ADIOS CASA HOGAR

With these words I prepare to leave the children's shelter:
"Sing to the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things!"
~ Psalm 98:1

Last night, as I finished packing my bags, I noticed a new decoration in the room.
The house mother had purchased a decorative plate that had Psalm 98:1 on it.
What a great reminder!
As I make my journey home, I know that God has done marvelous things!
I can move forward with a grateful and happy heart, singing a new song for Him.

After a long night, struggling with a cold...
I woke up with complete energy and enthusiasm.
At 6:30 a.m. I made my way downstairs to have breakfast with the kids.
A majority of the children were preparing for school and I had to say my goodbyes.
It is sad to think that this journey has come to an end but...
God has done marvelous things!

It is my hope that I have done God's work here!
I know that I have learned a lot and am thankful for the experience.
Hopefully I was able to fulfill a need that was present in His timing.

Thanks for reading!
I will post some pictures once I get home.

PRECIOUS MEMORIES

Over the past few weeks I have certainly had my share of struggles.
Things have not been easy to say the least.
On the other hand, things have not been bad either...

I have made so many precious memories!
At night, in the quiet, I look back on the day and think of all the fun things I have done.
From swimming with the little ones to roasting marshmallows at the camp fire...
I can't thank the Lord enough for this opportunity.
It has been and continues to be an amazing adventure.

These children are worth so much.
They deserve my time and energy.
The struggles only make the precious moments that much more special!

Today in particular I was able to do a few exciting things.
I went to see an IMAX movie and was treated to a buffet dinner.
How special is that ?!?!

It was nice to get away from the shelter for a short while.
When I got back I was welcomed with many hugs!
It was the perfect day here in Mexico.

I will always carry with me the memories of these precious children.
They are always filled with joy and excitement.
... or tears and screams...!
The time that I have with them is so very dear to me!

I WISH...

What do I wish for?

As my time in Mexico progresses, there are many things that I wish I had.

I wish there were more volunteers to interact with.
I wish there was more time to explore the wonderful city.
I wish I could share these memories with someone else.
I wish I could join my family in their fun adventures back at home.

I wish... I wish... I wish...

These desires can easily bring people down.
I have this amazing opportunity and I still want more...?
I have to believe that I am here for a reason.
After praying for God's timing, I am here NOW.
It is NOW that I must do His work.

If I waited for more volunteers, my help would not be as necessary.
If I had more time to explore, I would not be here in complete service.
If I had someone else with me, I would not be learning to fully rely on God.
If I was at home, I would still be praying for an opportunity to serve.

ETC... ETC... ETC...

This trip to Mexico is much different than my last.
I must stop comparing it to previous experiences.
God is doing great work.
I need to accept His embrace and love each moment that He gives me.

No more 'wishing' for me.
God has given me a great opportunity.
I will be thankful!

Thank You... Thank You... Thank You...

BACK IN MEXICO

On May 23rd, I returned to Mexico.

I had been praying that God would lead me where He wanted me to be.
With no summer plans, I decided to go back to Mexico.
One week later, I was on a plane bound South.

This time around, I am on my own.
I don't have a friend by my side to act as a crutch.
In a way, this may be the entire purpose of the trip.
Relying on others has sadly become my comfort area.
On my own, I am required to serve with what I have to offer.
Learning to rely only on God!

I will be staying at the children's shelter for four weeks.
During this time I hope to give as much of myself as possible.
There is very limited staff and, if I can help, I will!

While I want God to use me for good, I also pray that He will teach me.
It is my desire that through this experience, I will draw closer to Him.
In the midst of all the chaos surrounding 16 children and teens...
May I truly seek the calm and quiet of the Lord.

God has already done many great things.
From annoying bugs to screaming teens...
From precious moments with children to periods of silent reflection...
My heavenly Father has blessed me so that I might bless others.

Who else can just 'go to Mexico' for a month on a students budget?

God is great!

TAKING A BREAK

I want to take a minute and thank everyone who reads my blog.

In the past two years, I have been able to experience so much.

Thank you for being a part of that journey.

Looking back, I received my bible college acceptance letter almost exactly 2 years ago.
That was the beginning of my adventures.
Moving into residence, road trips, serving in soup kitchens, teaching English in THAILAND!
There are way too many memories to even begin listing them.

After my semester of mission training, I had the opportunity to work abroad again.
A road trip to Southern Mexico and a whole month working at an orphanage.

Now, I am working hard to get my diploma in Recreation Therapy.
What a rewarding career choice!
I only hope that I can use my education to pursue God's calling for me.

I am also helping with the youth group at our church.
While this might be a challenge, I think it will be a great learning experience.

I feel so blessed to have experienced all of this within such a short amount of time.
Two years go by extremely quick when you are having that much fun.

Although I experienced the loss of loved ones and doubted my future,
I found strength in the Lord.
He carried me through those times of weakness and taught me how to love deeper.

"Constant through the trials and the change! One thing still remains. Your love never fails!"
 ~ Jesus Culture

If it wasn't for God's love, I would not have had the strength to experience anything.

The last two years have been absolutely amazing.

I pray that I continue to open my heart and follow God's calling.

At this point, I am going to take a break from Blogging.
(seeing as my life is pretty "chill" right now)
I hope to be back with some exciting stories in the near future!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
~Isaiah 6:8

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This year I have been thinking a lot about CHRISTmas.
Never before have I been so overwhelmed by the "reason for the season."
Everywhere I go, I see people preparing for the holiday;
Gifts in hand and plans being made.

Happy birthday Jesus???

At school the other day, a friend told me of her plans for Christmas.
She had shopping left to do and couldn't wait to visit her family.
Afterwards, she mentioned that she didn't believe in God or anything for that matter.

This is where I began to think.

Why are people celebrating Christ's coming when they don't even believe in Christ.
I am joyful that people take the opportunity to be with family but,
consumerism has taken over.
For some reason, I can't grasp why people do what they do.

Seriously, this occurrence has never bothered me before.
We celebrate Christmas because of Christ; that's just what we do...
I've never considered those who don't believe.

This year, the whole concept is sitting very heavy on my heart.
In flesh, God came to save us all.
His coming is something that we must treasure and look forward to.
He was and is and is to come!

In other religions, religious holidays remain religious.
As Christians, we need to do the same within our homes.
While the rest of the world flies through the season;
We can stop and reflect on how truly blessed we are.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:28

Moving on...
I thought that I would share this with you.
A little story that has been passed on through e-mail recently:

CHRISTMAS  AT A GAS STATION 

  

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in
years since his wife had passed away.
It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.
He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering
what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and  warm up."Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I  see you're busy, I'll just go.""Not without something hot in your belly." George said.  He  turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the  stranger."It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee." Just  at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell."Excuse me, be right back," George said.

There in the  driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front.The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!"  said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is  with child and my car is broken."George opened the hood. It was bad; the car was dead. "You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.  "But Mister, please help..." The door of the office closed behind George as he  went inside.
He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside.He walked around the  building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it  around to where the couple was waiting."Here, take my  truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real  good."George helped  put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into  the night.He turned and walked back inside the office."Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That  'ol truck has brand new ones." George thought he was  talking to the stranger, but the man had gone.

The Thermos  was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside  it. 
"Well, at least he got something in his belly,"  George thought.   

George  went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start.
It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage  where the truck had been.
He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He  discovered that the block hadn't cracked, it was just the hose on the radiator.
"Well, shoot, I can fix this,"  he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either."
He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln.
They were like new and he wasn't going  to drive the car anyway.  

As he was working, he heard shots being fired.
He ran outside and beside a  police car an officer lay on the cold ground.
Bleeding from  the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."  

George  helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he  had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound  needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought.
The uniform company had been there that morning and  had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to  bind the wound.
"Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease. 

"Something  for pain," George thought.  All he had was the pills he used for his back.
"These ought to work." He put some water  in a cup and gave the policeman the pills.
"You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance." The phone was dead.
"Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box  out in your car." 

He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio. 

He  went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer.
"You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area." 

George  sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in  the Army and I ain't gonna leave you."
George pulled back  the bandage to check for bleeding.
"Looks worse than what it is.  Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it  missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain. 

George  got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None  for me," said the officer..

"Oh,  yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got  no donuts."
The officer laughed and winced at the same time.  

The  front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man  with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young  man yelled.
His hand was shaking and George could tell that  he had never done anything like this before.  

"That's the guy that  shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get  hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Give me the cash!"

The cop  reached for his gun.
"Put that thing away," George said to  him, "we got 1 too many in here now."  

He turned his attention to the young man.
"Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you  need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I  got. Now put that pea shooter  away."

George pulled  $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man,  reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. 
The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry.
"I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son,"  he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got  repossessed last week." 

George  handed the gun to the cop.
"Son, we all get in a bit of  squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can." 

He  got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair  across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George  handed the young man a cup of coffee.
"Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human.
Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man stopped crying, and looked at the cop.
"Sorry I  shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer." he said.

"Shut  up and drink your coffee " the cop said. 

George  could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an  ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door,  guns drawn.
"Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the  wounded officer. 

"Not  bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"  

"GPS  locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did  this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.  

Chuck  answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran." 

George and the young  man both looked puzzled at each other.
"That guy work here?"  the wounded cop continued.  

"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."  

The  paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher.
The  young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered,   "Why?"

Chuck  just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and  thanks for everything."

"Well,  looks like you got one a  break there. That  ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the  back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box.
"Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think  Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day." 

The  young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he  ever saw.
"I can't take this," said the young man. "It means  something to you." 

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need." 

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell.
"Here's something for that little man of yours."  

The young man began  to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier. 

"And  what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep  that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."  

The  young man turned with tears streaming down his face.
"I'll  be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good." 

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after." 

George  turned around & found the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you'd left?"  

"I  have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"  

"Well, after my wife  passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine  tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't  the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little  chubby." 

The  stranger put his hand on George's shoulder.
"But you do  celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink  and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with  child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.  The  policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being  killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you  will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any  man."

George was  taken aback by all this stranger had said.
"And how do you  know all this?" asked the old man.  

"Trust me, George. I  have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."  

The stranger moved  toward the door.
"If you will excuse me, George, I have to  go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration  planned." 

George  watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that  the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe.
A golden light began to fill the room.  

"You see, George ..  it's My birthday.  Merry Christmas."

George  fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

May you all have a blessed Christmas season and happy new year.

Remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate!

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 1 1:14 +29

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

Where Is The Love? Black Eyed Peas

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
What a beautiful time of year.
It's a special occasion where we can stop and thank God for the beauties of this world!


Here are a few pictures from my weekend up-north:

ORIENTATION

Today was my first day of school.
Along with many other students, I started something new.

I have started my schooling to become a Recreation Therapist.

Today was orientation. Presentations, games, and free food!
The presentations today were very inspiring.
Each person that spoke was filled with energy.
Their enthusiasm for the program got me excited!

While I am looking forward to the new possibilities, I am missing last years adventures.
Two very different opportunities, yet I find myself comparing the two.

My time at bible college was excellent.
Serving God, living in residence, working in a small group, travelling...
A wonderful experience that I will never forget!

Now, I am lost in a crowd of students, trying to find my way.
Hopefully, I can use this diploma program to serve God!
It`s time for me to shine in a whole new way.
I am so excited to be a part of this new experience.


***
Today, a motivational speaker used her son`s experiences to encourage us.
Her son`s name is Joshua.
Immediately, I was reminded of Joshua in the bible.
I decided that I need to study the book of Joshua!
For most people, Joshua`s story was inspiring.
For me, I hope Joshua`s story will be transforming.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

 

 

 

INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO

 

 

 

 

IN MEMORY

❤  OMA ❤

MARCH 17, 1931 - AUGUST 22, 2013

After celebrating my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary in February,
no one could have expected this turn in events.

Diagnosed in July, my Oma began to decline very quickly.

The cancer had spread through a majority of her body and there was nothing we could do.

The healthiest one in the family, now facing the biggest health crisis...

Death was certain but so was life - ETERNAL LIFE!

8 children. 28 grandchildren. 30 plus great grandchildren.

For a month, family members gathered at her bedside.

Despite her ever-failing energy levels, she still had so much to teach us.

"Samantha, serve the Lord everyday of your life."

Oma knew that Heaven was near, and in that, gave me the greatest gift.

I will always remember these words and strive to serve God in all that I do.

The Lord was definitely our strength in this valley of death.
We feared no evil for God was with us, comforting our aching souls!

Psalm 25
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your Truth and teach me. For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Remeber, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness sake, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The trouble of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.
Redeem Isreal, O God, out of all their troubles!

Matthew 25:23
His master replied,
Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master's happiness!

"I CAN ONLY IMAGINE"

If I had seen the moment that you first saw Him... I can only imagine...

"YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE"

Nothing will ever compare to my Oma singing this song...

"WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN"

There's a better home a-waiting; in the sky, Lord, in the sky!