Wednesday, June 26, 2013

building altars


Man oh man this place is fantastic and I'm so behind on blogging. So much has happened in the past couple weeks I don't even know where to begin. I suppose I'll start with the job hunt. 

After weeks of applications and interviews and nothing working out, the last day to get a job rolled around and I still didn't have one. The next day I went to orientation for volunteering at a nearby thrift shop and then the day after that this crazy thing happened... I GOT HIRED! Yes, thats right, I'm now an employee at the local amusement park selling ice cream along with several other of my friends here on project. The Lord works in mysterious ways. It's such a great reminder of how he always comes through and always provides. Not always when or the way we want him to, but he always does. Gosh, He is so good. I've only got one shift under my belt so far but I'm so excited about working there and getting to know my coworkers and interacting with customers. 

After a long but good first day at work on Friday, I arrived back to Mission beach and got to hang out with some great friends from my home of South Dakota. It was so good to see these boys and visit with them, hang on the beach, and show them a little of the project life! They came to our Friday Nigh Live service and hung out for a bit afterwards. Although their visit was short, it sure was sweet. Thanks for coming, boys. 

South Dakota boys! Hangin' out after FNL.
Last Thursday all the guys on project left for a men's retreat and then Saturday us ladies took off for the mountains for a women's retreat as well. It was so refreshing to get away for a day and spend quality time getting to know these women a little better. We did obstacle courses, ate food, had quiet times, went for a hike, and studied God's word together. 

Condo 2, dominating those obstacles. 
At our Sunday morning devotional time, one of the staff led us in a study on Abram in Genesis 12 and 13. In these chapters Abram meets with God and builds an altar for Him in the land that he had been promised. He then traveled to Egypt with his wife Sarai but deceived the Pharaoh by telling him that she was his sister. Abram had done wrong and was sent out of the land. He needed to meet with the Lord again. He went back to the same land where he'd previously met him, where he'd built an altar for him. There are many times in life when we turn from God and begin to feel spiritually dry. It's in these times that we need to look back and ask ourselves when we've experienced growth and seen God come through in a big way. Those are the places we can "build altars" for the Lord, where we can look back and "spiritually revisit" to remind us of his faithfulness and of how he's worked in our lives. 

Well with that, Sunday I learned about building altars and yesterday I decided to build one (figuratively). I made a public declaration of my faith by getting baptized. I was baptized as a baby and was saved by Christ at a young age and went through confirmation in high school, but I wanted to signify again that this faith I have is my own and that God is working in my life and continuing to grow my relationship with Him. I have been saved by grace through faith by the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. God is using this summer project to mold my heart for his Kingdom and I know that this is a time in my life that I'll be able to look back on and see his presence! 

Had the privilege of being baptized by this
beautiful woman of God.
Thats just a small taste of what God's doing in my life here on project and I hope to post again soon!

Remember that God always provides, he always protects, he always restores, and he always fulfills his promises.

And for your enjoyment, check out this wild remix of song and dance brought to you by our boys here on project. They missed us while we were gone. http://vimeo.com/69063420

-Rachel

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