Got My Nails Did!

I think I've mentioned before that Dominicans like to look their best wherever they go. For the women, this also includes having fake fingernails. I'd been wanting to put them on for a while now, so I finally did it this past Saturday. Some of the utensils used included super glue, household scissors, and a paintbrush. I am 100% positive the whole process was very unhealthy for my fingernails and that every nail technician in the States would be completly appalled, but for me, it was amazing on so many levels :o)

Fill Your Minds

"Llenan sus pensamientos de las cosas de arriba y no de las cosas en este mundo."

 Colosenses 3:2

Direct translation: "Fill your minds with the things from above and not with the things of this world." Colossians 3:2

This was the memory verse we worked on last week. My students learned it so quickly and really enjoyed saying it at the beginning of class. They truly love the Word and are so hungry for it. Personally, I love doing the memory verse of the week not only cause they love it, but it's really helping me recall these words of Life as well.

I chose this verse cause it seems like lately, the enemy has really been waging war on minds. I've seen him try to steal joy through anxiety, worry, fear, lust, etc., etc., etc. Gah. He's so lame.

BUT! We who are in Christ don't have to give in to Satan's silly schemes. As we are tempted to anxiety, fear, or whatever else it may be, we have a choice. We can give in to the temptations or we can fight by the renewal of our minds. We can think about right things. We can think about pure things. We can think about lovely and admirable things. We can picture the cross and Jesus's sacrifice. We can present our requests with thankfulness. When we do, we are promised that the peace of God, which transcends ALL understanding, WILL guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Be a fighter.

Here's a video of my 3rd grade reading class reciting the memory verse :o)

Podcasts

Spritual growth can be tricky as a missionary in a foreign country. It's true. Many times, going to church here means undergoing a huge mental task because, even after almost 2.5 years of living in a Spanish speaking country, words in Spanish don't carry as much meaning or feeling for me as they do in English. What is said falls faster on my ears than on my heart; I can understand without understanding.

I am thankful that I have a counselor, the Holy Spirit. He teaches and instructs me, and I'm SO thankful for how He is tuning my heart to know when and what He's saying. He has also chosen another method in which to reach and teach me...

Podcasts. (That was for you, Heathie)

Thank the Good Lord above that He placed me in an age of technology where I can download an innumeral amount of sermons (in English) with just the touch of a button! I get to redeem my time while lesson planning, cooking, washing laundry, etc. etc. etc. by listening to amazing Christ-warriors preach and teach about how incredible Jesus is. A new hunger for the Word and Truth has ripped its way into my life, and sometimes I wish I could just EAT the Bible and store all of It's knowledge in my head and heart (yeah, I just said that!)

I wanted to share with all of you the website link for the church and pastor that I have really been digging as of late. The name of the church is Mars Hill and the Pastor is Mark Driscoll. Check out the website. Download the podcasts. Listen to them. Then listen to them again. He's brutal and real and tells things like they are. Yum.

Mars Hill Church

Llego la Luz!

The power goes out here every day. For Dominicans, that's just another reason to add to the 'You-Americans-are-Crazy-for-Wanting-to-Live-Here' list. I am asked on a regular basis why I would choose to live in a country where there is only electricity part of the day. My response? I like that the power goes out. If the power goes out, that means that at some point, it's going to come back on. I like when it comes back on because everyone shouts, "Llego la luz! (direct translation: The light arrived!)" and smiles really big.


I also like it cause it makes me think of Jesus. One of the many descriptions of Him and His character is Light. Light shines into the darkness and exposes the areas that need to be cleaned out. Light nurtures and makes living things grow. Right now, the world we live in is a dark place.  Maybe the world immediately around you isn't, but just outside your bubble, families are falling apart, men and women are having identity crises, children are being sold into slavery, etc., etc., etc.


I have hope, though. It's not a hope that things are going to get better through man's efforts. Nope. Even if we try with all we've got, it still won't be enough. My hope, rather, is based in faith that Jesus will return like He's promised.  He's going to come back, shine His light into all the dark places, and put everything back in order. People from every tribe and tongue are going to shout their own version of "Llego la luz!" and He WILL be celebrated. Woot!