Day 38 & 39 - Baptisms, Rock jumping, and catching wildlife. #45daysofsummer

Last week was my intended week of rest, but it has actually turned out that this week is looking more like that. There is a lot of room in the schedule for time to rest (descansar). I'm really enjoying it so far! I've had time to read (I'm reading A Thousand Splendid Suns at the moment and it's heart wrenching but really good and so I love that there are a spare few minutes every so often, which means I can have a quick lie and down and read of another chapter or two!!)

On Sunday, a few of us made the journey back to León for baptisms at the church there. 8 people were baptised, including Bianca and Robert (the daughter and son of the family I stayed with). It was quite formal and there were definite differences between baptism services that I have previously been too (for example, they all had to dress in white, and they can't take communion until after they are baptised so that was their first time taking it) but there were also lots of similarities (the baptism tank was under the stage, they all shared their testimony of how God has been at work in their life and why they are getting baptised, they also say the same phrase only in Spanish, 'on confession of your faith, I baptise you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit'). Interesting service (although also very long - just over two hours) but a good experience!

Bianca sharing her testimony

About to be dunked.

Robert giving his testimony.

Afterwards, we hung out with a larger group of the young people from the church as a kind of after party with nibbles, before taking a stroll to the park. Thankfully I had my mini suncream bottle with me so didn't burn because it was so hot. Before getting the bus back to Toral, we swung by McDonald's for a McFlurry (they are pretty much exactly the same as in England only the staff are kindly willing to give you extra sauce so I had Oreo with Caramel sauce (McFlurry de Oreo con salsa de caramelo) mmmm...

That evening, we tried to watch 'In Time' but it was getting really late and some of us were feeling pretty tired so we called it a night.
On previous nithts, we have played games together and I was quite excited to be able to co-lead one of the games (thankful for my experience helping in Resound with the young people at Zion which has meant that I have a bank of ideas for games stored in my head!) I was all ready to explain it to everyone, nervous, but felt I had the words to explain the rules and the aim of the game, but the girl leading the session got a bit carried away and explained it all before I got the chance too.. But the intention was there! And I got to explain parts of it to different groups.

Explaining to members of each group what their task was!

A different game that night - groups had to act out a famous story for people to guess what it was. I think this was my favourite ever rendition of Little Red Riding Hood. Very impressive!

Actually, something else that I've noticed and really enjoyed about the atmosphere here, (and I don't know if it's just because they are away at camp but..) the adults are well up for getting involved with games, activities and action songs! 

Yesterday, we made a one and half hour drive to a 'local' lake (Lago de Sanabria), and in the sweltering heat, feeling rather travel sick, I sure was hoping that it would be worth it.

It was.

The water was FREEZING though. They say 'helada' to describe reeally cold, which is like saying it's as cold as ice cream! We had packed lunches and basically just sat around, chatting, eating (we had yellow watermelon again today - had to take a picture!!), swimming a bit, the kids were catching fish and frogs and snakes (!!) And we swam out to those rocks on the photo. People were jumping from them and I really tried but I just couldn't do it. It's one thing that I hope I will be able to do one day in my life, but sadly today wasn't the day. I'm not frightened to be up at any height really, but the prospect of jumping from that height is just too much and my legs won't move. Even though my head reeeeally wants me to and I can think of how excited I would be after doing it, and how I'd probably really enjoy it, and how it's not really that far down to jump anyway.. it doesn't matter. I can't jump.
Perhaps one day. I hope one day. It is so frustrating but something I haven't managed to conquer yet.

Sandía amarilla. Mmm :)

Joel with the frog he caught. He also caught four fish in a bottle and brought them back to camp, I think with the intention of keeping them as pets. But this morning, I was told that they died over night. Sad times..

Joel's brother, Josué, with the snake!!!

With Betsy, little Elsa and Maria. Look ridiculous in my hat but it's been a necessary burden in my time here, to protect my head as my hair does a very bad job of that!

The journey back (less car sickness this time) had us singing Musicals and Disney songs - the girls singing the Spanish versions and me singing the English versions, and Maria's dad in the front starting off songs by the Beatles and other old school famous tunes!

Today I have heard rumours that we may be going to some kind of water park but it is a little over cast and I'm wondering whether that will still be the plan as sometimes, weather like this is suggestive of a heavy summer storm that hits out of the blue! We shall see..

Irresistible Revolution #2

I haven't yet got past the intro. It's a shame really coz I have lost the urge to just sit and read.

It's to be expected really, but I'm not sure why. I've only been a 'reader' for about 18 months now, and I have recognised already, the serious difficulty I encounter when I attempt reading factual / teaching / theological books.. I seem to only enjoy stories, tales, novels, poems, and the odd biography here or there (but creatively written and by about an interesting person!).

I have the desire to read them, but as soon as I start, I sub-consciously switch off and give up. Many a book has ended up at the side of my bed, collecting dust as I neglect to read it.

I feel like I should be reading books like this, but I just find them dry and although challenging, not massively inspiring or gripping... They don't capture me and can't manage to hold my attention.

It's a shame really, and it's not that I don't like the book, or that I don't intend ever to read it!!

It's happened with Velvet Elvis (Rob Bell), Don't Waste Your Life (John Piper), Courageous Leadership (Bill Hybels), Crazy Love (Francis Chan) and others until now this one, Irresistible Revolution (Shane Claiborne).

All well known and top selling authors.. but perhaps just not for me.

I shall persevere with this anyway, and see where I get to.

Watch this space!

Irresistible Revolution #1

I finished my book this morning (Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers) and I don't know if you ever feel like this but I get it whenever I finish a good book.. it's like an insatiable thirst to keep reading.

So while I'm in this mood I'm gonna start (or attempt) Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution.

I know quite a few people who have read this, who have been challenged and said great things about it.

But I'm gonna admit here that I'm nervous to start it. A little scared, if I'm really honest.

I think it's because I'm expecting to be challenged and caused to ask and answer difficult questions.. and I'm not sure I'm ready. I can't be challenged on something and then just go on with life normally and ignore it.. The book's tagline is living as an ordinary radical.

I'm not very radical. And as a bit of control-freak, routine-dependent sort of person (GOLD), the word 'radical' is not one I willingly or easily embrace.

Like I said, I'm not sure I'm ready for this.
But I'll try and see.

And already thinking about it, following Christ is radical. In today's world anyway. And if I'm doing it right. But I know this is a journey and by no means have any of us yet 'reached the goal' as Paul puts it. So I suppose I'm already there in terms of radicalness. I'm running the race already. And this book will give insight to the life of a guy who might be able to share a few tips..

And if now isn't the time to read it, I'll put it down for a while until it's right.

What I'd like to do (no promises though!) as I attempt to read this, is blog my thoughts as I go along. So I'm not gonna just power through this to tick it off as done and add it to my reading list, I'm gonna think about it and let it sink in.. and then blog what I'm thinking!

I had this idea when reading the first page:

Dedicated to

all the hypocrites, cowards and fools ... like me.

May we find the Way, the Truth and the Life

in a world of shortcuts, deception and death.

Already I am challenged because I put Claiborne on a pedestal.

My preconceptions of him, that came purely from ignorance and assumption, were that he would be amazing and righteous and have it all sorted.

This sorted that one out.

He is humble and admits that he is a hypocrite, a coward and a fool. Like me. That's what I feel like. Don't we all sometimes, I wonder? When he says ordinary radical, that's just what he is.

But we've got an extra-ordinary God :) and I'm reminded that it's Christ I am following, and trying to imitate, not Shane Claiborne!
Good thing to bear in mind as I go from here!!

And I agree wholeheartedly with his last two lines there. I'm reminded of the words to Jimmy Needham's Not Without Love benediction (click to listen to it on youtube)

"Now I finally see that Christ is what Christ offers"

It is only Christ who offers the Way where we know only shortcuts and dead-ends, the Truth when we know only lies and deception, and Life when all we know is death and decay...

Yes and Amen. I pray that I would come to know Christ more through this, and that He will shine through me as I go about living my life for, with and in Him.

Easter Break: day one.

OK firstly, my cousin just posted this to me on fb and it is incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIhGxEdez98

Click and watch and be amazed all over again by the gospel.

(sometimes you need to hear it again afresh, right? I don't know how I get so blasé about all of this..)

Right, so now you've watched that.

Check this out!

Ready to bake...

Ready to eat..

It's a shame the photo doesn't do it huge amounts of justice! But trust me, it was good. Especially for a first ever attempt at making lasagna (from scratch might I add!).

In fact, I was so excited about baking today (and being all 'housewifey'!) I've had to stop myself from making a goal of 'creating a masterpiece a day' for the duration of my easter break..

(This would count as masterpiece #1, obviously.)

But I'm pretty sure after like 3 days I'd run out of things to make, or else run out of creativity or motivation.

And in all fairness, it would just be another way to procrastinate from getting my essays and revision done.

But we'll see what I can do, anyway.

Like I also made chocolate cornflake cakes for supper whilst watching Glee, for Mom and I to eat while watching Eclipse again.

(Can't think of a segway so this can be it!)

Last night I was reading Eat, Pray, Love (getting through it slowly - I'm almost half way through).

The story is written by Elizabeth Gilbert, and is about the year she takes out to travel and find herself and ultimately, get her life back on track. It's split in to three parts, and I'm in the second one - she is currently in India, living in an Ashram while visiting her guru (I know this sounds weird, you have to read it to understand but stick with me here!).

So last night I got to a part where she was admitting how hard she finds the act of meditation and I was so incredibly challenged by it, I couldn't wait to write it down and reflect on what she'd said.

"There's a difference between meditation and prayer, though both practices seek communion with the divine. I've heard it said that prayer is the act of talking to God, while meditation is the act of listening. Take a wild guess as to which comes easier for me. I can prattle away to God about all my feelings and my problems all the livelong day, but when it comes time to descend in to silence and listen. . . well that's a different story. When I ask my mind to rest in stillness, it is astonishing how quickly it will turn (1) bored, (2) angry, (3) depressed, (4) anxious or (5) all of the above."

What she said so resonated with how I feel most of the time (minus the angry and depressed parts).
Even when I sat with God this morning, and prayed and read the Word, I felt like this.

It's funny how in the times when life is crazy and hectic, I so crave that quiet time and just to hear God in the stillness.. and then when life calms down and I get some time to be still and listen, it becomes the hardest thing in the world for me to do!

I was listening to someone talk a few weeks ago, and he was saying that we can't or we shouldn't be bored with God.. and I agree with him on that. This is not so much that I am bored by or with God, it just feels more like I've got a case of ADHD of the mind - I can't be still long enough to simply sit and wait on God, and listen to what He's saying.

And yet God says, 'Be still and know that I am God'.

He spoke to Samuel while he was sleeping, and to Elijah in the still small voice.

And I want for Him to speak to me in the quiet, too.

But I know I have to listen in order to hear..

It's encouraging, though, to know that others feel like it too (I know it's only in a book, and Elizabeth doesn't have a relationship with God through Christ like I do, but it's encouraging still..)

Even in Romans 7, Paul talks about not doing what he wants to do, and doing what he doesn't want to do and while he's not talking about listening, I think it's applicable here.

So this is something I've asked God for help with, and I'm hoping for change.

:)

It's a good thing my God is in to change!

That's enough musings for one day I think.

G'night!