Por fin!

Long days, early mornings, late nights.
Quick meals, packed meals, forgotten meals, skipped meals.
Cementing, painting, sanding, scrubbing, sweeping, cleaning, digging.
Smiles, laughter, frowns, tears, sweat.
I'm going to be honest & say that our team is exhausted. It's been crunch time for the last 2 months and crunch time sure has been squeezing everything out of everyone. 

I personally will admit that construction has been a difficult subject for me. I'm more than willing to work and happy to be useful but before coming to Bolivia I wasn't aware of how much construction work I would be doing. I definitely did not expect this. I didn't expect to spend 4 of my 11 months doing only construction as well as construction on top of the children's ministry in the other 7 months. But I cannot begin to tell you what a HUGE heart change God has done in me through this. He has changed my mindset, my attitude, my willingness in so many ways. So when I feel like complaining and getting frustrated I can't help but be thankful that He is working so much in me through this. Oh & I just look out at my view and remember how blessed I am....

 "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary!" Galatians 6:9

Baptismal under the stage! Nifty, huh?

^ The Sala Grande before.

^ The Sala Grande after.

Before, dirt floors/no patio.

After, cement floors/huge patio.

 This weekend all the work paid off. We finally kicked off the ministry with the dedication/inauguration of the new building. We invited the families to come see the new center building as we held a worship service, short teaching, snacks, introduction of the team & ministries (New church, Center for the children, Women's ministry), and sign-up for the Center's after school program.

 All the women of the team baked cakes/ bars/ brownies for a snack after the service!

 All set up, decorated, and ready!

 Our first time of worship in the church!

We had a PowerPoint of the building process since before they broke ground until now!

 Announcements (later translated into Quechua because many of the families mainly speak Quechua instead of Spanish)

 The introduction of the entire team!

 "Permit the children to come to me and do not hinder them." Mark 10:14

 Fellowship after the inauguration as parents enrolled their kids for the center. So nice to have so much support from our old church body, from different church bodies, and even from visitors from the US.

Seeing all the people we are ready to work with was such an exciting site. It put all the work into perspective and it took us out of the spotlight. The perfect plan God has for this ministry and this community of people continues to spur us on, all in our own different ways. Lord have Your way in us & in this ministry. 
After a busy, hectic, crazy weekend on top of the months of time and work put into this project we all took a deep breath. We still have quite a bit of work to do in the classrooms and the yard but God has been with this project from the beginning, was with it this weekend, and will see us through until the end. Such a settling thought. 

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands!"
Psalm 19:1

The greatest story.

I'm in love with Jesus. I can't express how I feel about Him. I don't think I will ever wrap my head around Christ and His love for me. I am in constant amazement. Us being torn, broken, self-destructing sinners and yet He still takes us as His bride is the greatest story ever told. He lays down His life so that we can have new life in Him instead of the fate we deserve. What love."You're my beloved. Lover I'm yours. Death shall not part us, it's you I died for. For better or worse, forever we'll be. Our love it unites us and it binds you to Me. It's a mystery. "

His mercies towards us are truly new every single morning.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

The grace He shows us is so under-deserved yet never ending.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

"Was lost but now I'm found. How precious did that grace appear."

The justification and redemption we receive through Him washing us clean of ourselves are the most beautiful gifts I ever could receive.

 "Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it WHITE AS SNOW!"

"The blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness."

My life is nothing, I am nothing without the sacrifice He made and the union He offers.
The blood of Jesus is my victory.

"My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them!" Psalm 71:15

I cannot come down.

What's a goal that you have?
Have you reached it?
How long have you been working on it? Something you really, truly want completed..
Maybe it's a project, maybe it's your future, maybe it's a change within yourself, maybe it's walking closer with God, maybe it's a friendship. Whatever it is...
It seems like every time we have a goal, a really good goal, there always comes distractions. They don't show up when the goal begins to grow, they don't show up after the goal has been reached. They creep in slowly, right as you're coming close to achieving your goal. If your goal is Godly and will bring Him glory I think I have a name for those distractions...The enemy. 

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah has a goal. His goal is to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He is constantly being attacked by distractions. He is repeatedly lured into leaving his work but he gives one simple response to those pulling him away...

I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. (Chapter 6:3)

As our team continues to push through towards our goal of opening The Center and the start of a new church we are being faced with many distractions. Many moments when we feel as if we'll never finish, our emotions are being brought down, and we feel defeated. I know that what God has planned for this project will bring Him glory and will reach many hearts for Him. That is not something Satan approves of and that is why he is eager to pull us away from the work. The passage in Nehemiah really spoke to me. It's so confident and strong. I need to remember to wake up every day saying those words; I am doing a great work and I cannot come down!

That goal I asked you about; are you feeling distracted? Every time you come close to achieving it you suddenly become sidetracked or something stands in your way? This week keep that goal on the forefront of your mind. Seek God about it. If it will in any way please Him and bring Him praise remember that the enemy is out to stop it. But God is far more strong than Satan and He will step in. He will overcome and He will win. Do not let yourself be distracted. Instead let God shine through. Through you, through your flaws, and through the distractions. Put your faith in Him, stand up, and say... I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.