(this is our Titus Project school, staff and students)

Over the past few weeks I have learned a ton from the Titus Project here... perhaps the most important thing I have learned is how vital I am to the body of Christ as an individual. I not only am important to God... clearly seen by God's great love poured out for me at the Cross through Jesus' blood... but I also am valuable to him as his son in the world we live in. This world is hurting and I have the opportunity to bring light into the darkness... life into the pain... freedom where there is so much bondage. Even being here the past few weeks has been eye opening to see how much life God is able to bring to others through me. I have been graced to pray with people, encourage people, challenge younger students here, and simply give people hugs and a handshake when they are in a new place where they are asking desperately whether or not there is acceptance. This is how Christ desires me to live... as a light to those I am around... and the beautiful thing about God's grace is that he is doing it. I - I am not doing it... but Jesus is doing it. He is using me to love people as I live in the reality of sins forgiven. I am loved... Jesus has loved me mightily... and he asks me to love others. These concepts are so simple but I realize that I, as well as most people, fail to live them out. The beautiful thing about God's economy is that if I do love people... tangibly living selfishly for them in all sorts of aspects of life... then they will feel loved and be free to love in return.

So yeah, this has just been on my heart. We all have the opportunity to love... to love and be loved. The question is whether we are willing to take the initiative to serve others first and pour ourselves out selflessly to treat others the way we would like to be treated. I realize very clearly that when I live to be a blessing to others, I see life in a very different perspective as I see others being blessed and seeing light in the midst of darkness. We can be light to people in a dark world if we would but dare to love. This is what our world is desperate for... what I am desperate for... what you are desperate for... to feel accepted. Well... I am no longer waiting for others to make it happen for myself, I am going to make it happen for others and see what a blessing I can be. I love you all, please... please... dare to take initiative in this world so desperate for love and acceptance and light in darkness and life in the midst of pain. We're all squirrels trying to get ours... if we would but look up and see we are all in the same boat things might make more sense as we live less selfishly. This has been something that is challenging me... yet has been blessing me as I see the fruits of stepping outside of my little world to be a blessing to others.

(This is our team that will be going to Mexico & Costa Rica... Garrett & Sarah in front... Shoshanah and me)