My first craving...that won't be met for a while

So I know this random and has no spiritual value whatsoever, but it's still part of the experience. For some reason I'm totally craving a turkey sub from Subway right now with lettuce, tomato, pickles, olives, mayo, mustard. Oh man! It sounds so amazing!

The land of the deep and profound

Wow! Ok, so yesterday I taught on John 1:1-5 and in that teaching I had to cover the topics of eternity, the Trinity (specifically how Jesus is God) and creation. I honestly loved studying for this teaching and it has definitely been the most difficult teaching so far just because of the complexity of the subjects. It challenged me though knowing that if I don't know it well enough to be able to simplify it and explain it properly then I don't know it as well as I should. It was awesome though because I handed out notebooks to them so they could write down what God has been showing them throughout the week, so I'm hoping and praying that come Sunday they will have learned something that will draw them closer to Him.

One month

Well, today marks the official one month mark since I've left. I am honestly amazed at all that God has done over this past month in and through me. I am so excited to see what all God will continue to do as long as I don't get in the way. These past couple of days, I've finally begun the whole settling in process: putting up pictures, buying a printer, etc... I wish I knew what to say other than the fact that I am in awe of our God and how He works. Little (well, actually kind of big) things that have taken place and prayers that have been answered, ways He has changed me, things He is teaching me, it all adds up to a month that has been one of the most difficult months of my life, yet one of the most amazing and holding the most growth. I ask that you continue to pray for me and the ministries that God has placed in my path, I'm beginning the book of John in my girl's Bible study and so there's a lot of deep yet foundational truths that I'll be teaching, and I just hope and pray that my delivery would be from God, not based upon my own knowledge or experience.

Johnny One Note

Ok, so today was my turn to lead worship...um yeah, I'm not sure what words could describe this experience, especially for those who had to hear it. For those of you who don't know I'm rhythmically and musically retarded and honestly couldn't keep a beat to save my life, not to mention that one of my dad's nicknames for me is Johnny One Note, all that to say that music just isn't really my thing. Even Lukas would try and get me to sing in front of him and I wouldn't because I'm so self conscious about how bad I am. Ok, so anyways, this morning I was in the middle of some crazy stomach thing where I just didn't feel good all over and hadn't really been able to prepare at all and I was really weak, so needless to say it was "interesting" but the guys in my SOM class were really sweet and supportive and oh man, I'm just thinking of some of how some of the songs went today, boy...well, I guess being a worship leader isn't necessarily my calling, but oh well. The fun part is that since there's only four students in our class I'll get to do this about 4 more times, oh man, those poor guys in my class!

procrastination station...

I have my Bible sitting in front of me open to Exodus as that is the current book I'm outlining, I'm finding myself allowing myself to get distracted by any little thing...kids coming in and enjoying photobooth on my computer, watching gilmore girls, making hard boiled eggs, blogging, oh and now it's time to help get ready for dinner...bummer! :) Oh man I'm terrible.

struggles and victories

Ok, so today I had my third girl's Bible study. I can't believe it's been that many and therefore that I've been gone for three and a half weeks therefore making it now the longest I've been away from home. Today in my girl's study, I had what was the most difficult time so far with maintaining their attention, and they didn't seem too talkative with me, but they seemed to want to talk to eachother in their language which I have to admit was just kind of hard, but in a way I think I needed it, it humbled me that's for sure. Anyways, I know there is still so much more I need to learn, but I know God is in it as long as I don't trust in my own knowledge or ability. Now that was the struggle, and now for the victory (and I know this doesn't sound like much) but I have always made an attempt at memorizing the books of the Bible, and I'm having a test tomorrow morning where I will have to have them memorized and in order. And tonight I've achieved my big hurdle of the minor prophets and therefore have the Old Testament memorized, I'm so excited! Anyways, like I said it's nothing big or exciting, but it's been stressing me out.

Ka Fancy Fancy

So tonight at youth group we had what is called a Ka Fancy Fancy. It's a night where things kind of get shaken up, it's more about fellowship than a teaching and the kids get hooked up with some food. Tonight was a blast because I played volleyball with the girls and none of us were really good, but they were just laughing and having a great time, so it was really awesome just getting to play with them. We then had worship and then I did announcements and broke the kids up into groups to talk about what they've learned and then prayed for their next school term. It was awesome because I had the girls who were in secondary (high) school and they were the smallest group out of the bunch, but it's just so cool getting to talk to them.
I had a revelation during this small group time while we were in prayer. There were a couple of the girls who were praying and they were praying in their own language and it just kind of hit me that God doesn't hear prayers in English, it really reminded me of that time in the book of Acts after the disciples received the Holy Spirit and were speaking all the languages there and everyone was able to know what they were saying. God doesn't need an interpreter, He's not the God of western civilization or America and although I knew that, it was just so cool to really have it hit me in the way that it did! Our God is truly so good!