Thankful.

And then Thanksgiving came and went.  So did the last 3 months.  Wow.  Time really has flown!! This past week I had some great time to sit & reflect on what I was thankful for as I'm sure many of you did. There is no rhyme or reason to this list...just pure thankfulness from the bottom of my soul.

I am thankful for God's perfect timing.
I am thankful for God's provision.
I am thankful for God's protection.
I am thankful for discipline.
I am thankful for being stretched.
I am thankful for being lovingly broken and then put back together by the hands of the Potter.
I am thankful for getting to be a part of this GAP program.
I am thankful for each and every student that God has placed here.
I am thankful for all of those supporting me prayerfully, financially and emotionally.
I am thankful for family and friends back home loving me and supporting me.
I am thankful for the community God has given me here.
I am thankful for encouragement that comes in all different ways.
I am thankful for a God who is strong in my weakness.
I am thankful for sunrises at the beach.
I am thankful for accountability.
I am thankful for God's living Word guiding me every single day.
I am thankful for Leadership here at SCORE.
I am thankful for those who have patience with me.
I am thankful for the times where my spiritual gifts can be used to their fullest.
I am thankful for the new friends that God has brought along side of me.
I am thankful for the situations that I have gone through in the past, that they can help someone else.
I am thankful for the sun shining every morning.
I am thankful for a group of girls that want to run every morning.
I am thankful for hearts that are seeking after Jesus.
I am thankful for late night random talks.
I am thankful for new experiences.
I am thankful for God pulling and pushing me out of my comfort zone.
I am thankful for the path that has brought me to right here, right now.
I am thankful for beginning to see hearts as Jesus sees hearts.
I am thankful for running water.
I am thankful for good health.
I am thankful that I am able to serve.
I am thankful that I am able to find time daily to spend in the Word.
I am thankful that my brain hasn't shut completely off to learning new languages.
I am thankful that the times of small obedience has taught me how to be obedient in the big things.
I am thankful that God is bigger than EVERYTHING.
I am thankful that God reminds me daily of how big He is and how small I am.
I am thankful that no matter how many times I mess up, God still loves me.

And the list could go on, and on, and on.  I hope you have been able to sit and reflect this past week on what you're thankful for too. 

In less than 2 weeks we'll be home for Christmas break.  And what an amazing last 3 months it has been.  I have seen the kids grow in so many ways and it is so encouraging!  Their Spanish is amazing!!!  They're still running hard after Jesus, hearts are being broken and changed through circumstances and God's Word.  Attitudes are changing.  Walls are being broken down.  Humility is setting in.  Realizations of what a life lived for Christ are being realized, formed and strengthened.  And the fact that I get to be a part of that is amazing.  Not that I have been doing any of it...it's ALL GOD, but that He lets me see it and be a vessel is humbling. 

Please be praying for all of us as we go home (students and missionaries alike) that we can keep the testimony that we've began here and that the heart and life changes will stay strong.  That we will resist temptation, that our American culture shock would be minimal, that we would get awesome time with family and friends.  Please pray that the change in our lives is evident and permanent. 

As you're thinking about Christmas...and the true meaning of the season please keep in mind other opportunities you have to change lives down here in the DR.  Check out www.scoresponsor.org where you can sponsor a child, and/or donate to a specific ministry or missionary (I'm not yet on the website so if the Lord is putting it on your heart to donate to me, please comment below or shoot me an email and I can let you know how that's done).

¡Gracias & Adios!

Right here, Right now

God is sooo good ya’ll.  I think I am finally getting a handle on this Director thing…or at least getting comfortable in the role.  I finally feel that I’m not floundering or grasping for straws.  With the awesome support I have here and from home things seem to be running smoothly.   

That’s not to say that bad days don’t happen, or things don’t go wrong, but I’m finally at the point where I can trust God for whatever is going to happen:

I can trust Him with the lives & hearts of the students and the lives & hearts of the people around me.

I can trust His faithfulness in situations where I’m not able to see the purpose or the end. 

I can trust that He will make the sun rise tomorrow and that His mercies are new every morning. 

I can trust that His ways are higher than my ways and He has an awesome plan for my life.

I’ve also become confident in what I am learning and what I know:

I know that relationships matter. 

I know how impactful a hug is or an “I love you” or an “I’m sorry” are. 

I know how important specific moments are to relationships. 

I know that experiences can bring people together.

I know that pride can tear people apart.  

I've been so thankful to God, that whatever I seem to be going through or feeling, especially if those thoughts or feelings are not based in truth, He doesn't let me sit in it for long.  He gives me a verse, gives me encouragement through other people, or gives me a thought based IN TRUTH to think through to help change my mindset.  God gave me a pretty great breakthrough a couple weeks back....and actually it came within a week of my last post. 

I was comparing myself to others, their leadership styles and roles in ministry and becoming discouraged.  I'm an observer by nature and have seen some of the other missionaries that seem completely in their element when it comes to their ministry, whether it's teaching, preaching, discipling, encouraging, or speaking Spanish and hardly struggling at all...and all the while becoming discouraged that I'm still having a tough go with things and feeling still very much out of my element.  I hadn't told anyone I was feeling this way...and I didn't get to sit in this thought process very long.  God knows that I don't need a pity party but something to snap me out of this wrong way of thinking.  I've been sporadically reading a book called "Leading and Loving it", written by a couple of pastors wives.  Within a day of acknowledging my feelings I happened to open the book again to read it, turned to my bookmark and started reading.  It led me to Galatians 6:4-5 (MSG):

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."

Under that verse I read this: "Many godly people around us have greatly influenced who we are as individuals and helped us develop into the people God created us to be.  But be true to yourself.  Be your own creative best, not some else's creative best.  Trust who God created you to be.  Rest in knowing He made you capable and unique...God has supernaturally scripted a customized plan with my name on it, and he has a supernaturally scripted plan for you.  God as wired me, gifted me, and uniquely placed me in the ministry I am in now.  There is no other person He wants for this role other than me.  And there is no other person He wants for your role other than you."

And there's the Sword that cuts right to the heart.  LOVE WHEN GOD DOES THIS!  I can't compare myself to others.  They haven't been called to lead the GAP program.  They were called to other places.  I WAS CALLED to lead the GAP program.  Not that God needs me...I don't need to be impressed with myself...HE DOESN'T NEED ME to accomplish what He wants to in the lives and hearts of these students, but he LETS ME be a part of it.  AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!  If He wanted this program to look different, He would have chosen someone else...but HE DIDN'T.  HE CHOSE ME.  And if you've got a relationship with the Creator and are running after Him...you can be assured that He chose YOU to be exactly where you're at right now too.

This lesson was hammered home during a day where I was away and didn't go to class with the students.  We had a guest speaker, Don Gordon, come and teach.  This man is AMAZING!!  Former professional pitcher with a heart for God and discipling God's people, for conflict resolution and heart healing, for restored relationships and repentant souls.  So the Wednesday that Don was teaching I had the opportunity to go to Catilina Island...and I wasn't going to pass it up!  It was an awesome, fun, relaxing day full of water, fun and sun. I mean you would skip class to go here too, right??

Anyways...when I got home the kids couldn't wait to tell me what went on in bible class, how relationships started being restored, forgiveness asked for and accepted, and how broken hearts were starting to be healed.  My first reaction was..."oh man, I should have been there!!  I missed out!"  But then I felt the words of God in my heart..."Jaime, you weren't supposed to be there.  See...I've got this.  I've got these hearts.  I will use whoever I can to change them...they're MINE.  As much as you think you have responsibility for them...it's not up to you at all...it's UP TO ME." 

HUGE weight off my shoulders.  HUGE weight off my heart.  From then on my outlook has changed.  I may be responsible for the day-to-day things like safety, encouragement, comfort...but I'm not responsible for their eternal life.  That's up to them and God.  I can help, I can do all I can to be a good example and to live my life in a way that's sold out to God, but I can't force them to do or think or act a certain way.  As much as I want to sometimes!!!

“I know that you can do anything and no one can stop you."

-Job 42:2

 EXHALE.

God is definitely at work in my life and the lives of these kids...which also means that Satan HATES what we're doing.  Satan has definitely been at work over the past couple weeks...BIG TIME!  So if you could pray for me & for them...that Jesus would win out at the end of every day.  That Satan wouldn't steal our joy or distract us from God opportunities.  That we would be able to focus on the tasks at hand and stay 100% mentally here regardless of the things going on around us. 

Some other cool things have also happened throughout the past few weeks.  I've been able to get out on the weekends with some of the girls and stay at Emanuel House with Adrienne.  We've hung out, helped with a Saturday morning kids club, spoke TONS of Spanish (my comprehension is getting better...my speaking, however, notsomuch, but I'm workin' on it!!) and gotten to have some great quality bonding time outside of the walls of SCORE and GAP.  We've even taken some fun Adventures with Adrienne!

 

Saturday morning kids bible class

Adrienne & me.  Not quite sure what I would do without this girl and all the adventures she brings me along on!

yup, here's to the muddiest adventure of them all.  only bit it once or twice but definitely had a blast!

There's nothing like getting out in DR nature!!

I can't believe we're within a month of breaking for the semester.  I hope time has flown as fast for you as it has for me!  Thank you all for your encouraging words, prayers and support!!!  I truly am having the TIME OF MY LIFE!!  

And if anyone is feeling generous over the holidays, you can still donate support to me and some of my friends!  My good friend Adrienne is raising money to start a children's library at her school and can always use more Spanish Children's books (you can check out her blog here!!), there are still children in the schools and orphanages that SCORE works with that need sponsors (www.scoresponsor.org)  Let me know if God is stirring your hearts and I'll see what we can do!!

¡Gracias & Adios!

TRIAL & ERROR

First off...THANKS for the care package!!  I got TONS of stuff from my mom, gram, aunt, sister, and best friend!!  Loved getting sweet treats and notes from home!  Our executive Director was here last week and we spend a lot of time talking about the program, how it can be better, how I can be better and how everything is going.

I'm not sure if you saw my post last week.  It was pretty boring and more informational than anything...but feel free to skip back and give it a read.  The days go by so fast here, before I know it it's usually Friday, which is always a good thing...but it also means that we're already more than half way through the 1st semester and that going home is soon! My friend Adrienne and I were talking the other day that we're about 6 weeks out from heading home for Christmas...and I'm not gonna lie it made my heart ache a little! Not sure if that's a good or bad thing...I wonder what God's doing in it.  

Well actually I know what God's doing in it...He's changing it.  It's been an interesting few weeks here...but before I go into my explanation let me tell you that I love it here.  Please know and understand that the good days are great, and the bad days are great.  This is because I am exactly where God wants me, and I have peace and joy because of that, no matter what circumstances or challenges He sets before me.  

I don't usually process via my blog so hang in there with me if you'd like, and I apologize to those I haven't stayed in great contact with...my brain and heart have been so full!...So here's what's been going on my last few weeks:

"Teach believers with your life, by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity."

-1 Timothy 4:12

Leading is hard.  Intentionally leading is harder.  Intentionally leading 24/7 is hardest.  Intentionally leading 24/7 in a foreign country is near impossible! (insert Matthew19:26 bible verse here!!) In all of my previous leadership experiences (of which I know they were all there to prepare me for this!) By God's grace I have been able to lead through my own life as an example and people came along side of me. Whether it was on the soccer field or classroom or life...it was natural, I was leading because I was in my element, and if people wanted to follow, they followed.  If they didn't like my leadership style, then they found a leadership style that they did like.  I just doing what I did...but not being super intentional about paying attention to those around me.  

Then God placed me here. With 12 students to lead. Intentionally. All day. Every day.  24/7.  

I love these kids.  I really, honest-to-goodness do.  I know I don't tell them enough or show them enough...but I do.  I love these kids so much that when they do something wrong or when i see them not living up to their God-given potential it hurts my heart.  I want the best that God has for them...but I want them to realize and want the best that God has for them, and do whatever it takes to get it.  It's hard.  I'm responsible for them, but I'm not responsible for them.  They are God's, they always have been and they always will be.  Their hearts are God's and I have to trust Him that He knows exactly where they're at and what they need.   If He uses me to play a small part in that, awesome.  But I can't take any credit for the good in their lives.  It's ALL GOD. ALL THE TIME.

What I am responsible for is me and my actions.  And I feel like I'm getting it wrong more than I'm getting it right.  I'm aware that feelings can be misleading and when looking at the bigger picture it may not be the case, but in and through Truth, God is challenging me and growing me.  He's using this time to point out flaws in my character that I need to work on...flaws that might only be seen through the magnifying glass that is God's word in this SCORE/GAP bubble I live in.  Flaws that no one else might pick up on, but those that God has pointed out in my heart.  So as I'm wrestling and searching and changing and growing I have pulled back a bit.  

"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. TEST IT OUT.  If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won’t show that we have failed. But if it comes to that, we’d rather the test showed our failure than yours. We’re rooting for the truth to win out in you. 

We couldn’t possibly do otherwise.

We don’t just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives." 

-2 Corinthians 13:4-9 MSG

"Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you."

==> Just because I'm a missionary (which is still very weird to say) it doesn't mean that I get a free God pass.  I could get very apathetic in my personal relationship because I figured that being here in a foreign country serving God is enough...it IS NOT enough.  I have to seek Jesus every.day. We all should be seeking every day no matter where we are or what we're doing.  It's weird to even call myself a missionary...never ever ever ever did I see this coming!  I have to keep myself in check...each month I have to compare to the month before to see if I am actually growing and learning.  I NEED FIRST HAND EVIDENCE that I'm growing.  WE ALL NEED FIRST HAND EVIDENCE.  If we don't have evidence, we need to do a serious heart check.  

"TEST IT OUT.  If you fail the test, do something about it." (CAPS & emphasis mine)

==> If you fail the test...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.  This is that part that is hard for me.  I don't like to fail, and I especially don't like people to see my struggle or fail.  Here's one conclusion I have come to...failing is ok.  Does failing say something about you, your awareness, and/or your efforts? ABSOLUTELY.  BUT SO DOES WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT FAILURE. "If you fail the test...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."  ok, so you failed...I failed.  NOW WHAT?  Am I going to let it happen again? You bet your bottom dollar I won't.  I can't.  I have to learn from it, I have to move forward, I have to be better for Jesus.  Why else would He allow me to be tested? 

I'm learning one of my biggest flaws is verbal communication.  I am not a good communicator, never have been.  I communicate best through my actions.  If I was frustrated I took it out on the soccer field...or on a punching bag...or on myself.  If I was uncomfortable in a situation I'd just stay silent and be as invisible as I could.  If I care about you, I will serve you, put your needs in front of my own, or remember the little things. Writing is easier than talking, and I love when I find a quote or a song lyric that perfectly describes what I'm feeling...because most times I can't.  So for me, being here, having to lead these kids more with words than actions...shewwwwwweeeeeee it's hard.  I've tried to skirt around it, by making jokes or ignoring certain situations to "see how they will work out" when in reality I hate confrontation and I hate not having the right words to say.  I know that now and i'm working on it.  I'm DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.  I've had to apologize.  I'm changing the way I talk to them about things.  I'm having more one-on-one conversations. I'm figuring out the best ways to communicate with each student...and each student is different.  I'm changing...with Jesus' help and the help of others, of course!!  I am not in this alone, and I am grateful for that.  Communication is only one of the things that I have been working on...but I won't go into detail on the others...this blog is long enough already!

"We don’t just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you"

==>  I am so grateful for these situations, because without them I wouldn't be forced to correct them.  I wouldn't be getting better, becoming more Jesus-like, and be able to serve Him and others better.  I will celebrate my weaknesses because as I work on them, and Christ works in me He's the one that gets the glory. 

So that's just a little taste of my heart and what's been going on in my brain...sounds like fun...right??  Maybe not fun all the time, but necessary.  and good.  

Speaking of fun though...and to switch the subject to let you know that I am having fun: I learned how to play Dominican checkers, which is so much more intense than your averagecheckers games.  Of the Throusands of games I played with my Ghido as a kid...it was NOTHING compared to this!!

This weekend I got the weekend off!  I got to spend the night with Adrienne in Quisquaya, had dinner at Blanco's (one of our bus drivers) house, learned how to play Domino's, worked on a children's bible study, learned how to make Dominican coffee (well it actually was a huge fail, but I'm learning!), then we picked up our friends Karliegh and Sarah and went on a walk in Boca Chica, to lunch on the beach, did some shopping, introduced Sarah to Pentatonix and the awesome world of acappella (which Adrienne and Karliegh were already fans of...thanks GOD!), told stories, crossed lines, laughed, and just got to know one another better.  Oh and I got to drink coffee on Sarah's porch while it was cool and rainy...and it totally reminded me of my parents porch back home.  (Sometimes it's the little things)

Now I'm back to reality and life and realizing that it's the end of October already!  GAH! 

But all-in-all I'm here for God and it's awesome.  I'm here to grow my faith.  I'm here to expand my borders, my boundaries, and my lines. I'm here to be so far out of my comfort zone that I have to fully rely on God.  I'm here to let God lead me, and to show me where I need to change. And when I fail, I will get back up.  I will do something about it. I will not remain the same.  Life is too short for that. 

This song started stirring my heart months and months and months ago before being here was ever a thought in my head and it is a CONSTANT reminder for me:

 

So get out there...test yourself. Check your faith.  Where are you at spiritually compared to a month ago?  6 months ago? a year ago?  Have you stayed the same or are you growing?  If you've stayed the same...why? Maybe you don't have a real relationship, or a real need for faith...or maybe you've never thought about it before.  Maybe you should start.  If your life looks the same as it did a year ago...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Pray to be lead to a place where your trust in God is limitless, to be taken to a place where your faith is deeper than you ever thought it could be, where your faith is the strongest it's ever been.  You won't regret it.  I promise!

Please continue to pray for me, that this change in communication styles will be effective, that I can see what works and what doesn't work and not be ashamed to admit my mistakes and change my actions.  Please pray that my pride will not get in the way of leading these kids better and more effectively.  Pray for the students and all that they are going through and all that they are processing through.  When Satan attacks them, he attacks me too!

I appreciate all of you, your support and your prayers!  

3 weeks seems like 3 days!

Hey guys!

Sorry it's been 3 weeks since my last post, but it's not because I'm not doing anything to report...actually it's just the opposite!  So much has been going on...good and not so good but God has been faithful in all of it.  I'm going to work backwards through the last 3 weeks and hit the highlights...and if you want to see my week in pictures check out my facebook albums!

First off, our SCORE family is in mourning today.  One of our SCORE missionaries and his wife lost their 19 month old daughter yesterday morning.  She had heart surgery last May, but this week was sick and unfortunately her heart couldn't handle it.  I have met the family, but haven't had much interaction with them...but my heart is heavy because people close to me have been affected...so if you would, please keep the Valdez family in your prayers.

This news comes off an amazing week for the Women's Conference.  About 60 women from the US came down to hear and experience God's truth and also go out in to the ministries and villages to love on and encourage the women of the DR.  When I was asked if I wanted to participate in the conference it was mid September I said no, because all I could think about was getting this GAP program up and running...but once it was here and all my friends were going to be there I started to regret my decision.  However God was so good and I was able to do my GAP stuff for some of the days and also be able to take a couple days off and participate on the last couple days of the conference!!

In the past few weeks, seemingly since I've turned 32, the Lord has been teaching me and challenging me a lot.  It seemed that all I could see, anticipate and prepare for in this Director position ended about September 26th.  Starting on the 27th God made me step up my game.  A game that I don't know how to play...a game that brings me into new territory...a game that makes me rely on God even more than I ever have because there are things that are so out of my comfort zone.  I say this in a good way.  If I could do this on my own then I wouldn't need God...and all of this shows how much I have to rely on Him DAILY.  And who knows what He is preparing me for next!

But in the midst of things that I'm learning, God has brought people and situations in my path to encourage me, lift me up, walk beside me, and have my back.  And for all of it I am SO STINKIN THANKFUL. 

Hopefully this next week will get us all back into a routine and my posts will come regularly, but I can't promise anything...keep checking my facebook page for pictures, because that seems to be the easiest avenue for me to keep people updated!

Thanks for understanding, thanks for praying, thanks for encouraging!!

Feliz Cumpleaños a mí!

 
Happy Birthday to me!! 

Ok, ok..so this post may be a little bit more about me than usual, but c'mon...it was my birthday week!  

First off can I just tell you how THANKFUL I am for the people that God has put in my life??  I know I've said it a lot, and if you're my friend on Facebook you'll see that over and over again, but SERIOUSLY....amazing, amazing people.  

The week didn't start off so great, one of our girls decided that it was time for her to take her ministry back home.  I know it wasn't an easy decision for her, and it wasn't easy for us to let her go...but we're praying that God does a mighty work in her life and that she uses all she learned and experienced here over the last month to glorify God. 

Satan has also been hitting us hard this week and we've all been fighting different battles...so it's safe to say that my birthday (and every day) could have gone down hill real fast...but when the God of the universe is on our side we are victorious. HE. ALWAYS. WINS.  

"For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Deuteronomy 20:4 

And it totally helps when you have amazing friends and family to remind you how loved and valued you are!!  The girls here also made it extra special by taking me out to lunch for something other than rice and beans AND took me out for icecream!!  Not to mention they are trying to get me out of my shell which included a photoshoot, napkin hats, birthday songs and what birthday wouldn't be complete without jumping pictures on the beach!?!

 

 

to see some of our outtakes, check out my facebook page!

Then I came home to a decorated apartment and notes from all the kids and missionaries here!  They even baked me a cake and sang to me later that night!!

Saturday was a low key day...everyone spent the day either at the beach, studying, practicing their spanish, napping...or all of the above!  Monday they began their first day of ministry, so they also had Saturday to prepare for that too!  

My favorite part of the weekend was when I was able to introduce the students to our Vintage program.  Sure we may be a couple of weeks behind, but they heard a great message about Nehemiah and his trust, faith, and perseverance. Not to mention have some awesome worship time!

If you'd like, you can check out the message here! 

And Monday they started ministry!!!  This past month has been difficult...basically going from Spanish Class, to Bible Class, to doing homework, then to sleep...rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat!  They finally get to put their Spanish and bible knowledge into action in the field!

Each group is off to a different ministry, but how awesome that our God is with each and every one of them!!  So if you get the chance...please pray for them!  This ministry experience is going to test them, their character and their Spanish...it's going to break them down and build them up...they are going to experience things they never have before, but it will all be worth it!!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. "

James 1:2-4

Thanks for reading, thanks for the birthday wishes, and thanks for one of the most memorable birthdays!!

Things that are awesome: 
NEW FRIENDS

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

THUNDER STORMS

Things that are not so awesome (but not horrible either):

CONSTANT HEAT
SUGAR COMAS

Phrase/Scripture of the week:
"Thems the rules" 

"Happy Birthday!"

Spiritual Boot Camp

 "Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas & old wives’ tales. 
 Instead, train yourself to be godly.  
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 
- 1 Timothy 4:7-8

This week we learned about Spiritual Disciplines in bible class...and again, by 'we' I mean me too!  I had the privilege of sitting in class with the students to learn about the different disciplines we are to practice as followers of Jesus in order to seek God more intentionally and grow our relationship with Him.  I even did the homework! (but maybe not the final paper...)  In that class, I seemed to be picked on as the physical training expert and used Crossfit and physical training as a parallel to being disciplined in different areas. (Little do people know that it is only discipline that gets me up (most) every morning to exercise and that I would SO RATHER sleep in!  I am NOT a morning person...just ask my mom!)  I know that most of the students were able to apply what they learned in class immediately and had great results.  God's word actually works!?!?  Imagine that!

The students getting creative when figuring out different ways to describe 'discipline'

But according to 1 Timothy, "physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better", which is so true, but at times hard to do!  Now I am extremely aware that I give the same amount of time, if not more, pursuing God intentionally compared to the time I spend exercising.  And that's where the discipline comes in.  

I'm not gonna lie, it's hard for me to do here.  Exercise is challenging, getting up early before the heat of the day really sets in, and also setting uninterrupted time aside to spend with God when there are so many things that have to get done and so many distractions.  But I know that spending time with my God is extremely important, it prepares my head and heart for the day, it allows me time to thank Him for giving me another day in this paradise, and thank Him for the strength that he will give me each day to handle anything that comes my way.  A passage caught my attention in my quiet time the other day and I'm currently using it in my small group this week:

1 Peter 4:10-11
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever!" (emphasis mine)

If I were relying on my strength to sustain me and get me through the last month (can you believe I've been here a month already!?!?!)  I would have been on a plane back home after the first wild, crazy and nonstop week.  But I'm here and I'm staying here with the strength and energy that God is supplying.  Never have I been away from home for 4 consecutive weeks.  Never have I gone this long averaging 6.5 hours of sleep a night.  Never have I had days and days and days of eating rice without craving other foods (I mean I crave chocolate, but that's totally natural no matter where I am).  Never have I had to be this extroverted.  Never have I had to be in charge and play both mom, dad and cool aunt all at the same time.  Has God been preparing me for this over the last 14 years? Absolutely.  But no way can I do this in my own strength.  I'm not strong enough, I'm not smart enough, I'm not cool enough, I'm not extroverted enough.  And me saying these things is not a ploy to get compliments or reassurance.  It's the truth and coming to that realization just goes to show you that everything that goes well or works out is not because I am doing anything...it's because GOD IS DOING EVERYTHING.  

Friday of last week was our last day of Spiritual Discipline class and we were able to get off campus and head to a village, Los Fundos, to practice solitude (something it's hard to get here at GAP) and have some uninterrupted time just us and God.  

  
After our time of solitude we celebrated with one another and some of the villagers who made us empanadas and fried yucca cakes and picked fresh coconuts and guava. It was a much needed break from school, school and more school!!

 

You know my mom anxieties were in full force in this tree climbing picture!

Saturday a bunch of us decided to do some fellow-shipping and celebrating by heading to the beach to watch the sunrise!  It was an awesome reminder of God's creation and that His mercies are new every morning.  More than one of us also broke out into this song...
 

"The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name"

(Look! I made it into a picture! and it was cool enough to wear a jacket at 6:15am!!)

 To also pull out the other highlights of the week:

Thursday we had a Family Dinner where the girls shopped and cooked and Clay was on grill duty!! We ate a little later than expected, but in the mean time we swam, laughed and just chilled out!

Monday we went to a nursing home and was able to spend some time with the elderly, clip and paint some of the people nails and sang and laughed with them.  For some it was totally out of their element, but sometimes we're asked to do things that are uncomfortable for Jesus!

Well that's the wrap up for this last week!  And remember, when you're getting burned out or just feel like you don't want to do anything anymore, ask yourself...am I doing this out of my strength, or out of God's strength??  

Thanks for reading!!

Things that are awesome:
ICE CUBES (nothing is more refreshing than an ice cold drink!)
SUNRISES & SUNSETS
GETTING OFF CAMPUS
MOVIE NIGHTS

Things that are not so awesome (but not horrible either):

WORKING OUT THEN REALIZING WE DON'T HAVE WATER (it comes and goes because they're working on the road outside)

Phrase/Scripture of the week:
"What's the heart behind it?"

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."  -Hebrews 12:11

Let the Adventures Begin!!

Hola! Just in case you've forgotten what I looked like, or wonder if I have gotten fat, here's proof that I'm alive, well, and still skinny-ish!! (I know, I know...it's the curse of the photographer to always be behind the camera and never infront!!)  For as hot as it's been here and as much as I've been sweating I think I could eat a whole pizza every day and still not gain weight! Yesterday the low was 80 degrees. They say we'll get used to it, but my question is when!?!  I think we have another month of hot temps before it starts to cool down a little, but we've started to get creative in the ways that we cool down. Some have learned to make their own popsicles out of the fruit juice we have at every meal, some run through the sprinklers that water the new sod in our backyard, some just jump in the pool with all their clothes on (3 weeks in and it's still happening at least once a week) and some head to the beach whenever possible. I'm not a beach person, but the breeze is greater and the water is cooler...so that's where I found myself yesterday! And the view isn't bad either!! 

I know, I know...tough life! 

We are all, for the most part, still in the honeymoon stage. Still not believing that we LIVE here and will continue to live here for the next 8 months. And while I am loving my tan, I definitely miss the 60 degree days of fall where you can wear jeans and a hoodie and drink a salted caramel mocha without dripping sweat into it. However, on a positive note I did discover today that the hot chocolate they serve has a hint of cinnamon in it so I can totally make my own caramel cinnamon mochas!!!!  BONUS!

The kids are now in their 3rd week of classes and have survived their first bible exam! They were excited to show me their grades, and I totally though about posting the 100's on my fridge! Gah! Totally a mom thing to do!! Who am I?? I'm definitely having more mom moments...like when a few of the girls went off on their first adventure/bus ride/home visit/overnight trip. They went with another missionary, Adrienne, who has become a fast friend of mine. She's awesome and I totally trusted her with the girls, but there's always that little bit of responsibility anxiety inside of me!! 

I'm sure there will be more of those moments to come as they start their ministry opportunities in the next couple weeks and are able to get out of the fenced in complex for some freedom, space and fresh air. But will totally have to trust God for their hearts, minds, words, protection and safety.  

Since we are starting to get into routines, were also trying to spice things up a bit and have some fun nights as well. Last Tuesday we all went out to dinner together and got some amazing Italian food. We also learned that seafood is good on pizza, Carter likes 5 lime wedges in his Coke, and its typical to be at a restaurant 2 hours before you actually get your food. I'm just wondering who it was that prayed for patience that day!! 

I also was able to take a day off last Thursday when I was invited on a 'hike'. So you know me...I had to get all prepared and matching and mentally prepared for a day that started at 6am! I was excited because some of the missionaries and their families were going and I love any opportunity I get some time with them to get to know them better, and having friends round that can speak English and translate for me!!

What I wasn't aware of (what NO ONE was aware of) was how many people were actually going and what 'hike' really means. I think we ended up with 20 Dominican adults and 6 of their children, 6 American missionaries and 4 of their children, 4 huge coolers, 2 jugs of water, 1 portable cook top, one tank of propane, a rake, 8 metal folding chairs, one domino table, a birthday cake and over a dozen fresh avocados...all in a bus for 4 hours as we drove up, over, and through mountains, valleys, and rivers! We finally set up camp around 11am after we found the perfect spot and from there just relaxed and played in the river. 

I am so grateful for these women!! It's still funny to me that even at home, the majority of my friends are either older or younger than I am...and few friends are my age, but down here the majority of the people around me are in their early thirties! 

I am fully convinced and aware that this was also part of Gods plan.

Later that afternoon we finally got our hike. Err, well should I say climbing adventure. There aren't any pictures of this simply because to get to the trail we had to cross the river and it was no crick folks...they had been releasing water into the river every hour so by the time we started our adventure it was 6 feet deep in parts and flowing at a good rate. Needless to say we had to calculate water speed, distance to the other side, angles and all that fun survival math stuff that Bear Grylls had prepared me for!! We had to swim hard and leave the camera back at camp. But we all made it safely across...maybe next time I'll remember to take my waterproof camera (Ugh...preparation fail on my part). There were 7 of us that made the hike, but what we didn't realize was that we had to climb vertically over hundreds of huge boulders to get to the cave (while soaking wet). Those days of YMCA rock wall and Circle C Wild West Adventure Town instructing came in handy!! (Also something God knew ahead of time) so after 30 minutes of climbing, jumping, pulling and pushing our way up, we all made it to the cave and it truly was worth the climb. We spent a few minutes there basking in Gods handiwork and catching our breath before heading back down. Coming down (for the most part) was easier than going up...but we prayed the whole time that the plants that we were using as anchors or trudging through weren't poisonous (Don't worry, they weren't). We got to the bottom, rode the raging river back to camp, dried off, changed, packed up and got ready for our 4 hour bus ride home. 

Hopefully this might be a place where we can take the kids...as long as we invite some our Dominican friends to make it a fiesta!! They sure know how to have a good time! But truthfully...i really went all in the name of excursion research!! ;)

(Sorry for the 'all about me part'...I know many readers want to see what the students are doing!!  But just be warned, there might be some personal posts among the weekly updates!)

We rounded out the weekend with a movie night in the Carter's apartment with cake, coffee, and snuggles (with each other and Jesus...not with me) and can hopefully make it a weekly or bi-weekly thing!! 

We've also got some fun things in the works for this week...but I'll tell you more about that next time! 

Please also keep us in your prayers, the honeymoon/vacation phase is coming to an end and satan knows how to attack each one of us. Pray that we can have peace while we're here, strength, good health and be good encouragers!! 

Gracias & adiós! 

Things that are awesome:

EVENING ONE-on-ONE CHATS (and getting to know the kids more)

DOWN TIME WITH NEW FRIENDS

BLANCO (our bus driver) 

AVOCADOS (still haven't gotten old yet!)

LAZY SATURDAYS

LEARNING A LITTLE BIT OF SPANISH EVERY DAY

Things that are not so awesome (but not horrible either):

HAVING MOM MOMENTS (kudos to all the moms out there!)

THE CONSTANT HUMIDITY

Phrase of the week:

"You can cuddle with Jesus"