Wow - Big God - Little Me

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!  Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

These verses got my attention tonight.  This prayer is powerful.

This week I have witnessed some of God's nature, beauty, artwork, and I can't quite put into words just how amazing all of it was. Of all the beautiful views I saw, by far, the most amazing view was one I couldn't quite capture with my camera - the stars.  There are so many constellations and stars that I had never seen before with my naked eye.  It was astounding.

That night as I laid in bed, I tried to remember the last time I had seen so many stars - it has been a couple of years.  The stars are always there shining bright, but it is something we don't always see - the view gets clouded by all the modern day technologies and the street lights and busy lives we lead.  Looking at those stars, all I could do was ponder just how BIG God is, and how Infinite his works are.  He has so much love to give.  How Deep, How Wide, How Long, How High is His love, and we still can't comprehend it.  The ability to see, taste, and hear his creation these past few days have been such a great blessing.  It leaves me speechless.

tons of llamas

salt flat crazy photos

jungle clouds in the mountains

laguna and my dirty sun stained feet

Geyser

running around and having fun

hot spring at a laguna

With friends somewhere in the jungle

A laguna

licking the salt

Sunrise at Salar De Uyuni

swimming against the current

tourists coming down to see the laguna

volcano, half is chile - half is Bolivia

Miriam with chicken head

tons of flamingos

In case you are wondering:  These photos were all from the past week.  The jungle photos are from a trip we took with some friends from church to Incachaca this past Sunday.  The rest of the photos are from a trip we took to Salar de Uyuni this past week using our personal savings.  I just got back this morning and am exhausted.  Goodnight :)

Soccer Tournament

Today was the soccer tournament.  It got me thinking about distractions.  At the end the director thanked me for coming to distract the kids during the day with soccer.  That is the second time that someone has been thankful for distractions.  The first time was in the prison when a mom thanked us for coming to distract them with workshops.  What are we distracting them from?  From the thoughts that hurt, from the worries that pass through their mind, from the moments of silence that make their reality seem endless.  The thoughts that tell them that this will never pass.  One thing that I love about working with the woman and children in the prison system, is their ability to stay positive, and to smile and laugh and have fun through it all.  Yes, there are times when tears are shed, and they are necessary, it's not always smiles and laughter.  However, I have noted, that those with strong faith, are the ones who remain shining bright through all their pain.

So today watching the kids playing soccer, and wandering around the field, I too was thankful for distractions.  A random stranger passing by wouldn't know that the kids playing soccer come from broken homes and difficult situations.  They wouldn't know that some of these kids are neglected or abused.  I find it hard to believe myself.

To end this blog abruptly, and not at all in a fluid manner... I'm distracting myself right now from graduate school applications. At least - por lo menos - it's in a productive way!!  Let us all be thankful for that! :)  For the record, I just turned down an invitation to watch a friend play in a mariachi band..see...trying to be productive.

Champions!

lunchtime

The girl in red...pray for her.

ok....depressing. we lost the first game 8-3

cheering them on...fosh! (except that the kid may me say something for this photo, i don't remember what it was)

SHOOT OUT

one of the many photographers - took a self portrait

practicing alongside the field

kids took tons of photos - many appeared like this

sometimes when teams lose, they have to throw their shoes up in the ceiling. sad day

Stray dog...always hanging around

Photo Updates: dia de los muertos

Today I took a 3 hour nap - for whatever reason I am exhausted!  After this post I'll be hopping on a trufi, in the rain, and heading to plaza principal for the Tuesday night homeless ministry.  Here is a quick update complete with photos (out of order because I don't have time to mess with that).  :)

Also, you may see photos of Dia de Los Muertos.  This is a day that the catholics believe that the sky is opened and the deceased come down for a celebration.  So the family members set out food and candy for the deceased to feast on.  We went this past Saturday with a good friend to see his family celebrate it.

Walk with me - Lecrae  IT IS POURING.  I wish I could video this for you all, it's awessommme.  I get to go walk around the city in this.  o yays.

this past sunday I went to a soccer game.   Learned a lot of new cuss words in Spanish

I LOVE cotton candy.  So glad they sell it in this country too, and for much cheaper!

crazy weird house huh?  And random

Dia de los Muertos - my friend's mom decorating her father's grave

On Dia de los Muertos they set out food for the deceased to eat

Franx, VERY STRONG kid

93 years old and very lively

They gave me grape juice that tasted like wine to try: I took out the dead bugs when I drank it - had to finish it all, cultural

Grandma and mother decorating grave

It is currently raining - we are entering the rainy season.  Beautiful storms though

Maria

They gave us this plate to eat at the gravesite, had to finish it all - cultural

I went to a wedding and my friend made me go introduce myself to the bride and groom alone

but it was all good because than they put stuff in my hair and wanted a picture and gave me pop!

First motorcycle ride - super fun

police at soccer game, there were tons - in case a fight started

selling stuff everywhere

ladies at my church singing

My sisters: Tee and Gabby

that guy is waiting for a trufi

The wedding reception

Miriam, a good friend, and I, at the graveyard

New Projects

I don't quite remember if I shared much about the new projects I'm working on.  Some of my days are spent with the woman in the prison and others are spent with the kids.  Across from the prison is a place called Casa De Amistad.  This week we finally were able to begin soccer practices.  I had originally asked for a good authoritative figure to accompany me at the soccer field, in case the kids don't listen or give me trouble.  I warned them that my ability to discipline in a different language was scant.

However, upon arrival the first day, they sent me off to the field with 10 kids.  10 kids alone - to a field I do not know.  Some went running ahead, others passed the soccer ball IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET with cars honking at them.  On the way there, all I could do was pray, "Lord, give me the strength I need to instruct these kids with authority."  Once we all got to the field (about a 15 minute walk) I lined all the kids up and introduced myself as a foreigner.  We did laps around the field, stretched, and began practice.  Working with kids at Orozco Academy has paid off and the kids had no idea how inexperienced I was in this area of COACH.  We are training this next week for a tournament that will be held this upcoming Saturday.  I will be the coach of a girls and boys soccer team.  The kids love playing soccer and are eager to do drills and practice as a team.  Oh yes, to avoid the problem of kids running ahead and kicking soccer balls down the street, I made all of us jog back to the Casa De Amistad as a group - like in the army. :)

Another project I've recently begun is with Manos De Libertad (Free Hands).  This organization helps woman after they exit the prison system.  It involves training in life skills, job preparation  and also gives them the opportunity to be employed in their local restaurant.  They are currently in the process of revamping the program, so in my free time I am creating classes to be held with the woman once a week.  It is a beautiful project - and I am so excited for the opportunity to learn more about the organization as we work together to equip these woman with the skills they need to move forward in life.

My evenings are spent at the computer working on graduate school applications.  It has been difficult to write academically once again, after so many years.  Hopefully I am able to communicate effectively to the admissions office why I am pursuing a graduate degree.  I arrive home tired at night, and have a hard time settling into a hardcore thinking mode.

Tomorrow morning is Dia De Los Muertos so expect some interesting photos in the next entry.  Until next time...adios! :P

All I can say right now

"This is all that I can say right now - know it's not much
This is all that I can give
That's my everything"
David Crowder Band - All I Can Say

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

Tonight I am holding onto faith.  I am grateful for a God who loves us.

Spiderman

  No one there with him - just being a kid - saving the world one punch at a time.

This song is on repeat as I write sentences, delete, and rewrite.  All I Can Say - DCB

Energy drink, Yes Please

My heart is racing.

I gave in today, and I bought an energy drink.  You see - for the remaining hours of the day, I have to be productive.

Today we had the bible study at the prison, and I was so tired that I was yawning as a very nice woman was telling me more of her story.  HOW RUDE.  I apologized a lot and on the way home bought an energy drink.  :)

So now my heart is racing and I am ready to begin graduate school applications.

Lets see if this energy drink gets the creative juice flowing!!!!

Don't know where I'll be next year, but I do know Where I Belong - Switchfoot

Dia de Los Muertos is this upcoming Friday - it is when they bring food to the dead.  Should be interesting to see....and eat.  Just kidding!

Alison Garza