Added Value

Today a friend that I had met in Colorado at missionary training joined me for worship service. By taking the time to make almost an hour drive to come to church with me he added such value to my life. I know that he has family, co-workers and many friends to say goodbye to before he leaves for the mission field at the end of the month, but he took this morning just to see me and say goodbye. Each and every one of the 42 adults and 16 children that I had the privilege of getting to know and loving during this three week training hold a piece of my heart now so I understand why he came.  

I have learned a great lesson today from a great man of God. I would normally think that it would not matter much if I went to see someone who I will not be around again for the rest of my life on earth, but not this man. He knows how important it is to love well and say goodbye well. 

My prayer for this wonderful man is that:

 "The LORD bless you 
       and keep you;
  the LORD make his face shine upon you
       and be gracious to you;
  the LORD turn his face toward you
       and give you peace." 
Thanks for making me feel special. God Bless!

Training

On Monday morning August 3rd I will be boarding a plane to Colorado Springs, Colorado where I will be picked up by a shuttle and transported to three weeks of training on cross cultural ministry. My training will take place at Missionary Training International (MTI). You can check out what MTI looks like here. I will miss being home with my both my family and my church family, but this will be a good chance to practice being away from home.

I'm in awe

This little house that God has allowed me to take care of has been listed with a realtor for just eleven days. Amazingly I am expecting an offer tonight, a second showing to someone else tomorrow afternoon and also a good friend is interested in this lovely little home for her parents. In my opinion this is God's hand at work and I am in awe.

My expectations were that in this economy with the housing market depressed it would take a long time and a miracle to get this house sold for what I have in it. I think I may be about to get my miracle in short order. God is so awesome!

To me this is one more confirmation that I am to go to Jamaica!

Can't wait to see how God works all this out.

View of the Cross

While in Jamaica on our mission trip I asked the members of our team and the missionaries there to each take a picture of the cross using my camera. I did this simply for my own entertainment, but thought I would share some of the pictures on the blog.

I love the contrast between this photo of the cross and the picture of the cross I posted before. The cross in this photo is integrated into the picture so much so that it becomes a part of the background and in the previous picture the cross is definitely central to the picture. I wonder if the photographers see the cross in the way it is portrayed in the photographs. Maybe this photographer sees the cross as so much a part of their life that is completely integrated into their life. And maybe the previous photographer sees the cross as big and powerful and clear as it looks in the picture.
Feel free to share any thoughts you have about these two photographs.

View of the Cross