Once again,
I am planning to go on another mission trip (vacation with a purpose)!
This time I will be going to Guatemala with a group of women from different churches.
We will be volunteering at a women's medical clinic.
While doctors administer the Pap tests, we will be the moral and spiritual support!
Our team is excited to speak with these women about the wonderful love of Jesus.
Our trip is July 1st, 2016 - July 12th, 2016.
This will be the shortest trip that I have ever been on.
However it may work, I pray that we are following God's guidance.
It might seem too short, but I believe there is a reason for that.
I don't think God wears a watch... 12 days + salvation = eternity!
Sounds great to me.
For the next year, I will be working at a retail store close to home.
(no, I didn't find the right Recreation Therapy job...)
I think God has a plan for me, working at this retail store.
It may not be what I went to school for, but I can see that God is working in me.
Eventually, I would love to work with children who are facing adversity.
Until that door opens, I am praising God in the hallway!
Our team will also be working on a lot of fundraising this year.
We are having a garage sale, zumba-thon, and three chili cook offs.
The money will go directly to the women of Guatemala.
They will receive medical testing and the appropriate treatments.
I am forgetting the most important part...
This will be my first time travelling with my mom!
It will also be her first time on a mission trip.
I hope she experiences the same joy that I felt on my first 'vacation with a purpose.'
27 June 2015
25 June 2015
23 June 2015
22 June 2015
OVERWHELMED BY THE WORLD
Dictionary.com has five explanations for the word overwhelmed.
1. To overcome completely in mind or feeling.
2. To overpower or overcome, especially with superior forces; destroy; or crush.
3. To bury beneath a mass of something, as floodwaters, debris, or an avalanche.
4. To load, heap, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything.
5. To overthrow.
Is "overwhelmed" the right word to use?
In my opinion, yes!
Whether we are sailing through life or extremely stressed by everything...
We are overwhelmed by the world. I am overwhelmed by the world.
I wish I was overwhelmed by Jesus!
However, in complete honesty, I am not.
Not completely overcome in mind and feeling.
I am a Christian buried beneath a mass of something else; distracted by the world.
How can I move forward without being overcome by fame and fortune?
In the world we live in, we have to have money to survive.
We work our way to the top so that we can afford life.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts.
You could go 'off grid' and say good-bye to civilization... but... that's not the point.
As noted in Genesis, God did give us this world to live on!
I am very thankful for that. Beauty is all around us.
It is setting our eyes purely on Jesus that is the challenge.
JESUS already paid His life for ours.
So, now we have to learn how to live in a materialistic world without being buried in it.
As Big Daddy Weave once said:
I delight myself in you (God).
Captivated by your (God's) beauty.
I'm overwhelmed, I'm overwhelmed by you (God).
As we delight ourselves in His blessings, show the world how great He is!
Totally surrender yourself to His beauty.
Be overwhelmed by Him.
Use your blessings to bless others. Money, friendships, opportunities, food, etc...
1. To overcome completely in mind or feeling.
2. To overpower or overcome, especially with superior forces; destroy; or crush.
3. To bury beneath a mass of something, as floodwaters, debris, or an avalanche.
4. To load, heap, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything.
5. To overthrow.
Is "overwhelmed" the right word to use?
In my opinion, yes!
Whether we are sailing through life or extremely stressed by everything...
We are overwhelmed by the world. I am overwhelmed by the world.
I wish I was overwhelmed by Jesus!
However, in complete honesty, I am not.
Not completely overcome in mind and feeling.
I am a Christian buried beneath a mass of something else; distracted by the world.
How can I move forward without being overcome by fame and fortune?
In the world we live in, we have to have money to survive.
We work our way to the top so that we can afford life.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts.
You could go 'off grid' and say good-bye to civilization... but... that's not the point.
As noted in Genesis, God did give us this world to live on!
I am very thankful for that. Beauty is all around us.
It is setting our eyes purely on Jesus that is the challenge.
JESUS already paid His life for ours.
So, now we have to learn how to live in a materialistic world without being buried in it.
As Big Daddy Weave once said:
I delight myself in you (God).
Captivated by your (God's) beauty.
I'm overwhelmed, I'm overwhelmed by you (God).
As we delight ourselves in His blessings, show the world how great He is!
Totally surrender yourself to His beauty.
Be overwhelmed by Him.
Use your blessings to bless others. Money, friendships, opportunities, food, etc...
16 June 2015
PANTENE BEAUTIFUL LENGTHS
On Friday June 12th, my mom participated in the annual Relay For Life.
She raised a few hundred dollars and walked the whole night.
I am proud of her and very thankful that she is still here to share her testimony.
My mom walked as a survivor, but also in memory of friends and family who left this world as a result of cancer.
The walk began with a 'survivors' lap where a sea of yellow shirts circle the track.
Next, was the family lap where everyone joined in to support the survivors.
During this lap, I had a HUGE surprise for my mom.
With my baseball cap and hoodie on, I secretly handed her a bag full of my hair.
I was donating 25" of my hair to the Canadian Cancer Society
(Partnered with Pantene Beautiful Lengths).
Oddly enough, I had 4 braids of hair, so we could each hold one for a family picture.
Look at the difference...
She raised a few hundred dollars and walked the whole night.
I am proud of her and very thankful that she is still here to share her testimony.
My mom walked as a survivor, but also in memory of friends and family who left this world as a result of cancer.
The walk began with a 'survivors' lap where a sea of yellow shirts circle the track.
Next, was the family lap where everyone joined in to support the survivors.
During this lap, I had a HUGE surprise for my mom.
With my baseball cap and hoodie on, I secretly handed her a bag full of my hair.
I was donating 25" of my hair to the Canadian Cancer Society
(Partnered with Pantene Beautiful Lengths).
Oddly enough, I had 4 braids of hair, so we could each hold one for a family picture.
Look at the difference...
11 June 2015
CONVOCATION DAY
Today I graduated, with honours, from the Recreation Therapy program.
It is hard to believe that this journey began just two short years ago.
Looking back, I am so grateful for everything (even the hardest of times).
I can honestly say, I would not be the person who I am today without this experience.
From the wonderful teachers to the friendships that were formed, I am so blessed.
I now have an education and so many good memories to be thankful for.
When the projects piled up and the exams kept coming...
Dare I say it, I couldn't wait for school to be finished.
I wanted to join the 'real' world and pay off my student debts.
This is not exactly how I feel anymore.
After walking across the stage and saying good-bye, I knew that I had reached the next step.
I look forward to my future.
However, I am going to miss school. The structure. The people. The learning. Everything.
School was a big part of my everyday life. It's finished and it is time to face the 'real' world.
I thank God my Father for blessing me with this opportunity and for giving me strength!
Thanks also to my proud support team (mom, dad, and little bro).
Next step? I will have to seek God's guidance and follow His will for me!
*** Guatemala 2016?
It is hard to believe that this journey began just two short years ago.
Looking back, I am so grateful for everything (even the hardest of times).
I can honestly say, I would not be the person who I am today without this experience.
From the wonderful teachers to the friendships that were formed, I am so blessed.
I now have an education and so many good memories to be thankful for.
When the projects piled up and the exams kept coming...
Dare I say it, I couldn't wait for school to be finished.
I wanted to join the 'real' world and pay off my student debts.
This is not exactly how I feel anymore.
After walking across the stage and saying good-bye, I knew that I had reached the next step.
I look forward to my future.
However, I am going to miss school. The structure. The people. The learning. Everything.
School was a big part of my everyday life. It's finished and it is time to face the 'real' world.
I thank God my Father for blessing me with this opportunity and for giving me strength!
Thanks also to my proud support team (mom, dad, and little bro).
Next step? I will have to seek God's guidance and follow His will for me!
*** Guatemala 2016?
15 August 2014
GOOGLE MAPS
The most exciting thing happened the other day.
Okay, it wasn't quite THE most exciting thing but, it was pretty awesome!
Let`s start at the beginning...
My grandma enjoys learning about new programs on the computer.
While at her house last week, I was helping to fix her e-mail account.
Afterward, I decided to show her the amazing thing called Google Maps!
She was amazed that she could see her childhood home and other various features.
Before finishing, I wanted to show her where I had traveled in the last couple of years.
I began with Mexico.
This is where the excitement begins...
I zoomed into the general area I was looking at. (Lake Chapala, Mexico)
With perfect precision, I placed the little yellow person on a street I know fairly well.
Quickly the screen zoomed to street view.
As the image cleared, I was amazed!
It was me.
I am on Google Maps!
Can you believe it?
I remember this day so vividly.
My friend and I had spent the day exploring the Lake Chapala area.
We had so much fun walking through the little Mexican streets.
That was the first day we wore our new backpacks too!
I can't believe it.
February 2013
Okay, it wasn't quite THE most exciting thing but, it was pretty awesome!
Let`s start at the beginning...
My grandma enjoys learning about new programs on the computer.
While at her house last week, I was helping to fix her e-mail account.
Afterward, I decided to show her the amazing thing called Google Maps!
She was amazed that she could see her childhood home and other various features.
Before finishing, I wanted to show her where I had traveled in the last couple of years.
I began with Mexico.
This is where the excitement begins...
I zoomed into the general area I was looking at. (Lake Chapala, Mexico)
With perfect precision, I placed the little yellow person on a street I know fairly well.
Quickly the screen zoomed to street view.
As the image cleared, I was amazed!
It was me.
I am on Google Maps!
Can you believe it?
I remember this day so vividly.
My friend and I had spent the day exploring the Lake Chapala area.
We had so much fun walking through the little Mexican streets.
That was the first day we wore our new backpacks too!
I can't believe it.
February 2013
28 June 2014
26 June 2014
JOHN 9 : I ONCE WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE
John 9:3-5
(3) Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. (4) I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
- - -
When we hit 'rock bottom' we may think that we are being punished for our sins.
Why would God make us suffer like this?
What did I do wrong?
God didn't clear your bank account.
God didn't cause the cancer.
God didn't spread those rumors about you.
God didn't destroy your house with fire.
If we were being punished for our sins, we would not be here right now.
God continues to bless us, despite our sinful behaviors.
We need to look at our struggles in life as an opportunity for God's work to be revealed in us!
Don't let debt, illness, lies, or loss destroy you.
Let debt, illness, lies, and loss help you strengthen your relationship with God.
- - -
Like Jesus, we need to spend our days doing our Father's work.
In this particular case, Jesus brought sight to a blind man.
Jesus used someone's struggle to reveal God's great work!
Me... I am not going to walk down the street and rub spit in my neighbor's eyes.
That would be considered rude and quite frankly... WEIRD.
I can, however, use my talents to help my neighbor in a different way.
Maybe bake some cookies just for him?
It is day and I must do the works of Him who sent me.
While in Mexico, I kept reminding myself that 'this is the time.'
God sent me for one month to do His work.
This reminder helped me to fill my days with love and compassion.
A month goes by very quickly and you don't want to regret anything.
Since my return to Canada, I have been reflecting a lot on the work that I did.
From 7am to 7pm I was running around with the kids.
This is a majority of day time hours, right?
But did I actually do the work that God called me to do?
That's hard to say.
What exactly was I called to do?
Did I love like Jesus?
Now that I am home, there is even more to think about.
How can I spend all day serving the Lord when things are back to 'normal.'
I'm no longer in a children's shelter where help is constantly needed.
I'm at home where I can sit by myself for hours if I so desire.
I must work the works of Him who sent me.
Whether it is showing kindness to my family, visiting my neighbor, or baking cookies...
I can take these opportunities to serve!
- - -
(3) Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. (4) I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
- - -
When we hit 'rock bottom' we may think that we are being punished for our sins.
Why would God make us suffer like this?
What did I do wrong?
God didn't clear your bank account.
God didn't cause the cancer.
God didn't spread those rumors about you.
God didn't destroy your house with fire.
If we were being punished for our sins, we would not be here right now.
God continues to bless us, despite our sinful behaviors.
We need to look at our struggles in life as an opportunity for God's work to be revealed in us!
Don't let debt, illness, lies, or loss destroy you.
Let debt, illness, lies, and loss help you strengthen your relationship with God.
- - -
Like Jesus, we need to spend our days doing our Father's work.
In this particular case, Jesus brought sight to a blind man.
Jesus used someone's struggle to reveal God's great work!
Me... I am not going to walk down the street and rub spit in my neighbor's eyes.
That would be considered rude and quite frankly... WEIRD.
I can, however, use my talents to help my neighbor in a different way.
Maybe bake some cookies just for him?
It is day and I must do the works of Him who sent me.
While in Mexico, I kept reminding myself that 'this is the time.'
God sent me for one month to do His work.
This reminder helped me to fill my days with love and compassion.
A month goes by very quickly and you don't want to regret anything.
Since my return to Canada, I have been reflecting a lot on the work that I did.
From 7am to 7pm I was running around with the kids.
This is a majority of day time hours, right?
But did I actually do the work that God called me to do?
That's hard to say.
What exactly was I called to do?
Did I love like Jesus?
Now that I am home, there is even more to think about.
How can I spend all day serving the Lord when things are back to 'normal.'
I'm no longer in a children's shelter where help is constantly needed.
I'm at home where I can sit by myself for hours if I so desire.
I must work the works of Him who sent me.
Whether it is showing kindness to my family, visiting my neighbor, or baking cookies...
I can take these opportunities to serve!
- - -
23 June 2014
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