The End…. yet the Beginning!

What a learning experience. It’s hard to sum up. I’ll just leave you with a few thoughts that will stick with me.

Slow down and enjoy God's beautiful artwork

~ Slow Down ~
On all our travels the thing I appreciated most about the countries we visited was how people took time for each other. Generally, you’ll notice how South and Central Americans make people their priority. Not work, Not being on time, Not school, Not getting ahead…. all that comes second. If you bump into someone you know there would be no question about it, even if you had to get somewhere, you’d stop and say hello. Not just a wave; you’d actually stop and chat, ask how they're doing, show interest in their lives, listen, give them a hug and a kiss. I think our whirlwind culture needs to learn from that. We have so many conveniences to make things speed up… yet they take away those very precious opportunities to interact with fellow human beings. Not that technology doesn’t help, but it’s sad how you can get through your whole day with barely communicating face to face at all. Drive thru: food, bank, post office… online communication… text messaging… it’s like we try to avoid letting people inconvenience us to the point where we almost avoid people all together. No time to just hang out on the front porch chilling and talking with the neighbours. No time to set aside the shopping list and listen to the old lady tell you the story she’s so excited to share. No time to play with your little siblings and show interest in their Lego sculpture. We need to SLOW DOWN.
“Slow down, you're missing the journey let the world pass.” We spend our life so busy “doing yet barely being.” Don’t let life go by in a blur. Take time for those around you. Love each precious person God has surrounded you with.

ALL ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT

We tend to just think about the things we have to get done. In the rat race we often forget to pause and listen to what God is saying to us. We lack the willingness to let him work through us, no matter how busy we think we are. God wants us to be vessels for His Glory… fully surrendered to Him, so He can use us where He needs us and when He needs us. I pray that God would 'Take Me'. It’s so important to slow down and take time for people… but it’s vital to slow down and take time for God. If we aren’t feeding on His word and being refreshed ourselves, how can we expect to refresh and encourage others. Our priorities in the western society are so focused on getting ahead… it’s all about us. What does it matter at the end of our lives how nice a house we have… how big a name we’ve made for ourselves… what matters is: how we live, how we’ve affected those around us. “What’s the hurry take your foot off the gas…. There’s more to the journey than strict efficiency … more like savouring… less like A to B“… That`s a quote from a song I love. It`s written by Lance Odegard. The song is called: Motion is Easy (If you haven’t heard his music you should definitely listen to it. Great lyrics) The thought of Slowing Down has been hugely impressed on me. This trip was definitely a time of slowing down for me. I got to spend more time with God, and in His word, than I think I’ve ever done before. At home I get so caught up in the busyness. On this trip I really saw how the Bible IS ALIVE. It`s become an addiction for me. I have no doubt in my mind that God speaks through it to each one of us here and now. It just matters if we are willing to open our ears and listen. Like Samuel said: ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening’. Ask God that, before you read His word. On this trip time and time again God answered the very question I’d have on the tip of my tongue… or the verse I’d read in the morning was just what I needed for the events of that day. It was just as He promised, He’d go before and prepare the way. Now I’m back home… I can be such a go -go -go person. That’s not going to change much as this Fall I’m going to school part time and still teaching classes part time… But, I don’t want to let busyness take over my life. It’s going to be hard not to. Amid the whirlwind, I want to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and completer of our faith. I know that my journey isn’t over… it’s only just begun. God is moulding each one of us on our path. We can’t see the end of it but we can completely trust Him. How awesome is the promise He has given us. `He (God) who has begun in you a good work will complete it.` I want to be more sensitive to see the work God has begun in each of the people around me. To see others through God’s ‘Glasses’, as it says: “All are precious in His sight.” Home feels like a different place. It feels like I used to walk through my day ‘deaf and blind’, without really seeing or hearing God at all. Now everywhere I look there seems to be something God is working on. I’m more pumped than ever to live in tune with God - Ready and available to do His will.

If I leave you with a thought, it would be: Let us Slow Down. Let us be faster to Listen and slower to Speak. Most of all, we in ourselves are weak but through God we can be strong. Let us ask God: `Take Me, Speak through me, Love through me, Comfort through me, I want to walk with You where you lead, I want to know You More`.

(Doodle done in Costa Rica)

~ The End


THANKS!!!

Praise GOD for bringing Charissa and I home safely and drawing us closer to Him on this Journey!
(Here’s an awesome song my guy, Neil, sent me off with. I‘d like to sing it now.)

Sing aloud to God, our Strength! Sing with Wonder of His Love.
Who can tell its breadth and length, Who below, or who above?
Who its depth and height can measure? ’Tis a rich unbounded treasure.
Sing aloud to God, our Strength! He is with us where we go!
Fear we not the Journey’s length, Fear we not the mighty foe;
All our foes shall be defeated, All our Journeys safe completed.
~ T. Kelly

Thanks to our HOSTS! Each of you were such a blessing to us. I will always keep you in my prayers and memory. Hope to have lots of visitors to Vancouver next year. J

Thanks to the PRAYER WARRIORS! I just want to say how much Charissa and I appreciated having brothers and sisters around the world praying for our protection and blessing. We felt so many times that Angles were watching over us extra careful. There were so many dangers and health issues that we were preserved from. Thank you all!

Charissa & me

THANK YOU CHARISSA!!! I couldn’t have asked for a better travel companion. She seriously has such a giving servant heart. She’d always be the first to jump up and do the dishes for people, I could rarely beat her to it… no matter how hard I tried. She’d always go the extra mile for me or people we met. She was always gracious with me and put up with me. ;) We met so many other backpackers who were about ready to murder their companions after only a few weeks. We can honestly say from this trip we only love and know each other more. We can’t wait to travel together again. Charissa you are amazing!!!