Shots administered, laundry done, bags almost packed… tomorrow’s the big day! <sigh> Can you believe it? I can’t! Never in a million years would I have planned this for my life…. it’s just too big! Just goes to show how BIG our God is and when you serve a BIG God, you better expect BIG plans, right?! He is so good!
Well, this will be my last entry until I return. I am bringing a journal to write in while I’m there and maybe I will transfer all those entries to this site when I get back so you can see what I experience each day. For now, though, here are some prayer requests that you can be praying for while I am there:
1. Safety- That God would protect everyone on the team through our travels and keep us safe from illnesses and stomach bugs. Personally, I couldn’t afford to do all the recommended vaccines so an extra boost in my immune system would be a great thing to pray for.
2. Fear of the Unknown- I know that whatever God is planning is for his ultimate good and glory, I know that he has amazing things in store for me and the rest of the team. This both excites me and scares me to death! I’m so excited to see what he has planned and to see him work, I’m just afraid of what he has to do to accomplish it. Ya know? What will he show me to break my heart? What pain will come in my pruning? What circumstances will I need to go through for him to create a vision for my life? How will he change me, and what does that mean for my future?
3.The Dance Team- I can teach all the moves and all the dances, but creating a heart for worship is all in God’s hands. I’ve had to pretty much cut one of our dances because I don’t feel that the heart is there, and it’s not a dance you can “fake” your way through. It looks completely dumb if it’s not done as worship- it’s basically choreographed worship more than “a dance.” I’ve said we’ll keep working on it, but it’s up to God if we actually use it. My prayer for the team is that God would do such a work in them that we get to do the dance- not because I love the dance (I do, but that’s not the point) but because it would be a reflection of what God did. That he would take a bunch of kids, break their hearts and turn their dancing into something that touches thousands of lives. I know I serve a BIG God and I know this is a BIG job, it’s the perfect fit for him. (Also if you could pray that we don’t mess up completely or twist our ankles that would be great!)
4. The hearts of Guatemala- Pray that God would prepare the people we will be serving and witnessing to, that God would soften their hearts and open their ears. We will be doing so much, and talking to thousands of people about our Lord- pray that the people would come to know him, really know him!
5. The Whole Team- there are 39 teens and leaders flying out from Bellingham, another group from Salem joining up with us and the people of the Reid Saunders Association. It’s a pretty big team, a good thing, but there will no doubt be some friction at some point. Please pray that we are always focused on Christ and being his humble servant, there is no room for selfishness and pride. Pray that we just try to “out serve” everyone else on the team and that God would create an amazing sense of unity within us. Pray for our confidence in ourselves as well as our confidence in Christ as we step out of our comfort zones to do God’s work. Pray that as God works in each of our lives that we become bold in our efforts to declare his goodness and win lives for his kingdom.
Thank you, friends, for all your prayers and support! You are an extension of this team and I’m so blessed to have you in my life.
Adios Amigos! Dios bendecir! (Good-bye friends! God bless!)