Count it all JOY!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Off we go! 18 DCS seniors – 2 MUSC students – 3 ladies packed and ready for an adventure no one could predict but completely ordained and perfectly planned by our Lord and Savior! In faith we go! Laura Shelley, Charles Quick, and Drew Massengale graciously agreed to chauffeur us to the beach. After dinner at Coastal Grand, we went to Forest Brook Baptist Church where Johnny Rickenbacker arranged for us to graciously be hosted on our first night of the mission
trip. With an early flight and day light savings time – we did not want to miss our flight. The facility was perfect – a large gym with a volleyball net and basketball goals. Johnny led the team in a charge and prayer. He encouraged the students with great words of wisdom followed by prayer. We unpacked the van and cars and held our first team meeting where we looked at

Philippians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

My prayer over and over for the entire senior class has been this very prayer. In addition, over
the last month in class we have been really focusing on James 1. We determined that this week – we would “Count it all Joy.”

The students played several games –a game name icebreaker, Ninja, Chicken in the hen house, volleyball, basketball, spin Ben and much more. It was midnight before we knew it (oops –spring forward – 1 a.m.) and time to hit the sleeping bags. At least that was the plan – they were way too wired to sleep. There were giggles and whispers – too much excitement. At 3 am I conceded – I went to the bathroom where Hannah S, Paige, Hannah Ford, and Savannah were already getting their hair and make-up on – ARE YOU KIDDING????:) Count it all Joy!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Alarm bells whistled at 4:30 – Jay Horne, Drew, and Charles drove us to the airport – we were
perfectly on time – intended arrival time in San Juan – 1:00 pm (with daylight savings – our time is the same) However, what followed will be a “how to” guide on getting to Charlotte, NC in 26 hoursJ Count it all joy! We went up to the desk to check in only to find out a flight attendant got sick at midnight and they cancelled the flight. The tour company had failed to put my number in the system – so they could not call us. – Count it all Joy! This began a 7 hour wait to determine if they could even book us on a flight – Atlanta, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Philadelphia,
Charleston….every 10 minutes they thought they had another possibility – it was the most unreal experience imaginable.

Drew graciously stayed and hauled everyone to breakfast……then to lunch…..and at the last hour – Spirit agreed to take us if we could get to Ft. Lauderdale – once all the documents were processed – we had about 10 minutes to get through security and board the plane. Up, up and away – to Charlotte we go – landing 26 hours after leaving Dillon! Count it all Joy! From Charlotte we had a quick layover and then to Ft. Lauderdale. Once in Ft. Lauderdale – we had a nightmare experience getting everyone’s luggage picked-up and reprocessed – extra fees and lots of hassle. Count it all Joy! Then security – the line was so long – but we finally made it to our terminal – only to find out there were no restaurants – our layover was 4 hours – in order to eat
we would have to go back through security . Yes – Count it All Joy!!! We left – ate – came back and with a team of 23 spread all over the floor we waited for the airplane. It had been a long, long day! But in the midst of it all – I never had one team member complain to me – they were amazing – even handing out crosses and encouraging the workers who were trying to get us to San Juan. Count it all Joy!

At 10:45p.m. we boarded the plane – the computers went down and they had to manually process passengers after making us late departing but finally - at midnight – we took
off for San Juan. We really were going to make it! Count it All Joy! We landed in San Juan around 2 o’clock, very weary, but glad to be here. Our tour guide Jimmy and bus driver Carlos met us and drove us to the hotel. By 3:30 a.m. most of the students were in bed but unlike last night – there were no giggles or whispers - just sleep! COUNT IT ALL JOY!

Monday, March 12, 2012

4 ½ hours later – the wake up calls began – it is a ministry day! We met for breakfast, gathered our goods, andloaded up for the orphanage and battered women’s home. Our trip was one hour. Holly shared that during her quiet time this morning she had read about being fishers of men – it was her devotion today and she delighted in God’s timing. We again went to James 1 for the group devotion – and recounted the JOY of arriving and the fact that God was ordering our steps. Satan has tried mightily to discourage this team – but he is no match for our God! We are with faith – trusting God’s leading.

James 1:26 says:
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Today is about the women and children – loving them in the name of the Lord. (As the day goes on, however, we will also look at keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world.) This is one of 9 facilities in San Juan for children and women. Family members are not allowed to know what facility a child or woman is placed for their own protection – we cannot even
take photos of the women or children. They have lived through horrific circumstances. Upon arrival, we are given a tour – it is a gated area, very modest, with a few concrete buildings. One is the kitchen and eating area. There are 2 small homes for the women and children, a small office, a small meeting room, and a prayer room. We set up a table where the team takes turn praying over the children by name, the workers by name, all 25 seniors by name – including those serving in Dillon, and for Puerto Rico. Kin, Art, Townsend, and Chad begin demolition on a rotten roof. Jonathon, Chad, Savannah, Luke, Holly, Hannah S, Paige, Emily, Michael H, Michael R, Nick, Courtney M, Courtney J, Lexie, and Reagan began painting. Hannah Ford began set up of the arts and crafts. The students rotated around to various places helping accomplish the tasks. The painting crew played 100 questions revealing all sorts of things from favorite Disney movies, to worst food ever tasted, to scariest moment, etc. They have learned a lot about each other. The orphanage prepared a great lunch of rice, pork, pears, and salad. After lunch, several team members finished the work while the rest began making visors with the children. I wish there were photos we could share. Kin had one boy on his shoulders – then Townsend – Savannah chased a lizard with a little girl and caught it – Hannah F played
ball, all of our students were interacting great with the children. Count is All Joy!!! I am not sure who enjoyed the time more – our seniors – or the children. Laughter, joy, love – all in one beautiful picture. When it was time to go – the tears were so hard. They did not want us to
leave – we promised to return tomorrow – but many of the children are so young – they were desperate for love – and desired so much for us to stay and spendmore time with them.

We came back to the hotel – had a quick switch and walked about a mile to the beach for a
quick swim – many of the students swam and a few went on a walk – all at sunset. The ocean was beautiful and the sky was the perfect blend of pink and blue – Count it All Joy! We quickly changed and had dinner at a restaurant beside the hotel. Chicken, steak or fish – rice and beans. It was delicious.

At 9:45 we met for our team devotion and meeting. Jimmy shared from Joshua 14:6-14:
6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because
you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’ 10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved
about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites
were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

He explained that we can learn so much from the life of Caleb – to live patiently and to follow God wholeheartedly.

Art shared his testimony which was wonderful! He really challenged the group with powerful
words. He read 1 John 1:8-9:

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. He told a story about a lawyer who called a slave and said that his owner had left him $50,000. The slave took none. Then months later the lawyer called and said – you have all this money – don’t you want some – and the slave asked for 50
cents for some cornmeal – he was starving yet he only wanted a small, small portion of what was his. This is how we are with God – there is so much He desires for each of our lives – but we choose to settle for so much less than is our inheritance in Him. He charged the seniors three things:

1. Dig into the Word of God for yourself – don’t settle for someone else’s theology – read it –
claim it for yourself
2. Find a group to talk about your sin – get an accountability group
3. Don’t buy into the lie about success

We opened the floor for the seniors to share how God had spoken to them throughout the day – I love this part!!! They shared such precious stories about the children, moments in the plane, the airport, and while on the beach – it is neat to hear them openly share about the way God is speaking to their hearts. Count it All Joy!!!!

I left them with one closing thought – everyone was so moved by the children – the longing for relationship – the desperation to spend more time together. I told them a prayer I had for them this week was that they would daily increase in their longing for a relationship with God – that they would have that same desperation to have more time with God. God has so very much for each of us – and yet we settle for the 50 cents. Oh that we all would desire all that he offers!

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Philippians 3)

Count it All Joy!!!!