This Saturday I'm leaving for Guatemala! I'm excited...and nervous...and excited. I feel very blessed right now. I was stressed on Saturday; wondering how I was going to afford this trip. I have not had to pay much, but in my present situation, I honestly don't have $10 to spare for extra expenses. On Sunday morning, my sweet sweet church family surprised me and took up an offering for the trip. They ended up giving me a check for just over $400! Now I have not only enough to cover the rest of my expenses, but extra funds to buy school supplies or medical supplies or whatever is most needed to leave with the people in the village there. God always provides for me. You would think by now I would have the faith to trust Him to do that. This just reaffirms that the trip is supposed to happen and I can't wait to get there!
I never thought I would be back in South Texas after college - much less in the church that I grew up in - but honestly, the members there are like family to me. They don't have much, but they would give their last dollar to someone who needed it. They encourage me and love me and I am so grateful for them. I need to learn to focus more on the positive things in my life - and those sweet church members are definitely some blessings that I often overlook. God reminded me of that this weekend. I wouldn't have been able to make it to Guatemala without their considerate hearts and generosity. I feel like I am taking all of them with me into the mountains of South America.
God opened my eyes to something this morning on my way to work. It's easy to look through people; especially the people you come in contact with on a regular basis. I wondered this morning about the lady that works the drive-thru window at McDonalds. I see her at least once a week while I'm picking up coffee. Always the same lady...always just as nice as she can be...at 7:00 in the morning...working at McDonalds. I wonder what her life is like? Does she have family? People who care about her? Children to provide for? I hope she knows that she is a blessing to me...that someone cares about her and the hard work she does day in and day out...all while keeping a smile on her face. I found myself tearing up just thinking about it. I prayed for her on the way to work. I prayed that God would give her patience to work with angry customers. I prayed that she would be able to rest today; to have peace; to feel appreciated.
We are surrounded by people that need to know about the love of God. People that need to know that someone loves them...cares about them...I was reminded of that by the sweet generosity of my church family. I want to pass that love on to the people around me. I want them to know that I appreciate them and care that they are here...even if I don't necessarily "know" them. God doesn't see the lady at McDonalds as just a random person. He sees her as a person that He sent His son to DIE FOR. And He would have done it for only her. I want to live my life with that on the front of my mind. I want my heart to break for the things that break His heart. I'm praying for that during this trip out of the country...and during my everyday life in rural Texas. I believe it's just as important across the street as it is across the ocean.
Alright...that's enough talking for me. Just my rambling thoughts for this manic Monday...:)
And here is a picture of where I will be this weekend! Can't wait...
