living the dream
It hit me sometime last week that I am truly living. my. dream. Wow. What a privilege. I don't even know what to do except thank the Lord for the privilege He has given me to be here.
I clearly remember my first week at Miss Carla's Bible study last fall in Watkinsville. I was in my senior year of college at the University of Georgia, and she shared with us a special moment in her life when the Lord kind of woke her up and showed her that she was living her dream. She had delighted herself in Him, and He gave her the desires of her heart. (Psalm 37:4) I also remember hoping that one day I would have an epiphany like the one she seemed to have.
And I must say that the Lord has given me something quite like an epiphany. For those of you who don't know, the first time I came to Mexico was when I was 15 years old. I came with my church and fell in love with the people- their spirit and passionate love for the Lord.
To be here in Mexico is quite literally a dream come true for me. The fact the Lord has allowed me to be a part of the work He is doing here through the lives of my students and Mexicans who need Him is incredulous. It is insanely humbling, beautiful, and frightening that He would choose to use me. In our Bible class we have been learning a lot about Moses. I hate to admit that my students seem to know much more Bible history than I do and can tell me all about Moses and his life. I may be learning more than I am teaching, which is quite humbling.
To be here is such an honor, and one way or another the Lord finds a way to remind me of this honor each day. One day He may encourage my heart through the respectfully kind way that my students' parents call me "maestra Jessica" (teacher Jessica) or through the simple gift of an apple on my desk. Just this week one of my students brought me a leaf from their yard that had turned yellow because I have been talking so much about how I am going to miss the beautiful fall leaves in Georgia...Other days He shows me that I am, in fact, in over my head if I choose to rely on my own "strength." He uses the weak to lead the strong, and He chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. How great He is! How deep the Father's love for us! Friends, be mindful of the ways that He can use you. Don't be afraid to fail or to dream big. He loves to give us new dreams to dream and then watch us thrive. He loves to allow us to depend on Him like the air we breathe. And He is good. So very good.
I clearly remember my first week at Miss Carla's Bible study last fall in Watkinsville. I was in my senior year of college at the University of Georgia, and she shared with us a special moment in her life when the Lord kind of woke her up and showed her that she was living her dream. She had delighted herself in Him, and He gave her the desires of her heart. (Psalm 37:4) I also remember hoping that one day I would have an epiphany like the one she seemed to have.
And I must say that the Lord has given me something quite like an epiphany. For those of you who don't know, the first time I came to Mexico was when I was 15 years old. I came with my church and fell in love with the people- their spirit and passionate love for the Lord.
To be here in Mexico is quite literally a dream come true for me. The fact the Lord has allowed me to be a part of the work He is doing here through the lives of my students and Mexicans who need Him is incredulous. It is insanely humbling, beautiful, and frightening that He would choose to use me. In our Bible class we have been learning a lot about Moses. I hate to admit that my students seem to know much more Bible history than I do and can tell me all about Moses and his life. I may be learning more than I am teaching, which is quite humbling.
Did I mention that we now have a pet lobster in our class? One of my kids bought him for 45 pesos with his own money! (That's about $4 USD.)