Missionary Life: Serving at Acoinprev and 3rd Grade Outing at Prestolandia

"Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling..."

This past Friday, my 3rd Graders went and served at Acoinprev, a poor Christian school in Suba.  Our social service coordinator was unable to go with us, so a group of parents came along to help with snack and our activities.  The school is very small and it can be very chaotic.  I was able to walk up and see the 3rd Grade classroom there and the room was so tiny that they could barely fit the desks in the room with space to walk.

This was a growing experience for me that definitely brought me out of my comfort zone.  Feeling responsible for how the parent volunteers were feeling, how much my kids were interacting with the kids from Acoinprev, and being challenged by how much we were really helping and serving this school, it made me reflect on what our purpose is when I take my class there to serve as missionaries.  Our main focus is to widen their eyes and hearts of my 3rd Graders to see the many blessings they have and that there are children their same age in their own country that live a very different life.  What most impacted me was when we were going to leave, the 3rd Grade teacher at Acoinprev brought down a student, Santiago, who was crying because he didn't want us to leave.  This reminded of the impact we can have on others if we go with light of Christ despite how chaotic is feels.  We serve in his strength, not our own, and the opportunity for the gospel to bear fruit is endless when it is in His hands.

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms..."    

3rd Grade Reflections:

What surprised me is that when we were going a boy cry for us to stay.  I can pray for Santiago.

My favorite part was making them a card.  It surprised me that I received a lot of cards and I liked when I ate snack with them.  My prayer is to help them learn about God.

It is good and I like helping them and we make many friends.  It feels good to serve others.  God wants you to serve.  God is happy when you serve.  My favorite part was when we prayed for them before we left ECA.

When we were eating snack, I was with two girls.  They were not timid, so we talked and became friends.  Then we were in the same group.  She gave me a card and I gave her a card.  I think we did a good job and I think we did better than last year because we didn't make that much friends and this year we did.  We were not timid and we made them feel good and not bad.  I am very excited for them to come to our school!

I did a card for Juanita, my new friend.  My favorite part was when we did the cards, that I get a lot of friends in Acoinprev.

One memory is when a boy named Santiago was crying because we were going.  I will remember to pray for them when I see the note that he gave me.

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God..."

I got to see my friend again.  We were good missionaries because we let them share with us.

It felt good to serve at Acoinprev this morning because we could be nice to them and teach them about God.  I felt good that they learned about God and that they love God.

I felt like I was a missionary.  My favorite part was when we made cards for them and we played Bingo.

It was very cool and I loved playing games with them.  I think that I helped them because I talked with them and shared food.  They are very good friends and I will never forget them.

I feel good when I serve the Acoinprev kids.  I pray that God would bless them.

My favorite part was when we did the cards.  It surprised me that the school had four floors.  I feel good serving them as a missionary.  I think we help them.

I was surprised because they hit each other sometimes.  My favorite part was making memory cards to each other.  I felt excited telling them things that we did and giving them some food.  I pray that they could not hit each other and that they could try to speak English.

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ..."

3rd Grade Outing at Prestolandia:
A few times a year, the 3rd Grade families plan a time where we can all hangout together and pray.  We met at Prestolandia (a hamburger restaurant) that had a playhouse for the kids.  This playhouse included a train (which the kids could control themselves - scary!) and a jungle gym with a ball pitt.

During prayer time, the parents shared how they have been feeling this year in the few months their child has been in 3rd Grade.  It was so humbling to hear their words of encouragement and affirmation.  Sweet words that nourish the soul :-)  They are all an incredible team to work with to help their children grow closer to Christ.  I am so grateful for these precious families because they are my family while I am away from my own.  What a wonderful day spent playing with my students and their families.

To Him be the glory and the power, forever and ever.  Amen."   

1 Peter 4:8-11

Prayers/Praises:
My grandma's funeral will be Saturday, November 15th at the Orchard, Barrington Campus.  Not sure of the time yet, but will let you know when I do.  I will be flying in sometime that week and I hope to see you all at church and at the funeral while I am home.  Please pray for my plans to have someone step in for me to teach my class while I am gone.  If anyone would like to help with purchasing this extra airline ticket (flyer miles, coupons...), that would be great!!  I do have enough money in my RCE account to buy the ticket (Praise God and thank you to all of you!), but anything to make it less expensive would be greatly appreciated :-)

That God would teach my students about empathy and how their responses are affecting their friendships.  Praying for their hearts and that they would truly see how they are treating their friends.  May they focus on Jesus' response to them when they reject Him to help them make the right choice toward their friends.  Its hard not to respond back when someone is mean to you!

For the sake of the gospel,
Carrie

In the Arms of Our Wonderful Creator, Jesus

My precious and loving Granny (we all call her Cute Gran) is now in the arms of her Savior, Jesus after suffering a massive stoke earlier this month.  Her faith was such an encouragement to me. I can remember many conversations we had together about what is meant to follow Jesus and the joy and hardships of serving Him.  I know she was one of my biggest prayers warriors.  God has been so wonderful with providing me with wonderful friends here in Colombia who have prayed with me and supported me in this difficult time when I feel so far away.  Thank you to everyone who has called or sent words of encouragement.  My faith has been uplifted by the body of Christ at a time when I so desperately needed it.  I find comfort in knowing she is in the arms of Jesus, with no more pain and suffering.  Can't wait to celebrate her life with my family and friends.  We are still planning her funeral service in Chicago at the Orchard - Barrington, IL.  Will let you know when that will be - as I would love to invite you all to join my family in celebrating a sweet, wonderful, godly woman :-)

Memories of watching the sunset on Clearwater Beach, FL

There have been many ways I have seen the Lord wrap my Grandma in His arms:

• My sister, Kendra, had moved to Florida a year ago for her job.  While I never pictured my sister being a "Florida Girl", I can see know that the Jesus was preparing my family to have someone in our family close by at this exact time.  Kendra was able to be there within 3 hours of hearing about the stroke, as she drove right over to Tampa.  My dad and his sisters flew from Chicago the next morning.  What a blessing my sister was at this time!

• My Dad continued to read my grandma's devotional to her even though she was in a coma.  This brought my aunts and uncles and sister together to pray for her, read God's word, and love her while she was in the hospital.  I was able to join in one of their prayer times over the phone, which was a huge blessing to me.  So thankful that the Lord used my Dad to surround her with prayer and her favorite scripture verses.  Praying for my extended family that they would see the depth of my grandma's faith and be encouraged to follow in her daring footsteps.

•  We are planning to sprinkle her ashes over a golf course where we spread my grandpa's ashes when I was little.  For my grandpa, his grandchildren planted a tree next to the hole on his favorite golf course where he got a hole-in-one.  This is a picture of my grandma and I on the 16th green - in front of my grandpa's tree.  She will be incredibly happy to be with my grandpa once more :-)

The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Student Quote from Bible Class - We were talking about God sending the flood and a bible verse we came across talks about that God was grieved he made us, his precious creation.  One of my students began wrestling with how God could love and make us yet wipe us out based on our evilness.  She said,"God is grieved, or sad, that he made us??  I've never heard that before!"

That is how holy God is and how much he hates the sin that is inside of us.  He is grieved to see his precious creation be chained and bound by sin that entangles their lives.  We were made for so much more than a life of sin, of just following our own wants and desires.  We were made to glorify our Creator.  God was so grieved by his creation, but he was also so passionate and merciful to come and redeem that same creation!

I love getting to talk to my students about these things :-)  Another way God wraps his arms around his children - by reminding us of his unfailing love!

ECA Staff Retreat: We were able to spend a weekend together bonding as a new staff.  I was challenged in ways that I am called by God to being responsible.  It was amazing to talk in groups at ECA and really share areas that we feel we can improve on.  Analyzing and looking at our own hearts was humbling but an eye-opening experience to me. We were also able to just have fun with one-another outside of school.  Below are some pictures of that fun :-0

God even wrapped his arms around us as we traveled back from our weekend.  It was supposed to be a 4 hour trip to get back to Bogota from Villavicencio.  On our way back, we were caught in traffic on the side of the mountain due to a landslide!!  We were in the front of the line of cars, only a kilometer away from the site of the landslide.  Praise God that we were kept safe!  After a few hours on the side of the road, we were on our way.  Below are a few pics of us playing games on the side of the road as we waited :-)

Prayers/Praises:
Plans for the funeral for my grandma - getting everyone together is hard with the people who are out of town, plus having the church available as well.  Please pray for these plans to come together soon, so that I can see if it is possible for me to fly in and be with my family and church family.

Construction on the 3rd floor is coming along and a few teachers were able to get a really quick tour...

That I would continue to trust God and draw close to Him.  That I would be grateful for the friends the Lord has put in my life who have supported me through this :-)  It is really hard to be away right now, but that my eyes and heart would stay focused on his wonderful purposes God has for me in Colombia.

Love,
Carrie