I am sitting here this morning in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, listening to the coffee pot sigh in its exhaustive attempts to brew a pot of coffee- complaining as if I had woken it up a bit too early this morning. I have a few precious hours to myself as everyone else enjoys their warm beds and I enjoy the opportunity to make my own breakfast.
This sounds like a completely normal morning in Bozeman… but what makes it extraordinary is the fact that I am not anywhere near Bozeman. Yes, hard to believe, I am still on the Race.
It has not been a full week since we made the transition from malaria-filled heat to fur coats and chapped lips, yet as I sit here trying to compile a list of the blessings we have experienced since arriving in Latvia, I have to admit defeat and turn all praise to Jesus for completely blowing expectations out of the water once again.
We arrived in Latvia completely unprepared. The girl scouts would be ashamed of our conduct as none of us had a pair of warm socks to our name, let alone a jacket and hat. To top it off, we barely had contacts to partner with, and it was a guessing game to what ministry we would be participating in this month. So there we were… wandering the streets of Riga with our huge packs filled with tank-tops and t-shirts… on Easter.
Due to a series of God-orchestrated events, three of our squad-mates attempting to find a hospital for one who had been puking for the last 36 hours, ended up meeting a couple who not only drove them to the correct hospital, but ended up translating for them the entire night (Read Shelley's story here!). This couple invited us to attend church with them on Easter. At that Easter service, the church invited all 48 of us to dinner that evening. We were sure that they had not idea what they were getting themselves into. 48 loud Americans who also happen to eat A lot.
So that evening we arrived at 6pm to the church with a delicious meal prepared for all of us! Pasta and bread with crepes for dessert and all types of drinks available. Not only was there more than enough for seconds and thirds (and leftovers to take home) but we were invited upstairs to a room FILLED with jackets, hats, pants, gloves, scarves, boots and sweaters that were given freely to us! Like the food, there was no end to the clothing and there was something to fit everyone. Once we thought we had exhausted the supply, another box would be pulled out of thin air filled to the brim with more things.
After our bellies and arms were full, we moved into the sanctuary to worship our Great Provider and I had the privilege of baptizing two women who I love to pieces; Alison Hill and Shelley Manning. It was the perfect ending to a day that represents new life and promise, to witness the obedience of 6 women who publicly declared their trust in their Father. The old is gone and the new has come!
We have been so blessed and so in awe of the provision of our Father. Without doing anything, without having anything to offer, He gives Himself fully to us. We are able to love because He first loved us. We did not go to God, He came to us.
Jesus took on flesh. He humbled Himself and walked on this earth living a sinless life. He was baptized-not out of doing anything wrong, but out of an obedience to His Father in heaven. He took on our sins, He paid our debt and He died on the cross for US.
He loved us first.
Death can not keep Him. He rose again 3 days later after defeating the grave and we now serve a LIVING God.
A God who speaks to us and blesses us. He loved us first.
I love Easter because it speaks of new beginning. It reminds us that His mercies are new each morning. We are blessed so that we may be a blessing.
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
That your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
-Psalm 67:1-2
