I left off last time saying that we were going bowling with a few students. We went with this brother and sister who are around our age. We click with them more than any of the other students we have spent time with. It was a great night of laughing, talking, and just being with each other. Since that night of bowling we have become good friends with them. Last week we went to karaoke with them and had a blast. Michael and Cody sang the classic "Bye Bye Bye" by N'Sync and we girls sang "I Will Always Love You" by the great Whitney Houston and "My Heart Will Go On" Techno version by Celine Dion. Even though we have not spent months with these students I have developed a love for them and a deep desire for them to know truth.
BOWLING
Karaoke fun :)
I have also really come to love my coworkers at the school I teach at. I have had some really great conversations, and they have also shown us some really great places in this country and city. The art museum was fun to visit and discuss the paintings with one of my coworkers. It had beautiful art from the countries surrounding here and from this country. It was also neat to see the paintings from her point of view. Michael and I also went along with them to the history museum of this country which was truly fascinating. It is awesome how this country has been inhabited since B.C., yet nobody in America has really heard of it. This country's main success has been their oil industry, and many of the first oil extractors and tools for that industry were invented here. As an American, it makes me wonder what other things we are oblivious to because we are so focused on ourselves, and I am including myself in on this. Recently obviously it was the 4th of July, and many say that America is the best. I must say I am proud of America and those who have fought for our freedom. Yes, we are free and have earned that independence, but we have walled ourselves in and enslaved ourselves in thinking that everything we do or think is best. I have learned not to use the term "weird" only "different", and that makes all the difference in the way I interpret everything here. It is easy to fall into a negative attitude maybe after being here for years and years, but it really is all about how you decide to interpret what you see and experience. And a good start is not by thinking your ways are best. So, I did not plan on writing any of that, but it just came.
A castle one of our coworkers took us too.
Dates back to the 12th century. We climbed to the very top!
This past weekend we visited the countryside with one of our local friends. We stayed with him and his family in the village where he grew up. We were able to visit a village wedding reception, which had much dancing and traditions of throwing money at the groom and on the ground. It looked like the entire village was present. It was underneath this hut and everyone gathered very closely to watch the dancing and festivities. No need to be invited, just come and watch the dancing. It was all very interesting. Our friend who grew up in the village said he knew 90 percent of the people there and there were about 200 people there. I thought that was so neat that he was able to grow up in a village where you literally know everyone. We also explored the mountains and beautiful countryside around him. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and it is amazing to think that there are so many scenes that our Father has painted, which I have never seen before. He has painted beautiful pictures all over the world and universe. When we were riding throughout the mountains on the extremely bumpy bus, our local friend's iPod was playing worship songs such as "Mighty to Save" which is talking about how our Saviour can move the mountains in the hearts of people toward Him. This is our longing for what He would do in the people here. It has been confirmed over and over for me that this is the kind of place I am to be for my life. Somewhere where His name is not known or heard.
On Monday, we had a day of solitude where I reflected on my journey here, life, and how I am doing with the Father. Honestly in this past year, I have really fallen away from Him, but I am desperate to get back and truly live my life for Him. He showed me in a certain passage that I am to remain in Him and He will remain in me, and then I will bear much fruit. If I do not remain in Him, then I will just whither away. This is all about LOVE. Because He is Love, if I remain in Him, then I remain in His love and His love in me. Love is a choice though. I must choose to remain in Him. This may be confusing to some, but I hope you understand how important this is. Without His love, we wither. Nobody is an exception, which I have tried to be. I have learned how important this is and how seeking after Him is the most important thing I could ever do in this life. I not only believe this, but I know this is true. Without Him, I am nothing.
The AMAZING countryside we visited and climbed the mountains there
A local wedding we went to!!! So much fun, dancing, and food
No comments:
Post a Comment