Friday, July 11, 2008

The Beginning

So I haven't quite finished with the layout but I should have time to work on that tomorrow at the airport during our layover. I can't believe I am finally returning to Honduras tomorrow! It has been three years since my last visit. The last time I went was 2005, the summer before my senior year. It seems like ages ago. It's crazy to me that last time I was in Honduras I didnt know, or didnt know well a lot of those who have become, and are becoming (Joy Beth:) ) my family here in Tuscaloosa. I obviously already knew Bethany, Alex and Meghan, but it's hard to think of a time when I didnt know Megan and Daryl. It's kind of depressing to think about life without them. Since I have been to Honduras some very significant things have happened in my life...
I graduated...
Moved to the holy land...I became part of Big Delores' gang,
Bethany and Alex got married...
I met Megan and Daryl...
and they got married....
I got mugged at gunpoint...
(alive and well at the new apt)
The 4 Pack has been established and will be reunited about a week or two after my return to the states...
I started working at my church's daycare with my one year olds and have discovered that I LOVE kids....never would have guessed that one....
and that is good since I am finally going to be an aunt at the beginning of January!!
Also since I have last been to Honduras or on a plane (I went to Seattle over Spring Break my senior year) I have been sucked into the world of LOST so this will be the first plane ride since watching. But now I know if we crash on a mysterious island, befriend the doctor and stick close to him. It shouldnt be very tricky. If the Oceanic 6 can survive a mysterious island with monsters and bad guys that are actually, "The good guys John," I can.

Anyways in preparation for this trip I have been re-reading bits of Piper's Let The Nations Be Glad instead of packing which I still have to do before I go to work this afternoon.
A couple of quick thoughts on missions from Let The Nations Be Glad:

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate not man. When this age is over, and countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It's the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God's glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the people in the greatness of God. (Psalm 67:3-4 and Psalm 97:1) But worship is also the fuel of missions. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching. You cant commend what you don't cherish....Missions begins and ends in worship."

"All history is moving toward one great goal, the white-hot worship of God and his Son among all the peoples of the earth. Missions is not that goal, it is the means. And for that reason it is the second greatest human activity in the world."


I really must go now...but I will post again before I leave for Honduras and hope to post while I'm there.

Solus Christus!