"Therefore, behold I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her." Hosea 2:14 Listening seems to be the more passive part of a conversation when in actuality it takes much more effort to listen than to speak. Furthermore, it is essential to actually having a conversation. Yet for some reason when praying I often think I'm conversing with my Lord when in actuality I don't pause to listen to what He has to say. I make my requests and give him my burdens then go on my merry way.  Last week the team went out on a prayer walk...

Hola? Donde? Que? Como se llama? The Spanish words are swirling through my head, every day all day here. I can never put all these foreign words together to make a reasonable sentence let alone understand what anyone is saying to me. It would be an understatement to say that I’ am beyond words frustrated with the language barrier.   One thing that doesn’t require understanding of words is seeing deep into people eyes and looking into their heart. Yesterday in the market I became haunted and forever marked by piercing eyes that I will NEVER forget.    As we walked...

I've begun to realize how called we really are to give up everything for the kingdom, the gospel's sake, and for Christ. Paul talks about us being crucified to the world and that ties with how God sent His only begotten Son for this disgusting world, but He still loved it.  I was reading the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10, and Christ is walking around in Jericho. What Christ's does next is completely out of the ordinary: "So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called", Jesus called Bartimaeus to himself even though other people were trying to keep him...

When we went to church last Sunday night, I stood from my seat and watched as the church community and my teammates all went up to the front of the church and were singing, jumping, and dancing for God. Everyone was so pumped up and excited, and all I did was stand there. I felt lifeless, energyless, and emotionless. I knew something wasn't right. I mean I'm not usually one to go crazy and dance around like no ones watching, but to do it for my king isn't something I felt timid about. My problem was that I didn't even feel like I should have been up there at all. I...

We are now in the 4th week since this trip began. Having been surrounded by a different yet vibrant language, culture, and landscape, and people group, i know i have already been changed forever.    My peace and security is challenged as i am i introduced to new and thought  provoking experiences.     Yet when i am weak, Christ can be made strong. He alone is my real security, peace, and power.   As a christian family we often have times of feedback. Every person must speak encouraging or constructive  words to another out of love and care. I...

Before I left the fickle weather of my home in the northeast for the thick, warm, bay air of Guatemala, the Great Father told me something about children.  A dear friend of mine had a cousin pass and leave behind a six-month-old child.  As I was praying for my friend and the family, God said, “You’re going to see a generation where 12-year-olds walk in the authority of their Father.    Dear little Nazareth is living that.  As she sat in my arms I noticed a puckered scar on the inside of her arm.  I was told later that during a cooking accident...

I have been thinking off and on the past two weeks what to even “blog” about. Which subject to go off of. How to explain the unexplainable feelings and scenes we have witnessed together as a group and individually here in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala.    To try to describe all the personal changes that have taken place within me and will continue to produce growth in my life and the constant state of being completely out of my comfort zone and safe haven.     But that’s just it- I can’t explain it.   Of course I can try my best. I could tell you...

What to do post-graduation? Am I ready to begin the next chapter of my life? Am I really a grown up? I have spent the past year anxious of what the next step in my life may look like. Somehow, by God's grace I stumbled upon this trip to Guatemala. I must admit I was drawn to this trip selfishly in pursuit of adventure. However, I didn't realize that my greatest adventure might be searching out the places deep within in my own heart. I came into Guatemala last week with absolutely no expectations. I left my iPhone and pretty much everything else that I would not go a day without at...

The rain is pouring down. Pelting the roof so hard everything else has been drowned out. Something about the rain gives me inexplicable joy. I've been struggling with the fact that the ways I normally encounter God aren't doable here. I can't go running on the beach with the puppy or get lost in some great country music as I cook away in the kitchen. God gave me my unique passions and in the moments when I am doing those things that I love, God meets me there.  I am learning that although it is so much easier to find God in the places he normally meets me, it is so much...