Honduran Horizon - JUNE

Believe it or not, I'm getting this newsletter out early!

I returned home last weekend and I cannot get enough of this wonderful state! I got home Saturday night and have been loving every minute... including the freedom to flush my toilet paper, drive a car, hug my brothers, and have dinner on the porch with my parents. LOVE IT.

There are some things that only happen in Iowa.

There are also some things to praise God for because of His provision this year. I wrote about a few things in the newsletter this month, but I want to highlight a few.

Last year, before I left for Honduras, I made prayer cards with the following requests:

• For the Lord to prepare students’ hearts for another year at Pinares

God totally provided in this area. I saw students transformed this year - growing in grace and Truth ... and slowly finding their courageous feet to move in service for Christ.

• For the Lord’s blessing on the ministry of Pinares and the staff

I felt such a wonderful sense of community with my roommates, co-workers, and staff. I know the Lord has blessed Pinares as a school and each staff person comes in answer to a personal call.

• For the connections to surrounding communities through service work

I was overwhelmed with the opportunities to reach out and work with other organizations this year. I have built bridges through "hands and feet," the new student organization, and also through serving with Manos Extendidas. God definitely provided these connections.

• For my abilities as a teacher, counselor, co-worker, and friend

In every way, even in my weakness, I felt the prayers that sustained me. God most certainly showed up, because I couldn't have finished on my own.

• For a humble heart to enter into ministry and work alongside other servants

I always seem to struggle with pride and this year was no different. But when I did allow the Lord to work in ways He designed, I was a joyful part of something much bigger than little me could ever create.

• For traveling mercies and other details

Though this is the shortest request, I know my mom prayed real hard for it! Actually, I am very very thankful for all the traveling and detail-oriented prayers. I may never know how those prayers protected me.

Here is the newsletter for June. It's still short, but I wanted to get it out quick because I'll be writing my summer newsletter to include updates from Camp Bethany. I am speaking this week as the missionary and I have already felt the Lord moving and working.

Click on the image below to go to the Honduran Horizon page and then click on June 2009.

I have attached a new prayer card as well, so that you can continue to pray this year for the ministry in Honduras. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And may the Lord bless your faithful hearts!

Please keep checking back this week for more pictures and updates from Iowa, Camp Bethany, and other exciting stateside adventures!

power of prayer

The Lord is sovereign over all Creation. I believe it.

Please pray for these things tonight:
-cousin Livvy in the children's hospital in Denver for pneumonia of unknown origin
-grandma still in the hospital with little improvement today
-friend Anna, whose heart is broken into a million tiny little pieces
-student, Bryan Vasquez, here who had appendicitis and had an operation, but he has a blood condition and there have been many complications and he is bleeding now internally

God is sovereign and holds these things in His hands. He has weaved each one of us together and nothing escapes His sight. Each of these prayers is just all about brokenness. We are so broken. Humanity is so broken. We have to trust our Savior is Lord over everything.

please pray for my gram

My gram is on my mind tonight. I just got back from a praise/worship session and before I was at a potluck for my care group and before that I was playing capture the flag and before that I was organizing a surprise party with our 10th graders for my roommate and before that I was working.

But, right now I am praying for my grandma Phyllis because she is struggling to recover after having surgery for cancer in her colon. My heart is aching for the frustration I know she must be facing right now at being immobile. I know that the Lord is holding her in His hands, but the prayers of the righteous lifted up to Him are powerful and effective. My grandpa is such a strong, steadfast man with so much love to give. I know his support of gram is endless, but both of them need strength right now.

This verse that a student gave me awhile back is again reminding me the power and authority our Lord possesses.

Isaiah 40:28
"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable."

I just praise God for his faithfulness and pray He will be the strength and steady hand guiding both my precious grandparents tonight.

a little light creativity and some deeper thinking

Here's a new website my friend Macayla suggested, that I now love:
www.curbly.com

Here's something I stumbled upon (by way of twitter of all places!):
www.redmetyellow.com

I was browsing Justin Taylor's blog and came across this book. The author spoke at one of the Next Conferences and it definitely looks like something I want to pick up while I'm in the States:
between two worlds

So, there's a few things for your Monday.