Lesson Learned or Should I say Learning...

We have started the small group study workbook Living Crazy Love by Francis Chan on Sunday nights with our small groups.  Yesterday we talked about distractions and things that keep us from honoring God. I wanted to share an excerpt from the workbook that really settled in my mind and dug at my heart....

"But if you find yourself so focused on these things (good distractions ie: family, friends, church activities, work, etc.) that you aren't enjoying God's presence in the midst of it, consciously trying to honor God through the way you do these activities and pursuing the things that you know God wants you to pursue, then these things have become distractions." 

This really hit home for me. Being on the mission field there are always a lot of hats to wear. EK and I both teach at the college, I work at the preschool, EK helps with student issues, we are both campus coordinators, we have fellowship with the students, help lead student council....
All of these roles are important and we know God had chosen to place us in these roles for a reason. I find it very easy to go through my day to day routine and NOT "enjoying God's presence in the midst of it." Frankly, I forget to even invite him/acknowledge him in these activities. 

Today I made it a point to enjoy God's presence while I was at preschool, and boy did I see a difference.  I had more patience with the kids (though there is still always room for improvement :) ), I tried to see them as God sees them, as his dearly loved children which helped me to dearly love them. 


I invite you to evaluate the distractions in you life and to identify if there are areas
 you are not enjoying God's presence.  I am going to continue this challenge throughout the week to see how I do and what difference it can make while I work and interact with others.  

Now go and enjoy God... and from the words of Paul "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Phil 4:4

Sixteen Singing Students...

This was during a night of fellowship. I asked one of our students, Bro Jusme, to sing a song he wrote for our visiting group from Forum Christian Church. I love it when our students sing they are so talented and always have a lot of fun!  The title of the song is "I Love Jesus!"

Our Sweet Home Church

We had a great visit last week from Forum Christian Church, from Columbia,MO. I (Maddie) grew up at Forum.  EK and I attended there together for 4 years, before we came to St. Vincent. It was refreshing to see new faces on campus and comforting that those faces were familiar to us! Even better my grandma came on the trip! It was so nice to spend time with her. I was use to seeing her often before we moved to SVG so having her here in the flesh to give a big hug was awesome.

The group did a lot while they were here, the men worked hard at the preschool, preparing a new space for next year, others in the group helped paint around campus and helped in the office. My grandma brought me 60 rolls of tulle so we could make tutus for my dance girls.
I am so thankful to all the people that donated money to my dance class so they can have real tutus and leotards when they do their spring recital.
We also got to have a fun day with the group and took the ferry over the Bequia-a great afternoon in the sun! Forum took us all out to our favorite restaurant, Driftwood, it was such a treat to spend the evening with everyone and to fellowship over yummy food and a gorgeous view of God's creation, we even had the sounds of chickens in the background, since there were several below us from where we were seated :).


Our evening at Driftwood filled with good conversation!

 Thanks mom for buying washable paint for the kiddos-they had a fun time trying it out for the first time and only one 1 kid got it all over him, good thing it will come out :)

Story time with Miss Gwynette AKA Grandma, as you can see she had a pretty captivated audience

I took one finished tutu to dance class to begin "bribing" the girls to make sure they show up every week to dance class so they can get one if they learn and preform the recital dances-they were ecstatic and couldn't stop twirling 

Where we spent every afternoon last week-tying tutus in a sea of pink and purple, thanks Emery and Julie Crockett for your help and you too grandma! We even got a couple of the students to help, they were much faster than us...

On the ferry arriving at Bequia

Thanks again Forum Christian Church for being such a supportive and loving Church Family! It was so encouraging having you all here and to see your service and sacrifice while working with WISE and our students-WHAT A BLESSING!