March 2011 Groups 1 and 2

Its that time again! March groups here in Cielo and Nazareth, young people choosing to spend their Spring Break trips making a difference!

The first week, we had groups from UNC, NC State and Wake Forest. They worked on four houses and a playground for the Nazareth school. They also helped out with some painting in the clinic. They painted accent walls for the pediatric consult room, a classroom for the new Early Intervention Program and murals in the dental office and vaccination area.

Kelly, Anna and Bob Heimall with the mural they painted

Bob's handiwork in the Vaccination Area

This past week we had groups from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee (2 high school groups and a university group). Again, these students gave up their Spring Breaks, typically spent soaking up the sun or hanging out with friends, to come serve an impoverished community. They also worked on four houses -- the house of Ana and her family, the house of Grecia and Ventura, Marco's house, and Luis' house. One group spent time as well on building up the walls of the playground that will be put in later this year.

Jim and Javier praying over Ana's family's house site

Jim and Javier praying over Grecia and Ventura's house site

What an awesome month of groups so far! Today OSU and Colorado State come into town! :)

Looking forward to the next two weeks of groups to round out a productive and blessing filled March.

Promises

Everything in God's time is a concept not easy for me to wrap my head around. In a world where microwaves, drive thrus and express lanes are the norm, I have a hard time getting my stubborn self to get that just because something does not happen now or soon, does not mean that it will not happen at all.

Oh, how I want everything to go my way in my time! I think that in my "infinite wisdom" my timing and my desires are what I need. And yet, God is patient with me in my rebellion. He lovingly guides me and keeps my foot from striking rock when I stubbornly try to make things that I want work out.

He says to me again and again, "Patience, my child, patience, I have a plan that is better than yours. Patience and I will give you the desires of your heart in ways that you could never have imagined..."

Probably my favorite reminder of this is the verse in Romans 8:28, " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

God sends us visual reminders too of His promises. Here He is showing off His great majesty in front of the clinic! :)