Home from Spain!

Home from Spain!

I haven’t written up an OFFICIAL update and testimony of my trip, but I’ll let you know that everything went perfectly smoothly from the airport and planes all alone, to not getting hurt or sick, to God answering me as soon as I would talk to Him, to being and receiving blessings galor!  God is soooo cool!  My favorite part was ministering to the youth though.  I got to do a “mini-sermon” on Purity one evening.  God really used that and it was the first time that I have felt Him LITERALLY connecting my thoughts WHILE I was speaking!  He gave me the words and spur of the moment thoughts.  WONDERFUL!  I was so excited and I think it was EXACTLY what the youth needed to hear.  Also I got to teach 2 dance classes per week to the girls.  Wonderful experience.  Not only the dancing, but the lessons I gave on worship and on anything that God told me to say.  OO  I love being used by God.

This trip was different from all the others I’ve been on.  I don’t think God sent me to teach me any one particular thing or to give me a revelation like on previous mission trips, He sent me to simply use me.  Wow!  So, it was wonderful.  I made some great friends from all over the world, the States, Mexico, Hungary, Bolivia, Belgium, New Zealand, etc.  and God made His mark all over my month long stay.  July 3 – August 5.  Praise God!

If you want to know EXACTLY where I went – look up Malaga, Spain….specifically….Arroyo de la Miel, Malaga, Spain.  Pretty beach town 2 hours east of Gibralter.   J

Invisible Monster / Worry

By Joy Sechler

 

I wave at the sky and twiddle my thumbs

While tying my stomach in knots.

I’m an artist of worry, my creative mind

Spins reality far off the charts.

 

I juggle frustration continually,

Desperately gasping for breath,

But the stories I weave become dramas;

Uncontrolled, they grow – width and breadth.

 

All I see are these bad circumstances,

As they become the monsters of fright.

If only my eyes could see through them

And find out the fear was a lie.

 

We wring out our heart beats for thoughts,

We mindlessly grasp out at air,

We breathe heavy for no rightful reason,

There’s no need to pull out our hair.

 

The creative mind God has given

Runs wild with worry at times.

What would happen if we learned to trust Him,

                                                       And worry ran screaming from mind?

 

I am leaving for Spain in 4 days.  Though my thoughts tell me to freak out and be worried, I lean on the Lord, Jesus Christ, for support.  He will work every detail out and I should not be worried because I am totally in His hands.  Try trusting Him.  Worry cannot abide in the person that has nothing to fear because the one who holds him/her is bigger than our circumstances.

Currently Where Fear and Faith Collide By Michael Olson On The Third Day see related

God really spoke to me through a certain experience I had at SOAR (Spartan Orientation and Registration) last week with UNCG.  Monday night we were told we would be performing a UNCG tradition.  They were VERY serious about it and I was worried at first when we were told not to talk and then processed in mass to the front of the Library.  However, the worry went away as soon as they gave me a candle and all quieted.  Everyone was solemn, but it only put me in a state of prayer and worship.  I realized that I automatically go into prayer mode in silence.  Silence means prayer to me, so God began to speak even as my group leader began to speak to our group of 14.  After giving us all a candle our leader, Barry, said, "What mark will you leave on UNCG?"  Wow.  We then passed a flame around to each other's candles.  For over 10 years now the candle has been a symbol to me of God’s light, His Holy Spirit living in me, the light I need to share - God was speaking.  Our leader then made us go around and tell our greatest fear, mine?- "That I won't be able to impact others".  God's answer and what my leader said next? – “Now blow out your candle, you can conquer your fear”.  God is so amazing!  I was in tears, good tears, and I now KNOW that it is God's will that I go to UNCG. 

Secondly, my flight schedule to and from Spain is below.    God is so good!  I'll be performing, teaching, and working over there a lot it sounds like.  I still don't know much more than my flights and that I will be helping with a VBS, but all is falling into place.  God’s traveling with me.  I appreciate everyone’s prayers and love you all. 

Joyous

Date                        Flight                              City                                                Time

Fri July 3              DELTA 6395                 Raleigh,NC to NYC-Kenedy           4-6 pm

Fri July 3-4              DELTA 162                   NYC to Malaga                            7:25 pm - 9:40 am

Wed August 5      DELTA 163                  Malaga to NYC                              12:40 pm - 3:25 pm

Wed August 5      DELTA 6681                NYC to Raleigh,NC                        7:20-9:37 pm

Currently God's Creative Power for Healing (God's Creative Power) By Charles Capps see related

Soooo!  I just got back from SOAR at UNCG.  Spartan Oriention.  So, I'm officially a freshman at UNCG majoring in Kinesiology(aka Excercise Sports Science) concentrating in Fitness Leadership.

And...the pic below includes my beloved siblings and Miss Joy who tagged along on our vacation to Gatlinburg, TN last week!  Fun fun fun!