Five Minutes of My Day: Black is Beauty

Sitting here in Jamaica at my host home for the week. The little boy who lives here is named Damari. We were talking tonight, and I made a joke about coming home from the beach and being red instead of white. He suddenly got very seriously and said, "Black is beauty. Some people say that black is evil. But black is beauty." He went on to say that he knows many people who have tried bleaching their skin, but he likes his skin color. Damari is nine. My heart broke for all these kids growing up in a place where people believe that their skin color could be anything other than beautiful. I pray Damari can be an encouragement to those around him, and that he would never doubt that God created him and thinks he is beautiful.

5 Minutes of My Day

My friend and coworker Bethany Richardson has several different series that she does on her blog (which can be found here), one of which is called "5 Minutes of My Day." I thought I'd follow suit. It's a good way to give you a glimpse into my life and what I do when I'm on the field.

So here it goes!

5 Minutes of My Day

During trip set up this last time in Costa Rica, Ciri, Jacob, and I attended church service in Abangaritos. Towards the end of service, everyone was up in front, worshipping and praying and receiving the Holy Spirit. Several fell. I know this is called being "slain in the Spirit," but I confess I don't know much more than that. Jacob and I turned to look at each other; neither of us are familiar with this. But I won't be so quick as to say it's fake. I began to pray silently, "Lord, I don't understand. I want to understand how your Spirit moves." And I got a simple, yet humbling response: "You will never understand me. Stop trying." And immediately I knew that if I understood him, He would have a limit, able to be grasped by human intelligence. And then what kind of God would that be?

I'm so glad He's greater.

A Spin of the Globe: Big Smiles, Big Hugs, & Big Hearts

Hey guys! You know how I just got to do my first guest post? Well now I get to do my first guest host! Today we have the lovely Leah Laird sharing her heart for Belize. I haven't been there yet, but reading her thoughts make me want to go hug a Belizean child yesterday! Read on to see why she loves this country so much!

A Spin of the Globe is a series compiled by Praying Pelican Missions Mission Coordinators and Advocates. Within our individual blogging, most readers only get a narrow glimpse of PPM and our world-wide ministry. Between us bloggers, we realized we never speak much to countries we don’t have experience in – so we are Spinning the Globe. We hope through this series, you can experience another country within (and even outside) the world of PPM and get a taste for ministry that is unique and powerful, in every location. We pray you are blessed.  For more details about all of our domestic and international locations, go here: http://www.prayingpelicanmissions.org/mission-trip-locations

I'm not a mom. I'm not even close. But I think I know what it feels like. For the past 5 years as I've traveled down to Belize, I've come in contact with many different children. Some I've only been able to see for that one week, some for only a couple hours, and some I've had the privilege of seeing time and time again. People often ask me why I go back to Belize and then they remark on its natural beauty and how wonderful the weather must be and yes it is. But the natural beauty and the exceptional weather is only a bonus. The real reason I go back is for the people, the children.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

It doesn't matter where you find yourself in Belize, there are children everywhere. It doesn't matter who you are, they will come running to you with open arms. They come running up to you with the biggest smiles, the best hugs and the sweetest laughter. Sometimes you don't even have to say a word, they just want to sit in your lap, look at your camera, or if your a girl, braid your hair. I think they've taught me more about love then I have taught them. They show unconditional love. No questions asked. Some of my hardest moments on the mission field have been having to say goodbye to these precious children at the end of the week and entrust them to God. I spend the week pouring into them, telling them how much they are loved, helping them with their crafts, praising them for their efforts, and giving them the biggest hugs. It doesn't take long to become attached and when they run to you everyday and jump into your arms it takes even less time.  I have had so many wonderful moments with these children and I enjoy taking pride in them every chance I get. I love teaching them things and helping them. That's why I can only imagine that that is what a mom feels like. I don't plan on becoming a mom for a long while but I don't mind playing mom and I feel privileged that God has allowed me the opportunity to love on some of his most precious children. 

If you have only experienced the natural beauty of Belize you have not experienced it at all. Until you get to hold a little two year old girl in a cherry print dress and sing, line by line, Jesus Loves Me for an hour and a half while she repeats you, you have not truly experienced Belize. Belize is so much more than the tropical rain forest, the deep blue waters, and the delicious foods. It's a beautiful country full of some of the most beautiful souls you will ever meet. Come with me and meet the real Belize. 

First Guest Post!

The other Missions Coordinators and Missions Advocates and I are doing a series called A Spin of the Globe. We recognize that you get to hear a lot about our individual areas of service, but not a great deal about what's going on in other locations. So we're swapping stories! I got to post on Denny's blog the other day.. Check it out!

http://dennymeints.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/glimpse-into-costa-rica-a-spin-of-the-globe/

Pieces.

It's hard to be Missions Coordinator. Not for any requirement of the job, although that can be difficult at times, too. What I'm talking about is hard to describe. For those of us assigned to ministry in specific countries, we end up spending a LOT of time there. We come to know the people and pastors and churches really well. It becomes a little bit like home. Or a lot like home. And then we return to the States. And a little piece of us stays.

Or depending on the connections we've made, many pieces stay.

We return with hearts so full from the blessings we've received and witnessed, from the ways we've seen God move in us and through us and in/through our teams and in/through the churches there. And yet as we are so full, our hearts are also fragmented. We ache for what we've just left behind.

We live in two worlds (and sometimes more!). There are few of us who can make our two lives one. Most of us have a hard time sharing one part of our life with the other. It takes words I don't have to make people understand how I feel. I can't explain life in the States to my friends in Costa Rica. People here in the States can hardly grasp what I'm talking about even though I'm not limited with my English vocabulary. It's hard to accurately describe the feelings that are stuck inside. As a result, I often times feel like no one understands me completely. And as a human, I long to be known completely and loved completely.

And I am. But I have to remember to look to the One who does. Sometimes I get caught up in trying to be understood by my earthly companions, but the truth is, even the closest person would never understand everything. And that longing to be known is supposed to drive us to the One who knows.

Lord, thank you for the small reminders that say, "I have not forgotten you." Thank you for knowing me and understanding me, and loving me still. Even when you can see all the dirt beneath what I try to present as a squeaky clean exterior. God, draw me to you when my heart feels isolated and disconnected. I don't want to look in other places. Spirit, move in ways that I could never imagine to connect both parts of my life. Because only YOU can. Thank you for the blessing that this job is, for the ways I get to see you move in your global kingdom, for reminding me through the longing that YOU are the One who knows me.

After all, to Stand.

I had coffee this morning with a wonderful woman who gave ear to my struggles and triumphs in these last few months. At one point in the conversation she told me it took her a while to realize that in Ephesians 6:13 and in James 4:7, we are not told to go out on the offensive.

Eph 6:13: Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

He never asks us to go after satan or his minions. He doesn't tell us to attack. Only to stand.

I got a picture of an army holding rank as the enemy comes near. They have their armor. They are ready. Yet they do not run towards the battle. They fight when it is time, but they do not break rank. Whatever it is they are protecting is fully secure behind them.

That was a powerful image. Standing firm, standing guard.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

#firstworldproblems