I've just gotten back from the Whirlwind Mission Trip. I'm not even sure where to start! (: God truly does work in such wonderfully amazing ways. For those of you who don't exactly know what the Whirlwind Missions are about- it's going out to the Azaelea Apartment Complexes and creating relationships with the kids there- basically playing with them morning noon and night! Those kids out there are some of the most wonderfully-made kids God ever created . So it really is worth it- They are so beautiful. So joyful. So loving.

This week I've learned so much about loving from these kids. Love is truly a broad term isn't it? It means so many different things to so many different people. How can anyone really define it? There's that love we see on TV and dramas. Those incredibly cutee kinds of love that couples sometimes seem to have. You see it in their eyes, in their voice, in their expression, that love- it's just so full of surprise. Then there's that love parents have for their children or brothers have for their sisters and vice versa. Family love, it's a really great bond, sometimes harsh, but the tough-love kind. I guess it's kinda like the love God has for us. . . but. . . not exactly quite. Don't get me wrong now, all these forms of love are so incredibly beautiful in their own way. I think that's why love is such a universal thing, you know? But my point being is that... as I started reflecting during the mission trip, I realized, God's love is really the ultimate kind. The type of love that we should all strive to work at- love that's never-ending, never-failing, always over-flowing with compassion and forgivness and all that really good stuff (like it talks about in 1 Corinthians).

What really stood out to me this time round (since it was my second time at the apartments) were the -hmm how to put it- the souls(?) and hearts(?) of the children. If you ever get to talk to them I think you'd know exactly what I mean but since we all can't go there at once... I'll just tell you a little bit. And I don't think it's just these kids that would be able to show you what I mean, I think it's many kids in general but we just never really take the time to find out. Hmm... maybe you'll get the essence of what I'm talking about from these two conversations with the kids.

Saul is a five-year old boy. Precious-
S: Oh look there's a bird! I like birds.
C: Why do you like birds, Saul?
S: Because they can sing.
C: Why do they sing?
S: Because they're singing to God.

Fabiola is maybe 6 or 7. She's a sweetheart too. They all really are.
C: If you could have any one wish in the WHOLE-WIDE-WORLD... what would it be?
F: Mmmm... I would wish for shoes.
C: Shoes?
F: ::Nods at me::
C: What color?
F: Black.
C: Black? ::Bit surprised::
F: Like the ones I have right now. ::Smiles::

Now the first conversation just made me think- How is it that such a young boy can see and appreciate the beauty of what God created around him, while I can't. It just made me realize how blind we can be as "older people." Age does not neccasarily make us wiser- because at that moment I think Saul understood way more about true beauty than I did. The second convesration, well, to put it bluntly, just made me realize how selfish we can be. Complain complain complain. Greedy greedy greedy. Even if she could have any wish, she'd wish for something she already had. That's being grateful for what God's already given you. That's pretty... wow.

I know this a bit of an abrupt ending but. . . that concludes PART 1. I don't know how I'll ever write about this trip. The kids, the team, were just truly really great and sweet. I feel so extremely blessed to know all these people it of half the barely was this because 2 PART for wait to have you?ll guess I well and strong (:<>

Legacy

"When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I triedto change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world." Author Unknown

I can't believe I knew so little about the people I've lived my whole life with. I guess I didn't even care to think twice that maybe it was me with the huge ego problem. Maybe it really was me who was being too critcial, too selfish, and too hypocritical, when it came to expectations. My parents. . . are really great people you guys. Sometimes I can't stand them and I say a lot of crap. But honestly, they've done so much for me and I respect their trust in God. . . a lot. You know how they always say your parents only push you because they love you? Well I guess. . . what they say is really right. My mom says that she prays that one day I'll be able to use all that I've learned to help other people. And you know what? I really hope for that too. If there's a way to become a "someone" in this big world. . . well, I guess it's to figure out how you really define a "someone" and then start. When I think about a great "someone" I think of someone who really loves and dedicates his or her life to serving God and other people. And I think if there's any way to start off this mission trip next week it's to start by working on me. These are two great song lyrics Legacy - by Nicole Nordeman and I am Nothing - by Ginny Owens.

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough to make a mark on
things?
I want to leave an offering
A child
of mercy and grace who blessed Your name
unapologetically
And leave that
kind of legacy

I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the
mountains
Just to share your story, bring you glory, and win souls for you.
I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of
drama and emotion, so the world would know your truth.
I could give away my
money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, lost,
and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor
with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.