Thoughts From the Day

Today was another beautiful Sunday. Maybe not beautiful in the sense of the weather this particular day, but another day surrounded by good people and meaningful interactions. And that’s what really gets to you.

Here are some of the things that inspired me today:

~ 10:30 English Mass – I love this Mass and it’s one of the things I look forward to most during the week! Today I was inspired by the energy and attitude of reverence of the director of the choir, the sincerity of our friend Mary as she was reading the scriptures, and a quote that was on the hand out:

“They alone are alive, those who live for others; the rest are more dead than alive.”


~ The Communion Song was also inspirational. I had never heard it before coming here, but it’s a song with good music and simple, but encouraging words. And there’s a key change at the chorus and you really feel your spirit almost physically lifting up. Beautiful.

Here are the words:

Hide me now under Your wings
Cover me with Your mighty hand.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God.

Find rest my soul in Christ alone
Know His power in quietness and trust.

And that’s it, but it gets me every time we sing it.

~ How rewarding it is to be able to help others (and how great it is to be healthy again so we can help). Today we were able to give car rides to our neighbors, visit with a busy friend, and get some medicine to another friend who’s sick. This is one reason why we’re here and we feel so blessed to be in East Timor.

~ Visiting the Sisters…again. We are so fortunate that God led us to volunteering with VOICA. We went to visit the Sisters today at Balide and once again we were overwhelmed by their generosity and self-giving spirits. Not only do they provide for our housing, utility, and monthly food needs, but they are always checking on us to make sure that we are ok and healthy. It has been wonderful and we hope that God will lead many others, maybe even some of our friends, to volunteer with the same organization.

~ Brendan surprising me today when he turned on some music and danced with me in the kitchen while we were making supper : ) He’s the best, and I am so lucky to be married to him!

~ The message at the prayer meeting tonight. It’s a simple gathering, but full of life. The speaker’s message today was actually a question: Are you a Christian? We talked through many New Testament verses discussing living an authentic, and not hypocritical, life as a Christian. It’s an important question to ask ourselves regularly.

To be a Christian literally means to be Christ-like. When you look at Jesus’ life in the gospels it’s not something that can be lived up to easily. To live authentically as a Christian is tough – you have to be always changing and growing and humbly giving up your trouble areas to God so He can heal them. To be Christlike you need a lot of grace from God and a personal decision to constantly focus on God and what’s really important.

It also means we have to work on giving up the things that are for short term pleasure and long term disappointment. Things are parallel to us eating a whole back of peanut butter M&Ms in a few hours – at the time it feels amazing and exciting, but not long afterwards you always wonder “What was I thinking!?!” Anyway, we’re slowing learning and growing and hopefully we’ll get to the point where we’re not scarfing bags of pb M&Ms as often : )

So, it’s difficult, but worth it. Choosing Jesus is the best thing you can ever do! Brendan and I often say that Jesus was the best thing that ever happened to us - life is just more exciting with Him! And that’s what we want for all of you: an exciting, deeply fulfilling life!

All in all, another great day of experiences in Timor Leste! Wish you were here : )


Love,
Rachel and Brendan