A Lion Has Roared

It is easy, sometimes, to sit back and wonder...what am I doing here? I work until late at night. I wake up to frosty mornings and go to work outs that test my faith. Sometimes a day feels like a week, with class and challenges, and office hours, and KP, and ministry, and meal times, and Bible studies, and men's and women's group...the schedule can be grueling here. I look at my life, and this is what I see: it is cold here. My family is not here. I lose sleep. I sacrifice and even suffer for students who don't thank me. I am not getting paid. I don't see fruit. Why am I here?

"I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock." Amos 7:14

"A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?" Amos 3:8

"For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: 'Seek me and live.'" Amos 5:4

God is faithful to remind me. He called me here. I cannot but help obey Him. I desire life, and that life is only through Him and doing His will. I was a simple girl, no degree, no qualifications, no money. He took me and planted me in a ministry that changes lives!! And He has me writing a book for a Calvary Chapel pastor. I pray fervently in His Spirit that the work won't be of me, but of Him!!

I look at the life of one of my best friends here. He was a rebel. Everyone told him he'd be dead by twenty one. He was a partier who lived life on the edge and nearly killed himself with stupid stunts on a regular basis. God brought him to Patmos, and now he is one of the most passionate men after God that I have ever met! He is going to become a Pastor. Even now when he teaches, he teaches with authority and wisdom. He is twenty years old and one of the most Godly men I have ever met.

The lion has roared. That is why I am here. I can't see right in front of me. I can't always understand why. But my desire, more than anything, is to follow that Lion, even if no one else does-like Lucy in Prince Caspian.

A Day in Brazil

Here I am in June

Finally, a normal weekend. Some time to relax, but mostly a time to catch up on work!

Friday was an all around lovely day! The students finished some of their challenges and learned a powerful lesson about grace and love! We were supposed to spend the afternoon playing sports, but it started pouring rain at lunch time. So instead, we had a movie afternoon, something never heard of at Patmos!!! We watched Shrek 2 and Up! I was not allowed to work ;) So I cuddled up in a blanket and enjoyed some down time. It was a big blessing.

Yesterday, was extremely unproductive (besides getting my room all clean and smelling fresh) because I could NOT focus on work. But today has been very productive. In Brazil they have church on Sunday night, so the whole day is open for us as staff, although the students help out at Sunday School in the morning. I'm praying that I'll get most of my work done before tonight, because we have an early morning tomorrow. We'll see.

We are taking Portuguese classes on Wednesday with the camp director, Junior. In case I haven't told you about him, he is a wonderful man. Kind, accomodating, and absolutely hilarious! Everyone, including his children, think that I look like his wife...so I told him that he is my Brazilian dad, and he finally warmed up to that idea. He told me to come back in December. Apparently it is steaming hot with huge tropical storms every day! I think we should come down for Christmas ;) :)

Tomorrow, if all proceeds as it has been, I will begin writing chapter three of Pastor Chet's book and start reworking chapter one after Meredith edited it this week. Tomorrow also starts a very hard week for the three month students. It was arguably my hardest week at Patmos, just because of the emotional and mental battles that we take them through. And finally, this next week is the last week to prepare for our first two-week group coming from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. I am on the two-week team, so this may occupy a lot of my time.

Saturday was a low for me. I think I have been very attacked by the enemy as of late. He keeps throwing things my way that make it hard to move forward and I felt it most on Saturday. I felt wretched and broken, unable to do ministry or service. Then, while in the shower crying out to God, I realized that I should be indignant that the enemy would mess with me while I was doing the work of God! He fights dirty, and I've been taking the hits and letting it get to me. I refuse to be swayed by him! I determined to get back in the fight and not let anything sway me!

My lungs are proving very sensitive to the varying temperatures, but I am moving forward in faith and prayer. I think workous will just be harder here, and that's something that I'll have to live with.

Other than that, things are going well. I am blessed to have job description that requires me in class every day. I get to witness the journeys of the three-month students. God is already working mightily in this class and I am very excited to see them when they are fully transformed!!! The food here is amazing as always! One of the Brazilian staff, Indy, is a culinary genius! Not only is she an amazing cook, but she makes chocolates that are out of this world!

I've been here a month and I press on! Ten more weeks.