Three Years Later


So once again I have waited way to long in between blog posts, I really don’t understand how so much time goes without writing.  Please feel free to write me and tell me it’s about time to update my blog.
Last week I did have one mostly written ready to send out but I just didn’t feel it and as it turns out today is my 3rd anniversary of being in Colombia so I thought I fitting that I can spend a little time reflecting on this wonderful journey God has brought me on.
Some moments it seems like I have been here WAY longer than three years and in other moments I feel like I just got here a few months ago.
It has been quiet a journey.   It has been three years full of laughter, full of tears and full of memories.  There has been more then once when I have been ready to throw in the towel, pack my bags and go back to Canada.  There have been times where I didn’t think it was possible for another tear to fall from my face.  There have been times where I have felt lonely and other times that I felt so at home here.  Pretty much an emotional roller coaster J
Looking back I can’t believe how much I have learnt.  In praying for my girls and praying that they can know how much their Father loves them, I have learned how much He loves me.  I have learned that when I don’t think that I can carry on, that He gives me the strength to take that next step, the grace and mercy that I need for that moment, for that day and that I don’t have to worry about the grace and mercy I will need for tomorrow.  I have learned to let go, to say good by to kids when they want to live their own life, something that hasn’t been easy.  He has taught me that even in the darkest, most impossible situations, that He is still God and that He doesn’t change.  In the hard and dark times, He is still a God of hope, He is still good, He is still faithful and He still keeps His promises.  I have learned that He is a God of dreams and of the impossible, that He is an extravagant God who loves His children and wants to lavish this love on His children.  (I think this last lesson has been my favorite, well at least the one that has come with less tears and the tears that have been shed have been tears of joy).
Which brings me to my next point.  As some of you know I have been taking rock-climbing lessons.  With the hopes of one day having all the equipment I need and being able to make this apart of my ministry here.  So my instructor offered for me to bring out my kids for a day of rock-climbing and they LOVED IT.  I think the thing that touched me the most was seeing how proud of themselves they were.  On paper these kids don’t have a lot to be proud about, but that day they were proud.  They were proud at how high they went even though they were scared (although some didn’t admit it), they were proud at how strong they were and I was so proud of them.  It was a beautiful day, my eyes full of tears, seeing how happy they were and how much they have grown and how far they have come.
And speaking of camp, it’s that time again.  October 7-10 we are doing a camp for girls 11-13 years old and then one in November for boys 11-15.  So please if you want to send a kids to camp visit this website https://msccanada.org/give-now.html and under projects click on Camp Gozo Colombia.  Thanks so much for supporting this and really, I really wish that I could capture the joy on these kids’ faces and send it to you guys.  Because of all your generosity, we hare not to far off from the finances we need for this camp in October, don’t let this deter you from giving though because we really want to do endless camps.  Even one days, as I have shared, it to have our own land and the more I pray the more I get excited about it.  It is going to be an adventure camp and I for sure don’t have a shortage of ideas of what we can do.  1st step though it to get a vehicle and I have already started saving and this morning on my bike ride to work I though of a name for the vehicle.  It will be named Nehemiah, one of the verses for the camp is in Nehemiah 8:10 for the joy of the Lord is our strength.
 So thank you once again.  Thank you for being part of this three-year journey, thank you for all your prayers and support and emails of encouragement.  I feel so privileged to have such an amazing army fighting behind me and please keep this next camp in your prayers.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you



Comments

Annie said…
You make me smile. Thanks for sharing from your heart. Also, the pictures of your kids way up on the rocks make me scared! Love and miss you.
September 9, 2014 at 12:19 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Keepin it real in Quito

Yo Yo Yo So I have arrived and I made it safe, other then my luggages coming the next day. I was delayed in Edmonton and Toronto so when I got to Colombia they rushed me and a few other passengers to the flight for Quito. I am staying with a family, in my house there is Mami, who is the grandma, Mampi, her daughter and Joanna the niece, she is about 17 years old. There is also another student from London named Bhavin and a Japenese girl just came yesterday...she is super cool. So if I am to be honest the first week was quiet hard. Language school was quiet overwhelming and I hadnt met anyone yet so I was feeling quiet lonely and missing all of you guys. I let the tears slip a couple times but that is just part if the experience. My teacher tells me that the first week is always the hardest and that in a month I will be speaking Spanish....that brings me some comfort. On a happier note I have been hanging around Quito and that has been cool. Climed up to the top of the Basillica
Read more

Fruit

*(names have been changes for privacy reasons)* Back into the swing of things again and I am super pumped for this year.   Remember the time that I was sharing how I felt that there was no visible fruit last year and how that was really discouraging to me, well a couple weeks ago God blessed me with being able to see some of His fruit from last year, some fruit after a year of tears and prayers.   As some of you also know that for birthdays I take the teen girls out for ice cream.   This is a good one on one time and just a time for them to get out and do something special.   First up every year is Maria.   Last year when I took her for ice cream, conversation was a little strained, a lot of her answers to my questions were just one word and lets be honest, there were a lot of awkward moments.   As this year rolled around first up again was my beloved Maria and we had an awesome time.   We laughed, we talked and she was really honest with my questions and was really honest a
Read more

Boys Camp… Just a little late

Image
When it’s been so long between blogs I always struggle with what to say, or what to share.   Sometimes it feels like so much has happened that I don’t even know where to start and sometime if feels like nothing has happened at all… I guess I will start with the boys camp that we had in November, which was forever ago I know, but I obviously procrastinated and haven’t shared how it went and when I was in Canada over Christmas a lot of you asked me about it. Well it was an adventure.   We only had about 12 boys, which  was a nice small group.   I was really tired and worn out by the time November rolled around, so it was perfect and a more relaxed camp, well for the most part…. I went ahead with three other staff, well that was the plan anyways, but the car we were in kept over heating and we kept having to pull over and wait on the side of the road for it to cool down.   So we got there a few hours after everyone else arrived.   I was so thankful for great staff t
Read more