Resting in His Promises

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 

and all that is within me, 

bless his holy name! 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 

and forget not all his benefits, 

who forgives all your iniquity, 

who heals all your diseases, 

who redeems your life from the pit, 

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 

who satisfies you with good 

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Matthew 11:29

It's been a LONG time since I last posted so here is an update on what's been happening in Bogota:


Since my Papaw and the two ladies he came with left, there has been a lot of down time.  It has been wonderful that I've been able to take some time and rest... which is something I'm usually really bad at.  The past couple weeks, I've been able to spend tons of time with my little brother and sister, Lina and Santiago.  Like any little sibling, they totally drive me crazy sometimes (Santiago!!), but I dont know what I'd do without them.  They bring me so much joy and I'm so glad that God placed us in each others lives!  
 
















Adrianna, my host mom, is absolutely amazing! Day by day, I'm learning more and more spanish, and lately (although with the help of a translating website) I've been able to have several long conversations with her.  She cracks me up! I think we spend almost, if not all of our conversations, laughing because we enjoy talking (totally in Spanglish!) with each other.  She's serious about Jesus, and although there is still a HUGE language barrier, I'm still learning crazy amounts from her.  It amazes me how much we can learn if we just be still and listen or observe. 
 



This past week was the first time I was able to go to youth group at Grace Missionary Bible Church.  I thought my youth group back home had crazy games... boy was I wrong!!! Youth group is every Saturday from 2:30-5pm.  One of the elders usually teaches for about 45 minutes, solidly getting into the Word, and the rest of the time is spent playing all sorts of crazy games (somehow most of the games involve soapy water... I'm not sure how, but I have a tendency to catch water balloons more in my lap than I do in my hands!).  

On a different note, about one week ago, I went running with a friend who I knew from Wheaton.  On Sundays and on holidays the main city streets are closed to vehicles and are open only to runners, bikers, and walkers.  Speratically throughout the city, there are aerobics classes offered (in the middle of the street!), and they are very similar to our American Zumba classes.  Anyways, my friend and I decided to run to an aerobics class. When we got there, there were about 300 people dancing in the middle of the street (salsa, merengue, reggaeton).  I loved it! No one was dancing with a partner, and so everyone was clumped together facing the instructor.  Let's just say that I'm not the shortest person you will ever meet, and I'm typically a foot to about a 1.5 feet taller than most of the women here.  If that doesn't make me stand out enough, I have blonde hair and blue eyes, which is not what a typical Colombian looks like.  All that to say that I stuck out like a sore thumb while dancing.  In my attempt to blend in, I put on a sweater with a hood, and immediately put in over my head.  Almost instantly, all the awkward stares of others around me pretty much stopped.  Basically the moral of this story is: Hoodies = my best friend :)

The past couple times at english school, I've been with the 6-8 year olds. In our last class we learned about the seasons, and practiced for a spelling bee that they had later in the afternoon.  I was so proud of my kids! As they were spelling words in english, I thought to myself, "I'm not sure if I could spell this word, and I speak english!" Haha, well they did well.  

So, what I've been learning:

Recently, I read an excerpt from a daily devotional called "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman which said: 

"God has nothing worth having that is easily gained, for there are no cheap goods on the heavenly market.  The cost of our redemption was everything God had to give, and anything worth having is expensive.  Difficult times and places are our schools of faith and character." Often, we as believers, look at challenges or periods of waiting as bad, but in reality these times are our "schools" of character.  The times of challenge are the times that mold and form us into more of who God desires we should be.  I love what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10:

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 

 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 

always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, 

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." 

No matter where we are, or what may be happening, I am so encouraged knowing that, as one commentator said, "We are crowded from all sides, but not defeated," or we may "be overthrown, but not overcome."  How great is it that Jesus is with us through the whole process?? Isaiah 41:10 says: 

"fear not, for I am with you; 

be not dismayed, for I am your God; 

I will strengthen you, I will help you, 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

God not only cares for each and every part of our lives, he desires to walk with us through the whole process! What an amazing God we serve!