At the Airport!!! Honduras Bound!

In only a few hours we will be hopping onto a plane: Ariel, Kourtney, Ashley, BeBe, Angela, Brandi, Jessica, Lydia and Katrina. In only a few hours, we will be taken out of our comfort zones, asked to do things we would normally never volunteer to do, serve in humility along side people we do not know, eat foods we've never tasted and share with those whom the world overlooks and has forgotten. We will be called to love, give, be compassionate and operate in obedience. In only a few hours, our lives will never be the same. Even now, I stand with my plane ticket in my hand. My heart is racing and I keep reminding myself to breath. The reality of our mission is sinking in, inside each of us and we know that there is no turning back.

Honduras is a place with lots of hopelessness. Crime, sex trafficking, drugs, gangs and disease are among the top concerns leading towards a high mortality rate within this country. Children are abandoned, villages are destroyed, communities collapse under poor government funding and natural disasters. There is no money, little education and not enough volunteers or supporters. Yet, we know, even in such a situation as this, our God is still in control and in His loving kindness, He has opened the door to allow His love to shine through! It is only in this way that hope can be shared amongst the people of Honduras and where there is hope, there can be change!

There is no telling and no limit to what God can do in the lives of anyone who simply desires more of Him. Sometimes, we think that we have to get things right, or have a little more time to have our fun. Sometimes, we confuse God's love with our ability or we think that we aren't good enough to make a difference. The truth is, all it really takes is only a few hours and a willing heart. The powerful love of God isn't anything we earn and it definitely isn't something that we can prepare for. But, if we are willing, He can do more for us in only a few hours, than we can do for him in a lifetime of years!

As we carry our bags and head toward the airport this morning, I want to be sure and thank EVERYONE who supported us! Anyone who donated money, items or their time and prayers- THANK YOU! There is no telling how your measure of love will impact those we are going to serve. We are so excited and geeked with great expectation for what the Lord will do! We know that this opportunity is only a small comparison of the Missionaries who have dedicated their lives to loving and serving, but we are so honored for the opportunity to work alongside them and make a difference; not just for the world, but for God's Kingdom!

It is my deepest desire that we come back with stories to tell, hope to share and love to lead us in even more amazing opportunities! Please continue to pray for us. Our journey is only beginning and we anticipate all that Christ will accomplish within us!

Thank you all, and see you soon!

~Pearls

The Greatest Commandment

If love is free, then why is it so hard to give? If love is so necessary, then why do we struggle to show it?

During our study of Crazy Love, we are being challenged with questions such as these, but not just in the pages of the book. We are experiencing it in our lives. We are being challenged by unkind co-workers, family members that have hurt us in the past, friendships that have created unfair accusations and relationships that have produced disappointments; sometimes, we even struggle with loving ourselves.

For me, I know that a topic is necessary when not only life produces opportunities to practice the topic, but also when the Holy Spirit presses upon the heart of our ministers to expound even further on the topic. God is moving and flowing in our Bible study and He has allowed situations of life to show up in our midst, to challenge us to not just discuss truth, but to practice and live it out!

Yesterday, apart of the sermon that I received in church expounded on the woman with the alabaster box (Luke 7:47). In these verses of scripture, Jesus exclaims that in order to love much, we must understand how tremendously we have been forgiven. "A person who has been forgiven little shows only a little love". In other words, Love reflects forgiveness. If I feel as if I'm not "that bad", or if I dwell on always being a victim... if I feel as if I've done nothing wrong, if I cannot see past my own circumstances and not accept the reality that ALL HAVE SINNED, then it is difficult for me to show compassion and mercy on others. How can I love those who are imperfect if I do not identify myself with imperfection? Jesus explains that this is not possible.

As Believers in Christ, we must understand that all sin requires forgiveness and that forgiveness is the ultimate act of love. Jesus forgave my sin because of His great love for me, I must forgive others because of my great love for Christ. In his book, Francis Chan goes to explain that loving people can be very difficult, because it goes against our human nature, so we must pray that God equips us with Love for others.

In the Gospels, Jesus declares that the greatest commandment is to Love God with all that we have and all that we are, and then to Love others. Why is this the greatest commandment? It's because is the most difficult and most selfless act of obedience. Loving God and loving others is the most powerful act of dying to self. As Children of God, we must extend great love to others because God has extended such great love to us. This goes hand in hand... when I love God, I can love others, When I love others, I am loving God. If this were easy, it wouldn't be the greatest commandment. But thank God we have a helper... the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength that we need to accomplish all things, for the glory of God, through His son, Christ Jesus!

Go out and love, my sisters!
~Pearls

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Love is in the air.... ahhhhh!

I know that this "holiday" is super controversial. On one hand, those who have a sweet someone special rejoice over this celebration of love! ...The hearts, the candy, the special dinners and perfume! Who doesn't love to have love poured out over them? But, if you're single, this celebratory day may done your door with feelings of irritations, frustrations, loneliness or distaste. It's a fine line between love and hate, or so they say, but regardless of your marital, dating or single status, you are dearly loved by God! His love is an everlasting love and He cherishes to pour it out on you!

Last Friday, the girls and I were able to celebrate love at our third Fundraiser for our Honduras Mission Trip! We dressed up, danced to wonderful music, took pictures, gave hugs, said our thank you's and just enjoyed each other. Our preparation for this trip has been so very intense and we've even had some bumps in the road, misunderstandings and hurt feelings to over come this past week, as which is customary to happen once in a while in any relationship. But it's the Love of God that surpasses all things and brings forgiveness, which only increases the bond of love.
Sometimes, I do wish Cupid was real. I do wish that we could just fall into a love spell with angry co-workers, rude customers, disrespectful family members or problematic people, in general. But the truth is, when I understand how deeply God loves me, well, then I am able to love others with more empathy and patience. When I am feeling forgotten or when I am wishing to have more attention in the love department, weather it be from my husband, a friend, my parents or my siblings, I try to remember that God's love is deeper than any human relationship I could ever engage myself in. The truth is, God IS LOVE! So if it is love that you are longing for, truly, it is God!

 

This year, my hopes for us all is that we don't get caught up in the "I love or I hate Valentine's Day" dilemma. Instead, let's focus on the pure and perfect love of God, through Jesus! No matter what you've done or how far you've gone, His love is strong enough to carry your through and bring you back to Him! His love is beyond passionate and His intensions towards you are eternal! And because He loves us, we can offer His love back to others in healthy and compassionate ways!

You are loved, so very much!
Happy Valentine's Day!

~Pearls