Tonight's dinner was delicious. We ate at one of the fanciest places I have probably eaten at in my life. The milk here is delicious. I couldn't get over it. We had a three course meal. To finish off the meal we got creme brulee. Also very good. After dinner we are off to our site where we are faced with the realities of poverty. Here we go!!
-Allison Vance
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV84
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Proverbs 16:9 NIV84
In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV84
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
These are some of the verses I read this morning. I couldn't sleep. I think the Holy Spirit woke me up. I'm pretty sure God wanted me to spend some time with Him.
It was a crazy long day yesterday. I finally went to sleep after 24 hours of being awake, like many of us. When we thought the chaos of the day had finally ended. We lost 4 of our checked bags; Terry's, MaryKay's, Seth's or Obsi's (we aren't sure yet because they haven't met up with us yet) and, of-course, mine. I think we, as believers, have a tendency to connect things all the time to God. Let me give you a couple examples: you accidentally take a wrong turn and you stop and get out of the car to check your map and you find a $20 bill on the ground. Totally God. Anything less than $20 is just luck. Or you lose one of your favorite socks think It's gone for ever and you find it stuck to the side of the laundry basket. I don't know, but I don't think God wants us to spiritualize all things like that. But, I don't believe in coincidence or happenstance either. Sometimes satan does some messing with our lives too, but what do we learn from these situations and circumstances. I started reading Isaiah 58 this morning and tears rolled down my eyes. Why? We drove in to San Fran last night. A Saturday. City life a hustle and bustling. We are driving Dodge Chargers, pretty stellar. As we are driving in the city there are homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk, a cardboard box or dirty blanket covering there cold, hungry, dirty bodies. A lot of homeless people. I was scared, afraid, and didn't want to make eye contact. I feared for the students. We got checked-in to our rooms and I don't think I've ever been more excited to get into bed. It was so comfortable, warm, fluffy, fresh. I had two pillows, they were like dessert. Then I thought about the people we had just seen, right outside our hotel, sleeping on the street. It was a brief thought, talked about quickly in our room before we all fell asleep.
I read this, this morning:
Isaiah 58:6-7 NIV84
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
I've been praying to God these last week's for this trip to break the students hearts for what breaks His heart.
He is working on all of us. He is good in His ways. His ways are different, but they are better.
We are trusting in Him and i think we are starting to realize why we are here. At least, I am.
-Mike
14 of us are here! We miss the other 4 but will be reunited tomorrow at 10:30! Thanks for your prayers. Time to drive to the hotel and get some shut eye.
Today has been one of the longest days ever it seems; delay after delay after delay, not knowing what will happen, where we will be flying to next. God has already challenged all of us with patience and trust. We are finally on our way to san Francisco. I can't wait to begin our journey ahead and to see what God has in store for us! Looking forward to a great week.
-Allison Vance
