whoa.
and what an insane year it has been.
so where am i right now?
full-time staff.
house mom to 9 fiery, complex, struggling, beautiful teenage girls.
multi-tasking in the ministry office 9-6, being a correspondence coordinator, which means secretary, managing all our contact data, translator, researcher, making purchases (and coffee), etc.
part of the multimedia team, taking photos and learning how to do video, switcher, and projection.
let me be clear, before you start to think "wow, she's doing awesome things and living the dream", that NONE of these positions define me. it is God behind me and in me giving me the strength and wisdom to do more than i myself am capable of doing. i've cried a bit and slowly started to learn to how to deal with reality, being more transparent and vulnerable. this past year has been a year of stretching, difficulty, and struggle.
but can i share with you some sparks of light?
-one of our most difficult girls has recently started to soften up and now affectionately calls me "mom", asking me for a hug each night before she goes to bed as well as prayer when she's not having a good day.
-another of our girls (that left two months ago to live with her family) continues to attend church regularly, is praying for the Spirit's guidance in her life and future, and keeps lighting up the world with her smile and hopeful heart.
-each short-term missions group that comes to visit leaves affected by what God is doing in our ministry, and hearts are constantly being stirred to become more involved in missions, be it here in Mexico or elsewhere.
if you find yourself in the midst of transition, somewhat stuck in struggle, with lips barely above the waterline, raggedly breathing... God has already told us that He makes ALL THINGS work together for our good. the struggle will not last forever and there is hope around the corner. in times of affliction and pain, we can count on God to be there to console and comfort us. as my brother-in-law has written on the mirror in their bathroom, "our faith needs a fight to strengthen."
be encouraged, family. one day we will see the big picture, but until then, God is protecting us, growing us, loving us extravagantly, and making His awesome glory known through us.
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