cookies

I just spent a wonderful and interesting afternoon with the girls from King's Kids. We wanted to have a girls day, so I taught them to make chocolate chip cookies. But it's not very normal to bake here, so none of them have any experience with measuring cups or with ovens.

The funniest moment was when I was telling them the ingredients. I explained it all, but one girl wasn't listening very well. So she really thought we were going to put "soda" (as in soda pop) in chocolate chip cookies. How cute, but thank goodness she wasn't in charge of adding ingredients.

They did turn out pretty yummy though. But within an hour they were all gone. That's what happens when you live with four guys that just got back from playing soccer.

Direction

This week has been my week of pure accounting. Finally I can see light at the end of the tunnel. But I feel like I am in the middle of a tug-of-war game. Because there are many needs at the base that I would love to help with. But there are many things we need to do this year for Esperanzas de Vida, and there just isn't time for both.

This year we need to make our non-profit legal, contact clinics, print fliers, and get our counseling material ready. All of those things take some time. Right now Cristina and I are in the process of encouraging our director to let me stay in Medellin during the outreach time so I can work (some of that will also require a trip to Bogota). He doesn't really see the need for me to stay...yet. So, a major prayer request for us would be that we can know with assurance how we should be using our time.

This is also bringing up a life "crisis" I have. I am often tempted to do good work that I enjoying doing, but it's not actually what I've been called to do. We've got to trust that God knows what he's up to and can provide for the needs in the base as well as our ministerial needs. But in trusting we have also, as YWAMers, got to take the time to really search out what God is desiring for us in this time. When we get to busy sometimes it is really a discipline to be quite and still and listen to God, and yet when we're busy is when we need that time the most. God, we do need your direction!

Wedding!

Yesterday I got to see my first Colombian wedding, and even more exciting was that it was our first pregnant girl getting married. It was a simple wedding in the Catholic church. We will continue counseling the couple in their relationship as spouses and their upcoming responsibility of being parents.

This week we have an American teacher visiting, Dean Harvey, who was actually the founder of the School of the Bible in YWAM. It's very exciting to have him, and because it's special to have him here, both the counseling school and the DTS are in class together. So things are a bit different this week, but very good. The class is about moral government, which is a weighty subject, and excellent for us all to hear and process together.

The King's Kids are about to start their last week in China. They have found a couple Christian contacts that have let them do cultural stuff, like teach Colombian dances in a coffee shop. It has opened up doors because people wonder what a bunch of Colombians are doing in China. What a great way to start a conversation. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on because they can't write about anything God related in the emails. I'm excited to hear all of the stories when they get back. Please help us pray that they have an amazing impact in their last week and can make good contacts for their next trip.

Famous for a Day

Yesterday I got to spend all day with DNA, the music group from Puerto Rico. It was amazing to get to hang out with them. The concert went very well. They danced and sang great, and the two acoustic songs with the guitar and piano also went well. Afterwards a couple of kids even asked me to sign CDs for them. It was neat to be apart of something quality and I just love to play piano.

But I think the best part of being with them was seeing what they are like back stage. They always pray before they start a concert or presentation, and they reflect such hearts for helping young people understand what love really is and making wise decisions. Often before presentations or shows people are running around and stressed (at least in my experience). DNA however, even though we were running around, have a peace about them too. They know they can depend on everyone to do their part and there is calmness in their attitudes. What a privilege to work with people who know what they're doing and do it well, and also people that live what they preach. I will be sad to see them leave tomorrow.

But the entire experience also motivated me to find more opportunities to use my music. I do love playing, but I also love being around musicians, we just connect. If I wanted to build more relationships with non Christians (which is sometimes difficult when we have such full schedules in the base) I would want to hang out with musicians and tell them about Jesus. The best things in life are what we have to intentionally work for: relationships and music are worth it though.