Cold Compassion

We are coming together as a team here at HHGlobal and realigning ourselves with God and His vision for our lives. We have been praying over a list of things each day and will continue to do so for the rest of the month. It is amazing what a difference prayer can make in the unity of a group. I can already feel us being knit together as a team...as a family. It is such a desire of my heart for us to serve the people of our community but I also want us to be able to serve each other...Jesus even said that others would know us by our love for each other. WOW, what a challenge.

Today our prayer request was to have the compassion of Christ. Haha...I think that one deserves more than a day of contemplation and prayer! What a big request. What is compassion? What did it mean in the scripture when it said that Christ had compassion and healed them all? As I seek God for the answers to these questions and countless other unspoken ones in my heart and mind...I can't help but wonder how having compassion will change my life.

Are we really willing to feel for others? Are we willing to let ourselves be touched by their circumstances? Compassion is a word that means you feel it in your guts, like someone reaches inside of your body, grabs a good handful of your insides and squeezes the heck out of them. Are we really willing to open ourselves up to feel anything at all...let alone the trials and troubles of others?

Compassion is mentioned 98 times in the NASB translation of the Bible. 2 main definitions of the word are:

1. Mercy, kindness or goodwill towards the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.
2. To be moved as one's bowels, for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity. (This is the grab hold of your insides one)

So to have compassion means to literally feel someone's circumstances in such a way that you are moved with desire to help them. Not helping out of obligation or guilt...but true want to help them.

Last night it got into the upper 50's in Rio Viejo, which is pretty cold for these parts. I was shivering in my bed (under 2 blankets, a sheet and fully dressed in long PJ's). As I was praying my way into sleep asking God to prepare me for the next day, I said a selfish little prayer to keep me warm. Then Jesus asked me about all of those sleeping outside in the cold...He asked if I wanted them to be warm too?

Thank you Lord for reminding me of the least of these. Thank you for keeping me humble before you and for helping me to be centered on others and not myself. Help me to be compassionate like your son, so much so, that I give my life over to the desire to serve them.

Back in the Office

I found things a little different when I returned to the office in Honduras. While I was away we received a container of office supplies, equipment and medical exam room furniture. The container in itself was a major feat...the items came from my mom's office building, Kevin Lalonde lead a team of people to collect and pack the goodies (2 full storage units worth) and HPC paid for storage and shipping of the items.

So while I was in the states the fruits of our labor landed in Honduras and the Williams family along with our HHG interns made multiple trips to bring the equipment up the mountain and unload it into the clinic. They have all been working non-stop trying to get it situated into the the clinic. When I was away Wendy called me on skype telling me that they had set up my office! She was so excited to tell me that I would return to a desk, filing cabinet, a garbage can all to myself and a REAL office chair!!! haha...it may not cound like much but I have been working with a plastic folding table and metal folding chair so I couldn't be more happy.

I wanted to share my new office space with you...so take a look!

My new desk! (notice the org charts on the board behind the desk...we are coming up with our "Dream Team")

I also came back to a Christmas present...a doll they found in the grocery store. Her name is actually "Healthy Heather" she has food strapped all over her and when you press the items she tells the listener why the different food groups are important. And the BEST part...she is bilingual! haha...they said she looked just like me, so they had to get her for me!

It is definitely great to be back and I can't wait to get my office space set up and bring "Healthy Heather" to the schools next year to teach the students about healthy eating! haha

God is so good!

Oh...here is the prayer calendar that highlights some of our needs at HHGlobal and the things that we will be seeking God for as we bring in 2010! Thanks for standing with us! Just click on the image for a closer look!

Breathe Deep

I feel like I can finally breathe deep again. It seemed as though there was so much tension before I left...leaving things undone and people unseen always takes a toll on me. I know that once I get on the road things will be better...once I start the physical journey I will be able to breathe deep.

Once you are on a plane things take on a totally different perspective. The things you forgot to pack, well...you just forgot to pack them. The things you didn't have time to ship will be there when you return, and although you will have to live without them for a little while it won't be forever. All of the little gadgets and trinkets that seem to accumulate in your space, suddenly don't seem important as you make your way to where you belong.

I can't explain the feeling I have. I am sitting outside now...listening to the sound of the rain on the tin roof drown out the music coming from my computer speakers. My dry skin is soaking up the humidity and my lungs are breathing in the heavy, moisture laden air. I am being refreshed along with the dry ground. Where there have been deserts, there will now be rivers.

Of course, I am sad to leave Louisiana, but it was time to return to my home away from home. As I begin to prepare for the next season of intern schedules and group itineraries I will need you more than ever. We will begin a time of prayer and fasting as a group. 21 days of praying, setting aside time for the Lord and preparing for the new year. If you would like to join us, please feel free. I will post a prayer calendar that has specific requests we will be praying over from Jan 10-31, so if you want to stand with us in prayer you are more than welcome!

I am settling into my new apartment, so I hope to have pics or even a video (internet willing) up here soon, so you can see my new crib!

I am so glad to be back! And I am even happier that you are back with me!!!