This summer has been crazy, busy, fun, exhausting, good, very good, a learning experience, and worthwhile.
I also write for the Envision blog, which I've tried to update regularly and have probably done a better job at than my own blog.
I recently wrote a weekly synopsis of what we've done and thought I'd share the links here, in case you'd like to read that.
June-July teams
July-August teams
And our very last team
Hope you'll take a chance to read them, see a few pictures, and learn a bit more as what I've been up to. I still plan to share some highlights from the summer but this is a good start.
Happy reading!
Wednesday, August 29
Tuesday, August 14
Working with love
This morning, I was reading my Bible, specifically the book of James, and reflecting on what it says:
The thought that quickly came to my mind today is what use is good works if not accompanied with love and compassion? To have faith is one thing. To have faith and works is another. To have faith and works WITH love at the core, takes service to a whole other level. And really, if your faith is sincerely rooted in Christ, then your works will be an extension of, and filled with, love and compassion...there would be no variance between the latter two options and that is really what the author of James means, I believe.
So all of this eventually lead me to praying that in my works today, from the chores to the house I would work on, that they would be filled with God's love and compassion. Little did I realize that the Lord would test me on this almost immediately after.
This morning was chaotic. Lunch preparations wasn't ready quickly (we set everything out while people are eating breakfast) and really, lunch wasn't even my staff chore to be concerned with. I just made it my concern and felt my stress and frustration level grow quickly! Then by this time, most people were done with breakfast, so I quickly scarfed down mine so that I could do my staff chore, which is overseeing all the visitor's chores. I was annoyed that I had to now eat so quickly while other staff members were leisurely eating their breakfast. Next, my frustration and lack of patience grew as people slowly meandered to their assigned chore or that some responsibilities were being missed altogether which mean that I ended up doing them. I felt growlish and snippy.
Then God opened my "eyes" to see what had just happened. I prayed to show love in my works and yet for the entire hour of breakfast and chores, I had done everything BUT show love and compassion. Funny how that happens, isn't it? I undeniably felt very humbled and quickly told the Lord how much more work needs to be down in my heart, how much more I need to be softened, how much more I need to know His mercy and love and then offer that to others, how I can't just give love and compassion when it's easy and feels good but also when it's hard and sacrificial.
"What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and in need of daily food and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace. Be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use it is? Even so, faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
The thought that quickly came to my mind today is what use is good works if not accompanied with love and compassion? To have faith is one thing. To have faith and works is another. To have faith and works WITH love at the core, takes service to a whole other level. And really, if your faith is sincerely rooted in Christ, then your works will be an extension of, and filled with, love and compassion...there would be no variance between the latter two options and that is really what the author of James means, I believe.
So all of this eventually lead me to praying that in my works today, from the chores to the house I would work on, that they would be filled with God's love and compassion. Little did I realize that the Lord would test me on this almost immediately after.
This morning was chaotic. Lunch preparations wasn't ready quickly (we set everything out while people are eating breakfast) and really, lunch wasn't even my staff chore to be concerned with. I just made it my concern and felt my stress and frustration level grow quickly! Then by this time, most people were done with breakfast, so I quickly scarfed down mine so that I could do my staff chore, which is overseeing all the visitor's chores. I was annoyed that I had to now eat so quickly while other staff members were leisurely eating their breakfast. Next, my frustration and lack of patience grew as people slowly meandered to their assigned chore or that some responsibilities were being missed altogether which mean that I ended up doing them. I felt growlish and snippy.
Then God opened my "eyes" to see what had just happened. I prayed to show love in my works and yet for the entire hour of breakfast and chores, I had done everything BUT show love and compassion. Funny how that happens, isn't it? I undeniably felt very humbled and quickly told the Lord how much more work needs to be down in my heart, how much more I need to be softened, how much more I need to know His mercy and love and then offer that to others, how I can't just give love and compassion when it's easy and feels good but also when it's hard and sacrificial.
Wednesday, August 1
Waiting
I heard a story today...from a new friend who is a natural storyteller.
As she wove her story, about her own life, I was drawn in and captivated.
I shared in her joys and sorrows, in her journey of faith.
Tears filled my eyes and my heart was tugged at what she shared about her history.
Her story has brought to my mind the tugs of my heart.
The same tugs I've had since some of my younger childhood days.
Tugs that have remained, been challenged, and strengthened, year after year.
Tugs that are not presently part of my life.
On some days, I wait patiently, trusting, and content.
On other days, I yearn, struggle, and ache with longing for these dreams to come to pass.
When? When will it be my turn?
Will these dreams ever come to be?
As she wove her story, about her own life, I was drawn in and captivated.
I shared in her joys and sorrows, in her journey of faith.
Tears filled my eyes and my heart was tugged at what she shared about her history.
Her story has brought to my mind the tugs of my heart.
The same tugs I've had since some of my younger childhood days.
Tugs that have remained, been challenged, and strengthened, year after year.
Tugs that are not presently part of my life.
On some days, I wait patiently, trusting, and content.
On other days, I yearn, struggle, and ache with longing for these dreams to come to pass.
When? When will it be my turn?
Will these dreams ever come to be?
Monday, July 30
Monday, July 16
Crossing the border, take 2
So, I'm starting to wonder if every single border crossing is going to be filled with excitement and frustration. I suppose when you deal with two border crossing teams where you "lose" your rights to say or do anything, other than "yes, sir" or "si, senor", then excitement and frustration should be expected.
Yesterday's adventure started at the dark hour of 4:30 AM (!!!). Everyone was bleary-eyed as we loaded up. Our envoy contained three vans of people and the center's ghetto van, which held every one's luggage plus Erin and I and our visiting friends who flew home yesterday. We led the envoy in our center's van (some day I'll have to do a post on the ghetto van and share all it's glory with you!).
When we arrived to the border, Erin commented that it had been a long time since she had seen that particular border's line being so long. According to the border crossing wait time, it was only an hour's wait but little did we know! Erin chose what is the typically the fastest lane but our visiting friend Drew informed us that because Drew was with us, all four vans would be subject to his "gift." His gift is simply that whatever line he is in becomes the longest wait time. Sure enough in our chosen "fast" wait, the projected wait time turned into 2.5 hours. We were all sweating buckets as the ghetto van has no air conditioning and the driver side window doesn't roll down.
When we reached the border, we crossed first. For some reason, the border guy wasn't too excited about the 40 pieces of luggage in the back of van and then requested that we proceed to the second inspection! Thankfully we were the only van to be send to 2nd inspection...everyone was passed through just fine.
We parked the van to wait for an officer's attention and direction. A70 year old-ish female officer comes to our vehicle and told us that she needs every bag to be unloaded for inspection. The four of us start to undo our seat belts when she commands that only one of us can get out. So Erin hops out and starts the process of unloading all 40 bags. After the woman officer left, a kinder male officer came around...I asked him if I could help Erin to which he replied, "sure, no problem." Praise the Lord! So Erin and I unloaded them all, the woman came back and look through 5 bags, and shortly thereafter, we were told we could go. So Erin, Drew, and I loaded up all the bags, once again. And after that additional 20 minute-ish delay, we were back on the road to meet up with the team. The team got to the airport with about 1 hour to spare. And that was part 1 of our exciting adventure on Saturday. Part 2 was the trip home.
In Mexico, we stopped for gas. Here in Mexico, attendants fill your tank. While gas was being filled into our two tanks, the attendant checked the oil, only to discover that our oil (and other fluids) were all very low. She poured in three liters of oil and a couple of other items. We were finally good to go about 15 minutes later. However, when Erin tried to start the ghetto van, the battery only clicked...no chugging or turning over. So we had to have a old Mexican cowboy help us out by jump starting our van. He was thankfully about to get us going again, much to our relief. At this time, we were still about 1.5 hours away from home so have asked our teammates to rescue us would have been a big long deal. Needless to say, it was a crazy day. We all came home very very tired.
And next Saturday, I get to go up there again! Who knows what exciting adventures await!?!
Yesterday's adventure started at the dark hour of 4:30 AM (!!!). Everyone was bleary-eyed as we loaded up. Our envoy contained three vans of people and the center's ghetto van, which held every one's luggage plus Erin and I and our visiting friends who flew home yesterday. We led the envoy in our center's van (some day I'll have to do a post on the ghetto van and share all it's glory with you!).
When we arrived to the border, Erin commented that it had been a long time since she had seen that particular border's line being so long. According to the border crossing wait time, it was only an hour's wait but little did we know! Erin chose what is the typically the fastest lane but our visiting friend Drew informed us that because Drew was with us, all four vans would be subject to his "gift." His gift is simply that whatever line he is in becomes the longest wait time. Sure enough in our chosen "fast" wait, the projected wait time turned into 2.5 hours. We were all sweating buckets as the ghetto van has no air conditioning and the driver side window doesn't roll down.
When we reached the border, we crossed first. For some reason, the border guy wasn't too excited about the 40 pieces of luggage in the back of van and then requested that we proceed to the second inspection! Thankfully we were the only van to be send to 2nd inspection...everyone was passed through just fine.
We parked the van to wait for an officer's attention and direction. A70 year old-ish female officer comes to our vehicle and told us that she needs every bag to be unloaded for inspection. The four of us start to undo our seat belts when she commands that only one of us can get out. So Erin hops out and starts the process of unloading all 40 bags. After the woman officer left, a kinder male officer came around...I asked him if I could help Erin to which he replied, "sure, no problem." Praise the Lord! So Erin and I unloaded them all, the woman came back and look through 5 bags, and shortly thereafter, we were told we could go. So Erin, Drew, and I loaded up all the bags, once again. And after that additional 20 minute-ish delay, we were back on the road to meet up with the team. The team got to the airport with about 1 hour to spare. And that was part 1 of our exciting adventure on Saturday. Part 2 was the trip home.
In Mexico, we stopped for gas. Here in Mexico, attendants fill your tank. While gas was being filled into our two tanks, the attendant checked the oil, only to discover that our oil (and other fluids) were all very low. She poured in three liters of oil and a couple of other items. We were finally good to go about 15 minutes later. However, when Erin tried to start the ghetto van, the battery only clicked...no chugging or turning over. So we had to have a old Mexican cowboy help us out by jump starting our van. He was thankfully about to get us going again, much to our relief. At this time, we were still about 1.5 hours away from home so have asked our teammates to rescue us would have been a big long deal. Needless to say, it was a crazy day. We all came home very very tired.
And next Saturday, I get to go up there again! Who knows what exciting adventures await!?!
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