Sing Praise to Him

  four popsicles, two bowls of soup, ibuprofen to infinity, a bowl of ice cream, a gallon of water, frozen ice packs, half a pack of cough drops, a fort of blankets & re-runs of criminal intent. When it comes to being sick I truly am, undoubtedly the biggest baby.  I want nothing more than to be wrapped up in a blanket, in a peaceful sleep.  The first night I was sick though I was home alone.  My throat was throbbing, my body ached all over and I felt as though I was burning up.  I promise in advance this is no complaining session.  Tears were coming from my eyes and as I closed them all I saw was this image of this little girl who was hungry.   Her face was full of dirt, smeared snot and tears.  She ran down an alley barefoot and curled up against a stranger who unkindly woke up and shooed her away.  What I would do I thought to be able to hug this little girl.  Though she was only in a vision, I know she is ...

One Purple House. A history like no other.  Ready for transformation. Declarations of the highest. One group of 20' somethings,  excited for the journey this entails.  Numerous hearts ready to be restored.  Through Jesus hearts will be saved.  Through Jesus,  testimonies will be made.  Have your will, Jesus.  One Purple House.  What wonders of the Word. Through Jesus.  What Disciples will be made.  A step closer to revelation.  God we lift this up in your name.  The opportunities that have risen, we thank you for them.  Every day we are reminded that there is great power in the name of Jesus.  Great power in your LOVE, and GRACE. Grant us the ears to hear, the eyes to see and the faith to be abiding to your word.  Whatever this purple house may become, we pray that it becomes a light onto the word.  A safe place.  We pray in...

          So so proud of Lilly for presenting such a great project. Back in April she asked me to take Flat Stanley along with me to Costa Rica. Today was the day she has been waiting for! Not only did she learn a great deal, but she also blessed me so much! She shared about Flat Stanley's journey from the animals he saw, and what it was living living in a small community.The best story of all though was when she shared how Jesus had healed an elderly lady in the streets of San Jose who suffered for years with knee pain. This girl rocked her project, literally out of America! #suchajoy  

April 20th            325 colones for a bus ride. In the United States this rounds out to be about 65 cents.  We stood, rocking back and fourth. For anyone who is socially awkward this may be even worse, ha.  Riding the bus has always been my favorite part of the trip.  I love every part of it, the awkwardness, adrenaline rush.  The abrupt stops that leave you bumping into the person in front of you, hanging on to the bars for dear life.             In the city we prayed for this old man named Mario who was out of work, him and his three brothers.  He had faith that Jesus would provide, and despite his situation was really not all that depressed.  It was incredible to see God’s spirit rain down.            We continued praying and then a lady who seemed confused began to walk by and I asked Kevin to go with me to pray for her.  She had pain i...

April 19th         I cleaned the churches stove all morning.  While doing so I met around ten spiders or so, and I can really say now I am thankful they’re not in my list of fears.  The rest of the day was a blur of sleeping, for some reason possibly my sunburn or something else I felt very sick.  I would sleep, wake up and fall back asleep.               Fede and I have become very close, and it’s been nice to share my heart with someone who shares the same passion as I.  Alyssa and Chris and everyone walked up into the city to buy some pirated movies.  It was like little kids in a candy shop. I teased Fede though, because we knew it would pour and sure enough it did and plentiful!            The 20’s something group was a blast. We planned a cookout for them, and did some worship and then someone gave a message.  Fede and I continued to talk, an...

April 18th               I love awakening in this community. Everything about it makes my heart swell with joy, but at the same time there is a deep aching feeling from within.  The dogs bark, the rooster crows and people begin there day.  By 5 am the first bus has left to the city.  The people here for the most part are slow wakers.  It’s as though the city is a little radio that starts on low, and by the afternoon with the hustle and bustle of everything has been turned on high.               This morning was extremely slow, the men had set out on a work project up in the Mangos.  Alyssa showed me the footage she had shot so far, and I learned a lot in the few minutes her and I were talking about it. God has blessed her with such a talent and it’s sweet that she is fulfilling it with His will.  So often people waste there God given talents, but a special notion...

April 17th             This morning Natalie and Jessie and I sorted through the clothes for the nearby store.  We were able to this pretty quickly, which then involved sewing a few stuff animals that had misfortunes.  By the time we got to the store many of the women were there ready to sift through the new clothes.  Though this is great unfortunately when the women pick through everything first they end up putting the ‘best‘ to the side.             The kiddos were crazy, and in such a little room we had to get them out to run!  Before we knew it squirt guns were going and rubber lizards were being thrown back and fourth.  This little one Alexandra is adorable and I begin to twirl him and cinco’s and if I knew I would have been able to without falling with us both I would have been able to.             On the way back up to the house we stopped by...

April 16th, 2013              The days of counting down are over.  This morning I woke up, and it was as though I did a double take.  One of those childhood moments when you jump up thinking, “Did Santa come yet?”  Except this was a little different.              The sound of a rooster woke me, and with that came an array of birds singing in their different tones.  Frequently through the night there were motorcycles whizzing by, children crying and darks barking.  It’s the sound track of Costa Rica.  A sound track of hope and a future.            After breakfast Jessie and I traveled down to the church to tidy up a bit.  It was nice to be able to share my heart with someone who shared the same dreams as I.  As I was working outside I kept thinking, “Where is Kevin!” Walking inside though he jumped out and scared me.  I screa...

April 15th, 2013                 My heart is beating in my heart, but I can hear it in my ears.  I can’t help but think due to my nursing classes, “Would I be running to tell the charge nurse that this persons heart beat is way out of wack!?”  Nerves overwhelm me, though I love flying I still have airport anxiety.  I am thankful for a God who knows the deepest of my fears and joys and is able to provide me with relief as soon as I find myself settled in on the plane between two nice strangers.               Relief was almost what I felt, or at was what had been expected. One of the men leaned in and whispered to me.  His accent was thick, but even then I heard the words clear as day.  My instinct leaped as I loudly said, “Bomb!?” He hushed me quickly though, as to not alarm those near by.    “Two bombs were dropped right below us in Boston at the marath...

       During February vacation a bunch of us youth were able to spend a weekend in Alton Bay, New Hampshire. Talk about much needed time off.  So easily are we consumed by our daily notions.  At the beginning of the weekend after prayer and discussion we all felt as though the weekend was meant to be used for stillness.  Words such as "Trust, better relationship, confidence, and more faith" were written down.         The Holy Spirit was sweetly intense.  Worship was lifting, and a refreshment of peace was restored in my own heart.  Our youth leader, Sean gave us certain bible verses to read over.  I always had known the Bible is dense in stories, yet I had never dug deep enough to realize that frequently there are stories written from different perceptions.        Jesus died on the cross for our sins- none of which were worthy of being forgiven and yet through Jesus we were given a new...

         A few days into my first stay in Costa Rica, I awoke to Julie the intern inviting some people on a quick medical trip.  She mentioned that someone atop the hill at a place the locals call the 'high place' needed bandages changed due to a wound. As I walked the couple mile journey I begin to pray about where my future would be. Never had I ever thought of going into the medical field but the idea popped into my head that maybe going for my CNA license wouldn't be all that bad of an idea.  I told myself, "If I can deal with this wound which from the sounds of it sounded pretty nasty by Julie's description then I would apply to the program.              Now almost a year later I can thank this trip for inspiring me to take this class.  We are entering the last few weeks of clinicals and I am in love with this job.  Every day brings something new.  Each smile from my patient brin...

When the announcement was made at church about the Costa Rica trip in April I immediately thought, "a chance to go HOME." It's crazy, but there is no other way to describe it. Ever since I have left I have felt home sick- praying so hard for this trip. Let your will be done Lord.

       It started out being one of those hectic, pulling out your hair kind of days. From waking up late, to my car doors being frozen to forgetting my homework at home. But, as I jumped in my car, taking the few moments I had to breath a song came on Air1.  I began to sing the lyrics,   "Hold on, when everything is shaking, stand strong when the ground is falling through. Reach out to my hand in the darkness that's holding you. I'll be your peace in the waiting. Your strength when your broken on the floor, it's all worth fighting for cuz' I will never let you go."        As the verse began to roll around for the second time, I decided not to sing, but to simply listen. How glad I am, for God has blessed me with such a simple reminder.  As I breathed in deeply, I began to thank God for all He has done in my life. I thanked Him for the days of peace, but I thanked him also for the days of such chaos that I have found to also be so ...

            Life has a way of becoming at times over bearing. Between essays, work hours, and times of trials it may be very hard to see the good in situations.  We may cry out to God in these times, questioning how long this pain will last, and what tomorrow may bring.  Jesus said, "The one who endures to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:13)  Peter promises the tired and broken hearted Christians, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself, restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10)            It is assured in the Bible that God will not cause us to fight these hardships of life longer than we can endure.  Though at times the weight of the world feels heavy upon on shoulders, God is there is there to remind us always that He is the God of all grace, peace and mercy.  It is said, "Through many t...