I'm back from Belize! (Now a happy graduate of Discipleship Training School.). My trip was long and complicated, but also truely amazing, and I am incredibly blessed. I wanted to write a quick update and give the highlights from my trip(s):
Belize (school, 3 months):
I re-learned the goodness and kindess of God - which allowed me to break free from a lot of self-condemnation and blame.
1.) God is NOT an angry smiter. He is not out to get me, and he's not disappointed in me.
2.) NOTHING I do can make God love me LESS....or more.
3.) God loves me, just because he loves me, just because he loves me, just because he loves me...
4.) Because that is who God is, God is love - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails." God is patient, God is kind....God never fails.
England (1 month, helping with Olympics):
We spent most of our time running around helping different churches run cafes (were people from the community could watch the olympics and hangout, etc.) and sports camp for kids.
1.) I immensely enjoyed painting the faces of 6 beautiful little columbian girls, and becoming their hero for the day - having them follow me every place screaming "Anna! Anna! Anna" and wanting me to play with them all the time. :)
2.) Sharing the gospel with a little boy from Africa who had never even heard of Jesus before!
3.) Meeting a woman from Romania in Starbucks, and getting to share my entire testimony with her; then hearing hers, and having an amazing heart to heart conversation. We both left incredibly encouraged.
4.) Going to Hyde Park and meeting a man from Zimbabwe. Got into an intense conversation about human suffering and the goodness of God. Ended up sobbing, and telling the man through tears that God really does care about him, about his people, about Africa, about anyone suffering...that God hears their prayers, and he does care, and that God really does LOVE him, and he really does LOVE each person SO much....
Portugal (1 month, partnered with George and Arcadia - portugese missionaries):
Spent 1 week at a youth camp helping lead games and preach/lead worship. Then 3 weeks performing skits and doing open air evangelism.
1.) Teaching on "Trusting God during the Hard Times..." and sharing my own story at the Youth Camp.
2.) Meeting two women from the Netherlands who were seeking out God; but were confused and discouraged, and I was able to sit and talk with them, and help point them towards Jesus...
3.) Getting to know the kids we worked with at the camp, and their families. Portugese/Brazilian Portugese people are the sweetest, most hospitable people in the entire world!
4.) The Beaches were indescribably beautiful...(the flowers too!)
5.) Debreif - we got to stay in a wonderful country cottage - and just relax as a team. It was pefect, and a wonderful break before heading home...
6.) Met a woman from Estonia who desires to be a midwife (like I hope to do!) Diffenently a kindred spirit and hope we will be friends for a long time.
Summary: God is good. Life isn't always perfect, but there is always reason to HOPE, and to trust God. He really does love and care about me. And you. :) He hears our prayers...
Life is hard. But God is good!
THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who supported me on this Journey!
