God is good, all the time

The past few days Matt and I have been feeling the hit on our checkbook because I was off work while in Haiti for three weeks. Three weeks is a long time to not be working if you are dependent on that money. When I first had the opportunity to go for three weeks I didn't hesitate at all (I'm all about doing things without thinking) so I agreed. Then as the time came closer I started to get nervous about not making that money. I prayed a lot about it and just had to have faith that the Lord would provide for us. Wednesday when our checkbook was getting smaller and smaller we really started to worry. We were both on edge and was very careful that what we did buy was a must have. We had no food and not enough money to buy any but Matt's mom surprised us with several bags of groceries. Neither of us knew she was going to do this but we were very thankful. I finally got paid but my check was still smaller than normal because I had a the flu and missed a day of work. After we paid rent we would only have about 90 dollars left for everything else to last us two week and we needed to get several things for the house (toilet paper, trash bags, etc) and more food. I called Matt really upset and he was very short with me on the phone "I can't talk right now, but don't worry okay?" I figured he had someone in his office or something. About 10 minutes later he text me and said "don't worry, we have just been blessed, I'll explain later." I had no clue what he was talking about. Later he called me and told me someone walked in his office asked about the issues we had with my trip (paying for a hotel we didn't need, the extra money for the rental car for insurance and gas, etc.) Matt explained what happened and this person handed him a check for quite a bit of money. This person said "you two are like our children and we want you to have this, use it for whatever you need." Matt was so grateful he started crying in his office. 

That night I called this person to thank them. They said this to me "when we were your age a lot of people helped us out and you will do it for someone else when you are our age. But it isn't from us it's from the Lord."

I am still amazed about the faithfulness of the Lord. He provides for those who are obedient, He called me to go to Haiti for three weeks and He blessed us for that. Please remember that God is good, all the time!

Until next time...Romans 8:28 

Read a Book, or Two, or 50!

While I was in Haiti I borrowed some books from Angie (it got boring at night.) I read four books in a week and a half. That was just reading late at night after the internet was turned off. Once I got to FL I went to WalMart to get a book to read on the way home (after being stuck on a plane for 3 hours without moving I was glad I did.) Once I got home I decided I was going to try and read 50 books this summer. I am almost positive I will not be able to reach that goal (I'm expected to cook, clean, do laundry, work, and spend time with real people...LAME!) Right now I am almost finished with book nine it is is already July, so I am not going to make my goal, but that is okay, I am going to see how close I can get. I got a library card and have been going to town on reading. I have found some new authors I really love and read some new books of authors I have read before. I want to rate each book I have read so far but I know I'll just give them all 5 out of 5 so there is no point. Here is the list:

Island Inferno by Chuck Holton
Against All Odds
An Eye for an Eye
In Harm's Way (all three of these are by Irene Hannon and are The Heroes of Quanitco series.)
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Along for the Ride
This Lullaby
Lock and Key (all three of these are by Sarah Dessen)
There You'll Find Me by Jenny B Jones (not done with this one yet)

I hate how many teens don't read anymore. When I told my youth group about my goal one kids said "Wait! 50 books!!!??" and another one said "I don't think I've read 50 books in my life." Breaks my heart! Reading is the best way to pass time (or keep you from getting house work done)

Until next time..."The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”-Dr. Suess (the best author in the whole world)

Now....go read a book!

Jesus' Love

I read a quote earlier on Facebook and it really made me think. Here it is: 

"Jesus loves pagans and witches a lot, it's just unfortunate that sometimes we don't." -Furious Love

I think that as Christians we believe that we cannot associate with people who are not. Too many people think we should only be around other Christians. Yes, it is important to spend time with fellow believers, but that doesn't mean we cannot love non Christians. 

Did Jesus only hang out with the apostles? Of course not, and if you think He did you might want to read the Bible again. 

¹³ Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴ As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
¹⁵ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:13-17. 

God loves each one of us the same, Christian or not. John 3:16 doesn't say, "For God so loved the Christians that He gave his one and only son." God so loved THE WORLD. All of it! Sometimes I think Christians have been Christians so long that they have forgotten they weren't born that way. There was a time before we were saved. For some of us it may have been a longer time than others. 

We have gotten so wrapped up in our outward appearance and what others think we have forgotten about what God thinks.  How would you feel if your fellow church members caught you having lunch with the town drunk? How would you feel if I told you God sees you with the town drunk?

Jesus hung out with the outcasts, the people everyone had pushed out the door. He loved them, just as He loved the apostles, and how He loves us. We should love others by thinking about how God loves them. What does He see beyond the "broken" outside of those people? 

Stop adding more to the walls of your building and start taking the church to the broken. If we are not bringing more people to Jesus we might as well burn the building down! We need to leave the walls around us and love the people we don't think deserve it, because I promise you, they do. And they may need it more than you'll ever know. We need to stop judging people from the outside and get to know their heart. 

Love them in the same way Jesus does. 

Until next time...John 13:34-35

 

Restore

There is a song that hits me every time I hear it, it hits me like a huge bus smashing into me. Every time I hear it I crank the radio and just let the words fill my mind. It is call "Restore" by Chris August. The words are so real and honest (most of his songs are.) I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

 

Let's Praise Him

Since Matt works at a church camp, we both have spent a lot of time at camp during the summers. Although, for me it is usually just a few days here are there (because I work), I have come to know a few regulars. They may not always remember me because I am not there for the whole week, but I remember them. About three or four years ago I met a sweet young girl about 6 years old. She was not shy at all and instantly become my buddy. A few months after that I saw her at the Salem Pool when I was there with my daycare kids and she ran right up to me. Every year since then when she gets to camp she finds Matt and asks if I will be there. Every year I am waiting for her to not remember me, but every year she proves me wrong. This year she did not ask Matt about me and I figured this would be the year she did not remember me. Last night Matt and I went to dinner like we try to do at least once each week of camp. This year at camp there are 50 kids (the most they have had in like 10 years, Praise God!) When I walked in for dinner I did not see her and she did not see me. We had our dinner then went to the chapel. Because, there are so many kids there was no room for Matt and me to sit, so we just went in the office and talked with the director and a few councilors. A little while later we saw about 15 kids walk into the office with the pastor. I found out that they were the kids who stood up during the alter call! The pastor separated them into groups, kids who were saved but felt God talking to them, and kids were not saved but wanted to be. While he was separating them, my long time friend (who was in the group) caught me eye and smiled her big smile. The pastor asked if I would take the girls who were already saved and see what they were needing. My friend was in this group. She told me she wanted to talk to me privately. When went into another room and she poured her heart out to me. She told me she did something she felt really guilty about and it was eating her up. I told her we all sin and make mistakes but if we ask for forgiveness and truly mean it God will forgive us for that sin. She said she did ask for forgiveness and truly meant it.  I prayed with her as I tried my hardest to hold back my tears. I don't even know this young girl's last name, but for years her and I have had a connection! I was so happy the Lord was speaking to her about her sin and that she trusted me enough to talk about it. After I was done talking to her I was asked to pray with a few other girls. Two girls said they were pulling away from God and wanted to be closer to Him, and another girl said her and her sister didn't get along and she wanted to change. I felt so blessed to be there on THAT night! After all the kids talked with a councilor I found out that 4 kids accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior! 

God is good, all the time! He brings you to certain places at certain times for certain reasons! I am so thankful that I know this young girl and that the Lord is working in her life! 

Until next time....I John 1:9

Motherly

I often find myself thankful for the fact that God made women nurturing and motherly, even before they are mothers. Growing up when I was sick the two people I always wanted were my mom or grandma. When I was sick and they were there I felt better. They knew what to give me to eat or drink, or what medicine to take. They knew I had a fever without ever even touching a thermometer. As a kid I thought "I'll never be able to do that." God gives men and women different skills because a man and a woman are supposed to be a team. Even though I'm not a mother yet, I am motherly, and I know that I will make a good mom someday. After working for a day care for 5 years I learned a lot about being a mother. I learned the right words to say when someone was bleeding (and how to take the blood out of my white shirt after I carry a bloody child from the play ground), I learned tricks about making boo boos and bumps feel better. My stomach got stronger to gross stuff, and I learned that when I see someone I care about sick all I want to do it take the sickness away. 

Last night the Lord tested my motherly abilities. I woke up to a very sad sounding husband saying "Sierra...I'm sick." I woke up to a very shaky and very puky husband.  Even at midnight when I heard those words my mothering kicked in gear. I knew he had a HIGH fever without even touching a thermometer. I thought back to all the times I was sick and the things that made me feel better. I gave him medicine to break the fever. After watching Matt shake and "get sick" for an hour I ran to the gas station for some Gatorade. I finally fell back to sleep at 2ish. Matt got sick all night, but was a real trooper. This  morning he was still puky and still had a fever. I didn't eat on my lunch break because I ran to get medicine and more Gatorade. He still is very sick, but I'm hoping he will be able to keep the medicine and some fluids down.

I have never been a mother before, and it amazes me that I know what to do in those situations. Thank you Lord for the instincts you give each one of us. 

Please pray for Matt, he can't keep anything down, and I know he will be dehydrated soon.

HOMMMMMMEEEE

Wow, what a day I had yesterday. Everything went wrong. It started out the rental car place would not take my debit card. I called my bank and found out they had lowered my limit because my card had been compromised. They raised my limit so I could get my car. After that I left the hotel to head to the airport, and my GPS on my phone was trying to take me in the opposite direction, after driving around for about 20 minutes I finally got on the right track, After a two hour drive I finally made it to the airport but never found a gas station to fill up my rental car, then I would not find the right parking lot to return my car. When I turned in the car they found a scratch on the front bumper, but luckily they believed my when I said I didn't do it. After I walked to two wrong terminals with a suitcase missing a wheel (it broke off between FL and Haiti on the way there.) I walked all the way across the HUGE airport and finally found the right one. I got to the airport really early so I ate lunch at 12:00ish. My gate number was not on my boarding pass so I went to the boards to find my flight, guess what? My flight was not on the board. I waiting for three hours went to check again, still not there. I called Matt and he looked online and it told me what gate and that my flight was leaving 40 minutes later than regular time. Because it was leaving so late I would not have been able to make my next flight that left Atlanta at 8:55. The got me on an earlier flight that was supposed to leave at 5:30 but wasn't actually leaving until 6:00. We got boarded on the plane and headed to the runway to find out we were delayed because of a storm in ATL.  They said we would leave at 6:30, then 7:00, then 7:45, then 8:00. then 9:00. I kept checking my other flight on my phone and it said it was on time. Meaning I would miss it. Right as we were taking off I called Matt and told him to call delta to figure out what to do. So the whole flight I didn't know if I would make it home or be staying in ATL. As soon as we landed I called Matt, he said my plane was gone and he got me on a flight at 8:15 the next morning and that he got me a hotel that was connected to the airport, but I needed to check on my baggage to see if I would get it in ATL or if it would go on to Evansville. While in line I met a family and they said they were supposed to be on the same flight as me and that the gate had literally just closed. The lady at the counter said they were waiting on fuel and if we ran we might make it. We took off and ran all the way through the airport. We had to jump on a tram then ran some more. When we got to the gate the doors were closed but they were contacting the pilot to see if he would let me, the family, and another guy. HE DID. As soon as I found out I was going to make the plane I called Matt so he could head to get me. We ran though the gate to get to the plane. When we got to where you get on the plane that was pulling up. He has already headed toward the runway but came back for us. Thank you Jesus. We got on the plane and headed to Evansville. We left Atlanta at out 11:00 PM (our time.) We made it to the Evansville in an hour, but of course my luggage was not there because it did not get from one plane to the next. I waiting in line for about 30 minutes to fill out a lost luggage claim. Then we headed home! My luggage should be delivered to out hour in about 2 hours.

I am so thankful to be home after such a terrible day!! We did lose the money for the hotel, but it is okay, I just wanted to be home.

Stuck

As we speak I'm sitting in a plane stuck in Orlando. My flight has been delayed because of the weather and there is a good possibility I'll miss my next flight. I need some serious prayer! I just want to go home!

In FL

For once I don't have much to say. I'm in FL. My flight tomorrow is not until 6:30 PM so I have a really relaxing day in the hotel that I am really excited for.
See you soon

Radio 4VEH

I was on Radio 4VEH today!!! Storly loves that my husband is a radio DJ so he invited me to get an in depth tour and learn about everything they do so I can tell Matt when I get home. Before the tour he made me call Matt and tell him to listen online at 10. I was not sure why he wanted Matt to listen, but I later found out it was because he was going to have me on the air. The show is in Creole so he asked me questions in Creole and his wife translated to me quietly, then I answered into the mic and she translated into Creole into another mic. It was so awesome! Too bad I forgot about the time difference and Matt missed it, oh well. After that I walked to the school to help Angie finish putting a few things away. It is my last day and I'm so sad!! I just keep thinking that I'll see Matt soon! Please pray for safe travels.

The first radios that were given out. They would give one to a community and each month go and change the batteries. Now they had out small solar powered radios to people.

Storly preparing for his show

All the red dots are where listeners are

Music library

Here you go Matt. This is from Storly.

Kenbe Fem Nan Jezi

Today was the celebration of the 63rd anniversary of Radio 4VEH (the Christian radio station here in Haiti.) It was awesome to be there. It was held at First Baptist Church of Cap-Haitien (the biggest Protestant  church around.) The church is huge and beautiful. Kate (the station manager's wife) is a photographer so I got to move around the church to take videos and pictures during the ceremony. The church's youth choir sang and they were amazing, the message was in English (YAY) and amazing. After church I had an awesome lunch at Brett and Angie's then we went to the station for the celebration held for OMS employees/missionaries and the radio staff. An awesome choir/band played, they were amazing, and there was so much food. It was a great day to celebrate and great ministry.  The title of this post means Hold Tight to Jesus and that was the theme of the celebration.

Tomorrow is my last night here and I'm not ready to leave. Please pray for safe travels as I head back home.

Pictures

The second church we went to, sticks and sheets

Life

I have had dinner every night for the past few days with a man named Storly and his family. He is the manager at Radio 4VEH and his wife does communications there. He is from Haiti, she is from Wales and they now live in the US. Talk about diversity. Last night he shared the story of how the radio station began, and she talked about her life working in Africa for World Vision (Arica, you NEED to meet this lady.) She then went into the story of how they met and how they ended up in the US, what a story.  After they finished their story he made a statement that I keep catching myself thinking about. Not in these exact words, but he said that how their life has fallen into place perfectly, even though they had some MAJOR troubles, they all happened for a reason, and no man could ever have planned something to work out so well. It makes me think of my life, which has been far from perfect. I have had so many things happen in my life that it seems unreal I lived through them and while they were going on I was sure I wouldn't. I won't go into details but I just want to say this:

Life is not about living a perfect life, with a white picket fence, and being comfortable or always happy. If that is how your life is, feel blessed because very few people have that life. As I think back to the heart break I have been through I realize that I don't want it any other way. Life is too short to always be thinking about how you wish your life was falling into place. Life is about loving, which will probably involve heart ache at one point, caring more for others before yourself, serving with your whole heart, taking leaps of faith, being uncomfortable but having full faith you'll eventually become comfortable with being uncomfortable, and enjoying the beauty of life as we have been given it. Sometimes I think about how I thought my life would end up, boy was I wrong. My junior year of high school when my life had been 100% totally flipped upside down, if you would have told me that in a few short years I would be married to a metal musician who wanted to become a pastor I would have laughed in your face. If you would have told me that I would be living a life 100% wrapped around my Savior I would have called you insane. I didn't want to be like those people who I knew to be judgmental of people who might be a little different. Now I serve 7th-12th graders and teach them to love the Lord with all their heart and never leave out those who might be a little different. My students are amazing kids and I pray that are the ones who change their school and how it treats those who are "poor," uncool, broken, hurting, or just a little different. Being different is good. 

I am 24 and married to the most amazing man I have ever met. He is strong and faithful and I couldn't imagine my life with anyone else. And I promise you that if God had not put on his heart to try out for that very first play almost six years that I would not be where I am today. He has changed my thought about so many things, that I was too scarred to give a chance. He is passionate about the effect music can have on a life. He is never selfish and loves hard.

As I was growing up and I wanted so bad to be an only child, now I can't imagine a life without my brother, sister, and sister-in-law. They are the most passionate people I have ever met and I can't wait to get home to go see them soon.

My father is the strongest man I know. He is the most seriously hysterical man ever! He is softer than people realize. I can't imagine having another dad.

My mother is a hard working and caring women, who knows how to completely love. She had overcome more things than most people can imagine and my life without her would be broken. 

I have amazing grandparents who care about me and love me so much.I haven aunts and uncles and cousins who help complete the hand the Lord has dealt me. 

I have strong and passionate friends who always stand up for what is right and always put others first. 

How everything works into place is something that man cannot do alone. The plan for my life that has NOT been my plan and is more perfect than the one I created so many years ago. My life is not easy, but whose is? To be honest the hard things we all go through in life are the things that make us who we are. The things we love, the things that break out heart, or make us laugh, or cry, the music that we enjoy, or hobbies, our passions, make us who we are. People think I'm crazy for coming here so 3 weeks without my husband, but I know that I was called to be here, and he was called to stay home. People think I'm crazy for coming here at all, with or without him, but my passion for this place makes me me. Why would I sit in my comfortable house when I could be sitting her sweating and changing the lives of people who live here to change the lives of the people who are broken and hurt and lost and searching for something more than the concrete walls of 
their homes. 

So after you took all the time to read this long blog, if you remember nothing else I ask you to remember this. Our lives are so perfectly imperfect. You are loved and made in the image of the flawless Creator. Things may be hard, but I promise you that those hard things will only be hard for awhile, then you'll see the purpose. Life is so perfectly put together by perfect hands that why should we question anything?

Live your life out loud! Don't be ashamed of the passions you have, take leaps of faith no matter how crazy people think you are. Love hard, put others first, and don't be afraid to shout from the rooftops how perfectly imperfect your life is.

"I may not have a perfect voice but I'll still sing at the top of my lungs, until my days are done."