Finished

I get it now.

I get why people wake up at the crack of dawn to run marathons.I guess you can say that I've never thought of running a marathon before. I still don't have the desire, but as I ran this year's Bolder Boulder (and praise the Lord for no wind!), I will say I understand the intrigue. But this must also be balanced with the pain. Oh the faces of those that I had passed who had stopped to walked. They looked miserable. And I'm sure I probably looked the worst at mile 3 (my most poorly paced of the miles. To my defense it was an uphill climb).

And I had read about a guy who had completed a 100 mile race, how his toes had turned black and how he lost two toe nails. That kind of thing made me vomit a little on the inside.

Oh, and don't forget the guy on the stretcher.But then there is this thing called endorphins. Almost everyone coming out of the race is smiling. We made it, and we made it together.

That was the intrigue--the sense of community felt for a very individual sport. There was nothing cooler than the bugle call to start us off. There were the runners dressed up: a gorilla chasing a banana, a pacman being chased by a ghost, the girls in tutus, the green spandex guy, the teenage mutant ninja turtles, the dinosaur... Throughout the race, there were the folks cheering us on, offering yummy treats like gatorade, marshmallows, and Kendra's favorite: Bacon.

There we were, all sitting together and enjoying our after-run snacks in the CU stadium. We got to watch even more, the 50,000+ runners, finishing the race. Hebrews 12:1 comes to mind.

(Our fan club Lexi and Reyna who came to support us. Talk about dedication!!!)

I'm just saying I get it. Running long distances isn't easy for me because I grew up as a sprinter. That makes me pretty slow, but I'm simply thankful for finishing the race without quitting. I'm also encouraged to be better at encouraging my fellow teammates (metaphorically speaking) with the long journeys ahead of them. And um.. I love the free snacks at the end of the race!

Spring cleaning leads to a find

That was probably my most journalistic title. Speaking of journalism, I would like to include this picture:Meet Michael. Throughout my time in Colorado, I have been encouraging him to go to Northwestern. He is valedictorian (one of 18 at RV), highly involved in newspaper, and is just downright funny. He has a fantastic brother in the junior high group, and I work with his dad who signs my checks. Any way, Michael chose Indiana. There is a happy picture of us which I labeled "He is forgiven." This one is entitled, "But we will forever be rivals."

I just include this tidbit of information because while procrastinating from cleaning my room, I noticed that he put this picture as his profile, and it made me laugh out loud.

What I actually intend on writing about, is a cool find from my three months in Nevada, soon after I had turned 20.

I am here as a missionary. I have travelled for three weeks now learning about the culture in Nevada--the culture of slot machines in every nook and cranny, how very few adults are actually from the state, and I am fascinated by the sight of mountains everywhere I turn. Then I remember:

I am here as a missionary.

When I first came, I was reading and re-reading 1 and 2 Peter. These short letters were written to the persecuted Christians. They were to encourage Christians of the time to persevere in doing good. That it was much better to be persecuted for doing what God has called them to do than to be persecuted for doing wrong.

• Slaves were asked to continue in full submission to their masters, to "live as servants of God."
• Wives in the same way were asked to be submissive to their husbands, who in turn were to be considerate to their wives

These comments, as well as an overall command to love deeply, were meant for our faith. That it may be proved genuine for the glory of God.

But what struck me most was within the first description of those to whom the first letter is addressed. Peter writes, "To God's elect, strangers in the world."

I would read this line over and over and think of my responsibility here as a missionary. I certainly match the description of a stranger. As a child of the sweat tea drinking, non-slot machine, flatlands, south, I am definitely in foreign territory!

The verse that struck me even more was 1 Peter 1:17

"Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear."

Then I thought back to a time where I witnessed to a man in a mall. He worked at a wig kiosk, and I had just felt I should talk about Jesus to him. Sure enough, then and there, he prayed to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior!

The most intriguing part of this experience was it occurred in my hometown, at a mall I shop at somewhat frequently.

Was I a stranger then?

Yes.

Because what makes me a stranger both at my home state and here in Nevada is the fact that I have a Father in heaven watching what I do. He is an impartial judge, and I am here for His glory, not mine.

Even though I know it's not easy living as a stranger when I'm at home, this is to be my call as well as the call for all of you. We are never to get too comfortable in this world, because we are in it and not of it, because we are not here to impress the people. We are here for our Father's sake alone.

We too are missionaries. Here and now, strangers in our homeland.

Holy Smokes

A bunch of teenagers have officially graduated. Goosebumps, people, goosebumps.

As well as remembering sitting with J.T. Lopez and making sarcastic jokes back in 2004.

Also--somehow got placed in a qualifying wave for the Bolder Boulder. I'm going to die.

Before you consider youth ministry..

Let this be a warning:

Last week, I scheduled a zoo date with two students for when they got out of school today. On Sunday, J was still able to come, I just needed to check with S. I call S and she says yes..

"Oh wait, I forgot that I'm doing such-and-such."

When I ask her when she's done with that, she says 3pm. Okay, we'll go after.

Also this past Sunday, M wanted to hang out. She said she could only hang out Thursday after school. Perfect, she could join me, J and S. She said I should check if Jo could come. So I call.

No response. I double check (as should always be done I've learned) with J and S one more time about today. Yes, they said. They're still in.

This morning.. before I normally wake up, let's just say that.. Jo says, yes, she can join us for at least a lunch.

Back up. We notice that the zoo closes at 6. Would it be in our best interest to pay X and only be able to stay for 1.5 hours (if you subtract travel time to and from zoo)? Answer: no. We'll just hang out any way, and try the zoo next week.

As I'm driving to pick up M for a lunch before leaving, I get a text from J--sorry, it's her brother's birthday, she can't hang out after all. M texts soon after, "Oh! I forgot I have to get my passport today."

Hmm..

Jo can hang out for a little bit, but has to leave in an hour. That's fine. We'll go to Wendy's. Oops, we both drive to the wrong Wendy's. Which shortens our time together. Sad.

I get ready to pick up S at 3:3o (new time), but then get a text at 3:15. She has practice tonight so she doesn't think she'll be able to hang out after all.

Wait.. if we were to go to the zoo, had S factored in practice at all? Confusion.

The warning is that if you can't deal with flexibility, you can't deal with teenagers (much less most college students). Admittedly, it does get frustrating when you have a limited time. I'm honestly a little frustrated knowing how soon I'm leaving. If there were still six months left, I'd say, typical. Any way, consider yourself warned :P

Surrender

For two weeks, this has been brewing in my head. When everything happened, it just kind of amazing to me, and I didn't have the words. I probably still don't have the words, but I shall try.

In the simplest of terms, I'm ready to go.

I just finished reading Acts and was talking to Pastor Victor some more about Argentina. He gave wise words of counsel for when I get there, and also offered his (and his wife's and his friend's) home in Bolivia to me, whenever I needed a break. He suggested reading Nehemiah now, as a way to think and pray through the forms of opposition that were/are headed my way.

I recalled how IVN came to 4C's building the week after I was accepted to go. I thought how perfect God's timing in giving me a place to practice hearing, speaking(?), and singing Spanish. Who knew that it would also be a place I'd meet great people like Raul, Marina and Eusebio, to name a few, as well.

Along the same lines, I recalled how I was telling a friend I hadn't talked to in awhile about how I was hoping to go to Argentina, but was waiting to hear back sometime that week. However, he spoke of how crazy I was to choose Argentina after having studied Russian and Hindi. I tried to explain that those places aren't off my list, but that they weren't where I was going now. (I chose to hold back that Lebanon was choice number two--long story). I was confused and even saddened at the discouragement from that conversation, and even started to think over my decision.

I came to a point in prayer with God that said, "You know what? It's okay. If you don't want me to go there, you can take it away."

I only want to go where He wants me, after all.

An hour after that telegraph prayer, as I'll call it, Matt called to say the Argentinian team accepted me. And now within only 3 months, I'm within a couple thousand dollars of being fully supported.

I'm no Nehemiah (just as I'm no Paul!), but I am like them in that I'm just another person that God, for some crazy reason, just loves. I still hold loosely to my travels (to all plans, really), because He could still have me somewhere else. He knows best, and is worthy of the trust. (Insert more journey talk, haha)

The second thing to startle me was the fact that I decided to listen to Francis Chan. I was introduced to his podcast not too long ago, but had been listening to others at the time. I saw a sermon labeled "Surrender," and thought I'd take a gander. The sermon encompassed the call on Francis and his family's life to leave the church to work abroad for a little bit, before serving (most likely) in L.A.

Whoa.

I got goosebumps listening to his wife talk about the unity in their decision. Not that they'd ever pictured going where they're going, or even starting the church to whom they spoke in that moment. It doesn't always make sense. Ahem, it hardly makes sense.

I kept thinking, "Why did I pick this sermon, at this time?"

Some may struggle with God being that personal. For me, I think it's that I've been leaning very hard into Him especially over the last year or so (still with my many failures), that it makes believing He'd speak to me specifically, and you'll have to hear the sermon for yourself probably, seem realistic.

Thinking again of Acts, I love the couple verses I'd never noticed before. They mention how the Lord met with Paul to tell him (sorta) what was happening next. I'll just include them:
Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'

(Acts 22:21 and 23:11)

How beautiful, no? The Lord stood near. The Lord says to take courage. Through all that Paul goes through, the Lord never leaves him. If that doesn't give you a breath of fresh air, I don't know what to say.

What's also encouraging is the other testing involved in this time of transition. Talking with elders and others who I believe are trying to make sure that I'm going the right direction, has encouraged me. They care about me, and they do not want me to be rash. It is similar to Francis Chan's family discussing the move with loads of people before making a decision. I guess it's helpful to know that a plethora of folks are behind me, standing guard in prayer.

Does this even make sense to you? I dunno. But it has blown me away, among many other things as of late, and I want to hold on to this knowledge for the future. I want to remember what this is like, and I want to press on. That is all.

Highlights of the day

(Above: what I looked like at 24. For future reference.)

Phone calls from nearest and dearest (family, great friends). Dinner with the Nelsons, Sonnenbergs, Kendra, Randy, Justin and Jess. Over a hundred birthday wishes on Facebook.

Oh, and I just straight up love hanging out with Noah. He is most definitely the little brother I never knew I wanted. He even helped me peel the lovely post it notes from my car. The image of him chasing a few that got away down the street still cracks me up.

Running all the way from Alkire to Wadsworth, and halfway back. Did a few more sprints, but the wind was killer.

Saying goodbye to my guitar as sold to a really cool elderly guy. He said he wanted to start learning how to play, and that he would be praying for my travels.

Chilling at Barnes and Noble just to read and enjoy jazz music, as performed by Standley Lake High School's band.

Watching 24. Keehee to the irony. Not knowing what was really going on, but now I can say I've seen the grand finale.

Finishing East of Eden?? Still deciding..

Tomorrow? Olive Garden with some more church friends!!

Early birthday present

Huge smiles. :D

Why I liked Robin Hood

1. The previews. Matt Damon has been coming up a lot lately, and I hushed the group as soon as I heard his voice for the preview of The Adjustment Bureau. I'm a little sad that it's scheduled to come out after I've left the states, but I'll live.
2. "Well played."
3. Thinking of Kathryn after seeing the messenger pigeon. Texting her, and her responding to say she thought the same thing.
4. Hearing the Gladiator soundtrack.
5. Normandy?
6. The end credits. No seriously, the art for that part was fantastic.

Sorry, but not the best Ridley Scott film I've seen, and honestly I'm only typing so I can upload a new video. Goodnight.

"He also made me fast"

Eric Liddell has been on my mind probably since I popped in Chariots of Fire back in early April. I started running again because I was inspired by the movie. The day I started back up, Kendra invited me to run the Bolder Boulder with her, and I realized how much I had wanted to run that last year, but was out of town. Perfect.

And not too long ago, during a Bible reading time, we were talking about finishing the race. I asked the students, "Why do I run?" After a short discussion we figured upon two main reasons.

1. I run because I love it.
2. I run to win.

Let's be honest, if there wasn't a prize, I'd be less motivated. Even when I talked to a friend from IVN about getting back into running, he stopped to think about whether he would run the Bolder Boulder too. "No, I don't have enough time."

"But you just said you ran for 40 min straight."

"Yeah, but I want to win."

Even though there was a hint of showing off involved in that, I thought it made sense. While personally, I just want to finish this one (I've hardly had enough time to run 6.2 miles fast), it would be neat to win. I can't say I haven't had daydreams about it.

But the purpose of the brief discussion of why we run paralleled a bigger issue: Why do we live? I had recently given a talk about why we live if there was no heaven. I was trying to show that Christianity wasn't JUST about the end goal, but about doing something with our lives right now. The more that I think about it, the more I understand it to be a combination of the two. Jesus, throughout the Sermon on the Mount, gives plenty of mention about reward after all.

Not that we do anything to really earn the reward. Christ in us helps us to live as we should.

I clarify that (though admittedly, poorly), thinking of a character in East of Eden. He's a priest, and he sounds downright self-righteous. What was it he said? "Think how [the Lord Jesus] insisted that we preach the Gospel, help the sick and poor, even lower ourselves into filth to raise sinners from the slime.."

I dunno. Maybe it's that I feel like the priest is suggesting he has rid himself of all the filth of sin. Every time I read the Scriptures, I am reminded of my own wretchedness, my own need of grace. I have to ask, how could anyone be sinless within this world? (Apart from Jesus, that is.)

But that's a sidetrack. Another one was last night at the soccer game. I sat with Mr. Crawford who also happened to bring up Chariots of Fire. He said that whenever he watched his son play, he felt God's pleasure. It is a joy to watch Scott play soccer (to understand how good Scott is, let's just say the other goalie at one time screamed, "Don't let him shoot!!"), just as it is a joy to watch his daughter Kelsey dance. I thought that was way cool of a father to say.

What am I getting at? My joy in life comes from serving students, but He also made me enjoy other things like the saxophone, running, writing, etc. etc. I choose to live for Him in all these things.

2 Timothy 2:2

I was a little bummed to find out one of the students couldn't make it to a Bible reading time today. Nevertheless, I always love reading with Rachel, and was grateful for some much needed one-on-one time with her as my time here is nearing an end.

On that note, we got to talk about what the study will look like after I leave. I asked her about what she sees me do when we spend these times together. It made me smile when she said that I don't let her off the hook with the tough parts of the Bible. I hope that's always true; I hope I'm making people think more than just giving them candy coated answers, or even just quickly responding with an answer. It's often best to give someone time to figure things out for themselves. She had some other comments and all I could think was, "God, You are so great!"

We talked about the structure of our time, and how it's really pretty fluid.

"I like how you got to know me first, and saw where I was before we just dove into things," she said.

I write this out mainly as a reminder to me. I know there are times when I assume too much--there are plenty of times where I ignore the person. It's true that in relationships we need to build trust first before we can speak into each others' lives. I keep reading in Proverbs about well-timed rebukes and corrections, after all.

We also spent some time talking about the goals of meeting together. I had a couple of big ones, at least for me. I wanted her to fall in love with the Bible by understanding its deeply connected history, and by seeing the fruit from reading it on a consistent basis. Not because the Bible is anything special, but because our loving God makes it special. I also desired for the title of this post to come true. That our reading together wouldn't end with my leaving, but that she could continue reading with others. That they would learn together.

Oh how wonderful it was to discuss these things, and to know whatever happens, I can trust God with it all.

We spent a little bit of time reading the end of Matthew. Both of us talked about how engrossed in the story we were. "Everything is so dramatic!" Rachel mentioned.

It's true. It's a beautiful story, and it's quite amazing to see Jesus pray the prayer (thrice!) for the cup to be taken from Him. I immediately think of the verse in Hebrews that talks about the great high priest who can sympathize with our every weakness.

To make a strange turn, but hopefully still connect, I'm nearing the end of East of Eden. You see, I enjoy it so much, I don't want to finish it, because I want it to keep going. I haven't felt this way for awhile except for two other (non-Bible) books: The Count of Monte Cristo and Jane Eyre. That's when you know something is worth reading--when you don't want it to end. (Or do I simply have the Hansen syndrome? hehe)

And that's what makes the Bible even more amazing. This is our (Rachel's and my) second time to read through Matthew in our two years of reading the Word together. We both talked about how we'll even read it again and get something else out of it. It truly is living and active!

Ahh! I have so much to say, but perhaps I should make a whole other post out of it. This is good enough for now. I'm just so thankful.

Yampa

Last weekend, Kendra and I had a last hurrah. We spent a day and a half at her grandparents house in Yampa, Colorado. If you ask, "Where is that?" I would say, "Exactly."

On the way to, we stopped at this random place entitled "Spontaneous moment for art." Or something to that effect. It was more funny than cool. But we made the most of it any way.
When we arrived, it was beautifully simple. Here is grandpa staring out the window watching the "exciting" tractors go by as they make a road. At the same time, I enjoyed looking out the window as the weather literally changed every hour or so. Example:

8:15am Wake up thinking, "Yeah I'm going fourwheelin today!"
8:17am Look out the window. Thick flakes of snow flying down. Nevermind..
10:30am It's sunny again! Can we go? Can we go?
10:32am "It's too muddy." All the snow had melted..
11:15am Snow again.
11:45am Snow melted again.
More importantly, I got to shoot a gun. Another should-have-been-Texas experience. It was only a .22, but I was still proud of my second attempt seen below. And it's true that I should have shot left-handed, but that bench you see above, didn't have a seat for lefties. This truly is a right dominated country. Sigh.
Below is the path Kendra and I took on the four wheelers. I had a blast driving through puddles, and we also got to see this large hawk pretty close up before it flew away. Other than still being pretty cold, we laughed and laughed..
Other events of the weekend include playing Turkey Tracks and losing miserably, enjoying a dinner with a youth intern from Germany, and enjoying other pieces of small town life. Perhaps my favorite was the 100-year-old grocery store where, after you had gathered your groceries, you say, "Just put it on my tab." Sweet!

Honestly, I was thinking that their house (with its low ceilings) would be a perfect retreat center. It's so peaceful and simple, and better yet, no internet!!! :D

Hmm

I wonder if playing the saxophone for Iglesia Vida Nueva is a small glimpse into my future? It was a lot of fun, and it makes me look forward even more to battle of the bands this weekend (Streetlight's song A Better Place, A Better Time is wildly fun!). Any way, just my few thoughts before calling it a night with the Trask and Hamilton families.

Oh, and wow God! An all-around amazing weekend (pictures to come). I especially liked this last part of talking with Crawford and Marie. "For such a time as this," has been feeling so close to home lately!

I am blind

There's this great song by a local artist. The lyrics go:
I am blind
I am blind,
to Your sunshine..

What's funny is I really don't remember the rest of the lyrics. But these are enough. When I went for my run this morning I just kept singing them in my head thinking, 'God, open my eyes.'

When I came back from the run I realized I had run the full 10k. I'm ready. It's weird. It's too early, right?

Then I came inside and Noah was making a lunch for me. He joked saying, "It's intern appreciation day!" But really he was just doing it out of the kindness in his heart. He made me a bagel with cheese and tuna, a side of cottage cheese, and some vanilla chai. How much I felt brotherly love in that moment!

Entonces, I went to work and checked my mail. The letter I had written to myself a few months ago came in. Before I could open the letter though, I had written Luke 5:1-11 on the envelope flap. So I read.

I remembered how much I am a sinner before Christ, and yet He has forgiven and chosen me. I took a deep breath as I then read the contents of the letter:

Remember God is in control. Remember it's okay to cry. Remember that the God of the universe created you for such a time as this. Whether you're in Argentina in 3 months or whether you're staying Colorado--He knows what He's doing with you. You are no accident, and every detail of your being has purpose. He takes pleasure in you; He delights and sings over you. You are His precious daughter.

You've never had to remind yourself of these things before, but as you write you are hoping it's because the Holy Spirit is moving you. At the same time you recognize that even if these words do not elicit an emotional response, at least these words are true. HOLD ON TO TRUTH. Love, Sharayah.

On the reverse it said: "Where in the world are you going? May the answer always be that you are headed straight for Jesus!"

Praise God for opening my eyes!

Gidget

This is the last week of programming at church. I find it funny that we planned a luau themed party for the final Fusion, and it snowed in the evening. I'm so glad I wore jeans instead of my shorts and swimsuit as originally planned. But don't worry, I was still decked out in my Hawaiian shirt from seventh grade, as well as my kukui nut lei. It was intriguing all the adults who made sure I knew from what my lei was made. How could I forget? When you eat kukui, you go poo-poo-ey, after all. Ha. I'm still in middle school in my head.

As I researched some ideas for the party, I thought it would be cool to have a Hawaiian themed movie play in the background while we listened to Jack Johnson. I'm all about ambience. And since the Rick and Anita movie featuring Cap'n Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters doesn't actually exist (sad face), I had to settle for either Blue Hawaii or Gidget. Gidget won in the end because that's what the library could put on hold for me fastest (still waiting for Elvis!).

Here's a reminder lesson. Always, always screen your movies before you show them to kids. Granted, I didn't have the sound on, as it was just a background thing, but still. I forgot about the character dubbed Loverboy. And as I watched it later in the evening, I kept thinking SCANDALOUS!!!

Nonetheless, as I was exhausted post-Fusion, too tired to study Spanish, too tired to read, I did something silly. I watched the entire Gidget trilogy. Initial reactions (other than scandal):

• Ah! It would be so fun to learn how to surf!
• Hello James Darren!
• I have a new vocabulary word: portmanteau. (Thinking of Jill)
• Why can't we have swimsuits like hers these days?
• It's hilarious that it's a different Gidg every time, but the love interest is the same.
• I think I found the inspiration to all of the Olson twin movies..

Any who, I shouldn't have stayed up that late. I'm such a girl. And only a foot past 4'3''. Does that make me? haha. Just playin.

Because of all the late 1950s scandal (even suicide is mentioned! gasp!), I found myself chuckling multiple times. I know I wouldn't show it to my students (EVER), but I'm definitely tempted to see what some of my friends think!

Non-stop one hour

Uphill + major wind. I was chanting, "Death, death, death.." with each step.

Which made me laugh and then keep going. New prayer request: Bolder Boulder 2010K has no wind.

Another good chant whilst hitting the wall: "And if our God is for us? Then who can ever stop us?" It really works!!

Sufjan Season

I don't want to be too quick to say it's springtime here. I mean, it snowed yesterday. I think it snowed on Monday too. But May? Snow? I'm afraid to put those two words in the same sentence. As long as it's pretty in a couple weeks (or even next weekend!!), I'm happy. Hmm.. it will be weird to associate autumn with May. It's coming though!

Okay. So Sufjan Stevens. I popped in the Garden State/Sufjan mix that I made from Janna's playlist a few years ago. It continues to be the best driving music there is. Hands down (haha.. Dashboard sneaks in suddenly, but no. I stick to my guns!). Seriously:

Chicago.
Casimir Pulaski Day.
Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois.
The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!

Yes, I have a predilection to a specific selection of his songs. Perhaps because I really like Chi-town. As I was thinking about it today I also realized first hearing about him.

"There's this song, called John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," Tim told me.

We were lying on the tile floor. Knees bent. Almost like we were about to do sit ups in any moment. Tim was the kind of guy that would have done them, to show off. But we were just waiting to be set free.

It was during a game of Capture the Flag in Tech. I played all but two of the quarters of my time at Northwestern. Both of us had gotten caught, and since the jail was in a secluded and easily protected location (I want to say A wing on the first floor), there was little chance of us continuing the game. So we sat and talked loudly because we didn't care. And he introduced me to new music; I'm sure he's still listening to different music.

I later read a short synopsis on John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Disturbing story. It is matched by disturbing, but convicting lyrics by Stevens. I've used the song for a sermon in reference to our sinfulness before, and in general love all of the none-so-subtle messages in Stevens' songs.

Thus, it is Sufjan time. Add an amazing sunset over the Rockies, and I could drive forever.

Ramblin'

Ok. I didn't want to do this, but..

..and I know nothing is going to come of it..

it's just..

when someone prays in Spanish..

he calls to make sure I'm coming..

knows it's me even though I'm a good distance away..

gets water for me when I didn't ask for it..

walks me to my car..

I just can't help but have my heart melt a little bit.

I'll call it a glimpse, and I'll just be thankful. Someday.. someday..

Today I ran 5.25 miles. Not bad after only training for a few weeks. Met with Allison. Stefan was there too. Enjoyed Christy's graduation party (cake!). Hung out with my friend. Watched a little baseball, played a little Rummikub. Contemplating whether I run the 5k tomorrow..

And a student sent me a graduation card. Say it with me, "Awww.." The end is near and I'm both very happy and very sad. Vicky was right when she said I'd be missing my students. Missing them even feels like an understatement. But it is time to go..

I'm reading Acts right now, so it's reminding me of how much Paul was on the move. I'm no Paul (not even by a long shot!), but I'm continuing to see my inability to call a place home. God is my dwelling place.

Also had a good conversation with Him today. I'm constantly finding myself broken, and somehow He keeps taking me in. I love Him. I don't always show this very well, and I keep seeing ways that I take Him for granted. Trying to play the faith card.. He always catches my bluff, and I'm glad I can't get away with it. No matter how stubborn I am a lot of the times.

Sharing is caring

And the best gift is presence.

Both lines are stolen, but they happen to be what I've been thinking about lately. I'll keep it simple because I need to study Spanish tonight, and I have a really great book to continue. Oh right. I'm also meeting with a former student at 8:30am, a time I don't often see in my line of work :P

Basically, the reason a lot of our friendships get into ruts is because we're not willing to share. Time is the main thing, but gas money is another that I think of. As well as experiences. To revive the mantra from an earlier blog (or two), make the circle bigger.

Secondly, I don't have a lot. But if I show up to stuff, a person feels more appreciated. When people join me in the things I like to do, I also feel loved.

That is all. To keep up with the cliches, short and sweet.

Sundays are a triple threat

Here's some thoughts for ya:

A coincidence occurs when God chooses to be anonymous.

If over the course of our free will, we freely choose to become a certain person, then the choices we make are no longer a matter of freedom. They are chosen for us. (gulp)

God doesn't ask us to fully understand Him, He asks us to fully trust Him.

Really, we just want to believe in a God who will do stuff for us.

What do I mean by all of these? Sundays are jam-packed. I have GROW class in the morning where I get my fill of older adults pouring into my life (whether they realize it or not). Today we talked about spiritual healing when there are demonic forces at work. This is a tough pill to swallow, so I'll just recommend Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Aaaaand I'll also say that I sincerely believe in spiritual warfare. But perhaps details for that topic are for another day.

I do want to mention that Don Whipple stopped me in the hall after church today. This man is awesome--a WWII veteran who even recently went to a reunion at Iwo Jima. Yeah. He fought there. He was injured and escaped the hospital boat (headed back to America) to continue fighting. He continues to wear his purple heart. Don was also a fellow missionary last year. Both of us were presented to the church about this time last year. I was leaving for Russia, as he was leaving for Costa Rica. I had always found it so cool that we were commissioned on the same day. When people from the church would shake our hands after the service they would look to Don, 70/80ish years old, in amazement, then me, 22ish years old, in amazement (but maybe because they were thinking I was just a teenager, as did half of Russia).

He stopped me to thank me for my comments in class. To which I responded with awe, "No thank YOU! I always love what you have to say!!" Then he asked about Argentina. When I said I was going with Operation Mobilization he said, "Now that is a great outfit."

Oh Don. (to be said in the most Beaver Cleaver sort of way)

Insert brief (yet traditional) Sunday afternoon nap, followed by my time at IVN. And I tell you! Pastor Victor brought word!! From what I could comprehend of course. He was talking about Nehemiah, focusing on the second chapter about how Nehemiah had a plan for the rebuilding of the temple. He talked about the prayers of Nehemiah leading up to the point of telling the king his plans.

The application was that we need to be in prayer, but we also need to take action. He focused on our friends and family that need to know Jesus. He challenged our thinking by saying we can pray and pray for the salvation of our friends, but what if it is us that needs to tell them? And just as Nehemiah had a time in which he would finish rebuilding the wall, we need to challenge ourselves with a date by which we tell our friends. All was said in the most non-legalistic way. It was more a matter of that sharing the good news is the most loving thing we could do!

And then came a short skype call and dinner break. Noah, Alex and I played 2 truths and a lie over dinner which made me laugh. Any way..

Merge. Bebo Norman's song I will lift my eyes comes to mind. We were talking about prayer, primarily the prayers of David in the Psalms. I loved thinking about how raw, how emotionally rollercoaster-like his prayers are. Makes me feel a little more normal. Has a lot to do with being a very small creature in a friendship with a very big God, I think :)

The pastor also talked about Nebuchadnezzar's time of insanity (See Daniel 4:28-37). This part struck me most, because there are times when I'm so self-focused. I don't mean to call on God only when it's convenient, or when times are hard. But I do. The story was a reminder of how much I need to keep my eyes on things above, not on earthly things.

Sunday is a bit overwhelming. Nonetheless, I wouldn't change the routine while I'm here for the world.

Fun-filled evenings

Just wanted to briefly write down the few fun things I've gotten to do these past few days:

• play the saxophone with the IVN worship band.
• vacuum (pasar la aspiradora) for two hours (hace dos horas) for money for Argentina!
• watch Sherlock Holmes featuring Ironman, I mean Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law.
• play soccer till midnight with a bunch of the students.
• juggle lots and lots with several of the students.
• have dinner with the Sonnenberg grandparents.
• finish Proverbs.

I might have gotten a little cold from it all. And I definitely got a bruise from Ben kicking the ball at me. I didn't have shinguards.. Worth it. Now how to spend this Saturday? Hopefully the BodyWorlds exhibit is involved, as well as continuing East of Eden by John Steinbeck. So far so good!