http://net.bible.org/#!bible/2+Samuel+6:13

Jessie’s free translation:

So David was wearing a preists robe- practically a dress, and dancing with all his might. Picture a mennonite (like me) getting really into a really catchy song and dancing when they think no one is watching. Thats David. He is the only one dancing. He could just shout and blow a trumpet like the rest of the nation he is king over, but he was only thinking about his God. When God’s ark and the whole parade of people came into the city, Michal (Davids first wife, the daughter of Isreal’s first king) looked out and saw David dancing and despised him. She was turned off, she thought him worthless. After taking care of the ark and the people, David goes home to bless it. In his joyful mood, he is greeted by a wife that is embarassed and angered by Davids shameless dancing. Michal rebukes him for it, but David has not actually done anything wrong. He then rebukes her, and tells her it was for God (plus he throws in a burn about how her dad sucked as a king and so God chose David over her dad), and pronounces that he is willing to look more ridiculous than he already was. Then Michal has no kids (I think that was God’s way of confirming that what David did was right…).

Being open to looking absolutely ridiculous is something that I struggle with. I care way too much about what others think, and that stops me from doing a lot of things. Open Door Believers Chapel in Belize showed me just how much of a hang up I have. The congregation is fine with singing at the top of their lungs, and fine with dancing around, arms outstretched to their Father; the One that loves them unconditionally, and the One that they love with all their might. I’m not saying that they looked ridiculous, or that their singing was awful, because it wasn’t. It was beautiful, and made me want to cry out to God. In my experience, everyone who loves God in Belize doesn’t care what others think about how they praise and worship God. So while I was standing in the middle of the congregation, I sang my heart out.

I’m not saying that we should purposely dance like a goof to prove how much we love and need God, that would still be caring about people who are watching. I am saying that we should love God with all our might, like no one is watching. This is something I will be thinking about for a while, and hopefully putting into practice. Besides, if I truly make an effort to love God, the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

 -Jessie

Enough time to get used to something. Three weeks in Belize and I was pretty much used to what we were doing. In the time we were in Belize I had time to get used to my surroundings and things that our team did on a regular basis, but then there was always unexpected things being thrown into the mix as well which sometimes kept me on the edge or out of my comfort zone. Many of these unexpected events gave me great opportunities to put my faith in action and definitely helped me to grow in Christ.  After about a week and a half I got to a point where I was so mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted that I had ask God to carry me through the day (silly me and not asking God to do this for me everyday), and God did, showing His great faithfulness. I had time to build some relationships with fellow youth from Churches in Belize, as well as become familiar with kids from some of the schools we volunteered at regularly. I was witness to many miraculous acts of God working with and through people who completely relied on Him. It was enough time that I almost didn’t want to leave.

It has now been more than a week since we’ve returned and I’ve had time to think about what I’ve learned, and I think most of it applies to my future. I feel God has been calling me to some kind of career in ministry, here in Canada, or perhaps somewhere abroad, and while I was in Belize I felt God’s gentle nudges becoming stronger (or maybe I’m just paying more attention now?). But the most important thing I’ve learned is trust in God, and that as long as I am serving God in every aspect of my life I am doing God’s will.

Jack

This quotation was on the wall in a mission house that we stayed in and I think it sums up what I was learning throughout the trip. I can’t say that I have or will ever master the “passion for obedience” but I know I’m getting there. As the weeks in Belize passed I was becoming increasingly open to uncomfortable changes such as sharing my testimony in front of big groups of people. In case you didn’t know, I am by no means a public speaker and I had to rely on God more than ever when I was outside my comfort zone like that. One can learn quite a lot when they have almost no choice but to trust God and I hope I actually end up in those situations more often. Whenever I chose to give the situation to God I had to practice letting Him be in charge of the outcome too instead of evaluating my own efforts. I think that lesson was the biggest one for me. 

I want to share two highlights from the trip. One was working in the different schools and hanging out with the kids there. We held chapel services, assisted in the classrooms and played with them at recess. We were all overwhelmed with the love they showed us and I hope we communicated that same love back. My other highlight was when a few of us went to a more remote village called Valley of Peace to help build more classrooms. The work was hard but enjoyable and meaningful. We were blessed to stay in a beautiful mission house in the rainforest during our time there. All in all, it was a really fantastic trip that will be remembered for a very long time. I’ve always felt a call to full time missions and this trip has only made me more excited about it! … more scared… but more excited! 

[I decided not to take my fancy camera along so as to keep it safe and in a place where it would not be distracting me. My old camera did a decent job the few times I took it out.]. 

Morgan Braun