Friday, June 29, 2012

outreach 3 banquet

kaylee being... well.... kaylee
thug life in the DR

 I do think we are related. closest friend here. love her.

 the gang. plus noah. haha

 oh Nina. love her.

Girls from my site:
 Carol

 Veronica

 Hayley 

 :)

 of course the lovely jessica
thank you for being the amazing woman of God that you are.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

genesis

got to spend my day at the special education site! 
my heart was happy here.














travel


“Sometimes we travel to get away and see something of the world. Sometimes we travel just to get away from ourselves. Sometimes we travel to convince ourselves that we are Getting Someplace.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews lists a number of gadabouts like Noah and Abraham, Sarah and Jacob, and the footloose Israelites generally. He then makes the point that what they were really doing was “seeking a homeland,” which they died without ever finding but never gave up seeking even so (Hebrews 11:14).
Maybe that is true of all of us. Maybe at the heart of all our traveling is the dream of someday, somehow, getting Home.” (Frederick Buechner)
thanks raleigh 

Monday, June 25, 2012

loma el mogote

the hillock hill 
elevation; 4147 feet high
17 girls; one guy
64 ounces of water
countless scrapes
making it all the way to the top (priceless)

the start of the journey

 blackberries to keep us going

hills

hills

more hills

tomatos

 two hours in, needed a break... little more then half way!

this bug stank!

the top of this peak is the finish line!

we just climbed up this. steepest part of the mountain.

view from the top.


kaysi excited to have made it to the top.

Carol and I super sweaty and tired.

Kaysi and I

in awe of the beauty of Gods creation.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

redeemed

we don't just get peace from God; God is our peace - He gives us Himself.
we dont't just get joy from God; He is our joy - He gives us Himself.
He is our hope, and He gives us Himself.
He is our love, and He gives us Himself.

God doesn't redeem you and me just so we can be happier all by ourselves; He is on a mission to make His name known to the whole word. We who have been redeemed are swept up into His story and sent out on His mission.
I am currently reading through Exodus and seeing that it was God's mission that was at stake when He sent plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt, for He said to Pharaoh: "For this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth" (Ex. 9-16).
"Hence God's purposes in these events are not focused simply on the redemption of Israel. God's purposes span the world. God is acting in such a public way so that His good news can be proclaimed to everyone".
God had His mission in mind when He made the covenant with Israel. He reminded them of their identity as His chosen people, His treasured possession, whom He redeemed from slavery in Egypt. Then He called them to His mission: as a nation they would be His priests, making His presence known to the world. (which is exactly what He is doing with me here).
Everything about the life of an Israelite was to be an imitation of God: their attitudes, actions, relationships, possessions, and sexuality - everything is to reflect Him. As is my life.
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble." (Ps. 107:2)

He has redeemed us.
How will you proclaim the name of your Redeemer?

Thursday, June 21, 2012

dinner in the community

tonight we went to Kaysi's house for dinner. Her mom made fried chicken, yellow rice with corn, tostones, and salad. It was so good. Kaysi's mom cooks with a lot of flavor! 
then we played a friendly game of dominos until the power went out. and of course after that adventured outside to play some volleyball with the kids in the neighborhood. 
great night. amazingly blessed.






Tuesday, June 19, 2012

coffeeeeeee

yesterday we got to take a group of students to the coffee factory in Jarabacoa. it was pretty neat!












 love these interns!