So I never got around to why grace was on my mind during that last post...
Lately I've been trying to hear what the Lord has to say to me about showing and receiving grace. Most specifically, for myself. I have a much easier time showing grace to others than I do allowing myself to receive it, whether that be from myself or others. The past 2-3 years God's been continually showing me the importance of showing myself grace and I think that I'm closer to having that ability than I once was, but am still working on it. Being at high altitude climbing a galciated volcano is a physical place where I seek this personal grace. I know it's going to be a struggle and I expect it, and along the way I continually remind myself that I have a body to be thankful for and abilities to praise God's name for as well. It's a humbling experience watching yourself struggle - whether or not others are struggling along side.
I am continually thankful for the grace that my students have for me as I sometimes feel like I'm stumbling through all the details of the semester.
This (and some reading I'm doing in a book called Radical by David Platt) has moved me into trying to picture the Spirit abiding in me and others. The past month I've been reading and re-reading John 17 and Jesus' prayers for his disciples and the believers he is about to leave. Jesus asks God to leave with us the Spirit, our guide, and along with that comes the possibility that we can all abide in the fruits of the Spirit. In prayer I want to ask for the Spirit in whatever capacity I might need, rather than just asking God to do something for me. For instance: the other day we were climbing a just shy of 19,000ft peak and I wanted to continue to have strength and the physical ability to go on - I kept thinking about how I need God to provide strength in me because I have none of my own and I realized that I needed the power of the Spirit, therefore I would have strength.
I'm not sure if that makes a whole lot of sense, but it's something that I'm seeking out right now.
Today we're in a town south of Quito, called Banos. My day has consisted of walking around the whole town, reading a couple chapters in a book, eating some tasty lunch, working on some logistical stuff, and responding to friends emails and such. I'm kind of bummed that I could go hike, run, or swim today because my stomach is feeling kind of lousy - but I'm sure a day of rest is what I needed for some reason. That's hard to accept sometimes.
3 weeks have past and 3 weeks left to go for the students here in Ecuador. Praying for continued development of relationships - with themselves, with eachother, and with God.
Monday, February 21
Tuesday, February 15
grace
I've sat quietly for the past hour after dinner listening to the mummurings of students' voices in the distant kitchen. I can't understand the words and that's ok.
My 3rd week in Ecuador has begun. Week 1 was reuniting with the city, with friends Ben & Bryce, and with the loving home we have at the OMS guesthouse here in Quito. Week 2 makes me smile - the students embarked on their first homestays with Ecuadorian families and spent the days at la fundacion Davis where Ben & I lived. Everyday I struggled to pull myself out of bed and eat breakfast in one of the homes at the orphanage at 6am. In this same home at 1pm I joined them for lunch followed by chores, homework, games, and usually a pretty peaceful afternoon before 6pm rolled around and I was beckoned for dinner at my new home. One afternoon Ben & I decided to join the group of kids outside playing. At one point in time I was running my heart out listening to the laughter of Maria trying to catch me and trying to hold in my laughter in order to keep breathing! As I ran past Ben and Cesar, Ben asked me what the word for enjoy is - disfrutar, the verb to enjoy. Quite correctly, Ben was telling Cesar how he and I both enjoy life at la fundacion Davis. For me - it is a place that I find joy, I am challenged, I struggle to understand the lives of orphaned children, and where I am able to love and be loved.
It's currently pouring buckets of rain in Quito and I'm loving it... the smell, the sound, the calmness of it all. I'm going to end this post now because I want to go sit on the porch for a bit. More later :)
My 3rd week in Ecuador has begun. Week 1 was reuniting with the city, with friends Ben & Bryce, and with the loving home we have at the OMS guesthouse here in Quito. Week 2 makes me smile - the students embarked on their first homestays with Ecuadorian families and spent the days at la fundacion Davis where Ben & I lived. Everyday I struggled to pull myself out of bed and eat breakfast in one of the homes at the orphanage at 6am. In this same home at 1pm I joined them for lunch followed by chores, homework, games, and usually a pretty peaceful afternoon before 6pm rolled around and I was beckoned for dinner at my new home. One afternoon Ben & I decided to join the group of kids outside playing. At one point in time I was running my heart out listening to the laughter of Maria trying to catch me and trying to hold in my laughter in order to keep breathing! As I ran past Ben and Cesar, Ben asked me what the word for enjoy is - disfrutar, the verb to enjoy. Quite correctly, Ben was telling Cesar how he and I both enjoy life at la fundacion Davis. For me - it is a place that I find joy, I am challenged, I struggle to understand the lives of orphaned children, and where I am able to love and be loved.
It's currently pouring buckets of rain in Quito and I'm loving it... the smell, the sound, the calmness of it all. I'm going to end this post now because I want to go sit on the porch for a bit. More later :)
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