I decided to move. Well, move blogs that is. I'm still at blogspot and this is the address extraordinaryjoys.blogspot.com so you can be updated on my latest happenings as I learn to see the extraordinary joys in this ordinary life.

Grace and Peace :)

Final Thoughts...Not Really Though :)

So I had intentions of posting this blog Saturday (actually I think my original intentions were to post it before I even left Wales but it happens). Regardless, it is now Monday and this is the first that I am posting. If you had not already figured out, I am currently home in Lake Placid, FL. It is so hard to believe that just a few days ago I was across the ocean in the tiny village of Pentrebach spending time with those who have come to mean so much to after just a short period of time. And as much as I wish I could have stayed in Wales, the fact of the matter is I knew I would have to come home at the end of 2 months. I just don't think I ever imagined how attached I would get to people who I am just met.

Being home is different. I can't quite put my finger on it. I'm sure it's largely due to the fact that those whom I've been with for the last two months almost constantly are nowhere nearby. I'm sure it might have to do slightly with the weather - I'm not lying when I say it is HOT! Maybe it has to do with the fact I'm in a place where everything is again familiar. But then again maybe it has to do with I feel different than when I left. I can't quite put into words how God has worked in my life and in the lives of those around me. Yes, home is different but it reminds me of how God is constantly at work in my life even when I am unaware of it. How He is growing me into the woman He desires me to be. So as I grow it is only natural for things to feel different. I must decide if I will see the difference as a blessing or not. My prayer is that He will give me the strength to see them as blessings.

It would easy for me to lament over having to leave Wales. In fact, it has been easy for me. But there is a reason God has brought me from Wales just as there was a reason He brought me to Wales. I went to Wales with the same mindset that I have often had about being at GWU. I know God brought me to GWU because it doesn't really make a lot of sense as to why I would choose a school like it given the state I was living in back then. Since being at GWU I've been waiting for that big moment to be able to say that's why God brought me. However, that big moment hasn't come. Instead lots of little moments, some which would seem trivial to everyone else, are the reasons I've been brought to GWU from the encouraging smiles and words of much needed friends to mission trips I never dreamed I would get a chance to go on to challenges and prayers from those least expected. God brought me to GWU to experience a life that is full of Him and His blessings. Is it perfect? No, but God is a God of our entire lives. Not just one time events. And that how I feel about my time in Wales that God brought me to Wales for a summer to learn more about loving and trusting Him and to learn about loving others more. He brought me to Wales to enjoy many little moments such as encouraging talks, thought-provoking statements, the smiles and laughter of kids and youth, hours of sitting on the floor listening to gifts He has bestowed upon His children, unlikely friendships, and I could continue on and on. I've seen prayers answered this summer in what I would call record time and I've been reminded that I must be faithful in prayer even when the situation seems hopeless. I've been given the glimpse of what God is doing in Wales and have been reminded that He's not just at work there. Being home I am reminded that God is at work in Lake Placid and in Boiling Springs and I can either join in or mope about no longer being in Wales. I think I would like to join in.

The question has been raised since before I left Wales if I wanted to return and the answer is yes. Of course, I want to. The people I have met have become like family and I dearly long to see them again. But I refuse to promise when I'll return or even if I will. I know what it's like to make that promise and fail to keep it. I can't and won't do that to anyone again. So if you're Wales reading this please know I do long to come back and I pray that God will open the doors for me to come again soon. He is faithful :)

I'm sure this isn't all I intended to say. I'm sure I've left some stuff out. But know those of you who supported me through prayers and finances have blessed me beyond words. I wish I could begin to thank you all for what your prayers especially have meant to me. Like I have said God is at work in Wales and I thank Him for using you all to bring me there and allowing me to be part of it. Please continue to pray for the people of Wales because God is at work and the enemy is trying to fight it. But we know who wins!! God is alive!

So for now I'm off, cherishing the memories of what lies behind, thanking God that there is the Internet to stay in touch, and looking forward to what is to come even if I have no idea what it is. God is faithful and if I have learned nothing else this summer I have been reminded over and over of that. He is faithful even when I am faithless.

I plan to keep blogging, though I guess I should change the name of the blog now...or maybe not...who knows but Him. I can't guarantee that Lake Placid or Boiling Springs will be as exciting as Wales, but God is God there, too, so I'm sure it will be an adventure. Besides it is my last year there, so it will be nice to keep track of how God guides my next steps since I am seemed to be slightly better at blogging than I am at journaling as of late.

Know God loves you more than your wildest imagination...He's enthralled and captivated by every ounce of your being. Know He's at work in your life and all around you. Know He is victorious in the end!!

Grace and Peace :)

I Hate the Sound Good-Byes Make...

Well, this will likely be my last post from Wales. It's hard to believe that in less than 24 hours I will begin my journey home. I can't believe 2 months have pasted by so quickly. I hate saying these good-byes to people who have become like family in such a short period of time. God has used them in so many ways to enrich my life. I pray I will be able to return again soon, but trust God's timing is perfect. So while these good-byes pretty much sink, God is faithful and though I think the song is cheesy I must quote it, "friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them."

I'm going to keep this blog short, and I plan to post a longer one reflecting on my last days here in Wales and my trip here as a whole once I'm home. This post is to just to thank you all for your prayers and to ask that you all be in prayer for my journey home. I have loved my time here in Wales and I promise to share in my next post to share what God has laid upon my heart after I have had sometime to reflect upon my trip.

Know you are loved by the One who hung the stars in the sky :)

Grace and Peace

Psalm 103

God is Good

So I was imagining when I wrote this blog that it would consist of my rants from this week...because to be quite honest this has been the hardest week since I've been here in Wales. It seemed like the enemy was out to get me at every turn. I don't say that to exaggerate...but I can't remember the last time I felt this attacked. So while it would be easy to give credit to the enemy, and unfortunately that's what I have been doing, I think it would be more beneficial to list the praises of this week.

If you didn't know a team from Rachel's church in Tennessee along with a few others from other churches came to Pentrebach to put on a holiday club for the kids, games in the afternoons, and a coffee house for the youth. I had mixed feelings about the team coming to be honest. I was excited because the kids and youth were so excited, but I was worried how I would fit in with the team. Satan took this worry and definitely tried to use it against me...though he did succeed in the beginning Christ proved to be my strength. And though he tried to discourage me and bring me down in a variety of ways, I can say Christ was victorious.

So here are a list of praises for the week -

• Around 6 children accepted Christ into their hearts on Friday. Please be praying for their growth and that Christians in Pentrebach will come alongside of them and encourage them.
• Many seeds were planted, especially in some unlikely places. Pray that these seeds will bloom.
• I can't write exactly what it was, but there was a HUGE praise among one of the youth.
• I only had a bad sprained ankle (let's just say I got into a fight with a tire swing ;)
• I was able to have some great conversations with my favorite people here in Pentrebach.
• I got to talk to my favorite soon-to-be five-year-olds...I just love them to pieces and I will be excited to see them and the rest of their family soon.
• We had a lot of kids and youth this week!! And this morning at church a mom brought her two little girls to church - pray they will keep coming.
• One youth who is close to accepting Christ is getting closer.
• As He always does God used the youth to encourage me when I needed it the most by their hugs, words, and smiles. I can't express how much they mean to me.

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but know God is good even in the mist of difficulties. I have been clinging to the verses in II Corinthians 12:9-10, which are my favorite verses, where Jesus tells Paul how HIS strength is made perfect in Paul's weakness. That's how I've felt this week...weak. I feel as if Satan is fighting against something in my life, but what it is I'm not sure. But I know Christ is always victorious!!

As many of you know my time in Wales is quickly slipping away. It pains me to say it but I only have 4 days left here. I won't go further into that right now because I don't want to cry or dwell on it until it actually happens. I plan to enjoy these next few days to the fullest because who knows if tomorrow will even come.

Know God is good even in the mist of hard times. Know He places people in our lives for a reason. Cling to Him. He is our strength. He is our hope. Know you are loved.

Grace and Peace.

If I Don't Post, I Promise I'm Still Alive :)

Bright and early tomorrow morning (well actually here in a few hours haha) Rachel, Dottie, and I will be traveling to London. I'm excited for a chance to see the city once again, but I have to be honest I'm going to miss Wales and the kids and the youth. If I'm going to miss them this much for only two days who knows how I'll be when I leave in 2 weeks!!

But we have plans to see some of the sites such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben, Platform 9 3/4, amongst over things. Rachel and I are also planning to go to Holy Communion at Westminster Abbey on Friday. So I'll give you a run down later of what of how my London trip goes :)

The American teams come in on Friday as well. Please be praying that they all make it through immigration!! I'm excited about their coming because all summer long I have heard of the great work God has done through them in years past with the kids and youth of various churches in Wales. I am excited to be apart of one of the teams at the church in Pentrebach I've be interning at all summer. We'll be doing holiday club (VBS) in the mornings, games in the field in the afternoons, and a coffee house of the youth in the evenings. So please be praying for this week as well and that God will move among the kids and youth of the village.

With the team coming Rachel and I will be relocating to the church for the week, which means no internet access. Please do not fear if you don't hear from for the next week or so. I haven't died I promise. I told my mom that I would send her a text next week, so if anything happens I will tell her to pass it on to you all.

So for now I am off because despite my lack of tiredness I do need to try and get some sleep. I love you all so much and I am blessed by each of you in my life. Your prayers have been a wonderful comfort to me and I value them beyond words. Please continue to keep the kids and the youth in prayers. Pray God would draw them to His Himself in the coming week.

Remember the One who holds the world in His hands is holding you as well :)

Grace and Peace!!

Accepted

"Grace tells us that we are accepted just as we are. We may not be the kind of people we want to be, we may be a long way from our goals, we may have more failures than achievements, we may not be wealthy or powerful or spiritual, we may not even be happy, but we are noetheless acceptede by God, held in His hands. Such is His promise to us in Jesus Christ, a promise we can trust."

This is a quote found in a book that I have been reading while being here in Wales called The Ragamuffin Gospel. It's a great book about how God's love and grace came to a people undeserving - it came to the ragamuffins. I love this particular quote because it reminds me of what the Gospel is truly about - a grace which accepts those who are unacceptable, a love for those who are unloveable, a pardon for the undeserving. As much as I try there is nothing I can do to earn this grace. I just have to accept it. Accept the idea that there is a God who passionately accepts me just as I am.

Sometimes, well often actually, that idea baffles me. The thought of the God who created the rains which frequent this country, the heat which covers my hometown, and the daisies which spring up from the rocks loves me absolutely astounds me. To know I am justified when I don't deserve it brings me to tears, but it also brings smiles and laughter and joy that is beyond compare.

Knowing God accepts me just as I am or really inspite of who I am is a humbling thought. I love Psalm 103 which I posted a few days ago how it reads "for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." God accepts me, one who is of dirt. He accepts though I am not good enough, knowing that I will never on my own be good enough. He accepts me knowing I fail over and over again. He accepts me knowing knowing I am weak and I will stumble and fall. He accepts me knowing there will be days when I am jealous of everyone and question why He made me the way I am. He accepts me knowing I am not usually nice to everyone; that often I am rash and quick to judge. He accepts me knowing that I am afraid and that I really don't trust Him in all areas of my life yet. He accepts me knowing that I worry more about tomorrow than I actually do about the moments He gives me. He accepts me knowing I am not grateful like I should nor do I give like I should. I could continue on and on how He accepts inspite of all that I am not, but it would be a very long list.

The bottom line is I am accepted by Him because of what He's done. Because of what He's given. The bottom line is we're all accepted not because of anything have or haven't done. We're accepted because of His grace. It is not earnable. It is a gift. And it is a costly gift, but one that is worth more than anything this life can offer.

You are loved today and you are accepted by the One who created the stars in the sky and every colorful (and non-colorful) fish in the sea. He is absolutely crazy about you and wants you to know Him. Never doubt His love because nothing can take it away :)

I leave you with my favority poem by Bradley Hathaway, entitled "Celebration Wedding"

This is for the ones whose hope is falling
And you no longer hear your savior's calling.
This is for the ones whose backs are turning
And that passion-filled heart you once had has stopped burning.
This is for the ones abandoned.
Now all alone with no solace and you think you're stranded.
This is for you empty, by life branded,
That had a vision that took leap, but it never landed.
This is for the ones who are plagued.
By those mysteries of life.
And you feel torn inside by this mind of spirit and strife.
This is for the ones whose desire to do good is always outweighed
and you don't do as you should.
This is for the ones whose mistakes are too many to count
and the guilt on your chest just continues to mount.
This is for the ones who have been done wrong by sins.
At the corrupted hands of perverted men.
Hold on.
HOLD ON!
Because soon will come the Celebration Wedding
and bundles of restoration will be our bedding.
Soon will come the Celebration Wedding
and bundles of restoration will be our bedding.
The trumpeter is taking a breath
The guests are taking their seats.
The Bride is putting on a veil.
The Father is making last-minute preparations.
There's Thousands Times Ten Thousand
angels waiting in holy expectation.
The readied groom is readied.
Soon will come the Celebration Wedding
If you are hurting, your hurt will cease.
If you are restless, you will find peace.
If you are empty, You will be filled.
All of these doubts, they'll be stilled.
If life for you is just to trying, Your tears will be dissipate.
There won't be anymore crying.
If the only thing you know is shame, you will be cleansed
and never again feel the same.
If you can't see straight.
focus.
persevere.
And wait...
Soon will come the Celebration Wedding
and bundles of restoration will be our bedding.

Grace and Peace

These are for My Mommy (and everyone else, too)

So my mom has been requesting that I upload some pictures of my life here in Wales since I arrived here back in June. And well none of have made it up, but she sent me a card reader so now I don't have much of an excuse. These aren't all of them, but they are few to give you a glimpse of my life.

These are the wonderful places I have seen thus far in Wales





















And these are the incredible people I have been blessed by this summer