february…in 5 minutes

The Lord will sustain [her] on [her] sickbed and restore [her].    _{Psalm 41.3}

love is a 3 letter word…

Happy belated Valentines Day!  I didn’t get into too much trouble – me and Jesus celebrated in style, we had a wonderful dinner with my family and one of my students gave me a box of chocolate flowers accompanied with a little note she wrote telling me how happy and grateful she was that i was here – I'm so spoiled!

Not gona lie February has been rough.  I have been quite sick for the majority of this month – hence the lack of updating.  I was completely out of commission the second week of February and was not able to start my classes on time or, for that matter, leave my bed.  I did see a doctor and was put on medications for a serious flu and a mystery virus – we don’t need to hit anymore details.  Case in point God is faithful and I’m now able to walk to bus stop without needing a nap!  This time of illness was really difficult for me, not only just the physical part of being sick but emotionally it was completely draining.  I felt very alone and struggled to find joy in anything.  Then one morning in my devotional it mentioned how some of the sweetest times people have had with God have been in jail cells or sick beds…I started to not focus on my lack of energy or how sad and lonely it was being quarantined in my room but instead started investing some solid time in the word – trying to make God the center of all my thoughts and i came across this doosy:

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast” – 1 Peter 5.10

This has been incredibly encouraging, sickness is inevitable and its comforting to know that no matter what happens to me God sees it all and he’s got it ALL under control.

PRAISE   So my classes have started! I currently have 1 student who is able to make it to our scheduled English class (Tuesday/Friday, 2-4). But have 4 others whom I tutor individually.  The computer class is run on Thursdays from 2-4 and the lab is open for drop in on Tuesdays. While the feedback is slow right now I am confident and optimistic, word will get out and then we will have to figure out a way to accommodate the plethora of kids who are going to swarm our way!

Also today, I ran into my friend Mikael and he had a fancy looking paper in his hand…so of course I snooped and discovered that is was his high school diploma!!! This is SO exciting we danced around with complete delight – well I danced and he looked at me like I was absolutely ridiculous but still YAY!!!

PRAYER   There is a HUGE need for some serious prayer down here right now…to choose one word- well two words “gong show” I think explains it the best:

• So the week that I was sick one of the girls at The Refuge, Angie,  attempted to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. She did not succeed, and is currently in the hospital.  They had to amputate her foot as her ankle was too badly shattered to repair.  Aside from the physical healing please pray that God would really speak to her – it’s a miracle that she is alive!  Pray that she would recognize how much she is loved and special she is. 
• For a burst of energy, patience, and grace to cover all the leaders and volunteers in New Horizons. There seems to be a sense of discouragement and confusion due to miscommunication. That we would be united and working towards the same goal – witnessing Christ’s love to the youth of La Carpio.
• We have had two more of our cement blocks in our fence kicked down (which if you saw this fence..is a feat).  This needs to be addressed otherwise we will have no way of regulating who enters the property (aka the only open space in all of Carpio) it’s just scary to think about…
• And of course the regulars: my health, spanish, and a big ‘ol dose of wisdom – with all this craziness i need the trifecta more than ever!

oooh valentines dinner…YUM!

God = love