Merry Christmas from Bolivia!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Christmas season lends itself to a lot of time for reflection and personal application the Christmas story. When Mary first heard the news of her miraculous conception of the King of kings, I’m sure she was terrified, confused and unsure of how she could do it.  But time and time again, she showed her faith through her response to God’s will.  Multiple times throughout the story of Jesus’ birth it says: “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Mary did ask the angel a question, “How could I…” she never questioned God’s power or ability to fulfill His will.

When I reflect on the time I have spent here in Bolivia over the past 4 months, God keeps on showing me that I need to treasure the time that I have here, and cast aside the fear that I find myself holding onto and just have faith to believe that His will is being accomplished—both in my life and the lives I have been privileged to be part of.  God is doing much more than I can imagine in me and through me, and for that I am blessed and celebrate his birth.

Below is a quick slideshow of highlights from the past semester that I have spent here in Bolivia.  I hope you enjoy seeing the faces of the students I have been privileged to get to know this year!

Merry Christmas to all of you and I pray that you have a blessed and joy-filled New Year!

Life Lessons from a Director of an Elementary Christmas Program

I'm risking the label of sacreligious, but I'm going to go ahead and do it anyway.

If I could relate even a small portion of God's job to something tangible and understandable by a flawed human.  I'd say that an almost acceptable picture of God is a director of a Elementary School Christmas Program.  Something that I have learned an awful lot about.

The Director of an Elementary School Christmas Program might be expected to do any if not all of the following:

Convince a multitude of laughing, joking, screaming, playing, sinning, and downright awnry kids to do exactly what he wants at exactly the time he wants them to do it.

Gather all of the details of the show: time, lights, sound, location, program, props, costumes, etc.

Elicit help from selfless people who are willing to give up their usual things to serve

Encourage the kids who are scared, nervous, unsure, and the ones with attitude, to keep going and try hard.

Sit back, breathe, and believe that in the end they will do their best.

Do you see any of the parallels here?  GOD directed (and continues to direct) the show for me.

He Convinces ME: a laughing, joking, screaming, playing, sinning and downright awnry believer to do exactly what He wants done at the time He wants it done.

He gathers all of the details of my life & flawlessly figures it out without me even having to know about it.

He provides people to volunteer their time and energy in order to love me, pray for me, encourage me, help me, serve alongside me.

He encourages me when I'm scared, nervous, unsure, discouraged or hurt.  

When I have an attitude--he tells me to keep going.

He sits back and waits until it is finally time to tell me, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I could not have done this directing thing on my own, mind you, but I believe that God could.  Well, to be truthful, He really DID.  Thank you all who were praying for me this week.  I'm blessed beyond blessed to have you all in my life!  GOD BLESS!

And Feliz Navidad!

Rachel

PRAYER REQUESTS & PRAISES

• PRAISE that the Christmas Program went well & that its over ;)
• Pray for FINALS WEEK this week, and that the kids and teachers finish well!
• Pray for all of the teachers and missionaries flying home for Christmas vacation, that they'll be safe and enjoy their time at home.
• Pray for myself and the other teachers and missionaries staying here in Bolivia during vacation.  That we will still find ways to celebrate without family and that we won't miss home too much.
• Pray for the 2013 SAM Mission Conference coming up the 2nd week of January.  That everything will run smoothly and that it will be an edifying and awesome experience for all of the missionaries.

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS & SUPPORT!