Saturday, June 28, 2008

some lessons learned on S.T.I.N.T.

(ALL of the Stinters who lived either in Panama, East Asia or North Africa for a year, a number of them are returning for another year :)
  • God is able to do what he says he can do. (Lamentations 3:37 - The will of the Lord alone is always carried out.)
  • God’s will is perfect and he has perfect timing. I usually question if his will is the best one, and try to tell God when it’s time for him to do something. This is not smart. Ecclesiastes 3:11 - God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
  • Stressing about situations doesn’t make them easier to get through; they often make matters worse, me busier and more irritable.
  • God’s will is not as mysterious as I’d like it to be. In James 1:5-6 it says that I should just ask God and not doubt the answer once he tells me.
  • Some days it’s the complexities of life that discourage me. I try to make peace by figuring things out. Other days it’s the complexities that bring me joy, happiness through ignorance and peace in knowing that I am some small and God is huge. Isaiah 40:28 says that no one can measure his (God’s) understanding.
  • No matter how confused, discouraged or annoyed I am, the Holy Spirit lives inside of me and I can act out of the supernatural love within me. I do not have to follow what my flesh desires; I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Ephesians 4:2 – Be humble and patient with one another, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
  • Gods mercies are truly new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22) No matter how much I feel like I’ve abandoned God, he never abandons me. The quicker I realize this truth and accept his love, the quicker I get back into intimacy with him. If not, I tend to just blame God and ask Him why He’s abandoned me.
  • Secrecy and lies pave the way for the enemy’s work in our lives. Satan utilizes our natural tenancy to be with and influence others, so that the darkness may trickle from one person to the next. Imitation people, artificial tendencies and anything that denies truth will just eat you alive from the inside out. We are all susceptible to these lies because we’re all human.
  • Putting on the spiritual armor of the Lord daily is probably one of the largest pieces of advice I’d give anyone going into ministry. Belt of truth, Breastplate of righteousness, Shoes ready to preach peace, Shield of faith, Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit. John 10:10 - The thief comes only in order to kill, steal and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.
  • It’s like we all grew up in a garbage dump, eating it, playing with it and smelling it all the day long. You have a garbage way of life and that is what is normal and accepted. God sweeps in with real food, real toys and nice smelling things but we have to give up everything we’re used to. Most people in the dump have no clue how bad they smell, or any reason that they’d need to change. We all live in surroundings the reek with selfishness, depravity, lack of understanding and loneliness. Not until you hand the Lord your garbage can you really get something back in return, something you could never have dreamt up or imagined in the dump.
  • Loving people deeply also means hurting deeply for them, and when apart from them feeling a profound sense of loss. In the same breathe comes deep love and great pain. Amidst this, I just need to keep a thankful heart and remember the source of love that is in within me which springs forth the pain.
  • People can survive with very little. Living in villages without sufficient water (and suffering in the hospital because of digesting bad water) or electricity showed me that people do not thrive, but survive none the less. Job 31:24-25 states, Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? Does my happiness depend on my wealth and all that I own? This is something I need to keep myself “in check” about. I should be happy with every blessing great or small.
  • God allows us to go through times of desperation and utter confusion so that we might turn to him with all we are to seek the truth and comfort found in him. Sometimes this is the only way God can get through to us. Amos 5:14 – Do what is good and run from evil – that you may live! Then the Lord God Almighty will truly be your helper, just as you have claimed He is.
  • Language learning is all about humility. It’s often the hardest thing because it gives a good kick to your pride. Screwing up is the best way to remember what the right way of saying things are. (i.e – deditos means fingers, not teeth.learned that the hard way!) Proverbs 12:1 – Any who loves knowledge wants to be told when they are wrong. It is stupid to hate being corrected.
  • The story of Elijah really paved my way through the support raising process. Elijah goes through a miraculous experience of faith and God’s power in Chapter 18 of 1 Kings. I needed that faith to believe God would provide financially over my time on stint, just the way God sent down fire to display his power to those around that altar. But later in Chapter 19, Elijah, after experiencing such power, might and clear signs of God’s presence and guidance in his life is abandoned by his people until he was the only one left in communion with God. He never gave up, just as I couldn’t give up when I felt alone on stint or discouraged. After winter, must come spring.
  • Most times, it is better to keep my mouth shut, than to open it. Psalm 12:18 - Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal. It’s good that I’m verbal and like to express truth, but sometimes I need to be more careful. Proverbs 10:9 – Honest people are safe and secure, but the dishonest will be caught.
These are just a few thoughts I wrote down during debrief. My desire is that you would be able to relate, or be reminded of a few things. Now I'll head back into this crazy Canadian life I've now started...can't wait to see friends and family at my party tonight!! :D Much love, Tricia.

Thursday, June 26, 2008


Well I'm back in Canada! After a whirlwind of a week with the Canadian team in two small villages in the Interior of Panama, we finished up the time with the project of students through a week of debriefing and training. What a blast it was. Then I had about a week to pack and say goodbye. It was a hard and happy time, I turned 22 and had a birthday party with my best friend Laura. I miss her and the whole country dearly but I know that God has called me back to Canada for a purpose greater than I understand right now. Today I just left from a time of reintegration, debriefing with over 20 other men and women who experienced a S.T.I.N.T year in Panama or other areas around the world. It was necessary and refreshing, but now I'm back in the city. Ready to take on this new chapter of my life by storm. Canada, here I come!

Monday, June 16, 2008

buenas.

Buenas Tardes a todos,

2 full days left!! I have alot of things to update everyone about but my internet and phone has officially been cut and I'm at an internet cafe with not a lot of time! Just wanted to say, I'm healthy, I'm happy but very emotional and I will be in Canada soon. Crazy how quickly time flies.

Much Love,
Tricia

Friday, May 30, 2008

sweet sorrow.

Right now, I am sitting in my room thats a tad chaotic right now. I'm packing and if you know me at all, these things take a while for me to do. But this is not any ordinary pack, I've got three stations of items: 1)Packing for a 3 day R&R weekend with the students in "El Valle" 2)Packing for a week long "Adventure Cycle" experience where I'll be leading a team of students through the time of their life in the interior of Panama (no shampoo allowed! haha we're ruffing it) 3)Packing for a couple days of "Debrief" to do some training, relaxing etc. with the students before they go back to Canada. 4)Collecting all the things I won't be needing in these three locations or my last week to send home with a student who lives in Canada. Confused? I leave tomorrow, first to R&R, then to the interior (Cocle), Debrief and then I have a week to pack up my life here...

But you know what, all of this running around is more than worth it when I see all the amazing things that have taken place this week and actually the whole month that the Canadian students have been down assisting the stint team and starting new ventures of their own. Yesterday was the last weekly meeting on the National Campus. Today marked the last day of on Campus for my whole S.T.I.N.T. year. I went to a Concert this afternoon arranged by Panamanian campus staff at the technological university (U.T.P) and had to do nothing behind the scenes! It was amazing to sit back and enjoy. I sat there listening as a friend of mine played some of his original songs..with a gut rut of sadness in leaving this wonderful country and this amazing job I've been blessed with all year. But after the concert I witnessed changed hearts so excited about God's love for them and dedicating their lives to serve Him. It's so simple and so liberating. The same joy students get when they hear that God loves them and has a plan for their lives is the joy I have deep down when I know that leaving Panama is part of His plan for me. It's hard to explain..."sweet sorrow" as Shakespeare put it. Now back to packing...until next time!

Monday, May 19, 2008

bienvenidos, panama project.


Well here they are folks, the crazy Canadian students that have given up a good chunk of their summer to see Gods hand at work on the campuses here. These 14 Students + 5 Full time Canadian Staff + 6 Stinters = a great mix of people really passionate about encouraging students to make long lasting changes in Panama. Thus far, the students were split into 3 groups and have been working on 4 different Campuses, Interamericana, 2 Universidades de Panamá (one in Santiago and one in Panama City) and the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. These students have already made an amazing impact in the lives of many students. Especially on small campuses like Interamericana, you bump into people time and time again that have been impacted by spiritual conversations, and decisions made to live for Christ. A quote taken from an information sheet given to Canadians students signing up for project states:

The ministry in Latin America is at a critical stage of renewal; a new generation of staff and student leaders are being raised up. This next generation has a vision to reach their country and be a catalyst to impacting all of Central and South America with the life transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
What has been amazing for me to witness is just the amazing joy and drive these students from Canada have. Day after day, I see God's hand at work through their faithfulness to Him. It is a wonderful thing for me to see things accomplished that our STINT team just wouldn't have been able to pull of because we're only 6. There have already been 56 decisions made by students to follow Christ with their lives. I am working alongside the different teams here, discipling two amazing girls and continuing to equip students leaders to take on whatever it is God is calling them do. I feel unexplainable joy and completely fulfilled. This is only because of the amazing God that I serve. He gives me the strength and passion I need to live for him and to help others along in the amazing adventure that is following Christ. Jesus, after talking about the relationship God wants to have with us, says in John 15:11, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Today I have experienced God's words from the bible, living and active inside of me. JOY! I'm full of it! May you receive God's truth and joy today.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

where the love lasts forever.


I am sitting here at a Bagel Cafe (I never thought I would find bagels in Panama!) just a block away from the University. We had a staff meeting here, I took some quiet time with God and then had discipleship with a couple girls from Interamericana. All I really need is wireless internet, food and a couch to stay put in one place. I truly thank God for the areas in which I can see His Holy Spirit at work in my heart and in the student's hearts that I work with. What has been really cool these last couple of days is witnessing the Canadian Students dive right into interacting with Students on Campus and really enjoying Panama.

I do admit that the arrival of the Canadian Project students put me into a state of morning, only because their arrival meant the end of my Stint year as I've known it. But, that initial sadness has been replaced with joy because of all that Christ has done and will do through them. As we prayed on campus this morning for the day and the conversations the students would have on campus, I looked around and saw 20 passionate students and God's favor and smile as we sought God. As I sit here, I think of a lyrics to the song I listened to that brought tears to my eyes...

So I throw my life upon all You are,
‘Cause I know You gave it all for me,
And when all else fades,
My soul will dance.... with You,
Where the love lasts Forever.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

family.

This past month I've had the pleasure of having both my mom and my sister come visit at different times. I was privileged to take them both away for a weekend and spend some quality time catching up. These visits were an answer from my faithful God because I was beginning to desperately miss home. I loved seeing my sweet mother and Mel is still with me here but is leaving soon!! They have both been a breathe of fresh and air. So thank you for all of you faithful prayers, God has richly blessed me with their presence and He is helping me get prepared to go home in about a month and a half now. Dios ha sido bueno...