Dear Family and Friends
Life has been desperately busy since I returned home from Monterrey 3 weeks ago. I have found very little time to sit and reflect on the past months experiences until now. The same day I returned to Austin, I left with my family to a camp in Navasota for families with disabilities with Joni and Friends Ministries. We have attended this camp ever since I was six. However, for the past 3 years, I have been serving on staff. It was a great place to be for my first week of re-immersion into the states. Right after that was done with my church's summer outreach program kicked off. The Great Adventure was a great time where the gospel was spread and relationships were started. In between all of this, I have been working.
This is my first week were I have nothing to do besides work. It remains very relaxing. However, at the same time, I am not sure what to do with myself. So here I sit in reflection. Let me share with you a little more of what God showed me in June 2009.
God showed me His shelter.
I knew the theme for the summer would be shelter in March. Therefor from the very beginning I prayed that God would make His shelter very real to me. The God of the ages came through. Shelter goes beyond a physical place of protection. The shelter that Psalmist refers to in psalms 91 is one of spiritual implications. If you read Psalms 91, you will see promises of God's protection. ' no harm will befall on you, no disaster will come near your tent'. Those are some big promises especially in world in which we know pain, suffering, and harm exist. In a world in which there are orphans, and there is sickness and disease. How do we mix these to realities, the promise of no harm and the pain that exist to even those that truly do dwell in God's shelter? One might try to question God, and say why did you allow this, I thought you promised. Who are we to question the sovereignty of God? After losing everything, Job questions God. In response, for 3 chapters (39-41) God rebukes Job and shows him the Glory of the Lord Almighty. 'Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?' We can Not know better then God. Everything that happens lies in accordance to His will. In chapter 42, Job recognizes God's ultimate power and glory. Job later sees the purposes of his suffering. 'The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more then the first.' How do we mix these two realities? One word, JESUS. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33. We are often missing the point. ' Shelter is not about the absence of trouble, but through the overcoming power of Jesus we can find the joy and peace of God's presence in the midst of whatever happens.' That is the shelter that psalmist is talking about. How do we get there? How do we experience this shelter? Its around you all the days of your life. You must chose to dwell in it. Not visit it but dwell in it. Completely rest in His will and you shall find the Shelter of the Lord your God. "There are no if's in God's world. And no places that are safer then other places. The center of His will is our only safety. Let us pray that we may always know it' Betsie Ten Boom.
God showed me His glory.
Through his revelation of shelter to me and other moments were the spirit worked in my heart, God showed me His glory. Through the beauty that surrounded me in the mountains of Monterrey, God showed me His glory. Through the life of the orphan child, God showed me His glory. Through the love, joy, peace, and hope of Christ God showed me His glory.
He makes EVERYTHING GLORIOUS.
God gave me Reliance of Him.
I could not have survived the intense work of the first 6 weeks of summer if it was not for God. He gave me the physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to push on. I pray that I shall ever rely on Him and His strength, not my own.
I would like to Thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support. You helped make so much possible. You prayed, You gave, and God moved. Through the overwhelming blessing of Christ, an extra 1,000 dollars exactly was raised for the internship. The entire sum was given to Casa Jogar Douglas to be used towards their church and home. Pray that the church at Douglas will continue to be a spiritual shelter for the children. They still need your prayers. Please continue to pray for the children of Monterrey, Mexico and the staff of Back2Back Ministries.
I built so many awesome relationships over the summer with the youth, the children, and the staff. I deeply desire to return during the year in order to continue building these relationships. I have also been told I have to because I am not far away. We will see what God has planned. As far as next summer goes, it is in prayer. I plan to continue to use this blog to communicate as God continues to shape my heart for Him, His children, and His mission.
Dios te Bandiga
Andrew Dixon
"He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."
Psalms 91:4
