Here's what Andrew has to say:
Words are a hard thing to use to paint the picture I want to paint in your mind as you read this, but I will do the best I can at throwing words like paint on this blank canvas of a blog tonight.
Yesterday was an eye opener as my cooperating teacher was almost in tears telling me her personal side of the story of these children's education - a perspective of a loving teacher who feels like a failure, when in all reality she is giving it her best Monday through Saturday. I wrote a spoken word using her words and story right after our conversation. I read those tough words to the group last night and one of my sisters here will be recording me recite it; it won't be until we are back that it will surface the internet, but I encourage you to watch it if you get the chance.
Now today... I guess the question is what was significant enough to put down the paint bucket and pick up a paintbrush to paint something that really stands out. From roughly 4:30 to 7:00 in the afternoon, only a minute down the street, some of us found ourselves covered in mud as we answered a call to love our neighbors and treat them as we would want to be treated. Simply put, a bus was stuck in the mud. Here is where I am able to put down the paintbrush and paint; the final piece of this picture is the light that it takes to see the beauty of the painting. God revealed Himself once again and here is how: my devotion here (on our second day) was about obedience and ended with a poem called I Will Move the Rock by Cindy Lu, which explained how we are called to obey and not necessarily expected to achieve a specific goal. Today, as we crawled under that bus, pushed wood into areas we couldn't see, piled rocks under tires and pushed against that bus, we never gave up as we continued to show love - such actions reflect our Creator's constant pursuit for a relationship with us.
Reflecting on a call that I had for our group for this trip and then seeing our group answering it was a blessing. The best part is that this is only one of the MANY times that my brothers and sisters here have done just that.
All glory to God.
Wishing that this wasn't the last week, and with lots of love,
- Andrew Richardson
Here are the devotions from Jenny:
Tonight I had the opportunity to lead devotions in camp. While in Belize God has really struck me through the beauty of his creation. I have seen some of the most incredible mountain top views and even some shooting stars here. I asked the group to look for God this week in different ways. Some shared they saw God through CT's, students, and different people in the community. One thing is for sure...God is showing up in some sweet ways here in Belize!!!
The Bible verses we read were Psalm 57 and Psalm 66. God Bless!
I think it's evident that, despite the fact that we are far away from our lived ones at home, the One who loves us is close by!
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