It’s hard for me to grasp the concept that my time in Puerto Barrios is done, at least for a little while. I won’t be holding orphans, teaching them how to walk, and playing with Dalia every Monday. I won’t be at the Children’s Hospital every Tuesday coloring with sick kids and talking with concerned parents. I won’t be talking to prostitutes or walking through garbage dumps every week anymore.
Some things I’m happy are coming to an end- cold showers, constantly sweating, power outages, water shortages, rice and beans, pila washing, and language barriers. But then there are those things, like Pastor Roni, the kids at the hospital and orphanage, my neighbors, and my team, who make all those discomforts seem insignificant.
One of the many things I will take away from this experience is motivation, motivation to continue my education and become a medical missionary. It upsets me when I look at the statistics at the hospital and see that kids are dying from easily preventable diseases. It infuriates me when I see some of the conditions patients are put into and how untrained some of the doctors are here. From misdiagnosing a Staph infection as bug bites to giving the incorrect dosage of medicine, the past few months has shown me how much of a need there is for competent and trained doctors.
Before coming on this trip, the thought of medical missions sounded appealing but the thought of living in a foreign country for longer than a month didn’t. I wanted to have the American Dream: a husband, some kids, a house, and a stable job. I figured I could go on a medical mission trip once or twice a year for a couple weeks and that would be enough. That may be what God has planned for my life, but because of this trip if that is not what His will is, I will be ok. In fact, I will be more than ok. I will be happy because I know that He has something bigger and better planned for my life. I realized that there is nothing I would rather do than what God wants me to do. That means that if He wants me to pack up my bags and move to Central America and work there, I will. If He wants me to stay in the States and work in an undeserved community, I will do that. And if He doesn’t want me to become a doctor, I will be obedient to His call. And that is something that I couldn’t say with confidence three months ago.
God has used the people of Puerto Barrios to teach me humility, patience, and contentment. He has changed my outlook on life. In the last three months, He challenged me when I needed to be challenged and strengthened me when I needed to be strengthened. He gave me comfort when I needed comfort and taught me patience when I needed to learn. He showed me how good He is and how He always wants what’s best for me. He showed me that His plans are far greater than anything that I could come up with.
“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.’”
-Jeremiah 29:11-13
God has blessed me with great supporters. Thank you so much for your reading my blogs, sending me encouraging emails, and praying for me. I love you so much!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Happy Birthday Mom!
This Sunday is my mom’s birthday, and I want to share a story for her. A few weeks into the trip, our team went to an elderly lady’s house and talked and prayed with her. I told my mom about her and every couple of weeks, my mom for some reason asked about her. I didn’t really know what to tell her because since that day, I hadn’t seen or talked to the lady. A few weeks ago during ATL (ask the Lord what He wants you to do), Joel, Taylor, Emily and I went to the elderly lady’s house to visit her. She was very happy to see us and welcomed us into her house. She told us that her son recently fell and as a result, had a neck injury. We prayed for him and then later prayed for her. We talked, read a passage in the Bible, and sang some Christmas carols.
The lady’s living conditions are not very good and she doesn’t have much money. Her house needs some fixing up, but I don’t have the skills to do that. I wanted to bless her, but I didn’t know how I could. After praying about it, I remembered my mom and how much she was asking about this lady. I knew my mom’s birthday was coming up and I knew that I didn’t have a present for her. But I also knew that my selfless mom would rather give than receive, so that is what I decided to do. With the money that I would have spent on a present, I went to the market and the mall and bought a basket full of food and goodies for the lady.
Emily and I went to the lady’s house last week and gave her the basket which we told her was a present for her from God. Tears filled her eyes when we told her it was for her. She kept saying “thank you so much” and “God is so good.” She later went on to tell us that she was having a lot of health problems. Her whole body was aching and the medication that she needed the pharmacy didn’t have yet. She asked us if we could pray for her. We sat down, laid hands on her, and prayed for her. When we finished, streams of tears came rolling down her face. We gave her hugs and then continued talking.
A couple minutes later, she went outside and came back with a basket. Then she started putting the things we had given her into her basket. When we told her that the basket was for her too, she got the biggest smile on her face. Then she pointed to the Christmas platter in the basket and said, “for me too?” We responded with “yes, it’s all for you!” She was so happy and it was so good to see her smile!
Then she cooked lunch for us. We had soup, tortillas, and rice, and it was delicious! We talked a little longer and then left, telling her that we would come back and visit her.
These are the people I am going to miss. This is why it is going to be hard to leave. An elderly lady who feeds us before herself, little girls who meet me at the park every week and greet us with huge hugs, kids at the orphanage who love you like family, Pastor Roni who treats us like his children, patients at the hospital whose parents don’t visit them, and the tienda owners who threw us a party this past week because they wanted to bless us... These are the people that have made Guatemala home to me the last three months.
Pastor Roni
My favorite girls in Guatemala
At the party our neighbors who own the tienda (store) threw us
Jose Manuel... He's getting so big!
Abel at the Hospital
The lady’s living conditions are not very good and she doesn’t have much money. Her house needs some fixing up, but I don’t have the skills to do that. I wanted to bless her, but I didn’t know how I could. After praying about it, I remembered my mom and how much she was asking about this lady. I knew my mom’s birthday was coming up and I knew that I didn’t have a present for her. But I also knew that my selfless mom would rather give than receive, so that is what I decided to do. With the money that I would have spent on a present, I went to the market and the mall and bought a basket full of food and goodies for the lady.
Emily and I went to the lady’s house last week and gave her the basket which we told her was a present for her from God. Tears filled her eyes when we told her it was for her. She kept saying “thank you so much” and “God is so good.” She later went on to tell us that she was having a lot of health problems. Her whole body was aching and the medication that she needed the pharmacy didn’t have yet. She asked us if we could pray for her. We sat down, laid hands on her, and prayed for her. When we finished, streams of tears came rolling down her face. We gave her hugs and then continued talking.
A couple minutes later, she went outside and came back with a basket. Then she started putting the things we had given her into her basket. When we told her that the basket was for her too, she got the biggest smile on her face. Then she pointed to the Christmas platter in the basket and said, “for me too?” We responded with “yes, it’s all for you!” She was so happy and it was so good to see her smile!
Then she cooked lunch for us. We had soup, tortillas, and rice, and it was delicious! We talked a little longer and then left, telling her that we would come back and visit her.
These are the people I am going to miss. This is why it is going to be hard to leave. An elderly lady who feeds us before herself, little girls who meet me at the park every week and greet us with huge hugs, kids at the orphanage who love you like family, Pastor Roni who treats us like his children, patients at the hospital whose parents don’t visit them, and the tienda owners who threw us a party this past week because they wanted to bless us... These are the people that have made Guatemala home to me the last three months.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Trusting in Him
God has been showing me and teaching me so much on this trip. This past week, He has brought me to a place that I have never been before. I am at a place now where I actually BELIEVE that God’s plan for me is the best plan for my life. Before this trip, I always knew that, but now, I truly believe it. The thought of giving God complete control of my life no longer scares me. It actually makes me excited! Whether He wants me to stay in the United States for the rest of my life or live in a foreign country doing medical missions, I am at peace, knowing that He will always be with me, and that is an amazing feeling to have. I know that He will be there beside me in every circumstance, always protecting me and wanting the best for me. Romans 8:28 is a verse I have recited numerous times in my head the past three months, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” God has got my back! All I need to do is listen to His call and obey.
Thank you for supporting me on this journey. I can’t believe that I will be home in less than three weeks. This trip has been such a blessing to me and has changed me in more ways than one. Hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Holding the Hand of a Broken Little Girl
Yesterday I heard and saw firsthand the best of God’s creation and how easily it can be destroyed by sin.
I was more excited to go to the children’s hospital this week than other weeks because there was going to be a team from the states performing cleft lip surgeries. When we got to the hospital, we were greeted by a couple ladies on the team who were very surprised to see a bunch of young white people at the hospital. While we were talking to them, Pastor Roni was in one of the rooms talking to one of the patient’s mother. He left the room and called me aside. The excitement I was feeling suddenly turned into a different mix of emotions.
He explained to me that there was a ten year old girl who was sexually abused eight days ago by her eighteen year old uncle. To make matters more horrific, she has special needs and her mother was the one who found her brother-in-law doing this to her little girl. Pastor wanted me to go in and comfort the mother, woman to woman he said. I didn’t know what I was going to say to this lady, and I prayed that God would work though me.
I filled Jaimie, one of my teammates, in on what happened, and we walked into the room. I gave the mom, Norma, a hug and kneeled down beside her. You could tell on her face that she was deeply broken. You could see the pain that she was feeling; pain that I can’t quite comprehend.
Jaimie sat on the bed with the little girl, Vilvia. We talked with Norma for a little, pausing every once and a while just to watch little Vilvia sleep. Since the abuse, Vilvia hasn’t been eating or walking. Before the abuse, Norma said Vilvia was always happy. What I saw when I looked at her was a brutally broken little girl that might never recover. I can only imagine what Norma saw when she looked at her once smiling happy little girl. I rubbed Norma’s back and held her hand as we talked about what happened.
Norma has a total of five kids, and she homeschools all of them because there isn’t a school close to them. She been staying at the hospital and has been sleeping on the floor every night. She told us her neck was starting to hurt her.
After about an hour and a half, it was time to go. We said our goodbyes, but I knew I would be seeing her again soon. Once we left, all Jaimie and I needed to do was look at each other and we knew we were both thinking the same thing- we needed to do something for Norma.
We went with Pastor Roni to the store and bought some snacks, fruit, drinks, tissues, bread, and a blanket for her. While we were in the taxi on the way to the hospital, I was in constant prayer that we would be God’s hands and feet and that He would bring comfort and healing to this broken family. When we got to the hospital, the guard let us in with all the stuff we just bought, which I later learned usually isn’t allowed. Pastor Roni said it was by the grace of God that we could.
When we got there, Norma wasn’t in the room but Vilvia was awake. Jaimie and I sat with her, played with her hair, held her hand, and sang songs to her. After about 20 minutes, Norma came and we gave her the gifts. She was surprised we were there and kept saying thank you and God bless you.
As I was riding in the taxi on the way home, my mind was full of emotions and thoughts. I was angry at the uncle. How could a man who was married do that to his niece? My heart broke for Vilvia and Norma. Will Vilvia every recover from this? Will Norma be able to sleep peacefully when she has that image in her mind? And why did God choose Jaimie and me to talk to Norma?
I have heard these types of stories on the news, but to actually hold the hand of the victim was completely different. The pain is there, and it is so real. My prayer is that God will erase those memories from their minds, that He will heal Vilvia’s body, and that Norma has the strength to get through these difficult days.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” -2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I was more excited to go to the children’s hospital this week than other weeks because there was going to be a team from the states performing cleft lip surgeries. When we got to the hospital, we were greeted by a couple ladies on the team who were very surprised to see a bunch of young white people at the hospital. While we were talking to them, Pastor Roni was in one of the rooms talking to one of the patient’s mother. He left the room and called me aside. The excitement I was feeling suddenly turned into a different mix of emotions.
He explained to me that there was a ten year old girl who was sexually abused eight days ago by her eighteen year old uncle. To make matters more horrific, she has special needs and her mother was the one who found her brother-in-law doing this to her little girl. Pastor wanted me to go in and comfort the mother, woman to woman he said. I didn’t know what I was going to say to this lady, and I prayed that God would work though me.
I filled Jaimie, one of my teammates, in on what happened, and we walked into the room. I gave the mom, Norma, a hug and kneeled down beside her. You could tell on her face that she was deeply broken. You could see the pain that she was feeling; pain that I can’t quite comprehend.
Jaimie sat on the bed with the little girl, Vilvia. We talked with Norma for a little, pausing every once and a while just to watch little Vilvia sleep. Since the abuse, Vilvia hasn’t been eating or walking. Before the abuse, Norma said Vilvia was always happy. What I saw when I looked at her was a brutally broken little girl that might never recover. I can only imagine what Norma saw when she looked at her once smiling happy little girl. I rubbed Norma’s back and held her hand as we talked about what happened.
Norma has a total of five kids, and she homeschools all of them because there isn’t a school close to them. She been staying at the hospital and has been sleeping on the floor every night. She told us her neck was starting to hurt her.
After about an hour and a half, it was time to go. We said our goodbyes, but I knew I would be seeing her again soon. Once we left, all Jaimie and I needed to do was look at each other and we knew we were both thinking the same thing- we needed to do something for Norma.
We went with Pastor Roni to the store and bought some snacks, fruit, drinks, tissues, bread, and a blanket for her. While we were in the taxi on the way to the hospital, I was in constant prayer that we would be God’s hands and feet and that He would bring comfort and healing to this broken family. When we got to the hospital, the guard let us in with all the stuff we just bought, which I later learned usually isn’t allowed. Pastor Roni said it was by the grace of God that we could.
When we got there, Norma wasn’t in the room but Vilvia was awake. Jaimie and I sat with her, played with her hair, held her hand, and sang songs to her. After about 20 minutes, Norma came and we gave her the gifts. She was surprised we were there and kept saying thank you and God bless you.
As I was riding in the taxi on the way home, my mind was full of emotions and thoughts. I was angry at the uncle. How could a man who was married do that to his niece? My heart broke for Vilvia and Norma. Will Vilvia every recover from this? Will Norma be able to sleep peacefully when she has that image in her mind? And why did God choose Jaimie and me to talk to Norma?
I have heard these types of stories on the news, but to actually hold the hand of the victim was completely different. The pain is there, and it is so real. My prayer is that God will erase those memories from their minds, that He will heal Vilvia’s body, and that Norma has the strength to get through these difficult days.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” -2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Blessed.
There have been many moments the past two months where I think, “Where am I? What am I doing? And how did I get here?” These questions came rushing through my head when I found myself being interviewed live on Honduras TV. I sure didn’t think I would be doing that when I signed up for a mission trip to Guatemala!
The five days we were in Honduras were some of my favorite days on this trip. The people that we met and worked with were so joyful, kind, and generous. They were very happy that we were there and wanted to bless us. They just kept saying, “Our hearts are so happy that you are here!” The last night we were there, the pastor’s family surprised us with a little bracelet for each of us with our names on it, and then later cooked us a three course meal with the most delicious chicken I have ever tasted. The same family (parents, two sisters, and one brother) drove us to the boarder, and the girls cried when we left. It was amazing to build such a strong connection in such a short period of time.
While we were in Honduras we broke up into smaller groups and went to schools, churches, different neighborhoods, a hospital, and a prison (only the boys went there). One of my favorite moments was holding a very happy baby boy at the hospital. The town where we stayed, Puerto Cortez, has a big bilingual school, so a lot of the people there knew English, which made holding conversations a lot easier.
In addition to all the fun experiences we had, God opened my eyes to numerous things while I was in Honduras. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a planner. I like to know what is going on and having everything planned. I like to look forward to things. God really challenged me for the next month to focus only on the day at hand, to not think about the next day, and to not countdown the days anymore. The reality is that my time in Guatemala is quickly coming to an end. I don’t want to look back on this time and think, “Man, I really wasted it. I was too busy thinking about home.” So from now on, I am only focusing on the day at hand and how I can make the best of every opportunity. Since I have had that new outlook, my days have been great! I can see God working in me and in the community.
This past Tuesday, we went to the children’s hospital. God has blessed me with individuals back home who have donated money for projects and supplies while I am here. Because of that, I have been able to organize numerous projects that I wouldn’t have been able to do without the funding. This week, we bought flowers for the prostitutes, which brought smiles to their faces and made them feel valuable. I was also able to go to the store and buy coloring books and markers to hand out to the kids at the hospital. Some of the girls and I made get well soon for the kids too. When we got there, we broke up into smaller groups and went into the different rooms. I was in the room with girls, ranging from ages two to around eleven. They absolutely loved the coloring books! It is amazing how a little coloring book, equivalent to about 27 cents in America, can make someone’s day. Thanks to all my supporters! I am so blessed to be here.
This little girl was burned (arm and leg) when a pot of hot coffee spilled on her. She is four and full on energy. I sat on her bed and colored with her for a while, and then I went to talk to some of the other girls. She must not have liked that because she got up, her coloring book and markers in hand, and hopped over and sat on the floor with me and continued to color. She was adorable!
The five days we were in Honduras were some of my favorite days on this trip. The people that we met and worked with were so joyful, kind, and generous. They were very happy that we were there and wanted to bless us. They just kept saying, “Our hearts are so happy that you are here!” The last night we were there, the pastor’s family surprised us with a little bracelet for each of us with our names on it, and then later cooked us a three course meal with the most delicious chicken I have ever tasted. The same family (parents, two sisters, and one brother) drove us to the boarder, and the girls cried when we left. It was amazing to build such a strong connection in such a short period of time.
While we were in Honduras we broke up into smaller groups and went to schools, churches, different neighborhoods, a hospital, and a prison (only the boys went there). One of my favorite moments was holding a very happy baby boy at the hospital. The town where we stayed, Puerto Cortez, has a big bilingual school, so a lot of the people there knew English, which made holding conversations a lot easier.
In addition to all the fun experiences we had, God opened my eyes to numerous things while I was in Honduras. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a planner. I like to know what is going on and having everything planned. I like to look forward to things. God really challenged me for the next month to focus only on the day at hand, to not think about the next day, and to not countdown the days anymore. The reality is that my time in Guatemala is quickly coming to an end. I don’t want to look back on this time and think, “Man, I really wasted it. I was too busy thinking about home.” So from now on, I am only focusing on the day at hand and how I can make the best of every opportunity. Since I have had that new outlook, my days have been great! I can see God working in me and in the community.
This past Tuesday, we went to the children’s hospital. God has blessed me with individuals back home who have donated money for projects and supplies while I am here. Because of that, I have been able to organize numerous projects that I wouldn’t have been able to do without the funding. This week, we bought flowers for the prostitutes, which brought smiles to their faces and made them feel valuable. I was also able to go to the store and buy coloring books and markers to hand out to the kids at the hospital. Some of the girls and I made get well soon for the kids too. When we got there, we broke up into smaller groups and went into the different rooms. I was in the room with girls, ranging from ages two to around eleven. They absolutely loved the coloring books! It is amazing how a little coloring book, equivalent to about 27 cents in America, can make someone’s day. Thanks to all my supporters! I am so blessed to be here.
This little girl was burned (arm and leg) when a pot of hot coffee spilled on her. She is four and full on energy. I sat on her bed and colored with her for a while, and then I went to talk to some of the other girls. She must not have liked that because she got up, her coloring book and markers in hand, and hopped over and sat on the floor with me and continued to color. She was adorable!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Top Five Favorite Moments of the Week in Pictures
1. Tennis!
During sport's ministry, our Pastor knew I liked tennis so he talked with the tennis instructor at the complex, and he let me play. It was a very unexpected treat!
2. Outdoor Church Service on Friday and Saturday
At the church service, I met these two adorable and sweet girls. Cesia, the girl on the right, was patient with my Spanish speaking skills, and we are able to have a good and long conversation. They bought me a lollipop and Cesia gave me her bracelet.
3. (Little) Cliff Jumping and Swimming in the River
Friends of the pastor we work with wanted to bless us, so they took us to a river about two and a half hours away and cooked for us. It was by far the best Sunday I have had in Guatemala. I also had a two hour conversation with our bus driver (in Spanish!) where he opened up and told me about some of the things he was struggling with. God definitely gave me the ability to understand and talk to him because I do not have that much Spanish knowledge.
4. He has a name, Jose Manuel!
Last time we went to the orphanage, I held this little guy who was only seven days old. He didn't have a name, but when I came back this past Monday, they named him Jose Manuel. :)
5. Carnival at the Orphanage
We did the carnival at the orphanage this week, and they loved it! It was great to see all the smiling faces.
2. Outdoor Church Service on Friday and Saturday
3. (Little) Cliff Jumping and Swimming in the River
4. He has a name, Jose Manuel!
5. Carnival at the Orphanage
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Party at the Children's Hospital
My mom wrote in my baby book that when I was three I said, “Mommy, I want to be a doctor and a mommy when I grow up.” Well, that dream hasn’t changed at all and this trip has given me so much motivation to make that dream a reality.
I am so blessed that one of our ministries is the children’s hospital. Hospital ministry was not on the description of this trip, nor was it on the list of ministries our contact had. Coming on this trip, I figured we wouldn’t be doing hospital ministry. You can imagine how happy I was when I heard that not only were we going to do hospital ministry, but we were doing hospital ministry at a children’s hospital. (My dream is to become a pediatrician and do medical missions.) The fact that there are only two children’s hospitals in all of Guatemala made it even more exciting.
One night after going to the hospital, God put in on my heart to do something more than just talk to the parents and color with the kids. My mind was racing with thoughts and ideas. I woke up early the next morning excited about the ideas I had. I had decided I wanted to do a little carnival for the kids where they could get out of their rooms and enjoy and hour or so of fun.
I asked one of my leaders if it would be possible, and after getting the ok, I went on with the planning. My friend Emily R and I spend the last few days planning, shopping, organizing, and decorating for the carnival. I had a picture in my head and was ready to make it a reality. With the help of my teammates, this picture became a reality this past Tuesday.
The kids, aging from around 2 to 11, loved it! Some of the activities included pin the tail (on the lion), a craft, a coloring table,
a ring toss, a ball toss, and the fishing game.
Thanks for your support! Less than seven weeks till I come home!
I am so blessed that one of our ministries is the children’s hospital. Hospital ministry was not on the description of this trip, nor was it on the list of ministries our contact had. Coming on this trip, I figured we wouldn’t be doing hospital ministry. You can imagine how happy I was when I heard that not only were we going to do hospital ministry, but we were doing hospital ministry at a children’s hospital. (My dream is to become a pediatrician and do medical missions.) The fact that there are only two children’s hospitals in all of Guatemala made it even more exciting.
One night after going to the hospital, God put in on my heart to do something more than just talk to the parents and color with the kids. My mind was racing with thoughts and ideas. I woke up early the next morning excited about the ideas I had. I had decided I wanted to do a little carnival for the kids where they could get out of their rooms and enjoy and hour or so of fun.
I asked one of my leaders if it would be possible, and after getting the ok, I went on with the planning. My friend Emily R and I spend the last few days planning, shopping, organizing, and decorating for the carnival. I had a picture in my head and was ready to make it a reality. With the help of my teammates, this picture became a reality this past Tuesday.
The kids, aging from around 2 to 11, loved it! Some of the activities included pin the tail (on the lion), a craft, a coloring table,
a ring toss, a ball toss, and the fishing game.
Thanks for your support! Less than seven weeks till I come home!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Matthew 25:45
Hiking up the volcano in Antigua is an experience I will remember for a lifetime for two reasons. The first reason is probably what you would expect- I will remember the beauty of it, the amazing sites I saw. The second reason I will remember the volcano is something I wasn’t expecting- I will remember the children there, the children who begged us to buy a stick for five quetzals, who begged us for food and money. I have never experienced something like it. We got off the bus and we were attacked by little boys, pleading with us to buy a stick. They were selling them five quetzals, which is the equivalent of less than one American dollar. There was urgency in their eyes, but I didn’t buy a stick.
After finishing the hike, we went to the tienda (store) to get some snacks. Boys and girls again were pleading with us, except instead of selling sticks, they were just begging for food and money. By this time, it was 7:30 at night and we were all hungry. I bought a bag of chips and a candy bar for myself and a bag of chips for one of my teammates. As I was buying the food, a little boy said, “for me?” My heart broke. I bought a second bag of chips and gave it to him, hoping that he would share with the other kids. He ran away with the bag. My heart broke again because there must have been ten or fifteen other kids who I didn’t give anything to. I got on the bus and left, thinking about what just happened. I couldn’t help but wonder why I didn’t feed all of them. I had the money to do so.
So why didn’t I feed all of them? I think part of it was that I was overwhelmed with everything. I didn’t know where to start. The other part of it was that the devil got it in my mind that it wasn’t my job to feed the children, that other people would do it if I didn’t. But a passage in Matthew kept coming to mind. If you have a Bible near you flip to Matthew 25:31-46. The verse that kept repeating in my head was Matthew 25:45, “Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.’”
The reality is that Matthew 25:45 was speaking directly at me and I didn’t listen. I didn’t feed the least of these. And as much as I want to go back and redo that night, I can’t. I know many of you are probably thinking, “Kathy, you can’t put that burden on yourself. You did help one of the boys and that was more than what others did.” But that is a lie. Jesus commanded us to care for the least of these, to feed them and to care for them. I can’t go back to that night, but I can go forward, always remembering Matthew 25:45 AND acting on it. As I look for opportunities to do that, I encourage you to do the same. When you see someone in need, remember what God commanded us to do. And remember, it’s not a burden, it’s a gift. God blessed us richly so that we can help his children.
After finishing the hike, we went to the tienda (store) to get some snacks. Boys and girls again were pleading with us, except instead of selling sticks, they were just begging for food and money. By this time, it was 7:30 at night and we were all hungry. I bought a bag of chips and a candy bar for myself and a bag of chips for one of my teammates. As I was buying the food, a little boy said, “for me?” My heart broke. I bought a second bag of chips and gave it to him, hoping that he would share with the other kids. He ran away with the bag. My heart broke again because there must have been ten or fifteen other kids who I didn’t give anything to. I got on the bus and left, thinking about what just happened. I couldn’t help but wonder why I didn’t feed all of them. I had the money to do so.
So why didn’t I feed all of them? I think part of it was that I was overwhelmed with everything. I didn’t know where to start. The other part of it was that the devil got it in my mind that it wasn’t my job to feed the children, that other people would do it if I didn’t. But a passage in Matthew kept coming to mind. If you have a Bible near you flip to Matthew 25:31-46. The verse that kept repeating in my head was Matthew 25:45, “Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.’”
The reality is that Matthew 25:45 was speaking directly at me and I didn’t listen. I didn’t feed the least of these. And as much as I want to go back and redo that night, I can’t. I know many of you are probably thinking, “Kathy, you can’t put that burden on yourself. You did help one of the boys and that was more than what others did.” But that is a lie. Jesus commanded us to care for the least of these, to feed them and to care for them. I can’t go back to that night, but I can go forward, always remembering Matthew 25:45 AND acting on it. As I look for opportunities to do that, I encourage you to do the same. When you see someone in need, remember what God commanded us to do. And remember, it’s not a burden, it’s a gift. God blessed us richly so that we can help his children.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
My Friend Manuel
I met Manual the first time we went to the Children's Hospital three weeks ago. He and his sister were in the hallway of the hospital with their mother who looked emotionally and physically trained. Manual and his sister both looked like they were on the verge of death. They were extremely weak and exhausted. Manual and his sister were both suffering from intestinal problems and couldn't eat without getting sick. We prayed with them and left.
The following day we had a children's program, where all the kids who were able came outside and watched my team perform skits and sing songs. During the program, I sat with Manuel, who looked a little better than the day before but still looked tired and weak. I was praying and hoping that these silly skits we were performing would bring some joy into his life. It took awhile, but he finally smiled and laughed, a lot! It was so nice to see this little boy, who was so sick, not only smile but laugh. At the end of the program, our leader told a story about prayer and the power it brings. Afterwards, there was a time to pray and I asked Manuel if I could pray for him. He smiled and said yes, and I prayed for healing and strength. I had already asked him all the questions I could in Spanish, so together we counted his fingers and toes, my fingers and toes, Kevin's fingers and toes, Jordan's fingers and toes, and then continued to count to a hundred.
Last week when we went back to the hospital, I was on the lookout for Manuel. I didn't see him in any of the main rooms, but then someone on my team told me he was hanging out with one of the nurses in the emergency room. I peeked through the window and waved, and he smiled and waved back. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to go in, so I waited awhile and went to another room. When I came back, one of my leaders was in the emergency room, so I went in to visit Manuel. He looked better, but the nurse said that they didn't know when he would be able to go home and that was frustrating him and his mom.
This past Tuesday we went back to the hospital. Part of me wanted to see him again, but the other part of me was hoping that he made a full recovery and was at home. To my surprise, I saw Manuel again. But this time was different. This time, Manuel was happy! He was smiling from ear to ear. His sister looked great too. He asked me when I'd be back, and I said probably next week. As much as I would love to see him again, I hope I never do. Please pray for Manuel, his sister, and their family.
I love going to the hospital and talking to the parents and praying for the children. This past Tuesday, I wanted to do something in addition to the prayers and talks, something that would bring some joy and life into the kids. I figured most kids like to color so I bought a coloring book, markers, and crayons and found some kids that looked bored. They loved it! It brought joy into my heart to see them active and happy. If you can think of any other fun and creative ideas that we could do with the kids, email me! :)
To all the prayer warriors out there, I have a special prayer request for you. While we were at the hospital, we met a 13 year old girl who was in a car accident six days ago. Her mom was killed at impact and her father was injured but was just released from the hospital. A family friend was staying with the girl. The girl and her family speak Quiché, an indigenous Mayan language, not Spanish. The girl had broken her femur, and some of the disks in her back were misplaced so she had surgery yesterday to fix that. They didn't tell her that her mother had died yet. When we saw her, she was in a lot of pain and extremely scared. I can't imagine what she is feeling. She is living a nightmare. But I trust that God will wrap his loving hands around this family and comfort them. He will heal them and make them stronger. He will be there for them, if they look to Him. Pray that during this extremely difficult time, they will look to their Father in Heaven for their strength and peace.
The following day we had a children's program, where all the kids who were able came outside and watched my team perform skits and sing songs. During the program, I sat with Manuel, who looked a little better than the day before but still looked tired and weak. I was praying and hoping that these silly skits we were performing would bring some joy into his life. It took awhile, but he finally smiled and laughed, a lot! It was so nice to see this little boy, who was so sick, not only smile but laugh. At the end of the program, our leader told a story about prayer and the power it brings. Afterwards, there was a time to pray and I asked Manuel if I could pray for him. He smiled and said yes, and I prayed for healing and strength. I had already asked him all the questions I could in Spanish, so together we counted his fingers and toes, my fingers and toes, Kevin's fingers and toes, Jordan's fingers and toes, and then continued to count to a hundred.
Last week when we went back to the hospital, I was on the lookout for Manuel. I didn't see him in any of the main rooms, but then someone on my team told me he was hanging out with one of the nurses in the emergency room. I peeked through the window and waved, and he smiled and waved back. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to go in, so I waited awhile and went to another room. When I came back, one of my leaders was in the emergency room, so I went in to visit Manuel. He looked better, but the nurse said that they didn't know when he would be able to go home and that was frustrating him and his mom.
This past Tuesday we went back to the hospital. Part of me wanted to see him again, but the other part of me was hoping that he made a full recovery and was at home. To my surprise, I saw Manuel again. But this time was different. This time, Manuel was happy! He was smiling from ear to ear. His sister looked great too. He asked me when I'd be back, and I said probably next week. As much as I would love to see him again, I hope I never do. Please pray for Manuel, his sister, and their family.
I love going to the hospital and talking to the parents and praying for the children. This past Tuesday, I wanted to do something in addition to the prayers and talks, something that would bring some joy and life into the kids. I figured most kids like to color so I bought a coloring book, markers, and crayons and found some kids that looked bored. They loved it! It brought joy into my heart to see them active and happy. If you can think of any other fun and creative ideas that we could do with the kids, email me! :)
To all the prayer warriors out there, I have a special prayer request for you. While we were at the hospital, we met a 13 year old girl who was in a car accident six days ago. Her mom was killed at impact and her father was injured but was just released from the hospital. A family friend was staying with the girl. The girl and her family speak Quiché, an indigenous Mayan language, not Spanish. The girl had broken her femur, and some of the disks in her back were misplaced so she had surgery yesterday to fix that. They didn't tell her that her mother had died yet. When we saw her, she was in a lot of pain and extremely scared. I can't imagine what she is feeling. She is living a nightmare. But I trust that God will wrap his loving hands around this family and comfort them. He will heal them and make them stronger. He will be there for them, if they look to Him. Pray that during this extremely difficult time, they will look to their Father in Heaven for their strength and peace.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Worrying and Complaining... no más!
I was unsure of what to blog about this week. If you read my other blogs, you already have a feel for what ministry looks like here. I don't want to bore you with my emotional states the past few days or say the same thing I did last week, so this week I decided to write about what I have been learning, both about myself and about my God.
God has convicted me of two things this week: complaining and worrying. I know that the Bible specifically says not to complain and worry, but for me, it is so unnatural not to do those things, especially when it comes to worrying.
Sunday was a difficult day for the team. We were told that we needed to leave early so we got up to have breakfast at 7:00 and the plan was to leave at 8:00. Eight rolls around and breakfast isn't ready. Once we finally eat breakfast, we wait around for another two and a half hours waiting for our contacts to come. Once they arrived, we left for ministry. We were told the night before that we were going to do door-to-door evangelism for the whole day. Once we got to our location (in the mountains), we found out we were actually doing our kids program. Since we weren't told that we were doing the program, we didn't bring the ipod, so we were unable to do all of the things we normally do. But in the end, we made it work. Then came lunch. One of our contacts told us to eat in the van and the other, once we were already in the van, told us that we needed to eat in the church. Then once lunch was finished, we went door-to-door, talking and praying for some pretty hopeless people. -Let me paint the picture for you. -About seven white Americans, a Honduras woman (our contact), the local pastor, a couple Guatemalan kids, and a random teenager playing a guitar knocking on your door. It was just weird situation for me, not to mention the people we came in contact with. Then after a couple hours we come back to the church, where our contacts precedes to tell us that we need to catch a chicken because that is our dinner... She was completely serious...She told us that we are eating here and spending the night here also because "it is necessary for the ministry." So we venture out, running around with our skirts on, trying to catch our dinner. We finally catch one, and our contact says we now need to chop the poor chicken's head off. We literally have the chicken dangling, about the chop the head off, when our contact shouts, "CHISTE!!" which is joke in English. After the day we just had, a chiste is not something we were really in the mood for. We were tired and hungry. We weren't in a good place. We were mad at our contacts and we didn't feel like giving them any more respect.
That evening, however, during feedback/team time, God spoke through one of my teammates, Joel. Joel was the one talking, but it was completely God's words so I am just going to say God said this. God convicted us of complaining about stupid little stuff. God reminded us that we have NOTHING to complain about. His son was spit on, tortured, and laughed at, and he was PERFECT and SINLESS. He was put through so much and never complained. It is so easy to complain, but complaining is so detrimental. From now on, my team is going to hold each other accountable and not complain. I encourage you at home to do the same thing. When you are about to complain, think about our Jesus being crucified, think about the people living in the garbage dump, and think about the little kids in the hospital struggling to survive.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world." -Philippians 2:14-15
God also convicted me of worrying this week. So many times in the Bible, it says not to worry.
"Jesus said to his followers, 'So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest, they don't have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth MUCH MORE than birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. If you cannot do even the little things, then why worry about the big things?... Don't always think about what you will eat or what you will drink, and don't keep worrying. All the people in the world are trying to get all these things, and your Father knows you need them. But seek God's kingdom, and all your other needs will be met as well.'" -Luke 11:22-26, 29-31
This past Monday I wasn't having a very good day. Looking back, my mind was consumed with worry. I was worried that my grandma's health because she recently fell and has pneumonia. I was worried about my sister. Pretty much anything that I could worry about I was worrying about. My team really rallied behind me and helped me through the day. They are some of the greatest people I have ever met. Each of us have a "secret buddy" who we pray for and write letters of encouragement to. I got a letter from my secret buddy on Monday night that said:
"I've been praying about the word that God wants me to give you. The subject he wanted me to say to you is to not worry about anything at all. Don't worry about anything here or anything back home, because it's in the God of the universe hands. And he will take care of anything and everything. "Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself, Each day has enough trouble of it's own." - Matthew 6:34 I hope this helps you with your walk with Christ. I love you Kathy! All glory to God." -That Secret Person
What my secret buddy wrote was exactly what I needed to hear. During these difficult days, I do lean on my teammates for support, but more importantly, I lean on my God. He has been there, waiting to take the burden of worry from me, but I have never been willing to give it to Him, until now. No more worrying for me! Things may happen at home or here that I don't understand, but I know that everything works together for good for those that love the Lord.
"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace , which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
God has been teaching me so much, from what selflessness looks like to what an intimate relationship with Him looks like. This blog is getting a little lengthy, so I'll save the rest for another time. I hope that this encourages you to stop complaining and worrying. When you surrender everything to God, great things will happen. That doesn't mean everything is going to be easy (in fact, it might be the opposite), but it will bring glory to God's Kingdom. Remember, life on earth is tiny in comparison to eternity. Take a few minutes to think about how much time you focus on earthy things in comparison to how much time you think about your eternity. I know that once I really thought about it, my whole outlook on life changed. Things that seemed so important suddenly were meaningless.
This is a picture of my friend Dalea who lives at the orphanage we visited on Friday. She greeted me by giving me a lollipop and from there, we were hooked at the hip. :)
My buddy Ryleigh and I at the special needs school.
Carlo, the happiest boy I met at the hospital. He is four and got severely burned when a pot of hot water fell on him. She showed me his burns, which were all over his body, but he said that they didn't hurt anymore. His parents weren't there so he was happy to have some visitors.
God has convicted me of two things this week: complaining and worrying. I know that the Bible specifically says not to complain and worry, but for me, it is so unnatural not to do those things, especially when it comes to worrying.
Sunday was a difficult day for the team. We were told that we needed to leave early so we got up to have breakfast at 7:00 and the plan was to leave at 8:00. Eight rolls around and breakfast isn't ready. Once we finally eat breakfast, we wait around for another two and a half hours waiting for our contacts to come. Once they arrived, we left for ministry. We were told the night before that we were going to do door-to-door evangelism for the whole day. Once we got to our location (in the mountains), we found out we were actually doing our kids program. Since we weren't told that we were doing the program, we didn't bring the ipod, so we were unable to do all of the things we normally do. But in the end, we made it work. Then came lunch. One of our contacts told us to eat in the van and the other, once we were already in the van, told us that we needed to eat in the church. Then once lunch was finished, we went door-to-door, talking and praying for some pretty hopeless people. -Let me paint the picture for you. -About seven white Americans, a Honduras woman (our contact), the local pastor, a couple Guatemalan kids, and a random teenager playing a guitar knocking on your door. It was just weird situation for me, not to mention the people we came in contact with. Then after a couple hours we come back to the church, where our contacts precedes to tell us that we need to catch a chicken because that is our dinner... She was completely serious...She told us that we are eating here and spending the night here also because "it is necessary for the ministry." So we venture out, running around with our skirts on, trying to catch our dinner. We finally catch one, and our contact says we now need to chop the poor chicken's head off. We literally have the chicken dangling, about the chop the head off, when our contact shouts, "CHISTE!!" which is joke in English. After the day we just had, a chiste is not something we were really in the mood for. We were tired and hungry. We weren't in a good place. We were mad at our contacts and we didn't feel like giving them any more respect.
That evening, however, during feedback/team time, God spoke through one of my teammates, Joel. Joel was the one talking, but it was completely God's words so I am just going to say God said this. God convicted us of complaining about stupid little stuff. God reminded us that we have NOTHING to complain about. His son was spit on, tortured, and laughed at, and he was PERFECT and SINLESS. He was put through so much and never complained. It is so easy to complain, but complaining is so detrimental. From now on, my team is going to hold each other accountable and not complain. I encourage you at home to do the same thing. When you are about to complain, think about our Jesus being crucified, think about the people living in the garbage dump, and think about the little kids in the hospital struggling to survive.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world." -Philippians 2:14-15
God also convicted me of worrying this week. So many times in the Bible, it says not to worry.
"Jesus said to his followers, 'So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest, they don't have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth MUCH MORE than birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. If you cannot do even the little things, then why worry about the big things?... Don't always think about what you will eat or what you will drink, and don't keep worrying. All the people in the world are trying to get all these things, and your Father knows you need them. But seek God's kingdom, and all your other needs will be met as well.'" -Luke 11:22-26, 29-31
This past Monday I wasn't having a very good day. Looking back, my mind was consumed with worry. I was worried that my grandma's health because she recently fell and has pneumonia. I was worried about my sister. Pretty much anything that I could worry about I was worrying about. My team really rallied behind me and helped me through the day. They are some of the greatest people I have ever met. Each of us have a "secret buddy" who we pray for and write letters of encouragement to. I got a letter from my secret buddy on Monday night that said:
"I've been praying about the word that God wants me to give you. The subject he wanted me to say to you is to not worry about anything at all. Don't worry about anything here or anything back home, because it's in the God of the universe hands. And he will take care of anything and everything. "Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself, Each day has enough trouble of it's own." - Matthew 6:34 I hope this helps you with your walk with Christ. I love you Kathy! All glory to God." -That Secret Person
What my secret buddy wrote was exactly what I needed to hear. During these difficult days, I do lean on my teammates for support, but more importantly, I lean on my God. He has been there, waiting to take the burden of worry from me, but I have never been willing to give it to Him, until now. No more worrying for me! Things may happen at home or here that I don't understand, but I know that everything works together for good for those that love the Lord.
"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace , which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
God has been teaching me so much, from what selflessness looks like to what an intimate relationship with Him looks like. This blog is getting a little lengthy, so I'll save the rest for another time. I hope that this encourages you to stop complaining and worrying. When you surrender everything to God, great things will happen. That doesn't mean everything is going to be easy (in fact, it might be the opposite), but it will bring glory to God's Kingdom. Remember, life on earth is tiny in comparison to eternity. Take a few minutes to think about how much time you focus on earthy things in comparison to how much time you think about your eternity. I know that once I really thought about it, my whole outlook on life changed. Things that seemed so important suddenly were meaningless.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
An Amazing Week
I'm happy to say that his week has been AMAZING. We are beginning to do a lot of different ministries which makes everyone on my team very happy. This week we went to numerous church services, a local park to watch break dancers and do sports ministry, the market, a children's hospital, a school for children with special needs, and bars to do prostitute ministry. If you know anything about me, you can probably pick out the two ministries above that made this week awesome for me: the school for children with special needs and the children's hospital.
When we got to the school, I felt so comfortable. Being there reminded me of my mom's classroom and Emily, a little girl I babysit for the past seven years who has Down Syndrome. There were so many kids and so much energy. After walking around and meeting numerous kids, I sat down and played with a boy named Joseph. Joseph is ten and has Down Syndrome. I spent the next hour or so talking, walking, and playing with him. We went outside and played on the swings and monkey bars. Then we went into the office and he put on music and we pretended to play the guitar. He got out a photo album and we went through the photos, pointing to all the people he knew in them, something that Emily loves to do too. As we were sitting on the couch looking at the photos, he motioned for me to scootch over closer to him, another thing that Emily does all the time. There were so many similarities between him and Emily that I felt like I was home. I felt like I was playing with my little best friend again. I loved that school so much that I would be content with going there every day and not doing any other ministry.
We went back to the school yesterday, and again, I had a great time playing with the kids. We did a little program which included skits and songs. The kids absolutely loved it. I got to play with numerous other kids and made some new friends.
When I found out we were going to the children's hospital, I was beaming with joy. It was something I wanted to do, but I didn't think that we would have the opportunity to do. Like at the school, when I got to the hospital, I felt at home there. It was like I was suppose to be there. It reaffirmed my desire to go into medicine. If you were to compare the hospital to Janet Weis Children's Hospital, it would look horrible. But if you compare it to the houses and living conditions these people are in, it was a very nice hospital. There were about 10-15 patients in each room, varying in age and severity of case. Many of the kids had intestinal problems, some had fevers, a couple had severe burns, and numerous were premature babies. Our group separated into smaller groups and went into different rooms and talked to the parents and kids. Since my Spanish is lacking, I said pretty much the same thing to everyone: what's your name, how old are you, what's the problem, how long have you been here, how much longer do you think you'll be here, and can I pray for you. It broke my heart to see the kids in so much pain, but I absolutely loved being there.
One of my teammates was in another room with a premature baby boy who had a cleft lip and no parents in sight. She took it upon herself to hold and feed the baby and just give him some much needed love. Before we left, she asked if anyone knew how to swaddle. I happily said yes and swaddled that precious little boy. I don't know what his future looks like, but I do know that the little act of swaddling him gave me motivation to study hard so that I can do more than just swaddle him. I want to be able to make his life and the lives of kids like him better. I am so happy that I am here and I am very excited to see what my future after Guatemala will hold. I'm giving my future to God, knowing that I am safe and complete in His hands.
Yesterday we went back to the hospital to do a program for the kids. The kids and their parents loved it! It was so nice to see them smile and laugh. My little friend Manuel who was suffering from an intestinal problem and was very down was laughing and smiling so much! Sarah and I went back to visit Lourdes, the baby with the cleft lip. He was moved to the corner of the room, away from everyone. Sarah held him and fed him again, which gave me the opportunity to talk to the nurse about him. His parents left him when they saw his lip. I asked how old he was and she flipped out his chart and showed me everything (no HIPAA laws here). He was 11 days old. Eleven days old with no parents in the corner of the room. It's a hard reality to accept, but I know God has a reason for everything.
Miss you Emily!
When we got to the school, I felt so comfortable. Being there reminded me of my mom's classroom and Emily, a little girl I babysit for the past seven years who has Down Syndrome. There were so many kids and so much energy. After walking around and meeting numerous kids, I sat down and played with a boy named Joseph. Joseph is ten and has Down Syndrome. I spent the next hour or so talking, walking, and playing with him. We went outside and played on the swings and monkey bars. Then we went into the office and he put on music and we pretended to play the guitar. He got out a photo album and we went through the photos, pointing to all the people he knew in them, something that Emily loves to do too. As we were sitting on the couch looking at the photos, he motioned for me to scootch over closer to him, another thing that Emily does all the time. There were so many similarities between him and Emily that I felt like I was home. I felt like I was playing with my little best friend again. I loved that school so much that I would be content with going there every day and not doing any other ministry.
We went back to the school yesterday, and again, I had a great time playing with the kids. We did a little program which included skits and songs. The kids absolutely loved it. I got to play with numerous other kids and made some new friends.
When I found out we were going to the children's hospital, I was beaming with joy. It was something I wanted to do, but I didn't think that we would have the opportunity to do. Like at the school, when I got to the hospital, I felt at home there. It was like I was suppose to be there. It reaffirmed my desire to go into medicine. If you were to compare the hospital to Janet Weis Children's Hospital, it would look horrible. But if you compare it to the houses and living conditions these people are in, it was a very nice hospital. There were about 10-15 patients in each room, varying in age and severity of case. Many of the kids had intestinal problems, some had fevers, a couple had severe burns, and numerous were premature babies. Our group separated into smaller groups and went into different rooms and talked to the parents and kids. Since my Spanish is lacking, I said pretty much the same thing to everyone: what's your name, how old are you, what's the problem, how long have you been here, how much longer do you think you'll be here, and can I pray for you. It broke my heart to see the kids in so much pain, but I absolutely loved being there.
One of my teammates was in another room with a premature baby boy who had a cleft lip and no parents in sight. She took it upon herself to hold and feed the baby and just give him some much needed love. Before we left, she asked if anyone knew how to swaddle. I happily said yes and swaddled that precious little boy. I don't know what his future looks like, but I do know that the little act of swaddling him gave me motivation to study hard so that I can do more than just swaddle him. I want to be able to make his life and the lives of kids like him better. I am so happy that I am here and I am very excited to see what my future after Guatemala will hold. I'm giving my future to God, knowing that I am safe and complete in His hands.
Yesterday we went back to the hospital to do a program for the kids. The kids and their parents loved it! It was so nice to see them smile and laugh. My little friend Manuel who was suffering from an intestinal problem and was very down was laughing and smiling so much! Sarah and I went back to visit Lourdes, the baby with the cleft lip. He was moved to the corner of the room, away from everyone. Sarah held him and fed him again, which gave me the opportunity to talk to the nurse about him. His parents left him when they saw his lip. I asked how old he was and she flipped out his chart and showed me everything (no HIPAA laws here). He was 11 days old. Eleven days old with no parents in the corner of the room. It's a hard reality to accept, but I know God has a reason for everything.
Miss you Emily!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Ups and Downs
After a great free day last Thursday, filled with talking to family and friends and even an impromptu adventure to the beach, I was ready and excited to start another week of ministry. That excitement quickly went away and turned into feelings of wanting to go home, feeling like I don't have a purpose here, and a feeling of simply not wanting to be here. Friday and Saturday were difficult days. One guy on our team got sent home and our team no longer felt like a family. In addition to the lack of unity we were feeling, our team physically wasn't doing well. One girl had an allergic reaction to her malaria medicine, numerous people had little friends in their stomachs (parasites), and a head cold was also going around. Thankfully I didn't get sick, but our team as a whole was struggling.
Sunday we got up at 6 a.m. to go to an outdoor baptism service, which none of us were really thrilled about attending. It was, however, a great day where our team had the opportunity to bond and become a family again. We spent the majority of the day at a river where there was an amazing waterfall that we got to swim in. The force of the waterfall was so strong that to get under it, we had to dive in and swim hard until we were close enough to hold onto a person under the waterfall... Team bonding at its finest.
Monday morning we worked and cleaned around the house and then went to the elderly home in the afternoon. There was only nine girls who went because the guys had to stay back to do more yard work and the other girls were sick. We were feeling down, yet again, but once we got there, the whole mood changed. The people were so happy to see us, and they brought so much joy into our hearts. I had the opportunity to have a decent conversation with two elderly men. I didn't understand much, but it didn't matter. They just needed a listening ear and I had that. We sang songs with them, read the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den to them, and even played a fantastic game of charades. We acted out animals and the residents guessed what we were. My favorite memory of the day was when George, one of the residents, acted out an animal. Watching a man in his mid-seventies lift up his leg, pretending to be a dog peeing, was priceless.
Tuesday might have been my favorite day here. We spent the morning going door to door asking people if we could pray for them. Almost all of them not only said that we could, but they also welcomed us into their houses and shared their story. Then in the afternoon, we did the same thing except in a different neighborhood. Going in, I was very unsure of the whole idea. My group of five people didn't have a fluent Spanish speaker and we didn't know what exactly to say. Before going, I asked God to help me communicate with the people I would come in contact with and allow me to understand what they were saying.
Putting all our fears and anxieties aside, we knocked on the first door. A lady answered and we introduced ourselves and asked if we could pray for her. She invited us into her house and we talked for almost two hours. Being able to talk for two hours with minimal knowledge of Spanish was amazing and a gift from God. She showed us pictures of her family, made us the most delicious coffee, and gave us some sweet bread to snack on. We also got to meet her daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson and pray for all of them. They were all so gracious and loving. They gave us their contact information and wanted us to come back again.
Wednesday we went to the garbage dump. Last time we were there it had been so muddy that they weren't letting garbage trucks come in. This time, however, there were numerous trucks coming in with new trash and the people, young and old, were quickly going through it, searching for anything of value. The first time I went, I felt that I hardened my heart because I didn't want to face the reality of what I was seeing. So this time before going, I asked God to break my heart for what breaks His and he answered that prayer. We met a lady named Naomi who is the mother of three kids ages 13,7, and 1. She has called the garbage dump home for the past 15 years, which means her children don't know any other home than a garbage dump. When we asked her if she needed anything, she responded with shoes for her children. I can only imagine what her daily struggles are, and yet she had a smile on her face.
God is teaching me so many things on this trip, and so many of those things I can take with me when I come home. There are still times when I want to go home, but when I feel that way, I pray that God would release those feelings from me and He does, as long as I give Him complete control. I have learned that I can't take a nap, because that is the time when I am most vulnerable to those feelings overtaking me. So instead of napping, I dive deeper into God's Word. Please continue to pray for me as I go through this journey of being completely reliant on God.
Sunday we got up at 6 a.m. to go to an outdoor baptism service, which none of us were really thrilled about attending. It was, however, a great day where our team had the opportunity to bond and become a family again. We spent the majority of the day at a river where there was an amazing waterfall that we got to swim in. The force of the waterfall was so strong that to get under it, we had to dive in and swim hard until we were close enough to hold onto a person under the waterfall... Team bonding at its finest.
Monday morning we worked and cleaned around the house and then went to the elderly home in the afternoon. There was only nine girls who went because the guys had to stay back to do more yard work and the other girls were sick. We were feeling down, yet again, but once we got there, the whole mood changed. The people were so happy to see us, and they brought so much joy into our hearts. I had the opportunity to have a decent conversation with two elderly men. I didn't understand much, but it didn't matter. They just needed a listening ear and I had that. We sang songs with them, read the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den to them, and even played a fantastic game of charades. We acted out animals and the residents guessed what we were. My favorite memory of the day was when George, one of the residents, acted out an animal. Watching a man in his mid-seventies lift up his leg, pretending to be a dog peeing, was priceless.
Tuesday might have been my favorite day here. We spent the morning going door to door asking people if we could pray for them. Almost all of them not only said that we could, but they also welcomed us into their houses and shared their story. Then in the afternoon, we did the same thing except in a different neighborhood. Going in, I was very unsure of the whole idea. My group of five people didn't have a fluent Spanish speaker and we didn't know what exactly to say. Before going, I asked God to help me communicate with the people I would come in contact with and allow me to understand what they were saying.
Putting all our fears and anxieties aside, we knocked on the first door. A lady answered and we introduced ourselves and asked if we could pray for her. She invited us into her house and we talked for almost two hours. Being able to talk for two hours with minimal knowledge of Spanish was amazing and a gift from God. She showed us pictures of her family, made us the most delicious coffee, and gave us some sweet bread to snack on. We also got to meet her daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson and pray for all of them. They were all so gracious and loving. They gave us their contact information and wanted us to come back again.
Wednesday we went to the garbage dump. Last time we were there it had been so muddy that they weren't letting garbage trucks come in. This time, however, there were numerous trucks coming in with new trash and the people, young and old, were quickly going through it, searching for anything of value. The first time I went, I felt that I hardened my heart because I didn't want to face the reality of what I was seeing. So this time before going, I asked God to break my heart for what breaks His and he answered that prayer. We met a lady named Naomi who is the mother of three kids ages 13,7, and 1. She has called the garbage dump home for the past 15 years, which means her children don't know any other home than a garbage dump. When we asked her if she needed anything, she responded with shoes for her children. I can only imagine what her daily struggles are, and yet she had a smile on her face.
God is teaching me so many things on this trip, and so many of those things I can take with me when I come home. There are still times when I want to go home, but when I feel that way, I pray that God would release those feelings from me and He does, as long as I give Him complete control. I have learned that I can't take a nap, because that is the time when I am most vulnerable to those feelings overtaking me. So instead of napping, I dive deeper into God's Word. Please continue to pray for me as I go through this journey of being completely reliant on God.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Beautiful and Broken Guatemala
There are so many different things I could write about. I could write about the emotional roller coaster I have been on the past two weeks. My team's little saying is that we feel like we have already felt the highest of highs the lowest of lows. One moment I am so excited to be here and share God's love with the people of Puerto Barrios, and literally the next moment I have no desire to be here and I just want to go home. Thankfully, the longer I am here, the feeling of not wanting to be here lessons. I could write so much more about this roller coaster ride, but now I want to share a little bit about what Guatemala is like and what ministry here looks like.
The best way I can describe Guatemala is beautiful and broken. Guatemala is filled with natural beauty, some very kind people and a ton of precious children. But Guatemala also has a police force that is corrupted, prostitutes that think that sex is the only way they can provide for their family and children who call a garbage dump home.
We started the week off in prayer. We went to the areas in Puerto Barrios where we would be ministering to and prayed over them. Then on Saturday we went to the market and asked each vendor (and there was a lot of them) if we could pray for them. All but one vendor said we could and were happy that we were there. Some even prayed for us. The fact that most of them allowed us to pray for them is amazing because many of them do not have a relationship with God and are heavily involved in witchcraft.
On Monday, we went to an elderly home where the people weren't given enough food and there were about six or so beds per room. Many of them do not have family and as a result, never have any visitors. They were so happy that we were there and wanted to know when we'd be back.
On Tuesday, we went to the garbage dump. It had rained two full days prior to going so it was extremely muddy. As I thought about the mud getting on my white shoes, I looked down at the little girl beside me with black open-toed shoes covered in mud. This is her life. She is not going to go back to a clean house with food and showers. She is stuck in a garbage dump and she doesn't think that there is anything wrong with that reality because she has never seen anything else. There is, however, something extremely wrong with that. It's easy to ignore the fact that people live like this when you haven't seen it with your own eyes, but I can assure you, those starving kids that you see on commercials and get emails about are real. The fact that kids live in garbage is still hard for my brain to comprehend even though I've seen it.
The easiest thing to say after seeing a garbage dump is "How could the God of the universe let this happen to his beloved children?" But our leader Julian encouraged us to think about it a different way, "How could we, who God has blessed so richly, let this happen?" We, as Americans, are extremely blessed with wealth, and we need to do something for the people of this world that don't have enough money for food.
Throughout the past week and a half, we have been learning Spanish songs and skits to perform at churches and schools. Wednesday we went to a private school and performed a skit and sang some songs.
Thursdays are our free days where we can relax and use the internet. I hope and pray everyone back home is safe and healthy. I miss you all and I want to thank you for your continued support and prayer.
Fun/Interesting Facts from the last week-
-Our house does have power, but it goes out all the time. Since we've been here it has gone out three times, once for two days and the other two for a couple hours. The generator kicked in sometimes which helped a little. During this time of no power, there is also no water... that means the showers don't work and the toilets don't flush. Every time we had to flush the toilet during those two days we had to go outside and get a bucket of water from this underground pool thing and flush the toilet 'manually.' Fun times. :)
-We don't have a translator and hardly anyone in Puerto Barrios knows English. One of my teammates is from Columbia and is fluent in Spanish, but her job is not to always be the translator. The language barrier has been a struggle, but I am trying to speak and learn as much as I can and learn ways to communicate without words.
-By the end of this trip, I don't think I will ever want to eat rice, beans, tortillas, or eggs again, but the food has really been great. Our cook is wonderful and I really enjoy trying to talk to her and her kids in Spanish.
-The showers are cold and quick, but it is so hot here that the cold showers feel wonderful.
-I'm sleeping on a top bunk for the first time in my life. It shakes everytime I move, but I have gotten used to it. I'm very greatful for a bed :)
-My teammates are wonderful. We are all so different, but we work so well together. We like to say that we are all puzzle pieces. We are all different, but together we make something beautiful and complete. I have never been around a group of people that love the Lord so much. They have been a real example to me in what a relationship with God looks like.
-The 16 girls share one bathroom, so that is definitely teaching me patience.
-We clean the house after every meal. The house gets dirty quick with 25 or so people living in it.
-We handwash our cloths in the pilla outside.
I think that's enough for now. :)
With Love,
Kathy
The best way I can describe Guatemala is beautiful and broken. Guatemala is filled with natural beauty, some very kind people and a ton of precious children. But Guatemala also has a police force that is corrupted, prostitutes that think that sex is the only way they can provide for their family and children who call a garbage dump home.
We started the week off in prayer. We went to the areas in Puerto Barrios where we would be ministering to and prayed over them. Then on Saturday we went to the market and asked each vendor (and there was a lot of them) if we could pray for them. All but one vendor said we could and were happy that we were there. Some even prayed for us. The fact that most of them allowed us to pray for them is amazing because many of them do not have a relationship with God and are heavily involved in witchcraft.
On Monday, we went to an elderly home where the people weren't given enough food and there were about six or so beds per room. Many of them do not have family and as a result, never have any visitors. They were so happy that we were there and wanted to know when we'd be back.
On Tuesday, we went to the garbage dump. It had rained two full days prior to going so it was extremely muddy. As I thought about the mud getting on my white shoes, I looked down at the little girl beside me with black open-toed shoes covered in mud. This is her life. She is not going to go back to a clean house with food and showers. She is stuck in a garbage dump and she doesn't think that there is anything wrong with that reality because she has never seen anything else. There is, however, something extremely wrong with that. It's easy to ignore the fact that people live like this when you haven't seen it with your own eyes, but I can assure you, those starving kids that you see on commercials and get emails about are real. The fact that kids live in garbage is still hard for my brain to comprehend even though I've seen it.
The easiest thing to say after seeing a garbage dump is "How could the God of the universe let this happen to his beloved children?" But our leader Julian encouraged us to think about it a different way, "How could we, who God has blessed so richly, let this happen?" We, as Americans, are extremely blessed with wealth, and we need to do something for the people of this world that don't have enough money for food.
Throughout the past week and a half, we have been learning Spanish songs and skits to perform at churches and schools. Wednesday we went to a private school and performed a skit and sang some songs.
Thursdays are our free days where we can relax and use the internet. I hope and pray everyone back home is safe and healthy. I miss you all and I want to thank you for your continued support and prayer.
Fun/Interesting Facts from the last week-
-Our house does have power, but it goes out all the time. Since we've been here it has gone out three times, once for two days and the other two for a couple hours. The generator kicked in sometimes which helped a little. During this time of no power, there is also no water... that means the showers don't work and the toilets don't flush. Every time we had to flush the toilet during those two days we had to go outside and get a bucket of water from this underground pool thing and flush the toilet 'manually.' Fun times. :)
-We don't have a translator and hardly anyone in Puerto Barrios knows English. One of my teammates is from Columbia and is fluent in Spanish, but her job is not to always be the translator. The language barrier has been a struggle, but I am trying to speak and learn as much as I can and learn ways to communicate without words.
-By the end of this trip, I don't think I will ever want to eat rice, beans, tortillas, or eggs again, but the food has really been great. Our cook is wonderful and I really enjoy trying to talk to her and her kids in Spanish.
-The showers are cold and quick, but it is so hot here that the cold showers feel wonderful.
-I'm sleeping on a top bunk for the first time in my life. It shakes everytime I move, but I have gotten used to it. I'm very greatful for a bed :)
-My teammates are wonderful. We are all so different, but we work so well together. We like to say that we are all puzzle pieces. We are all different, but together we make something beautiful and complete. I have never been around a group of people that love the Lord so much. They have been a real example to me in what a relationship with God looks like.
-The 16 girls share one bathroom, so that is definitely teaching me patience.
-We clean the house after every meal. The house gets dirty quick with 25 or so people living in it.
-We handwash our cloths in the pilla outside.
I think that's enough for now. :)
With Love,
Kathy
Monday, September 5, 2011
The past four days of training have been a lot harder than I thought they would be. I, by no means, prepared myself mentally for the reality that I won't be coming home until December. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but I never realized how hard it would be. I have been feeling overwhelmed, homesick, and alone. I have a great team of 21 college students and two leaders who all have their own unique qualities and are all wonderful. But at the same time, I don't have that mom that can comfort me with a hug, or that best friend who I can talk about anything to.
Training camp has been long and exhausting; it has broken me. But in order to be who God wants me to be, I needed to be broken. I needed to deal with things that were hurting me. I needed to open up and talk about my struggles. It's a process, and slowly but surely I can see a glimmer of light. I can see why God is putting me through this. I know He wants me on this trip, and I know he has huge plans for my life. I just need to trust him competely, something that I now realized, I haven't been doing.
Now in saying all that, there are parts of training camp that I have loved. It gave me time to bond with my teammates, compete in a dance-off (which Guatemala won!), talk to homeless people in the streets of Altlanta, and worship. Tomorrow morning we leave for Guatemala and I am so excited to finally be there and bond more with the wonderful people on my team.
It is so easy for me to become overwhelmed in this process, and I pray that I am not overcome by that feeling. Please continue to pray for God to give me the comfort, peace, and strength I need. Thanks for all the support you have already given me. I feel so loved, and I think that is part of the reason why it is so hard for me to leave.
PS- While in Guatemala, I will be able to get on the internet once a week and blog and email, so you should hear from me again within a week or so.
This is a painting that my team made during one of our training camp activities.
Training camp has been long and exhausting; it has broken me. But in order to be who God wants me to be, I needed to be broken. I needed to deal with things that were hurting me. I needed to open up and talk about my struggles. It's a process, and slowly but surely I can see a glimmer of light. I can see why God is putting me through this. I know He wants me on this trip, and I know he has huge plans for my life. I just need to trust him competely, something that I now realized, I haven't been doing.
Now in saying all that, there are parts of training camp that I have loved. It gave me time to bond with my teammates, compete in a dance-off (which Guatemala won!), talk to homeless people in the streets of Altlanta, and worship. Tomorrow morning we leave for Guatemala and I am so excited to finally be there and bond more with the wonderful people on my team.
It is so easy for me to become overwhelmed in this process, and I pray that I am not overcome by that feeling. Please continue to pray for God to give me the comfort, peace, and strength I need. Thanks for all the support you have already given me. I feel so loved, and I think that is part of the reason why it is so hard for me to leave.
PS- While in Guatemala, I will be able to get on the internet once a week and blog and email, so you should hear from me again within a week or so.
This is a painting that my team made during one of our training camp activities.
Friday, August 26, 2011
"Our assignment has never been what we can do for God, but what God can do through us." -Bill Johnson
I am not sure how many times I have been asked the question, "When do you go back to school?" in the past two weeks. My response? "I'm not going back to school. I'm going to Guatemala for three months on a mission trip." Their response? Well, that depends on the person. Some are confused. How could I and why would I want to take a semester off of college? Others are excited for me. But after having this conversation with so many people, whether it be with a customer or an old friend, I came to one conclusion. The only people that really "get it" are the people that "get God." People need to know God to understand why I would leave my surroundings- my schooling, my friends, my family- and everything that is comfortable to serve God. To be honest, some days I do not even get it. I think, "What am I doing?!" But then I remember, I am in God's hands and He is never going to let me go. What a comfort that is! He has called me to take a journey with Him to Guatemala and will be by my side the entire time.
I want to thank you all so much for supporting me. I have been blown away by the generous gifts my supporters have given me. Thank you for your prayers and your encouraging words the past few months. I have felt your prayers and appreciated your kind words! As the trip draws closer, I ask that you continue to keep me in your daily prayers. Leaving my family and friends behind is not going to be easy. Anyone who knows anything about the Jacobs girls knows that we cry when we're happy, sad, or just plain distraught. It's a trait that I dislike but have little control over. I am going to need God's miraculous strength to get me from Milton to Georgia to Guatemala without getting emotional. Please pray that God gives me the strength I need, the peace I long for, and the comfort in knowing that He has everything under control.
"But He replied, 'My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak,' So if Christ keeps giving me His power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am."
2 Corinthians 12:9
------
New Information!
I recently found out where in Guatemala my team and I will be serving. We will be in Puerto Barrios working with Shofar Ministries. There, we will have several ministry opportunities that range from anything like painting and manual work to preaching and performing dramas in schools and churches.
We will have the amazing chance to work with street children and visit an orphanage, where the beautiful Guatemalan children will stay in our hearts forever. In addition, there will be opportunities to bring food and clothing to those living in the local garbage dumps or in the mountains as well.
Extra Blog Info:
For those who were wondering if I would have a blog while I was there, I now have an answer- YES! You can view my team's blog by going to this website: http://guatemala.adventures.org. There, you can see all my team members' posts in addition to mine. I have no idea how often I will have the opportunity to blog, but I will try my best to update you as much as I can.
I am not sure how many times I have been asked the question, "When do you go back to school?" in the past two weeks. My response? "I'm not going back to school. I'm going to Guatemala for three months on a mission trip." Their response? Well, that depends on the person. Some are confused. How could I and why would I want to take a semester off of college? Others are excited for me. But after having this conversation with so many people, whether it be with a customer or an old friend, I came to one conclusion. The only people that really "get it" are the people that "get God." People need to know God to understand why I would leave my surroundings- my schooling, my friends, my family- and everything that is comfortable to serve God. To be honest, some days I do not even get it. I think, "What am I doing?!" But then I remember, I am in God's hands and He is never going to let me go. What a comfort that is! He has called me to take a journey with Him to Guatemala and will be by my side the entire time.
I want to thank you all so much for supporting me. I have been blown away by the generous gifts my supporters have given me. Thank you for your prayers and your encouraging words the past few months. I have felt your prayers and appreciated your kind words! As the trip draws closer, I ask that you continue to keep me in your daily prayers. Leaving my family and friends behind is not going to be easy. Anyone who knows anything about the Jacobs girls knows that we cry when we're happy, sad, or just plain distraught. It's a trait that I dislike but have little control over. I am going to need God's miraculous strength to get me from Milton to Georgia to Guatemala without getting emotional. Please pray that God gives me the strength I need, the peace I long for, and the comfort in knowing that He has everything under control.
"But He replied, 'My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak,' So if Christ keeps giving me His power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am."
2 Corinthians 12:9
------
New Information!
I recently found out where in Guatemala my team and I will be serving. We will be in Puerto Barrios working with Shofar Ministries. There, we will have several ministry opportunities that range from anything like painting and manual work to preaching and performing dramas in schools and churches.
We will have the amazing chance to work with street children and visit an orphanage, where the beautiful Guatemalan children will stay in our hearts forever. In addition, there will be opportunities to bring food and clothing to those living in the local garbage dumps or in the mountains as well.
Extra Blog Info:
For those who were wondering if I would have a blog while I was there, I now have an answer- YES! You can view my team's blog by going to this website: http://guatemala.adventures.org. There, you can see all my team members' posts in addition to mine. I have no idea how often I will have the opportunity to blog, but I will try my best to update you as much as I can.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
"If there's something special you want to do, now is the time. If you want to make a difference in the world, now is the time. Don't be fooled into thinking you should wait until you are older or wiser or more "secure," because it doesn't work that way. The wisdom will come. The security will come. But first you must begin your adventure."
-Ron Atchison.
Early in October of 2010, I felt that God was calling me to go on a mission trip. I was unsure of what He wanted to me to do or where He wanted me to go. I researched mission trips specifically designed for college students, but I did not find anything that I thought would work for me. Weeks passed and I tried to forget about the whole idea of going on a mission trip. I soon realized, however, that it was impossible to stop this nagging feeling I had. God had a plan for me, and until I found it, He was not going to let me forget it! A month passed and I continued to pray that God would show me what he wanted me to do.
As I was researching mission trips, I ran across a program called Real Life. Real Life is a program sponsored by Adventures in Missions that is specifically designed for college students. This program gives students an opportunity to take part in missions around the world for two to five months.
When I first learned about the Real Life trips, I did not think they were for me. After all, I would have to take a semester off of college, and right now, that is one of the most important parts of my life. This kind of thinking, however, is what was holding me back. As I was looking for mission trips, I was thinking in terms of what would fit into my schedule, not what was God’s will. Even though I realized what was going on, I still did not commit to God’s plan. Going to a foreign country for three months without my family or anyone that I knew for that matter was a scary thought! I let this fear overtake me for weeks, until one night. I remember it perfectly. As I was driving home from school, I realized that God would be with me and He would never let me go. With him, I was unstoppable. There is nothing I cannot do. That night, I truly did feel unstoppable. I knew God wanted me to go on this trip and for the first time, I accepted it because I knew He would be by my side the whole entire time.
The next few weeks, I read as much as I could about the Real Life trips. Then, I finally told someone all of these plans that were building up in my head. Big sisters always know best so I went to my oldest sister, Debbie. I told her about the trip and why I wanted to go. She was so accepting and helpful.
The next step was to tell my parents. To say I was dreading this conversation would probably be an understatement. How do you tell a father that his little girl is taking a break from college and then inform him that she is going to a foreign land for months, with hardly any contact instead? That, I did not know. I made up an agenda, had all my papers and laptop in hand, and began the conversation.
Don’t get me wrong, I knew my parents would support me in anything I wanted to do. It was just difficult to convey to them, or anyone, all the emotions I was feeling and all the reasons I felt called to go on this trip.
They were a tad bit surprised but completely accepting. I still remember my dad saying, “Are you sure you don’t want to go on one of these two week trips?” In the back of my mind, I was wondering the same thing, but I knew God wanted to stretch me. I knew he wanted to take me to a place where my faith and trust would be in Him alone. I did not think that would happen on a week or two mission trip. I needed more, and that is where Real Life came in.
With my family’s support behind me, I talked to my college advisor, Dr. Gabe, who I cannot say enough wonderful words about. When I told him about my plans, he was extremely accepting and also interested. I talked to him countless times about this trip and the progress I had made over the last few months.
I had decided that I was going to take a semester off of college and go on a Real Life Trip, but what trip to choose? India, Swaziland, Kenya, Uganda, Guatemala, Thailand, or Cambodia. How could I ever choose! I prayed and prayed that God would make it clear to me. I prayed for patience, but at the same time I prayed that God would show me quickly.
Over the time period of about a month, and after talking with loved ones, I felt completely at peace with the Guatemala trip. I did not feel this peace with the other trips, so I knew it was from God.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7
I had finally decided: I was headed to Guatemala in the Fall of 2011. I finally found where God wanted me to be. I know God is going to use this experience to change my life. My faith in him is going to grow so much stronger and my love for his people I think will grow in the same respect. I know God will be by my side every step of the way and I hope, although you may not be with me in Guatemala physically, that you will also be by my side. Your prayers and financial support are so much appreciated. Please continue to pray for me as I go through this journey. Pray that I will stay strong in my faith, pray that God will give me the words to say when speaking to his people, pray that the funds for my trip would come in, pray for my team members who I do not know yet, pray for peace of mind... I could go on and on! There are so many things that need your prayers. If I have learned one thing though this whole experience, it would probably be the POWER of prayer. There have been so many times that God has answered my prayers exactly. What an amazing God we serve!
To support me:
1. Go to: adventures.org/give
2. Click on "Mission Trip Participant"
3. Fill in the information
Choose a program: Real Life
Participant Full Name: Kathy Jacobs
Amount:
2. Click on "Mission Trip Participant"
3. Fill in the information
Choose a program: Real Life
Participant Full Name: Kathy Jacobs
Amount:
Thanks so much! I will continue to keep you updated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)