many blessings.

Well, yesterday and today were both good days. 

Yesterday was another national holiday - Heroes Day - so we had the day off. There was a prayer meeting with all the World Venture women. They're going through this book published by the Navigators called, "Enjoying the Presence of God" (i think). Yesterday the chapter they were discussing was called praying without words. And basically what that means is praying while doing activities. But not actually praying with words, just praying (or praising maybe is a better word to describe it). Like one woman explained it as her praying while she's sitting on her porch watching the birds... and although she isn't using words to talk to God, she is enjoying his creation and worshipping him in that way. And another women talked about how she praised God through her aerobic exercise. I hadn't really thought of that before. I think too often I get caught up in compartmentalizing things in my life, I mean to me, doing yoga is just doing yoga. Not necessarily an act of worship, and I forget that I can worship God in anything I do. Seems elementary, but as I was sitting in the meeting I wasn't sure how I practically lived that out - where my body is just a continual sacrifice of praise. It's a re-training of my mind to think in that way. Anyways, not sure if that makes sense, but it was encouraging to me nonetheless. 

Then we went out to lunch at a Krua Thai... authentic Thai cuisine. Delicious. Still loving Panang though, and sometimes dreaming about it at night :)

I spoke last night at church, and that was probably the most encouraging time yet. I was actually getting verbal feedback during my talk. Such an answer to prayer. And when I ended, before I was even able to pray, the people just clapped. God really blessed me with that.

Then today we did outreach at the hostels again. Today we went to a boys hostel. That was an intimidating situation for me. I went with two guys from the church, and they really held me together. I was finding it hard to initiate conversations. Then Joseph (one of the staff members at UCF) told me that I was in charge of leading the discussion, and that they weren't going to talk. I mean, I don't think thats the best system, but it definitely had to draw me out. Of course the next room was full of guys, about 6, and here I am this white girl from America trying to talk to them about their eternal destiny. So the conversation started with Barak Obama (which it almost always does), and then we just kind of moved into spiritual conversation (and to be honest, Joseph helped a lot in leading it in that direction). Turns out one of the guys in the room was a Muslim, so we spent the next 2 and a half hours talking to him about his faith and our faith. It was intense. And it ignited a passion from deep within my soul. It was hard because the arguments were kind of circular, and when we left we were in no way on common ground. Despite that it was still a rich time. And it was still so encouraging because we were just able to dive into the Word and talk about spiritual truth. I walked out of that room loving Jesus more than I did when I walked in the room. 

Maybe my "evangelism style" is more of a relational type, and I prefer to show Jesus by the way I live my life. BUT, I have to think, is that just an excuse because bringing up spiritual conversations can be awkward and uncomfortable? And hard because its on the spot, and unknown as to where the conversation is going to lead? I'm not saying that either method is better or worse. But at the end of the day, the truth of Jesus Christ needs to be preached in love by whatever means necessary, and I need to actively live out that calling in my life. It's good for me to visit these hostels. I'm so far out of my comfort zone.

Tomorrow I am going to a little Ugandan Christian School to teach the Literature lesson to the 8th graders. I got connected with this school through Renee, because her kids go there, and I am going to be helping out a little this week and next week. I think Sarah is going to come with me. I'm excited about that.

The next few days, and this weekend, are going to be busy. So I should get some rest :)

Peace and Love.