Go unto the world...: Our Classroom : the World

It has been two weeks since our last Haiti meeting. Our homework is to use the world and our everyday lives as the classroom. The teachers are God's people and the holy spirit.* I personally feel like I should get an A+ in this so called classroom of Missoula.

At the "deciding" to go to Haiti meeting awhile ago my brother J.D. was giving us all the raw details of what this trip would entail. Not much of it bothered me much except getting my shots (check!) and having common sense. Now some of you might be thinking "Jes, you have common sense" but no joke I seriously thought I couldn't got to Haiti because I had no common sense. I told several people afterwards "well... looks like I can't go" and many thought I was being silly. But this was weighing heavily on my heart.

I cannot tell you how many times I have bought random crap from the vendors in the malls of Portland and on the streets all because I couldn't say no. I would leave feeling taken advantage of and stupid. No common sense. I am the type of person who won't t say anything to the waiter if they have gotten my meal wrong or go to the mechanic if there is a strange sound in my car until I'm stranded on the side of the road. And sometimes I am the daughter calling her dad to bring gas because I have run out... again. No common sense. Are you starting to see a pattern here?!

A few weeks ago, for whatever reason I decided to skip my math class. Instead, I was spending time with Landon, cleaning and working on Haiti stuff. Around 11 or so I got a call from a Los Angeles number and I ignore it. They kept calling and left voice messages. After listening to the messages, they sounded urgent and threatening so I called the number back. Sure enough it was scam, but with my history of no common sense and ignorance I fell right into this mans game. Most people after just listening to the voice message would have ignored it but I couldn't. The more this man talked I thought he could be legit but also a part of me knew something wasn't right. After spending a hour in tears with him, I FINALLY told him I had to change my sons diaper and put him down for a nap, then immediately called 911 to make sure I wasn't being arrested.

Now I can look back and laugh but in that moment I was so scared. My bestie Courtney left work early that day to come to the police department with me for some extra piece of mind. The narcotics cop was a no non sense kind of guy and had my back. At the end of the day I was so proud of myself. After looking back on the day I realized that I was stronger than I thought. And having COMMON SENSE I walked away from this situation holding my head a little higher. But most of all ready for Haiti!

"...So that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of GOD." 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

says: "Your travel choices within the next year will bring serendipity"

Now that my two concerns about Haiti had been prayed about and overcome, I feel unstoppable and confident. Well, now for part two of my homework, the "treasure hunt". God is inviting us on us on treasure hunt. Our privilege is to be so led by the spirit of God that we can find treasures in this new context that had been hidden from our eyes previously.*

Remember, no matter where you are our world is a classroom, so how can we seek these treasures through the people that we serve. Let me show you how...

Walk with humility- keep in mind you are showing up late to a meeting. God has been at work among these people long before you arrived.*
Embrace with affirmation- your greatest gift to the people you meet will be affirmation, not criticism.*
Live with Vulnerability- don't be afraid of weakness- it's normal.*
Practice flexibility- Always expect the unexpected. your not in control.*
Live as a studentt- be determined to learn from everyone.*
Work as a servant-be willing to whatever needs to be done.*
Speak as a story teller- let the spirit tell God's story through you.* (check!)

This past week I was really working on "practicing flexibility". I LOVE to plan ahead and be on time and when that doesn't work out I feel stressed and anxious. So I made the effort to let it go. My mom would call and say "I lost track of time, so now I'm late for watching Landon...", normally I would freak out but I truly would let it go and say "no worries", and I worked on my mailing out my Haiti fundraising letters.


Minus the sippy cup, I mailed out 11 letters. Each card had "my story" inside(which can be found in my blog), a reply form and envelope to send money. I specially ordered mailing labels with my name in fancy writing and bought traveling stickers(like for scrap-booking) for the back of the envelopes. Not too Shabby!

By working on my personal "treasure hunt", it has made me more conscious of my surroundings and reaction to everything that happens in my life and to make more of an effort to be kind and understanding.

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere" ~Chinese Proverb

Be kind to one another,
Jes