Looking at the Little Things

     When I took the first steps to apply to come to Torreon, I didn’t know where it would all lead. Of course I hoped that I would be able to come down and serve, but what if God said no? After I sent in my application I prayed, a lot. I prayed God’s will be done. I prayed God would begin to prepare me for my time of service if it was His will I go. I prayed God would prepare my heart. And I prayed Isaiah 6:8 “Here am I; send me”. Now I am down in Torreon, NM, committed to spend at least a year of my life helping children, loving them, and showing them Jesus. All of my prayers were answered. I want to focus though on HOW God prepared me. 
     
                Preparation #1: Dealing with a variety of ages. Several months before I came down here, before I knew whether I was approved to go, I had the privilege to babysit 5 wonderful girls on a regular basis. The ages ranged 13 – almost 2. This year in school we will have 30 some students from K – 12. All with different personalities and interests. Through babysitting I was able to teach, direct, and care for 5 different age groups and 5 different personalities.

                Preparation #2: A.C.E. Curriculum. Had we not moved to Indiana, I would never have gone to Bethany Fellowship School. I probably would have never have done the A.C.E. curriculum. But because my God is big and great, He allowed me to go to Bethany School and have a good education but also get me used to the curriculum. The Torreon Navajo School uses A.C.E., granted its different being a teacher, but I don’t have to learn how the curriculum works.

                Preparation #3: A want to go. Ever since I was younger I have had a desire for mission work. Though I didn’t know where God would lead me, I knew I wanted to serve Him wherever He sent me. Along with that, due to hurts and heartaches, redemption and grace, I can understand better the hearts of those around me with broken homes. Do I know every detail? No, but I can help in the best way I know how.

                As I look back I see that God has prepared me all my life through for this moment. Right down to the sweeper! And no joke, the sweeper I used while I babysat is the same model that the mission has down here. The beautiful thing about life is that this moment right now is most likely preparing me for something else down the road. God is so good in that way!

The Journey of the Clay

I would like to again tell you about the sermon we heard this past Sunday. It was very well done by Bro. Bob, talking about The Journey of the Clay. Here is a beautiful illustration of how we truly are clay in the Fathers hands.


Jeremiah 18:2-6
Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Isral

When Bob was a teenager he worked at a tile mill, where farm tile was made. Here is the process the clay went through before becoming tile.

Gen. 1 says man was made from the earth and just as man, clay is dug up from the earths ground.
Then the clay goes into the washing room. In big tubs of water the clay is washed and impurities like sand are separated from the clay making it more pure. When we accept Jesus into our lives He washes us with his blood making us more pure also.
The clay is then put outside to dry and once it is dry it goes through the crushers. The crushers crush the clay and not only break the large hard clumps of clay but the process makes rocks and other impurities that didn't come out during the washing process, come to the surface and leave the clay. Similarly, we often go through hard times and our spirit may be crushed but its all in God's plan and what we don't know is that we are one step closer and purer to Him.
Then the clay enters the "tub", a big vat with augers turning and mixing the clay and another big auger in the bottom pulling the clay out of the vat. A man then will stand above the tub and spray in water so it becomes the correct consistency to be able to be formed. We also again go through things in our lives that turn us and mix us so that we become more aware of who God is and how he will use us. He is preparing us to be used for his glory.
After the clay leaves the vat it then goes to the molds and is shaped. The clay runs on conveyor belts and is in one long string of tile. As it goes down the conveyor belt it is cut into the lengths needed for the tile orders, then it is separated. Bob likened this to when the disciples are called to be sent out. We aren't always made to stay with those we love. We may be called to go somewhere far away.
Bob worked as one of the runners. Runners would take the cut tile to train cars that were waiting to be filed with the tile. If a runner could tell the tile was too soft and not going to be useful he let it go on the conveyor belt and it went back around to the tub again to be remade, just like in verse 4 of Jeremiah: And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Sometimes we need to be remade and start over with God, being re-refined and being re-shaped in his image.
If the tile was good and fine, it was put on the train car. When the train was full it went down the track headed for the kiln. The kilns are extremely hot so that the tile dries fast and hardens. If the tile went directly from the conveyor belt, still soft, to the kiln it would bubble and be distorted. So the train goes through a tunnel of low heat driers. This allows the clay to dry somewhat before going to the kiln. God doesn't give us more than we can bare. If we aren't ready for something as big as the kiln, he wont give it to us.
Once the clay is ready for the kiln, it goes through and after it comes out there is a man who has a hammer and taps each piece of tile. Even if there is a hairline crack it will sound different. These pieces are then thrown on a pile and later crushed and used for things like driveway gravel. We will have many testings in our life. And my prayer for each of you is that you pass them and stay true to the One and Only, Jesus Christ!!
Blessings,
Savannah

Every Storm Runs Out of Rain

  Lately we've had lots of rain. Have you ever noticed how beautiful the sky is after a good rain? When the sun is covered by a cloud but its bright rays reach out and touch the dark clouds in the distance. Some of the most beautiful pictures have been captured just after a rainstorm. Have you also noticed how there's a peace and a calm feeling in the air?

The same is like when we have trials in life. The storm is ugly, it may last for a really long time, you may feel like you will never have peace again. And then it breaks. The thunder stops, the clouds start to disappear, Christ starts to shine through and the picture is perfect. We feel peace and a new calmness. We know we can face the next storm because we are stronger from the last one.

I love the beauty of a rainstorm. I also love the beauty brought forth from trials and hardships in life.

Every storm runs, runs out of rain.
Just like every dark night turns into day.
Every heartache will fade away.
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain.

It's gonna run out of pain
It's gonna run out of sting
It's gonna leave you alone
It's gonna set you free
{Every Storm Runs Out of Rain}

One of my favorite songs sums it all up. Just like one of my favorite verses sums up what Jesus does in our life...

...to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
{Isaiah 61:3}

All God's Children

What is beauty? Is it having the perfect hair, spotless make-up, a body that makes the guys drop their jaws and the wardrobe to help with that? Is it a lifestyle that portrays all this, smoking, and drinking as good? Who defines what beauty is? Who was the first to say she is beautiful and you are not? Who started the fashions and created the high expectations men and women try to live up to each day?

I am guilty of judging people by their looks far too often. Thinking thoughts like "They really chose to go out in public like that?" "Wow how did those to end up together he/she is not attractive and the other isn't bad looking?!" Unfortunately thoughts like this are way to common in my head. Yet sometimes I will see someone and the person I'm with will say they don't look pretty or handsome but I see beauty in them. We are to have a God-given love for every person we see and meet. Whether we think they are beautiful or not, we don't know their heart. How can we judge when we don't know what that tattoo means to them, what that scar is from, or why that beautiful person has their head hanging low.

God created us all special. Some He just created extra special. Down Syndrome, and Autism are just two of many special needs that God allows some people to have. The children and then adults that have these needs are far to often abandoned by the people who should be loving them. But no, they are weird, not normal, not right, I only want children who are perfect. No, they are created by God with love and grace just like you and me. Don't abandon or push away these precious souls, they want love and care just like you and me!

What about the "normal" kid next door? Down syndrome and autism are more noticeable needs but what about ADHD, asthma, or a simple malfunction in the brain that causes one's face to not corporate correctly? Right next to you could be someone who doesn't act quite "normal" but they aren't quite weird (If that makes sense!). God made us all special, with different talents and gifts ready to be used to glorify God. We shouldn't criticize or down the gifts and talents God has given others. Nor should we make fun of the special needs or differences God has given to them. We are all God's children.