This past Monday I was just feeling
worn out for many reasons. I literally had been sick for a few days and it was
beginning to affect my spirit. I expressed this during our team time and one of
our leaders, Blair, reminded me that I needed to take care of myself first. He
asked me if I had been getting enough time with the Lord lately and I realized
that I really hadn't. Blair told me if I felt that I didn't need to go to
ministry that day and that my time would be better spent with the Lord, do it.
So that afternoon I took a time of solitude. I spent most of the day out under
a pavilion on the property of the base. Usually when I feel like this, there is
some kind of unconfessed sin in my life, but I had no idea at this point what
it could be. As I began to journal asking the Lord what was happening he told
me clearly to "roll over". At home I enjoy going to parks to lay down to look
at the underside of trees. Even before I obeyed I knew it wouldn't look like
the trees I love to be romanced by and told that to God. He said "I know,
that's the point," so I obeyed and rolled over. I began to compare the
beautiful brilliant blue sky and the charred ceiling directly above me. The
Lord then began to make it clear what he wanted me to learn, here is an excerpt
from my journal that I wrote as if God was speaking not me. "What I make is so much more beautiful than
what men can make. Don't try to make yourself. Don't look to others to make you
who you are by depending on them for sole guidance. They (the leaders mainly) are put there for a
reason but they should never be the sole source of wisdom in your life." I've
struggled with this for some time but especially when I go some place new and
leaders are already in place. Praise the Lord it only took me two weeks to
remember this tendency and begin to take actions to stop it! And as I was still
relishing in the fact that I had heard so directly from the Lord, the song Stars came on. The lyrics are posted
below but this song is for me is just associated with immense times of growth
or revelations from the Lord.  *Sigh* I
feel restored and life is good.

Funny story, about a week ago I
found myself crossing the boarder back into Mexico with just Erin. Erin is 26
and is on staff with AIM at the base here. She's helping us out with everything
from translating to just being an extra leader when we need it and all that
that entails. I have really been getting to know her well over the past two
weeks as we've found ourselves helping out with same activities. So crossing
the boarder we were stopped and searched on the Mexican side. Not anything out
of the ordinary really. I caught a few words as Erin rattled off some Spanish
to the Mexican solider. He asked her if we were sisters, as we're both blonde,
she said "no, mi amiga". He then asked her some more, she motioned to me at one
point and continued to talk and then laughing said "No se" (I don't know). He
asked my name , she introduced me and then we said "adios" and left. She asked
me if I caught any of that and of course I hadn't really so she explained on
the way home. The solider had asked her where we were headed, she told him. He
then asked if we were sisters and if her husband worked at the base, she
replied that she didn't have a husband and he then asked if she had a
boyfriend. At that point she motioned to me and said that I did but she didn't.
Then he asked if she liked Mexican soldiers. At this point she laughed nervously and said, "No se". Such is the
downside to being a blonde that speaks Spanish. I know this is not the first
time we will be flirted with for sure but hopefully it won't be a weekly
occurrence. Sure makes for a fun story to tell though! ;)

Sorry I haven't posted any pictures
yet. The wireless is very slow on to upload, especially when all of us are on
it. Go to the Novas site and look for recent posts made by other teammates of
mine.

Stars lyrics

You should see the
stars tonight

How they shimmer shine so bright

Against the black they look so white

Comin' down from such a height

To reach me now, reach me now

You should see the moon in the flight

Cuttin' cross the misty night

Softly dancin in sunshine

Reflections of this light

Reach me now, you reach me now

And how could such a thing

Shine its light on me

And make everything beautiful again

And you should feel the sun in the spring

Comin' out after a rain

Suddenly all is green

Sunshine on everything

I can feel it now, I feel you now

And how could such a thing

Shine its light on me

And make everything beautiful

And you should hear the angels sing

All gathered round their king

More beautiful than you could dream

I've been quietly listening

You can hear 'em now, I hear ‘em now

And how could such a king

Shine His light on me

And make everything beautiful

And I wanna shine

I wanna be light

I wanna tell you it'll be alright

And I wanna shine and I wanna fly

Just to tell you now

It'll be alright, it'll be alright

It'll be alright.

‘Cause I got nothing of my own to give to you

But this light that shines on me shines on you

And makes everything beautiful, again.

It'll be alright, it'll be alright.

Erin's blog - http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org

Blair's blog - http://blairnightingale.myadventures.org

Love you all!

Katie