Him We Proclaim

We were bad at taking pictures... so sorry Pamela you missed out on the only one! I just returned from a great weekend with my girlfriends from Samford. I attended Samford from 2005-2007, but I absolutely loved my time there because of my friends. In fact when I was applying to Moody, I stated that I did not want to go there because I loved where I was and what I was doing. We visited my friend Pamela who lives outside of DC. We went to the National Zoo, George Town Cupcakes (which has a show on TLC), worked on our tans (ok, I connected my freckles), and spent most of the time catching up. So much has changed in my life over the past 5 years, yet I've still remained close to these girls. I'm not always the greatest at calling and catching up, but we've persevered. Though we haven't been geographically close in a while and definitely won't be when I move to Costa Rica, I know that these are relationships I want to maintain! A big thanks to ...

I've been really resonating with this. To be painstakingly honest, it's hard to think of spending time developing ministry partners as building into eternity. All I can do though is follow where the Lord's leading, and live as passionately and boldly as I can. I just feel like I need to do something. I'm not saying (and I don't think Francis is either) that we can't enjoy our time here on earth--take a vacation, or enjoy His creation. That's not what I'm saying at all. But to spend the majority of our time and money for that end?? To work hard to make sure that I'm comfortable in my latter years of this life, and relying mainly on a portion of money that I put away to meet my needs?.... I just really, really want to be using the time that is given to me in a way that requires faith , and in a way that clearly points to Christ! And I really want to hear those words: Well Done. I'd love to read your comments and hear where you're at.

After spending a week in Chicago meeting up with old friends, watching Jonathan's sister graduate from Moody Bible Institute, and telling people about our ministry in Costa Rica, we headed up to Portage, WI. A friend from Oxford moved up there to be the senior pastor of an EFCA church, and he invited us to speak about the ministry in Costa Rica. We gladly took him up on the offer to speak with his church and to see our good friends. Little did we know that the weekend would turn out to be so exciting! Our friend ended up going into labor in the middle of the night and had a home birth that morning before we left for church. Welcome to the world  beautiful baby girl! Since our friend couldn't preach, the church asked Jonathan to give a message. Thankfully, he had the notes from the message on Philippians 3 he gave at the youth's campout. All of this turned out to be a huge blessing because the congregation was able to see our love for Jesus and how He's...

We arrived safely in Chicago last night and are staying the first two nights with an old moody friend who I knew back in Ecuador. Today we're at our Moody Bible institute meeting with old professors and friends. Patrick is taking a nap right now in the commons propped back in his umbrella stroller :) Super excited about all of our meetings this week!

Been praying a lot about really loving Jesus. Not just loving who he is or what he's done for me, but really loving the person of Jesus Christ. I find myself in a place of discontentment working on raising support. Like I should be doing more with my life. I don't think this stems from a desire to achieve goals or to prove myself to Him. But rather a genuine desire--a yearning--to really be more like Christ. A Christian. A "little Christ". To spend my time and life in a way worthy of the one who bought it. Because thats what I *want* to do. And I honestly question that much of the time spent making phone calls, writing emails, and just figuring out what to do next is how Christ would spend his time if he were here now. I say "much" because there have most definitely been times of speaking into friend's lives and being poured into be God, but they seem like a minority compared to the months logged under 'support raising'. I just want to live li...

We had an interesting incident recently. I was working a high ropes course out in 'back country' of our town (aka, in the woods behind the park). I was belaying students as they climbed up to the 40ft platform before zipping back down(...on a zipline). About a quarter of the way through the program, a Sheriff's helicopter flew by, low to the ground. Interesting. Normally the only choppers we see in this area are hospital choppers, medivacing severe patients to more sophisticated hospitals and ORs. By the time it circled around, now flying lower, I stated out loud, 'looks like there's a manhunt,' half joking. Everybody laughed. Sure enough the University's emergency text came through that police were hunting an armed gunman (redundant?) and cautioned noble citizens to stay away from that certain part of town, which was about 5 miles away from us. But the helicopter kept on circling the high course. It passed over once, twice, and a third time--now lower than ...