I hope you are enjoying this beautiful September Friday! The trees are getting anxious for fall as the lightness of green turns to reds and yellows. Stepping outside brings an instant lift of joy.
This month, we've been focusing on the Book of Philippians, sometimes described as "a Letter of Joy."
Come to worship this Sunday, and hear about something Paul calls "humility" in Philippians 2:1-11. Paul also calls it "the mind of Christ."
Two grade-school aged brothers brought their Imagine No Malaria (INM) can to me last Sunday, Rally Day. It was filled to the top with coins they had collected over the summer, and they were eager to turn their money in so it could begin to do the life-saving work for which it was intended.
There are many other children, teens, and adults in our congregation who share that eagerness of pooling our saved incidental money for INM. This Sunday, September 14, we'll do just that!
The art of portraying perspective is a difficult one, especially for me. But I’ll give it a go. First and foremost, I will attempt to portray my sincere thanks for you—the DGFUMC congregation—and your support. Financing my plane ticket to Guatemala City is a generosity that I, as a college student, have immense gratitude. Even more importantly, I want to thank you all for your prayers and kind words. It was so special and uplifting to hear that I have been in your hearts and minds this summer. There were brief moments while I was in La Esperanza and I felt either unimportant or discouraged or alone that were pacified with kind words that were passed along by my mother. It is amazing how a mere awareness that there is even just one person (let alone an entire network of people) thinking about you can soothe the heart and ease the mind. For me, solidarity is its own form of bliss, particularly while living in a slum of Guatemala. And for this piece of peace, I sincerely thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
I still remember it - don't you? - the smell of new gym shoes, the fragrance of a fresh box of crayons - these were the unmistakable marks of a new school year about to begin. As a grade school child, those purchases, waiting to be carried to school on the first day of class, were a a sign that something was expected of me. Those supplies, as ordinary as they were, took some budgeting for my family, and they were given for a purpose - to help me learn so that I could become more and more competent, more independent and responsible, more able to give back as I grew up.
Hola a todos! I’m here writing from a lovely café I discovered today, it’s only a short transmetro ride away from my Guatemalan residence. While I’ve got stable internet access, I wanted to take the time to give you all an update about what I’ve been doing at UPAVIM for the past month (time has flown by!).
My time with these kids has reinforced every reason I had for coming to Guatemala. With every “Hola Seño Lexie!” I receive while walking down to the taco guy, and each buenos días beso, or even boquet of eucalyptus leaves (I can’t seem to shake this cough/sinus infection), I feel God’s presence in a place where one may not think it could be found.
Tour 2014 Connections: We continued our DG connection in Frankfort last night. We met Mrs. Crowe last night. She has 2 grandchildren in the DG school system in junior high and grade school.
Please join us for our complete home concert Sunday at 4:00 PM.
Tour 2014 - Connections: Downers Grove is a small suburb of Chicago that has sent it's ambassadors out to many places in the world. We are giving this tour a nickname - The Ambassador Tour. We have been introduced to at least one person at each of our concert locations. Many of these connections are through members of our church.
1 Brentwood
Lauren Dortwegt Wilson
2 Hendersonville
Lillian Ficht
Teri Quaintance
Cindy Roselieb
Angela Loveless
3 Seneca
George Feuerschwenger
June 18. We have completed 2 fantastic days in Myrtle Beach and are traveling to Hickory N.C. Tuesday was spent at the Atlantic Ocean and Water Park. A few made brief excursions into the water park for the tube and slides but quickly retreated to the waves. After 5 or so hours, I don't think any of us will need salt added to our diets for at least a month.
Every June 1, my wife has the habit of singing June is Bustin’ Out All Over. Not only all over the house, but on the phone to our kids as well. On some of those June mornings, I’d rather she didn’t, but she does and she does all the verses.
March went out like a lion
A whippin up the water in the bay;
Then April cried and stepped aside,
And along came pretty little May!
Bricks, Mortar and SweatRemember a little over two weeks ago we and leaders of the Chañi church came to an agreement to build a kitchen and latrines that would share a wall and septic system, and thereby cost the church and the mission less money?
The text from last week's Ash Wednesday sermon...
Suzanne Collins is the acclaimed author of the hit series "The Hunger Games" - which have recently been made into movies. The second movie came out just a few months ago, and the title is "Catching Fire." The basic premise is that there are twelve districts under the control of one Capital. The main character, Katniss, is commonly referred to as the "Girl on Fire." There's a stroke of genius in the parallels in imagery for the character. Katniss is known as the girl on fire because of several outfits she wears that appear to catch on fire. This image of the "girl on fire" plays a double role because of her ability to inspire rebellion and empower the people of the districts to rise up against the oppression of the Capital. Fire spreads. Catching fire.