pulga

a pulga in the D.R. is equivalent to a garage sale in the sates!

we raised about $500 for the girls states trip.

intern time at the beach

last banquet

little things in life

a prayer for regaining perspective

     When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Ps. 73:21-26 

     Gracious Father, the older I get, the more I appreciate the many characters and voices you’re recorded for us in your Word. There’s no moment, scenario or story we’ll experience in life that you haven’t anticipated. Such is the reach and riches of the Scriptures. Today I praise you for writing into Israel’s hymnal a song for the bitter and the beastly.

     There are times when I forget that I’m living in a fallen world, with a fragile heart, among people just as foolish as me. When my fellowship with you gets broken, I’m capable of acting out in very harmful ways. I lose perspective and love poorly. My expectations of you and of others become more connected to “La-La Land” than to reality. I become just like the psalmist Asaph—an envious, angry, senseless mess.

     Father, that you tolerate me in those times of disconnect is extraordinary. That you still treasure me when I lose touch with gospel sanity is astonishing. When I shake my fist at you, your grasp of grace is all the tighter. When I complain about a stony silent heaven, you’re actively, quietly guiding my every footstep.

     When I try to ignore, spite, or run away from you, you’re neither surprised nor offended. You just arrange circumstances of your choosing to recapture my wandering heart. Nothing can separate me from your love or cause it to diminish one degree. In the end, you will take me into glory, for you’ve committed to complete “the good work” you’ve begun in me (Phil 1:6). The gospel really is this big and this good.

     Father, your contra-conditional, unwavering, all-encompassing love melts my icy, prone-to-throwing-pity-parties heart. Continue the thaw. I’m not just the biggest loser when I pitch my tent in the land of disconnected heart; I’m also a thief, robbing a lot of people who are dear to me. Rescue me from my self-centeredness and demandingness. Because the gospel is true, you are my strength and portion forever. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ faithful and tenacious name.

-Scotty Smith

a organic gift

There are rare and sacred moments when the most organic gift appears, 

and though it may leave as quickly as it comes, 

it can interrupt the darkness all around. 

The world may seemingly be falling apart around us, 

but the sound of laughter can be heard from one small corner as it spills out 

and fills in the deepest grooves of sadness within us.

What has brought us closer together was the sound; 

the harmonious chuckle that dried our sorrows, worries, and cares. 

Weeping may have brought us to our knees, 

but laughter has picked us up.

thank you Lord

thank you for laughter.

Punta Rusia

beach day with the interns and friends!


Punta Rusia, Republica Dominicana from Kaylee Bonadona on Vimeo.


God is good and so beautiful.

psalm 139

I feel a holy terror when You are near,
But what I fear is what I’m desperate for:
YOU.
You know everything about me, see every part of me,
Even the things I’ll never understand.
You are everywhere around me and everywhere in me,
All-encompassing and all-consuming.
I cannot escape You, were I to try;
Climbing to the heights brings me closer to You,
Swimming to the depths brings me closer, too.
The closer I get, the more awesome You are
And the more I am ruined by my sin.
I am exposed as in a vast desert and left with
No place to hide from Your piercing gaze.
“What do You want from me?” I ask,
Knowing full well what it is You want:
ME.
You saw me before I existed, ordained my days
And set me as the object of Your affection.
Your thoughts are as precious as rare jewels and
Outnumber the grains of sand on a universe of beaches.
When I sleep and when I rise, You are with me;
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
You don’t come near without being invited, though,
So even though the thought brings a shudder,
I ask You to search me, test me, know me—
And lead me in Your everlasting way, Jesus.

la playa

an amazingly awesome day at the beach!!!