Blessings in Disguise

I'm so grateful that my spring break is during the Great Lent so that I've had time to evaluate how the past few weeks have gone and what I hope to do for the final weeks.

I've heard a few times this week that if Lent isn't hard, then you're doing something wrong. So for all of you that are practicing Lent, I encourage you to ask yourself, has this Lent been spiritually challenging, or has it been easy?

And if it has been easy, that doesn't mean - Okay, so giving up _____ is too easy, so I need to give up ________ as well. No matter what we give up, it doesn't mean anything unless we're taking on more time spent with God-- through prayer, Scripture, church services, etc.

And if you're like me, you're probably wondering, what is the point of all this? Why can't I just enjoy living in this world and enjoy what's in front of me instead of having to worry if there's chicken in my ramen noodles or whether I should eat cake on my friend's birthday when I gave up sweets?

Why? Because Christ tells us:

 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20)

laying up for myself treasures on earth... who doesn't love cookie cake?

Our music collection, our good grades, our birthday cakes.... even the relationships we've built on this earth.... they are all temporary. We should not let the things of this world dictate our joy, because while earthly joy is fleeting, the love of Christ is everlasting. Knowing that, why is it so hard to give up more of our time to Him?

And while that doesn't mean we should not enjoy the earthly gifts that God has granted us, Lent is a good reminder that although those things are wonderful, our citizenship is in heaven, and our time here on earth is temporary. 

  "...Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3: 18-21)

Our citizenship is heaven. What a thought. Like God has already set a place for us there. How incredible.... and how easy to forget when we are caught up in the ways of the world. I know for me personally, I have been so stressed over school, what I'll be doing after graduation, and how I will handle being in the "real world," that I've forgotten what I am living for, or, in other words, who I am living for. And the more I can be reminded of that, especially by the loved ones God has blessed me with, the more everything that causes me stress doesn't seem so bad.

And as a way to refocus that stress and to trust that God will provide for me, I took a friend's suggestion and  made a list of how He has been faithful. I realized that there was so much more than I acknowledge, and I plan to print out the list as a constant reminder of his faithfulness. And while I'm not going to include the list here, I thought I would mention a few things.

- A difficult first year of college.... that built my character and gave me a softer, more Christ-like heart.

- Broken friendships that were completely restored, when both sides were completely convinced that restoration was impossible.

- A potential disaster with "random" roommates this semester, turned out to be the greatest blessing.

- Two months of struggling spiritually in Ecuador, wishing I had my church community back home, and God provided a church community for me there, something I would have never imagined happening, along with some incredible sisters that really helped me to grow.

These are just a few, but I think the most important thing I realized is how situations that were so difficult and painful at the time turned out to be blessings in disguise. We never really know how God can use a terrible situation in our life to help us to grow. That's something that is hard to realize at the time, which is why I think it's so important to remind ourselves of when He has been faithful.


And to end.... a really great (and short!) video on Lent that Joe Uncle had posted on his Facebook, which I found extremely helpful:

all the best, my dear reader. wishing you a blessed week.

sonia

Always Love

My friend Daniela's dog Mona. She wants to be your Valentine! :)

Will you be my Valentine? 

I have never been a fan of Valentine's Day. I have always written it off as a meaningless “Hallmark” holiday full of candy and flowers. It simply doesn't make sense to me, if you truly want to express your love for someone, why do you need to wait for this particular day to do it? Suddenly on this day, every couple seems so "in love" and for a day, everything is perfect. But in my eyes, it seems so temporary.

This year however, was different from other years. I learned through my friends that Valentine's Day can be a day for more than just couples, but a day in which friends and family can share in their love for one another. And, sure enough, that is not too far from what the Feast of St. Valentine is really all about.

This past Tuesday, I received an email from my school's OCF which included a homily explaining the true meaning of Valentine's Day. St. Valentine was a priest in ancient Rome who rebelled against the laws of the Roman Empire by providing sacraments, such as marriage, to Christians. He was imprisoned for his actions and eventually beheaded.

I am completely blown away that a man could have such fearlessness and faith in God that even death could not stop him from proclaiming the truth. He had a love for God and a love for humanity that allowed him to live his life the way he did. 

"For the world, love can mean a lot of different things. It can refer to the deep communion experienced by a couple who have been married 50 years. Or "love" may simply refer to sex. More often than not it refers to romantic love, the feeling between a man and a woman. Too often it is nothing more than an over glorified puppy love. … When the world says, "I am in Love," they mean your knees are weak and your throat is dry and you are attracted to someone. … This "love" is often devoid of commitment and depth. … "Love" by the world's definition can be as flimsy and insubstantial as a cheap Valentine's Card.

But the Church's definition of love is quite different. For the Christian the ultimate example of that love is Jesus Christ. He is the living example of God's love. He came to this world so that the lost and lonely people of the world could experience the Kingdom of God."

I feel so blessed to know that the love of our is God is greater than any human could ever give or receive. Day by day I am reminded that this world is temporary and that the loved ones we so desperately hold on to will someday depart from us. And we can only pray, from the bottom of our hearts, that they will be able to live eternally in the kingdom of heaven.

Feast of St. Valentine : Love God - Love Each Other 

Returning Home : Sentimientos Agridulces

After horseback riding with Cumanda, Marcela, y Sarah

Nikki & I at Cotapaxi Volcano.

I honestly cannot believe that almost two months have passed since I left Ecuador. I feel like there is a piece of my heart missing. I miss my host family and Ana Lucia's family so greatly, and I wish I could express this to them, but it is so hard for me. Not only because of the language barrier, though that does play a role, but more so because I don't want to face that fact that I miss them so much. When I spoke with all of them on the phone, it was so difficult for me to even say, “I miss you.” Somehow my pride wouldn't allow it, wouldn't allow me to admit that I could feel hurt or feel pain from being away from them. I like to consider myself “emotionally detached,” for my ability to completely immerse myself in life there, then return home and give all my energy and focus to my life here, as if Ecuador never happened.

After a long week of traveling with Lee, Jules, and Jes.

My last day with Ana Lucia, Ariel, y Sarah

The only proof I have is the pictures. And the people. Calling a few friends I met in Ecuador this past week was a good reminder that I was actually there. But it's definitely painful, as I spent almost a year anticipating my semester abroad, four months away from home, and suddenly, it's all over, a flash before my eyes, and I don't even know what happened.

Wait what? Sonia has a blog?

Mis Hermanos : Marcela (18), Jimmy (14), Cumanda (5)

Ever since I left for Ecuador last August, the idea of starting a blog has been floating in my mind.

Hugo's Birthday

 

Night before I left, Ariel & Hector

It has been fear that has kept me from doing it, the discomfort of knowing that once something is posted online, it is there forever.

At the same time, I thought it would be worthwhile to share my story, most especially with loved ones, because sometimes I feel like I am better at expressing my thoughts in writing rather than verbally.

At the airport (my host mom Senora Marta, me in the shirt Marcela made that reads, "My Ecuatorian Family" &  my sister Marcela)

From left to right - Hugo, Daysi (18), Ana Lucia, Hector (13), y Ariel (5)

So to you, dear reader, whoever you are, I hope you enjoy this. I am not sure if I have anything particularly interesting to share, but for some reason today just felt like the day to finally create a blog. I do hope that my thoughts and entries can be of help to someone in some way, though I am not sure how. I don't really know what route this blog will take but I suppose I just have to wait and see how things go.