Today's Experiences

Today, I was a nurse and a student.

I was a nurse when I cleaned and bandaged up a kid's toe that had been sliced open. I was out by the soccer feild in Santiago Zamora and I was talking to some kids. One of the kids looked like he was hurt and I asked what happened. He told me that he had sliced open his toe in the field. So I went to Forrest's truck to get the first aid kit and brought it to the soccer field. When I first opened the kit the first thing the kids saw was scissors so they told the boy "They are going to cut you open and give you injections!" in Spanish and Clay and I quickly said "No, no no! We are only going to clean and wrap up your toe." in Spanish. So I cleaned his toe with an alcohol pad and I could tell it stung by the look on his face. He was such a brave little boy! Then I wrapped it in gauze and medical tape. His mom came over half way through the process and just kept thanking me over and over. When I was done I asked him if it was ok if I prayed for him and I don't think he was a Christian but I prayed for him anyways. I then told him to wear shoes instead of running around barefoot and he told me he has no shoes. So I told him to wear socks, which fortunately he has. I enjoyed being a nurse, I finally got to use the first aid I learned in my 9th grade health class.

I was a student when I started my lessons on how to weave. Last week I was talking to the mom of the kids my mom tutors while she was weaving and I mentioned that I would like to learn. She got super excited and said she would get the stuff all ready so I could start learning this week. Unfortunately I was a little late for my lesson (due to my experience as a nurse) and she had to leave as soon as I arrived so her sister taught me instead. It was hard but I think I am getting the hang out it. I now know how much work they put into each little thing they make. Oh and did I mention that I learned how to weave in Spanish, a language I am not yet fluent in? I understood everything she was telling me to do and learned a lot of new vocab. Here are some pictures from my weaving class...

My teacher and I :)

Each one of those sticks has a different name! And if any of the ones on the top fall out then I have to start all over again.

Sorry, I have no pictures from my experience being a nurse.

Today was an eventful day, I am so glad God had planned for me to experience these things. I am grateful I got to pray for the kid after bandaging his foot. And I am glad I got to learn something new in a language I am not fluent in.

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." -1 Corinthians 10:31b

What experiences did God have planned for you today? Did you use them to give glory to God?

-Katey :)

Worship

Have you ever worshiped in an African dialect? Neither had I until this weekend, and it was pretty awesome! I also worshipped in Spanish and English. I love worshipping in different languages!! If you haven't done it before you should try it sometime!

So, this weekend a team from Miami, Florida was visiting our church and they lead the youth service on Friday night and the main service on Sunday morning. On Friday some of them shared their testimonies and their amazing musical talents that God has given them. They used their words, their voice, and their musical abilities to worship the Lord! It was amazing to see everyone in the room worshiping with all their hearts for the Lord!

One song that we sang both Friday and Sunday was Lord You Are Good in both Spanish and English. The Spanish version has been stuck in my head every since Friday night and I don't mind it at all, I love it!! The first line is Señor eres fiel y tu misericordia eterna! This line in the English version of the song is Lord you are good and your mercy enureth forever but I like the Spanish version better because it says Senor eres fiel which means Lord you are faithful. And that is so true! He is amazingly faithful. He is always there for me no matter what. It doesn't matter what is going on in my life or even if I have been spending time with him recently...HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL! AND ALWAYS THERE FOR ME! And I love that! And since I serve such an amazing God I should be worshiping him with all I have! It shouldn't matter who is watching or what they think, I need to put all myself into my worship for the one and only all powerful God! And I need to worship and serve him in everything I do, even the little things :)

So are you worshiping God with all you have all the time? If not, why not? Why aren't you worshiping the God who made you, gave you your amazing talents, cares for and loves you like no other, and is always faithful with all your heart and in everything you do no matter how big or small?

I will extol the Lord at all time; his praise will always be on my lips. -Psalm 34:1-

-Katey :)

Shiloh Team Video

Here is a video from the Shiloh team made by Kat. It's great and the song was kind of like the teams Spanish theme song. They loved singng the chorus...Si Senor, Si Si Senor! Hope you enjoy it :)

Have a great weekend!
-Katey :)

:)

Today's culture tells us that we need the new this or the new that to be happy. But I can tell you and show you that that is not true.

Meet Cesar. At the time that this picture was taken he was sleeping in a bath tub every night. He didn't have a bed yet he was so happy. He always has the biggest smile on his face, I have never seen him without it. He doesn't need a bed to be happy.

These kids play soccer on ash and dirt fields almost every day. They love soccer and they always have smiles on their faces while playing. They don't need a regulation size turf field to be happy playing a game they love.

Meet Elsa. She is the most adorable, love-able, and happy little girl! She usually wears the same clothes every day but she is still happy. She doesn't need designer clothes or even new clothes to be happy.

These are one of her few pairs of shoes. She doesn't need designer shoes or shoes to match every outfit to be happy.

Meet her family, the Lopez family. They just got a new stove that wont flood their kitchen with smoke every time they cook and that uses less wood. They are so happy to have received it. They were even happy before they received it. They don't need a new Kenmore stove to be happy.

This kid is making a kite out of plastic bags. He was so excited to show it to me. He doesn't need a crazy expensive elaborate kite to be happy.

Meet Pastor Efrium and his daughter Renita. They don't have much but they give a lot. Their house is always open and every time we visit them or they visit us they have gifts for us. They are so happy and generous.

Now meet me, Katey. I am learning how to be happy without all the things the world tells me that I need to be happy. And there are so many people around me that show me that I don't need things to be happy.

You know what all these people have in common...they love the Lord. He gives them happiness in all their situations and no matter how much or how little they own. And through the Lord these people have learned to not care about their things on earth.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. -Matthew 6:19-20

We need to learn to stop listening to the world and start listening to God. We don't need the newest, coolest things to be happy; all we need is God! So where is your happiness? Is it in the things you have on earth or is it in God?

-Katey :)

Shiloh Team

Last week we had a team visiting from Shiloh Baptist Church in Alabama. It was a great week. Here are some pictures from the week...

We did electrical work and painted a room in a ladies house that a lot of people in the community use.

We built a bathroom.

The middle picture is of Juana with her new bathroom. She was so happy.

And the last picture is the men with the family and their new bathroom.

We helped with a dental clinic.

We did VBS where they taught the kids about God's love, strength and more.

We painted, cleaned, and added new bunk beds to a house.

And they did more.

But even when we werent working they were playing with the kids and talking to them about Jesus. The kids loved everyone :)

We played soccer with the kids with both a real ball and a coconut.

Josh taught the kids to say "Get 'er done." hahaha

The kids loved to play with Scott's hair.

D told a little girl about Jesus and his love for her.

The kids were so sad to see the team leave and so were we. I hope they come back for another trip!

It was a GREAT week! God's love was shining through this whole team all week.

Was God's love shining through you this week?

-Katey :)

Some of these pictures were taken by Amanda House. She is an amazing photographer who took so many beautiful pictures from this week. And the kids loved to look at the pictures she took. (See picture above). Thank you Amanda for the pics.

Doulos (Intermissions 2011)

Last weekend I got to go to the beautiful Lake Atilan for a missionary conference. During the weekend the youth studied Romans 1. I learned the word δοῦλος or doulos. Its Greek and it means bond servant. I want to be a doulos for Christ just like Paul. I want to be completely sold out for the Lord and live every moment of my life for him!

And other than listening to the awesome talks we did some other fun stuff...We got to stay at a gorgeous hotel! Play fun games like the one above where Clay had to be Krister's arms and feed him. And a version of Dogeball with only one ball which provided GREAT pictures!
We also got to meet and hang out with awesome people!

It was an amazing weekend and I am already excited for next year. And I am excited to live my life as a doulos for Christ just like Paul!

Paul, a doulos of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— Romans 1:1

Are you living your life as a doulos for Christ?
-Katey :)

El Faro

First off, sorry for not having blogged in about a month. I have been busy but now I am back!

Last week I had the opportunity to go to the Caribbean coast of Guatemala on a trip. We helped with dental clinics, painting a school, playing with kids, ect. It was a great trip! Here are some pictures from the trip...

The camp we stayed at was called El Faro. It was gorgeous!

We would take trucks out in the morning from El Faro to villages close by. While in the villages we did a lot including...

Painting a school with a team staying at El Faro.

Making braclets and painting nails.

Making balloon animals.

And helping with dental clinics.

The first picture is my mom cleaning dental tools and the second is Jacob (a kid from the team staying at El Faro) helping Dennis while he did dental work. My mom was a dental assistant almost the whole second day and I was a dentist assistant for a patient while the other assistant took a break. I cant wait to help with more dental clinics!

Then in the afternoons once we had returned to El Faro we had free time to swim in the ocean, play soccer, catch starfish, ect...

This is one of the many starfish we caught :) It was so cool, I had never seen a real live starfish before.

It was such an amazing trip and I cant wait to go back to El Faro! And I totally saw God all week whether it was in the beauty of the ocean, the smiles of the kids when we gave them a balloon animal or bracelet, the appreciativeness of the people getting their teeth worked on even if it hurt, or the joy of all the volunteers! I love seeing God EVERYWHERE!

Where have you seen God this week??

-Katey :)