encouraged

... that's how i've been feeling lately.

i wrote a blog and lost all of it so i can't rewrite all of it now. i'm too burnt out.

BUT know that my prayer that i would fall in love with these girls has certainly been answered.

maybe i will write more later but these girls are great and the need for this program has been so obvious to me. they need to be taught that they have options in life and don't have to choose the same path their mothers or parents have chosen. i have been intentionally putting jeremiah 29:11 in front of them.

i want so badly for them to get that god desires for them to live a life of hope and he desires to prosper them and love them and they need to know that god does not want to harm them.

they ask questions about why god makes poor people, and i can't answer that, you know? i could try to give some nice pretty theological answer but the truth is i don't really completely know, but i do know that god desires to give them a hope in their poverty and that is all i know to tell them.

i have been incredible blessed and i am so aware of it. all this love i have for them is definitely from god. and the holy spirit has been so encouraging to me.

games, making aprons, eating brownings, doing scavenger hunts and piggy back rides all day (literally, all day... i'm sore... but i LOVE it). and i can't wait to see them tomorrow.

some scripture i've been clinging to lately:

romans 12:11

"never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the lord."

romans 13:8;10

"let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law... love does no harm to its neighbor. therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

1 corinthians 15:58

"therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. let nothing move you. always give yourselves fully to the work of the lord, because you know that your labor in the lord is not in vain."

2 corinthians 4:7

"but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from god and not from us."

2 corinthians 5:8-9

"we are confident, i say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the lord. so we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."

oh! and i just heard that they are saying this could be the worst hurricane season yet. they are predicting 8-13... could be interesting, huh?