Spring Cleaning

Me with some of my 10th graders

Me with some of my 9th graders

Sorry I haven't written in a while. Here are a few things that have been happening this spring. 

1. High School youth retreat at El Camino Academy - I spent a weekend away with the high school students. It was great to spend more relational time with my kids and see God working in their lives.

Deborah and I at her wedding

2. Trip to Texas for my cousin's wedding - I went back to the States (for the first time since I've been in Bogotá) for Deborah and Zach's wedding. It was a short visit but such a blessing to see many of my friends and family as I stood by my cousin's side, celebrating, as she said "yes" to God's new season in her life. 

3. Rachel Jaster's visit to Bogotá - I brought back my best friend, Rachel, to Bogotá after the wedding. She gave up her Spring Break to visit my world and it was such an honor to introduce her to my students, friends, and be encouraged by her friendship and prayers.

Aladdin

Aladdin 

4. Aladdin play - I had the privilege of directing the famous "Spring play" at ECA this year. It was a huge undertaking, especially as a first-year teacher as I was also continuing to teach my Language Arts classes. But by the end of this 3-month process I was so proud of my students and the results they produced. These kids are so funny and creative and we're all so excited for next year's play!

Mission Team to Cumeral

5. Semana Santa Mission Trips - This week, during our Spring Break or Holy Week to prepare for Easter, ECA sent out 5 mission teams to different places around Colombia. These are all incredibly tough trips that are hot, dangerous, uncomfortable and sacrificial. I was planning on going on one of these trips, but after Aladdin, I was exhausted and in desperate need of recovery time before school starts again and we run towards the finish line of summer. So I decided not to go this year; it was a difficult decision but I was blessed with the gift of letting students and other teachers borrow things for their trips and I get to spend the week praying for all the teams, instead of being a part of just one trip. The rest of the school year seems like it will be a whirlwind. We have less than 2 more months of school then I will go to Vancouver and California to spend 2 weeks with my family and attend my cousin Kelly's wedding. Then I'll be spending the rest of the summer in Texas. 

Please pray for me in this season. God has been revealing to me that I have been uncomfortable with Jesus' death on the cross and the ways he shows me his unconditional love. Even after years of prayer, I am still the older brother in the story of the prodigal son. I am still trying to earn my keep and my place at his table. I am still uncomfortable with that fact that it's all free. I am still, at times, an orphaned. Please pray for me as I process this with Jesus. I want to be free from this bondage and enjoy his great love so that I can also receive his love from others.

Please also pray for my relationships with people here in Bogotá as it has been difficult. As missionaries we are often expected to have life "all together" but through living in community with other missionaries, we are realizing that this expectation creates very selfish, needy people. Please pray for my co-teachers and I, that we would love well and put each other's interests in front of our own. 

"Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours." - Luke 15:31

"Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but also take an interest in others." - Philippians 2:2-4