I brought a journal with me when I went to Honduras over the summer. It has a grand total of one entry in it. And I really want to share that one entry. Also, it doesn't flow well sometimes - it's more of a "stream of conciousness" type deal, if you will. So, bare with me.
So, I've been here for over a month now and haven't journaled or blogged at all. Gosh it is gorgeous here! I love the plant life here...mango trees, coconut trees, lemon trees, these trees with dark green leaves and beautiful red flowers, the mountains, the GREEN that is everywhere...stunning!
Things I've learned in Honduras:
1. "Because He first loved me." There is nothing I could do to make myself more acceptable to God - He loves me simply because it pleases Him to do so. That's a big concept for me to grasp and gives me a different perspective of how I view "works." There is nothing I can do to make Him love me any more or any less. So, when you do something, you do it because it was what you have been called to do, and out of obedience to God.
2. "The importance of relationships/people." We all have so much to learn from one another, and I think no matter who you are, we are all connected by our own human brokeness and the love our God has for us. I think I learned to really appreciate people and how much you can learn by listening. Patty and Joe taught me how contagious someone's joy can be, the impact a little thoughfullness can have, and showed me what it looks like to have a servant heart. I hope that I can be as vivacious and full of the Lord's joy as they are one day. Kristin taught me how much it can mean to simply sit down and genuinely listen to someone/show a little kindness/take interest in them.
3. "I don't really have a title for this one." My eyes were opened to how all of the commitments that I make are basically half-hearted. It's like I am content to sit on the sidelines and watch life go by without ever really participating in it. I would love to be able to look back on my life and know that I followed You with ALL of my heart and ALL of my soul and ALL of my mind. I really want to live in wreckless abandonment for Him - to give Him my all with the knowledge that I am free to struggle and free to fail! I want to experience freedom in Christ - it's something I'm still trying to figure out.
4. "Not knowing." I have realized how much I don't know. Some things, I may never know - and that's okay. This has, however, sent me into kind of a "pursuit" of who God is. It's nice to know that He will never change, whether I ever really "get it" or not. Thank God that the truth is not contingent on me.
5. "Adios a Los Estados!" A life without American luxuries is livable. Not that I've really given up much of anything, but it is doable. (it might not be fun, and it might take a lot of getting used to, but it. is. doable.)
So, I've been here for over a month now and haven't journaled or blogged at all. Gosh it is gorgeous here! I love the plant life here...mango trees, coconut trees, lemon trees, these trees with dark green leaves and beautiful red flowers, the mountains, the GREEN that is everywhere...stunning!
Things I've learned in Honduras:
1. "Because He first loved me." There is nothing I could do to make myself more acceptable to God - He loves me simply because it pleases Him to do so. That's a big concept for me to grasp and gives me a different perspective of how I view "works." There is nothing I can do to make Him love me any more or any less. So, when you do something, you do it because it was what you have been called to do, and out of obedience to God.
2. "The importance of relationships/people." We all have so much to learn from one another, and I think no matter who you are, we are all connected by our own human brokeness and the love our God has for us. I think I learned to really appreciate people and how much you can learn by listening. Patty and Joe taught me how contagious someone's joy can be, the impact a little thoughfullness can have, and showed me what it looks like to have a servant heart. I hope that I can be as vivacious and full of the Lord's joy as they are one day. Kristin taught me how much it can mean to simply sit down and genuinely listen to someone/show a little kindness/take interest in them.
3. "I don't really have a title for this one." My eyes were opened to how all of the commitments that I make are basically half-hearted. It's like I am content to sit on the sidelines and watch life go by without ever really participating in it. I would love to be able to look back on my life and know that I followed You with ALL of my heart and ALL of my soul and ALL of my mind. I really want to live in wreckless abandonment for Him - to give Him my all with the knowledge that I am free to struggle and free to fail! I want to experience freedom in Christ - it's something I'm still trying to figure out.
4. "Not knowing." I have realized how much I don't know. Some things, I may never know - and that's okay. This has, however, sent me into kind of a "pursuit" of who God is. It's nice to know that He will never change, whether I ever really "get it" or not. Thank God that the truth is not contingent on me.
5. "Adios a Los Estados!" A life without American luxuries is livable. Not that I've really given up much of anything, but it is doable. (it might not be fun, and it might take a lot of getting used to, but it. is. doable.)
