20 Days

It has been 20 days since I have posted a blog. This doesn't mean, however, that I haven't sat down at my computer to write. It doesn't mean that I haven't thought about my friends out there or that I haven't wanted to share what is happening in this thing called life.

It still boils down to the fact that I haven't hit the "Publish Post" button in 20 days.

How much can a person change in 20 days. It hasn't been quite a month, but it still seems like an eternity since I have connected with you.

T-w-e-n-t-y -- D-a-y-s

I have been wading through the countdown until I depart for Honduras. I can hear the birds calling me and I can even feel the humid air on my skin and smell the wet earth...but I am not there. Not yet. My mind is split and so is my heart because returning to Honduras means leaving here. In the span of 3 and 1/2 months this place has become my home again. I have found some sense of routine and I have seen my family and friends on a pretty regular basis...it began to feel normal for a while.

But the truth is...my home is in God, not in a place or in a person. He is reminding me of that fact, ever so sweetly, but still there is a bit of a nudging that calls out, "Heather, wake up."

There is a call on my life...the call to serve, and I hear it so strongly now that my ears burn and my teeth chatter. It is a pull on my heart that I cannot ignore, even if I wanted to. As we learned from Jonah...there is no use in running away. Instead we must run into His arms and let Him chart our course.

Father, I am here. Make my feet beautiful carriers of the gospel. Make my hands fit to care for your people.

It breaks my heart to leave a place and people that I love, but it would break my heart not to. It is the strangest feeling...the place where you come to the end of yourself and you find the beginning of your Creator. A place called surrender.

So, I guess a lot can happen in 20 days. So much that you can't put a name to it, so much that the timeline blurs together and your feelings end up in a great big ball with no beginning, no end, no rhyme or reason. But the Lord brings peace. He brings light. He brings everything that I can't, and I love Him for that.

I return to Honduras on Saturday January 2nd. In less than a week things will be shaken up all over again, haha. Please pray that I find my place before things get busy and carry me away. I need to be grounded. I need to be a part of the Vine if I am going to produce fruit.

I love you all, and I am so sorry for being gone so long.

Ships Passing

I have been writing personal notes to put with a brochure I am sending out, and I keep thinking... "Man, I love these people!" I was sad for a moment when I thought about all the chances we miss to get together or all the times we are too busy to communicate the way we would like to. There are some people in this world that God gives you a special connection with...that no matter where you are in life or in the world when you see them, you can pick right back up with love and laughter and inspiring conversation.

God spoke to me...as I was writing to someone else...it's funny how He does that. You know that saying, "ships passing in the night"? People say it all the time. Well, it used to make me sad. Like you never got to see your friends or the people you really cared about because you were too busy with life BUT God sowed me something else.

He gave me the image of a dark night out on the open seas. I was a ship, sailing the course He had give me. I was focused. I was making progress. I knew that I was gaining ground for Him. Then I looked out over the water to my left, and saw a light in the distance. I knew at that moment it was the light of a friend of mine, and she was sailing the course God had given her. I was comforted by her light because I knew that she was doing the same thing I was. Even though I couldn't be with her in person I felt connected to her though God.

Sometimes in life we can't see everyone we want. We can't hug them as long as we would like. We can't cook them a meal or share a lengthly conversation. But God gives us something better! When we have an eternal perspective, we realize that the time we have on this earth is just an appetizer. We are doing His work. We are about the Father's business. We can look out across the ocean and see the light of Christ shining from every ship in the water and be comforted that we will be able to spend eternity with them in heaven. We will have all the time we need, because time won't even matter.

So be comforted. Be encouraged. Know that I love you and that I think about you. I see your light off in the distance and I pray for it to shine brighter so I can see you better! In times such as these we have to be about the Father's business because there are so many people out there who can't see past today...let alone see into eternity. But we have hope in Christ that we will be together forever! WOW!

Kernels of Thanks?

As we sat around the Thanksgiving table last week our plates loaded down with food, the room filled with fond memories of years past and smiles decorated all of our faces...my grandfather said, "You will notice a pile of corn kernels in front of your plate. Every time you think of something you are thankful for just throw one into the center of the table." As everyone began to understand the assignment he added, "And no one is keeping count."

Needless to say by the end of the meal we had all managed to transfer all of our kernels to the center of the table. There are so many things to be thankful for in this world, but that day my kernels seemed to represent the things that live at home...things in my heart and the people around me.

Later that night we all sat around drinking tea or coffee and finishing off the last bit of pecan pie we began talking about plans for the next year. Usually these conversations revolve around decisions that need to be made, the economy and the state of our homes...they are sprinkled with fantasies of travel and spiced with stories of love, but when the conversation settles on me things get a little bit tense.

This year, as the tensions began to rise I realized something. It is something I have known all along, but I guess I never put the pieces of the puzzle together or maybe I never stepped back to take in the complete picture. Everyone in that room, regardless of whether we see eye to eye on every issue, loves me and cares for me. The concerns they have for my future, my wellbeing, my comfort drive their questions and even thought they make me bristle sometimes I am grateful for them.

I am blessed with a family that cares enough about me to risk asking the tough questions. They love me enough to take a chance at hurting my feelings. As I was writing in my journal that night...I wished I had a whole handful of kernels left that I could throw into the center of the table. I love my family and they love me...not everyone can say that, and I am so thankful for them.

So here's to family! Remember as you walk through the rest of the holiday season, that usually the things that bug you about your family really stem from the qualities you love about them. Walk in grace and love them back. I love you guys!

Gulp!

Today I realized that I am 6 weeks away from returning to Honduras! There are so many feelings wrapped up in that simple statement. As I look to the future and try not to dismiss the present I can't help but feel the sands of time slipping through the hour glass at record speed.

My heart beats faster with the thought of being back. My mind races at all of the things before me this year...and all of the things left to do before I go. I am stretched tight like a rubber band.

I have been on an emotional roller coaster for the past couple of months. This re-entry business is a lot harder than I planned...so now I can only assume that the re-entry back into Honduras is going to be difficult as well. I hadn't planned on that. I hadn't even thought about it until right now as I am writing this blog.

I am learning new things every day. For example, I have begun to feel the pressure, the resistance of the devil. It may sound weird, but I am understanding what it means to be on the front lines of a spiritual battle. I am not hiding somewhere hoping the enemy won't find me...I am walking into the lion's den...on purpose. HA! I feel buffeted, like the wind is always at me and the only place I find real refuge is in the arms of my King.

This year will be about new battles. We can't live in the past glories...we can't live off of the success we had last year as a ministry. We have to press forward, deeper into what God has for us...and that means...we are going into the heart of the enemy's camp. More than ever...I need your prayers for favor, mercy, protection, grace, discernment, wisdom, good judgment...a repentant heart, discipline, integrity, honesty...love...whatever God lays on your heart. Maybe you guys can't be there with me, but you can hold me up by your prayers.

I have so many things to be thankful for. I can't even begin to list them, and somehow I think it makes them sound trivial. But more than anything, I am thankful for a God who gave his son for me...who pursued me relentlessly and loved me unconditionally. I find my strength in Him. I find my peace in Him. He is what I am not.

Garage Sale Success

A bag full of donated costumes added to our night of fun!

I want to give a BIG FAT shout out to all of the people who helped make this weekend's missions garage sale a success. God totally used His people to provide everything we needed from the house to host the event, to the donations to sell, to the help sorting and setting things out, and to getting the overflow to United Collectables. There were so many hands involved that it will be impossible to name them all, but I am going to try... in no particular order...

The whole Haman family, Missy & Selah, Vicky & Tabitha Ivy, Dr. Cheri LeBlanc, Ann Morrow, Bro. Larry Guttweiler, Drew Tullos and his boys, Gayle Parker, Dustin Anderson, Diane and Steve Miller, Cooking for Christ, United Collectables, Mark Younger, Pastor Derek and Lori Smith, Pastor Fernando, Kelly and Perry, the Messers, Kari & Becky, Robin, Katherine, The Rizzo's, Mrs. Betty, Barbra Conti, Gabi LeBlanc, Charlie & Jake, and anyone who prayed for favor, donated items, retweeted the ad, shared the FB event or passed along the word that we were having a the garage sale of the century.

THANK YOU!!

It is incredible to me how God shows up when you trust Him. Most of the time you don't even see a problem until it is staring you right in the face and then as you trust God to provide He does...through His people, through His body.

Mary Beth and I are so grateful for all of your support. We know that we can't do this thing with out you...but honestly we don't want to do it alone. We want to bring all of you with us on the journey so you can see God's glory up close and personal!

So thanks again and again and again, but this thing isn't over yet! I am officially hitting honduran soil again in January and Mary Beth lifts off a month later in February. Until then we will be hitting the streets, working, funding, praying, seeking, serving, loving...you name it, we are doing it. We are so committed to serving God and following His path, and we are committed to trusting Him to provide for us as well.

We love you, I love you...and I can't wait to share all of the cool stuff God is going to do!!

Where are the spices?

Maybe it's because I am a nutritionist. Maybe it's because I really love food. What ever the reason, God speaks to me, quite often, in food analogies.

Case in point...

Yesterday afternoon Pastor Dino shared a scripture from Luke 2: 42-45. It is the story of when Mary and Joseph took Jesus and went to Jerusalem for Passover. Let me set the scene...the ENTIRE Jewish community came to Jerusalem for the Passover. It was a HUGE deal...tons of people...tons of commotion...tons of noise and activity. After the party died down they headed back home with their caravan, but there was a problem. A problem that took them a while to notice...Jesus wasn't with them. It was a whole day before Mary and Joseph realized that their son was missing. They searched the caravan, and then started back to Jerusalem to find him. It was 3 whole days before they could locate him.

Most of the time, when people teach on this scripture they focus on the fact that Mary was probably a basket case, Joseph was probably angry at Jesus for running off, and then they talk about how Jesus replied to his earthly parents that he was about his Father's business.

Well...Pastor took another approach. He focused on the part of the passage that says, "..the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it." Luke 2:43

How many times have I moved on and left Jesus behind? How many times have I gotten ahead of Him but not even realized he wasn't with me? How many times have I assumed that He would bless me just because he blessed me before? Ouch, right?

So how does this relate to food?? haha...only my mind could make that connection! Here goes... We all took a few minutes to pray after Pastor shared that word with us, and this is what God spoke to my heart.

There are basically 2 kinds of eaters in this world. Those that eat because they have to...you know they focus on putting in just what the body needs to function and they could really care less about flavor...it is all about function and efficiency. Then there are the people who enjoy eating...it is like an event. They create food, they take time to prepare menus and meals and they invite other people into the mix and enjoy the food together.

Well God called me out. He said...you used to dine with me...and now you only swallow a few bites because you know that without food you will die. Wow. I do know that without God I would die, and that is true...but there is a difference between spending time with Him in relationship and just going through the motions without enjoyment.

So I am challenged to return to my first love. To correct the drift of my heart and realign with Him. To foster a relationship with my King, to nurture it, to love it, to be intentional with it, to cultivate it. Revelation 2:3-4 says, "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. But I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love." It doesn't matter if we suffer for Christ, it doesn't matter if we do all of the "right" things on the outside if we have forgotten to love Jesus on the inside. If we have turned our backs on him, we have missed the whole point.

Let's do this together, shall we? Let's realign ourselves with Him. Let's rekindle the love we had for Him...like it's the first day we were saved from sin. Let's spice up the relationship.

No Promises...Just Faith

So I was in church tonight and Pastor Fernando said something that hit me..."we aren't promised tomorrow." Now we have all heard that a zillion times, right? Martin always says..."only two things are sure in life...death and taxes."

The thing that got me thinking was this...if we aren't promised tomorrow then every time we make plans, a to-do list, or set something aside to do later we are doing it in faith. Weird, right? It doesn't seem difficult...it doesn't seem abnormal...we don't think people are nuts for scheduling things in advance.

Why is it so easy for us to take that step of faith, but yet so difficult for us to believe for financial provision, healing of our bodies, restoration of our families, or freedom for nations? The list goes on and on...

The only conclusion that I can come up with is that we are just used to it. We plan for the future all of the time. We do is effortlessly and thoughtlessly. We just do it, because we have always done it. Man...if I can only take that concept and apply it to the rest of my life. If I can believe in faith that I will have a tomorrow, then why not believe for bigger things?

Why put limitations on God? Why put limitations on our faith?

So...let us practice this act of faith in other areas of our life so much that it becomes effortless to believe God for the BIG things...and then I have a feeling that the things we will walk in, the things we will be called to, and the things we will see...will be so much grander than our expectations!

Who's ready???

Quick Thoughts

I haven't had time to develop these thoughts yet, but they keep coming up in my reading and journaling. So I thought I would share a couple of them with you. Feel free to add your thoughts.

#1: The Good Samaritan gave up a lot to help out the guy in the ditch...and he didn't even know the dude. Why is it that we are often more willing to help those we don't know over those we do know?

Part of Isaiah 58:7 says not to hide from relatives who need your help. Burn. Yeah, He got me on that one. How much more should we sacrifice for the people who are close to us, our own family, or our friends in need?

#2: Shine - to give forth or glow with light, to be bright with reflected light

There are so so so many verses in the Bible that talk about shining. The people ask the Lord to let his face shine on them, they ask for his favor to shine on them, and then...God asks them to shine for him...to be a light to his people.

Pretty cool right? It is the complete definition of the word. God shines his glow on us, and then we reflect HIS light to others! ha!

My personal favorite shine verse (which was VERY hard for me to decide on) is Isaiah 60:1, "Arise Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is shining upon you."

OK, I couldn't pick just one, here is Daniel 12:3: "Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever."

Man...I want to shine. Not for me, but for Him. I want to love him back by reflecting His light to others. Matt 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father."

Wow. I keep getting blown away...every time I really dig in, you know? Are you digging?

The Great Oak

Today I went for a drive...there was nothing pressing on me. I dropped Martin off at Dr. Cheri's office and then I was free.

No appointments. No schedule. No immediate needs to fill.

The weather was beautiful...crisp clean air and a bright blue cloudless sky...the perfect recipe for rolled down windows and a long drive down the windy country roads of nowhere in particular. I turned up the radio and let the soft jazz spill out of my windows onto the street around me. I felt free and joyful...feelings that have been fleeting as of late, and I didn't even try to hold onto them. I let the feelings ebb and flow with the wind in my windows and the tempo of the music.

I found myself driving without a destination in mind, just driving to drive, just enjoying the process...the journey so to speak. I am always drawn to country roads lined with oak trees. It is like I can feel the history coming off of them. They have stories, they have deep roots and strong trunks. They give shade and shelter. They produce seed. They are beautiful and graceful. They are stable and sturdy.

I think I would like to be an oak. I would love to be around for a long time. I would like to offer shade and shelter to the traveler. I would love to grow deep roots and produce seed that would grow other oaks...not like me...but bigger and stronger. But you know what makes the oaks so great, so strong, so anchored...it's not the warm sun, but time and trials.

Storms force their roots deep into the earth. Time allows them to grow tall and wide and cover the earth with their seeds. So I guess if I want to be an oak...I have to be willing to weather the storms of life, let my roots dig deep, and be patient as the hurricane winds of South Louisiana persistently try to knock me down.

"...Whatever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy." James 1:2

Let us be joyful. Let us be filled with the oil of gladness. Let us walk with our heads high, because of who we are in Christ...redeemed, chosen, beloved, cherished, and sought after.

To Be Used...or Not?

I think it is very interesting that God is not hindered by who we are. And this may be totally off the wall...I haven't dug deep into the Word to back up what I am about to write. No research, no checking my sources...this is just Heather off the cuff.

What I am saying is that God, in His God-ness, doesn't need us to be perfect in order to be useful. In fact, we don't even have to be followers of Christ, or even acknowledge that He is God. BUT if we are His partners then we get to know that we are a part of the greatest love story in the history of time it self.

Let me give an example. In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was a godless man in charge of a very depraved kingdom...yet the Lord used him to promote his servant Daniel to a position of great prominence in the greatest kingdom the world had ever known before. Think of the power Daniel possessed to promote the Kingdom of God.

Here's another, Joseph found himself in prison after a false accusation from an adulterous woman, but prison gave him the strength of character to guide a nation out of famine and into prosperity. He used the woman, and she didn't even know Him.

Obviously we aren't perfect. If we were, there wouldn't be sin in the world...and there would be no need for a savior. BUT if we are honest with ourselves, we are constantly striving to be perfect...to make ourselves something God can use. Now, I am not suggesting that we shouldn't become more like Christ...in fact, that is in truth, our only goal on the planet.

What I am actually proposing, is that if we can just be ourselves in Christ...and walk through life with pure motives and a clean heart, then not only will we be used by God, but we will know it! We will get to participate in the use. We will feel the hands of God in our life and His light will shine through us so brightly that the enemy will be powerless over us, and the world will see the goodness and love of Christ through us.

So in effect, we don't need to worry about whether or not we can be used by God, because He will use whomever He wants to...whenever He wants to. Instead, we should be concerned with knowing His heart and letting the love of Christ shine through us. As we become more like Him and less like this world...His perfect light will pass through us more purely, less adulterated, and touch the world in a way that only perfect love can.

So, who is with me? Who wants to shine so that midnight will be as bright as noonday??

Am I a Fool?

This has been a wild week to say the least! Live the Dream conference was a total success, as over 1000 women stepped out of their world and into the house of the King. Christine Caine gave the closing message to this incredible conference, and she spoke about 4 lepers who had the courage to look past their present circumstances and take a risk to better their futures.

It was an incredible message encouraging us to look like a fool for Christ. She had a long list of people from the Bible who were foolish for the cause: Noah, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Ester, Peter, John, David...Mary...the list goes on and on. If all of these people were able to get over themselves and risk looking like an idiot in the eyes of the world...why can't I be OK with that???

Sometimes we have such a desire to please people, or to be pleased by them, that we forget that is NOT about us anyway. To think of Jesus - naked, beaten, bleeding, hanging on the cross and listening to the taunts of the crowd - he must have looked so foolish in the eyes of his community, of his world. BUT he was OK with that! Although he felt the shame and pain of the sins of the world, he knew it would be worth it in the end. He trusted God's will for his life...even to a foolish death on a cross.

So I have to ask myself...what have I been afraid to do? What have I been pushing aside, putting off because I didn't want to look like a fool? I just wanted to blend in with common Christianity, and live my little life - not making any waves or raising too many difficult questions OR exposing myself to the world for ridicule. Why am I afraid to further the cause of Christ? Why am I afraid to look like a fool if the Bible says, "The foolish plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans..." 1 Corinthians 1:25. WOW!!

There is freedom in looking foolish! I do it all the time...you know awkward moments, botched conversations, story telling, just being me will get some confused looks out of people...but all of that is for ME not for HIM. So today...I take courage in being foolish for my King. I will not be ashamed of the life he has asked me to live. I will not be fearful of the outcome. I will not be wounded by the words of others. I will stand...a proud fool, and I will live my life recklessly for the King of my heart and the lover of my soul.

On the Move

I am back in the States for an action packed, fun filled, fundraising extravaganza! After my trip to Honduras last week, I am so fired up about this next year and all that God has in store for HHGlobal. I can't wait to see how it all pans out.

We have a full calendar of visiting teams: medical, community education and construction that will serve our area of 15-20 thousand people. We have committed staff members and interns who are gonna give it all they've got, and all for His glory, to make this the best year yet, in HHGlobal history!

So I am calling all cars! My strategy:

1. I am having a garage sale in early November...so if you have any items you would like to donate, shoot me an email at Heather.Stewart.RD@gmail.com
2. I am selling handmade messenger and tote bags at the HUB, on November 19th 8pm.
3. I am setting up meetings with people I think God is calling to sow into His work in Honduras, and talking to them about ways they can be involved: prayer, one time donations, and monthly sponsorship.

If you are interested in coming on board for any or all of these events please send me an email at Heather.Stewart.RD@gmail.com and I will contact you asap! You guys have been such a support for me through my first year in Honduras...and I can't imagine going on the next part of this faith adventure without you!

Time to Get Real

OK...I know, 2 posts in one day, right. Some of you are saying "get a life girl" but you must remember that I have had bloggers block for a few weeks, and now that I am back in the motherland of Honduras...things are, well...flowing again.

I have been thinking a lot about the idea of realness. Yeah, it may not be a word, but I am over that. It seems to me that this world is crying out for truth and honesty. That the people on the planet right now are seeking after anything that can offer them a taste of authenticity.

They are sick of religion. They are sick of smoke and mirrors. They are sick of life without purpose. So they are seeking. You know what the Word says about seeking, right?

• 1 Chronicles 28:9 - If you seek Him, you will find Him.
• Jeremiah 29:13 - You will find me when you seek me.

There are many more where that came from. My point is...that there is a generation of hungry people out there. They are tired of the emptiness of life. They are ashamed and afraid and trapped. They are looking for a way out. They are looking for a release. They are going to find it somewhere. The problem is that there are so many options out there and I battled with a lot of them. They offer a shadow of truth and a taste of realness, but you have to sell your soul to get it and it never satisfies anything in your spirit.

So who is offering the only real thing? Who is taking the bread and water of this life and bringing it to those who are filling their bellies with addictions and destructive relationships? Who is bringing light into the darkness? Who is the salt of the earth? Who? Who? Who?

There is a burning in my soul for those who feel like they are far beyond the reaches of God's grace. My insides cry out when I think of all the people who have sought for meaning in life and been sideswiped by the half-truths and look-a-likes.

God, let us be like you. Let us go for you. Can we be real? You are so real to me. I know your name...it is written on my soul. Please, raise up a generation who will answer the call to be real for you, to be honest and true. A generation that would bring that truth to the forgotten people of this world...no matter how ugly and beat up the package is.

God let us be real like you!

Fresh Perspective

I am reading this new devotional in the evenings. I know you are supposed to do that kind of thing in the morning...but I am NOT an early bird and God seems to meet me in the evenings.

So anyway, It is called Intimate Conversations by Alicia Britt Chole.

It has some great introspective questions and has got me rethinking some things in my life. Like, drum-roll-please.....business.

When did business become a "good" thing, or a thing that made us feel important? Are we really more significant in this world if our phone is ringing constantly, or if our fingers are permanently mounted to various types of qwerty keyboards?

What motivates my "yes" and "no" to people or tasks? Is it what I will get out of spending time with that person? Burn...right? Do I say no to people because of the inconvenience it will cause me, or the cramp it will put in my schedule? Do I say yes to people out of fear or obligation...or worse yet, because it makes me feel loved and accepted....even important to be needed?

Overall I really believe that my desire to be obedient to God drives the answers I give to the big questions, but what about the little ones? What about those daily decisions that come and go in an instant? What drives me to make those calls?

If I could change three things about my schedule...any three things at all...I think they would be:

1. To slow down
2. To have more time in reflection and just being with God
3. To have more time in relationship with the people in my life

It seems to me, that all of these things involve time. The common denominator in all of our lives is that we only have 24 hours in a day. No matter where you live, what language you speak or what kind of car you drive...you only have 24 hours in a day.

So since I can't get more time, I am asking God for grace...lots of grace. I need to receive it, and to give it freely to those around me.

Whew...that was a page full for sure. Just kind of came out on the screen, so I am sorry if it is a little disjointed.

Honduras is great, but I am leaving Sunday for the States...and getting ready to Live the Dream at Healing Place Church!

Orientation Week

So many cool things have happened this week...I returned to Honduras as an HHGlobal Staff Member, we welcomed 3 new members of our team (Michael - RN, Becca - Support Staff, and Penny - cutest Jack Russel in Honduras)....and we had our first ever intern orientation!!

This is cool for a number of reasons, shall we list them?

1. We now have 6 people working together to fulfill God's vision for HHGLobal and the Honduran people.
2. We are getting organized - can you say "yay-yuh"?
3. We have come full circle in the intern cycle - one intern turned staff member and now more interns!!

There is still so much work to do around here, and I know that our new team...however big, will be stretched to the limits. I pray that our capacities will be increased and that our tents will be enlarged. I pray that God will rock our worlds this year, and that we will never be the same again. I want Him to be real in my life and real to the people of our mountain cove, and all over the world.

That is what this world is crying out for...something real...the one true God.

How cool it is that I get to play a part in bringing Him around.

Social Media Craze

So I have recently given in to the world of social media. Maybe it is because I have been back in the States for a few weeks, but it is so easy to stay connected with people through all of the social media options.

What is social media? There are a million answers to this question: Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc., etc., etc.

The funny thing is...that you can set them up to talk to each other. For example: if you have friends that follow you on Facebook but would never venture off of their news feed to read your blog, you can have your blog automatically post to your Facebook page.

So I am trying it out...this post should not only post to my blog, but also to my Facebook. Kinda creepy, but it is worth because it saves me a step in the copy/paste process of sharing what's happening down in Honduras.

We shall see :)

Honduras Bound Again!

So I am boarding a plane tomorrow to Honduras...and I am so pumped! We are getting 2 new team members, Michael and Rebecca Oliver, from Bay Community Church in Alabama. Michael is a pediatric nurse and his wife Rebecca is a photographer! What a cool pair! They are going to be a great addition to our HHGlobal team.

I get to fly back with the Oliver's and help them get settled into their new life in Rio Viejo. Since our team is growing, I am stepping into a new role with HHGlobal and I get to orient the new additions and help facilitate their time with us. What an awesome thing!!! I absolutely love missionaries and to be able to help people who are interested in full time missions get their feet wet is so exciting to me!

So I am buckling up for a fast paced week of medical clinics, orientation meetings and the possibility of unloading a 40ft container of office furniture and supplies! God is so good!!

Please keep me in your prayers...safe travel, a productive week, and as always...that I would be the hands and feet of Jesus. I love you guys, and I will talk to you from Honduras :)

Loving in Circles

Have you ever noticed a pattern in your life?

Have you ever asked yourself the question..."why does this always happen to me? or to that person? or to my family? or to [insert here]?"

Maybe we should be asking different questions?

Maybe we should be looking for opportunities to learn, and to love better than we did the last time around. Life keeps coming...it is part of the deal. We cannot control other people...that is called manipulation. We cannot force...that is called coercion.

All we can really do is love. Sometimes we get to do it up close. Sometimes we have to do it from far away...in a safe place. Sometimes it is gentle, and sometimes it is tough.

Love has many faces. I just hope one of the faces it has...is mine, and maybe...one day I can love someone long enough that they have the courage to break out.

A Mentor to Mentors

You know how someone can casually say something to you, you know, just in passing and it kind of sticks to you? Then a few days later, someone else says something very similar and then you are struck again? Well that is what happened to me last week. People kept telling me about Alicia Britt Chole and how she was teaching a class on mentoring to the leaders of the HPC Connect groups, and they thought I should go.

Alicia Britt Chole was a hard core atheist...and this immediately intrigued me. It's not that I love atheists...well I guess I do in a way, but the reason this sparked an interest in me was because she teaches about the art of one on one mentoring. She teaches about doing life on life with people...and anyone who is an atheist, was an atheist or knows an atheist understands how difficult it is to wrap your mind around that one.

She opened up to a room of about 100 people and shared her story, her journey though being mentored and equipped us with tools to help people in our life become more like Christ...not more like ourselves. If you get a chance check out her website (www.truthportraits.com), read a book or two, or just think about who God has put in your life to mentor you and for you to mentor.

We are always in process. We will never be able to help people if we think we have to "have it all together" before we can start. I am so inspired. I am so excited...and I am not as scared as I was a few hours ago!

Blog Block

I am having a hard time blogging. It's not that I don't want to, or that I don't have time...It is that I don't really feel like I have anything important to say.

That makes me sad.

Where is the wisdom, where is the love, where are the funny bug stories and the quirky humor? Did I leave them in Honduras by accident?

I love being here right now. I love seeing family and friends, but I know my true purpose is to be in Honduras. This is an interesting situation to be in. I am not sad, really...unless I think about not being able to go back in January. Then it is like someone has grabbed a handful of my intestines and ripped them out of my body. It hurts.

I don't let myself go there if I can help it, but every now and then I think about January rolling around and not getting on a plane to Honduras. If you wanna see this girl cry...just bring that up in a conversation!

So, I know where I am, and I know where I am going...the only part missing is how I am going to get there. So if you pray for me, please pray for relationships...the right ones.

HPSM Chapel

Today I had the great opportunity of participating in a panel discussion with Natalie Spera and Brandon Bourgeois at HPSM Chapel. All three of us are HPSM graduates (although it was called Elevate in our day) and we are all currently working in full time ministry.

It was such an honor to speak into the lives of the interns...what an incredible class they are! I can remember what it was like to be in the audience...just scribbling down notes as fast as I could...trying to soak it all in. We had access to some of the greatest staff members, teachers and guest speakers...and to think that I was on the stage today...it was really cool.

It made me think about this new phase of my life. I am no longer an intern...I am a full time missionary. Of course I am still being led by people in my life...but I am also leading people. I am thinking on this new concept of being led to lead.

You will never ever out grow your need for God, we will always be students in His house...but now I have the responsibility to feed into others...to help others be more successful. My heart is still bent on being an armor bearer. I want to help others be the best possible version of themselves. I want to let the struggles of my life become stepping stones for others. So that maybe...just maybe they will go a little bit farther than I did.

God Moments

Last night I went to HP Women, which is a once a month service at HPC just for the girls. To be honest...I didn't want to go. That's right, I said it...I wanted to stay home. I wanted to be anywhere where there weren't a lot of people. I tried to get out of attending a couple of different times, but God kept shooting me down. So out of obedience to Him, I went to the service.

Let me tell you...I was definitely supposed to be there. I was able to touch base with people I hadn't had a chance to see yet, and meet a girl that I wanted to connect with once I got back. It was great to see friendly faces and get lots of hugs, but the best part was a scripture shared at the beginning of service.

It was shared by none other than my mentor...who didn't know I was at service...and who was going to share something all together different, but God spoke to her and she obeyed. She shared Isaiah 41:10-13 and it spoke to my heart, like God was in the room whispering it in my ear. It says,

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (emphasis mine)

I remember all of the times I let fear and worry creep into my mind. All of the times I focused on the problem and not on God...and I had to repent. I thought I was doubting my ability to accomplish the task at hand...but in reality I was doubting God's ability to provide. So...today, I am starting over and I am going to walk like God is holding my right hand...I am going to walk with confidence that the God of Israel is going to help me.

What am I learning?

Remember that blog I wrote a while back about balance (Happily Unbalanced)...well it definitely applies to what I am feeling right now. How do you balance life and ministry...especially when ministry is your life...not just an appendage.

I am learning a lot about planning, intentional connections, expectations, boundaries...you name it, I think I am learning it right now. Somethings you can learn ahead of time...you know you take a class or listen to advice from someone who has already been around the block. Then other times you have to learn while you are doing it...this means mistakes...and lots of them.

So here I go...fastening my seat belt and hanging on for the ride. It is going to be bumpy for sure.

Paul says, in 2 Cor 6:10, "Our hearts ache, but we always have joy." I think I am learning the truth behind that statement. Just walking it out, one day at a time.

Where am I?

It has been a whirlwind of activity and changing locations for the past few days, but I have landed safely in Louisiana. It has been wonderful to see family and friends and I am starting to get adjusted to life in the USA.

I am still in the "Hey girl how are you doing?" --> "I am doing great!" stage of conversations...but hopefully that will transition quickly back into fulfilling experiences with those closest to me. I am a bit awkward in this fast paced, technology saturated, stimulating society...but I am enjoying the high speed internet connection :)

It is nice to take a breather every now and then...allowing yourself to settle into what ever is going to happen next. Life with God is definitely a faith adventure. Most of the time I am just hanging on for the ride. Then when I think I've got it all figured out and I get to a place where I can make decisions for the good of the Kingdom...I realize how much I depend on the One who made it all in the first place.

Call it what you will...a season of life...a transition period... a time of stretching...whatever it is...it is God. I have come with the expectation that He is in control...that He is guiding me, and the He is going to show up and show off BIG. For once in my life I don't have a 7 point plan of how to get from point A to point B...and God is asking me to be OK with that.

What is going on in your life? What are your expectations? Are you seeking opportunities to glorify God? Are you afraid to take the faith jump? Are you holding on to something that is holding you back?

I don't know where you are or really even who you are...but I care about you, and I want the absolute best for your life. Live in a state of expectancy. Even if you don't know what to expect... expect God, and you won't be disappointed.

Coming Home

Today I wrote an email to a friend and I said..."One day, my mind and my body will be in the same country at the same time." I don't know if this will ever come true for me...but, hey, a girl can dream!

My mind has constantly been wandering to the States these past few days. I have been wondering what my days will look like, how I will spend time with my family and friends...how I will lead a happily unbalanced life in the first world for the next few months.

I am so thankful for the time I was given in Honduras, and I know I will be as equally thankful for the time I have in the States. God never wastes anything!

So I am putting on my happy face, and as I set out tomorrow with my 2 best friends and all of our luggage...I will be looking into a future that is much brighter than my past...and I can't wait to see what happens!

Can you believe after 2 years and 444 blog entries, I have gone from an Elevate Intern to a Full Time Missionary?

All I can really do is thank God.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Not Sure What to Call This Blog...

I have this overwhelming need to blog right now, but there are so many things bouncing around in my head and my heart that I don't even know where to start. I don't know which one to grab on to and lay out for you. I don't know which ones will take us down the road of self discovery only to end at the brick wall of a back alley.

I do not feel confused. Emotional, yes...but not confused. I know where I am going and that is so comforting. I have a vision and a plan...and normally those two things would energize me and fuel my desire to move forward toward the horizon, but today...I am paralyzed.

I feel as if I am standing on a road and when I look in one direction I see memories dancing in front of me. They remind me of the past 10 months and how sweet they were. In the other direction I see great responsibility and even a little bit of uncertainty.

I have a burden for the people of Honduras and a call to serve them. I know that God will provide for me. I know that he will carry me. Sometimes I have to fight the urge to stomp my feet and cry like a little girl...sometimes I don't want to grow up, and I want someone else to make the decisions for me.

But these are the stretching times...these are the growing pains that will take me from one level to the next. Honestly...this hurts a little. My heart is being pulled...I have to leave things undone and projects unfinished...which means I have to trust God for bigger and bigger things.

So here's to trusting in a trustworthy God. Even though I am faced with uncertainty, I will trust Him. Even though I am scared, I will trust Him. I will call Him: Rescuer, Redeemer and Friend.

Yo lo conozco el como Consuelo, Proveedor y Salvador.

Sweet Around the Salty

You know not everything in life is sweet...otherwise all of us salt loving people would be out of luck. Although I am a salt lover, I never understood the reasoning behind putting salt on watermelon or oranges or cantaloupe. It just seems wrong to me. One time I asked my Paw Paw why he did such an awful thing...and his response was that it makes the watermelon taste sweeter.

WHAT?!

I was completely baffled. For some reason I had this crazy thought that putting salt on things made them taste salty. I know...how could I have been led astray all these years? So I gave it a go...pulled out my slice of watermelon and gave it a sprinkle. I took a healthy Heather-sized bite of...yep you guessed it...salty watermelon. Foiled again. Gone was the sweet tasting watermelon my sense of smell had promised.

All I tasted was salt!

How could that be? Paw Paw said it was supposed to taste sweeter! He wouldn't lie to me, he loves me. I was so confused.

Years later, I think I finally understand the sweet and salty concept. You have to taste the sweet around the salty. If you go through life concentrating on all of the salt...you will miss out on the sweet stuff. And if everything in your life tasted sweet you would throw up the first time you got a hold of the salt shaker.

You know that saying..."you are not worth your salt"? I did a little research and it means you aren't worth what you were paid for...not worth your wages. That's a kicker...cause it's true.

Jesus gave up his life for us. We are not worth our salt, but he paid for us anyway. By offering up his life, he is allowing us to have some of the sweet things, but we will never live on this earth without the salty.

So I think I will try and look at life more like my Paw Paw... and taste the sweet around the salty. Anybody in?

The Blessing of Happiness

You know happiness is not promised to those who follow Christ. In fact, we are promised a life of suffering, persecution, challenge, misunderstanding, pain and injustice. We are being pursued by this world, not so we can be fulfilled but so that we feel like we are separated from God.

The Word says we can never be separated from the love of Christ, but if the enemy can succeed in making us feel like we are unloved then he has us cornered.

Because happiness is not promised to us, because we are not entitnled to it...it shows us how much we are loved by God. To me...this makes the taste of happiness so sweet. When we get a little bit of it...it's like honey on our lips. As few and far between as true happiness may be, it is worth the wait and it needs to be savored...not scarfed.

Don't forget what a blessing you have in happiness. There are some who walk through life in a famine, a drought; they wander through the wastelands of their life wondering what that sweet honey tastes like.

So please, cherish it. Savor it. Don't worship it...but see it as a real blessing from God...and by all means....ENJOY IT!

I sure am.

My Prayer These Days

So I have been reading Colossians for a while now. Just 4 little chapters, but such a powerful read. In this book Paul is writing to new believers...he is encouraging them in Christ and giving them instruction on living set apart and having a new life in Christ.

In the 1st chapter Paul lets them know that he is praying for them...He not only lets them know, but he tells them what he is praying. It is such a cool thing, when people pray for you, but then to know what they are praying and see it happening in your life...talk about a faith booster!

The scripture is Colossians 1: 9-13 and it reads (NLT):

"So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light.

For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son."

I know that is a lot of scripture...but if Paul can pray this prayer for people he has never even met...how much more should we pray this for the people who are important to us. I have taken to inserting people's names (even my own) into this scripture and praying it over them.

This is such a strong prayer. It asks for wisdom, patience, endurance, purity, living to honor God, joy and thanksgiving! So I can't get out of this little book of the Bible. It is packed with wisdom and insight and you can really tell that Paul cared so much for these Christians he would never see face to face.

So here is the challenge...start praying this prayer and see what happens! Pray it over yourself, your children, your close friends, your spouses...anyone. The Lord is faithful and scripture is strong.

Bus Ride

I took the bus into town today. This is not unusual for me, public transportation is a major part of life in Honduras, but today it was a little different. Or maybe I was a little different.

Today normal went right out the window as soon as I sat down on my green vinyl school bus seat and propped my knees up against the seat in front of me. As I looked out the window the landscape came alive. I guess if you don't live in the rain forest it always seems green, but when you are here through the dry season everything takes on a brown tinge. Dust is always flying through the air and covering everything with a powdery film adding to the already dull appearance.

But today...the greens came alive. We have been getting a healthy shower every afternoon. The rains bring a refreshment to the land and a reprieve from the heat of the day. The dust is washed off of the leaves and everything seems to sing out at your eyes.

As I rode down this morning there was a parade of green. Deep hunters and bright kellys...lemon limes and kiwis...imagine all of the crayons in the box being a different shade of green. Then just when I thought it couldn't get any better I let my eyes trace the mountain side and sweep up to the brilliant blue sky. Gone were the misty clouds of morning and in their place where bright white cotton balls set against the Caribbean colored sky.

The landscape was peppered with hot pink hibiscus, neon orange bird of paradise and deep red ginger blossoms. A feast for the eyes...When you come to this place the first things that hit you are the heat and the colors which can only be described as tropical.

In the rainy season the greens just get greener...they get richer...they get deeper. Instead of being set against a brilliant topaz sky they are cloaked with a thick grey shroud, like a cozy cashmere sweater. The blue sky fades into a storm cloud and the turquoise rivers turn chocolate brown...but the greens...they never really die.

So I rode the bus to town this morning, but I rode it back a little bit different.

Patience

Why is it that when we ask for patience...we have to wait?

I know this is a silly question, and I don't want to seem like a whiny little girl or anything...but waiting is hard. I remember this feeling a while back. I remember waiting to be in Honduras...waiting to pack my bags and bring my body to where my heart was already living.

I can remember trying to enjoy the wait. I knew then...the same thing I know now...that you have to come to a place where you truly enjoy the period of waiting until you are released from it. You have to come to a place where it doesn't feel like waiting anymore.

Man...I can't wait to be there.

No, but it's true. I think the root of patience is trust. Trusting in God's timing and that his will is best delivered in that timing. It is also comes with a big dollop of humility...I am not God and I don't get to decide when, where, why, how or who. That will put the brakes on for sure.

So here I am, in my living room, eating humble pie...feeling a bit silly and ashamed that I would ever need to be reminded that the garden of patience is tended by time, and the sweetest smells are produced after we have forgotten we were even waiting on them.

But that's ok...we all need reminders from time to time. I just happen to need them a bit more frequently right now. God is good to us, He doesn't know how to be anything else.

Breathe...trust...breathe...trust...work in me Lord. Till up the soil in my heart and plant your garden of patience. Let me rest in the shadow of your wings until harvest time. Lay me down in those green pastures and lead me to the still waters of life. As always, I am yours. Lead me and I will follow.

Home Sweet Home

our front door...look at that new awning!

I know I have posted a lot about this idea of home. I wanted to let you see where I live...not just the outside of a house...but the door to my home. This is a place where God speaks to me the most. When I am cleaning up, putting on make up or fixing dinner...He just has lots of causal conversations with me there.

I think of times when I am stressed out and running back and forth from the clinic to the dorm to the house. Times when I am all tied up in knots and my body is fighting the sore muscles and dry eyes produced by lack of sleep. It is in these times...when I stop, step back and let my mind rest, that I find the Lord is ever present and waiting for an opportunity to be a part of my day.

the champa...a great place to soak it all in

In the heat of the day, in the throes of a project or all of those other times when we tend to let the mundane tasks of house work or personal appearance slip...you know when your house looks bad and you look bad that you are way too busy for your own good :o) When I stop...and make dinner or sweep the floor my mind settles in and I am able to have some great Father-daughter time.

Where is that place for you? Where is your home?

So here are a couple of pics of my place...my home. I want to do a video before I leave so you all can see what an incredible transformation this place has had in the past few months. So hopefully that will be coming soon!

Gotta Have Faith

I am learning a lot about living by faith, and the first lesson of the day is...that you always need more. I don't want that to be a discouraging sentence, because in actuality it is the greatest hope anyone can ever have! If you need more faith in God it is because your view of Him just got bigger, and now your once sufficient amount of faith must grow to match the grandeur of your God.

Lesson 2...emotions are not faith. When you are living by faith, it doesn't matter what you feel like. When it feels like God isn't there or isn't hearing you...it is just a feeling because the fact is that He IS...He is the I AM. We can't base our lives on the ebb and flow of emotions...they do not provide anything to stand on...we CAN, however, stand on the Word of God and His promises for us.

I read something this morning, and I wanted to share it with all of you:

Believe God's word and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea. --Samuel Rutherford

How many times have I pulled away from my Rock, and wondered why things got so crazy?

I want a faith that says: "Thou art here: though the bush does not seem to burn with fire, it does burn. I will take the shoes from off my feet, for the place on which I stand is holy ground." --London Christian

Forgive me Lord, and help me to have faith without feeling. Let me always stand on your holy ground.

Baby...It's what's for dinner.

This is Louis Alberto...my favorite baby. I could just eat him up! haha...He is our poster child for breast feeding. Many of the women here try and quickly wean their children onto cow's milk and rice or corn cereal. Often because of this the children suffer from allergies, bronchitis, and many other sicknesses because they don't get enough antibodies from mom's milk.

Well we are hoping to change things around here. People love fat babies...aka "lots to love" babies...no matter what culture you are living in. So I giving a shout out to Senora Alba for giving her baby the good stuff! Hopefully we will start a fat baby trend in these parts!

What I Really Want

God, put your heart in my chest, put your words in my mouth. Let me bring you nothing but glory.

I ache for your presence.

I long for your touch.

Be with me like you were with Moses...give me the courage, the words, the patience, the heart...everything I need to make you famous.

You gave your life for mine, and I will give my life for yours.

John 3:30, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."

So many things...

It has only been 5 days since I have posted a blog...but I feel like I have experienced a lifetime of joy, excitement, laughter and hope. I don't know where to start...I don't know how to express the light I have in my life.

For starters...the HPC roof crew landed safely in New Orleans early this morning. I miss them already...but it is different from last time. I was expecting a sense of loss...a feeling of emptiness like I felt back in May, after the Medical/CFC/HPSM trip was over. I was not myself for awhile, I was torn.

This time, however, I am so hopeful. Maybe it is because my friends, Tabitha and Mary Beth, are coming to visit in a week. Maybe it is because I will be Stateside in less than a month. There are a lot of maybes...but just maybe... I am adjusting.

It takes so long to adjust to living here, to missions, to a different culture, to a new life, to new friends, to a different everything....and now...I will have to adjust to returning.

I won't lie. There is a bit of anxiety buried deep down in my heart... a bit of worry creeping up like bile in the back of my throat...what will it be like when I return. Will people remember me? Will people care about what I have been doing? Will they even notice that I have been gone? How will I find the finances to return?

There are so many questions, so many feelings...so many lies the enemy is trying to feed me. That is where the Word comes in...it washes my heart, soothes my mind and gives me the strength to stand in the face of adversity. I feel so small sometimes...like I am standing in the middle of a wide open space with the icy rain beating down and the wind whipping my face, but as I cling to the Word, my God gives me the strength to press into the wind and push forward along the path He has for me.

So many times I hear Martin pray to God, saying "make it easy for us to follow you" and I never understood what that meant. For me it is not easy...I often feel like I am holding on the the last bit of strength I have or the last bit of hope. But yesterday the Lord spoke the meaning of that to my heart. He said....It is not that the way should be easy but that the path should be clear.

Oh God, make my path clear...I don't care how many mountains I have to scale, or how many times I fall, or how lonely I am, or how many tears fall from my eyes...if I can see you...if I can see that the path in front of me is lit by your lamp I will follow. I will bear down, I will hold on, I will cling to your Spirit and I will follow you.

So you see...I have hope. My hope is in Him and He is everywhere. I am not sad this time. I am not empty, in fact I am so full I could burst! There is a little concern...a little worry but that is being kept in check. I am back to savoring...I want soak up every minute here. I want to taste it, to smell it and to breathe it in...so that I will be sustained while I am away.

God, make it easy for me to follow you.

HPC in Action

The 15 guys from HPC are such incredible workers. They braved the heat, the altitude, the termite-infested/rotten wood, and razor sharp tin panels to replace more than 1/2 of the hospital roof on just the first day of work! I have never seen guys working together with such unity and cohesion....and they do it all with a smile on their face and a joke on their lips.

It has been an incredible honor to serve them. We had an great dinner last night...I bought out the Cajun Cookin and took care of my boys...I think Brother Larry would have been proud! I still have a little New Orleans in my blood after all...with Cajun chicken pasta and sweet tea to let the guys know this is their home away from home.

I will be sad to see them go on Thursday, but their work will continue to give to this ministry long after they are gone! What an incredible blessing and perfect timing...right before the rains begin.

Oh and keep up the prayers! It hasn't rained significantly since they have been here so they are moving quickly and we want it to stay that way! Continue to pray for the saftey of the crew, as this is dangerous work even for the experienced.

I love you all and I am so glad you are along for the ride on this one!

HPSM at it Again

This week HPC is sending a 15 member team to replace the roof on the hospital and outpatient clinic before the rainy season begins. We have exactly 4 days to replace approximately 6500 square feet of roof. If there is any team on the planet that can do this job...it is a team from HPC lead by Neil Jackson...they don't call him the Pharaoh for nothing!

Life here on the mission field requires heavy duty multitasking to say the least and all the members of the HHIM team have had their hands in various construction projects this past year...but none of us wanted to take on the responsibility of setting up for the roof replacement. It is too far out of our scope of knowledge and we are happy to admit that. So we called on HPC once again for help, and asked them to consider sending us someone who could help us prepare for the group...get all of the materials ordered, on the ground and ready for action as soon as the team hit the ground. And as always they delivered!

Mark Younger has been with us for a week prepping for the change over. He spent a day in the attic, AKA the "swimming pool" because when you come out you look like you just jumped in with all of your clothes on. He counted and marked rotten rafters that need to be replaced along with the roof. He ordered supplies and received the deliveries, helping us make sure everything is ready for Sunday morning.

Mark receiving a maerials order for the roof.

He has also been helping us with the many ongoing construction projects here on the HHIM campus. Our last group from Seacoast church began installing a drop ceiling in the intern house and Mark, with the help of our yard guy Nelvin, finished the rest of the house, along with building and installing 2 awnings to keep the rain out of our house during the upcoming storms. He installed shelves in the Williams' make shift house, and rewired some lights in my kitchen.

Mark is a first year graduate from HPSM and the training he has received from the internship program has made his week here so successful. His heart to serve, willingness to get the job done and do it with excellence has quickly made him a part of our team. He can work hard and play hard right along with the rest of us!

Thanks HPSM for doing it again! For bringing up servants in the house of the Lord...ready to do Kingdom work no matter what the cost. Your internship program continues to provide this world with much needed servant-hearted leaders.

Happily Unbalanced

It recently hit me how quickly time passes. Do you remember when you were a little kid and summer seemed to last forever...those long hot afternoons in the middle of July just trickled by, and you were itching for school to start, just to have something to do. Well, those days have long since left me, and time seems to slip through my fingers like sand through an hour glass.

Living in the States...where everything is designed to increase efficiency and productivity, the world seems to race by and your only job is to keep up with the pace. Ministry moves quickly, busyness threatens to invade your schedule, and as always, the difficulty to lead a balanced life is the greatest challenge for those in the first world.

Here in the third world we have to be OK with leading an unbalanced life. We live on the edge, with one foot in the States and the other firmly planted where our hearts abide. We operate in a place where 21st century technology collides with stark need and want. Missionaries walk the line between staying plugged into the world network while being relevant to the specific culture they serve. This, I have realized, is a tall order.

As a member of a team on the field, we want it to look easy. We want our groups to focus on the people, the projects, the needs...not the when, where, and how. We want trips to flow seamlessly in an environment that is full of logistical mountains, valleys and rocky river beds. It is a blessing when a group says they want to come and serve with us, but is an extreme honor when they reschedule even before the boarding call on their flight home.

I have to give props to missionaries all over the world...those who forsake the ease of communication and constant connectivity, all the while producing similar scale results in the sluggish Third World setting. I have to give a shout out to those who, not only do this work...but love it with everything in them...those that can't imagine doing anything else.

These people are my heroes. The modern day Pauls, Stephens, Esters and Ruths. Those who would give everything to their Father because, in the end, they trust He will give them everything in return.

All I can say is thank you. To all the people who make this possible...Thank You.

Faith Like Potatoes

Last night...I wished more than anything I could send a TwitterPic. I was sitting in my hammock chair on the second floor, of our fully screened-in veranda, watching a movie projected on 2 pieces of 4'x8' Styrofoam...BIG screen style.

I wanted to share it with you so bad. I wanted you to look into my heart and see the gratitude I have for all of the teams that sacrificed this summer and came to sow into our infrastructure and the people of our valley. I wanted you to see the commitment God has made to this place, through buildings and vehicles and teams that want to return next year.

My heart is full.

So the movie we watched was Faith Like Potatoes...I know it is probably old news to most people, but it is the true story of a farmer in Southern Africa and how God turns his life around. It was an amazing testimony of hardships, faith and God's unabashed love for His people.

As I look back at my life, and I look forward into the promised future...I am full of faith. I can't wait to see how God parts my Red Seas and feeds me in the wilderness. I can't wait to see the people healed and raised from the dead in His name. I can't wait to hear the parties in Heaven when the lost are called back to Him.

I am holding onto the promises He has made. I am holding onto the call He has given. I am on my knees before Him with hands lifted high in praise. I am full of anticipation and expectation that my God will provide in the way that will bring Him the most glory.

I am honored.

I am excited.

I am full.

And I can't wait!

Baptism at the Sliding Rock

The sliding rock has become my absolute favorite place. It is one of those places that showcases just how beautiful God's creation is. After a short hike you find yourself totally surrounded by God's glory.

If you are brave enough, you can climb the 15 foot rock and jump... or slide (like me) into a beautiful waterfall fed lagoon.

These pictures were taken the day we had the incredible baptismal service at the sliding rock. We were all exhausted but it was wonderful to be surrounded by such beauty. Not only did the Holy Spirit meet us there, he carried me there.

This is a picture of Samuel Williams being baptized in the lagoon at the bottom of the sliding rock. The pictures won't ever do it justice. This place is absolutely beautiful. I hope that one day you will be able to swim in the cool waters of this pool and feel as refreshed as I did that day.

It's Here!

Finally...today the verse dropped in my heart. The verse that says it all for the next season of my life. Well, OK it didn't really drop out of no where...I have been doing some research on the topic of desires and issues of the heart.

I kept going back to Psalm 37:4 which says, "Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (NLT). Although, I love this verse it was not the right one. Most people who read this verse, think it means that if you serve the Lord, He will give you everything you want...But that is not the case.

I am no theologian, but to me Ps 37:4 really means that if you take joy in the Lord you are so much like Him that you want the same things He wants. His desires become your desires...so He gives you His desires and they become the desires of your heart.

Great! That is what I really want...but because so many people get mixed up on the meaning...I can't have it all over my business cards. I needed something different. Something more personal to me. Something that spoke directly to my heart. Something that I can hold onto when it gets hard and lonely and I am tired and weary. Something that encourages me when the enemy is pelting my mind and spirit.

So this morning...it was there...still in Psalms but flip forward a few chapters to Ps 40:8 "I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart" (NLT). WOW. His will for my life is written on my heart; I will never lose it, and no one can ever take it from me. I will cling to Him and to this promise, and I will walk with joy.

Awaken My Love...

...to a glorious day. I have waited for this day, since you were born in my heart.

I have longed for you to wake up and see the beauty around you...to have your eyes opened to my glory.

Let me scrape off the film the world has placed on your perfect eyes, so that you will see my creation as it was meant to be seen.

Look, with new eyes, and be amazed.

And then, I know you will burst forth with a cry of worship so pure and true that all of heaven will join in your chorus.

I have waited for this day, and I will wait for tomorrow.

I will wait patiently for you to see me.

What is He saying to you this morning?