Give God what is God's.

This past week was parent’s week and it was such a blessing to have some of the parents, Johnny, and Hannah here.  Allison’s parents, Thomas’ mom, and Mitch’s mom all came to experience a part of our lives here!  We went to Puerto de Diablo which was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!  It was so cool to sit on the edge of the mountain and just look at a tiny piece of God’s creation, which looks enormous to us!!! Ah, it was so breath taking… literally the view and the walk up there was very breath taking! But well worth it!  Having the parents here made me almost feel like my parents were here too… well almost! It made me pretty excited to see my family in December!  Although, while I’m excited to see them I have to keep my focus here! As our break in December is getting closer I am getting excited but also kind of nervous.  I know the person that I left as in August is long gone I just don't want that person to creep back.  I want to stay the person that God has broken and built back up and hidden Himself in.. and I want to continue to grow in Him.


Michayla and I at Puerto de Diablo

Sunday after church Abigail invited two of the girls to go to lunch with us at Multi Plaza.  These two girls, Raquel and Felizicata (I don’t know how to spell her name) are 12 and 14, who walked to church from their home.  So after we ate, Abigail, Holly, Anna and I walked with them to their house so we would know they would get home safely.  We walked in almost in a complete circle from Multi Plaza and around the church to the entrance of their neighborhood.  These are the sweetest girls, my heart was just so joyful after we hugged and said goodbye to them.  They said that they would come next Sunday to church, hopefully we will see them!  :) Then we decided that we would just walk the rest of the way home instead of taking a microbus and plus, it wasn’t that far.
 
Yesterday, Andrew, Thomas, Parker, Allison and I went to the gym and then after Thomas had the idea that we should go find someone and ask them what they need. So we walked to the "barrio" type neighborhood and we talked to the first lady we saw. Before we knew it there were four other people standing with us. So, they walked with us to Walmart and on the way all of us Gringos were walking kind of fast ahead of the women because they were carrying there kids and walking with them. So each of us helped carry them. I carried a baby down the highway named Ella Alejandro...I think was her name. She was the sweetest little baby I carried her almost the whole time we were in Walmart until her mom took her back...ah she was just adorable

At church on Sunday a man named George was a guest speaker.  He did a phenomenal job by the way.  I pretty much sat there with my mouth wide open while I took notes.  He talked about how God created us to be a dwelling place for God and a whole lot more.  One of the scriptures he gave us was Matthew 22:21.

“…Then he said to them, 'Give to Caeser what is Caeser’s, and to God what is God’s.'” –Matthew 22:21

George explained that we mostly just take this verse and think oh, we just need to pay our taxes. But there is SO much more to it than that.  What we need to understand from this is that we were created BY God in HIS image therefore we are God’s.  So, we must surrender ourselves completely and give ourselves to God.  And I have felt convicted because of this verse.  Especially for next year and the rest of my life.  I want to do what God has planned for me to do... whatever that means.  Because I am God's, I want to give myself to Him.  Right now, I'm trying to seek God as much as I can so I can hear God.  I've also been looking for and praying that God would give me confirmation on what he wants me to do.  I just need to be still... and have peace that God will guide and direct me.... because he won't leave me.