So last week I took a little stroll down memory lane. It got me thinking a lot about where I am and how I got here. I am still in shock sometimes that I am actually living in here in Redding. Even the other day, keep in mind this is April, I was leaving the apartment complex thinking I really live here. It's not just some weekend conference, I actually live here. I even get mail here. (For some reason that always makes it seem more real to me). It's funny because at the beginning of the school year Justine and I would leave school and say to one another, thank God we get to come back on Tuesday! It's really real!
Wednesday morning a friend and I took Justine down to the Sacramento Airport. As we were driving back to Redding we were talking about life and how we got to where we are. We talked about high school, college and the crazy times that are included in those years. As we were talking it hit me that all along God had a plan for my life. He knew I would make mistakes and do some stupid stuff, and walk a different path for a while. But ultimately He knew I'd return to Him. He knew within a just a few years I'd be here in Redding. And all along the way He protected me. He's so good. I won't lie, my heart was totally broken at one point. But I am thankful that He put the pieces back together one at a time to make me whole. And He's still protecting me. I have great memories with great people, I am thankful for each and everything I learned in that chapter of my life (let me tell you I learned a lot!), and the people who were right there with me. But I am even more thankful that I was being looked after each step of the way. Sometimes I wonder thought what it would be like if I took the other path... As I think about it I get overwhelmed; kids??, husband??, and Red Robin swirl through my brain. I take a deep breath and simply begin thanking God for the countless ways He protected me and for where I am now. (Even though I still work at Red Robin). I am looking forward to the day when the husband and the kids come along (a day when I will no longer work at Red Robin!) don't get me wrong, but I am so glad that's not where I am right now. I look at people my age who are married and have kids, or just have kids and I think man, I can't even imagine being married right now, let alone have kids. Maybe it's just because I haven't met Mr. Right, but whatever the reason, I thank God I am not there yet! I don't mind the wait and to be honest, I am enjoying this adventure.
This adventure is and has been absolutely amazing. I wish everyone could experience this and what it's like. I couldn't have picked a better way to spend this year and wouldn't trade it for anything. Moving here and coming to school is definitely in the top 3 of my "Best Decisions I've Ever Made" list. It's been the best and hardest year of my life, so stretching and challenging and yet unbelievable and so fun. Many tears have been sown into this year and even more laughs. My brain is on overdrive, as I begin to process the things I have been taught and live with a Kingdom mindset, I begin to learn a little more about who I really am.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
So, for the moment life is still. Easter break started for us today, we have a week off and it's much needed. I have been thinking about writing for awhile, just never actually got around to it. A lot has happened between the last time I wrote and now, but don't worry I won't go into all the detail. I will share a few high lights though...
I decided one rainy afternoon in March that I was going to start painting, something I have never done before, but thought it could be a lot of fun. So, I went to Michael's bought the stuff and started to paint. It's been quite the adventure, and honestly I am surprised at how most of them have turned out. It's also a work in progress, but hopefully it's like most things in life where the more you do it the better you become.
Another little nugget, I recently went to Tecate, Mexico. As students here we all signed up for a missions trip before Christmas. Tecate was in my top 5 and I was picked to be on that team. There were 30 of us all together that drove from Redding down, across the border and to the ranch. It's about the same distance between here and Spokane...but a long drive nonetheless. This was my first "real" missions trip; full, service projects, sweat, dirt, cute kids, amazing ministry school students, dirt, very little running water and did I mention dirt? Tecate is basically right next to Tijuana, for those who weren't aware so it's a pretty impoverished area. It was stretching for me to not be in a place where running water is at my fingertips and I will never take a flushing toilet for granted! It was great fun though- I have to admit, challenging, stretching, and a little smelly, but great fun. The Ranch we stayed at has a church, a ministry school, (similar to the one I am at), an orphanage, a school (for the orphans and for 100+ students from the area who they bus to the school so the kids can 1) get an education and 2) be safe while parents are at work), a hospice, and so much more. It was amazing how many different things were going on at this place. Our team helped with some buildings, getting them ready to pour concrete and cleaning up some other ones, we also did a Vacation Bible School with the kids, activated the ministry school students in the prophetic, did some outreach, and led various church services in the community. I have to say the highlight of the trip for me was working with the ministry school , especially the day we did outreach with them. We went to Tijuana, broke into small groups and hit the area ready to see some action. I was with a 2nd year student and three of the Mexican ministry school students. The second house we went to was the best by far- the team had been going to this house for 2 months trying to minister to the family that lived there and each Saturday they were turned away. The granddaughter would be outside, greet the team and tell them that her grandparents didn't weren't interested in talking with them. So each week they would pray for opportunities to talk with this family and get shut down week after week. Well the Saturday we were there they decided to let us in. As we went into the house we went into the bedroom where this old old OLD man was. He was laying on the bed and in a ton of pain. He hadn't been able to walk in a few days and was experiencing major stomach and leg pain. I'm not sure if he had moved at all in that time. We later learned that he could eat but couldn't go to the bathroom (which explains the stomach pain). I went in and immediately began to pray for the man's legs. When I asked him how they were he said peaceful and that the pain had significantly deceased. Shortly after one of the girls started evangelizing and asked the man if he wanted to know Jesus, he said "sure why not" and as soon as he did you could see life in his face. As the girls were praying with the man, the guy on the team pulled me into the kitchen with the old man's wife. She began to tell us that the man actually had stomach cancer (hence the pain and not being able to go to the bathroom). The kicker, he didn't know he had cancer. She didn't want him to know and wasn't about to let us spill the beans. She wanted us to pray for him, but saying words like cancer and tumor were off limits. So we went for it. As we prayed we just declared life and health into him and released the Kingdom, Bethel style! Again we asked him how the pain was and he said the same thing, peaceful and tranquil. We started to talk with his daughter and wife and prayed for them a little and we asked them if they'd also like to know Jesus, their answers, "sure why not." It was amazing!! We spent a little more time praying for the ladies, and then realized it was time to go back to the church to meet the rest of the team. As we were saying goodbye I looked behind me and saw the old man had gone from slouching on the bed to sitting on the edge of the bed about to push himself up and walk out of the room. I was in awe! The man who hadn't moved in days had just positioned himself on the edge of the bed and looked like he was about to walk out of the room. WOW! This was just one of the many amazing things that happened in Tecate, like I said it was stretching, but great fun and truly a memorable experience!!
As for now, we have 4 weeks of school left. I will be home in about 5. I can't believe this year is already almost over. It's been a great journey and I am not sure I am ready for it to end...
I decided one rainy afternoon in March that I was going to start painting, something I have never done before, but thought it could be a lot of fun. So, I went to Michael's bought the stuff and started to paint. It's been quite the adventure, and honestly I am surprised at how most of them have turned out. It's also a work in progress, but hopefully it's like most things in life where the more you do it the better you become.
Another little nugget, I recently went to Tecate, Mexico. As students here we all signed up for a missions trip before Christmas. Tecate was in my top 5 and I was picked to be on that team. There were 30 of us all together that drove from Redding down, across the border and to the ranch. It's about the same distance between here and Spokane...but a long drive nonetheless. This was my first "real" missions trip; full, service projects, sweat, dirt, cute kids, amazing ministry school students, dirt, very little running water and did I mention dirt? Tecate is basically right next to Tijuana, for those who weren't aware so it's a pretty impoverished area. It was stretching for me to not be in a place where running water is at my fingertips and I will never take a flushing toilet for granted! It was great fun though- I have to admit, challenging, stretching, and a little smelly, but great fun. The Ranch we stayed at has a church, a ministry school, (similar to the one I am at), an orphanage, a school (for the orphans and for 100+ students from the area who they bus to the school so the kids can 1) get an education and 2) be safe while parents are at work), a hospice, and so much more. It was amazing how many different things were going on at this place. Our team helped with some buildings, getting them ready to pour concrete and cleaning up some other ones, we also did a Vacation Bible School with the kids, activated the ministry school students in the prophetic, did some outreach, and led various church services in the community. I have to say the highlight of the trip for me was working with the ministry school , especially the day we did outreach with them. We went to Tijuana, broke into small groups and hit the area ready to see some action. I was with a 2nd year student and three of the Mexican ministry school students. The second house we went to was the best by far- the team had been going to this house for 2 months trying to minister to the family that lived there and each Saturday they were turned away. The granddaughter would be outside, greet the team and tell them that her grandparents didn't weren't interested in talking with them. So each week they would pray for opportunities to talk with this family and get shut down week after week. Well the Saturday we were there they decided to let us in. As we went into the house we went into the bedroom where this old old OLD man was. He was laying on the bed and in a ton of pain. He hadn't been able to walk in a few days and was experiencing major stomach and leg pain. I'm not sure if he had moved at all in that time. We later learned that he could eat but couldn't go to the bathroom (which explains the stomach pain). I went in and immediately began to pray for the man's legs. When I asked him how they were he said peaceful and that the pain had significantly deceased. Shortly after one of the girls started evangelizing and asked the man if he wanted to know Jesus, he said "sure why not" and as soon as he did you could see life in his face. As the girls were praying with the man, the guy on the team pulled me into the kitchen with the old man's wife. She began to tell us that the man actually had stomach cancer (hence the pain and not being able to go to the bathroom). The kicker, he didn't know he had cancer. She didn't want him to know and wasn't about to let us spill the beans. She wanted us to pray for him, but saying words like cancer and tumor were off limits. So we went for it. As we prayed we just declared life and health into him and released the Kingdom, Bethel style! Again we asked him how the pain was and he said the same thing, peaceful and tranquil. We started to talk with his daughter and wife and prayed for them a little and we asked them if they'd also like to know Jesus, their answers, "sure why not." It was amazing!! We spent a little more time praying for the ladies, and then realized it was time to go back to the church to meet the rest of the team. As we were saying goodbye I looked behind me and saw the old man had gone from slouching on the bed to sitting on the edge of the bed about to push himself up and walk out of the room. I was in awe! The man who hadn't moved in days had just positioned himself on the edge of the bed and looked like he was about to walk out of the room. WOW! This was just one of the many amazing things that happened in Tecate, like I said it was stretching, but great fun and truly a memorable experience!!
As for now, we have 4 weeks of school left. I will be home in about 5. I can't believe this year is already almost over. It's been a great journey and I am not sure I am ready for it to end...
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