See the resemblance?

No lie. Today, I met Blanca, and she said: "MizDee, you remind me of Mariah Carey." After the shock and laughter, I realized she was serious, and she likes Mariah Carey, so I said, "Thanks, I think."

Back-to-School

At church this morning, our pastor spoke that the good deeds of Christians should pave the way for the gospel. Sometimes I forget that my desire to see justice cover the world is really God's desire to spread his grace over people. (Okay, it is more than just forgetting. I still have serious issues with understanding/accepting that my God, who is love and goodness..., can allow some of the evil and hardship in this world. I get it, when you're talking about Christians suffering, but when you're talking about children who don't know Christ -- what's the point?! ) All that to say, I'm not faking great understanding here, but rather commenting on the great responsibility that has been placed on my shoulders.

Tomorrow's the first day back to school (with students). Although I don't know the specific needs and hurts of my kids yet, I already feel a great burden to make sure these kids see love this year. I found myself praying this morning that God would make it obvious which kids I need to focus on this year. That by week 2, I'd be finding ways to meet their needs. I will continue to pray that anything these kids see in me this year they would attribute to the provision of God. Although I want my kids to succeed in math and reading, I really desire to see them find relationship with Christ. Don't really know what that looks like in public school, but I know my God is capable of much more impossible situations.

Goodbye Summer

Well, summer's over. Ok, not the season based on astronomy, but the season of no work/no school. I go back to work tomorrow. Actually I'm looking forward to the change of pace. I am designed to work with smelly, skwirmmy, snotty sixth graders, so it fits that I would look forward to being with them again. I am, however, sad to say goodbye to many of my summer favorites. So long:

- weekday afternoons at the pool
- snowcones in the hobby lobby parking lot
- waking up at 8:30, then taking a nap from 10 to noon
- reading
- late night drives to the lake
- spontaneous travel (i.e., Eureka Springs for the 4th - see picture)
- forgetting the current date
- craft projects
- Gilmore Girls
- and just good clean fun!

Minor Resolutions

So I went to Mexico. I've been back for a week, and yet I still feel incapable of writing it justice. That is, it was a short trip, but packed full with experiences. Beyond the clinics, children's programs and haircuts, God worked in some sweet ways.

A couple of years ago, I spent a solid chunk of my summer in a big Asian country with a campus ministry. While there, we worked primarily with college students and studied the language (as stated on our visas). Regardless of how much I desired to see this nation come to know Christ, I was constantly frustrated and exhausted by the culture. On so many levels, the culture there wore on my every single nerve. So I left with a burden for spreading the fame of my Savior, and yet I also left feeling discouraged about the possibilities of returning.

This trip to Mexico, although much shorter and sheltered, gave me hope for a possible stint overseas. I have no idea what that will look like, but I left Mexico feeling like I could and would adjust to life in a Hispanic culture more quickly than in an Asian one. Maybe I am just familiar with the culture, but I loved this week.



In Other Completely-Unrelated News: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer came out Friday at midnight. Although I did not go to any of the wait parties, I have already purchased the book and am making my way through the last volume of my favorite werewolves and vampires.