Eleven days

Hello wonderful people!

I will try my very best to use this blog to update when I am in Guatemala.  It is only 11 days away and  I am obviously REALLY EXCITED! 

Lots of things need to be done before I go and to finish my first year of teaching, but I know it will get done.  And how can I forget Jesus' promise in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all who labor and are havey laden, and I will give you rest."  Though I have felt very tired & busy these past few weeks, I know God is with me.  He has never let me down or not provided for me--why would He start now? Like I talked about in my  letter, even though I know I am and feel weak---My God is strong, and will be the strength I need to get through anything (whether it be a crazy day as a fifth grade teacher or a tourist in Guatemala!)

One passage that has really been my prayer lately "stems" from John 15.  Go check it out!  But the key points that stick out to me are phrases like abide in me & apart from Him we can do nothing.  Whether on a mission trip or classroom, I can not do things for Christ without abiding in Him.  This is such a simple principle to state, but sometimes harder to live by when life becomes hectic.  We get caught up in the "what am I doing for Christ?"  instead of "who am I becoming in Christ?"  Eventually this mindset of doing, doing, doing for Christ wears us out!  That's why we have to abide in Christ to be our strength---and everything else we need! Let's get back to the basics and make sure that we are absorbing God's word and spending time with Him.