Missions Trip

So...i haven't updated in a little bit, but decided i wanted to write about the mission trip i went on. it started on Wed night after church service (about nine). Unfortunately, i wasn't able to get there till after work, about ten-ish. it was rather fun though, because i was able to talk with the girls. they all asked me how Aaron proposed to me, when the wedding is, and how we met, etc. it was rather adorable. oh...and i got a ton of "You look just like Drew Barrrymore!! She's sooo pretty!!" it made me laugh. i'd say we finally all got to sleep around eleven or so. i slept horrible that night because i was on the wonderful hard floor of the youthroom.

Thursday morning, we were all up by six-thirty, and eating breakfast. it's rather entertaining seeing jr/highschoolers that early in the morning. some of them were really *really* happy and awake....others were very very out of it. and we had one leader who....is very much a morning person. she greeted us with bright and cheery songs. it was rather fun. we had a debriefing of what we were going to do that day, which consisted of yard work for the neighborhoods. i had to work my regular shift that day, which meant twelve hours of waitressing. whee!

i came back that night late for the rest of the trip. friday morning went much the same way as thursday morning. waking up early, eating breakfast, assigning cars, and then driving down to San Juan Capistrano. we did a ton of yard work for a home for abused women. it was an amazing experience. they needed so much work done, and we really blessed them above and beyond than what they were expecting. it was interesting for me because i tweaked my right wrist (pinched something) and it wouldn't stop shaking, so i ended up wrapping/splinting it. it became a hard lesson for me, in that i had to let myself rest and not work as hard as i wanted. everyone was really kind and amazing about it, making sure i had jobs i could do, but not hurt my wrist. then we drove down to In N Out, got dinner. I got a brace for my wrist, and then we headed to the border. hehe...we got lost a couple of times, it was rather entertaining. friday night, we did a late-night taco run. it was so much fun! we then crashed that night, ready for some work in the morning.

On Saturday, we all hit breakfast around seven and heard our jobs for the day. I got put with the paint-mixing crew, which was a lot of fun. matching mystery colours into pretty ones for houses etc. it took us most of the morning until lunch. we had sandwiches and then got assigned new jobs before we went into town around three or so. before we went into town, we all had a couple hours of rest where a lot of us took showers etc. what was rather fun was the guys all picking on each other in the room, because us girls were sitting out in the foyer area and could just hear yells etc. it was fun. then Aaron grabbed one of the extra mattresses and tackled them with a mattress. after all of that, we went into town and shopped around the park area. an outdoor market full of senoras and senors, selling trinkets, etc. i had fun talking with them, and buying stuff. i got a really cute red dress, a bracelet, and a hair thing. after that, we drove back from the border. it was all in all, a great weekend. though we were all very worn out.

i think the most God taught me over that time was to rely on others, and not try to work myself so hard that i would be worn out. it was an interesting lesson to learn that i've been taught before, usually in ministry stuff. i think it's the mary vs martha lesson. i had a lot of time to think, pray, and just meditate on God, relationships, and all that. it was over all, a very good experience.

An Easter Poem

Forgiveness

“Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
My Master’s voice was soft
And loving.

“Yes, Lord,” I replied,
“You know I do.”

“Tend My lambs.”

My mind strayed back several days,
And my heart broke.
I took a deep breath,
Calming my thoughts.

We walked a little more,
He and I—
I remembered when He called me—
Called me—to be one of His own.

“Simon, son of John,”
He turned to me,
“Do you love Me?”

“Yes Lord,” I said again,
“You know that I do.”

“Shepherd My sheep.”

I was surprised
But not.
He had said He would
Build His church on me.
Me, a simple fisherman.

My Master turned His deep eyes
On me, “Simon, son of John,
Do you love me?”

I stopped—three times.
He asked me three times
If I loved Him.
My heart clenched
And I felt tears filling my eyes.

I had betrayed my Master,
My Saviour—the Christ.
I had betrayed Him
Three times.

My heart broke and the tears flowed.
Brokenly, my voice barely above a whisper,
I answered, “Lord, You know I do.”

I turned away, shame filling me.
How could He still love me?
After all I did, after swearing not to…
How could He still love me?

His hand grasped my shoulder,
And I met His eyes—
Oh those love-filled eyes—
“Tend My sheep.” He told me,
His voice full of love and forgiveness.

I straightened, a weight lifted from my shoulders.
He forgave me—me, a sinful man.
I betrayed Him and yet…
He forgave me.

He smiled that well-known smile
And we walked along the beach,
My step firmer, my heart lighter.
He had forgiven me!

Perelandra, Part One

So...I've been reading Lewis' Perelandra, and I've decided to do a series (ish) of blogs on interesting/relevant quotations from it...putting it in my own words, thoughts, and explaining why I think they are relevant etc. I'm not sure if this will be interesting to anyone, but it will be helpful and fun for me to do. Although, they will be scattered a bit....I won't be doing them all in a row or something. I'll be doing it from various quotations as I see fit. So...without further ado.

One joy was expected and another is given...you could refuse the real good; you could make the real fruit taste insipid by thinking of the other" (page 69).

This is what Tolkien called "the sin of the Elves". It is holding onto something too long, specifically, holding onto something good that is old and something you are used to, and resisting against change.

It is an idea of resisting something good that God might have for you because you are holding onto the old good that God had given you or blessed you with. A common term used in churches is 'taking out of the comfort zone'.

An interesting question....is the thing that is good still good if you hold onto it for so long that God can no longer use you? If you refuse to accept a new good from God because you still long and hold onto the old good, is it still a good? Or is it being selfish?


It is an odd one...to how strongly people hate change....specifically when one has been used to it for a long amount of time. (And I'll admit, I'm the same way.) Except when one clings so hard to the things that God has already given you, you miss out on the new blessings and goods that God wants to give you.

Well...that's all I have time for...the next few blogs will be a lot longer than this one. Most likely.

UTM

Trust

Well... God has been teaching me alot about trust lately. It's been a really good experience. I can't really describe how much I've grown since the beginning of the year. But it definitely has all been good if a bit hard at times. God has taught me that ultimately, all that matters is Him. Not what people say or think. I know that seems like an old lesson, but it's one I keep having to get reminded of. It's interesting...I'm sure that it's one most people have. I seem to keep having it though.

I've learned that trust is more than just saying "Oh, of course I trust You. You're God." It's actually having to throw yourself into His arms, and trust He'll catch you, no matter what. Personally, it feels more like looking off the side of a cliff and believing that He'll catch you...and then fling yourself off into oblivion, knowing He'll catch you.

It's an interesting thing, going through life, fully trusting in God to take care of you. It gives one a bit of....lightness, I guess, to life. You tend to not worry as much about little things (and big things)...You know you're taken care of.