Goodbye Hawaii...Hello Colombia!

I can't believe how quick my time here in Hawaii has gone! It is a bit bittersweet in that I am excited to go on outreach, but at the same time quite sad about leaving the friends I have made here, especially my roommates! (Here are some pictures of my roommates)

Amy 

Amber!

Staci and Kathryn

Gabby

 Madisen

 Melissa

These last 9 weeks have been amazing and life changing. I feel like I have grown in my relationship with God and understanding more of his character and who I am in Him. Also I have begun to understand more about the the responsibilities that He has given me, and everyone else who chooses to follow Him, to go and 'make disciples of the nations'. So often when we become Christians we think it is all about us and what we need to do in order to 'be good Christians', but in reality it isn't about us at all. It is all about God and what He asks us to do for His kingdom, and our correct response would be obedience for the only reason being that He is worthy. People often don't like the word obedience as they may think it as living your life as submissive robots to Him, but in actuality when we choose to obey God and do what He calls us to do, our lives are a thousand times better than what we could ever come up for ourselves. God is our Father who wants to give us all things. Matt 7:11 - If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" God wants the best for us, and when our lives don't turn out according to what God wants for us, its because of the mistakes we have chosen to make. As well, when we choose to follow God wholeheartedly and accept Him into our lives, the desire to sin is not longer within us, this does not mean that Christians don't sin by any means, because everyone is still human and can't help but sin, but the desire is not longer there because God is within us. 1 John 3: 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. Romans 8: 5 - Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Together the desire to follow God wholeheartedly and follow out His calling for your life and the desire to do good and not evil, could lead Christians to changing nations.
Another idea that has stuck out to me during these lecture weeks was the concept of the 7 spheres of society and how each one of them need Christians sharing God's love. Often times when people think of being a 'good Christian' they think about missionaries out in the third world helping the poor and needy. This is a very important job, but it is no more important than a business man high up in the corporate world that is living his life as a godly man through integrity, honesty, and love or as a stay at home mom that is raising her children in a godly home. God has a calling for everyone that is unique to them and He has placed desires within them to follow out the calling. He is not going to ask someone to go out into the mission field if He has placed the desires within them to go to school for business and follow through with that, He will ask them to do something that they really love and do it for the glory of God and help bring His kingdom to earth.
I have a lot to learn still, and I hope I continue to learn more about God and what He wants me to do everyday for the rest of my life, and I know that I want to do what God asks me to do. Although it may seem hard at times I know that it is what is best for my life. At the end of my life when I am standing in front of Jesus, more than anything, I want to hear Him say "well done good and faithful servant"! I don't want to become a lukewarm Christian, but rather a Christian that is in it to win the race!

Prayer Requests:
- Safe traveling
- Health among my team (a few have been sick the last few days, so just complete healing and then continued health for those that arn't sick)
- confidence in doing whatever God asks me to do

Room Christmas party!

Thanks!
Chau :D
Rachael