Blessings

I getting very comfortable with my life here in Puerto Rico. It’s becoming more and more like home with each passing day. There are beautiful jungleous mountain vistas, breezy moonlit nights, and of course all the fabulous beaches with water clear enough to see the ocean floor as well as hoards of colorful fish. It is extremely hot and humid here (which is my preference) so my style basically consists of my hair in a granny know on top of my head and any cool thing in my closet. My days have fallen into a comfortable routine with just enough “island time” to vary it up now and then and I’m already starting to dread the day when I have to leave next summer. 

I’m fairly busy. A typical day has me working in the piano lab all morning, going to spanish classes in the afternoon, and then finishing out with either choir practice, orchestra or string quartet practice. But the weekends are when things really pick up since that is when the choir tours around to various churches to perform.

I had an exciting weekend with the choir a while ago. I'm sure I’ve never had a more drama filled day in my whole life time! After an hour and a half of loading the van with people and choir robes and food we were finally on our merry way. Some people talked, some people slept, I settled down to read. Sadly the relaxation didn’t last long before various problems started to occur the largest of which was a blown tire on one of the vans. Of course everyone went into a frenzied panic and before we knew it, ALL the men had gallantly piled out of both vans and started the task of changing that one tire! And then it started raining. No tragedy is complete until it starts raining. It still took a really long time and we ended up arriving at the church well past the end of the service. But in the end there was no tragedy after all. If anything, the gospel was strengthened because of adversity. I'm telling this story because it taught me a valuable lesson about myself. After each wave of misfortune, I would think to myself, “Hmm… maybe this is a sign from the Lord and for some reason we weren’t supposed to sing at that church”. In my mind it was pointless to go on because the service would be over. But we did go and people were waiting for us and while we sang there were tears in many peoples eyes. Afterwards, a lady told me that the blessing she received was that much greater because they had been praying that we would make it safely. And I realized that, although we have no way of knowing for sure what was really going on, it could have been the forces of darkness that were trying to hold us back. I realize that I am to quick to blame God for bad things that happen. And this is why I’m thankful for leaders who push on and strive against the devils attacks.

This is where I live (and swim)

My friend Nora

 

More friends: Dave and Johanna

Mangoes 

Two bananas in one skin!

Purpose

Hello folks! Since I made the decision to start a blog I have been trying to find the motivation to start posting about my time as a Student Missionary in Puerto Rico. This first blog post is the result of a scare from a near-death experience my laptop and phone had last week. It's a little ironic that both my electronic devices bowed out right when I was congratulating myself on being in a place that had wifi! So here's to my new resolve to take less for granted and start using my electronics for useful purposes.

By the way, rice actually does work wonders on waterlogged
electronics. This phone was all but dead after I dropped it in 
the Caribbean Sea but it mostly revived after a good long sit
buried in rice.

I came to Puerto Rico to serve. So far I have painted one wall, transcribed one musical selection for choir, and made a couple hundred copies for orchestra and choir. Not really a substantial amount of work for my first month here. The significance of what I am doing pales in comparison with the great work that other brave young people are doing. People like Katie Davis. What an inspiration this book has been! If you want your horizons broadened on what happiness and love really look like then read this book.

Sometimes I wonder if what I am doing is significant. Am I really where God wanted me to be for my year of mission work? Have you every been discouraged wondering if what you are doing makes any difference in the eternal scheme of things? When there are so many real and tangible needs in the world how can I be sure that living in an air conditioned dormitory with great friends and plenty of food and fun is God's will at this moment? 

I believe that it is possible to think that you are doing God's will and not actually be in the center his plan for your life. That is because God gives us the freedom of choosing to follow or not to follow. Here is what I am thinking: Maybe it's okay to question whether or not I am in the will of God. Maybe it's essential! Maybe we should bring that question right down into our day to day lives and even into every moment of our days. What would happen if I was always asking "Is this what God is needs me to do right now?" Maybe that would solve the age old question that we ask "What should I do with my life!?" And maybe eventually, we would come to realize that it isn't our life. My life was bought with a price and is hid with Christ in God.

So here is my goal this year: to keep my eyes open to the jobs that God has planned for me - the ones that weren't on my job description; and to ALWAYS rely on Jesus even though I'm not trekking through the jungles or living in a thatched hut. 

Thanks for being patient for this first post everyone!