"Left my fear by the side of the road.........All I need is you Lord, is you Lord. All I need is you..."
I can't remember all of the words, but I heard this song the other day while I was riding with a friend. For many reasons it came to my mind as I was just thinking about what to write.
The summer went just as fast as it came. August flew by, and here it is September, and before you know it people will be putting out Christmas lights in November ;)
I celebrated my 23rd birthday last month. I missed my parents probably more that day, than any other time I've been here. I don't remember what all I did that day (probably not much since it was a Monday.) but I remember feeling that even though I was away from my parents, my brothers, and the rest of my family I was still surrounded by people who cared about my.
Learning is something that seems to never cease, which is encouraging. Earlier this month I received a card in the mail from a lady who attended the church where I worked. She included a simple magnetic puzzle. It wasn't big, it wasn't expensive, nothing flashy, but I knew it took her time. One thing I have realized is that you'll know how much someone cares by the amount of time they're willing to sacrifice. It's easy to give money when you have it (No, I'm not saying I don't need financial support. I do now more than ever.) but something as simple as a letter with a puzzle in it meant the world to me that day. This lady might have thought it was just simple and that I wouldn't think much of it and it was just a nice gesture. NOT TRUE!
We don't realize how much small things we do mean to other people. How rare it is that people stop to say "hello" and actually care about how you're doing. How unusual it is for a stranger to make eye contact and smile, even when their world could be falling apart. None of us know what is going through everybody else's minds, but most of us have been there ourselves. Feeling alone, needing someone to listen for just a few minutes, completely calm on the outside like we really have it together yet crying out at the top of our lungs on the inside.
As the song says, "all I need is you Lord..." Things have been trying and difficult lately, but "all I need is you Lord." I have seen more blessings in the last three or four weeks than I have the entire time I have been in Houston. What's different? When you're at the bottom, you have nowhere else to look so you actually notice the blessings instead of taking them for granted.
I know this blog is supposed to be about my activities here in Houston, and what God is doing. This is what God is doing. Breaking me in areas I don't like, growing me in ways I never thought I would see, and opening my eyes to the world that is hurting all around me. All longing for this Jesus who gives life, who IS life.
*Please continue to pray and give faithfully as you have, and pass the info along to anyone else who might be interested.
**Coming soon-monthly newsletter that will either be emailed, or mailed depending on your preference, that will keep you informed and hopefully involved in the ministry here.**
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
SUMMER....thus far
Thanks to everyone who follows my blog. It means so much to me that you keep up with what is going on in the ministry here, and that you pray for me. Summer has been CRAZY! It has been so good!! We have so much help here because of our summer missionaries from all across the U.S. We have a few from Georgia, one from Cali, another from Alabama, 3 from Puerto Rico, and of course there are more but that's just a brief list.
God has been doing some exciting things here through our summer missionaries. We have seen more people come to know Christ, as well as seeing our children grow deeper in their personal relationships with God. It's so exciting when we are able to see children begin to understand that it's about their relationship with Christ, not some religion or tradition. It's a good reminder for us all.
I'm going to mention a few things that have been going on specifically at Joy Center, which is one of three centers that operates as Mission Centers of Houston.
The first full week of actual kids' club we were able to take 40! 4-10 year old children to the Houston Children's Museum. I have to admit, I had never been to a children's museum so the planning process was a bit frightening. We planned for 60 because that's how many we have been averaging, but summer school put a damper on some of that. We all had such a great time though, and the kids loved it! During parts of it, I think the summer missionaries and myself were enjoying it more than the kids. :) We are all just big kids....It's more fun that way!
Also, we had our first volunteer group for the summer last week. We were able to go to a community park about a block away from the center and spend time with the kids. We have been fortunate to see some of those same children begin to come to our programs. It has also been great to connect more with leaders in the community. The park director and his assistant allowed us to come in, and we have all been encouraged by the partnership that is resulting. We are able to add a few extra hands to their summer program, while gaining a better understanding of the needs of our community. It's such a tremendous opportunity!
We have an event coming up called Revived "hymns for the city"! It is going to be a concert fundraiser for Mission Centers of Houston. A few months ago, a few local artists volunteered their time and abilities to produce a CD, along with the generous support of individuals and churches who provided the funds to underwrite each song on the CD. Each part of the whole project has been just as important as the concert itself. Saturday, June 27th at 7:00 pm the concert will be held at Memorial Drive Baptist Church (Houston). Tickets are still available!!! If you live in the area, or if you know anyone who does, please pass the word along. The CD will also be available for sale, as well as shirts, bags, etc. Interested? Buy tickets at www.missioncenters.org
Side note: T-shirts can be purchased online at www.missioncenters.org which benefits Mission Centers of Houston. Even if you aren't interested in an AMAZING MCH T-shirt, you should check out the new website anyway! :)
Thank you for your prayers, and to those of you who gave so generously during my visit to SC. In total, God provided about $1200 through churches and individuals! What a blessing!!
Just a reminder- if you wanted to give but it slipped your mind, or didn't get a chance to, it is NOT too late! I start seminary in August, but I am still raising support as well as support for living expenses. So far I have a little less than half of the $3,500 that I am aiming for in order to pay for my first semester at DTS. A Master's in Cross-Cultural Ministries is the degree I am working towards. Please consider giving if you are able, and continue to pray for God's hand to remain on me here, and that I would be obedient in whatever He asks of me.
Thanks again for remaining faithful in your prayers and through your giving! God always provides!
"Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece!" (Philippians 4:13) ;)
God has been doing some exciting things here through our summer missionaries. We have seen more people come to know Christ, as well as seeing our children grow deeper in their personal relationships with God. It's so exciting when we are able to see children begin to understand that it's about their relationship with Christ, not some religion or tradition. It's a good reminder for us all.
I'm going to mention a few things that have been going on specifically at Joy Center, which is one of three centers that operates as Mission Centers of Houston.
The first full week of actual kids' club we were able to take 40! 4-10 year old children to the Houston Children's Museum. I have to admit, I had never been to a children's museum so the planning process was a bit frightening. We planned for 60 because that's how many we have been averaging, but summer school put a damper on some of that. We all had such a great time though, and the kids loved it! During parts of it, I think the summer missionaries and myself were enjoying it more than the kids. :) We are all just big kids....It's more fun that way!
Also, we had our first volunteer group for the summer last week. We were able to go to a community park about a block away from the center and spend time with the kids. We have been fortunate to see some of those same children begin to come to our programs. It has also been great to connect more with leaders in the community. The park director and his assistant allowed us to come in, and we have all been encouraged by the partnership that is resulting. We are able to add a few extra hands to their summer program, while gaining a better understanding of the needs of our community. It's such a tremendous opportunity!
We have an event coming up called Revived "hymns for the city"! It is going to be a concert fundraiser for Mission Centers of Houston. A few months ago, a few local artists volunteered their time and abilities to produce a CD, along with the generous support of individuals and churches who provided the funds to underwrite each song on the CD. Each part of the whole project has been just as important as the concert itself. Saturday, June 27th at 7:00 pm the concert will be held at Memorial Drive Baptist Church (Houston). Tickets are still available!!! If you live in the area, or if you know anyone who does, please pass the word along. The CD will also be available for sale, as well as shirts, bags, etc. Interested? Buy tickets at www.missioncenters.org
Side note: T-shirts can be purchased online at www.missioncenters.org which benefits Mission Centers of Houston. Even if you aren't interested in an AMAZING MCH T-shirt, you should check out the new website anyway! :)
Thank you for your prayers, and to those of you who gave so generously during my visit to SC. In total, God provided about $1200 through churches and individuals! What a blessing!!
Just a reminder- if you wanted to give but it slipped your mind, or didn't get a chance to, it is NOT too late! I start seminary in August, but I am still raising support as well as support for living expenses. So far I have a little less than half of the $3,500 that I am aiming for in order to pay for my first semester at DTS. A Master's in Cross-Cultural Ministries is the degree I am working towards. Please consider giving if you are able, and continue to pray for God's hand to remain on me here, and that I would be obedient in whatever He asks of me.
Thanks again for remaining faithful in your prayers and through your giving! God always provides!
"Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece!" (Philippians 4:13) ;)
Monday, May 11, 2009
FINALLY!
I'm sure that is what many of you are thinking! Many things have happened since my last post, which is mostly why I haven't been updating. We are currently gearing up for our summer programs which are going to be amazing!
In less than two weeks I'll being flying back to SC to visit and raise more support. As many of you know, I do receive a salary, but I am considered a part time employee because that was the position available when I took the job here. I am very appreciative of those who support me, regardless of which manner you choose and are able to do so. To those of you who pray for me, I thank you. I heard a speaker last week who said, "Prayer is the work, and ministry is the reward." This is easier said than done, but such valuable wisdom. To those who give financially, I can not do ministry without you either. Money isn't everything, but it is necessary.
I will just be honest, I am struggling. Of all of the newsletters and contacts I made before moving to Houston, I am currently financially supported by TWO individuals. That's right, two... I do not like to talk about money, because it is always a sensitive issue and my pride gets in the way. I do not like to ask for money, because I like to work and support myself. However, if God has blessed us financially, out of obedience we should bless others. In our last staff meeting, we were told that a envelope came in the mail with a donation for the mission centers. The donation was from a child in elementary school. If a child can be obedient in something so simple, I think we as adults can do the same.
As some of you may know, I have wanted to go to seminary for some time now. Weeks ago I began praying about it, and asking God to give me an opportunity to be trained and equipped to continue the work he has and will lead me to do. I made a commitment that if God provided a way for me to go, then in faith I would go even if financially I didn't feel I would be able to. I went ahead and applied to Dallas Theological Seminary, which has an extension campus in Houston. After a few weeks, I received a letter that I had been accepted!! The degree I will be pursuing is a Masters in Cross-Cultural Ministries. I have registered for classes, and I am confident that God will provide everything I need in order to continue to walk where he is leading me.
I want to share some other things with you. A few weeks ago I spent the weekend in Mississippi with my family. The focus was on seeing my youngest brother who will leave for Iraq on June 1st but has already begun the lock down period. It went really well, and I was also able to see my Dad. The three of us went fishing together for the first time in over ten years. It was great! Storms messed the fishing up, but nonetheless we were able to spend time together.
Today we hosted our 13th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser. Originally, we had lost our underwriters and many sponsors because of the financial crisis. Thankfully, many churches and individuals stepped up to the challenge and helped to make the tournament a success. We thought we would only have about 100 golfers; we had 196 men and women hitting the green today. :)
As I said before, we are getting ready for the summer. Anybody that works at the mission centers will tell you that it is absolute madness during the summer. It is great, but extremely hectic. As it has taken me a while to blog during the preparation period, I will also be blogging less frequently during the summer. I will attempt to blog every couple of weeks, but please understand that we will be going wide open for the entire summer. We will also have 16 or 17 summer missionaries who will be split up between each of the three center. We will also have many more activities going on, as well as more individuals who participate in our programs.
Something exciting that is now part of our ministry at Joy involves our children's birthdays. A church has come forward and has committed to providing "Birthday Bags" for all of our children, ages 4-16. Each month I email a list of the children who have birthdays for the following month as well as their ages and what gifts they might like. Then a few weeks later, Sandy and Franke who are the leaders of this whole project bring the bags to the center. As the children's birthday come, we give them a birthday bag which includes a gift, as well as supplies for a small birthday party so the children can celebrate with their families. My director told me this past week that one of the moms came to her and asked if we were going to be able to provide a gift for her son's birthday. We told her not to worry because we would be able to. She was very appreciative because she was not able to buy her son a gift for his birthday. It's a unique way to show the kids that they are loved and valued that goes beyond the walls of the church, all because a Sunday school class that wanted to get involved in meeting needs of the people in our community.
We also did some special projects with the kids for Mother's Day. We planted seeds two weeks ago in small planters so that each would begin to sprout. Also, this past week we had parties where the kids could make cards for their moms. The kids were able to give their moms a flower that they had taken care of and homemade cards with a note to their moms. It was amazing to see how something so small could touch their moms' hearts because the moms knew how much work and thought the kids had put into it.
Again, thanks to all of you who read and keep up with my posts, and for your patience. Please continue to pray for all of us here that we will continue to glorify God alone in our ministries, and that God would continue using us to reach our broken communities.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Isaiah 55:8-11
In less than two weeks I'll being flying back to SC to visit and raise more support. As many of you know, I do receive a salary, but I am considered a part time employee because that was the position available when I took the job here. I am very appreciative of those who support me, regardless of which manner you choose and are able to do so. To those of you who pray for me, I thank you. I heard a speaker last week who said, "Prayer is the work, and ministry is the reward." This is easier said than done, but such valuable wisdom. To those who give financially, I can not do ministry without you either. Money isn't everything, but it is necessary.
I will just be honest, I am struggling. Of all of the newsletters and contacts I made before moving to Houston, I am currently financially supported by TWO individuals. That's right, two... I do not like to talk about money, because it is always a sensitive issue and my pride gets in the way. I do not like to ask for money, because I like to work and support myself. However, if God has blessed us financially, out of obedience we should bless others. In our last staff meeting, we were told that a envelope came in the mail with a donation for the mission centers. The donation was from a child in elementary school. If a child can be obedient in something so simple, I think we as adults can do the same.
As some of you may know, I have wanted to go to seminary for some time now. Weeks ago I began praying about it, and asking God to give me an opportunity to be trained and equipped to continue the work he has and will lead me to do. I made a commitment that if God provided a way for me to go, then in faith I would go even if financially I didn't feel I would be able to. I went ahead and applied to Dallas Theological Seminary, which has an extension campus in Houston. After a few weeks, I received a letter that I had been accepted!! The degree I will be pursuing is a Masters in Cross-Cultural Ministries. I have registered for classes, and I am confident that God will provide everything I need in order to continue to walk where he is leading me.
I want to share some other things with you. A few weeks ago I spent the weekend in Mississippi with my family. The focus was on seeing my youngest brother who will leave for Iraq on June 1st but has already begun the lock down period. It went really well, and I was also able to see my Dad. The three of us went fishing together for the first time in over ten years. It was great! Storms messed the fishing up, but nonetheless we were able to spend time together.
Today we hosted our 13th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser. Originally, we had lost our underwriters and many sponsors because of the financial crisis. Thankfully, many churches and individuals stepped up to the challenge and helped to make the tournament a success. We thought we would only have about 100 golfers; we had 196 men and women hitting the green today. :)
As I said before, we are getting ready for the summer. Anybody that works at the mission centers will tell you that it is absolute madness during the summer. It is great, but extremely hectic. As it has taken me a while to blog during the preparation period, I will also be blogging less frequently during the summer. I will attempt to blog every couple of weeks, but please understand that we will be going wide open for the entire summer. We will also have 16 or 17 summer missionaries who will be split up between each of the three center. We will also have many more activities going on, as well as more individuals who participate in our programs.
Something exciting that is now part of our ministry at Joy involves our children's birthdays. A church has come forward and has committed to providing "Birthday Bags" for all of our children, ages 4-16. Each month I email a list of the children who have birthdays for the following month as well as their ages and what gifts they might like. Then a few weeks later, Sandy and Franke who are the leaders of this whole project bring the bags to the center. As the children's birthday come, we give them a birthday bag which includes a gift, as well as supplies for a small birthday party so the children can celebrate with their families. My director told me this past week that one of the moms came to her and asked if we were going to be able to provide a gift for her son's birthday. We told her not to worry because we would be able to. She was very appreciative because she was not able to buy her son a gift for his birthday. It's a unique way to show the kids that they are loved and valued that goes beyond the walls of the church, all because a Sunday school class that wanted to get involved in meeting needs of the people in our community.
We also did some special projects with the kids for Mother's Day. We planted seeds two weeks ago in small planters so that each would begin to sprout. Also, this past week we had parties where the kids could make cards for their moms. The kids were able to give their moms a flower that they had taken care of and homemade cards with a note to their moms. It was amazing to see how something so small could touch their moms' hearts because the moms knew how much work and thought the kids had put into it.
Again, thanks to all of you who read and keep up with my posts, and for your patience. Please continue to pray for all of us here that we will continue to glorify God alone in our ministries, and that God would continue using us to reach our broken communities.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Isaiah 55:8-11
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Only at the Mission Centers of Houston
So this blog will seem extremely random but after a couple of unexpected events I felt I should blog and let everyone know what has been going on.
First of all, last week was great as usual. We have been able to provide more food for our community because we had a large donation. It could not have come at a better time.
Secondly, we have been celebrating Christ's resurrection this week. The kids always love holidays because we have pizza. It's a BIG deal!
Now moving along to the main portion of my blog.
Event #1
One of the other missionaries that live here takes college courses on Saturday. She went to get in her car to leave on Saturday, and the main exit was blocked completely. There were 7 cop cars because they had chased a man down and pinned him the ditch. She went to go get into one of the center's vehicle so that she could go out the other exit.....well, then an ambulance showed up and blocked it too. Eventually she had to go off-road a bit through a rather large mud hole (the ditch) and she was on her way.
Event #2
I had decided I would blog either today or tomorrow as of yesterday because not much had been going on so I didn't have much to say. So apparently that changed. Today during kids' club my director got a phone call from one of our volunteers who had driven by and saw that the window on the van I drive to work was down. So I grabbed my keys to go check. Not exactly good timing because we had 39 children in the gym, and we were starting to sit them down so we could pull out the tables (so we could serve the pizza). I was thinking to myself, "I never roll the window down, and my hair is down so I know I wouldn't have." :) I walked up to the car and sure enough the window was down. I checked to make sure it hadn't been busted in, and there was no glass. At this point I'm thinking, well maybe for some reason I did leave it down....I cranked the car and went to roll the window up and nothing happen. Tried again, up and down.....again nothing. After the kids left I had more time to look at it and after investigation we have come to the conclusion that someone "jacked" (stole) the window right out of the van. Sounds crazy but the window didn't fall down into the door.....I called my executive director and she laughed. Not much else you can do in this situation. :)
Event #3
This happened about 20 minutes ago. Four of us were sitting in the lounge watching a basketball game. All of a sudden we hear 5 loud pops. Not wanting to jump to conclusions we said, "ah, it sounded like fireworks." Then the other missionary who could get out of the exit on Saturday came in and said, "Did you guys hear the 5 shots?" Turns out, there was a drive by.... Then, a friend and I remembered seeing a guy run into the house across the street. You don't really walk around here at night, so it wasn't really out of the ordinary. Well, that's the house the shots were fired at because the truck the shooter was in drove back by after firing the shots.
All this to say, only at the Mission Centers of Houston.
What can we possibly do in an area like this? Share Christ and watch him transform people's lives!
* As for the question about the roof. A roofer volunteered his time and resources this past week and repaired our roof. We'll see if it worked the next time it rains.
Thanks again to all of you who follow the blog.
First of all, last week was great as usual. We have been able to provide more food for our community because we had a large donation. It could not have come at a better time.
Secondly, we have been celebrating Christ's resurrection this week. The kids always love holidays because we have pizza. It's a BIG deal!
Now moving along to the main portion of my blog.
Event #1
One of the other missionaries that live here takes college courses on Saturday. She went to get in her car to leave on Saturday, and the main exit was blocked completely. There were 7 cop cars because they had chased a man down and pinned him the ditch. She went to go get into one of the center's vehicle so that she could go out the other exit.....well, then an ambulance showed up and blocked it too. Eventually she had to go off-road a bit through a rather large mud hole (the ditch) and she was on her way.
Event #2
I had decided I would blog either today or tomorrow as of yesterday because not much had been going on so I didn't have much to say. So apparently that changed. Today during kids' club my director got a phone call from one of our volunteers who had driven by and saw that the window on the van I drive to work was down. So I grabbed my keys to go check. Not exactly good timing because we had 39 children in the gym, and we were starting to sit them down so we could pull out the tables (so we could serve the pizza). I was thinking to myself, "I never roll the window down, and my hair is down so I know I wouldn't have." :) I walked up to the car and sure enough the window was down. I checked to make sure it hadn't been busted in, and there was no glass. At this point I'm thinking, well maybe for some reason I did leave it down....I cranked the car and went to roll the window up and nothing happen. Tried again, up and down.....again nothing. After the kids left I had more time to look at it and after investigation we have come to the conclusion that someone "jacked" (stole) the window right out of the van. Sounds crazy but the window didn't fall down into the door.....I called my executive director and she laughed. Not much else you can do in this situation. :)
Event #3
This happened about 20 minutes ago. Four of us were sitting in the lounge watching a basketball game. All of a sudden we hear 5 loud pops. Not wanting to jump to conclusions we said, "ah, it sounded like fireworks." Then the other missionary who could get out of the exit on Saturday came in and said, "Did you guys hear the 5 shots?" Turns out, there was a drive by.... Then, a friend and I remembered seeing a guy run into the house across the street. You don't really walk around here at night, so it wasn't really out of the ordinary. Well, that's the house the shots were fired at because the truck the shooter was in drove back by after firing the shots.
All this to say, only at the Mission Centers of Houston.
What can we possibly do in an area like this? Share Christ and watch him transform people's lives!
* As for the question about the roof. A roofer volunteered his time and resources this past week and repaired our roof. We'll see if it worked the next time it rains.
Thanks again to all of you who follow the blog.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
WATER!
I saw a lot of this liquid substance this week! The weather here is always so unpredictable, much like my life.
Thursday we were expecting rain, which generally means taking extra care on the drive to and from work, as well as Monday morning clean up in our gym. We have a leak in our roof that can get pretty nasty if the rain is coming down hard enough. At about 3:15 I started hearing water come down in the gym from my office. I thought "no big deal, we'll just have to clean it up once the rain quits." So I step out of my office, and head down the hall, and around the corner to the gym. At this point I realized that it was raining much harder outside than I originally thought. We all quickly started grabbing trash cans, even if they were full so we can empty them and use all we all to catch the water.
This is when the extent of the water was clear. I walked passed our kitchen which is between the offices, and the gym. Water was pouring in so quickly one would have thought the fire department had hooked up a hose and let loose from the ceiling!
Long story short, we did our best to drain the water as best we could until we came to the conclusion that we could do no more. Roy, which is my director's husband, handed me a tool that did a fantastic job of pushing water out the front door. Then I figured out that it was one of those industrial size squeegees that are used to clean massive office building windows. :) HA! Who knew it would come in so handy?!
Aside from our flood situation the week was a great one! When I say great, its easy to think it was fun and all. Not to say, I didn't have fun but God definitely taught me a thing or to this week. I won't go into too much detail, but God has been humbling me through some personal things. Also, God has been teaching me about faith, and trusting Him. I heard a sermon about how we have to trust in God's presence even though what we may see doesn't add up. I tend to use money as an example because it's something we all use, or could use some of. :) The more and more I step out in faith, though it scares me, God has shown himself faithful time and time again. I was trying to make a budget for myself this week, and after putting in the expected income and expected expenses all I could do was laugh. Laugh because the number expected to come in never really compensates for what must go out. I'm thankful that God is present even when what I see tries to make me doubt his provision!
In the Bible, Jesus talks to the woman at the well about living water. As I watched the water gush in on Thursday faster than we could manage to dump our buckets, God reminded me about the woman at the well. I gave my life to Christ long ago for Him to do with it what pleases Him. Just like the water, I want his living water to gush into my life so that it spills over to others. So that others may know Him. How amazing He is, this God the one and only whom I serve. How could I not give my life for Him, after He displayed the ultimate act of love and giving His life for me?
"For you are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ."
Galatians 3:26
Thursday we were expecting rain, which generally means taking extra care on the drive to and from work, as well as Monday morning clean up in our gym. We have a leak in our roof that can get pretty nasty if the rain is coming down hard enough. At about 3:15 I started hearing water come down in the gym from my office. I thought "no big deal, we'll just have to clean it up once the rain quits." So I step out of my office, and head down the hall, and around the corner to the gym. At this point I realized that it was raining much harder outside than I originally thought. We all quickly started grabbing trash cans, even if they were full so we can empty them and use all we all to catch the water.
This is when the extent of the water was clear. I walked passed our kitchen which is between the offices, and the gym. Water was pouring in so quickly one would have thought the fire department had hooked up a hose and let loose from the ceiling!
Long story short, we did our best to drain the water as best we could until we came to the conclusion that we could do no more. Roy, which is my director's husband, handed me a tool that did a fantastic job of pushing water out the front door. Then I figured out that it was one of those industrial size squeegees that are used to clean massive office building windows. :) HA! Who knew it would come in so handy?!
Aside from our flood situation the week was a great one! When I say great, its easy to think it was fun and all. Not to say, I didn't have fun but God definitely taught me a thing or to this week. I won't go into too much detail, but God has been humbling me through some personal things. Also, God has been teaching me about faith, and trusting Him. I heard a sermon about how we have to trust in God's presence even though what we may see doesn't add up. I tend to use money as an example because it's something we all use, or could use some of. :) The more and more I step out in faith, though it scares me, God has shown himself faithful time and time again. I was trying to make a budget for myself this week, and after putting in the expected income and expected expenses all I could do was laugh. Laugh because the number expected to come in never really compensates for what must go out. I'm thankful that God is present even when what I see tries to make me doubt his provision!
In the Bible, Jesus talks to the woman at the well about living water. As I watched the water gush in on Thursday faster than we could manage to dump our buckets, God reminded me about the woman at the well. I gave my life to Christ long ago for Him to do with it what pleases Him. Just like the water, I want his living water to gush into my life so that it spills over to others. So that others may know Him. How amazing He is, this God the one and only whom I serve. How could I not give my life for Him, after He displayed the ultimate act of love and giving His life for me?
"For you are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ."
Galatians 3:26
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Spring Break Teams!
For many of you who will read this, Spring Break has now come and gone unfortunately. Sorry about that, but at least now summer is not so far away!
The last two weeks were great! Two different teams came in to work with and serve our community. One group was a high school group from McKinney, TX. The other group was a college group from Kentucky. Both teams helped out tremendously with work that normally would take weeks to finish. Also, two friends from FMU came to visit this past week. Nancy and Kathrina also served at two of the centers and got the opportunity to practice their Spanish. ;) (If you don't know, these two girls are from Germany, so it was interesting to see different cultures mesh.)
Both of the groups that came worked at the two other centers we have in Houston, but I can not express how great it was to interact with new people especially when they are full of such zeal! It's contagious! :) If you didn't already know this, I LOVE MEETING NEW PEOPLE! The longer I am here, my desire to meet new faces only increases. It's interesting...I am with people almost all day, everyday yet still I can't seem to get enough. Don't get me wrong, there are those days when I need alone time but most often I just miss people.
On a different yet similar note, Nancy and Kathrina really encouraged me this week. Aside from Krissy who visited a few weeks ago (which was amazing by the way!) they are the first ones to visit from home. I have to admit, I have been getting a bit homesick. This is not normal for me because I generally like the fast paced environment going from one place to the next, without ever REALLY missing home. Well, I've hit that point. I guess after spending time with Krissy a few weeks ago, and then the girls this week, it's constant reminders of friends, family, and good times. Hopefully, I'll get to visit SC towards the end of May before the summer gets on a roll.
One thing that I would ask from all of you who read and follow my blog, please comment and let me know what you would like to hear about. I know what things tend to stand out to me, but I do this day in and day out so my viewpoint is very different from all of you. I will be posting some pictures soon, if I can figure it out.
Lastly, there is a girl who I've had the privilege of spending time with after work lately. She lives across the street so she is usually playing out in front of the building when I come home each day. The first day I talked to her I was just asking very general things about school, and her favorite subject, etc. She is in second grade, and just a precious little girl. We have starting reading books together after work. From a teacher's perspective, I want her to become a stronger reader. It's interesting how quickly you can see progress if you're looking for it. Not that her progress has been drastic but just seeing her become more confident as a reader is so exciting! If you come across any good children's books that you think she might enjoy, please pass that info along.
Thank you to those of you who pray and give to support me. If you all were not faithful in your support, I would not be able to do what God is allowing me to do in Houston. :)
The last two weeks were great! Two different teams came in to work with and serve our community. One group was a high school group from McKinney, TX. The other group was a college group from Kentucky. Both teams helped out tremendously with work that normally would take weeks to finish. Also, two friends from FMU came to visit this past week. Nancy and Kathrina also served at two of the centers and got the opportunity to practice their Spanish. ;) (If you don't know, these two girls are from Germany, so it was interesting to see different cultures mesh.)
Both of the groups that came worked at the two other centers we have in Houston, but I can not express how great it was to interact with new people especially when they are full of such zeal! It's contagious! :) If you didn't already know this, I LOVE MEETING NEW PEOPLE! The longer I am here, my desire to meet new faces only increases. It's interesting...I am with people almost all day, everyday yet still I can't seem to get enough. Don't get me wrong, there are those days when I need alone time but most often I just miss people.
On a different yet similar note, Nancy and Kathrina really encouraged me this week. Aside from Krissy who visited a few weeks ago (which was amazing by the way!) they are the first ones to visit from home. I have to admit, I have been getting a bit homesick. This is not normal for me because I generally like the fast paced environment going from one place to the next, without ever REALLY missing home. Well, I've hit that point. I guess after spending time with Krissy a few weeks ago, and then the girls this week, it's constant reminders of friends, family, and good times. Hopefully, I'll get to visit SC towards the end of May before the summer gets on a roll.
One thing that I would ask from all of you who read and follow my blog, please comment and let me know what you would like to hear about. I know what things tend to stand out to me, but I do this day in and day out so my viewpoint is very different from all of you. I will be posting some pictures soon, if I can figure it out.
Lastly, there is a girl who I've had the privilege of spending time with after work lately. She lives across the street so she is usually playing out in front of the building when I come home each day. The first day I talked to her I was just asking very general things about school, and her favorite subject, etc. She is in second grade, and just a precious little girl. We have starting reading books together after work. From a teacher's perspective, I want her to become a stronger reader. It's interesting how quickly you can see progress if you're looking for it. Not that her progress has been drastic but just seeing her become more confident as a reader is so exciting! If you come across any good children's books that you think she might enjoy, please pass that info along.
Thank you to those of you who pray and give to support me. If you all were not faithful in your support, I would not be able to do what God is allowing me to do in Houston. :)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thoughts
Normally, when I post, I think of specific things that happened or particular events that represent the work I do. This week has been a great week but there aren't any events that have marked this week for me. Instead, I have been running through some different things in my mind about life, and my existence.
I can't speak for everyone, but I know I was designed for greatness. Not to say that everyone was not designed for greatness; I think most people just don't know that God made them that way. Before I moved to Texas, I was finishing up with my degree. Though everyday I learned something, I would always tell other people "this isn't it for me" or "so much more can be done."
I accepted Christ my junior year of high school. I never really had any dreams other than to play sports. I cared very little about academics, people, or the "American Dream", though I'm still not sure what that is all about. I never had a desire to work a routine job or anything like that, I just went with the flow of things. I made my own decisions, but come as it may.
Since then, I've matured quite a bit, and have a better perspective than I did as a junior in high school. I view the world much differently, but the more I learn and see and do, the more I am less content with what is being done. It's easy to sit an watch what is happening around me. There are times when I watch TV and all I can do is shake my head; then I change the channel. But what good is shaking my head, if all I'll ever do is change the channel?
I wrote down a statement on a post-it one day last semester that read "Mediocrity is never an option when you have the Creator of the universe living inside of you." I stuck the note inside my closest so I would see it every now and then. It's still fresh in my mind. I have absolutely no desire to live a "normal" life. And don't get me wrong, some people are completely content with their jobs and lives and I'm not saying their is anything wrong with that. It's great, as long as it's what you should be doing.
I always wonder, and I'm being completely honest, if I'll find the job that fits me perfectly. I can't imagine what it would even look like. In reality, I may never find a job that fits me to a "T", but if my job energizes me to continue, and to "be the change [I] wish to see in the world" as Gandhi put it, then I'll put up with any amount of displeasure I may experience.
Several people have asked me over the past few years, and I'm going to assume this question is written in a book somewhere because it's used often, "If you could not fail, what would you attempt?" Often I do not have a response, because there is this overwhelming desire that I have to be great. A passion to see the world, and the many faces that make up this globe of diversity. Not to change a person's circumstance, but to somehow give them hope no matter their circumstance. Let me say, I am nothing without Christ, but with Him there's nothing I cannot do. So, what do I do? Day in and day out. In the mundane, in the busyness, in the routine, in the chaos.... What moves me? And as I travel on this journey, what does He move me to do?
Most of you have heard the statistic that most people only use about 10% of their brains. (No, I don't know where it came from.) And this could very well be just another useless statistic that means nothing......but how many of us really feel challenged each and every day? Even just some days? There are days when I feel I am extremely busy, with a mountain of things to accomplish but does it challenge me to the core of who I am? Does it challenge me to be great (through Christ's strength)?
I myself am fearful of the unknown. I avoid the possibility of failure if at all possible. I tend to shy away from tasks that seem impossible though I'm burning inside to see what it would be like to even attempt such feats. Failure is inevitable, so why should it matter if we could fall flat on our faces? What holds us back? And why do we allow it? I remember as a kid I would climb the tallest trees I could find, if I could get to the first branch. Ironically, I am now afraid of heights. I get to the first branch, maybe the second on a good day and that's enough for me. Life hurts after a fall, but if we could only maintain our adventurous side that doesn't mind taking risks, even if it is just being naive.
I'm not challenging anyone to climb a Redwood(unless your heart so desires), but let's get going! :)
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light,not our darkness that most frightens us.We ask ourselves.Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine; we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,our presence automatically liberates others.”
- Marianne Williamson
I can't speak for everyone, but I know I was designed for greatness. Not to say that everyone was not designed for greatness; I think most people just don't know that God made them that way. Before I moved to Texas, I was finishing up with my degree. Though everyday I learned something, I would always tell other people "this isn't it for me" or "so much more can be done."
I accepted Christ my junior year of high school. I never really had any dreams other than to play sports. I cared very little about academics, people, or the "American Dream", though I'm still not sure what that is all about. I never had a desire to work a routine job or anything like that, I just went with the flow of things. I made my own decisions, but come as it may.
Since then, I've matured quite a bit, and have a better perspective than I did as a junior in high school. I view the world much differently, but the more I learn and see and do, the more I am less content with what is being done. It's easy to sit an watch what is happening around me. There are times when I watch TV and all I can do is shake my head; then I change the channel. But what good is shaking my head, if all I'll ever do is change the channel?
I wrote down a statement on a post-it one day last semester that read "Mediocrity is never an option when you have the Creator of the universe living inside of you." I stuck the note inside my closest so I would see it every now and then. It's still fresh in my mind. I have absolutely no desire to live a "normal" life. And don't get me wrong, some people are completely content with their jobs and lives and I'm not saying their is anything wrong with that. It's great, as long as it's what you should be doing.
I always wonder, and I'm being completely honest, if I'll find the job that fits me perfectly. I can't imagine what it would even look like. In reality, I may never find a job that fits me to a "T", but if my job energizes me to continue, and to "be the change [I] wish to see in the world" as Gandhi put it, then I'll put up with any amount of displeasure I may experience.
Several people have asked me over the past few years, and I'm going to assume this question is written in a book somewhere because it's used often, "If you could not fail, what would you attempt?" Often I do not have a response, because there is this overwhelming desire that I have to be great. A passion to see the world, and the many faces that make up this globe of diversity. Not to change a person's circumstance, but to somehow give them hope no matter their circumstance. Let me say, I am nothing without Christ, but with Him there's nothing I cannot do. So, what do I do? Day in and day out. In the mundane, in the busyness, in the routine, in the chaos.... What moves me? And as I travel on this journey, what does He move me to do?
Most of you have heard the statistic that most people only use about 10% of their brains. (No, I don't know where it came from.) And this could very well be just another useless statistic that means nothing......but how many of us really feel challenged each and every day? Even just some days? There are days when I feel I am extremely busy, with a mountain of things to accomplish but does it challenge me to the core of who I am? Does it challenge me to be great (through Christ's strength)?
I myself am fearful of the unknown. I avoid the possibility of failure if at all possible. I tend to shy away from tasks that seem impossible though I'm burning inside to see what it would be like to even attempt such feats. Failure is inevitable, so why should it matter if we could fall flat on our faces? What holds us back? And why do we allow it? I remember as a kid I would climb the tallest trees I could find, if I could get to the first branch. Ironically, I am now afraid of heights. I get to the first branch, maybe the second on a good day and that's enough for me. Life hurts after a fall, but if we could only maintain our adventurous side that doesn't mind taking risks, even if it is just being naive.
I'm not challenging anyone to climb a Redwood(unless your heart so desires), but let's get going! :)
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light,not our darkness that most frightens us.We ask ourselves.Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine; we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,our presence automatically liberates others.”
- Marianne Williamson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
