Under His sky

These last few days have been reentry camp for the Youth In Mission (YIM) students who traveled this summer. They were in 20 different sites around the world. El Paso became their home base as they returned for 2 days of debriefing, story-telling, and sharing what God has done.

One of my jobs was to debrief some teams about their ministry. I also was supposed to record the stories of students as they shared in either small or large group settings.

Oh how God moves... It's absolutely amazing.

I talked with one team that described their site/country as the most beautiful screwed up mess they had ever seen. In the midst of the gorgeous landscape sat a people who were governed terribly. They were in a church where the missionaries left them basically alone to run the ministry. As they bitterly yet lovingly told their stories to me I couldn't help but think that that place was ripe for fresh ideas and for God's hand to move. Why I'm pulled toward discouraging situations, I have no idea... Maybe it's because I think the beauty of God moving in absolutely hopeless situations is unparalleled.

What a powerful God we serve.

In another session we had a group prayer sessions where the students led out in prayers as they felt they should. One girl started praying in such a powerful way that I had to write down her story. Through tears she remembered to God how her friends in Thailand were beginning to gather together to do exactly what we were doing - praising, thanking, worshipping our Maker. She thanked Him for our army of brothers and sisters throughout the world all tied together because of our worship of our Abba under His sky.

I think that's beautiful. We can care about the world for the simple fact that we all - not some - all live under our Maker's sky. That is why we should love others. We are all loved by One.

VBS

this week has been soooo good for my mood - VBS!!! :)

it's one of the first weeks that i've really been busy every day. who knew that i would be so excited to be busy...

we're using nazarene publishing house vbs curriculum - it's called Museum @ 12627. i'm telling the Bible stories and spending the rest of the night just hanging out with the kids. i love getting to know them. even though i've been working with a lot of them in Bordertown, i feel like this is the first time i'm really getting to know them because i'm seeing them more than just once a week. we've had consistently around 20 k-6th graders and just under 10 pre-k.

the first night we talked about creation and the fall - the kids paid attention so well. i've gotten used to how they are in Bordertown (aka CRAZY). they actually listened to me talk for more than 5 minutes!!! next we talked about the call of Abraham, Ruth, and last night was the story of Jesus. today is about Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

sometimes i forget how it feels to speak to kids. i get nervous as i prepare to speak. i'm afraid that i will get up there and be glued to my notes. i get afraid that the kids won't listen to me or not relate to what i'm trying to say.

but then i get up there and it just comes - i love being with kids. i love telling them stories. i love making them laugh and say, "wow!" as soon as i get up there all the nervousness just goes away like it never was.

these kids are amazing. i'm so so glad i'm here.

and you all who know me will be proud of me for taking pictures - enjoy them!!! :)

broken walls

so if anyone reads this blog, you'll notice that i changed the template... i'm a newbie blogger - i didn't even know there were free templates online!

anyway, this one is called broken walls. i love it. i think it's beautiful. and i love the name. broken walls.

that's how i want my life to be. i've spent a lot of time building up walls - but walls only serve to block out people that i love. especially God. i think that i block him with more walls than i block anyone.

i don't want walls in my life. this background reminds me that i'm a work in progress. the walls are being torn down but aren't destroyed yet. i'm not strong enough to take them down myself - i need Hands that are bigger than mine.
ones that have become rough from years of hard labor and work with wood.
ones that have beautiful scars because of Their love for me.
ones that hold me up when i can't stand alone.

those are the Hands that help me break my walls