Can you believe it…we leave this Saturday! Don’t forget to follow the packing list (and bring deodorant, even if it’s not listed!). Take some time to blog and pray sometime between now and when you come on Saturday to prepare for the trip. See you soon!
Compassion is an area that God has done a lot of work on my heart in over the last few years. When I was growing up, my first tendency was to be judgmental rather than compassionate. I really appreciate that quote from Henri Nouwen that Mark included that said “In order to be of service to others, we have…to stop judging them, to stop evaluating them, and thus become free to be compassionate.” I was so intent on judging and evaluating people growing up that I had no space for compassion in my life. This is still something I constantly have to battle, but I’m definitely growing!
How about you? What in this chapter stuck out to you and caught your eye?
Tell us about 2 of your prayer experiences this week.
Something that really stuck out to me in the reading this week was the quote from Henri Nounwen. I think a lot of middle schoolers (including me) judge people whole-heartedly on their appearance or on how they act and that is not what we, as human-beings and as christians, should be doing. Most of the time this sends us a completely wrong message about the person we are judging. Take people with Down Syndrome for example, they may not be the prettiest people around but when you get to know them they have such a big heart and are always happy.
“Nuturing Your Compassion” was one of my favorite activties this week. I thought about when my brother got hurt 5 or 6 years ago. Our best friends were over and my dad, brother, and friend James were wrestling downstairs. My dad rolled over on top of my brothers knee and it popped. I wasn’t sure what to do so we all just prayed for him and hoped he was okay. God’s presence made me feel at ease, like I had nothing ro worry about and everything was going to be okay.
“Practicing tthe presence of Jesus” was my other favorite activity. I enjoyed this activity because it constantly reminded me that God is always with me no matter what.
Wow!!!!!! You wrote a lot!! I agree with everything you said!!! I’m glad that your brother now is completely better!!!!! That doesn’t sound very good. Well, can’t till our mission trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 days left till we leave for Boston!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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It is so close to the trip, but why is it that every time I think about the trip, I get scared, is there anyone else who is nervous? And even with saying that, I am so happy to be going. I can’t wait till I can help others in need.
i feel scared wen i think to hard about the flight to but we will b glad wen we get ther and hav a blast!
I’m a little nervous i guess. But I’m also so excited!!!!
i realyyyy lik this ch. and i realy think that pam was very brave wen she let donald cry in her shoulder while the congragation was gettin impatiant with donald but i felt sad wen he said his daddy died. i would want to be held if my daddy died and i had a handicap lik donald does and nobody realy wanted to hear me cry.
cant wait till boston.
3 days
oh i forgot to talk about my prayer experiance. well i prayed with hannah over the phone and it was just great. we prayed for our enemies and justin bieber and yea.
That sounds like a great idea!!! Getting together with a friend and praying together sounds awesome!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the idea!!!!!!!!!
That really does sound like a great idea! And it doesn’t surprise me Paige that you would pray for Justin Bieber…… hahah
What stuck out to me in this chapter was that the congregation was impatient with
Donald but Pam still was brave and was compassionate for Donald! Such a brave act! “Nuturing Your Compassion” was one of my favorite activties this week. I thought of my sister today when we went to pick her up from school and she was on crutches!!! She hurt her hip during a soccer game and when I saw her, I instantly felt compassion for her and wanted to help her!!!! I prayed that she will soon get better. “Practicing tthe presence of Jesus” was my other favorite experience. I loved this experience because it constantly reminded me that everywhere I go, God is with me! I could really start to sense his presense with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 days till Boston!!!!!!!!!!
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What about this chapter that really stood out to me is how judgmental we all really are. We all go to church, we all hear about God’s love, but how many of us actually go show it through out that week? I know i struggle with that. But this chapter has made me see through new eyes. In the first prayer experience, it really made me think about all the times in life were I’ve actually showed compassion to other people. And honestly, I started crying. In the second prayer experience, I’ve been able to see God throughout my life now working in many different ways. And it’s great!
I think it’s interesting that a lot of mentally handicapped people I know, show more love for God than most normal people. I like the presence of Jesus exercise because I like to think about God all day. It helps me grow closer to him and keep me from making my focus worldly goals. I also prayed the St Francis prayer.
The thing that stuck at me this week was the St. Francis prayer. I’m glad that Mark put that in one of the experiences. That prayer I think I’ll put that on my wall. I kind of liked rewording the pray. Also I liked think of compassion moments of my life and oh yeah one more day. See you tomorrow.
the thing that stuck out to me this week is the story of when Donald told them that his Dad died it just reminded me how impatient and cruel we humans can be. one of the prayer experiences i thought of was images of blessing this realy stuck out to me because one of my dads close friends wife just died of cancer and hes going through a hard time . the second prayer experience that i thought about was the prayer of Saint Francis i thought about this because there are alot of people that i dont like and would rather not hang out with but Saint Francis say to love where there is hate so this stuck out to me.