Let's pacifically talk about wednesday...

On the wednesday that I was there we got to do two amazing things. 1. We got to put on performances/share the Gospel at a public school in El Salvador. We were told it was going to be around the ages of 12-16 year olds and we were assuming it was going to be pretty small. However, we were blown away by how many children there were. There were definitely kids younger than 12 and the number of kids were somewhere near 300. It went well and I got to do the Everything Lifehouse skit and meet some amazing kids. All of the kids were intent and listening to the message shared. It was a powerful moment. The second half of the day, we all took a trip and got to 2. go to the pacific ocean. The bus ride was long but it was fun. It involved bus ninja, weird faces, rock paper scissors, and lots of laughter. And then I got to experience wild waves and flying pebble/stones and black sand. We had adventures throwing sand at our team members like little children. The sand took forever to get out, but it was worth it. That day was pretty grand and even coming back and eating a late dinner and arm wrestling was pretty awesome too. Ministry wise, the day was kind of light. But it made a difference in the kid's lives and seeing their faces light up and listening. Not only that, but the school assistant director who was against us coming at first was smiling at the end of it and welcomed us back at anytime. It was a memorable day.

In a Midst of Suffering

The next day on my trip, we visited a really desolate village. It was full of children but children  living and only really knowing violence, and suffering, and despair. Children who were not taught to love. Women who may have never really been loved apart from Christ. Again, it reminded me how fortunate we are here in America. And it reminded me what a difference it can make to reach out to someone. Some souls have never experienced love and showing them what love is, is an unforgettable thing. It's life changing. And if you think about it, the only reason we can truly love is because of God. He is love and He demonstrated it first by loving us so much that He sent His own son to die for us and take on our sins that condemned us to eternal death and now gives us the gift of grace so that we may be scotch free from our condemning sins by simply accepting the gift of life Jesus gave us that day He died for us. Love captured me, and I want it to capture those who are living still without realizing they are loved. Without realizing the gift that has been given to them. That was mainly what I took away from that day. The importance of love and how fortunate the people are who have family members and friends who love them and taught them how to love. People around them who do not teach violence and hatred.

John 3:16;

"For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son to die so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Share it that "One More Time"

The second day of my journey I was taught the importance of sharing the Gospel that "one more time". I say one more time in quotation marks because I think we should always be sharing it that one more time. When people seem hardened and the answer seems so clearly a no and you feel like giving up, that one more time can make all the difference. I learned that. That day we went house to house evangelizing. My group talked to a house literally a minute away from where we were staying at. The head person in charge of the mission trip organization had known the family we talked to for a long, long time and they had been told the Gospel multiple times with no intention of accepting it each time it was shared to them. However, my group was the one more time group. We shared the gospel and the Dad broke down. He said that he had thought a lot about death considering the fact that he was growing older. He said he wanted to know where he was going after death and he wanted it to be Heaven. He wanted to choose life and he wanted his kids to do so as well. He wanted to accept Christ. I guess this just changed my heart as often times, I do get discouraged and give up on people around me who shrug off the message of Christ and say they don't want anything to do with Him. Sometimes, all it takes is one more time of sharing the Gospel to change a heart. Don't give up. As well as house to house evangelism, we also got to go to the town square and put on a presentation for the kids there and play with them and there were many kids who ended up recited a verse we taught them. It was also a neat experience. We got to bond with them and spread joy. Every time I recap my journey in my mind, I can't help but smile and feel homesick at the same time. I learned so much and I am hungry for more learning and to be with these people who I have met and loved. I really have never experienced this feeling before. But it is a good one. I like missing El Salvador because I'd prefer that over not having it be an experience and place to miss at all. 

It's definitely something I'll always treasure in my heart and I'm glad to talk and share about.

Hold Fast

So, here I am. 

Here I am to tell you of what I did on the first day of El Salvador.

The first day, we went to the streets of El Salvador sharing the Gospel.

I gave my testimony for the second time in my life.

I encountered hardened hearted people.

I talked to people who wanted and thirsted for the truth.

But the group of people who's words really stuck with me were a group of local Salvadorians who were preaching the Gospel as well and handing out tracks too.

They told us that they admired us and how they couldn't believe we left our homes back in the States to come to El Salvador and spread the Gospel.

I get what they were saying, but I couldn't help but think that they were the brave ones.

When talking, they said they came out every Sunday to share the Gospel.

You want to know how many times I go out and share the Gospel on a weekly basis in the States?

Well, let me tell you, I don't do it.

I may have done it on occasion with a group of people, or with people who talk about religion, but I do not go out of my way to spread the Gospel weekly.

And you know why I don't?

Because I'm afraid of weird looks, and judgement from peers and people I won't even see again.

But these people, these people live in a dangerous country.

Violence and death thrive in that country.

And yet, they go out every week.

Our missionary team preach/preached the Gospel there for as short as a week and as long as a month.

We don't have to live in that dangerous country.

But they do.

We can come and share knowing that those people we'll probably not see again as we aren't staying that long of a time.

Those people do though.

They will be seen, they will be recognized and they could be in great danger for doing what they do.

And they admire us.

The missionaries who came for a week or a month but are afraid of sharing the Gospel back at home.

It was severely convicting to me.

And I want to share it with you.

Because I want you to know,

and to be aware, 

and I want you to appreciate their braveness.

And appreciate what a gift it is to openly share the Gospel here and to not take it for granted.

Don't conceal the gift you have just because you might get a weird look or offend someone.

Don't let that stop you for giving the reason for the hope within you.

You aren't in danger for your life,

And even if you were, I'd hope that I, and that you, may be able to have the strength and bravery through Christ to still talk about Him and share about what He has done.

What He has done is not a small thing here.

Sharing the Gospel and not sharing the Gospel is a huge deal.

You may have a chance at helping save a soul from eternal death and helping that soul reach eternal life.

Don't take it lightly.

And before I keep going with my adventures and musings and journey that I took and lessons learned, please let me know if you have not heard of the Gospel and if you want to talk about it. Because I'd love to talk about it with you. I'd love for you to receive the gift of eternal life by putting your trust in the Savior Jesus Christ who came to take away our sins by dying on the cross. He is my reason for living today, and I want you to experience the joy and hope that can be found through Him and Him alone.

That's what I got for day one.

Whirlwinds of Grace will Pull Me Tighter to Him

I got back from El Salvador last night and the place I was so anxious to go to, I was far from anxious to leave. 

There are many stories I have to tell you, so I can only hope you'll hear me out. 

I can only hope you will take a few seconds out of your busy lives to read these because I have never been so eager to share what God has shown me and done for me and how He has loved me and the world around me. 

I've been molded, 

I've been renewed, 

\I've been convicted, 

and I've been humbled. 

How beautiful it is to be called one of God's own. 

To be a child of His. 

To be humbled before His throne,

 is a gift. 

I have lots of stories. 

This week was one of the busiest weeks of my life, 

one of the best weeks of my life, 

and one of the fastest weeks of my life. 

I learned and did a lot, 

but I can't believe it's over already. 

I want to go back again already. 

My heart is in more than one place now and I guess I never thought it would be. 

My heart is so full.

 I will recount my week. 

I promise.

 Next time I write, I'll give you my arrival night/next day stories.

So, please, take the time to read as I take the time to write.

I want to share\because I want you to know and I want you to hear.

I love you.

Whoever you are who reads this,

I love you.

With the love of God,

I love you.

And I know God wants to use me to tell you about what He has done and to urge you to do the same.

Because God loves you and He sent His son to die for you.

He came to bring you hope in a desolate place.

Please don't ignore the hope.

Please don't shut your eyes and harden your hearts.

Listen.

And then share.

Because there are others who need to know about the hope within you.

I'll see you when I fall asleep

Toffeenut coffee, rain, pure imagination glee version, so much excitement, hopefully I'll get some sleep, and also I just love kids.

Hold Tight to the Courage Pulsing Through Your Heart

In three more days I will be going out of the country for my first time and on my first missions trip. It will be for a week and it will be in El Salvador. The Lord will fight for me, I need only to be still.

Wishes and Hope

Can we just have pumpkins and Fall leaves, and winter in summertime and in Florida, and Matthew Gray Gubler run into me at a cute nonexpensive coffee shop with twinkling lights, and a pillow that sings me songs that soothe my soul and put my head to rest, and bible verses painted on the town in hope and happiness, and just nice things like that. I like to dream the impossible but I also like the fact that what people deem impossible will come true after death for me. Because death is not the end for me, just the end of my human life and the start of the best life full of unimaginable things where there is no more sorrow or pain and I am happy and complete and amazed and in awe, but most importantly, I'll be with my creator and savior and get to sing praises to Him forever and ever. I'm looking forward to that day.

But you could only change when your heart was ready to

It was

Cinnamon coffee, sad puppies who just wanted and couldn't be together, it was mexican corn, walks, creepy statues, boats, parks, amaretto espresso shakes, modern art statues, climbing trees, singing songs, an accordionist, horses named Duke and Gracie, the Sixth Sense, The House on the End of the Street, sleepovers, cinnamon coffee, master dance class, beach walks, baby sand dollars, and the Giver. So far my Friday and Saturday has been great.

Dust Pan

I can't hold on to your whispers anymore.

Maybe there was a clock who signaled you...

But time stood still and my heart broke.

A Stray Dog

I'm a wanderer.

I wander without even realizing it sometimes. 

But God is gracious. 

He loves me and guides me even when I choose not to walk closely with Him.

But all I have to do is read a chapter of the Bible and He calls me gently back to Him and I wonder why I ever stopped reading daily or stopped praising Him daily and stopped devoting time to the Savior who loves me and died for me and wants what is best for me.

But God is good.

And I am thankful for His undeserving love.

Sparkle

Sparklers, Subway escapades, fireworks, naps, Inside Out, 

my fourth was good.

Country Weekend

My weekend was filled with car rides, a cabin with a view, a swim in a pool, card games, a general store, pizza, ice cream, llamas, cows, buffalos, emus, horses, bulls, ponies, mules, donkeys, walks, a swamp buggy ride, a boat ride, more swimming, line dancing, country music, sweet potato fries, sweet tea, being licked by a cow, and a lightning storm.

It was a wonderful day and half getaway.

And today, I wish you a Happy Fourth of July.

I can't count the stars anymore

Because they are all hidden behind glass doors.
And all I see,
is the mirror of me,
whispering shouts of who they think me to be.

I can't count the stars anymore.
And I don't know why I even did that before.

So tell me a lie, that I can ignore.

And the truth will fit like a sweater,
and maybe the sky will fit the weather.
And maybe, just maybe,
everything will be better.