As a squad, J Squad has created a goal to fast on our fifth day after arriving in each new country. For my fast, I chose to fast words because I want to hear from the Lord as well as listen to those around me. I did hear a lot, but I observed a whole lot more. These are all my observations and the time I wrote them down (xx-xx, not xx:xx).
06-3? someone didn’t close the door (didn’t move the bottle) so Sandy came in and climbed into my bed and making me wake up
07-52 couldn’t verbally acknowledge Wesley’s greeting
08-00 yes, it’s going to be difficult to not talk, but I’m a bit excited for all that I’m going to hear, especially from God today
BREAKFAST
08-05 Hannah and LeAnn are talking about a verse and I wanted to chime in to say that the verse is in Proverbs, not Ecclesiastes, I think
08-07 there’s a funny looking bug that keeps walking in circles on this bench
08-11 Sarah Pippin looks great in her floor-length, goldenrod yellow, floral dress
08-16 this bug keeps gettin’ closer & closer
08-27 Levi tries to talk to Amanda and I
LEVI is fasting from NOT talking to everyone
08-28 Amanda knocks the bug off the bench
08-31 CHRISTIAN is fasting from his iPad
08-38 Daniel [Levi’s second oldest brother] is a bodybuilder
08-42 JULIA isn’t journaling
08-44 KATIE MARTIN is praying through Scripture
08-45 Christian doesn’t want to be the mouth of the Body
08-47 Levi compares eyes to geodes and other minerals
08-48 Julia tells Levi that he can’t talk to everyone at breakfast [to fulfill his fast]
08-50 ELLE is fasting from her phone (music and podcasts)
08-51 Christian listens to preachers (from the 70’s that have, most commonly, passed) to fall asleep
08-53 LAUREN is fasting from reading & writing
08-54 CHARITY is fasting from reading & writing
08-56 KASEY is really struggling with not serving (her friend’s birthday would have been today as well)
09-00 it’s so hard to speak nonverbally & specifically to give instructions
09-01 Levi tried to give me bananas since I didn’t want eggs [for breakfast], but I didn’t want the banana either
09-05 ABBY is fasting from speaking English after breakfast through dinner
09-07 Lauren doesn’t like peanut butter
09-17 Lauren brought Nutella because she knew there’d be a lot of peanut butter
09-21 JULIA is also fasting from talking about kids
09-21 Kasey is keeping journals for Jeff and vice versa
09-29 there are a bazillion flies after breakfast
09-29 Kasey has her pouty face on
09-31 “These chickens look like ducks. Are they ‘chucks’ or ‘dickens’?” {Levi}
09-34 {announcements for the day: ministry assignments, Bible study will be replaced by a sermon, and Grace has arrived}
09-39 Levi keeps trying to talk to me
09-43 Christian shares how he met Jesus in his car on his way to college to Katie Martin
09-50 Christian asks Victoria to tell him when he needs to get his hair cut again
10-02 Julia recites Philippians 2:5-11 while flossing
INTERCESSION
10-51 Julia didn’t want to overshare
Laiken found the intercessory exercise difficult
10-52 “This nation is filled with God’s people, so His truth applies to them just as they apply to us, His people.” {Claire}
10-55 Hannah has difficulty praying aloud
10-58 Claire challenged Hannah to pray at our next meal
11-09 Julia, Mantha, and Elsie are talking about Julia’s Enneagram number
11-48 {James has been trying to sleep since breakfast because he stayed up all night so that he could pick Grace up from the airport this morning}
SERMON (TIMOTHY KELLER)
13-25 “…can’t think your way out into Heaven” {Levi}.
13-26 “…there’s no striving to get [there]…He took our sins and we took His righteousness, follow His teachings because we love Him.” {Wesley}
13-28 So Will I (Hillsong Worship)
13-35 You Are Holy (Hillsong Worship)
15-11 Laiken and Elsie are chatting
TEAM TIME
17-50 pick a word or verse that reminds you of your identity in Christ
17-58 {Elsie} started to believe that God delights in her two years ago because of pain & guilt in her life
17-59 {Kasey} (II Corinthians 5:20) purpose and surrendering to God’s master plan (Ephesians 2:10)
18-00 {Mantha} fearfully and wonderfully made which are highlighting the gaps that are being filled with something other than God, when He has made us beautiful
18-02 {Alexa} (Deuteronomy) God goes before us and won’t leave nor forsake us
18-05 when I give up something for myself is much harder, than if it’s something to be fasted {Mantha}
18-06 the Lord thinks of you as precious
DINNER
18-56 Hannah prayed for dinner
18-57 everyone is so excited for pasta for dinner
18-58 I’m going to teach you how to say “Are there bananas?” because I always look like an idiot {Mantha to Claire}
19-09 Wesley, what did you do today? {Claire}
WORSHIP
19-44 Worship Prompt: 10 Reasons to Praise God
- He created Creation despite sin, so we could have a chance to choose Him,
- He gave His only Son to love me,
- He cares for everyone, even me,
- He is abounding in grace,
- He forgives quickly,
- He offers eternity, not shame,
- He creates billions of unique people all in His Image,
- He blesses everyone with unique gifts and skills,
- He has loved me enough to set me free, and
- He blesses me to praise Him even without a voice
19-48 watching Julia answer the prompt for worship with a smile is so heart-warming
19-49 it’s so calming to see James meditating/reflecting/thinking
19-59 thank You for Your redemption and Your compassion
20-00 thank You so much for loving us so much even when we walk away from You
20-04 King of My Heart (Bethel)
20-08 I Surrender (Hillsong Worship)
20-13 Yes & Amen (Bethel Music)
20-20 Revelation Song (Kari Jobe)
20-30 “I just wanted to take some time for us to acknowledge how we are grateful for each other as a squad, especially since we give feedback in teams, not as a squad. We may not all be on the same team, but we are all a part of each others’ journey.” {Mantha}
21-06 I’m impressed. You’e done a really good job…you’ve talked about three times today? You would have put me to shame…Hah hah, you know?!” {James}
Prayer Requests
- More opportunities to love the people of Lajas de Yaroa (the location of our ministry) well,
- More rain for the mountains of Hispaniola (currently experiencing draught),
- Continued financial support that I can continue to aid God in the restoration of the world, and
- My computer has been acting up and may force me to purchase a new computer or tablet.
Praise Reports
- We will be going to Haiti next month,
- It has rained for every day for the past week (20 August), and
- J Squad has been able to serve the community in very practical ways in the past week.
