Well it has been quite a while since I have been on here.... A lot has happened in my life over the last couple months...
Where to even begin.. so many thoughts.. so many emotions... Let me begin with saying that I serve an awesome and amazing God. He is forever faithful. In him I live and move and breathe.
A month ago today I was heading to Paraguay with 7 other people. I can honestly say that I wish I was boarding another plane today to head to Paraguay again. It all began about 9 months ago when God brought my family to PRC. As we are entering our 7th year of living in Cleveland Tennessee, I can honestly say that we have found a church to call home. In attending PRC I have had that amazing opportunity to meet some great people and build some lasting relationships with them. One being the director of my trip to Paraguay as well as his family. We had begun talking through mutual family friends, then before I knew it, I was signed up to go on his trip to Honduras this past December. Well Honduras soon turned into Paraguay due to political unrest in Honduras. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that it was completely ordained by God and we were supposed to go to Paraguay.
Over those next 8 months leading up to the trip God was doing a lot in my life. He began challenging me to rise above in every area of my life and to go the extra mile. To make a difference, and to trust him in everything. To give him my hopes, my dreams, my future and know that my steps were ordered and ordained by him. Everything would fall into place in his perfect timing not mine. Sometimes that is a really hard concept to think about, sometimes it is a hard thing to do. It is not always easy to do but sometimes God requires much of us so that he can build us, challenge us, shape us and teach us.
I spent many days and nights praying for Paraguay,the team and the trip. I knew that God was going to do some amazing things. I remember one night after our class, it was about 8 days before we were to leave, we were practicing for a drama that we were going to perform in Paraguay for the kids. As we were practicing it I could sense Gods presence everywhere and as I closed my eyes I pictured us in Paraguay and I knew in that very moment that God was already preparing their hearts as well as ours for something far greater and bigger than we could even begin to understand. At that moment I knew God was going to do something in my life while in Paraguay that would change me forever. He did. I am not the same person. I am changed.
There is something so alive in me that I just cannot contain it, there are some days that I can't even explain it. While in Paraguay we did many projects and completed those projects, it was a great feeling to know that we had accomplished our goals and saw them to completion.
One moment in Paraguay that will forever be written on my heart is the Sunday night we did the church service for the kids, but first let me just back up and say that the night before the service Sara and Shaun Morton The missionaries that we were staying with shared about the children in the orphanage. They talked about where they came from, what they have experienced and just their life story. It was heartbreaking to hear the stories. So in those moments my heart was being changed, broken, and challenged.
By the time we got to the service the tears began to flow as I watched the kids and thought about their stories. We were asked to get paired up with about 3 kids and pray over them. This was a very amazing moment for me as I got 3 of the kids that I had really connected with in just the few days that we were already there. So I wrapped my arms around them and began to weep and pray. I felt, sensed and knew that God was there in the midst of us. When we were done praying one of the little girls Kimberly who I had prayed for came running into my arms. As I picked her up she put her hands to my cheeks and began to wipe my tears.
Even as I write this now I cry. In that very second I was blown away, because even though we could not speak to each other she knew that I was crying, that I was hurting and praying for them and she was wiping away my tears and smiling. Our hearts connected in that moment and I was forever changed. At that same time another one of the girls came up to me, put her arms around my neck and said I love you!
As we left the service I walked back in complete silence to the house. I could not even speak, all I could do was weep.... My heart was captured forever by the precious faces, hearts and lives of those children as well as Paraguay!
I could go on for days... hours... and minutes of stories in Paraguay and how my life was changed. This is just one of many stories. But one other story that truly is a huge part of my life and has impacted me on all levels is the fact that I met my absolute best friend in all the world while on this journey across the world. Not just for a season but for a lifetime! :) His name is Tyler and he holds a very special and important place in my heart. He depicts what a true Godly man of God should be, he has the biggest heart of compassion as well as the heart of a worshiper. He is a man after God's own heart and I am beyond blessed to have in my life and call him my Best Friend :) :) While in Paraguay we connected in such a way that most days you can't put words to it, most days I'm speechless. This friendship and relationship that we have developed has surpassed my hopes, dreams and desires. God is faithful and when you seek him, and when you wait patiently on the Lord he will give you the desires of your heart. Never doubt him. Never give up. Always hope. Always persevere. Always believe that his timing is perfect not ours.
So I leave by saying that Paraguay has left footprints on my heart not just for a little fling but for a lifetime. It has completely and utterly changed me inside out. It has ignited in me a new fire... a new flame... a new hunger.. a new thirst.. a new passion.... and it has brought me to my hands and knees more and more each and everyday to pray for the broken... the hurting... and the lost. I know that God has called me to a higher standard.... He has given me a heart of compassion for the broken.. It's bigger than I can imagine... I will use my story... my testimony to make a difference. God has prepared me for such a time as this.
"Our feet tell a story of where we have been and hold the hopes and dreams of where we will go" :)
God you are forever faithful. Thank You.
No comments:
Post a Comment