Slight Change in Plans...

SURPRISE!  On Friday morning, I received a call from Buckner to inform me that our trip to Guatemala has been cancelled due to security risks.  With the upcoming elections, safety in the country is being threatened.  However, they did let me know they will be taking our same team during the same time period to HONDURAS!  I have never been to Honduras, so I am excited about visiting another country.  As far as I know, we will be doing the same type of work we would of been doing in Guatemala.  I do not have any other details other than that.  Please be praying for flexibility of my team and for all the travel/flight plans to be changed quickly.  I leave for Dallas on July 6, and we will be leaving for Honduras on July 9th.  It's almost here! 

Being Like Christ

COMPASSION. Before I left for my trip to Guatemala with Samford last January, the Lord taught me more about what compassion truly meant.  Compassion does not mean simple empathy, or a feeling of sadness about someone’s situation.  Compassion takes a step further.  Compassion is empathy in action.  It is a desire to change and do something about a specific situation.  I felt true compassion during my first trip to Guatemala, and it changed my career goals to focus on at-risk children and youth.  I do not simply want to take a trip to visit some orphans...I want to make it my goal to transform individual lives and families through the healing power of Jesus.

One of many faces of poverty.

Teaching a special needs child how to play.

A teenager at the orphanage helping others in his community.

“The Lord your God is a compassionate God” Deuteronomy 4:31 (New American Standard)

What a beautiful truth.  I am so grateful that my Lord had compassion on me.  He saw me in my need and wanted to do something about it.  He chose to send his own Son to die on a cross bearing the punishment of my sin, so that I may spend eternity enjoying and worshipping Him.  God is the ultimate example of compassion because He sacrificed everything for our sakes.  May I strive every day to look more like Him.