hangin out at the plex...look at all these great people...they're weird but cool...Priase God for new friends!

Pentecost and the Gifts of God

HAPPY PENTECOST!!!
On pentecost with the holy spirit filling their hearts the disciples left the upper room...and began to preach to all the nations. Full of God's grace and the holy spirit I now do the same. I leave my fears behind and begin to do His holy and gracious will. I can no longer fear why I'm here or if I will succeed. I now only trust that I am in God's will and all that I do will be blessed by HIm. In my first few weeks in Virginia He has made His blessings to me so apparent.
A quick recap. Moved to Virginia last friday. (over a week ago). Spent a week full of getting
the essentials...a car, bank account, and cell phone. Crazy things but unfortunately necessary. Went to my sisters graduation and was inspired looking at the medical students graduating...that will be me in a few years (God willing). I have definitely struggled in the last few weeks...there is such a desperation in the united states. I am constantly astonished while walking down the street to see the emptiness of the souls around me...desperately searching for something and looking in all the wrong places. But perhaps that is my mission here to be a light of truth and hope in what can be a hopeless world. All I know is that Imiss Honduras...but I am in God's will and HE is my strength and all I need.
I have already been in touch with some great people in C.Ville and am looking forward to seeing how Missioners can grow there in abundance. There is a thirst for the truth and God willing I can be a part of that. A part of the "I thirst..." movement to as my brother has said...to enter into the wounds...not just the woundedness of others but also the holes in my own heart and soul. To let God continue to challenge me and strengthen me in this new phase of my life. Sorry...getting a little abstract.
I have left Charlottesville for a few days and now am in Virginia Beach. God is so faithful and great to me. What a privledge and honor to be surrounded by such holy people and to be challenged here. As much as I miss Honduras and as hard as this is...I trust in God. He is already providing the support and friendship and fellowship that I need to survive. He is so faithful!! Praise HIM!!!
Not too much more to report...struggling but surviving by the Grace of God! Please continue to pray for and with me.


FeLIZ PENTECOSTES~~
Los discipulos salieron del sala arriba con la gracia y inspiracion del espiritu santo para predicar el evangelio. Ya con la gracia de Dios yo voy a hacer la misma cosa. Ya lleno del espiritu santo yo voy a dejar mis miedos para hacer la santa voluntad de Dios. NO mas puedo tener miedo de porque estoy aqui o que voy a fracasar...se que estoy en el voluntad de Dios y tengo que seguir en fe con lo que El esta preguntandome. En mis primeros semanas en Virginia El me ha monstrado sus bendiciones.
Bueno...un resumen. Yo llegue en Virginia hace mas que una semana...mis primeros dias eran llenos de cosas practicas. Comprando un carro, encontrando una cuenta de cheque, un cellular, apartamento...muchos cosas..pero necesicarios. Fue al graduacion de mi hermana y fue inspirado de ver los alumos de universidad de medicina...va a ser yo en algunos anos!!
Es bien cierto...yo he luchado MUcHO en los semanas pasado en EEUU. Hay un desperacion aqui que es tan claro. Un vacilidad de corazon y de alma que duele de ver. Personas tan solos y perdidos buscando la felicidad en cosas y personas y llegando vacio. Es posible de ver la oscuridad aqui...algunos veces me da miedo de ver que tanto control tiene el diablo aqui...pero me da un proposito. Tal vez parte de mi trabajo aqui es de ser una luz de verdad y esperanza en este mundo. Yo rezo que puedo tener la fuerza para hacerlo. Solo se que extrano a Honduras y todos uds. MUCHISIMO....pero se tambien que estoy donde Dios quiere y EL va a estrecharme en maneras nuevos este ano. El es mi fuerza...y El es suficiente para mi...
Ya es tiempo de entrar en los heridas de cristo...de permitirle de monstrarme mis heridas y ayudarme de estar presente por los demas.
Mas que todo Dios me ha monstrado que no estoy sola...El me ha dado comunidades en Cville, Richmond y Virginia Beach. Estoy en Virginia Beach ahorita...y gracias a Dios por los personas que me ha dado...Una comunidad para apollarme. NO es lo mismo...y es un transition bien duro todavia...les extrano...pero aqui estoy...con la fuerza de Dios y la inspiracion del Espiritu Santo. Aqui Dios esta fortalezandome por la viaje que viene. Voy a empezar clases 12 de Junio...por favor rezan para mi.. Va a ser un ano bien duro para mi de estudios...tengo la tentacion de miedo...pero me paro y rezo y confio en Dios.
Alabenlo!!! Dios es Fiel! Estoy rezando por cada uno de uds. Les extrano y les quiero!! Es una lucha pero Dios esta con migo...y nunca va a dejarme! Hay momentos de lagrimas por la transicion pero hay momentos de vez en cuando de gozo. Les quiero!

today we leave for virginia...had a great talk with my spiritual director yesterday and a few wonderful times with Alyson. Will see Brittany tonight...really I am at peace. God is pouring His grace out on me in abundance. Please continue to pray that I will be challenged and be able to live IN the world without being OF the world.

Hoy salimos para Virginia...tuve un reunion buenisima con mi directora espiritual...y algunas noches excelentes con alyson. Voy a ver Brittany y su mama esta noche...y realmente estoy en paz. Dios esta dandome su Gracia en abundancia. Porfavor, ruegan que puedo vivir EN el mundo sino de SER del mundo. Estoy emocionada de empezar mi programa...con miedo pero tambien con paz en mi corazon. DIOS ES FIEL!! y estoy donde El quiere. Les quiero y extrano mucho! Esto es uno paso mas cerca de regresar a Honduras.

fears / miedos

well I've been here for less than a week now...and haven't really ventured outside my comfort zone yet. This is easier than I thought it would be...I don't know if that's because I was here earlier this year or if God is giving me lots of grace...or if I'm reverting back to the materialistic person that I was before. I pray it's any one of the options except the third. I thought I would struggle more than this...I thought it would be harder...but maybe...I don't know. It's hard at moments...there are times I miss my community so much it hurts...but in part I think it still feels like a vacation and that I'm going to go back. I think the hard part is going to come when I start school again.
Yesterday we went to Beau Rivage for mothers day brunch (it's what my mom wanted to do) that was DEFINITELY overwhelming...and sad. All these people staring at machines trying to win more money...women in no clothing...ugh...definitely out of my element. I prayed a rosary in line and made it through. But such another example of extravagance and hopelessness in America. It was one of the saddest things I've seen in a long time...right up there with Houston International Airport.
But as always...God's grace is here...as long as I stay in the palms of his wounded hands I will be fine.

bueno...he estado aqui por menos que una semana ya...y estoy un poco disilusionada. Yo pense que va a ser mas duro que esto...tengo miedo que no es tan duro porque estoy convertiendo a ser la mujer que era antes...y no quiero esto. Ojala no es tan duro porque no estoy saliendo de mi casa mucho estos dias...quiero luchar...quiero ser extrema...quiero ser una luz para Jesus. Tengo miedo de tantos cosas pero estoy dandoles a Dios...visitandolo en la santisima diaria...Ruegan por mi que Dios puede seguir dandome luchas y cosas para que no soy commoda. no quiero ser commoda...No se...no se nada ahora...menos que extrano a Honduras mucho. Pero Dios me ha llamado aqui. La gracia de Dios esta aqui...y si quedo en las llagas de Jesus todo saldra bien...


todo saldra bien...
todo saldra bien...
en la paz del senor, saldra bien....saldra bien...

Les extrano MUCHISIMO!!! Son mi corazon todavia....

photos de mi despedida....going away party pictures...

Me and my parents when they surprised me in Honduras!

Yo y mis padres cuando ellos me sorpriendieron alla en Honduras.

my wonderful community praying for me

mi comunidad incredible rezando por mi

just to explain the title of the blog Jenny en este lugar...there's song in spanish that's called "llene este lugar" but when sung sounds like Jenny este lugar, and the song talks about asking God to fill this place. So I ask God to fill my heart and whatever place I'm at! Dios lleneme y este lugar!!

okay...voy a ententar a hacer esto en los dos idiomas. Llegamos aqui a las 10 en la noche despues de un despedida triste en el aerpuerto (gracias a Raul, Marissa, y Jimena por llegar) y un poco del Gozo del Senor entrando en seguridad. Tuvimos que esperar en el vuelo por 3 horas en Teguc porque habia un problema con el avion. jajajaja...es mi suerte con viajes.

Un resumen...estoy luchando. Era un shock de llegar en Houston. Todo la gente corriendo en todos partes, placticando en sus cellulares, enojados y en sus propios mundos. No se como voy a vivir en este mundo..y tengo miedo que voy a vivir tranquilo en este mundo. Quiero ser incomoda....debo ser incomoda.

Pero Dios esta dandome las personas que necesicito. Fui a misa Miercoles en la manana...y que paz...Jesus es lo mismo en todos partes del mundo!!! una cosa no cambio!!! Y durante la segnal de la paz yo mire detras..y alli estuvo mi directora espiritual!!! ALABENLO!!! Dios es fiel!!

Yo pase anoche con Alyson y estoy TAN agradecida a Dios por ponerla en mi vida.

Estoy luchando...pero estoy donde Dios quiere...lagrimas y todo, tengo que cumplir la voluntad de Dios. El tiene planes mejores que los mios. Les extrano mucho pero yo se que Dios va a estrecharme en estes anos!!

ten compasion con migo no tengo letras en espanol y no tengo que escribir en espanol mucho!!!

les extrano y les quiero!!

Aqui Estoy

I've decided to start a blog to keep everyone updated on the craziness that is my life these days. So I'll start with my return to the states.
I arrived in Baton Rouge at 10pm Tuesday night after a sad goodbye with Carol, Roger, Raul, Marissa, and Jimena (but complete with El Gozo del Senor in the airport) and a three hour delay at the gate in Teguc because the engine wasn't working right. I don't think I'll ever get used to being in airports again. Landing in Houston made me cry. Everyone running around on computers and cell phones. Everyone in a rush and looking so unhappy. Is this what we've really become as a culture? I can't lie...I don't want to be a part of it.
I honestly am doing okay...not great but okay. My first instinct was to get back on the next flight to Teguc but I know I'm where God is asking me to be. This move to virginia will make me stretch in ways I haven't stretched before. I know God is going before me and that I will continue to grow in discipline and holiness becasue of this transition. But at the same time I'm scared...so I keep repeating to myself..."Jesus, I trust in you and what you are doing in my life..." He's in control my job is to say "Yes Lord".
God is good and has been providing me with the support I need. Wednesday morning at mass I was praying for help and turned around and there was my spiritual director!! Praise the Lord for those random gifts of grace. I'm so grateful for the presence of Alyson and Britt here I know I'd be volviendo loca without them.
I'm only in Baton Rouge for a week before heading out to Virginia where the real test begins to live in the world and not be OF the world. Pray for me that I can continue to be uncomfortable and grow in this environment. God is in control!!!