Serenity

My first graders. More pictures to come.


Have you ever just felt like something was on your heart, but you didn't quite know what it is? I feel that way.. There's just something there but it's like I can't find the words for it.

Anyway. Let me update you on some things that have been going on.

God decided it'd be a great and humorous idea if not only I went to a jr/sr high retreat, but that I led a family group as well. Let me tell you, I changed my major to Early Childhood for a reason. My personality just doesn't go well with the "big kids." So when I heard I'd be helping with the retreat, I thought, "Okay, what's four days?" and when I got there and was told I'd be leading a family group with another person, I got a little leary. However, things went okay. If anything, the KIDS weren't opening up which was making it difficult. Luckily, I was with someone who works in student ministry at his church back in the States. I told him leading the discussions was all him and I'd chime in.. which is how it went. Our group started to open up more the last night, but it still wasn't much. The last night's session was really good though. God was apparent and it was clear. Not just that night, but all week. Keep these students in your prayers. A lot of them are going through a lot.. not just typical high school things, but things they shouldn't have to be faced with.

The speaker for the week was a friend of Craig's from Rainbow Christian Camp in Indiana. Joe, the speaker, his wife Melissa, and their adorable son Jake stayed with us while they were here. It was a house full, but it was a lot of fun. Having a baby around made me realize how much I DO NOT want kids for awhile :] Luckily that works out since there isn't even an other half to that equation around. They are great people though and I had a lot of fun getting to know them.

After the retreat, Craig, Joe, Melissa, and I (Linds stayed home with Jake) drove about 2hrs to the center of the island to Torre Negro. On our way there we stopped at a point where you could see both sides of the coast.. as in, I look North and there's the ocean, I turn around and look South and there's the ocean. Pretty stinkin cool if you ask me. It was cloudy and dreary outside so the pictures aren't the best. And speaking of pictures, my batteries died. I stole Joe's pictures and I need to get Craig's. Anyway. We hiked up the mountains to el Torre.. which is the tower. I've never hiked for the sake of seeing a tower, but again, pretty stinkin cool. On our way back, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall. I wish we would have had time to get in it. Craig says the waterfalls at El Yunke are better.. that's the rainforest. I can't wait to see more of this beautiful island.

On the way back from the retreat, driving past the ocean on the Beach Road, I thought, I've missed seeing this everyday. Then I got to thinking how I am half way through this already. HALF WAY. wow. It doesn't feel like I've been here almost a month already. I'm going to have a rough time when it comes time to leave. God has given me such a feeling of serenity, that if that was the only reason I was here, it would be okay. Words can't even begin to tell you how much I needed that... How much I longed for that. All the time... God is good.

Please continue to be praying. And why you're at it, through in the job hunting too. I have all the applications that I've been in the process of working on, sent out. I was praying about it yesterday and I just have this strong pull towards Knoxville. I really can't see myself leaving. I can't see myself saying goodbye to the relationships that have formed there. I know a lot of people are just, "Well, where I get a job is where I get a job!" And don't really care where it is.. But there is just this tug on my heart saying Knoxville. I know that God will provide.. But I don't know if that tug is for my own selfish reasons or if it means something. I don't want an opportunity in Knoxville to come up, and me just take it because it's Knoxville.. And I'm sure when the time comes and I go through interviews and the decisions are sought prayerfully, I'll know. But I just ask that you keep that in your prayers, please.

On this Friday.. On this weekend... I pray you not only remember what it's about, but that you live it daily, everyday. Don't make what He did not worth it.


Isaiah 53
1 Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?
2-6The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
on him, on him.

7-9He was beaten, he was tortured,
but he didn't say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered
and like a sheep being sheared,
he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked,
threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he'd never hurt a soul
or said one word that wasn't true.

10Still, it's what God had in mind all along,
to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

11-12Out of that terrible travail of soul,
he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
will make many "righteous ones,"
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—
the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,
because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.