Wrappin' Up..

Over the past couple of months I've been meeting with a great friend and discipler, Kate. She is a missionary from Australia who has shown me so many things. The love of Christ, the love of a family, the welcoming arms of someone who cares... Well this week she had me answer some questions (not all of them are here) to debrief on my time in Bolivia as I prepare to head home. Wow, this was awesome to go through & see my answers intertwine and clarify my own thoughts on paper. Thought I'd share some. Thanks Kate!!!


What is something God has show you about Himself in Bolivia?
The love of Christ? His faithfulness? The mercy of God? His holiness? All things I've learned about since coming here but ultimately... My heavenly Father's desire to BE WITH ME! His passion and jealousy to be my one and only, to be my breath & life, to be everything that holds me together. In spite and BECAUSE of my failures He longs to be in a beautiful, intimate relationship with me. Literally Christ wants me to be in love with Him. And He uses all things to to love on me, make me fall in love with Him, or bring me back into being in love with Him, my first love! Deuteronomy 4:24

How do you not want to be the same as you were before you came to Bolivia?I don't want my love for others to be the same. I want to see EVERYONE (Christians & Non-Christians) like I see people here. With open eyes of love and grace. Not seeing economic status, skin color, clothes types, dirty or clean bodies..Knowing that everyone has a story but that Christ's love trumps ALL.  Unlike before I want stereotypes and reputations to be lost in the love and mercy only God can show.
I want to walk in love! Romans 12:9-10

In what ways could you describe this moment in your life as a gift (about to leave one world but not yet back in the other)?
It's hard to look at such a difficult time as a gift but when put in that light; this time is allowing me to evaluate the things and people of true importance. Whether it's what and who has impacted & changed my life here or whether it's the things I long for, the places I miss, or the arms I want so badly to be in state-side. I don't think I'll ever decide which life or home or experience I love more, impacted me more, or I miss more. But if it were not for this tear in my heart and moment in my life, I may have never recognized the importance and blessing of what God has truly given to me in this life...

What is THE thing God has done in you in your time in Bolivia?
B r o k e n  M e  D o w n   Psalm 51:17

What has been the best thing about your time in Bolivia?
My viewpoint change. Towards the world, the Christians  brothers, the lost, the hurting, the hurters, the mess-ups, the strugglers, US. Oh & the people I've met here :) Ups & downs!

What are you looking forward to the most about being back in the US?
Just simply being with my family. Not so much the culture, my friends, the activities, the food, the country itself... Simply the presence of true, untaintable LOVE of my family.

the bittersweet countdown.

23 days until I'm state side. Holy cow.
So I'm just stopping in to give anyone who still actually reads this bog..an update!
My last few weeks here will be filled with the children, the streets of Cochabamba which have become so dear to me, spending as much time with familiar faces, traveling a bit, and just soaking in a place I call home; Bolivia.

The bittersweet countdown has begun. The days I have left and the days until I'm home. I don't think I'll ever be able to put into words this clash of emotions. I guess I'm just going to live one day at a time. Trusting that God knows best, that He brought me here, He's bringing me home, and He will be with me every step of the way. Wherever I go.
Daily trust is now my focus...


Dear Lord,Thank you for bringing me to where I am today. Thank you for the experiences you have put in my life and every little detail that has led me to now. Give me the strength for tomorrow and take the worry from my heart. Teach me to trust in you every second, every step, every day. 

Faithfulness towards the Israelites!

So I've been addicted to the Old Testament for a while now. Recently I started taking a class that covers the whole Bible, as ONE book...starting with the Old Testament. The story of the children of Israel will never cease to amaze me. Especially when I realize that it is the perfect example of ME (all of us humans in general).
The story of God's faithfulness and blessings towards continually broken, sinful, and unfaithful people is so beautiful. The story of the Israelites is so emotional; heartbreaking, anger-stiring, encouraging, redeeming.
I have learned so much about myself by studying these people and learned so much about my relationship with Christ. The Savior.

I've learned that God is a jealous God. That He longs to be with the Israelites (Me). Him & them (I). Nothing else. No distractions. Though the Israelites (I) constantly get distracted, turn their backs on God, disregard His warnings & love, and completely mess up God never stops wanting to be intimately with them (Me)!!! How amazing to be so wanted and loved.

I've learned that the Israelites (I) are completely failed people. That is what makes the beauty of their relationship with God shine. God chose them (Me). Yucky, disgusting them (Me).

I've learned that God truly does want the best for the Israelites (Me). He wants to bless them (Me) and bring them (Me) back into a perfect relationship with Him. God is constantly reaching out for them (Me) regardless of their (My) lack of pursuit, their (My) lack of faithfulness HE IS FAITHFUL. His promises of blessing never, never fail.

I've learned that the Israelites (I) were never fulfilled in chasing after other things. The pursuit of false idols, the cry for a King, trust in a human leaders. They are never satisfied and are always left wanting more. As I am. Until they (I) have Jesus, who completes that desire in their (My) heart.

I've learned that two things are consistent in the story of the Israelites (Shelby); They (I) are constantly unfaithful and God is constantly faithful. They (I) are loved by a God and called to serve a God that will never cease to be faithful to them despite their (My) consistency to be unfaithful to Him.

I've learned that only in the Israelites' (My) weakest time can they find legitimate communion with God. Time and time again God must break down His people (Me) in order for them to understand His love towards them (Me). Because they (I) are so human and full of themselves (Myself) their eyes are blinded, distracted, and focused on themselves (Myself). God brings them (Me) to the end of themselves (myself) to show How dependable HE IS!


I challenge everyone to look into the stories of the children of Israel! They put your perspective of God in a whole new light and also your perspective of your walk with Him as well! :).

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! :)

If I don't give You glory..

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.Romans 11:36

This week I found myself a helper with my work up at The Center. Little Maria offered to sit with me and wash the dishes after 70+ kids devoured the afternoon snack. We looked out over the city and chatted about various things when I expressed how thankful I was for her help today. She simply said "I love helping others!". My first reaction was that this little lady has beautiful heart but then she continued. She told me she just loves finding ways to help others and when she grows up she wants to be a doctor or a teacher so she can help. She told me she thinks doctors have lots of money and then she can give it to all the poor people.

She can do great things, I can do great things, we can all do really great things. But those great things are nothing if the glory isn't going to God. This week a fire sparked in me...I want to reflect my Maker. I want to glorify Him. Because if the glory goes to me, what good does it do? Our lives are fleeting. When we try bringing the glory to ourselves we become ugly, we become prideful and distasteful. We were created to take glory & praise and give it back to whom it belongs. We are made to reflect His love, compassion, sacrifice and goodness. We are made so that He can shine through us and that our fallen human self might fade away in the light of His perfection.

This week I pray for myself and for little Maria.

I pray that I would glorify God in everything I do and always give Him all the praise. 

I pray that Maria would grow up clinging to Christ and long to give Him glory with everything her dreams entail.

I pray we would both be captivated by our Creator.