Human Interaction

How wonderful that we get to share our lives with other people. Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers... How blessed we are to be surrounded by people. However, I didn't always think this way. I look back at my school days in elementary, middle, and high school. I didn't have too many friends. I was always shy and awkward. Ask my brother. After school was out, he would always wait a while and make sure I had already started walking home before he would start walking home. He didn't want people to see him with me, and he didn't even want people to know I was his sister. How could a popular guy be seen with a shy and weird girl?... even if it was his sister. Ok, I went off on a tangent. But there is a point I am trying to make.

Fast forward 15 years... I am still a bit shy and truth be told, I am still a bit weird. However, what has completely changed is my view of human interaction. As a teen, I wasn't looking to make friends and hang out and have fun. I didn't care to make friends. But that all changed when Christ came into my heart. God began showing me how special every single person is to Him. He even knows the number of hairs on everybody's head. So if God took the time to make everybody special and unique, then why can't I make a conscious effort to meet people and get to know them? As Christians we are called to do so.

My personal calling became evident in a vision that I had a few years ago. I still remember that I was sitting on the side of my bed and writing my thoughts down on paper. I was writing something between a poem and a devotional. I hope that makes sense. As I was writing God started showing me a bunch of people; some I could recognize and some I couldn't. Each person God showed me had a common characteristic. They were introverted, and outcast by most other people. In other words, they were "weird" people... just like me. And I suddenly understood why God gave me the personality and temperament that He did. I have a calling to reach out to people that are normally rejected and outcast by society. That is why I now say that it is a blessing to be surrounded by people: no matter how strange or different they seem, we are all God's creative handiwork.

What we're made Of

We were remembering with my pastor all the tough times that our church has been through. Indeed it is nothing short of a miracle that we are still standing. God has sustained us in a supernatural way.

One of the hardest times was back in 2003. All at once, the city closed down our church for over a year, my pastor's health deteriorated in Guatemala and he needed immediate surgery. We were left without a church and without a pastor. But even in this, we saw God's provision and care. Vida Abundante church opened up their doors and let us have our services there at night.

And this is the stuff we're made of. I love remembering how the church came together. Although we didn't have a building of our own, and the pastor was fighting for his life, God brought a unity in us that helped us get through this tough time.

I also think about the underground church in China. They are in constant persecution. They are arrested and tortured for their faith. Yet in all this, the underground church is growing exponentially. People are coming to Christ in record numbers. They even send missionaries around different parts of China and neighboring countries.

Jesus' words in Matthew 16:18 hold true.

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

In His Image and Likeness

We are made in God's image and likeness. How amazing that out of all creation, the God of the universe chose to make us the only creation like Him. Not even angels are created in His image and likeness. God was reminding me of this and it brought so much comfort and encouragement to my heart. When we're down, we can be strengthened in remembering that we are more than conquerers through Him who loved us. We are His creation, and even better than that; we are His children.

Exalt 2011 (part 2)

All I can say is that I was blessed to be part of this event. I was so proud of all the youth that participated and offered their talents to exalt the Lord. Enjoy the videos below.

Ricardo y banda - this is an original song composed by Ricky

Camille and Lily - a beautiful choreography to Casting Crown's - Praise You in the Storm

Genesis and Amanda - interpreting Francesca Batistelli's - Beautiful Beautiful... It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL

Jeffrey - spoken word... He's got a lot of potential

Joshua - playing Exaltate on the sax

Exalt 2011 (part 1)

The lights turn off and the countdown starts...

Little Jeffrey gets on the stage and introduces the masters of ceremony. Enter Milagros and Eddie. A lovely welcome was given to all the people there and the other churches that joined us. This was just the beginning of an amazing night.

Exalt was the title we gave to our youth talent show. And we got to see A LOT of talent. What was the most beautiful part is that from the very beginning when we were planning this event, we had set in our hearts that the main purpose was to encourage our young people to put their talents to use in a way that would bring God glory. This was not a night to show off talents, but to offer them to God and exalt Him with them.

The first participation was Ricardo and the band he put together. He composed a beautiful song and had the band play it. Let me just say that the song is truly anointed. Today it's been stuck in my head the whole day, and my friends have told me the same thing. We are going to start playing it in our Sunday services as part of the worship.

The second participation was Camille and Lily doing a choreography to Casting Crown's song Praise Him in the Storm. In the weeks leading up to Exalt they would talk to me about the choreography and how their desire was for each movement to transmit the message of the song. We can have hope in knowing that in the midst of the storms of life God is right there with us. The choreography was not just elegant and graceful; it spoke hope and encouragement to people that needed it.

Genesis and Amanda sang Beautiful Beautiful by Francesca Battistelli, and it was absolutely beautiful (sorry for the redundancy). I had never had the chance to hear Genesis sing before and she blew me away. These girls sang with all their heart and I am so proud of them.

Jeffrey did spoken word to a poem he titled "Redemption". Everybody enjoyed hearing his poem. He has a wonderful ability to express himself through poetry. He has a bunch of notebooks at home full of poetry he has written.

Joshua played a song on the saxophone titled, Exaltate, a song we've sang in our worship services. I had to just stand back and admire his stamina. I would not be able to blow into the saxophone and play one for over five minutes. He played the entire song, not just bits and pieces of a song like you may usually hear. He put his all into the song and it showed. I can't wait for him to play on a regular basis as part of our worship team in church.

Reset, the youth worship band of Centro Biblico International was the last participation before the special finale. It was such a pleasure to have them with us. They played three songs and everybody had a special time of praise and worship with them. My friend Shadia is the leader of the worship band and it was my first time getting to see her play the drums.

There are many pictures and videos to upload, but here are pictures of each of the participants.

The leadership of the youth ministry put together a special finale. We incorporated each of our talents into a skit. To finish the night, my youth pastor, Pastor Willy gave a powerful message encouraging everybody to discover their talents and abilities and to use them to bring God glory. This became one of my favorite messages out of all the ones that I have heard him preach throughout the years. I feel so blessed to be a part of this ministry and to see how God is lifting us up as He has promised us.

Although this post is already long, I would like to include a poem that I wrote specially for the finale:

You may as well call me Babel
Confused and unable to find my way
A journey I once started with Christ, Immanuel
Has now turned into dismay

Oh heart, how envy has lead you to a dark and lonely place
At the mere sight of God’s work in another person’s life
My peace and joy become like vapor and vanish without a trace
And my soul is consumed with bitterness and strife

If only I could have Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams
If only I was as the apostles, people could be healed by my shadow
Or as the Prophet Jonah brought a nation to repentance on it’s knees
To have the courage of David, who killed Goliath with one throw

How I long to say, “Here I am, send me”
Many say that in serving You there is great delight
And on their faces I see their genuine glee
But in my case, I can’t seem to get it right

What have I to offer to the Creator who reigns in majesty?
Talents and gifts to honor Him with; I have none
These melancholy words are spoken in all honesty
How can I present myself empty handed before your Son?

For although you know the plans you have for me
Plans for good, plans of a future and of hope
Your purpose in my life I cannot see
And I find myself in a battle, struggling to cope

So I pray that you help open up my eyes
Help me see myself the way you do
For I have fallen for the enemy’s lies
Help me to rediscover that your words are true

My mind and my heart cannot seem to reconcile
I know that God chose me for a reason
I’ve been hearing this now for a while
Perhaps God will reveal my purpose in due season

Am I that clay contending with the Potter?
Why did you make me this way?
Am I that child questioning God the Father?
Why was I brought to this earth anyway?

Now to rid myself of this attitude
I can have the Holy Spirit if I ask
Let my heart be filled with gratitude
And my gifts and talents will He unmask

Physics

CAUTION: Do not try this at home.


The laws of physics state that if the man in the picture holds the 15lb ball attached to a pendulum a little below his chin and releases it, it will not swing back high enough to hit him in the face. This is actually a classic demonstration given in physics labs when teaching on the properties of a pendulum. This holds true as long as an external force is not applied to the ball. If somebody stands at the other end of the pendulum and pushes the ball, then yes, it will in all likelihood smash his face.


OK... enough physics.


I actually don't even like physics. I'm a science nerd, but when it comes to physics, the concepts take a bit longer to register in my brain. And this is where frustration comes in. All I'm trying to do is get into med-school to become a pediatrician. Why do I need physics???? Maybe once I get to med-school I will see why I was required to take it.


I know this is a test of life that I must pass. I've been so frustrated with physics that at times I've felt like forgetting about med-school. But how can I? I can't see myself doing anything else but pediatrics. Physics just stands there and taunts me, "HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?" So now all I can do is brace myself and prove to God, to myself, and to my family and friends that I can overcome this and even be one of the top students.


Yes I know this sounds dramatic, but to me this has been a huge battle. Please just pray for me to be wise and understanding.

I Left my Heart in Costa Rica

I was finally able to go on my first missions trip :-) What a joy it was to serve God along side with the Sharp family, the missions team (The Amazing 5), and the Sion congregation.

I was truly blessed to be able to meet such wonderful people with a love for Christ. I loved working with the youth and being able to play with the kids. I was also encouraged by how my friends and family were able to see how happy I was to be on this missions trip. I left my heart in Costa Rica. I felt so at home and so fulfilled.

Since I've been back, I've been hard at work with my fellow leaders of the youth ministry at my amazing church. We've been working hard planning the next two major events: Exalt and Camp Arise.

Exalt is our talent show and it is this Saturday. We say talent show, but it is really a night of exalting God, using the gifts and talents that He has given us.

Camp Arise will be next month. Can't wait. It is amazing how we have lots of fun with the youth, but also experience fresh touches from God.

Life can't get any better than this... you haven't truly lived until you've had a relationship with Christ and served Him.