So, I have been really bad about writing blogs recently....with school, two jobs, and day to day life, I have found it not a priority, but yay for days off!! Today is Veteran's day, and I am extremely thankful for the men and women who have fought for our country, sacrificing their time, families, and lives for my freedom.
A Few Updates
- I graduated from the University of North Florida with my degree in Deaf Education. I am currently working on my Master's degree, and have only 389 days until graduation!
- My younger brother, James, married the love of his life, Jen, this past summer! I am thankful for such a wonderful sister-in-law! James is now the associate pastor at Calvary Church in Conway, Arkansas! They have seen several teenagers accept Christ in the last month!
- I survived one full year of teaching High-School students! I am half way through my second year, and I absolutely love my students. I'm not going to lie, there are days when I leave my classroom completely overwhelmed with a full range of emotions, but the next day I always return with a smile on my face.
About a month ago, my Petén family came to town to visit Shelley's family. Her grandmother had been very ill, and God gave them the opportunity to come and spend a few weeks with her. It is not easy seeing your loved ones hurting, but Shelley and her mom, Kaye, did everything they could to make Grandma Wooten comfortable. I am thankful for the legacy that has been passed down in their family. A legacy of faith and faithfulness. All three of these women mean a great deal to me, and I am blessed to be able to call them family!
While they were here, we were able to brainstorm, discuss, and our vision for reaching the lost of Petén A lot of exciting things are taking place with the Kekchi Bible Institute and our church in San Pancho. Jimmy has been experimenting with the tilapia farming, chicken tractors, corn crops, and so much more. Shelley has been working hard on the props for the Christmas play the church will be putting on. Things are also beginning to come together for "Signs of Hope" the ministry for the deaf in Petén.
Two weeks ago Greg and Jeanette Summerville, along with their three youngest children, came to visit with me. This family are missionaries working with the deaf in Jutiapa, Guatemala, a province in the southeastern part of Guatemala. Our hearts for the deaf in Guatemala are very similar, and God has given us the same vision in reaching the deaf. There heart is to see a Bible in the language of the deaf of Guatemala, which is LSG, the Guatemalan Sign Language. There are over 20 million deaf people all over the world, with less than 1% who has accepted Christ as their Savior, which makes the deaf are one of the largest unreached people groups. Right now there are roughly 400 Sign Languages, and only the New Testament has been translated in one Sign-Language, American Sign Language. Currently they are developing a website to teach LSG, which will be extremely helpful to my future ministry in Petén and to the translation of the Bible into LSG. While they were here Greg uploaded 2,500 video clips of LSG vocabulary to my external hard drive - a huge blessing! Please pray for the Summervilles as they travel across the US raising support; they will be returning to Guatemala in the beginning of January.
In my free time, I have been working on writing the 501 C (3) for Signs of Hope. One of my dearest friends is currently working with establish non-profit groups as a part of her undergraduate work. When Briana comes home in December, we will spend some serious time brainstorming ideas in raising funds. Please pray that we can have everything ready by March, and the IRS will approve the 501 C (3) by the Fall.
The closer I get to moving to Guatemala, the harder Satan seems to fight. James 1:19 reminds me that I believe that I am who Christ says I am and not the numbing sum of Satan's accusations. I believe in order to find myself, I must lose myself in all that is glory and grade. I believe that I am loved and not despised, held and not forsaken, cherished not rejected, and enjoyed not just endured. I believe that "at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Let the demons tremble.
"God is looking for people to use, and if you can get usable, he will wear you out. The most dangerous prayer you can pray is this: 'Use me.' " - Rick Warren
Let me add, the most dangerous, yet exciting prayer you can pray is this: Use me!!
