November 23, 2013

Dear friends and family,

I write to you from the new light of November and I know snow is quickly coming as fall fades to winter. I do miss these seasons greatly, but I know you are enjoying pumpkin spice lattes and fall colors and first snows in my absence.

I will start out by telling you I have the best job in the world.

Today was a normal day……a flurry of craziness all day, as it normally is… keeping track of 65 children and all their needs and all my ‘to-do’ lists and all the conversations and grading and e-mails all thrown in. The thing is, I stood before those 65 children today and got to speak into their lives, I got to encourage them, love and hug on them, laugh with them over all the silliness, color minions for our thanksgiving decorations, sing to crazy chapel songs, and speak God’s truth. The best part I realized about my job though, is that I get to experience God in all His fullness right along with the kids. I read a story in preparation for today’s lesson from 1 Kings that I had never read before. I summarized an aspect of God’s character that I was astounded about as the words rolled off my tongue, feeling my emotions well up at the awesomeness I was trying to express. I tallied 224 people hearing about Jesus during the month of October from the mouths and eagerness of these children. Their passion is there, and as they grow and learn in the Lord, so do I right along with them! I still wake up every ordinary day and wonder how I am so blessed to be chosen for the role I get to play in God’s big grand scheme. Hallelujah, the gospel is true!

I was so blessed by the response of many of you to my last e-mail about the gospel and sharing it amongst the other simple needs I presented. I have watched the Lord provide in some pretty amazing ways!

Money was provided for the tiny house church and building is beginning on the land they were able to purchase last week! Coats were sent to keep the children cozy in the ‘humid freezing cold’ that happens in those mountains during this season. Money was given for Bibles and hymn books and for children’s curriculum! It has been so neat to watch people step up and care for such needs for their brothers and sisters around the world. Thank you for your willing hearts, I am humbled!

On October 19 I started a 40 day Daniel fast leading into Thanksgiving which has been a huge challenge, but also an immense blessing. Despite learning some delicious new recipes (Indian Channa Sog, Moroccan lentil soup, coconut curry and much more!) I can only try to describe the freedom that comes from setting aside the desires of the flesh and satisfying my hunger, wants, and cravings with Christ alone. Cleansing myself from many of the ‘passions of this world’ and seeking first the kingdom of God is surely what He has called me to in this time and He is blessing me and showing up in wonderful ways. Though at times I sit frustrated, waiting for Him to move and show me purpose and do miracles, more than anything, I know that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him and this has been the aim, to simply glorify Him more with pure satisfaction and delight in Him and His Word alone… every morning that I rise before dawn, every time I feel tired and want a quick fix of caffeine or carbs, and every night as I thank Him for sustaining me and I meditate on His promises. The gospel in all its facets and fullness continues to bring me to the point of tears almost every day. I am in a humble and glorious place spiritually. I can’t wait to share more meditations as we talk face to face soon! (26 days!)  

Other happenings:

 

Cassy came to visit for a week and we gallivanted around Tegucigalpa, drank a lot of smoothies, visited the National Rainforest, met up with some different friends, and had sweet sister time to process all the different pieces of our hearts. I’m so thankful for her help in my classroom and we were able to pull off a successful (yet extremely hectic) chapel presentation with my class while she was visiting!

The orphanage is growing and changing in good and healthy ways. The Lord will open up an opportunity to take some of my students to make Christmas cards with the kids in the beginning of December! I’m so excited to share this part of my life with my willing and servant hearted children!

Thursday morning dawned another normal day (as the one I described above) and then the announcement came after devotions that my 5^th grade partner teacher from last year had lost her mother suddenly the night before. This threw many of my students and many of the staff into quite a phase of pain as we love this teacher so much and had to deal with the emotions and questioning of ‘why this happened.’ After skyping with Suzy my mind was ablaze with wonder as her quick and confident words were, “Julie I know that God gave me the hardships of Honduras last year to prepare me to go through this one. He knows what He is doing.” I stand amazed at how God is using a lot of pain and difficulty to sanctify according to His will… because He loves us that much.  Let us continue to press into Him and trust Him instead of pulling away quick and questioning. He is good and all He does is GOOD.

This Thanksgiving brings the joyous reunion of my old roommate for 10 days and a trip to a NEW orphanage the Lord brought to my attention. Today though, the Honduran elections are being held and chaos is sure to ensue... there's no telling what is going to happen with the country in this election, but your prayers are appreciated. God holds it all in His hands, but things are building as I write. 

 

I have been seeking the Lord hard for a car and still wait on Him in this. I know I will be amazed when He finally works out His plans.

In closing, I am blessed and running hard after the Lord. Christmas will be a delicious time of sharing and I need to be refreshed on the stories of your lives and ministries as well. Run hard after Him friends, we have NOTHING to lose and EVERYTHING to gain, not for this life, but for the one that is to come!

Song for you by Kristian Stanfill: The Lord our God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTbY24n-8Ik

and Chris Tomlin: I lift my hands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c24En0r-lXg

With much love and giving of thanks,

                           ~Julie~