There are so many directions I could go with this blog and so much I want to tell you about the week in Peru that I have struggled with what exactly to write about. Many have asked what we did, what the kids were like, where they came from, what God taught me, how the food was, etc.
I'll start with the ride from the airport in Iquitos to the boat we took to Puerto Alegria. As tears streamed down my face I was quickly reminded of all I saw the year I traveled the world. The tears were a result of how much I have forgotten. Lesson 1: Remember the places God has taken you and things He has shown you. It is so easy to forget in the busyness of life. God gave me the privilege of a pilgrimage 2 years ago. He showed me many people, places and things. There is a whole world out there much different then the bubble of America we live in. I have been so caught up in wanting the American Dream these past 2 years, that I forgot the world outside the walls of America. It is so much bigger than us and in reality I have so much more than 99% of the world. I am ridiculously blessed and yet so often I am discontent because my life doesn't look like I thought it would at age 32. Lord forgive me just kept repeating in my head. I was humbled.
We hopped on this sweet boat pictured here. It was like a giant wooden canoe with a roof and a nice motor. We moved down the river about an hour and arrived at the place we would call home for the next week, Puerto Alegria. We were welcomed by 47 smiles excited for us to be a part of their world for the next week. And that is exactly what we did. Language was a barrier, but you don't need words to preach the gospel. You just need love. We played soccer, took lots of pictures, laid in the hammocks, made crafts, built some things, laughed a lot and swam in the river. Lesson 2: Become Like a Child. Sunday morning I was journaling and as I watched the little ones run around and laugh without a worry in the world, I felt Jesus saying, "Become like a child Liz." Children have a unique innocence about them, they are curious and long to know people. They have no worries and are full of laughter and love. They trust easily and have little fear. I believe all these characteristics lead to freedom. When we become like a child and live like a child, we will experience freedom. (On a side note, I read "Heaven Is For Real" this day on the boat to and from church - if you have not read it, check it out - well worth your time and a great picture of faith like a child.)
Lesson 3: The Importance of Community. We had a great team that meshed together incredibly for these 9 days. We represented 4 different states and all different ages, but we quickly became one and it was as if we had known each other for years. We worked together to love these boys and show them Christ. We shared, worshipped and prayed together. It was a sweet time of fellowship. I have been blessed with community in all locations since college, but I have struggled to find it this past year and a half in NJ. I have met some phenomenal believers, I attend a great Church and friendships are growing, but I haven't made those friendships a priority. This trip reminded me that you have to be intentional to find community and it is so important. We were created to do life together, not alone. I believe we will make an impact far great together, than if we try to do it alone.
This blog is getting long and I apologize, but there is one final thing I would like to conclude with. It is the thing I feel like God has been screaming to me through a megaphone for the last year. It isn't anything earth shattering or new, in fact it is something all of us need to hear over and over again from Him. Lesson 4: TRUST ME, I LOVE YOU. For me it took leaving my comfort zone, seeing God's hand on 47 young men in the Peruvian Jungle who have been pulled out of dark circumstances and given a second chance. Their smiles and joy alone reminds you that there is something so much bigger than you and all your junk. It doesn't discredit our struggles or issues, but it reminds me that the manuscript for our lives is written. God has our best interests in mind and He is working out a plan for each of our lives. His love is far deeper than we will ever comprehend. I'm thankful that He took me on this journey and His pursuit of me is so relentless that He will do whatever it takes to reach my heart. He used my little buddy Lexon, pictured below to remind me daily in Peru that He loves me and has a specific plan and purpose for my life. I pray He used me to show him and the other boys that as well. I'm believing God has a great plan for his life, my life and all of our lives. It starts with trust and belief, that is where you find true rest for your soul.
Thanks for your support, prayers and being a part of my story. Much love. Peace.
Here we go! I officially leave the country in 7 days and I can hardly wait! It has been about 16 months since I was on the mission field and I have never stepped foot in Latin America so I am pretty stoked. I have heard stories about these kids and this mission for so long that I can't wait to be a part of it and see what God does. I can't wait for a week to get away serve and meet with my Savior. Plus it is a week off of the real world and let's be honest, we all like that at times right?
I'm thankful and blessed to say that God has faithfully provided above and beyond what I needed for the trip. So THANK YOU for all of you who have prayed, continue to pray and offered financial assistance for this trip. While I'm fully funded there are still team members in need. If you would like to help, that would be amazing! You can still give by going to: http://www.notforgotten.org - Click Donate and then select Work Team Fund.
I intend to post a blog upon return, but for now I will leave you with a few prayer requests:
Preparation, rest and protection of hearts and minds prior to leaving
Unity amongst the team as many of us have never met and we are coming from different states
For the boys and the time we have with them - that they would see and feel the love of Christ from our team. Pray that they would know Christ and grow in their relationships with Him.
Safe travels
Anything else the Lord lays on your heart...
Thanks, your prayers are vital! I look forward to sharing stories and pics upon return!
Disclaimer: Donations for this trip need to go through Not Forgotten - Not AIM. Please follow the instructions in the bottom portion of this blog if you would like to give. Sorry for the confusion.
It's been quite sometime since I posted a blog or left the
country and both are happening in the next 60 days!Yup, that's right I just booked a ticket to the jungles of
Iquitos, Peru to work with street boys.I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity.For a year I traveled the world with my
dear friend Kristen McKee who went on and on about these boys in Iquitos.We traded stories especially when we
spent the month at Canaan in Haiti and were around kids close to my heart.
Before I continue however, let me back up and give you a
little update on my life.I have
been living in NJ for a little over a year now.I am an Assistant Manager at Starbucks
and love my job.It is a great
balance of relationships and business and it challenges me daily.I love constantly being on the go,
getting to talk to people, and leading a team!I have gotten involved with a great church
that ironically has the exact same name as my old church in Charlotte, NC.It is Hope Community and I'm
enjoying getting to know families in the church. I
also have gotten plugged into a great ministry with inner city kids through the
Helping Hands Rescue Mission in Philadelphia.The community of volunteers has been great and really my
source of community and fellowship here in South Jersey.
The real reason for this update however is the 9 day mission
trip to Peru.The trip dates are
July 29th-August 7th.The trip is led by Not Forgotten, a 501(c)3 non-profit, based out of
Birmingham, AL.Not Forgotten believes in providing for
the physical, educational, and spiritual needs of impoverished, abandoned, and
oppressed people so that they may improve their quality of life,
find salvation in Christ, and be empowered to affect change in their communities. We will be
spending the week serving in Puerto Alegria, operated by Scripture Union, and
home to over 45 street boys. Our purpose is to primarily share the love of
Christ with the boys by helping with ongoing construction, doing VBS and
building relationships.
I am amazed at the Lord's timing and how this all fell into
place.I'm very confident I'm
supposed to be a part of this team.I'm trusting the Lord to work out all the details to get me there. I would be honored if you would consider supporting me prayerfully and financially on this trip. I need to raise $2000 by July 1st. Would you consider helping me? You can donate online athttp://www.notforgotten.org/, just select Work Team Fund and put Liz Froba in the comments. You can also mail checks made out to Not Forgotten to 1111 Fern St. Homewood, AL 35209 Attn: Kristen McKee and put Liz Froba in the memo line.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and prayerfully considering being a part of this trip. Please pray that God would
unite our team, prepare us to serve, prepare the hearts of those we will meet
and provide for our needs. I promise to post pictures, blogs and stories upon
return.If you have any questions
my cell is 704.650.3177 and my email is eafroba@gmail.com.Thanks again!
For some reason in the midst of a really long day I am feeling inspired to blog - so here it goes. My last blog 4 1/2 months ago was titled 'For The Good'...it was based off a Shane & Shane song that I cried everytime I heard because I really didn't understand what God was working for the good in my life. At that time all I knew was I was back in Jersey and unemployed. I was living off my credit card, debt was increasing, I missed my friends in Charlotte and my travels from last year. I had no clear direction and battled daily feeling like my life had no purpose. I had no clue what God was up too.
Four days after I wrote that blog I began a job at Starbucks. When I took the job I was desperate...I had no clue what God had in store. There are long days and I have worked far more than anticipated in the last 4 months. I also love my job far more than I ever imagined and this job is turning into a career that ties together many of my gifts - leadership, administration, management and business. I am not just making coffee, I am using my mind and the gifts God has given me and I love it. I probably drink too much coffee, but it's all good. I have no clue if this is where I will be long term, but for now I am content and thankful for the Lord's provision.
As far as Jersey, I am back. The tags on the car have been changed, my residency is official and I am not going anywhere anytime soon because I know I am right where I am supposed to be. It is a HUGE blessing to be near my family and see them on a weekly basis. I am obsessed with my nephew and love being able to just grab dinner with my mom. My community is growing as well and I have fallen in love with a ministry through the Helping Hands Rescue Mission in Philadelphia. God is doing great things with my church Hope Community in Moorestown and I am fully on board with the mission and plan to spread the gospel to Moorestown and the surrounding community. I love that through my job many faces in Moorestown are familiar and I know them by name. My job is more than just a job, it is where I build relationships, learn to know people by name, and in turn share who I am and what I am passionate about.
There are still days I miss Charlotte and my friends (thankful for a trip there in 6 weeks!!). I am not totally sure about the direction of my future, if it includes a husband and kids or grad school or ministry overseas, but I don't care. I am living in today, the present and moving forward one day at a time. I am thankful that God didn't give me instant gratification 4 months ago like I wanted, but overtime worked out HIS PERFECT PLAN. He is good. I still struggle, but I do know and believe with all of my heart, He's got me. Romans 8:28, which a friend reminded me of yesterday sums it up perfect - "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Thanks for reading - this will be my last post on WR blog - future blogs including this will be posted to http://lizfroba.blogspot.com.
I'm going to stick to the song theme b/c it seems to be how God is speaking to me these days. Last week a friend sent me a video from our trip to Haiti in February and the first song on the video was For The Good, by Shane & Shane. As I was watching the video I found myself crying, but it wasn't because of the images. I already cried a lot in January when the earthquake struck and in February when I saw the damage in a country close to my heart. Nothing in Haiti that I see in a picture shocks me, because I saw it live. I'm not going to write you a novel on the song like I did with What Do I Know of Holy, because the song speaks for itself. It is truth and it is straight out of Gods Word. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." For everyone in transition that has returned from the race and doesn't know what the heck they are doing with their life, for anyone going through a hard time that can't see or hear from God, and just for those who enjoy music and words of truth...go buy this song on Itunes. It is worth a dollar and it will speak volumes to your heart.
When darkness is surrounding me
by Your Spirit, Lord help me sing
that You are working all things out
Lord, I really need to hear you speak
Remind me in the waiting
that You are working all things out
For the good of those
who are called by You
for the good of those
who are in Love with You
That's why we sing
Holy God of light
I lay down my life
Holy is the Lord
Even in the storm be glorified
We like to take the blessing from You
Shall we not take the trouble too
You are working all things out
We like to take prosperity
Shall we not take the suffering
You are working all things out
Holy are you Lord even in the storm
be glorified
Worthy of affection
God is good, He is worthy of affection, He is holy and He is for our good. I can't say I always believe that and walk in it, but daily I soak in that truth and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to take care of my doubts. It is a battle for our hearts daily, and it is His battle, not ours.
To answer the question I posed in the title, I must first tell you about a song that spoke to me last October when I was living in Kyiv, Ukraine. I was walking to the metro and a song came on my Ipod that tugged at something in my heart. The song is 'What Do I Know of Holy' by Addison Road. Seven months later I am still listening to that song daily and it is still speaking to the depths of my heart. Here it goes:
I made You promises a thousand times I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too
small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
First verse. I have definitely made God promises in the 15 years I've walked with Him, probably more than a thousand times. I have tried to hear from Him and many times I have talked so much, relied too much on others counsel, or taken so much control that I haven't quieted my heart to listen to the Lord. I have made Him way smaller than He is and at times taken things into my own hands. Do you ever put Him in a box? And sadly, I have often feared men more than I have feared Him. I can be so quick to lose perspective and fix my eyes on myself versus Christ that I sometimes wonder if I would really know Him were He to touch me or sit down next to me on a bench. Don't worry just this week, He touched me. Not tangibly, but I felt Him, He did something through one of His people and I know it was Him.
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful? Whatdo I know? Whatdo I know of Holy?
God spoke you into motion, He spoke me into motion. I mean I believe that, but do I really live like I believe it. Do you live that way? I have stood on shores and oceans all over the world, He has allowed me to see so much of His world and His people. Everytime I stand in front of the ocean I think of the vastness and greatness of God. Where He has taken me in the last 30 years, from infancy to now is unbelievable. I've walked through the fire. I have felt His discipline and fury (I have needed it at times). I have seen His sacredness and holiness. And honestly, I'm in awe of His beauty, on so many different levels.
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You
brought me down to my knees
It's easy at times to think we've figured it out. We live in a society that pushes us to succeed, to arrive. I went to bible school, lived on the mission field and have been under great leadership and training. However, I have come to a conclusion in my personal journey with the Lord that I will NEVER figure it out and that is not what I am called to do. I am called to pursue intimacy with Christ. I am called to love God and to love others. I've caught a glimpse of who God is and I'm convinced I'll keep catching glimpses. When you truly pursue Christ and make Him your first focus, you will not only be brought to your knees, but you will be driven to tell others about this unbelievable God that you serve. You will long to be a part of something more and to make a kingdom impact with your life...or at least I will.
The last several months have been interesting. My intimacy with the Lord has struggled as I'm in a weird transition. I have run to outlets and wallowed in my own self pity. When my focus shifts back to Christ and I get out of the way, God has the freedom to work and the peace that surpasses all understanding returns. There are so many incredible people that love me and have a vision for my future. I don't want their vision. I want God's vision. He gave me a dream last year. I'm going to follow hard after that dream and do what it takes to be a part of something bigger than myself in the areas that know I'm gifted. I saw a comment the other day on a friends world race blog - it said, "I was 32 when I found my career, 35 when I found my husband." I confess I put God in a box all the time. So what do I know? I know that I trust God completely. I know that I tend to take control at times and God is quick to put me back in my place. I know that God is holy, just, righteous, and incredibly purposeful. I know that He loves me completely. I know He's got an unbelievable plan for my life and my current job is to be present where He has me, pursue Him with all of my heart and trust that in His timing He will make it very clear.
Today I
checked out a new church. I went for 2 reasons: the name was the same
as my home church in Charlotte, NC (Hope Community Church) and I woke
up late (it's only 5 minutes away). They were starting a new series
based of a book called, "One Month To Live".
It got me thinking about what I would do differently if I only had 30
days to live. The pastor talked about how Jesus lived passionately,
loved completely, learned humbly and left boldly. I long for those ways
to be descriptive of my life. I felt like I was living that way when I
traveled the world last year. I was living radically for Christ and my
life was full of adventure. Daily I
was loving on the poorest of the poor and I was making a difference all
the while falling more deeply in love with Jesus and learning life
lessons that will stick with me forever. It's a bit more of a challenge
to live that way here in South Jersey, working 7:30-6pm in sales and
adjusting to a new environment. Not much feels radical about sales, but
yet it's where God has me. So what will I do to be purposeful? How
will I live passionately and love completely those God puts in my path?
How will I learn, will it be humbly or arrogantly? Will I be bold and
courageous or will I hold back? I was telling someone the other day my
life didn't feel purposeful. It is only not purposeful if I choose to
make it not purposeful. If I choose to believe the lie that I can't
have an impact here, then I won't. It's a choice. All of life and how
we live it, what we worship, what we do...is a CHOICE. You have one
month to live...what is your CHOICE?
Well
folks, I did it...I officially live in NJ again. Some days I wake up
and can't believe it. I feel like I am on the show Lost and I have
returned to the Island. The Island for me is the land of everything I
knew agea 7-22 and then have visited once a year for the last 8 years.
It is surreal being back. On top of the memories and flashbacks, for
the first time since Feb 2007 all of my belongings are in one place, or
at least what is left of them. So it has a been a week of going through
CRAP, making a goodwill pile, reading old notes, looking at pictures
and being nostalgic. Pretty pathetic, huh? I'd be lying if I didn't
say I shed a few tears or wonder what the heck I was doing here. I miss
Charlotte and my friends a lot. I miss the adventures of last year and
daily interacting with people and sharing Christ. But a news flash
occurred the other day on a run. I was failing to remember that I don't
have to be in Africa to share Christ. I can share Christ right here
with every person I come in contact with in South Jersey. I'm so quick
to forget things, ALWAYS.
Despite my self-pity and the last 11
days have been pretty sweet. I have spent a tremendous amount of time
with my family. I have done work for my Granny. I have seen a show in
Atlantic City, won a little money and got to hear what
God's done in a new friend's life. I have spent time with people that I
haven't seen in over 13 years. I have sat at a table, had a drink and
laughed with someone who has known me since I was a 15 year old punk
making poor choices. One of my best friends in NJ just got engaged to a
great man. I am living with someone who has consistently pointed me
back to Christ over the last 15 years. I have an awesome house to live
in, a great landlord who cares about me,
and food on the table. And today I got a job!! Yes ladies and
gentlemen, I am officially a new Sales Rep at East Coast Business
Concepts for Verizon Business. So next time you see a good looking
blonde in a suit selling you something, think Liz Froba and give the
person a sale. It is not a forever job, but for now it is a good fit
and I think I will learn a lot about leadership and networking, 2 of my
passions. For now my territory is my mission field and the Lord is
still with me, before me and behind me as a sweet friend reminded me.
He covers me completely and He is all I need! You can change lives
anywhere, you just have to let Him use you.
I'm not really sure what to say to do justice to the mass destruction I saw today as I drove through the streets of Port-au-Prince today. Smells wafted through the air, buildings were destroyed, people were everywhere, tent cities seemed to be every 500 feet, trash and who knows what else burning and there was nothing I could do but pray. We saw the Capital Building and even though I saw the image a million times on CNN it was different to see it live and take it in. It is amazing the amount of destruction and lives that can change in a mere 45 seconds. That isn't a real long time in the grand scheme of things, but then again, imagine shaking uncontrolably for that long. Not something I want to try anytime soon.
Haiti has always been an extremely impoverished country. This is my sixth time in Haiti and the need here has always been great. I think the question many have asked is why God? Why would you allow this to happen? I know you are sovereign and working, but what are you doing? You could've stopped this and you could clean it all up with the snap of your fingers if you wanted, so why? Why are you allowing your people that you love to suffer and starve while I live in a comfortable home in America with far more than I actually need.
We visited 2 towns on the outskirts of Port today. We went to Leogane and Petit Goave. Both were hit pretty hard. A 25 year old girl who was trapped after the earthquake in her house gave us a tour around the local refugee camp. The children ran and hugged us as we walked through the tent city; like any other kid they begged for their picture to be taken and giggled every few seconds. One thing that rings true everywhere in the world is that kids will be kids. It gave me HOPE. At both locations we were able to bless the people with bags of food and money. Every person got a bag with: rice, beans, sugar, tomato paste, oil, sardines, and oats. They also got canned food, toothbrushes, toothpaste and money. Even though it seems trivial to give out 300 food bags when so many people have needs it gave me HOPE. That is what God gave us to give out, so we obeyed. Sister Gladys is pretty unreal. To watch her give and give and give has challenged me more than anything else this week. She is a cheerful giver and loves to bless others. Every word out of that women's mouth is another ounce of wisdom and truth. I'm just trying to soak it all in while I'm here.
This blog is kind of random. I don't really have a point and I haven't processed much at all. I'm stuck on why. It is still the question I'm trying to figure out and I probably won't get an answer anytime soon, which I'm okay with. As we drove home tonight I was praying and I thought about the times in my life I've asked that same question. There have been several times actually. I remember when my father died suddenly the day before I turned 17. I was so angry and didn't understand why God would allow that to happen and especially in the manner that it did. But 14 years later even though I don't know WHY it happened I have seen God use it in my life and in others. I am a different person because of what I went through. So as I was listening to worship music, looking at stars and praying, I again felt a sense of HOPE for Haiti. HOPE that because of what they have gone through they will be different people. HOPE because God is sovereign over all things, even this earthquake. HOPE because every single person in all creation has a Father who loves them. I'm thankful to be here with my friends. Please keep praying for them and giving as you feel led. You can give at http://www.canaanorphanage.org - I can assure you your money will go to help those in need.
PS - For all you Canaan lovers, the kids are HUGE. They boys are taller, the girls are 16 going on 25. CRAZY. Even the little ones are growing up. They are still full of smiles and joy too! Come visit them, they miss you and would love to see you!
I will post an album on Facebook with a lot of pics soon...for now this will have to do!
Trips to the hospital are always unique and always seem to
produce tears and brokenness in my heart.Be it America or a third world country the picture of children in pain
and suffering will break you.You
can't look at a suffering child and not want to do something about it, or at
least I can't.We weren't allowed
to take pictures on Saturday when we visited the Children's Ward at the Church
of the Nazerene Hospital in Manzini, Swaziland, but I will try to paint a
picture for you of what we saw.
We entered the hospital easily with no problems.Unlike America there aren't a lot of
policies in third world countries.You don't have to sign in or wear a badge and you don't have to know the
person to go visit, talk with, or pray for them.When we arrived, the first room we entered had a girl in a
beautiful white dress.Unlike the
girl pictured here, she was covered in bandages with wounds all over her face
and arms.Despite her obvious pain
we were greeted with a HUGE smile as we handed her a bag full of candy and
toys.Our prayers were wanted and
received.Next we saw two little
baby boys, one whom's mother spoke English.She asked me to pray for her son who was suffering from
nausea, diarrhea, and sores in his mouth.It was heartbreaking to watch this one year old suffering.I continued down the hall and entered a
large room with many children.I
was stopped immediately by three mom's of infants all under 5 months.They were layed out on a table, 5 in a
row hooked up to IV's and oxygen tanks.The mother's spoke fairly good English so I began to converse with them
about their lives and why their children were in the hospital.It was encouraging to see the mother's
there alongside the children, although you could see the exhaustion and
desperation all over their faces.One of the mother's told me she would give me her son to take back to
America so he could get better and have a good life.It broke my heart that she thought just because I was from
America I had more to offer her son then she did.I could never love that kid the way his birth mother
could.It was sad and her
desperation hit me hard.
That wasn't it though.Next I strolled down to the malnutrition unit, which was all
babies.There are 2 abandoned kids
in that unit.There charts read
like this:Child One - No Name;
Child Two - Abandoned.Imagine
your name being abandoned; I can't.No one deserves that and especially not this precious child.From there I headed back towards the
exit and encountered an image that will stick with me for the rest of my
life.In my 30 years of life, I
have never seen someone dying of AIDS, let alone a 13-year-old boy.We were about to leave the ward, when 60-year-old
grandmother grabbed us in desperation.She wanted us to come see her grandson who is dying.I'm not sure why she thought we may be
able to help, but she dragged us into a room with him lying naked on the
table.She began to show us his
sores and my eyes welled up with tears.Why Lord, I asked.Why does
this young boy have to suffer like this?It is not his fault.We
began to pray and everything in my flesh was scared to touch this kid.His eyes pierced me, but I still
couldn't bring myself to do it...sad, but true.So instead I began to rub the back of the grandmother who
was sobbing.As she sobbed and we
prayed the tears came faster and more abundantly.There was nothing I could do, but cry out to God on his
behalf and return home and tell people what I saw.So I am telling you, I have no pictures to prove it, but the
image will forever be in my head.I'm sure if you are a parent the feeling would be intensified.Imagine your son or daughter laying
covered in sores and no one helping them or knowing what to do.It wrecks you.It causes you to ask questions you have
never even thought about.And it
leaves you ready to do something.I'm ready to do something and I will spread the word about what I saw in
Swaziland to everyone I know.I'm
so thankful God brought me here to see this.
If you would like to know more about how to get involved
with work in Swaziland, please contact me.I also have some sweet shoulder/messenger type bags
available that are comparable to Vera Bradley available to buy for $18 if you
are interested....or change purses for $7.The proceeds go straight to work in Swaziland.If you want to learn more about Timbali Crafts, click here. Thanks for reading my story.I head to Canaan Oprhanage in Haiti on Sunday, please pray
for our trip if you think of it.THANKS!
about the week in Peru that I have struggled with what exactly to write about. Many have asked what we did, what the kids were like, where they came from, what God taught me, how the food was, etc. 
nice motor. We moved down the river about an hour and arrived at the place we would call home for the next week, Puerto Alegria. We were welcomed by 47 smiles excited for us to be a part of their world for the next week. And that is exactly what we did. Language was a barrier, but you don't need words to preach the gospel. You just need love. We played soccer, took lots of pictures, laid in the hammocks, made crafts, built some things, laughed a lot and swam in the river. Lesson 2: Become Like a Child. Sunday morning I was journaling and as I watched the little ones run around and laugh without a worry in the world, I felt Jesus saying, "Become like a child Liz." Children have a unique innocence about them, they are curious and long to know people. They have no worries and are full of laughter and love. They trust easily and have little fear. I believe all these characteristics lead to freedom. When we become like a child and live like a child, we will experience freedom. (On a side note, I read "Heaven Is For Real" this day on the boat to and from church - if you have not read it, check it out - well worth your time and a great picture of faith like a child.)
Lesson 3: The Importance of Community. We had a great team that meshed together incredibly for these 9 days. We represented 4 different states and all different ages, but we quickly became one and it was as if we had known each other for years. We worked together to love these boys and show them Christ. We shared, worshipped and prayed together. It was a sweet time of fellowship. I have been blessed with community in all locations since college, but I have struggled to find it this past year and a half in NJ. I have met some phenomenal believers, I attend a great Church and friendships are growing, but I haven't made those friendships a priority. This trip reminded me that you have to be intentional to find community and it is so important. We were created to do life together, not alone. I believe we will make an impact far great together, than if we try to do it alone. 
next 60 days!
July 29th-August 7th.
d I have worked far more than anticipated in the last 4 months. I also love my job far more than I ever imagined and this job is turning into a career that ties together many of my gifts - leadership, administration, management and business. I am not just making coffee, I am using my mind and the gifts God has given me and I love it. I probably drink too much coffee, but it's all good. I have no clue if this is where I will be long term, but for now I am content and thankful for the Lord's provision. 
friends (thankful for a trip there in 6 weeks!!). I am not totally sure about the direction of my future, if it includes a husband and kids or grad school or ministry overseas, but I don't care. I am living in today, the present and moving forward one day at a time. I am thankful that God didn't give me instant gratification 4 months ago like I wanted, but overtime worked out HIS PERFECT PLAN. He is good. I still struggle, but I do know and believe with all of my heart, He's got me. Romans 8:28, which a friend reminded me of yesterday sums it up perfect - "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
& Shane. As I was watching the video I found myself crying, but it wasn't because of the images. I already cried a lot in January when the earthquake struck and in February when I saw the damage in a country close to my heart. Nothing in Haiti that I see in a picture shocks me, because I saw it live. I'm not going to write you a novel on the song like I did with What Do I Know of Holy, because the song speaks for itself. It is truth and it is straight out of Gods Word. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." For everyone in transition that has returned from the race and doesn't know what the heck they are doing with their life, for anyone going through a hard time that can't see or hear from God, and just for those who enjoy music and words of truth...go buy this song on Itunes. It is worth a dollar and it will speak volumes to your heart. 
have talked so much, relied too much on others counsel, or taken so much control that I haven't quieted my heart to listen to the Lord. I have made Him way smaller than He is and at times taken things into my own hands. Do you ever put Him in a box? And sadly, I have often feared men more than I have feared Him. I can be so quick to lose perspective and fix my eyes on myself versus Christ that I sometimes wonder if I would really know Him were He to touch me or sit down next to me on a bench. Don't worry just this week, He touched me. Not tangibly, but I felt Him, He did something through one of His people and I know it was Him. 
God spoke you into motion, He spoke me into motion. 
ue intimacy with Christ. I am called to love God and to love others. I've caught a glimpse of who God is and I'm convinced I'll keep catching glimpses. When you truly pursue Christ and make Him your first focus, you will not only be brought to your knees, but you will be driven to tell others about this unbelievable God that you serve. You will long to be a part of something more and to make a kingdom impact with your life...or at least I will.
I'm not really sure what to say to do justice to the mass destruction I saw today as I drove through the streets of Port-au-Prince today. Smells wafted through the air, buildings were destroyed, people were everywhere, tent cities seemed to be every 500 feet, trash and who knows what else burning and there was nothing I could do but pray. We saw the Capital Building and even though I saw the image a million times on CNN it was different to see it live and take it in. It is amazing the amount of destruction and lives that can change in a mere 45 seconds. That isn't a real long time in the grand scheme of things, but then again, imagine shaking uncontrolably for that long. Not something I want to try anytime soon.
great. I think the question many have asked is why God? Why would you allow this to happen? I know you are sovereign and working, but what are you doing? You could've stopped this and you could clean it all up with the snap of your fingers if you wanted, so why? Why are you allowing your people that you love to suffer and starve while I live in a comfortable home in America with far more than I actually need. 
This blog is kind of random. I don't really have a point and I haven't processed much at all. I'm stuck on why. It is still the question I'm trying to figure out and I probably won't get an answer anytime soon, which I'm okay with. As we drove home tonight I was praying and I thought about the times in my life I've asked that same question. There have been several times actually. I remember when my father died suddenly the day before I turned 17. I was so angry and didn't understand why God would allow that to happen and especially in the manner that it did. But 14 years later even though I don't know WHY it happened I have seen God use it in my life and in others. I am a different person because of what I went through. So as I was listening to worship music, looking at stars and praying, I again felt a sense of HOPE for Haiti. HOPE that because of what they have gone through they will be different people. HOPE because God is sovereign over all things, even this earthquake. HOPE because every single person in all creation has a Father who loves them. I'm thankful to be here with my friends. Please keep praying for them and giving as you feel led. You can give at 
Trips to the hospital are always unique and always seem to
produce tears and brokenness in my heart.
with, or pray for them.
the ward, when 60-year-old
grandmother grabbed us in desperation.
