time flies..

well i have been here for a month already. i can't believe it. it really seems like yesterday i got here, but i've been here for a MONTH! my stay here is already 1/6 over.. but let me tell you all, in just one month here, God has blessed my life more than i could have imagined He would the whole time. and there is so much more to come! God has been so faithful for the past month, the past few months in fact. i know that it was because of God that i was financially able to come here, and because of God that the doors were opened at this point in my life. this month God has been faithful to many requests. i have asked God for opportunities here. He has given them in abundance. i have told you of our weekly praise and prayer, we met again tonight and God was here in our presence, and He was exalted tonight. God has brought us together with fellow christians, so that we can encourage one another, and make eachother stronger. i was BLESSED with the opportunity to work with a group called manos extendidos , outstretched hands, this past saturday. we went up to a very poor village on the outskirts of teguc. and sang children's songs, had a short lesson, gave out some cookies and drinks, and played with the kids. it was such a joy to be around these children. it is amazing to see a child, who lives in poverty, light up when you give them something that seems so insignificant, a cookie, a limpera(the currency here- 18 limperas to 1 american dollar). not only are they happy that you gave them a pack of cookies, but they want to share them. Marcos was the boy that i connected with on saturday. one of the cutest kids i have ever come across, but he was a wild one! A.D.D for sure! but his heart was golden. during the lesson, Paul was asking the children if they had joy, and all of the kids were excited and they screamed "SI!!!" (YES!!! for the linguistically challenged) so Paul asked them to give an example of something that gave them joy.. not many had anything to say, so i looked down at Marcos on my lap, and i said why aren't you answering? what gives you joy? and he whispered in my ear - "my joy is that you came here today". talk about melting my heart.. the heart of a child. i truly understand why Jesus told us that we should have the heart of a child. so pure, so full of love, so innocent. In Mt. ch. 18 vs. 3 Jesus tells us “unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” i pray that God will teach me to love like a child loves, to see past things that we so often can't get over. to be joyful like a child. we have reason to be joyful, we have reason to love. because we are loved. God loves us more than we can fathom. and it is unconditional.. a word i find hard to relate to the love that i give out..

God is showing me. God is leading me. and God is molding me.

tim is back now, and he has hit the ground running. I have no doubt it will be a busy next month, and I look forward to every bit of it. There is a group coming from Ohio at the end of this month, only a few weeks away, and I am really excited for them to be here. There is much work to be done, and I know they are anxious to do it. We will be working with them on their projects, they will be here for about 9 days. Until then, we will be working hard and planning their trip, looking for where God wants them to work.

thank you for your prayers and encouragement. it has been a great month, and i know there is more to come! please stay in touch, it is great to hear from back home.
- seeking and finding-
NCR