LiFe ChAnGe

So I am back from Juarez, Mexico...still hurting from the time change. I cannot even begin to explain how views, defintions or "churchy" words, mental pictures, thoughts, feelings, etc have changed and been broken from this amazing experience. I do not think I have fully encompassed everything I came incontact with or things brought to my attention. I know I am being vague, but it is hard to think through it and see how it is going to play out in my life. So- I will begin by saying that I am in love, literally in love, with word study- That is studying the Word, by defining words throughout scripture. The first night there we were challenged to define poverty. So, think about it, what is your definition of poverty? Is it just the "poor" people around you in your area? Or does it go to the extent of individuals in Africa? There are so many definitions of this powerful word...and my question was, do I know how powerful it is? When I began to think about poverty and how I would define it- I began thinking about the homeless people in Ft. Myers. That is the last thing before this trip that I had been in contact with, that had "nothing." After being in this area of Mexico for the period of time I was, I began to think what the definition of nothing is....honestly, every single person has something...and more than likely, a lot of things. Whether they are relationships, cars, a house, a friend, a cup of water, a meal a week....think about God-saying in the word that He will be there always- All-present! Wow!

There are more definitions brought to my attention- compassion,hope, joy, peace, happiness, surrender, love and more. I was shown by this trip a little picture of each of these ideas. The trip opened my eyes- to many good things and then some hard things....I remember talking to my mom when I got back and saying this exact statement, "Mom, I should never tell you again that I NEED something." These people do not have all access to doctors, stores, malls, water, food, etc. Man my heart goes out to each and every one of them.

Another thing I was truly convicted of was the idea of compassion. I have read it and heard about it over and over, but to be truthful, that is one of the words I just use to pass over. Todd (our college pastor) was reading scripture to us one night. He was reading out of Matthew and Jesus having compassion on others. That statement hit me hard- I began to think about our trip as a whole, even at the very beginning at the airport. A couple of us arrived super early in the morning- right when we got there to check in our bags, we hit a bump- one suitcase was overweight and so we asked them to hold one of the other ones so we could move stuff around...and they put it on the belt. (not a huge deal) but we all took direct defense, got upset at the lady and started talking about how rude that was....INTERESTING...no compassion there...so I spoke up- I realized that everyday of our lives we go around showing compassion to people we want to show it to-people we care about and care what they think about us. I honestly do not know one person that walks every day of their lives showing compassion to everyone they come in contact with or even think about. It may be a lot to ask, or see in someone, but its true. So I said that idea and then came back with explaining that I have seen every single person in the group that went show compassion to every individual we met or came in contact with on the trip. When we knew we had more, or knew that people could tell we were on a mission trip...interesting. That is my first challenge for coming back- beinging myself to a place, or should I say allowing the Spirit to work in my life to where I show this compassion to others, not just chosen people by me, but everyone...hard I know- but do-able! So I hope as a brother or sister in Chirst, that you can call me out when you see me not following through with this in my life. I proved it to myself that I can do it while I was in Mexico. So call me out- for real! Its only going to make me stronger...

Joshua 1:9