What I love about Sundays.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Galatians 6:9
I have planned to blog this on April 22 but hadn't ever posted it and kept it as a draft. Now the comparison of the same subject over a month's time....

April 22, 2013

It's chilly as the morning breeze whistles by. Yet in her silence you can hear the birds flutter their wings. The city appears clearer than weekdays in the morning sun. Surrounded by few but very faithful brothers. Windows flung wide open. Smoothly His praises ring from that room on the mountain side. I can only imagine the noise echoing through the hills. Broken-hearted prayers follow the remembrance of His sacrifice with wine and bread. Tender hearts reaching out to one another, to one another's familiar hands. 
Every Sunday we gather. We gather at the newly founded church. Not because there is a line of people waiting for us, not because we are seeing new faces we have missed all week, not because of the overflow but because that's where God called us. Called us to be a light. Every Sunday the 4 interns, 2 Bolivian families from the team....and 3 children come. Just 3. They live a block from our building and are always looking their best, with combed hair and their best clothes on Sunday mornings.
That's it. Just us.
Some mornings it gets hard. I long to fellowship with brothers and sisters that I haven't seen all week. To be surrounded by a big body of Christ. But those 3 kids, they keep us there. If God is doing something in the hearts and lives of those 3 little ones through us, that's enough for me. 
So despite the temptation to feel down by the low numbers....The number 3 holds our spirits high.

May 20, 2013

Yesterday we met in the beautiful sanctuary, up at The Center. The crew (13 to be exact) from our team was present as well as the faithful 3. As we sang hymns to prepare ourselves for communion smiles filled our faces as 2 more children walked in. Girls from the 3rd and 4th grade from The Center walked in for their first Sunday, happy as ever to join with us in the church service. Ahhhhh (a sigh of happiness/satisfaction.) Minutes later I turned my head back to see not 1 or 2 more children walking in but A WHOLE FAMILY! Parents and everything!!!! Our main man, Don Mario, who has been helping to build The Center every day since day one brought his wife and 2 daughters to church. As they walked in from the back door of the sanctuary I was covered with goose bumps, overcome by a lump in my throat, and brought to tears.... AHHHHHHHHH.

Please continue to pray for those in the area of the church. Pray that we would see more faces walking in through that door, week after week. But also thank God with me this week for His goodness and faithfulness.

The little faces :)

My role in The Center this year is a little all over the place but I'm really enjoying helping wherever I can. I usually am helping in a 2nd grade class again but also taking time away to prepare the snack, wash dishes, help in the library, and hang out with the homework-free kiddos! Here's the little faces from 2nd grade that I spend ever day with! :)

Maribel

Paola

Araceli

Twins?!?! Nope, not even sisters :p

Anghi

Israel

Hector

Ronald

Julio

Alison

Cirila

Cristian
A little squirmy so this is the best shot we'll get of this little guy for now!

There you have it :) Please be praying for these faces and hearts. The more connected I get to them, the more I learn of their lives... the more I only hope they are being impacted by the love of Jesus at The Center and heading towards a future of walking with Him! 

Sunshine!

Good afternoon, ya'll!

The SUN is shining and the breeze is flowing in through my huge, lovely window. I hear the fruit truck blaring and someone's hands scrubbing clean their laundry outside. I smell my wooden night stand and highlighted Bible as I sit on my bed. I'm a little sleepy but there's just too many thoughts in my head to let me nap.

I'm thinking about this country. About the time passed and the time missing.
I'm thinking of all the joy and opportunities I have found here. The lessons and strengths I've gained. The rough nights and the exciting mornings. The conversations. The walks. The trips to the market. The hugs from such loving little arms. The language learning. The unforgettable people.

I'm thinking about it all. And I'm happy..

"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation."

Choose joy & let the sunshine in wherever you find yourself this week! :)