Seasons and Mexico Plans

Oh my goodness...honk if you're loving the Autumness. The windows are open as I clack, and I'm loving the cool air. (Sorry Banana, my fall post is late as usual, but your giveaway was wonderful!) It's my favorite time of year, but it sure doesn't last long. It makes me so happy to get the sweaters out, have bonfires and hayrides, eat Thanksgiving food, and bask in the changing leaves.
You know what's so amazing about the paradox of it all? It's not a new thought, but it's nice to simmer on it...
Fall is breathtakingly beautiful--all the colors, the weather, etc.
But in truth, fall is really a death.
It's the funeral of spring and summer's labor of growth.
Now it all dies, making way for winter's finalization and sleep. To make way for spring again.
Are we only seeing the grotesque side of our "death"?
Can we trust our Abba enough to see the beauty in it too?


Today marks exactly one year since I stepped on Mexico soil for the first time. And, Lord willing, we will be there again in exactly 6 days. We plan to visit the two boarding schools we visited before--I'm anxious to see if the same children we met last year are still there. Three little girls I spent the most time with there were Lucina, "Daisy" (pronunciation and spelling may be incorrect) and Maria. I will definitely post pictures and let you know once I'm back if I get to see them again. :)
My brothers Justin (17) and Jonathon (15), sister Phelisha (19), cousin Mary (17), and one of our fellow Swat members, Alex (16, Alex was with our team last year :) ) are among our team of 16 this year. We'll be visiting churches and some evangelism. Our heart and mission is to focus on the love of God for us, and His command to love one another. It's been amazing how the Lord is working things together, and it keeps pointing back to this: His Love.
We're hoping to encourage the churches we visit, assist the missionary family in whatever the put us to work with, perform the Everything skit during evangelism and church visits, do puppet shows, clowing and music for the children, and whatever else the Lord leads. One of our team members is a dental hygenist, and will even be giving demonstrations on brushing--we're taking toothbrushes and paste for the children too.
It's been so neat to see the team members putting together their talents to help in many ways. Reminds me of the people giving for the temple in 1 Chronicles--David praised God because God is the one who gives us gifts so that we can give something. :) The glory always returns to Him.

I'm in a current season of the Lord revealing more of my heart. When we pray as David prayed, "Search me"...I think the Lord already knows what's there. Maybe we ask Him to search us so He can share His findings--especially the unfruitful parts. Lately I've found myself becoming what Max Lucado and Brennan Manning calls the Rock-Stacking Spiritual Monitor. :) I pray to share the thoughts on Cameratismo soon.

Thats all for news. :) I will say goodbye with a prayer request--please pray for our team! We have only 6 days until go-time. My hope is that we take these last few days at home in careful preparation, forgetting ourselves and completely enveloped in what the Lord has for us to do (even if it's not what we had in mind!). His will, not ours, be done.
Thank you, and happy fall!