Hola amigos!
Sorry for the long pause in between posts... I'm simply having too much fun to spend an hour typing on my phone!! And I'm sorry for the lack of pictures, if you look on Facebook I've been putting a ton of pics from my Instagram on Facebook. Maybe one day I'll figure out how to incorporate those into my post. This has been our first full week of work. We had three work groups: a high school from Durham, NC, Michigan College Young Life College (as in college students in a YL program- some do not know Jesus), and my wonderful Berry College Roman YL leaders. The three groups had crazy different personalities. I think I struggled a bit with the group who had some non-Christian college students because I wondered what would motivate them to come on a trip like this. I know the group I came with last year, we were all so excited to be here working to spread the kingdom of The Lord. Some of the kids with the non-Christian group would have bad attitudes, and I had to keep reminding myself to show grace and understanding as this trip was an outreach trip for these kids. My beautiful group from Rome GA (where I went to college) left on Friday and I was really upset! I loved having them here so much and when they left it felt like I should be going with them! It was another realization that I am now in my post-grad years!! It feels like yesterday that I came to the DR with my friends, when in actuality that was a year ago. God has me in a whole different season of life now, and I'm learning to love the gift I've been given of this past year: being home to care for my family in a time of need, and now getting to serve my Heavenly Father in the Dominican Republic.
I know that's not too much, but I really would rather spend time sharing with you what God's been teaching me! Since I've been here, I've been studying Isaiah during my quiet time. This week I was really moved by Isaiah 12, a chapter of praise to The Lord for loving us and saving us, even though we are so undeserving!! This is what I wrote in response to reading this:
Isaiah 12 is truly a chapter of excitement and praise. God had just anger with us, and as unfair as it was for him to have to do this, it rounded the character of God for Him to send His Son to die because of our inability to stray from sin. Because as he is just, he is equally loving. He doesn't want a relationship where He just rules over us. He created us and He loves what he created. He is literally dying for us to accept His love. But because he is a God who is fair and sovereign, He lets us decide to follow Him (even thoughhe already knows every move we'll make!) jr doesn't stop our bad moves, he gives us the free will to choose what we want. But because we choose sin, our world is overridden with it. God created humans, complex characters. He created these ridiculous beings who make decisions that make them anything from the CEO of a company to the lowest of lows. He created my complex mind, if that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will!!!
God chose to comfort me, His lovely creation, even though I actively choose to spit on His face. My mind actively chooses sin. I deserve to die. But, I live, I live well in my tiny understanding of Jesus. It's crazy that the minute amount that I know about God was enough for belief and He so easily accepts me. I literally haven't even scratches the surface on what it should take for me to earn redemption with God. Why am I not praising and thanking him daily for my salvation, for Jesus?? I mean, I undoubtedly owe Him, why am I not sharing his name and loving Him the best that I know how?? It is literally all He has asked for in return for sacrificing Himself!! It may sound simple, but it is the basis of our faith, and I am so glad that God is revealing himself so clearly and beautifully to me here as I serve at Pico Escondido.
Until next time,
Ali
