Jesus: Mighty To Save

In Elementary Chapel this week, we focused on Easter and what it really means for Jesus to die on the cross for us.  During worship, I wanted the kids to sing, "Mighty To Save" as we head into Easter Week.  The songs main focus is that Jesus can move mountains for us, and he was so mighty that He conquered death by rising from the grave for our sins.  I began to as myself: What is Jesus mighty to save ME from??

As I have walked my young Christian life, I am so grateful to look back and realize how different my life would be without Jesus.  He has saved me from selfishness, impatiences, pride, jealousy, fears about my life and future...the list goes on!  Sometimes I don't even realize the things He is still protecting and saving me from.  Jesus saved me from a life without meaning or purpose.  Jesus saved me from a life of not knowing what real love is.  He saved me from an eternal life of separation from my Heavenly Father who created me.

As we sang the song, the kids went to 4 different papers around the room and wrote one sin that they struggle with.  We talked about examples of things that are very common struggles for them: lying, cheating, being mean to a friend, disobeying...

As the song ended and their voices began to sing louder with me, we brought their papers to the front and taped them on a wooden cross.  I reminded them that because of the cross, we are forgiven from all of these things that we just wrote down.  Jesus was and is still mighty to save us from all of these sins!  This message just continues to give me so much hope,  We praised Jesus and thanked him for being our Savior and for being MIGHTY TO SAVE all of his precious children.

Mighty to Save:

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations!

Savior, He can move a mountain

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save!

Forever, Author of Salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave!

So, take me as you find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

Savior, He can move a mountain

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save!

Forever, Author of Salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave!

Prayers and Praises:

Pray that my students (and everyone reading this!) do know the message of salvation from Jesus and that they have willingly and openly accepted his gift that he offers on the cross.  Easter is such a great time to reflect on our eternal salvation.  

Pray for a team from ECA who just left for the Amazon!  They will be serving as medical missionaries to the Ticuna tribe who lives in the southern Amazon region of Colombia.  Please pray for strength and boldness as they share the word of God while translating between 4 different languages (English, Spanish, Ticuna, and Portuguese).

Pray for a safe trip home this coming week to see my new nephew!

Continued guidance as I am in the final steps of seeking God and making a decision for next year at ECA.  

Blessings,

Carrie

Bogota Birthday and 3rd Floor Celebration

My birthday weekend was filled with wonderful surprises and time with loved ones.  God has blessed me with many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ that helped me celebrate.  My first surprise came back in January when I was unpacking from my visit home for Christmas.  My family had snuck in some birthday cards as a surprise for me.  Believe it or not...I waited until my birthday to open them :-0  Thank you to everyone who called, sent me a message, or spent time with me on my birthday.  I am so thankful for your friendship and your partnership in my ministry here in Colombia.  At a time when I am away from family, it really encourages me to be surrounded by all of you.  Here are a few highlights and blessings that filled my heart over my birthday weekend.  Praising God for his goodness to me and your warmth and friendship that you showed.

1. Birthday Phone Call with my birthday twin, Margo
It is always a highlight of my birthday to talk with my mentor and birthday twin, Margo!  I have never shared a birthday with anyone I was that close to until a few years ago.  We were able to connect with each other and catch up for our birthday.  She continues to be a blessing in my life and I am truly thankful for the time I got to talk with her on Saturday even with both of us having busy schedules.  Love you, Margo!

2. Dinner with my ECA friends
Many of my teacher friends at ECA came with me to dinner for my birthday.  We went to my favorite Italian restaurant in the local mall called Archies.  It just reminded me of what a great community we have here and I am so grateful that they were able to celebrate with me as my adopted family.  One of my closest friends here (and my roommate from the past 2 years), Brittney, remembered that my mom always makes me something with pumpkin in it for my birthday dessert.  Brittney is such a sweetheart and made me a dozen chocolate chip pumpkin muffins with delicious cream cheese frosting!

3. Party with my students and their amazing families
My students took me out of the city to an outdoor country club for my birthday located in a city called Sopo  It was so nice to be outside of the busyness of Bogota.  Warm air and sunshine made our afternoon great.  Many of my students wrote me the sweetest cards and blessed me with their warmth and gratitude.  During our prayer time, I shared with my group abut my decision process of coming to ECA and whether I would be staying for another year.  They know that I miss my family and they were so encouraging and reminded me that I have a wonderful Christian family right here in Bogota.  What an undeserved blessing!

 5. Birthday Night phone call with my parents:
I finally arrived home late from spending the day with my students.  But, a birthday is not complete until you get to talk with the people who love you the most and think about you the most on your birthday - your parents!!  It was a great way to end a special weekend.

 Prayers and Praises:
For the celebration of the opening of our 3rd floor at El Camino!  My students have really enjoyed using the new MPR, Art room, and Music room.  God has been so faithful to us and we wanted to celebrate and express our thankfulness to Him.  We had an all school assembly to celebrate.  Throughout the day, each class could go up and tour the new 3rd floor and write a note of thankfulness on a sticky note to add to the wall.  Praise God for whom all these wonderful new blessings flow.  Enjoy some pictures below!

Please continue to pray for my decision - it is really difficult!  I will be deciding within the next 2 weeks, since I will be enjoying a very quick trip back to the States during Easter Week (Spring Break) so that I can see my new adorable nephew.  I will be in Chicago from March 30th until April 4th.  It's a short time, just enough to spend time with my family and attend the Good Friday service at the Orchard.  I would like to decide before I fly :-)  Thanks for all of your continued prayer and support!  My heart is divided between 2 places and countries that I love.  Specifically, please pray that I would be able to discern the true desires of my heart and that they would align with God's will.

Blessings,
Carrie