NTM

It’s amazing how much our circumstances and the people around us shape our lives. I’ve so much appreciated my sister Sarah’s willingness to share her home with me all these months. Ever since mid January she has been super busy working full time and going to school full time. As of a month or so ago, she has finished her clinical hours and graduated as an acute care nurse practitioner. Finally, she has had a bit of a break and was able to spend a week in Venezuela! She has just returned from Venezuela…her pictures and sharing make me long to go ‘back home.’ I’m afraid that it’s not the same as it once was, and I’m glad she made it back safely. Some things never change though – there are still great people there and the candy that Sarah brought back is as good as ever (= She stayed with family friends from Barquisimeto, a city where my parents served early on during their time in Venezuela.

My close friends (Motoi and Billy), who live here in the area have been a blessing to me in many ways. Motoi works as a nurse at a hospital nearby and Billy is getting his master’s of divinity degree. They plan to serve as missionaries to Japan or elsewhere if the Lord guides, in the near future. While studying towards his master’s degree, Billy has also worked several years for a company that houses many college students. His job primarily entails picking up beer cans, cigarette butts, broken bottles, and anything else that college students have ‘fun’ with. The end of July is when the students’ leases terminate and many of them move out during that time. The beginning of August is then time for the cleaning and refurbishing of apartments which the students have moved out of. Since Billy was needed to refurbish apartments for the first two weeks of August, I gladly took his other job. He may be used to it, but I was worn out by the end of each day’s work! During those 2 weeks, I was reminded time and time again that humility is such an honorable trait and Billy, I must say, chooses to possess it as he knows very well that his security is found in the Lord. I’ve been reminded of my need to continually seek humility over pride as pride is down right disgusting, yet so easy to get caught up in. Christ who is holy and perfect, came to us in human form – this is our ultimate example of humility…I can’t even imagine!

This last while, I’ve been cleaning the house some as well as sorting the few belongings that I have. It is a blessing to have few belongings, and even more so now when I think of moving in the near future. Shortly, I need to touch base with the Mexico field to get a feel towards when exactly would be the best time to arrive there considering all circumstances. My current level of support is 44%; the Lord has certainly been faithful to bring those behind me.

I continue to enjoy the fellowship with the Hispanic church I attend here in North Carolina. Please do pray for that ongoing work as well as for the English part of the church…the church has such wonderful people (both Spanish and English)! The Hispanic church does not have a pastor; however there is a gifted husband & wife and family in leadership. I have gotten to know them quite well – such a sweet family and in the picture to the left they had taken me along out to eat! I was encouraged this past Sunday by the number of people in attendance at Sunday school. Please pray for the hearts of individuals, that they would keep the Lord first in their lives.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 31st, 2009 at 1:24 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.