Lizzie's Post :]

Hello everyone!

It's been such a crazy, exciting, and exhausting adventure out here for me- and for all of us I'm sure! I have so much to say but there are not enough words in English, Spanish or any language to accurately illustrate what I've experienced thus far. There are few times in the Christian walk where everything we know ceases to make sense because our eyes are opened so much to a broader reality that encapsolates us. For me, this is that time. I have been assigned to the art site in El Callejon, a small very impoverished community on squalor land. It is nothing like I expected and I'm so glad! My site leader speaks nada Ingles but is a man after God's own heart for sure! His insight and transparency inspire me to be not only a better Christian, but a true disciple. "Today is the best day!" he always says with his contagious and renown smile, "You make the decision to be joyful today. And every day. If you have a problem and you cannot fix it, what use is it to complain? And if you have a problem and you can resolve it, why complain? It's going to be resolved." This among many things are incredible lessons he's taught me and my peers at the art site. There have been many doctrinal things I didn't agree with, and it challenged my faith. He always tell us not to take his word for it- go and study it. Only Scripture can be trusted. He always encourages us to pray, pray, pray. Every day we spend at least two hours talking about Christ or questions about life before starting on our mural. I've learned a lot. I feel like I'm been more spiritually fed than I have in years! It's so refreshing to be around believers in true unity, transparency, and genuine love- which is nearly unheard of in the States. Fran tells us to ask his wife and his kids anything we like about him or his life and they will not lie. Ask them so that he can improve. He says its good for him for his life to be on display. In America, we wear masks everywhere we go and typically, to church even. Here, the church is the people not the place. Here, we eat together, pray together, convict each other and build one another up just as the first disciples did. It IS possible!! He welcomed us to his home and when we left we were unified in such a love....such a God-given love it's literally indescribable. We understand everything Fran says because our intern, Katey, translates everything for us. She is an INCREDIBLE young woman- someone I aspire to be. Her humility isn't on display. It's just who she is. She doesn't pronounce it. She just lives it, without thinking twice. There is not a shred of judgement in her. Not a shred. I've loved working alongside her and learning from someone who is older, wiser, and more in love with the Lord than I.
I'm LOVING my friends here too. There have been moments when I've felt so alone and I'm reminded to lean on Christ. But the friends I have made have sharpened me as I have sharpened them. I've realized that I don't need to leave the country to have fellowship. If I want unity in the church, it starts with my life. My first mission field is my home and family- who I love and who know my ugliness and my flaws more than anyone. Then it's my neighbors. I don't even know my neighbors. I've lived on Hydrangea Way for years and years, and I don't even know their names. I sit around and pray for change in my community, in my country, in the Church, and I've never once loved my neighbor. Fran lives this too. I've never seen anyone love like he loves, and I have been GREATLY loved in my life.
There's no doubt I'm missing home. I honestly didn't think I would. I thought home was so mundane and so- familiar. I wanted adventure and I got it. I went on a mission's trip- so that people could witness to me, and not the other way around. I have an ENORMOUS appreciation for several things back home: hot and cold running water, consistent electricity, lack of humidity, air conditioning, a washing machine, houses without bugs, etc. But I'm most greatful for the people in my life who change me and love me every day that I never think to thank. Firstly, my Grammie. She provides everything for me and shows her love every single day- even when I don't notice or don't appreciate it as I should. She requires so little of me and talks about how proud she is of me all the time. She's done more for me these past few years than I can even count- and it brings me to tears to think how blessed I am to have her for a Grandmother and a very, very dear friend. I love her more than I can say, but I hope to say it a lot more often. I forget how much I am loved. I like to sit and complain, despite what Phil. says about complaining. As Fran reminds us, and a lesson I've learned a hundred times from Mrs. Wyllie, we can't simply read the Word and take it to mean what we want or we imagine. We have to read it as it was written to mean. We have to ALWAYS look at the context- it's everything. ;)
I've loved what SI has done for us here too. Tonight was "poverty night." We ate a typical poor man's meal for dinner- one egg and some rice. No salt. No ketchup. No luxuries. Our electricity is out. We went for a prayer walk around the two poorest communities in Jarabacoa- El Callejon and Mounte Gorda. sp? I have come to know and love the little children where I work and it was cool to walk by their houses and pray for them. We also did a foot washing, which you all may have heard about and an excursion to the rapids. Tomorrow is outreach- and I'm sure someone will post about it. I'm excited because I get to be "creation girl" in a skit we're doing for kids' club. It's the silent drama done to Lifehouse's "Everything." SO EXCITED!! :)
My favorite part of the trip however, is not the little girls doing my hair or tugging at my side. It's not the chapel and prayer time and yummy food- although all those things are wonderful. My highlight as been getting to know people on a deeper level- sharing my testimony over and over. Hearing other people's story. Being equipped and eager to answer the tough questions people ask me about God's goodness, soveriegnty, and justice. I'm so blessed to have gone to a Christian high school and be surrounded by extremely wise and loving people who teach and encourage me to know and live out the Truth. I've been able to explain the answers to questions that used to haunt me. I'm able to make disciples, as I've been made into a disciple. My faith is challenged. I hear God speaking in so many crazy coincidental ways. My purpose is clear, my path is steady, my heart at peace, and my whole self eager to serve here, at home, and everywhere else I travel as Jesus did. I will walk boldly through the door God has set before me in faith. I don't know what next God has planned for me. But I trust Him. I mean, He IS the Almighty God. :)

I miss you all SOOO much and I can't wait to wrap my arms around some of you and tell you everything I'm learning and seeing here. Help me pray for the bug bites and the separation anxiety! Can't wait to get some IN-N-OUT and nice hot shower!!!

All my love,
Lizzie