around El Sembrador, including VBS, dental and medical work, and a mural inside the boy's dorm. I helped interpret for Bible School and met some of the most precious kids in the world. They were so excited to get to know us and learn about God. We had a competition every day to see if the kids could recite the memory verse, and it blew me away every time how many kids ran up to the front to recite it.
Don't worry, we have had plenty of fiestas, including a good-bye dinner for Rhonda Harmless (a newly retired missionary), a surprise birthday party for Enoch, a tie-dye party with the boys, and a farewell party for Leah, the first intern to leave El Sembrador this summer. Although I only have a few days left here, we still have a few more parties planned yet!
We had a chance to volunteer at some English classes in Catacamas, the town where El Sembrador is. To be honest I never really wanted to go; I have so many people I love in El Sembrador, and I didn't want to leave and take time away from them. But I have realized what a blessing it has been for us and for the people we are helping. Not everyone in the English classes were Christian, so when they began asking us the simple questions of "Why are you here?" "What are you doing?" we were able to share with them about the work we are doing here for God. Tonight we were invited to one of the student's houses (for a party of course) and we talked about everything, from politics to my call as a missionary to which country in Latin America spoke the best Spanish (the final decision was Honduras-I think I will stay neutral). I hope these last few weeks have been a good witness to these students.
I think the most exciting news I want to share with you is that one of my best friends just got sponsored by two women who were on the mission team last week! I was able to be there when they met for the first time-it was one of the most beautiful moments in my life. Nefy is such a great kid, and this is his first year in El Sembrador. He is in 10th grade, and has a huge heart for God. I thank God for people who are willing to invest in people like Nefy, and for people like Nefy, who are such a light for God. This world is filled with amazing people that are so worth getting to know. I hope everyone is taking the time to get to know the beautiful people around them.
I leave here on Monday, and while it will be hard just like always, I know I have work to do when I get home. I am moving to the Dominican Republic in about 10 months, and there is plenty to prepare for before I leave! Thank you for all the prayers and support, and please continue praying for the two ministries that have captured my heart forever-the students and staff at El Sembrador, and the people in the Dominican Republic that are served by the Least of These Ministries. And never forget how much God continues to move all around the world.
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