Day Twelve - Soak It Up

"I love you, O LORD, my strength." Ps. 18:1

I truly needed God's strength to get through this day and He absolutely provided! I was not feeling well when I woke up, but over the course of the day God held me in His hands and I gradually felt better. By dinnertime I had caught up on all of my schoolwork and even had enough energy to join the group at the beach, where the water was salty, warm and oh-so beautiful. God is so good!
I desire to take hold of every spare moment I can, reveling in Gods creation here while I am able. To appreciate all that God has blessed me with here and now... for there is just so much to be thankful for. I believe often we spend too much time looking backwards or looking to the future, missing out on all we could be basking in from Gods hand right now. I don't want to miss the path God has for me to walk this day, this moment. I want to soak it up.

"It is God who arms me with strength
   and makes my way perfect."  -Psalm 18:32

Day Eleven - Teacher

Great day with the kids today...they all completed their schoolwork quickly and I have to admit, it is a whole lot of fun watching little ones grasp the basic elements of phonics. I used to help a little with Liams reading when he was younger, just not this consistently. At first I only found myself becoming frustrated as we went along, but with time, God has really been teaching me patience as well as flexibility. (If youre reading along Mr. D, Ive learned MUCH about these two things!) Now I am just so grateful for all the time I've been able to teach these children, because it is so true- the teacher ends up being the one taught.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” -Matthew 19:14

Day Nine and Ten- Relaxing

Yesterday was our day to relax and be touristy! We rode a bus out to a local historical site and spent our day exploring, sight seeing, and just enjoying one another's complany. It was great. I learned so much just in interactions with the group and hearing their stories, let alone all of the history we soaked in from the area.

It really hit me yesterday how much I am going to miss being here. The people, this place, the learning, relationships, and the laughter..I've really become so attached. I do miss my family though, so I look forward to seeing them. But anyways, I'm sure I'll write more about that later...I still have five more days!

Today is another day of rest...we spent most of the morning at the beach in the gorgeous, hot sun. We also went tubing, which was such a thrill on the ocean! The little man who drove the boat has been driving past for days now asking if any of the kids wanted to ride, and seemed pretty excited when we said yes today. I liked him alot:) Our ride brought back loads of memories from lifeguarding last summer. Checking everyone's lifejackets, helping kids on the tube, then the spray of the water, the laughter all around..it was wonderful. 

Then tonight we held a time of praise and worship on the beach as we watched the sun go down. It was so special...the beauty of fellowship amidst so many different cultures, gathered in One Mighty Name. I want to hold onto that memory forever.

"From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same, may the Name of the LORD be praised!"

Day Eight - Living Water

"Just as water ever seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds the creature abased and empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless." -Andrew Murray

I found this quote today and became so excited because I feel as if it describes exactly the path my journey here has taken. I was empty, so empty the night Mrs. Kathy brought the opportunity to come here to my attention. I was broken down, knocked to my knees again.  But just as the oceans tide flows to the lowest point, so God's Living Water will flow into the place that the rest of the world seems to overlook and pass by. And He did! He is still in the process of healing, but He truly has filled me to the brim with His blessings and joy.
God loves to fill those who are lowly and broken down, because so often it takes us getting to that point of emptiness to truly look upwards to be filled.

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it was that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'" -John 4:10

Day Seven- Suprises

"When God starts to move, the best we can hope to do is go along for the ride."
                                                              -'The Heavenly Man', by Paul Hattaway

I am learning so much from the people here. Learning how to study, to share in abundance. Learning how to serve, how to eat well, how to be thankful...how to love. It seems every corner I turn, I am met with another experience or interaction that alters the way I look at this world. Every hour I am realizing in greater detail how very much I don't know. Every conversation I have humbles my heart as I look around at a group of individuals so human and yet so utterly full of love and passion. I doubt I will return to the States anything but changed.

This place has stolen my heart. Correction- God has stolen my heart again. I did not ask for this trip, these blessings of this love, nor do I deserve any of it. It is as if He has been eagerly planning and awaiting the time to surprise me, knowing all along the delight it would bring. Fully aware of the timing and the details of all I would encounter here to change me. Jesus, lover of my soul:)
I love surprises. And His are the best of all.

 "I will praise you forever for what you have done;
   in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
   I will praise you in the presence of your saints." -Ps. 52:9

Day Six- Durian Fruit



I really wanna get to bed quick so this will be short tonight!

I was able to snap a picture of the monkey today:) Hopefully you can spot him below. For dinner nearly everyone walked down the road a ways to a fresh market which was delish. So much fried food, but also loads of fresh fruit and veggies which was great. I tried my first durian fruit there, and can now respectfully decline any future offers to taste it again....

Durian Fruit

Anyways, I'm heading to sleep everyone. Goodnight, or I suppose it's goodmorning:)

Day Five- Sunshine

:) I am happy tonight. God blessed me with so much fun today! The morning went great with the children..I am really growing to love them more and more.. and in the afternoon after classes we all headed down to the beach again to play. The water is SO warm! I couldn't believe I was in an ocean-the water is at least 85 degrees.
One of the students and I began playing frisbee amidst the huge crowd in the water and it wasn't long before twenty or so boys from the large group wanted to join in and play too. They all had such a spirit of joy and laidback fun it was hard not to smile. Being able to laugh and enjoy a game together despite only being able to speak a few broken phrases back and forth was a new experience for me. We even helped to teach a few of them how to toss the frisbee as we went along, since the locals were no good at all. :) Much better when it comes to soccer and football.

I miss home alot, and hugs before bed, but I seem to have collected a bucketful of siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents. I'm tired now and then, but its incredible how God has been uplifting and rejuvinating my spirit. God is so good, so mighty, and so worthy of our all. And when the day is done, no matter where I am, He is the reason for this smile on my face.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." -James 1:17