Happy Valentines Day! I'm sure love is on everybody's mind today so I thought I'd blog about it too. Plus Br gave me the idea so I guess I should thank her.
Well, if you haven't heard we spent the last five days in the hottest city in Central America, Choluteca. We spent most of our time at the local CNI (Clinica del Nutrición infantil) hanging out with kids and trying to burn some of their energy. Unfortunately, they ended up tiring us before they were even remotely out of energy. On the very last day at the CNI we decided to have a piñata. At the time it sounded like a great idea, but in the midst of the chaos of screaming and yelling we all regretted our original plan. At one point I had all of the children lined up against the wall as best as I possibly could, sending them one by one to the piñata for their turn. One girl, who had already had her turn, walked up to me and tried to tell me that she hadn't gone yet. I told her that I knew she already had her turn and she looked me in the face and said "MALA." I turned right back to her and told her to sit down. She refused. I asked again. She refused again. This time I demanded that she sit down. She repeated herself, "MALA!" I didn't hold back and I'm not proud of it. I said it right back to her, "MALA."
On the way home that evening Brynne and I were listening to her ipod. I heard the following lyrics:
"In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will dieAnd where you invest your love, you invest your lifeIn these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will dieAnd where you invest your love, you invest your life"
At this point my mind went directly back to the situation from earlier that day. In that moment I didn't love her, I didn't even like her, but maybe she needed love in that second and I kept it from her. If I'm not investing love into people's lives, what am I investing? If even a "missionary" doesn't show God's love, what kind of example is that? The song continued...
"Awake my soulAwake my soulAwake my soulFor you were made to meet your maker"
I realized that I don't even know how to completely love God, so how am I supposed to show his love? My heart's cry this week and for the weeks to come is that God awakens my soul. In Matthew it says, "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all your soul and with all of your mind." I need to learn what that kind of love is and I pray that God will reveal it to me so I can be an example to others.
Sending love and hugs!
-Kate
Friday, February 14, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
Time and Time Again
Just two short weeks ago, Nikki spoke to us about time. It's funny how things repeat, because that is what God's been speaking to me about, too: time.
Ecc. 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
This week was our time to speak, our time to love, our time to laugh, and even our time to cry. It was a good time. Our STEP director Vicky came down to visit for the week. We've been showing her the life. ;)
Next week we go to Choluteca to 'entertain' children at a Nutrition clinic and orphanage, so this week has been our preparation time. We're working on puppet shows, skits, and activities for the kids. And we've also gotten to spend time with Vicky, a good friend for all of us.
Vicky's coming also brought us a listening ear; she gave us all our time to lament. I honestly did not know where I was or how much I had to say until I started talking. I don't hate it here, quite frankly I love it, but this is the longest I have ever lived in a city in my life and it's getting old. You throw in the back problems and you get a pretty cranky Kristen.
Lamentations 3:7
He has walled me in , and I cannot escape...
The city can press in at times, its vastness its own prison. At times like this I'd climb on a horse and go for a run, or hit the track and enjoy the freedom of moving and working and pushing myself. But I can't run anymore. I can't jog anymore. I am constrained to walk, and even that doesn't feel very good. It's disheartening, but then I came across this:
Romans 5:3-5
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Endurance. That's a word that sounds familiar. I used to build up my body's endurance with every step, every mile. Well, now is my time to train and grow, and build endurance again, but this time in another way. It's time to exercise my spiritual muscles. Being physical is easy, I've always been a brute, but being weak is hard. It is in our weakness, though, that He is strong.
Well then, LORD, grant me the strength to be weak.
I need not worry, I believe he's teaching me, that's why I am here. Lamentations 3:22-24 "The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him.'''
and on that note:
Psalm 119:50
You promise revives me; it revives me in all my troubles.
Habakkuk 3:17, 18-19
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,
-Even though I physically can't do it all anymore, and I miss the open spaces-
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as the deer, able to tread upon the heights.
-Kris
Our lovely Vicky is leaving us today. Please pray for her safe travel. :)
Ecc. 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
This week was our time to speak, our time to love, our time to laugh, and even our time to cry. It was a good time. Our STEP director Vicky came down to visit for the week. We've been showing her the life. ;)
Next week we go to Choluteca to 'entertain' children at a Nutrition clinic and orphanage, so this week has been our preparation time. We're working on puppet shows, skits, and activities for the kids. And we've also gotten to spend time with Vicky, a good friend for all of us.
Vicky's coming also brought us a listening ear; she gave us all our time to lament. I honestly did not know where I was or how much I had to say until I started talking. I don't hate it here, quite frankly I love it, but this is the longest I have ever lived in a city in my life and it's getting old. You throw in the back problems and you get a pretty cranky Kristen.
Lamentations 3:7
He has walled me in , and I cannot escape...
The city can press in at times, its vastness its own prison. At times like this I'd climb on a horse and go for a run, or hit the track and enjoy the freedom of moving and working and pushing myself. But I can't run anymore. I can't jog anymore. I am constrained to walk, and even that doesn't feel very good. It's disheartening, but then I came across this:
Romans 5:3-5
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Endurance. That's a word that sounds familiar. I used to build up my body's endurance with every step, every mile. Well, now is my time to train and grow, and build endurance again, but this time in another way. It's time to exercise my spiritual muscles. Being physical is easy, I've always been a brute, but being weak is hard. It is in our weakness, though, that He is strong.
Well then, LORD, grant me the strength to be weak.
I need not worry, I believe he's teaching me, that's why I am here. Lamentations 3:22-24 "The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him.'''
and on that note:
Psalm 119:50
You promise revives me; it revives me in all my troubles.
Habakkuk 3:17, 18-19
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,
-Even though I physically can't do it all anymore, and I miss the open spaces-
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as the deer, able to tread upon the heights.
-Kris
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Cuando Ames
We spent this week working with seven of my favorite human beings at la Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope), a children's home for abused and neglected kids. Our time there consisted of hours of soccer, gaga ball and keep-away, drawing requested pictures of trading card characters, dancing the robot, waltz, and Thriller, making bracelets, playing guitar, letting them win there way out of English class and use our cameras to take millions of pictures...and un montón de piggy back rides. Cuando Ames
I can't believe we were only with those kids for two weeks and I can't believe how much they opened up to us in such a short time. Day one, they were too cool for school and could point out infinite flaws in any one of us. They didn't want to play games. They didn't want to show us what they were drawing. Some of them didn't even want to talk to us. By the end, they would beg to play gaga ball (and Temple Run). The last day, I left with 4 drawings from the kids. I was actually allowed to read, copy, and share a poem written by the oldest boy (15), Henry (pictured below):
Cuando ames, no digas, "te amo," si aun no sabes amarte a ti mismo. Cuando ames, entrega todo lo que a ti quisieras que te den.
Cuando ames, no juzgues y digas lo hago porque te quiero.
Cuando ames, aconseja con el corazón y no con la mente.
Cuando ames, no le des la espalda ni digas que lo haces solo.
Cuando ames, no mantengas mentiras por mantener una amistad. Cuando ames, recuerda que en la amistad, no hay mentiras.
Cuando ames, nunca dejes de decirlo si el corazón te lo pide. Cuando ames, grita tu amor y expresa tus sentimientos y emociones. Cuando ames, entrega todo lo que el corazón te dicte y nunca retengas nada.
Cuando ames, da gracias a Dios que puso lo mas hermosos sentimientos en tu interior.
Cuando ames, recuerda que el amor es libre y limpio y que solo corazones llenos de gozo se pueden dar. Cuando ames, no reniegues de tu amor ni maldigas el sentimiento.
Cuando ames, dedícate amar y a cuidarlo.
El amor no llega todos los días.
Cuando ames, que tu voluntad y tus fuerzas te acompañen y que el amor recorra cada milímetro de tu sangre.
(My English translation)
When you love, don't judge and don't say, "I do this because I love you."
When you love, take advice from your heart and not from your mind.
When you love, don't turn your back and don't say that you're doing it alone.
When you love, don't maintain lies to maintain a friendship. When you love, remember that in friendship, there are no lies.
When you love, never stop saying it if it's what your heart asks of you. When you love, shout it out and express your feelings and emotions. When you love, release everything your heart narrates and never hold anything back.
When you love give thanks to God that he put the most beautiful feelings inside you.
When you love, remember that love is free and clean, and something that only hearts filled with joy can give. When you love, don't let it become bitter and don't hate the feeling.
When you love, dedicate yourself to that love and to taking care of it.
Love doesn't come around every day.
When you love, your will and your strength accompany you as the love runs through every millimeter of your blood.
If it's possible for your heart to dance, I'm pretty sure mine did when I read that. How incredible it is to see a 15 year old boy with so much love to pour out to his two biological brothers, to his 14 brothers and sisters in the house, to the helpers who stay at the home with them, to four gringas who come to hang out with them every day for two weeks, and to all his brothers and sisters in Christ who he alluded to in a different poem he shared with me. And you can see it too. In his eyes, in his smile, in his brotherly rough-housing, you can see how deeply Henry loves. I've been asking God daily to teach me how to love like He loves and help me to do so. Then I read that poem.
Wow, talk about God speaking through people! I'm still trying to figure out what it means to love, what it looks like and what it feels like, and I can see God revealing pieces to me little by little. It's incredible. It's terrifying. It's amazing. And it's heart-breaking. To say goodbye to those kids yesterday was as hard as it was to say goodbye to my best friend when she went to college. And that was hard. But it's a part of love. It's the part of love that absolutely sucks (for lack of a better word), but it's necessary and makes every second worthwhile.
It was such a blessing to meet, hang out, and fall in love with those kids over the past two weeks and a humbling reminder of how much I have to learn--especially from children.
--Brynne
I can't believe we were only with those kids for two weeks and I can't believe how much they opened up to us in such a short time. Day one, they were too cool for school and could point out infinite flaws in any one of us. They didn't want to play games. They didn't want to show us what they were drawing. Some of them didn't even want to talk to us. By the end, they would beg to play gaga ball (and Temple Run). The last day, I left with 4 drawings from the kids. I was actually allowed to read, copy, and share a poem written by the oldest boy (15), Henry (pictured below):
Cuando Ames
Cuando ames, no juzgues y digas lo hago porque te quiero.
Cuando ames, aconseja con el corazón y no con la mente.
Cuando ames, no le des la espalda ni digas que lo haces solo.
Cuando ames, no mantengas mentiras por mantener una amistad. Cuando ames, recuerda que en la amistad, no hay mentiras.
Cuando ames, nunca dejes de decirlo si el corazón te lo pide. Cuando ames, grita tu amor y expresa tus sentimientos y emociones. Cuando ames, entrega todo lo que el corazón te dicte y nunca retengas nada.
Cuando ames, da gracias a Dios que puso lo mas hermosos sentimientos en tu interior.
Cuando ames, recuerda que el amor es libre y limpio y que solo corazones llenos de gozo se pueden dar. Cuando ames, no reniegues de tu amor ni maldigas el sentimiento.
Cuando ames, dedícate amar y a cuidarlo.
El amor no llega todos los días.
Cuando ames, que tu voluntad y tus fuerzas te acompañen y que el amor recorra cada milímetro de tu sangre.
(My English translation)
When You Love
When you love, don't say, "I love you," if you don't know how to love yourself the same. When you love, give everything you would want to be given to you.When you love, don't judge and don't say, "I do this because I love you."
When you love, take advice from your heart and not from your mind.
When you love, don't turn your back and don't say that you're doing it alone.
When you love, don't maintain lies to maintain a friendship. When you love, remember that in friendship, there are no lies.
When you love, never stop saying it if it's what your heart asks of you. When you love, shout it out and express your feelings and emotions. When you love, release everything your heart narrates and never hold anything back.
When you love give thanks to God that he put the most beautiful feelings inside you.
When you love, remember that love is free and clean, and something that only hearts filled with joy can give. When you love, don't let it become bitter and don't hate the feeling.
When you love, dedicate yourself to that love and to taking care of it.
Love doesn't come around every day.
When you love, your will and your strength accompany you as the love runs through every millimeter of your blood.
If it's possible for your heart to dance, I'm pretty sure mine did when I read that. How incredible it is to see a 15 year old boy with so much love to pour out to his two biological brothers, to his 14 brothers and sisters in the house, to the helpers who stay at the home with them, to four gringas who come to hang out with them every day for two weeks, and to all his brothers and sisters in Christ who he alluded to in a different poem he shared with me. And you can see it too. In his eyes, in his smile, in his brotherly rough-housing, you can see how deeply Henry loves. I've been asking God daily to teach me how to love like He loves and help me to do so. Then I read that poem.
Wow, talk about God speaking through people! I'm still trying to figure out what it means to love, what it looks like and what it feels like, and I can see God revealing pieces to me little by little. It's incredible. It's terrifying. It's amazing. And it's heart-breaking. To say goodbye to those kids yesterday was as hard as it was to say goodbye to my best friend when she went to college. And that was hard. But it's a part of love. It's the part of love that absolutely sucks (for lack of a better word), but it's necessary and makes every second worthwhile.
It was such a blessing to meet, hang out, and fall in love with those kids over the past two weeks and a humbling reminder of how much I have to learn--especially from children.
--Brynne
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Time
Currently the time here is 9:45pm, back home it is 10:45pm.
This whole time I've been in Honduras, I've been counting how many days we've been here and how many days are remaining. When I counted and realized that we only have 14 more Sundays to go, I got really sad.
We have to leave this country one day - And it seems to be coming fast.
We've spent 6 weeks learning Spanish, 7 weeks living with a local family, 7 weeks trying to understand a new culture and 7 weeks together.
There's a reason that we're here and the time is right!
When we feel discouraged, or just aren't understanding what's going on around us in the moment, it's encouraging to know that God has us here for a time like this.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in it's time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
We are in Honduras, serving an amazing God. He knew exactly what we need, when we needed it. It's been an incredible time. I need to remind myself not to worry about how many days we've been here and how many days are left, and enjoy the time that I have here.
This past week we've been volunteering at a childrens home for 6 hours a day. We have been starting the day out with activities that get the kids communicating and working together. Kristen spends a lot of time drawing with them, they seem to enjoy colouring. Brynne has been playing sports and has been playing the guitar and singing with the kids. Today Katlyn spent time teaching the kids how to make origami frogs (they really enjoyed that). I have brought out my camera, and have enjoyed the fact that "laughter has no language".
-Nikki
P.S - I'm loving my time in Honduras.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Kristen as she has been having some health issues.
- Pray for our team and our directors as we travel to the Copan Ruins this week for a cultural experience.
- Pray that we will continue to learn the language and the culture and that the people here will be open to teaching us more about Honduras.
- Pray that we will make connections with the people here.
Thank-You so much!
Bendiciones
This whole time I've been in Honduras, I've been counting how many days we've been here and how many days are remaining. When I counted and realized that we only have 14 more Sundays to go, I got really sad.
We have to leave this country one day - And it seems to be coming fast.
We've spent 6 weeks learning Spanish, 7 weeks living with a local family, 7 weeks trying to understand a new culture and 7 weeks together.
There's a reason that we're here and the time is right!
When we feel discouraged, or just aren't understanding what's going on around us in the moment, it's encouraging to know that God has us here for a time like this.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in it's time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
We are in Honduras, serving an amazing God. He knew exactly what we need, when we needed it. It's been an incredible time. I need to remind myself not to worry about how many days we've been here and how many days are left, and enjoy the time that I have here.
This past week we've been volunteering at a childrens home for 6 hours a day. We have been starting the day out with activities that get the kids communicating and working together. Kristen spends a lot of time drawing with them, they seem to enjoy colouring. Brynne has been playing sports and has been playing the guitar and singing with the kids. Today Katlyn spent time teaching the kids how to make origami frogs (they really enjoyed that). I have brought out my camera, and have enjoyed the fact that "laughter has no language".
-Nikki
P.S - I'm loving my time in Honduras.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Kristen as she has been having some health issues.
- Pray for our team and our directors as we travel to the Copan Ruins this week for a cultural experience.
- Pray that we will continue to learn the language and the culture and that the people here will be open to teaching us more about Honduras.
- Pray that we will make connections with the people here.
Thank-You so much!
Bendiciones
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Things to Know Before Coming to Honduras
1. I think there are rules for the roads, but I'm not entirely sure...
2. Toilet paper is a rare commodity; hard to come by and hard to dispose of.
3. From the tortillas to the ladies, everything here is "rico."
4. Contrary to the American views on "leaving the nest," it's perfectly acceptable to be married, have kids and still live under your parents' roof.
5. Although the streets are covered in trash the shoes are spotless.
6. "Estoy llena." Just learn it.
7. In the States everyone wants to be an individual, but here it's expected to fit in by wearing brand name clothing and footware.
8. Beans, beans the musical fruit the more you eat the more you get diarrhea or constipation.
9. Turning heads is understatement, we've stopped men in their tracks, earned wedding proposals, and received enough obnoxiously loud blown kisses to last us a lifetime. We aren't sure if it is because we are Gringas or just because we're female, but we are guessing it's a mix of the two.
10. I see breasts everyday and twice on Sunday. Breast feeding in public is a norm and it seems to only turn the heads of foreigners. Oh, and public urination too.
Observations from Brynne and Katlyn.
2. Toilet paper is a rare commodity; hard to come by and hard to dispose of.
3. From the tortillas to the ladies, everything here is "rico."
4. Contrary to the American views on "leaving the nest," it's perfectly acceptable to be married, have kids and still live under your parents' roof.
5. Although the streets are covered in trash the shoes are spotless.
6. "Estoy llena." Just learn it.
7. In the States everyone wants to be an individual, but here it's expected to fit in by wearing brand name clothing and footware.
8. Beans, beans the musical fruit the more you eat the more you get diarrhea or constipation.
9. Turning heads is understatement, we've stopped men in their tracks, earned wedding proposals, and received enough obnoxiously loud blown kisses to last us a lifetime. We aren't sure if it is because we are Gringas or just because we're female, but we are guessing it's a mix of the two.
10. I see breasts everyday and twice on Sunday. Breast feeding in public is a norm and it seems to only turn the heads of foreigners. Oh, and public urination too.
Observations from Brynne and Katlyn.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Rain or Shine
And so we hit the wall. This past weekend the girls and I
hit a pretty big low. The struggles with the language, the culture, fitting in,
missing family, and health issues all seemed to compound into an ugly burden.
We all faced different things, but we all faced something. Even Jim and Sonia
(our directors) had their struggles: Jim was bed ridden with fever. It was a
rough weekend. But, thanks to God and prayer, we have come out of our slum, our
spirits lifted. Today is even Brynne’s nineteenth birthday. What a blessing. J
----
By Saturday I was burnt up and burnt out. I wanted to curl
up in a whole and die for a while, the introvert in me begging for a recharge.
I rallied what was left of my resilience and crawled out of bed for church the
next morning surly and mean. I thankfully managed to grab a pen on my way out.
I’m glad I did. The sermon was on burdens…God has a sense of humor.
Much of the sermon came from Psalms, was relatively
understandable, and easy to follow. And then came Psalm 55: 6-7 “Oh, that I had
wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly away to the
quiet of the wilderness.” Here was what I felt all of us were feeling. What a
plea! To be able to fly away is what we were all starting to long for. Of
course, the pastor didn’t stop there, he also read us verse 16, “But I will
call on God, and the LORD will rescue me.” And so the LORD had spoken.
If we call on Him, He will answer. He will rescue us. We
were desiring wings to fly away, but if we wait we will soar. Isaiah 40:31 “But
those that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they will raise on
wings like eagles; the will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not
faint.” Who wants wings of doves when we’re promised those of eagles?! We can
soar! Things are not always going to be easy, but the LORD promises to be our
restoration, to be there to help us and guide us, to give us strength.
With that I was lifted from the doom and gloom of burden and
was once more reminded the joy of what it is to serve. My sisters each had
their own moments that weekend where God spoke in to their lives, and so we
started the new week exhausted, but no longer ugly. We made it over the wall.
For that I’m little bit proud of us and you should be too. There was a moment
we just sat there and wallowed, banging our heads against our proverbial wall
without getting anywhere, but we all got up and started climbing. We all let
God give us a boost.
He is humbling us, of that I am sure. With each new trial we
are learning from him. We are learning to depend on him. We really can’t do
this on our own, and I’m kind of glad about that. I don’t think I’d want to do
it alone. This way I have three fabulous sisters as my confidants and friends,
and we all have a Father that loves us unconditionally to lead the way.
Though the clouds may be stormy and the road perilous,
tomorrow is a new day, and, if we’re lucky it will be sunny. If not, the LORD
will be there to lead us on, and I’m sure at least one of us remembered an
umbrella. ;)
Kris
Prayer Requests:
Though we are back on the ascent, our health is not.
Please pray for Brynne and the stomach ache and fever she
has been fighting. She is improving rapidly, but we’d like to keep it that way.
J
Jim has also been ill with what looked like Denghi’s. His symptoms
are subsiding, thankfully. Pray they do not return and his fever subsides.
Kris’s back is not enjoying the hills here and has slipped
out of place. Please pray for her relief and pain management.
Also, please pray for the direction of our directors. They have a lot on their plate trying to organize ministry for us. Pray for strength and guidance.
As always, please pray for safety and protection, and that
we may be used by the LORD to do his work.
Thank you all for your continued support and dedication.
With Love,
The STEP Team
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Out With the Old, In With the New
Wow, another year has passed. As we ring in the new, I can't help but think about the old. All of the life lived, the people met, the friends and family left behind. I see their faces dance across my memory and maybe I miss them a little bit. There is a whole other life out there I could be living. Proverbs 16:9 "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." The Lord had something better in store for me, and for the girls. Slowly it is being revealed to us the more we follow Him.
Luke 9:23 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
The girls and I were given Spiritual Gifts tests before we got here, and all of us have Voluntary Poverty, among others, in common. I don't think we knew what that meant before coming here. Sure, we're all willing to live with less, willing to do without when necessary (here we have to) but poverty is more complicated than the absence of money and possessions. Poverty is not solely the lack of material things, it can also be the absence of family and friends, cultural comfort, and, sometimes, the ability to communicate. It is a deficiency. We gave up lives that had all of these things for lives that are deficient in all of them. We all chose to deny one possible future for ourselves. That's not always easy. In return, though, we are getting a life that is anything but deficient in the workings of God. It is only by his providence and protection that we make it through each day. It's looking more and more like we got the better trade off.
"...[D]eny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." What does that look like? I think we're finding out.
John 12:24 "unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains alone; but if it does, it produces much grain ."
Not only must we deny ourselves, we must die to ourselves. That doesn't sound exactly appealing. BUT, when we do, we are promised to grow and produce much fruit. We are also promised a new life:
Mathew 10:39 "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
We are here, living an adventure, because, let's face it, that's what it is, an adventure for Christ. As we give up the old year, let us also give up our old ways, our old habits, and our old lives. Let's open our hearts to the new and wonderful promises of Christ Jesus. When we give up the old, He gives us new! If this past month has been a glimpse of a new life for all of us, then we're sure in for it. It isn't going to be easy, but, man, is it going to be beautiful.
As always, we are here to serve Christ, but first let us follow him. Here's to finding new life in Him in the new year.
Bendiciones (Blessings),
Kris
Here's a review of our time here in pictures:
Luke 9:23 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
The girls and I were given Spiritual Gifts tests before we got here, and all of us have Voluntary Poverty, among others, in common. I don't think we knew what that meant before coming here. Sure, we're all willing to live with less, willing to do without when necessary (here we have to) but poverty is more complicated than the absence of money and possessions. Poverty is not solely the lack of material things, it can also be the absence of family and friends, cultural comfort, and, sometimes, the ability to communicate. It is a deficiency. We gave up lives that had all of these things for lives that are deficient in all of them. We all chose to deny one possible future for ourselves. That's not always easy. In return, though, we are getting a life that is anything but deficient in the workings of God. It is only by his providence and protection that we make it through each day. It's looking more and more like we got the better trade off.
"...[D]eny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." What does that look like? I think we're finding out.
John 12:24 "unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains alone; but if it does, it produces much grain ."
Not only must we deny ourselves, we must die to ourselves. That doesn't sound exactly appealing. BUT, when we do, we are promised to grow and produce much fruit. We are also promised a new life:
Mathew 10:39 "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
We are here, living an adventure, because, let's face it, that's what it is, an adventure for Christ. As we give up the old year, let us also give up our old ways, our old habits, and our old lives. Let's open our hearts to the new and wonderful promises of Christ Jesus. When we give up the old, He gives us new! If this past month has been a glimpse of a new life for all of us, then we're sure in for it. It isn't going to be easy, but, man, is it going to be beautiful.
As always, we are here to serve Christ, but first let us follow him. Here's to finding new life in Him in the new year.
Bendiciones (Blessings),
Kris
Here's a review of our time here in pictures:
We arrived! (I just happened to arrive a day later...)
We spent some time learning the lay of the land with the Bridges
Saw the local landmarks: Picacho (above) and Basilica de Suyapa (below)
Then we celebrated Christmas...
And we've even befriended the locals:
Happy New Year!
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