Yes, You are more than my words can ever say...

God is in the details.

God is in the moment.

Joy is always given, never grasped.

Peace is first of all the art of being.

"I have found it very important in my own life to try to let go of my wishes and instead to live in hope. I am finding that when I choose to let go of my sometimes petty and superficial wishes and trust that my life is precious and meaningful in the eyes of God something really new, something beyond my own expectations begins to happen for me. (Finding My Way Home)"

"I stand here on this spring day in the center of my life.

Chaos, din, and beauty. For a moment, I am still."

I think it's fair to say that here, in Morelia:

1. I have found healing.

2. I have found the truest and purest sense of joy, one can know.

3. I have found the most transparent form of love, there is.

4. I have been embraced by those unknown to me, those who now, I cannot bear the thought of leaving.

5. I have relished the ever-present laughter overflowing from the most beautiful of souls.

6. I have been immersed into the culture, I have longed to call home for nearly a decade of my life.

7. I have seen that there is much to be gained, from taking a step of faith.

8. I have been pushed and challenged to speak, and have found that where His dreams are, He is faithful.

9. Where the spirit of the Lord, there is FREEDOM.

10. I have experienced the hospitality of His servants, daily.

11. I have learned the art of being content, right where I am, needing no one but Jesus, Himself, to fulfill me.

12. Not a minute has passed here, when I haven't felt loved, for who I am- mistakes and all.

13. I know that perfect love casts out all fear.

14. I have seen God provide, time and again.

15. I have realized that beauty can be found everywhere, misery needn't be clung to, there is always, always hope.

este es su tiempo. . .

"He does have surprising, secret purposes. I open a Bible, and His plans, startling, lie there barefaced.

It’s hard to believe it, when I read it, and I have to come back to it many times,

feel long across those words, make sure they are real.

His love letter forever silences any doubts:

“His secret purpose framed from the very beginning [is] to bring us to our full glory”

(1 Corinthians 2:7 NEB)."

Ann Voskamp

Time isn't stopping, no matter how hard I try. Emotions are consuming my entire being, without my approval. Yet, how blessed I am to be apart of this. There are always those final moments before something ends, where your heart can't seem to catch up with what's really happening, it just can't imagine that it has arrived at the finish. That's where I am, in the midst of all the remaining dinner dates and plans, my heart cannot bear to grasp that this, too, is finishing.

That's how goodbyes are though, aren't they?

You are welcoming your return to those you love, but you are dreading leaving those you newly love. You are anticipating the start of God's next chapter for you, but deeply saddened that there has to be an end to this.

There have been moments where the tears have suddenly struck me in the taxi on the way home, in church, in Bible Study. There have been moments when invisible tears have taken up residence, filling my eyes. . . but apart from that, there has been so much laughter and love.

I was watching my students filing in for their Oral Exam [the last step before being chosen for the Portland Exchange Group], it was such a beautiful and exciting time, to be with them. To pray, laugh, practice and love them, before they took their very last step.

Afterwards, I spoke in Bible Study without a translator. . . better said, God spoke through me. I conquered a fear, not without putting up a fight of course, because I was shaken with my doubts beforehand. The Lord saw me through. We had a foot-washing and a time of beautiful prayer in small groups, and oh how I felt the Spirit moving. It was such a blessing to see that take place, before I left, because I truly believe God asked that of me.

What can't be said in words, can be beautifully evident in pictures, here you are:

i will always remember YOU.

So I held the almost all of the tears in, until I made it home, and here I sit…with music and tears as my company. I’m trying to take it all in, all of the pride and the love that has swelled within this heart of mine. I’m trying to tell myself that there is still time here left with these beautiful people, who I have come to know and love as my family. And yes, in wake of it all there is still time, but it’s painfully short.

Students were told their test results today, and so there were many tear-stained cheeks upon sight of their dream, and those that somehow barely lost out. And I was an onlooker, taking in each and every precious face, memorizing the lines of worry and gleams of joy. I was an onlooker, somehow blessed with the opportunity to know their stories-given the chance to know their wounds, their fears, their very hearts.

I tell you, I never knew a heart could feel this much love, it’s a love that overflows. It’s the purest and most transparent form, it’s the kind of love God created every heart to hold… and there are some who never get the chance to even barely touch it. Yet, my heart has been given the chance to hold it for three months, and I am blessed.

The tears can’t seem to stop and neither can the praise upon my heart cease to beat, because what a beautiful thing it is to know I was made for this, with this place in mind. I was made to come to know and love my students, and to be overcome with utmost pride. I was made for every one of these moments, spent, and yet to be spent. This was always, His intent.

I’m going to miss this place and these people, more than words could ever possibly say. They’re very much a part of me, and always will be.

look at how far you've come.

This moment contains all moments.

C.S. Lewis

Yesterday, we celebrated a milestone with messy tears, laughter, joy and a classroom full of love. Because yesterday my Orange Book students had their last English class at NOE, before they take their final test on Monday.

I don't know if you have ever had moments in life, where it felt as though you were on holy ground, I hope you have. There is truly nothing like them.

Yesterday, was full of those moments for me.

It was as though God was whispering, "I have ordained and orchestrated this moment, for you, for them.

With love."

I didn't really know what to expect out of this day. I had been thinking all along, it needed to be something special, something they could always remember. And so, with the Lord's leading, I had them write letters to themselves-taking time out to be proud of themselves for how far they have come, all they have accomplished.

Upon finishing their letter, I had a letter to give to each of them. And in most of our classes, if the tears hadn't already started, they started at this point, in time. It was the purest and most beautiful setting. I wouldn't have wanted to do anything differently, and with that confidence I know that it was all because of Him.

The love that I feel, for these precious students is inexplicable, truly. The closeness that we have will always live on, within me. They are, and forever will be apart of me.

To you, students:

My moments of being most complete, most integrated,

have come either in complete solitude

or when I am being a part of a body made up of many people

going in the same direction.

Madeleine L'Engle

There comes that point of time, where I just have to let everything collect dust, and sit with my words. There comes that point of time, where I have to acknowledge that I did, what was asked of me, no matter whatever the outcome.

There comes that point of time, where we must trust, in the wake of storm.

Prayers go unanswered.

Strength is lacking.

You might have done everything you could, but that other person is holding back.

In this instant, you trust, you trust with all that is within in you.

God is good. And oh God is faithful, and He is for you.

Whatever you are up against, our God is with you. Yes, He is with you.

This is for you my beautiful students, praise be to our Maker, because He is with us. He is faithful.

He believes in you.

I believe in you.

Praise be to You, our Maker, our Father, because You are faithful. I thank You for these beautiful students of mine, dear Father. I pray that their hearts would be at peace, that You would strengthen them. Remind them that You are good, and that You are love. I pray God that You would take hold of them and comfort them.

This is what they have been waiting for God, and I just pray that they would remember that You are with them. I pray God that they would remember that You believe in them. Take away their doubts, their worries, their struggles, their pain, their fears. May they feel more of You today, than they have ever felt before.

Be strong and courageous precious son and daughter, He made you for this moment. Prayers are being spoken over you with each passing moment. As these days come to a close, I just want you to know that you are loved, you are worthy, you are beautiful, just the way you are.

I might be leaving you soon, but I will always be with you.

I will carry you in my heart.