the author

"let us fix our eyes on Jesus...the author and perfecter of our faith..." heb 12:2
this has been my staple verse this past year...as i am realizing as i am preparing to share about my time in ecuador with my grandparent's church this weekend in plainfield, IN...i have been challenged to think about how this past year has impacted me, how life is different there, and what God has been trying to teach me, over and over and over.
this past christmas, i got a tattoo that says walk with faith on my foot. faith is what keeps me going sometimes, because i am resting on God's promises...sovereinty, love, grace, mercy, never forsaking me, providing...etc. "now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certaian of what we cannot see." heb 11:1 (i think :))
since i am in chicago this summer, it has been a little discouraging...being alone this past week..esp during such a fun holiday...it is different...being alone when the fireworks are going off...but when i woke up, i realized i was still the same person, and really didnt miss anything...because once, when i was about to yell at king (my dog) again for barking at the fireworks, i decided to get up...and there were tons of big fireworks going off on the beach RIGHT next /on my deck..i thought something on our deck was going to catch on fire they were so close! that is one good thing about living on the beach on the 4th....you can just sit on your deck and see some pretty great fireworks..

anyways...God showed me today that he has not forgotten me, i didnt think he did, but you know how that goes....i was finished walking Cho Cho and i was walking out of the building as usual and was asking the bellman how his 4th was, etc...then this guy came out of the lobby and asked me if i was a dog walker..then i said not really, im just covering for my dad...etc...then i told him i was in ecuador for the year and only here for the summer...and he asked what i did, and i said that i teach missionary kids...then he asked if i was a missionary...and i said i guess you can call me that...and he asked if i was a christain..and i said yeah (during these last few words...i was a little uneasy because his tone was like he was gonna yell at me or something for being a christian) then he said, ME TOO! cool, huh! he told me he went to moody bible institute and about the church he goes to in chicago...etc. then he told me about how he shared his testimony with his church and shared a little with me! it was so neat because sometimes in a big city you think you are the only "Christian" around and nobody cares...but God is showing me that i need to open my eyes, and look for him everywhere.

i cant continue to think that i am the only one around here trying to live for the glory of God. God is not a small God, and sometimes i think that, for some unknown reason. i forget the God of the universe loves everyone, and not just me..that he is involved in your life as much as he is involved in mine, and that is so incredible. and that is why i love talking to people because i love hearing about how God is working in your life. its such an incredible thing...God. its all so mind boggling...so many facets go into it all...yet, it is simple. love might describe it...but love isnt really simple...esp with our selfishness..but when all that gets stripped away, and we surrender all our selfishness, hurts, and messiness to God and ask him to fill those now open spots..we do see it simply...and just love, love, love.

when i am in ecuador, i pray that others see God's love through me, since language is a barrier...but why not do that just as much here...even in english, language can be a barrier..esp with different lifestyles. i encourage you to love with all you have, for Gods glory..and smile to that stranger....or strike up a convo...see where God takes you...