Southwest Christian High School - Monday
Monday, November 10, 2008 8:52pm
3:30 am was a long time ago, ¦the journey from Minneapolis to Santo Domingo was long but good and uneventful. All arrived safe and well. Once we got to the SCORE Complex we had some time to unpack, get settled in our rooms, take a dip in the pool, and play a few card games before dinner. After dinner we gathered for evening devotions where some of us shared our expectations and hopes for the week. Some of these were:
- That our eyes would be opened to see how God is working in the world.
- That we know we are going to see things that make us uncomfortable, but that we would take action and break out of our suburbia box and do something about it.
- That we would be unified as a class through our experiences this week.
- That we would experience personal change and that our relationship with God would be changed.
- That upon our return home we would not be focused on material/physical things, but that we would instead, rely on God completely.
- That God would use us to bring about change in others.
Mr. D then challenged us: God might have something entirely different in store for us that goes beyond these expectations and be completely different. We may find ourselves overwhelmed by some of the things going on around us and by some of the things we experience this week, but rather than saying, this is how I am going to respond, this is how I am going to make a difference in this world, we should instead fall on our face before God and say, “Jesus, this is way too big for me to do anything about”,and rely on Christ’s strength and let Him do the work in and through us.
Mr. Goldie, reflecting on the laughter and joy he observed while we were playing in the pool, challenged us by asking, “What would it be like if the object of our joy this week was in serving others?” He then read from Colossians 3 which tells us to put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature”, and then to “put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator, therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
We were encouraged to reflect on this passage tonight and in the morning, and to be looking out for ways to love each other and those we come across.
After some much needed sleep (especially for those who didn’t get any last night), we will rise for breakfast and then head to Casa De Luz. We will spend the whole day at this orphanage for handicapped children and serve them by doing some work projects, playing with the kids, and even leading them in a dance class. We are all looking forward to what lies ahead.
