(Summer)Time's A'wastin' Have you heard that new Kenny Chesney song (I'm assuming it's new since I haven't listened to the radio much lately) called "Sweet Summertime"? It's all about how fun summer is for kids out of school...the freedom, hanging out with friends, etc. It's totally a feel-good song. Anyway, I woke up this morning thinking about all the things I told myself I'd do this summer and decided it was a good topic for another blog entry. As I mulled over what to say, that song came to mind. As a school teacher, summertime holds much of the same sentiment as the song...thoughts of freedom, time to relax and not worry about work. I usually go on a couple of mission trips or youth camps, hang with my family and try to visit friends, but I also make these grand resolutions to excercise and read my Bible more or memorize some of it. I have books I want to get read (or even books I'd love to write), but for some reason, summertime slips away and I don't seem to get these things done. I've travelled, hiked, boated and jet skiied, played around with friends, old and new, but here it is, the last few days of June, meaning summertime is about half over and I haven't spent more time with God, I've probably spent less. So, what does that mean? I think it indicates that when we have more time, we waste more time. I manage time better when I have less of it to work with. Is anyone else that way? How about my fellow teachers? Is any of this ringing a bell (not a school bell, thank goodness!!!)?

Guatemala
I've heard it said that describing a mission trip to folks back home is kindof like trying to give a haircut through the mail. It's so hard to explain to people what God did and what you learned and experienced when on the field. But, they always ask and of course, those who've prayed and given money for you to go deserve to know how things went. So, here goes my attempt to tell you about my trip to Guatemala.

One of the main things God did in me personally was challenge me to live more by faith and less by sight. When we were there, we worked with several schools in which teachers from the US were serving as missionaries. I was amazed at the simplicity with which they explained their various paths to Guatemala. Three of them had been drawn back there after a mission trip they had taken with their respective church groups. Nancy and Stacy had committed to at least 2 years there. Maureen was there indefinitely. Rebecca was there as a career missionary running a school with her husband and Laura had just married a local Guatemalan man and is there for however long the Lord leads. It struck me that I could do something like. Back in college, I surrendered my life to whatever "mission" God had for me. So far, that has been America's public and sometimes private schools. But, I'm getting out of debt at the end of this school year, so who knows?? I'm challenged to be willing to join God's work in this beautiful Central American country.

Another challenge came on the day we went to the park to share our faith with the people. It was a Sunday afternoon and the plaza was packed. It was raining on and off, so every once in a while, everyone would make a mad dash for cover. As we hung out with these people, several members of our group struck up conversations (through translators) and many of them led folks to faith in Christ. My partner and I shared with a few people as well, but I didn't have the success of some of the others. Partly because I didn't go in there with faith in the Lord's power to speak through me. I went in with dread and fear of "bothering people." I am challenged to be more bold and trust God more with witnessing opportunities.

One of the places I did feel the Lord use me was in a small church nestled in the heart of gang warfare. It was in one of the colonias that is known for it's roughness. I was asked to speak a few minutes to a group of young people about their friendships and sticking together as Christians where they lived. As I stood up to speak, God just gave me the words to say and even reminded me of an illustration or two from my own life. My Spanish was better than ever because God was helping me say the right words. It was amazing to see their faces and know I was connecting.

So there you have it. What God did in Guatemala, in me and through you. Thanks for praying and giving. Remember, you don't have to go to a foreign country to experience the same things or face the same challenges. Ask God where He wants to use you, then obey. The blessings will follow.