love

I have been teaching for 2 weeks now and school has been great!  The Lord has been showing me how to manage a classroom of 4 with different levels and ages.  It is so wonderful how much I am to be dependent on the Lord.  At school, we are studying scripture together, learning how the Bible came to us, studying the His story of Rome, along with all other subject.  

On Friday we went on  nature walk around the neighborhood.  All 4 of the kids took a notepad and pencil and took notes on what they noticed outside with their 5 senses.  Well, Esther (the 4 year old) was ready for this assignment.  As soon as we stepped outside she saw the dogs poop and smelt the poop too.  She immediately flipped open that notepad and began drawing the poop.  I couldn't get upset because she was totally following instructions =)  Also, I often find her desk stuffed with books.  She can't put them down-- no teacher can EVER complain about that!

I have such fun students and I love how God has given them the desire to learn and to want to do well in school.  We serve an amazing God who has an amazing plan for each one of us! 

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6- following Jesus is not hard, He simple wants you to love.  Love the person that is right in front of you because God placed him or her in your path =)

"Whoever sows to please their flesh (sinful nature), from flesh (sinful nature) will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."  Galatians 6:8 

Be Poor in Spirit

"The poor rely on each other.  They need each other.  They live in a community or interdependence.  They have to share with each other just to survive.  Those who have much are often quick to accumulate and slow to give away.  Yet those who have little are quick to share.  They often give without remembering; they receive without forgetting.  The poor are truly rich for the simplicity of their devotion." -Heidi Baker

Our next door neighbors are quite simple compared to the United States- compared to my life.  There are no computers, videos, televisions, I pads, I phones, or internet.  It is a simplicity of devotion, interdependence, and fellowship.

Exodus 32- Idols again!  Even though Israel had seen the invisible God in action, they still wanted the familiar gods they could see and shape into whatever image they desired.  How much like them we are!  Our great temptation is still to shape God to our liking, to make him convenient to obey or ignore.  The gods we create blind us to the love our loving God wants to shower on us.  God cannot work in us when we elevate anyone or anything above him! -Application Study Bible

"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 5:3

First Week of School

11.11.13- We started school.  His timing is perfect and all we have to do is trust in our Father.  This week has been fun and the learning has begun.  My sweet students have been so patient with me as I have been learning what our schedule should look like and how to divide my time into 4 students and 4 different levels.  With God all things are possible.  God has showed me how much of His strength I need rather than my own.  When I rely on my own strength, I become like Peter and begin to fall into the water- but when I fix my eyes on Jesus I walk on water and the impossible with self becomes possible in Him.

We got to go on a field trip this week to the Apparent Project.  The Apparent Project is a ministry that provides over 250 jobs so parents can be a parent (rather than abandoning or giving their child to an orphanage).  The employees make beads, pottery, clay beads, metal work, and much more!  The kids were able to see the work that takes place, the ministry, and make beads and pottery themselves.  We had so much fun being with other families in the neighborhood and their kids!  There is a great homeschool community where we moved too!  

I am excited to see what God has planned for my students this year!  

"You make beautiful things out of dust.  You make beautiful things out of us". Gungor

Beautiful Love

God has given me a heart for kids.  I love kids.  I love their joy, their innocence, their love, their hugs, their faith, their hearts, and their beauty.  I knew before moving to Haiti that I was going to be loving on some Haitian kids- it was and is a desire God has laid on my heart.  There are some girls who live next door to us that I felt drawn to.  I met them the first day we came to look at our new house.  They were walking home from the feeding program and all I wanted to do was hug, kiss, hold, and love on them.  The day we moved in, I sat outside the gate and held one little girl and her sisters' hands.  It was beautiful and I loved every second of it. 

God has placed them on my heart and I am praying what my place will be in their life, with them, and with their family.

 

Today I was walking home from Bible study- it was getting dark outside but there was still a little bit of light.  As I got to the top of the hill (walking down toward my house) I saw a little girl climbing over rocks running up the hill with arms wide open to be embraced with a hug.  It was sweet Tiyesha (the little girl in the red shirt in the pictures).  All I could do was throw down my stuff, pick her up, and love on her. The joy that was brought to me in this moment was inexpressible! All I could do was stand their in awe, in peace, and in complete joy.

 

This moment reminded me of how much Jesus loves when we run after Him with our arms and heart wide open, climbing over rocks, persevering through the trials, running up the treacherous hill- for His embrace! How far are you willing to go for Jesus?  How hard are you willing to run after Jesus?  He ran, runs, and will run and went, goes, and will go far for you.

 

How He Loves Us So.

 

 

Happy November!

I can't believe it is already November!  It doesn't help that it is 90 degrees here and sunny almost every day =)  I can't complain though because the weather sure was beautiful at the beach on Saturday.  I love how God always provides rest!  He gave that to me this weekend, filled with friends, fellowship, relaxation, and time to grow closer in Him!

We are getting all moved into our house.  I love the area we are living in, I have many American friends, there are so many awesome ministries to be involved with, I am falling in love with the Haitian neighbors, I was able to go on a run (with a friend), and am feeling at home.  School is just around the corner for my sweet students!

Even without curriculum they are still reading and learning!

Here is our new home- What a gift from God!

This is the inside of the downstairs.

 

The Lord has been teaching me so much every single day.  This has been the biggest and greatest learning experience of my life.  He has made my faith in Him grow tremendously.  Moving in this huge, nice house has been difficult for me because of all the poverty that surrounds me.  However, this house will be used for the good- we need to feel at home and this is what we are comfortable and use to. God provided in a major way and truly led us to this house.

 

The Lord also has placed a new song in my heart by Jesus Culture called "Come Away".  It says: 

Come away with me

It's never too late, it's not too late for you

I have a plan for you

It's going to be wild

It's going to be great

It's going to be full of me

 

I want to challenge you to go away with God.  See what He is made of and what He has in stored for you.  It is more and better than you can ever imagine =)