Ephesians 2:10

My Devotion

I thought I'd end out this blog with the devotion I gave while we were there.  It is based on Ephesians 2:10.

NIV - "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do         good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  

The Message - "Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in the world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.  Saving is all his idea and all his work.  All we do is trust him enough to let him do it.  It's God's gift from start to finish!  We don't play the major role.  If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing!  No, we neither make nor save ourselves.  God does both the making and the saving.  He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing."

God's Word - "God has made us what we are.  He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he was prepared for us to do."

Because I was getting ready to head out on this missions trip, that is what I was thinking about while reading this.  But I think it is just a small part of what He meant by "good works".    There is so much good we can do in our homes, in our community, and in our churches.  We don't have to travel to third world countries in order to do good works.

Shawn and I listened to an audiobook awhile back by Kevin DeYoung called Just Do Something.  I thought it was a great book and wanted to share what it is about.

     "Kevin DeYoung councils Christians to settle down, make choices, and do the hard work of seeing those choices through.  Too often, he writes, God's people tinker around with churches, jobs, and relationships, worrying that they haven't found God's perfect will for their lives.  Or - even worse - they do absolutely nothing, stuck in a frustrated state of paralyzed indecision, waiting…waiting…waiting for clear, direct, unmistakable direction.

     But God doesn't need to tell us what to do at every fork in the road.  He's already revealed His plan for our lives: to love Him with our whole hearts, to obey his word, and after that, to do what we like.

     No need for hocus-pocus.  No reason to be directionally challenged.  Just do something."

I was doing this for a long time.  I was waiting for God to point me in the direction where he wanted me to help or volunteer.  Waiting for just the right thing, that struck my interest, to come up.  Waiting for someone to come to me for guidance or help.  The funny thing was, it was never showing up.  Nothing ever sounded exciting or like something I'd want to do.  Nothing worked into my busy schedule with kids.  So, I assumed that maybe God wasn't ready for me to get involved…..and so I didn't.  (There's a lot of "I's" in there, huh?) When all along, God has already told us to love others.  All I needed to do, was to step out in faith, to show love to others wherever I got involved and He would do the rest.  

A couple of years ago, I did a Bible study on James.  James really opened my eyes up for missions and "works".  

James 2:18 - "But someone will say, 'You have faith; but I have deeds.'  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

James 2:26 - "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

How can we say we have faith, when we don't show it?  Am I showing, by example, my faith in Jesus Christ and what's He's done in my life?  Do my children see why we believe if we're not showing them, giving them an example? 

James 1:22 - (NIRV) "Don't just listen to the word.  You fool yourselves if you do that.  You must do what it says."

I realized I had to 'just do something'.  I needed to choose to use what little time I had in order to show God's love someway.  I may not be able to do something big or go on lots of missions trips.  Maybe one day, when the kids are out of the house, there will be time for that.  But, what can I do with my time now?  I can watch a friends' kids so they can run some errands.  I can make dinner for a friend who's had a new baby or who is sick.  I can invite friends over for coffee and a playdate.  I can send a card or quick email/text to let someone know I'm thinking of them (how easy is that?).  I can make cookies to take to our neighbors.  It doesn't have to be big.  I just have to love.  And I am still trying to figure out how to do that well.  It's not always easy.

I found a great article on a website called Biblical Foundations for Freedom, by Paul J. Bucknell.

     "God has appointed our work.  It behooves us to search out for these good works whether big or small.  We should be busy doing them.  We do not know what good works the Lord has planned for us.  We focus on the ones at hand and trust Him for those that are coming."  

He goes on to give a few important points that we should be thinking about as we think about our works.

*  I thank the Lord for how he made me.

*  I accept God's appointed works for my life as the best thing for me, and all concerned.

*  I believe God will empower me to carry them out.

*  I therefore disciple myself to stay close to Him and focus on His good works.

*  I will give praise for the great things He is doing through my life.

For me, "works", was just that.  Work.  I needed to be doing something with my hands - work - in order to show God's love.  What God has been revealing to me is that, "love", IS "work".  We are called to love people.  To love those that are unloved.  To love when it's hard for us to love.  The more you love people, the more God's love is revealed, not only to those you are loving on, but to you.  

I want to love people better and I pray that with God's help, I can do that.

Mexico Days 7 and 8

Days 7 & 8

Day 7 of our trip was a Tuesday and Darla hosts a Bible study at the church in Paamul.  Vickie, Debbie and I attended that with about 7 other women.  We watched a Beth Moore video.  

(I love Beth Moore!)

While we were enjoying our video, the men worked on one of the church bathrooms to get a toilet working properly.

After that, Darla took Vickie, Debbie and I to a glass shop in Playa del Carmen.  They hand make all of their items and I wanted to purchase everything.  I opted for a small glass heart to use as a Christmas tree ornament.  Vickie and Debbie actually make large purchases, which they delicately had to wrap to carry on the plane.  (They did have a website, so I might have to get on there and order a few more things).

For our last dinner, we headed back into Playa del Carmen and ate at a seafood restaurant called La Pesca Maya.  All of our dishes were delicious and it was a great way to end out our week.  

As we were all talking about our week, I think Doug said it best.  We may not feel that we did enough and we may never know the impact we have made, for Jesus, to these people.  But the more they see us, we continue to build relationships.  Everything big or small thing we do there, is planting a seed and that is what we've been called to do.

Early Wednesday morning, we headed back to Cancun to catch our plane home.  We said our goodbyes to Doug and Darla and again, I was sad to leave.  We had two smooth plane rides, then about 2 hours worth of standing in amusement park lines in order to enter back into the United States.  We arrived to snow in Raleigh, which was pretty exciting!   After a quick stop for dinner at about our halfway point, we finally made it home.

It had been a great week.  One that will forever be remembered.  One that will always hold a special place in my heart.  

Mexico Day 6

Day 6

This would be our last day out in the village and it would be my most memorable day.

Vince, Vickie, Isaac and I would drive to Chan Chen first to say some goodbyes.  Since they have been coming here for a handful of years, they have made friends with a few and they have become dear to their hearts.  Our first stop was to see Nicoletta.  Vickie's grandson wanted to give a little boy this hat (probably a little to warm to wear it here though.  Vickie is showing him a picture of her grandson wearing the same hat.

 We weren't sure if he was excited about it or not.

Nicoletta also made Vickie and very pretty embroidered towel.

A couple of last minute photos before we headed out.

 Our next stop was to see Julia one last time.  She made Vickie a pair of earrings to match the bracelet she had made her earlier in the week.

 She very much wants us to try to sell her handcrafted products.  She is drawing some examples of what she can make and then she gave us a copy to take back with us.  

 As we sat there watching her draw, this dog sat outside her house, just watching us.

 As we said goodbye to Julia, I realized the weight this trip already had on me.  I had only met these people a couple of times, for very short periods of time, but they had already stolen my heart.  I truly wanted to get to know them better.  I wasn't ready to leave.  And as we said goodbye, tears began to fall.  It's hard to imagine loving people you just met and wanting your trip, away from your family, not to end.  Sometimes it's hard to love your own family the way God intended and that's when I realized, the only way I could love these people like I did, was because of Him.  God wants us to love all people like he loves us and I saw that love now.

After leaving Chan Chen, we headed back to Santa Clara so the men could install the stove.

Again, we were greeting by the older woman to hugged and kissed us.  Just a few of the children ran around.

 That is, until we started passing out toys and candy.

 Then they began coming out of the woodwork.

This little boy was so sweet.  He giggled every time we handed him something.  When he got the sucker.  When I gave him the Hot Wheels.  When Vickie handed him a bear.  He giggled and squealed like only a child who's never had new things before.  Again, they stole my heart.

 After all the toys and candy had been passed out, Isaac and I showed them how to make rubber band bracelets (Isaac taught me on one of our long car rides.

The rest of our time there, looked like this.  I was surrounded by children wanting more bracelets.  They learned pretty quickly too and started making their own.  We left them with the rest of the kit as we said goodbye.  

 This boy took some rubber bands to a quieter spot to make his.  

 About that time, Vickie started feeling bad.  She said she didn't feel great as we headed out that morning, but didn't want to stay home.  Within a few moments, it got worse and she found herself in the bathroom.  Luckily a doctor and nurse were there that day and checked her out.  Sadly, we decided to call it a day and head back home.  

This old lady was watching the doctors check Vickie out.  

This trip will always have a lasting impression on me.  It was my first missions trip and I hope, not the last.  Doug and Darla have made a commitment to serve God in a place without family and our modern American conveniences.  They are helping the Mayans live a better life by installing the stoves and by doing so, they are reaching them for Jesus.  After installing each stove, Doug explains why we are doing this for them and that there is a God who loves them.  

Vickie, Vince, Isaac, Darla, Lonnie, Debbie, Doug and myself.

Mexico Day 5

Day 5

Today we had the church service in Paamul.  Doug spoke on Philippians 4:10 and titled his sermon In The Mean Time.  It was a great service.

After the service we rested for a bit before driving to Akumal, a small resort, restaurant, shopping community.  We ate lunch here and then picked up a few souvenirs for Shawn, Caleb and Amelia.

In past years, they have had three church services on Sunday.  One in Playa del Carmen, one in Paamul and one in Chan Chen.  That meant a very long day and a lot of driving.  We didn't find out until we got there, that someone else has taken over the service in Playa and they moved the one in Chan Chen to Saturdays.  So, we pretty much had a free day this day too.

Mexico Day 4

Day 4

Happy Valentine's Day

Today was the church service out in Chan Chen.  We got there a little bit early and ate some sandwiches for lunch, then set up the chairs.  The women cut tissue paper for a craft we were going to do with the children.  After a few full cargo van deliveries of villagers, it was time for the service to start.  Doug spoke in Spanish and Elliseo, a teenage villager, interpreted in Mayan.  

I was almost immediately brought to tears.  I could understand just enough to know that he was telling them about the love of Jesus and I wondered if they understood at all.  Elliseo was so passionate in his delivery, that I almost wanted to should Amen!  Doug then played them a song and the way Elliseo spoke to them while it was playing, was beautiful!  I wish I knew what he was saying!

 After that, Doug dismissed the children so that Darla could speak to them about el dia del amor y la amistad - the day of love and friendship.  After she spoke to them a little bit, we showed them how to make tissue paper flowers.

 Some of the bigger girls put hearts onto a board so that the children could write the names of family or friends they loved on them.  We also passed out suckers and Valentine's Day stickers to them.

Again, I felt like our time with them was too short.  I would have loved to have spent the rest of the afternoon with them.

As all of the villagers began piling back into the van, Julia, who we had met in the village a couple of days earlier,  gave Vickie, Debbie, Darla and myself, each a different bracelet she had made us.  That was such a sweet gift that I will cherish forever.

I may not know what Doug spoke during the service, but we can only hope and pray that those who came, and continue to come each week, will open their hearts to what they hear.  That they will eventually accept Jesus into their hearts and take that back into the village with them.  

Mexico Day 3

Day 3

Today was our free day.  Lonnie and Debbie opted to relax in their room, while Vince, Vickie, Isaac and I at breakfast at the restaurant on the grounds and went to Jardin del Eden - a cenote (sin-o-tay) , which means "a deep natural well or sinkhole, formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes ground water underneath".  A lot of these are down deep caves, but this one was pretty open.  The water is crystal clean and chilly!

 Most of the people had snorkels and were even scuba diving here.

The rocks below look to be just at the surface of the water, but they really aren't.  

 Isaac and I braved the cold water, getting in where the sun was right on us.  

 We swam out to that big rock behind us and sat and watched people jumping from the cliff.  Isaac was trying to persuade me to jump the entire time.  

 I finally talked myself into it.  I mean, how many times would I have the chance to jump off a 12ft. cliff into a cenote?!

I'm still trying to talk myself into it here.

We were supposed to jump at the same time, but Isaac let me jump alone.

 It actually wasn't that bad!  Although, I landed on my thighs, kind of like I was sitting on the water, and that stung pretty bad.  Isaac ended up jumping another 4 or 5 times.

One was enough for me!

 After we got back, Lonnie showed us where the hidden cenote was on Paamul's property.  This was just a bit of the scenery along the way.

 You can see Cozumel and a cruise ship across the way. 

 Pathway to the cenote - where we saw a snake on the way back.

The water's so clear, you can barely tell it's there.

 Lonnie and Isaac.

 I would have loved to have seen one down in a cave, but I don't think I'd be comfortable swimming inside of it.  

The iguanas were out in full force that day too.  We found them around every bend.

 This was just outside of our rooms.  Can you spot them all?

My allergies started acting up after our fun and I was pretty miserable for the rest of the day.  I, again, passed on my devotion and prayed I would feel better the next day.  

Mexico Day 3

Day 3

Doug was still sick and unable to be with us again that day.  Doug and Darla have some friends in Paamul, Bill and Sandra, who are from Canada and their son and daughter-in-law just happened to be  visiting there too.  They have been supporting another small Mayan village called Santa Clara in the Yucatan.  They were planning on going to take gasoline for the village generators.  The generator is for their well and they often do not have gas or any way to go and get it.  They asked us to go out with them that day.

Our first stop was to what would probably be like our downtown city building, in Chemax.  

 Darla was going to help talk with the officials about getting electricity run out in the village.  It is actually already there, they just need to tie into it.  While they were inside, we walked around the small town square and went to look at this church.

 These bikes are everywhere and are almost the only transportation in the villages.

We got out to Santa Clara and were immediately met by an old woman, who hugged us and kissed us.  That is something I will forever remember.  This village is made up of seventeen families.  They have a large holding tank where they have fish to eat.  They have about 100 chickens, that Bill and Sandra gave them.  They also make their own honey.  

I was surprised that this small village had two school rooms.  One for the smaller children and one for the older children.  The teachers actually leave school/college to go and teach somewhere - that is part of their schooling. They live there in the village while they are teaching.  Both teachers looked very young.   This was the older class.

 He had hopscotch on the floor with math problems and wherever their wadded up ball of paper landed, they had to skip that problem  while jumping and then answer it.  

 El bano looked a little scary.

 This was the younger class and they were all enjoying the suckers we had just passed out.  We pretty much disrupted their learning for a couple of hours.

 That is the older woman who greeted us as soon as we got there.  She is letting that little puppy bite on her toes.  All of the older women wore those dresses.  I loved them.

 Another women wanted to show us her garden.  We didn't know they could grow anything because of the rocky soil.  She had fenced off a large area for a garden, but because of the lack of rain, it wasn't doing well.  She also had a lemon tree (they are green, not yellow) and she gave us some of them.  They were delicious.

 Another view of her backyard.

This village had a small church (I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it), that we think may have been pentecostal.  They had also been given stoves to cook on, but were poorly built and most of them had fallen apart and had been taken out of their homes.  Darla told some of the women about our stoves and we scheduled another day to bring one out to them.  

While we were looking at this woman's garden, Bill and Sandra's daughter-in-law, who is a nurse, was checking out a 7 month old baby boy.  He was born with a cleft palate and had a tracheotomy and feeding tube.  She determined he was pretty congested and needed to get to the hospital.  Bill, Sandra, the baby, his mom and her mom all piled in the car and headed to Valladolid to see the doctor.  Before heading out, a villager invited us into his home because he has made some empanadas for us.  We all were nice and ate one and he had even made some sort of red onion salsa that was very good.  Again, I was a little leery of eating something I didn't know what was inside.  

From Santa Clara, we headed back to Chan Chen, because Darla holds an English class at the church each week.  I was looking forward to hearing how their English was, but sadly that day, no one showed up so we headed back home.

Each night we did a devotion with our group and I volunteered to do mine that night before dinner.  When we got back to our rooms, we realized there was about a billion (I'm not exaggerating) black ants running underneath mine and The Sevenski's palapas.  It was then, they accidentally shut their room door with the key inside.   We decided to go ahead with the devotion until the guards came to unlock it.  So, I started but was almost immediately interrupted by the guards.  Then we showed them the ants, which had started consuming the outside of the huts.  The guards then went back to see what to do.  So, we picked up the devotion again….only to be interrupted with the guard again.  They decided to move the Sevenski's to another room, but not me.  He just kept saying, "Dos minutos" while waving his hand around like he was spraying something.  I took that to mean he was going to come back and spray bug spray in my room.  I packed up my stuff to move into their room so it wouldn't be infested with ants.  We decided the devotion was a no go for the night and headed down to Doug and Darla's for dinner.  When we got here, she informed us that they are just army ants and aren't like our ants here.  They move though, eating dead things and keep right on going.  She was right.  When we got back, they were all gone.  I was afraid of being attacked by ants the rest of the night though.  

The next morning we learned that the baby boy from the village received some antibiotics and was doing much better.