Greetings readers!
I started writing this blog about a month ago, but am just now getting around to posting it…oops! That is what happens when you have slow internet where you are.
Some questions that were rolling around in my head as we were traveling through Peru were:.
What is a desert good for?
Why do deserts exist?
What is their purpose?
Can anything good happen in a desert?
During this travel day we were wandering through (on a bus thankfully and not actually trekking through by foot) the desert terrain of Peru once again (similar experience the earlier part of this month).
Deserts are typically dry. You are constantly searching to quench your thirst, but are often left parched until you make it out.
Looking back over the past 5 years of my life, I was in a spiritually dry season. There were moments when I felt closer to God, but I could not quench my thirst because I was choosing to try to satisfy the desires (fill) of my heart through sinful actions.
I became caught up in legalism in the church. I studied the bible all the time. I tried to do all the right things. Whenever the church was open I was there and was dual enrolled at two churches for awhile. At one point I was fellowshipping with three different bodies of believers on a regular basis. I was trying to fulfill my desire for loneliness with surrounding myself with Christians. This is not a bad thing, because Hebrews 10:24-25 says that we are suppose to do that. However, I was looking to man for what only God can fulfill. You see, the god-shaped hole in my heart can only be filled by God.
I had come to know the bible, but I was lacking the depth of relationship with my heavenly Father.
On the Race, this is something that my eyes have been opened to. I have tried to stop running away from the love the Father wants to lavish upon me. I am learning how to be a daughter of God. I realize that my identity and worth come from God alone – not people, not my past, not my job, not my possessions, not anything I do, nothing.
I am currently in Santiago, Chile. We have started our 10th month of our 11 month journey. I will be working with women and children from a home. We will be working with two schools, and helping with Saturday church service and music classes. The ministry website is: visionforchildren.net if you would like to check it out.
In other news, I return to the states on November 25th. I will be flying to MN for Thanksgiving with my sister and parents. I will probably want to relax for a few days when I return to MI, but am expecting to start hanging out and sharing my experiences and stories with you all the first part of December. As mentioned in previous blogs, I will really only be available to hang out and catch up during the month of December, because I will be moving to GA in January 2016. So, let me know if you want to grab coffee or just hang out. I want to know what I missed in your life this past year as well.
Fundraising news: I am selling t-shirts (see below) again in hopes to raise money for CGA. I need to pre-sell 25 shirts before I can send in the order. Please let me know if you’d like one. Also, I will be doing an online sale for Yankee Candles (www.yankeecandlefundraising.com and group ID #:990074155 and name: Misha Shonkwiler) through mid-January. All orders ship within two weeks of ordering directly to your house and would make great Christmas gifts!
100 Box Challenge: Help me fill this board up to raise $5000 towards my goal of $10,500! 10 lucky people will receive a small gift if you pick one of the winning squares. Thanks for all the support!
Prayer requests: For strength and discipline to keep pushing in to what the Lord has to teach me still and to finish the Race strong(er). Health for my squad. I love and miss you all!!
Keep Lookin’ Up, Misha
