St. Louis Trip

These are some portions from my journal that I wrote while in St. Louis.

[Friday]
I traveled up to Crystal City yesterday by myself in Mom and Dad's van. I am so thankful they allowed me to use the van. Th Lord has been so faithful to me concerning having a ride since I have still not yet purchased a car. My trip up was fairly uneventful. I listened to some Spanish worship music and a C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia audio book. I arrived at the Sutton's home before Aaron got home from work, but I had a good time talking with Rachel, Aaron's wife, and meeting Olivia, their daughter. Olivia is four years old and was at first very shy but has now become a very good friend. She is a very cute little gal with brown hair and blue eyes.
When Aaron got home we talked for a little while and then he took me out to see the town. We went to the local Latino Market and bought some yummy stuff to drink made predominantly from rice and cinnamon called horchata. Aaron drove me around and told me about the town. It really seems like a nice little town. Rick, Billy(a photographer, interested in missions, and just recently in Bali), and the Pfleeger family came over for supper. I really enjoyed talking with Billy about his trip and he seems like a really cool person. He sounds kind of like an adventurous type. I was also very blessed to see the Pfleeger family who I have not seen for many years. Michael has been such a blessing to me over the past few months. We had Spaghetti, bread, and salad for supper and wonderful cup cakes for desert. After supper, the guys sat around the table and talked. Our conversation was primarily around missions and living out the Gospel in our every day lives.

[Saturday]
It's about 4:30pm and so much has already happened today. I've really spent the day hanging out with Aaron. We have spent a lot of time talking about church and how to live a Godly life and be a witness to others. Aaron really has just been teaching me by example. We have spent time today leaving tracts for people but also talking with a lot of people and just spending time with/helping others. We ate lunch with Marco(a local church planter) at a Mexican restaurant in STL in a neighborhood known as "Little Mexico." I had authentic tacos and horchata. After lunch we three visited a women in "the hood", it was really just an older/low income neighborhood in south STL, and visited with her for a little while. A group meets in her home once a week for Bible study, her name is Maria. After visiting Maria, Aaron and I went to La Pachanga the restaurant that he first started meeting Latino people at. Aaron just is inspiring to me. God put a desire in his heart for Latino people and he has just started to do out of his way to interact with Latino people. Aaron is known as "the guy who knows all the Mexicans."

[Sunday]
Sunday was a great day. We all got up early in order to get to church early to prepare for the Spanish service. Aaron and Rachel do the music with the help of a few others. Rachel sings and Aaron plays the piano and sings. The service was good. Aaron spoke out of John 8 about the women caught in adultery. Jesus had more condemning things to say about religious people than sinners. The biggest point I got from the message was that I need to not look down on others because of their status or anything else. Marco brought some kids from his church in Illinois for the service. Jonny, Jesus, Edgar, Javier, and George. These guys were really cool and after service we all played futbol with some other guys from Rockport. We had a lot of fun playing and then went to McD's for lunch. In the afternoon, Aaron, Rick, and I traveled to Marco's church in Illinois. I enjoyed being at the service but had a hard time staying awake. I sat in on a Sunday-school lesson with some of the guys I played futbol with. A man named Eric taught and did a great job. Eric is not Latino but works with the church. He actually is a school teacher and helps out a lot within the Spanish speaking community in STL.
I was greatly blessed by my trip to St. Louis and hope to continue a strong relationship with Aaron. I believe the Lord is continuing to give me a greater desire to work among the Spanish speaking community. Many needs exist not only in the States but also around the world. My prayer is that the Lord will continue to lead me closer to Himself and continually reveal to me His plan for the life that He has given to me.

Day by Day

"Day by Day" by Carolina Sandell Berg

Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've not cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best-
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in ev'ry tribulation
So to trust Your promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation
Offered me within Your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

God is good at all times

I have been reminded today that God is good at all times. This past week I spent the whole week at Teen Camp on a very beautiful spot of land near Conway, MO. I was able to listen to some wonderful sermons that God has used to bless my life, work with a great group of teenages, and spend time fellowshiping with some friends that I don't get to see very often. The week was such a blessing that I really wish it didn't have to end. I look so much forward to camp every year, but the time just seems to slip away so quickly and leaves me wanting more. I just love being able to get away from "normal" life for a week of studying God's word and spending time talking with other fellow believers! I enjoy the fun in the sun, swimming, singing, ping pong, talking at a noisy lunch table with friends....The atmosphere at camp is just really amazing! Then coming home on Friday leads to many reflections on what happened at camp. All the funny stories, thoughts of the good sermons that were preached, looking at other people's pictures on Facebook, and chating with friends about what they learned about camp and their favorite events and sermons. Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday are just kind of covered in a mist of the afterglow of the fun and encouragement of camp.
Then, Monday morning comes. For me, Monday started like this...I woke up with sinuous pressure starting to get intense and a nose that was starting to act like a garden hose. I had to go to work but seriously did not feel like it. I sat down to read my Bible at 6:06am and let head drop; when I picked my head back up it was 6:20am. So, I decided to read my Spurgeon morning which I did half mindedly. Then on to the shower, breakfast, making lunch for work, and finally heading off to work. As the morning continued on I began to feel worse and worse, but thank the Lord after lunch I asked one of my supervisors for some medicine which thankfully she had some. The medicine really help and the Lord gave much strength through the rest of the day. This evening, however, I have done nothing. I made myself a cup of mate from a Brazilian brand of Yerba Mate. The mate tasted good and now I'm just typing away aimlessly on the blog that I just created yesterday...
What I am trying to say is that God is good at all times. God is good at camp with all its blessings and God is equally as good on Monday morning when my head is killing me and my nose is about to create a river flowing from my head. My Heavenly Father loves His kids and knows exactly what they need and when they need it. He gives grace for all my times of need and I know that I can trust my Father to help me through all life's ups and downs.