Dearly loved one
You’ve been called by God
To shine like a star
In a dark, depraved world
Don’t blend in
Refuse the daily temptation
To be absorbed in yourself
Take interest in others
Deliberately humble yourself
And live the life of a servant
As you live in the crisis
Of “continue to”
Keep working out
What God is working in
Watch your mouth
Choose words of life
And one glorious day
You will see the face of Christ
And He will show you
Every good purpose
He fulfilled through you
And there will be delight
Even if you are despised or ignored
You are Christ’s star
Go forth and shine

- sam

So its been a month..and i suppose ill update.

Life is CRAZY right now!  Honduras is about 32 days away! The preparations are coming along nicely, and everything is falling into place.  Its been amazing to watch God work through our group already! I have to say that in planning all of this, Im so glad that I got to do it with Donna and Summer. I just love them to death!  It has been great doing this with the two of them. They both just brighten my day, and its been such a blessing to be able to form this bond that we have between the 3 of us. They have become like family through this and I look up to them...they are both great christian people and I love hanging out with them.  Anyways..the trip is soo close! I cant wait!  God has some amazing things in store that I cant wait to watch unfold.  My prayer is that God will do amazing things through our group..and that we will touch the lives of some hurting people.  I pray that our group will give lots of love to some children that need it so badly. I hope they will love these kids past their pain. I cant wait to see some of these kids' smiles...its enough to knock you to your knees.  The smile of a broken and hurting child is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.   I honestly cant wait to get away from the stress of everything for a while, a month to be exact. Im ready to clear my head, and let go of everything and let God work.  God never fails to amaze me!  I cant wait to see what he does through our group!

More updates to come.  Ill try to update again before we leave..but if  not..Ill update when i get to Jen's in Honduras hopefully.  comments please!

                                                                 Sam

Its been a while...

So not a lot has really happened..its spring break, but its snowing outside, and i dont like it at all.  School is almost out though..and im really ready for it to be over with ..this year hasnt really been that fun..but its flown by so far..so hopefully the next two months will do the same.  Honduras is getting really close!! and everyone is getting really excited! Me especially!!  I seriously cant wait! Its going to be awesome!!  The belpre team is there now, and im quite jealous, but our time will come.  And i cant wait for our time to get here. Its about 62 days I believe..our plans are coming along nicely and we have a really good team, and im excited to see what God does through our group.  We've got a really good theme for the trip..and its just going to be an awesome week. Im staying with Jen for a few weeks after the first week...and im getting really excited for that too. I miss those kiddos!  And not to mention...im honestly just ready to get away from everything for a month..i think i need to clear my head a bit..and going down there will do, where i dont have to think about or worry about anything..that could be one of the things that im really looking forward to about all of it..and all the other stuff too..its just going to be awesome watching God work while im there.  In Honduras you can really feel the presence of God, whether its through a precious childs eyes..or just through the beautiful scenery you get to see.  It has got to be one of the coolest places on Earth.

Yea i cant wait! <3

 comments!!

                                                                -sam

                                                       EDIT!!!

Ok so i decided that i needed to post a little more about what i recently posted.  Ok so heres the deal, when i left home to head to Honduras for a short little week..i knew God had a lot in store for me on that trip and i knew i was going to be changed for ever...i honestly expected a whole different kind of life..dont get me wrong it is wayy different down there..but not so much in the ways i had expected. I found contentment there...i didnt have to worry about a thing..thats just the way it is down there..The changes that i did find...were  changes that God needed to make within my heart.  ...and to be quite honest i just fell in love with this place...a love that should have taken months to find..not days. And so i guess what i was getting at with that whole post was just that i honestly have no idea whats in my future right now..and i know that if Honduras is in my future....{which im beginning to believe more and more that it is.} then its going to mean some serious sacrificing..but i think im ok with that.  I guess right now i just need to trust and obey..and listen to what God is saying to my heart.

Are you listening
To anything that I say
'Cause I been praying
How many prayers can I pray
I'm still waiting
Maybe You'll show up today

I know You're here, but I can't feel You
And if You're speaking, I can't hear You
How much longer will this last

Chorus:So okay Answer me with silence
It's okay if You don't say a word
You're testing me to trust You'll be faithful in this quiet
So okay
Answer me
With silence

Why do I question
Your intentions for me
When Your affection
Is a proven legacy

Oh Father, Father
Turn my fears into peace
I know Your love will never leave
I know You want what's best for me

You're testing me to trust You'll be faithful in this quiet

Oh, it's okay
If You answer me with silence
And it's okay if You don't say a word
You're testing me to trust You'll be faithful in this quiet
So okay
Answer me
With silence

Silence - Joy Williams

                                                                  End edit

So lately I've been thinking a lot...mostly about where im headed in life..and i know i still have time..im only a junior...but graduation will be here before i know it, and ive thought about what im going to get a degree in and honestly nothing that i can come up with seems right..and in all honesty..i dont want to go to college..i probably will end up going for some amount of time..but i just dont want to...this may sound crazy to some of you but, im just not sure thats what Gods plan for me is. When i think about life after high school, i just want to end up happy whatever that means...and it almost seems that being a missionary is what is going to make me happy..its what i love doing, traveling, and doing mission work, it seems like thats what ive always enjoyed doing. And to be quite honest if i had things my way, id be done with school and i would be in Honduras right now. Its all i think about. My heart has been  hurting lately..ive read so many peoples blogs lately{some i dont even know}..and looking at their pics, it just makes my heart ache...i want to be there so bad...its not something that i can explain...when i was there it just "felt right"  like that is exactly where i was supposed to be...down there, there was no worrying, no stress, you just existed without worrying what day it was and how late you were going to be to whatever. You simply exist. I love the simplicity of it. This is the only thing that really makes sense to me when nothing else does...its what makes me happy and i dont think doing anything else is going to give me any kind of satisfaction in life.

This isnt really something i can fully explain to anyone...this hurting in my heart, i guess its something you have to experience on your own. But when i look at all the pictures when i look into the precious little eyes that have so much hurt and despair in them, my heart just aches.  and honestly i thought that after being back here in the states for 2 or 3 months this pain would go away...boy was i wrong..if anything its gotten a whole lot harder to be here and not there.

I could be totally wrong on this...and maybe Gods plan for my life is something totally different..but i guess only time will tell.   ...and thats the hardest part is waiting and seeing what happens.

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly, and

Leave the rest to God.

~author unknown

comments would be nice.

                                                    - Sam