spring cleaning and bullet points

I've decided to succumb to the temptation to title a post like millions of others will this spring. Partly because the idea is very fitting for all the clutter I've gathered in my life and partly because I am very literally spring cleaning. The laundry is going out back, the trash is beckoning from all corners of my seemingly small abode, and my room is desperate for some attention.

Tonight, I have moved my computer combo (what I now lovingly call my laptop/computer monitor combination) to the dining room table and now I have the grandest ambitions to do some spring cleaning (or planting, maybe?) in the area of writing.

My operation looks something like this, if you put them both together on the kitchen table:

This week is Semana Santa (Holy Week) and most all of my friends and students are off to a coast or a country or a lake to enjoy the week off from school. Meanwhile, I am reading feverishly and awkwardly adjusting to this strange, SLOW pace of life. Yesterday, as I sat outside reading and sunning, I told my mom, "This week is going to be fantastic and so needed. I really just need the rest."

This morning I woke up and felt the usual antsy-ness creeping into my system. "A whole WEEK of this!?!" I asked to all the stuffed up, hot air in my house.

I know I have A LOT of catching up to do here on the blog, and my default method when I have lots to say is to use bullets, so I hope this will give you a picture of what has been happening.

Bullet points are kind of my way of spring cleaning my mind. I have a tendency to make all my physical spaces reflect the mayhem and madness in my mind...

translation: my desk, room, craft space, work space, car space, all space looks distracted and dysfunctional.

solution: bullet points. it may not make the mess go away, but at least I can look at it with some kind of order.

MISSION TRIP

First of all, I don't know where to start with this one... I'll give you the best I got (in slimmed down, bullet-version of course) of the mission trip where I took 9 students to team up with 29 coming from Texas for a week working at an orphanage, planning carnivals for rural schools, and doing various work projects.

• I have a greater understanding and appreciation for the ministries being "served" on short-term mission trips. Whew! It's definitely NOT about the work that the high school kids can accomplish in one week (it can be done faster, cheaper, and better by locals). It IS about the heart. period.
• The opposite happened than my mission trip norm (personal devotions become a last priority) I practically LIVED for that hour in the morning to keep my head on straight.
• I love watching students learn and love and feel the love of God come out their fingertips. It makes my heart downright giddy.
• I have a hard time fitting in to the "adult" table and "adult" meetings and "adult" discipline of a mission trip... will have to work on that in the future
• I am a WORLD CLASS WORRIER! If I had a quarter for every time my students said, "Miss, chill. Seriously, just chill." I would have been able to pay for all the mission trip expenses! I admit, I got a little out of control with the worries. There is no excuse, but I think having a co-leader could be a good idea. It was just too much for me to think/plan/coordinate... and frankly (no matter how many times they say, "chill") someone has to worry about the details or guess what? nothing happens. I've tried "chilling" to the max and basically it is un-productive.
• Every day since the mission trip ended, I have felt a huge burden to continue encouraging the students.
• pursuing any cause, mission, goal, or idea as an end in itself (or for my own accomplishment as an end) is to pursue death

PASSION for TRUTH/PERSONAL GROWTH

• I want more Bible. I want more Jesus. I want more God. That's the best way I can explain my deepening desire to KNOW my Lord more. Whenever God calls me from Honduras, I know I will be going to pursue more Bible instruction. I am considering this option, a ministry of Mars Hill Church in Seattle: Re:Train I want to learn under the best teachers and be forced to question every assumption based on the WORD as Authority. I want to be fully equipped for mission with a great dexterity in wielding the sword of the Spirit.
• physical "things" are so fluid... well, they are mostly flowing out of me right now. I think I am a financial planner's worst nightmare. No, that can't be right..... a financial planner wouldn't know the first thing to think about me (probably that someday I'll end up living in my parents' basement). Funny, cause this 'money flowing out' thing can only work as long as it's flowing in... and I still want a blackberry and a new Mac laptop. Guess I can't shake all the materialism off, can I? :)
• Loving the inspiration coming from musicians like this: Robbie Seay Band, The Civil Wars, JJ Heller, Rhema Soul, The Arrows, Luke Brindley, Trevor Davis
• Loving the preaching/teaching of these good folks: Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, Chris Tomlinson, Vessels of Mercy, Jared Wilson, The Gospel Coalition, WORLD magazine

STUDENTS/DISCIPLESHIP

• relationships, relationships, relationships. I thought this year would be simply a building year, after spending last year reaching out and in the ambiguous and easily excusable stage of 'getting to know' students. My assumption that I could reap so quickly has led to many humbling experiences. Regardless of response or excitement or fruit, I am called to do the same thing for the students here: LOVE fiercely and SHARE the Truth of the gospel unashamedly.
• God, in His grace, has given me beautiful glimmers of the blessing of His refining process and His timing. I have been able to REJOICE with students who are seeing Him clearly for the first time. Actually, I think they are seeing just the edge of His garment and are surprised at the joy they find. WHAT a BLESSING to watch them discover!!
• I am trying and testing my heart to know how I can best love these students in discipleship relationship. I want them to HUNGER and THIRST for the Lord. ... and then I remember being in high school and how strange that sounded. But, regardless, I feel an URGENCY to insist they pursue the BEST and not just okay.

CURRENTLY READING/JUST FINISHED READING

• Angel of Mercy by Baker
  This book blew me away - crazy what the passion of one person can do. She blazed the trail for the indigent insane to receive care in the United States and some countries in Europe.
• The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
  For doubters, skeptics, and YOU. That's right. I think EVERYONE should read this book because it will sharpen your skills to understand and examine WHY you believe in God.
• Twenty Years at Hull-House by Jane Addams
  Read a bit about her in college, but returning to read about the amazing work Jane Addams did in Chicago with the poor and needy. She's said by some to be the mother of modern day social work.
• Becoming Conversant with the Emergent Church by DA Carson
  I'm revisiting this knucklepunch. It's pretty heavy (over my head, if you will), but I want to learn.
• Lord, Is it Warfare? Teach me to Stand by Kay Arthur
  Oh, boy. I picked this up off my shelf because I feel like I desperately need it.
• Basic Christianity by John Stott
  I bought this awhile back and need to dive in.
• The World is Flat by Friedman
  I'm feeling an urgency to know how small our world is getting, because I think it has crazy implications for the Gospel!

Okay, friends. I could go on and on and on, but I know you would never make it to the end of the post and then I would be too tired to continue to write this week. So, I will leave it here. To come: mission trip pics, funny driving stories (YES THE CAR IS UP AND RUNNING!), 17 again anecdotes (I have way too many!), and aspirations to make an herb garden, sew some t-shirts, and accomplish 3 loads of ironing. :)

and please, please, please...

let LOVE FLY like cRaZY