Encouragement (a.k.a. why I love blogging)

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

I have been on the receiving end of encouragement lately...

It started this past weekend when I received a surprise in the mail. A real amazing surprise :)

You know that feeling you get when you sort through your mail and it's not junk, bills or something from a mass distribution list? The feeling you get when you you see a hand written address.

When you see a return address from a person, not a company.

When you turn it over and someone's taken the time to write "a note special for you". That's the feel I got this past Saturday when I received a note from Samantha. 

Inside the envelope I found an encouraging note from this sweet blogging friend, a source of encouragement as the preparations for my trip continue. I sat down and soaked up every word of the note, thankful for friends like her. 

I hope one day I can meet this amazing girl in person.

I received quite a similar feeling when I opened my financial management page for my upcoming trip and a new donor's name popped up. Most new donors email me and let me know that they will donate but this name took me by surprise.

It was my dear friend (both via blog and high school) Annie who donated to my trip. This amazing girl who just got back from a trip of her own sacrificially gave to my trip. I was humbled and overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. I can't wait to see her in person (so SOON!), give her a big hug and hear all about Spain.

There are other girls who have done the same who aren't mentioned here but I appreciate just the same. These just happen to be the girls who most recently, in a time of great stress, have blessed me.

I hope as I continue blogging to forge these kinds of relationships with other amazing young women. If you want to know more about my upcoming trip let me know. I would love to share!

*A quick note: I apologize for being so sporadic in my blogging recently. My life has been quite busy with preparations and hasn't left much time for much else. I'll be playing catch up the next couple days :)*


Blessings,

On Resting

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

I'm naturally a busy body. I have a hard time slowing down, being still and enjoying silence. I like to be out and about and I struggle with taking the appropriate time to rest.

I'm what I've come to describe as an outgoing introvert. There is a common misconception that shy/quiet is synonymous with introvert and outgoing/loud is synonymous with extrovert. In reality the two terms have to deal with from where you get your energy. While I enjoy being around people and being social it takes every ounce of energy I have. For me to be able to recharge and truly relax I need to spend time by myself; even though I still need to be doing something, writing, listening to music or reading a good book.

As a result, I don't rest enough. I go to be too late and I get up to early, attempting to do everything on my own strength. Recently God convicted me with these two verses:

                                                          Unless the LORD builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

    Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

(Psalm 127:1-2 ESV)

I have an erroneous belief that if I don't do something it'll never get done, like I'm in control. God is teaching me that I need to surrender my desire for control and trust in His plan. This is lesson is becoming very practical as I prepare to move overseas. Details are changing every day. New problems crop up every time I try to take a step forward. I've learned to leave it in God's hands and wait for the next step He gives me.

What has God been teaching you lately?

miscellany monday

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

1. Remember last week when I said I aimed to cross everything off these to-do lists?

Take a look at this...

They're empty...YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. I got to have another Skype conference call with some of the teachers I'll be working with this fall. This time we focused more on getting to know each other. I'm getting more excited if that's even possible :)

3. Look what came in my email today...

My diploma is on its way :)

4. I've officially installed a countdown on my dashboard :)

5. I've found a new British TV show...

It's all about being the ultimate bluffer...David Mitchell is hilarious!

How is your Monday going?

Transition

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

Things I will miss about the barrio:

-The vendors selling paletas, nieve y elote :)
-The music from the parties at night
-Being able to walk to church
-Living in the same neighborhood as most of the women from church
-Small group on Wednesday nights
-Being able to say hi to the neighbors on their porch steps on the walk home

Things I'm looking forward to in the AP:

-The FOOD; shwarma, rutub, lahem 
-Sitting on the floor eating with my hands (I'm a child at heart)
-Cahwa (real cahwa)
-My students!!!!!!!
-New roommates 
-No winter :)

Happy Friday!

P.S. 41 DAYS!!!!!!!

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Battling Loneliness and Finding Community

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

*I haven't been on Blogger in a couple days so this a belated 4th of July post*

I've been struggling with loneliness lately. 

Not for romantic reasons but just plain friendship reasons. 

The majority of my friends are scattered around the globe as they have just graduated or are on summer break from school. I'm currently the only college student in a Mexican church. All of my jobs, save one, require me to work alone or with small children. I miss hanging out with people who are in the same stage of life as me. I miss processing life with other young women. Lucky for me I have some dear friends; Dawn, Whitney and Annie who have been up for texting and calling. However, I was longing to see people face to face.

Lucky for me Elizabeth and Gabby came to the rescue :) Elizabeth invited me out for breakfast on Monday and subsequently invited me to hang out with them on the 4th of July. It's amazing how much my stress and loneliness level decreased after one evening with these ladies. I praise God that He brought these young women in my life.

However, through this I became convicted of my lack of dependence on Jesus to soothe my loneliness. I've talked about Jesus being all that I need but in this area of my life I struggle. I forget that Jesus knew exactly what it was like to be lonely and isolated, the epitome of this being on the Cross. I have the ability to lay my loneliness at His feet and He will comfort me. He chose me and redeemed me. This allows me to live in Christ and stand before my God healed and whole. Thank you Jesus.

Now for a couple pictures:

The fireworks :)

Elizabeth, Gabby and I ready for 3-D Fireworks!

P.S. I planning on writing the post about the Bible study I did here soon!

Have a blessed weekend!

Thanking God for a headache

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

I'm a scheduler. With four part-time jobs I have to be or I would lose my mind. Yesterday, my schedule went to pieces.

Not just running late...

Not a missed appointment...

My schedule crumbled to bits and pieces. As I was sitting in the unending Chicago traffic on my way out to bank I started getting a severe headache. I was trying to figure out how I could fix the current dilemma. As the pounding in my head increased, I took a deep breath and turned on one of my favorite Spanish praise songs. I made a conscious decision to use my time in traffic to praise God for my situation.

From that point on the afternoon continued to bring one stressor after another but I meditated on:

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

God is teaching me to be joyful in the midst of difficult circumstances, to surrender all and trust Him. 

Luckily, I got an exciting surprise that evening :) I got to speak to the principal of the school I will be teaching at this fall. It was so helpful to speak to him and get some of my questions answered. It's going to be a busy 2 months!

Unpacked

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

I've unpacked my many boxes and I'm officially moved into the basement. A part of me feels accomplished because I'm no longer living out of suitcases and boxes. The other part of me wishes I could have just lived out of suitcases and boxes until the end of August. The idea that I have one or two more big packing/moving endeavors during this summer is a bit daunting. My goal one day would be to fit all of my possession in 2 suitcases. That way I would have the ability to be constantly mobile :)

As I did the physical unpacking I also did a bit on mental unpacking...

As I face the possibility of really going overseas, for a whole school year, I realized this will be a time for me to put into practice all of the training I've received over the past 4 years. I've become so comfortable being in training, preparing for the day when I get sent out. Now that day is drawing closer and closer and I don't feel ready, sounding very similar to this post.

Things are moving faster than I expected and trusting God, knowing He knows whether or not I'm ready, is quite difficult. But when I began this process I said I would walk through any doors God opens knowing He has a plan and He has yet to shut a door. So I will continue in faith, surrendering my fears and anxieties on a daily basis. I would appreciate your prayers as God continues to lead me, challenge me and shape me.

The house I'm staying in doesn't have internet so my Starbucks addiction is returning :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Reflections on Graduation, part 2

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

*Continuing from this post*

I ran into two fellow graduates from my alma mater at Starbucks today. Hearing a little bit about their post graduation life has helped me feel a little less abnormal about my lack of solid direction in life. Some things we have in common:

1. Nobody has a full time job and none of our jobs are in our respective fields of study

2. Every one of us is feeling a bit out of sorts during this time of transition

3. Job changes are imminent

4. Living situations are not ideal

5. We're all seeking God's will and learning this usually means not knowing what's ahead

6. Despite all of this life is much less stressful than it was in college

While I don't have a definite plan about the coming months/year I'm beginning to feel God wants me to be in this place. 

A place where I'm not grasping for control. 

A place where I'm ready to go wherever God wants.

A place where I'm constantly listening, hoping to hear the Holy Spirit's voice guiding me. 

God is sovereign...I truly believe it. However, it hasn't been until recently that I've started to live it. I'm surrendering my thoughts, desires and hopes. I lay them at the feet of my Savior, knowing He will take care of me. 

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."(Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)

miscellany monday

Location: Old Town, Chicago, IL

1. 8 more days until I go to Texas. I can't believe orientation is already here! I get to visit everyone I met last year during internship training. Now I'll be training as one of their fellow missionaries :) God's sovereignty still amazes me. He is still working out plans and I'm leaning to be patient and wait for everything to fall into place.

2. I love working as a pool attendant, especially in the mornings. I usually get an hour to an hour and a half by myself to set up, clean and then relax. I get to enjoy God's wonderful creation around me and spend time reading, thinking and writing.

3. I might have found a place to live! Everything is still tentative but I'm pretty sure this is the place God planned for me. It's short term (in case plans change), close to church and closed to my jobs. I'm so thankful for my pastor and his family's hospitality.

4. There may be some overseas travel coming up sooner than expected. I don't have enough details to talk about it just yet but look out for coming posts.

5. Sunday School is going really well with the kids. We're hoping to get a couple more teachers soon but it seems that the kids are learning so much. I keep praying that God will continue to encourage the parents to be involved in their children's lives spiritually.

View from the pool deck:

Youth Ministry: Parental Substitutes?

Location: Old Town, Chicago, IL

I didn't have the best experience in youth group. This was mostly due to my poor attitude, desire for attention and immense pride. I did not value my parents' wisdom or instruction. The entire world revolved around me. Therefore, I don't think I can look at my experience as the normative one. In addition, I cannot discount all of the benefits from being in youth group. My first exposure to local missions was because of youth group. I made some incredible friends in youth group. I was mentored my some amazing women in small groups. I learned about Moody Bible Institute, my alma mater, in youth group.

However, after talking to my friends in college about their youth group experience and gaining some experience in children's ministry at my church I began to question the purpose of youth ministry. Obviously, no ministry is perfect but there is something about the youth ministry paradigm that is particularly unsettling.

I'll begin by looking at what the Biblical paradigm for children's and youth ministry.

In Deuteronomy, we see the pattern in the Jewish household to be parents instructing their children.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 "Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to posses it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all His statutes and commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you in a land flowing with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of you house and on your gates."

This passage demonstrates God wants parents to instruct their children, not only in the home but wherever the family happens to be.

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Not only does God want parents to instruct their children but also demonstrate their faith to everyone.

"You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of you house and on your gates."

5 chapters later (Deut. 11:18-21) the same commandment is given. God commands parents to teach and demonstrate their faith to their children.

Another well known passage on the subject is Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Here we see how the instruction of children is vital to a lifelong faith.

Looking at the New Testament Ephesians contains instructions for both parents and children.

Ephesians 6:1-4 "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

For anyone who claims that Old Testament Law is no longer applicable it is in Ephesians we find the same commandment. God values parents teaching their children in the way of the Lord. He promises long life to those who do.

Furthermore, the life of Timothy is another great example of children being trained by their parents. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul discusses how Timothy's faith has been passed down from his grandmother and his mother.

2 Timothy 1:5 "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure dwells in you as well."

Timothy found faith through his grandmother and mother who instructed him in the ways of the Lord from childhood.

2 Timothy 3:14-16"But as for you continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ."

Paul commends Timothy's childhood instruction which most likely, based on the beginning of the letter, came from his grandmother and mother.

Looking at the pattern in the Bible it seems that many, not all, of the youth groups in modern evangelical Christianity are missing a piece.

Based on my experience and the experience of my fellow Bible college students, many youth groups are set up to be more of a social event that a time of Biblical instruction. Kids come for the games, the food and their friends. This isn't necessarily bad. It's great that Christian children and teens. can have a place where they can spend time with like-minded people. They can gain support and encouragement from others. But how are the parents involved?

It's very true many parents volunteer in youth ministry. However, shouldn't youth groups be partnering with what parents are doing in the home. I understand there are exceptions, children whose parents aren't Christians, but for those children and students who do come from Christian homes it is vital that biblical instruction comes from the home and is reinforced at youth group. The parents should be seen as the primary spiritual caregivers, not the youth pastors. Biblically, it is the parents' responsibility to train their children.

It excites me to hear more and more stories of youth groups who are following this biblical patterns. It excites me even more to talk to my friends studying to be youth pastors who want to change the youth ministry paradigm as well. I will continue to pray that God will raise up people to address this need. I am also working as the Sunday School director at my church to partner with parents and encourage them to get involved in their children's' spiritual lives. I ask that you pray with me. I would also love to hear about your personal experiences from when you were in youth group or if you're involved in youth ministry now. Comment or send me an email!


Oh and my wanderings today have taken me to work where I suffer poolside: