The Wonders of Photo Editing

I haven't had a chance to do much with any of the photos from our trip to El Salvador, but my DH has been creating masterpieces with some of them using Picnik. The plain photos are lovely in themselves, but he has highlighted some features and added text that reinforces some of the Truths that have come out of our experiences . . .

Vida x vida means "a life for a life." Christ gave His life for us, and we give ours for Him.

I especially like how he minimized my wrinkles ;)

Pretty cool, eh? If you've never tried editing any of your pictures, I encourage you to try because it's lots of fun! (DH printed these photos as posters and laminated them -- for his office, our learning lab, and DD14's bedroom. They are an awesome reminder of our special trip and are really helping to keep the memories alive.) You can download a free version of Picassa 3, which enables you to use Picnik as well. 


Let me know if you try it!

Monday Musings on the Creator in Me

A Lesson Learned from the Selfishness of Selflessness


When my daughter and I sent out letters of request for sponsorship of our missions trip to El Salvador, one person declined a tax receipt from our church because he believed the trip was more for personal growth and development than service to the Salvadorians. At first I was stunned. How could he think that?


But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was truth in what he said. Granted, we were giving of personal time and resources, leaving loved ones, comfort, and security to spend nine days making fools of ourselves for the sake of the gospel -- which meant we were sacrificing our selves for the eternal benefit of those who chose to respond to our programs. 

But in the grand scheme of things, it seemed like we, the missionaries, were significant beneficiaries. 


In giving love to the sweet children, we were blessed with expanded hearts that yearn to reach more people with the gospel of Christ.

A little girl who shares my name:)

In praying for the children's needs, we received the blessing of witnessing miracles that multiplied our faith a thousandfold. And we learned how to pray -- really cry out to God -- for extended periods of time without being distracted. 

We had the opportunity to deepen existing relationships -- and start new friendships that are bound to bless beyond measure as we wend our way through life as a church family, and as a global family of God.

And we were able to experience many aspects of a wonderful country and culture -- some heart-wrenching, some exhilarating.

How many people do you see engaging in the country's "recycling program" in this photo?

There is no doubt in my mind that God intended for my daughter and me to go to El Salvador on this missions trip and that God did, indeed, use us to bless some of the Salvadorians (especially our Compassion Canada child, Jeanci, and her family). 


But if I'm absolutely honest, I have to admit that my motives were not all selfless. I wanted something from this trip. No, it wasn't about "Christian tourism" -- going on a missions trip as a way to "see the world." But I wanted my daughter to gain a new perspective on life, and I wanted us both to have a serious spiritual awakening. I wanted God to do something in and for us. And frankly, I think that was what drove me to leave my comfort zone -- not any noble desire to serve Salvadorians. 


For a while I felt guilty about that. It seemed wrong, somehow, to be going to another country to serve others with an ulterior motive. When I looked around at all the poverty, I got mad at myself for being so self-centred, as well as confused that God had "blessed" me so abundantly and the Salvadorians seemingly less so -- and how could I be so ungrateful, wanting more than what God had already given me?


But then God used one of those new relationships -- my precious new sisterhood with a lady on our team named Bev -- to show me that it was not about "us" serving "them" because of their great need. She pointed out that when God looks at Salvadorians, He doesn't see poverty -- He sees brokenness -- lives that need Jesus.  What does He see when He looks at North Americans? Wealth and abundance? Nope -- brokenness -- lives that need Jesus. It's not about the "more abundantly blessed" serving the "less blessed" at all. It's about sharing the Love of Christ and letting HIM do the healing of all our hearts. 


It makes sense, then, that we would be blessed by our experience. The Love of Jesus flows in more than one direction. And it makes sense that I would want something from the experience. After all, I am no less broken or in need of Jesus than any person we danced before, sang to, prayed over, or loved on in El Salvador. 


So, I think I can be selfish in my brokenness and still be selfless in my service. 


What do you think?

Linking up at:

Monday Musings on the Creator in Me

God's Gifts: When "Enough" Doesn't Seem Like Enough

Perhaps you know the verses I've grown up knowing . . .


My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness . . . (2 Corinthians 12:9)


But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus . . . (Philippians 4:19)


We know with our minds that God gives us what we need, but do we know it with our hearts?


This past week, I became aware of just how little I truly live the truth that God supplies all our needs.  Like Adam and Eve wanting more than the abundance God had given them, I found myself questioning the sufficiency of God's gifts -- not just for myself, but for people around me. 


It all started at the airport in El Salvador. Our family had worked hard to collect gifts for our sponsored child, Jeanci, including some  homemade gifts lovingly made with her in mind.  We had packed them in my carry-on bag to ensure their safety; if the bag was with me, it couldn't get lost in the baggage department and inadvertently sent somewhere else, and maybe even lost forever. 


But in the brief moment  when I turned to get our suitcase off the conveyor belt, someone took the bag. I'd like to think it was an accident because there was another bag left in its stead. But I found the owner of the bag that was left -- and my bag never surfaced, even after an hour of airport authorities trying to help me find it. 


While I managed to hold back the tears and whisper an amen ("so be it"), I found myself asking God why? Why did I get to have all my stuff in El Salvador, but Jeanci -- with so much need in her life -- was robbed of the little bit we'd brought her? How could there be no gift for her? 


As it turned out, the awesome people with whom we traveled generously donated all kinds of toys, clothes (one woman even gave the shoes on her feet -- which I suspect were a perfect fit for Jeanci!) and school supplies, and I was able to buy some food at a local grocery store. I ultimately acknowledged that God knew better than I what she needed, and He provided it for her. But I struggled with His gift for her; it just didn't seem right that someone else had the special things that were meant specifically for her (at least in our minds).


Then, on our bus ride to the camp where we were staying, I was bombarded with images that made me question the equity of the gifts I've been given compared to what the people of El Salvador have been given: 


* a man holding on to the back of a full bus traveling 80km/hr down a highway
* people riding on top of produce in a big, open truck on the the highway
* whole communities (including chickens, dogs, and laundry lines) built from scrap wood and corrugated metal shelters in the green space between opposing lanes of traffic
* open trucks filled with standing people packed like sardines
* walls lined with shards of glass to deter intruders
* armed militia standing next to lean-to communities
* people rooting through piles of garbage

I found myself asking, why is my country so wealthy, while this country is so poverty-stricken?
Why do the material gifts I have received seem so much more plentiful than what the Salvadorians have received? God's gifts to them just seemed so insufficient to me. 


But who am I to evaluate sufficiency? Who am I to judge the Giver? 


My arrogance was driven home on Wednesday. My husband, who had given my daughter and me each a hand-written note with a verse for every day of our trip, had penned 1 Samuel 12:16 for that day: 


Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.


Because we had been challenged to watch for miracles throughout the week, I was sure that this would be the day I would witness some extra-special, supernatural power. So I stood (that's what the verse told me to do;) and watched -- and waited. While I was standing there, a lady (in fact the very lady in yellow in the picture below) pulled me aside.

She asked for prayer for a little girl who had a lot of tooth pain. In her little mouth were several huge cavities. I'd heard the day before of a woman with visible sores on her hands being healed completely in the course of a prayer, and I believed that God could not only remove this little girl's pain, but He could make her teeth whole again, if He chose. So that's what I prayed He would do. 


But He didn't. 


By the end of our prayer time, the little girl was free of pain, but her teeth still had cavities. That saddened me -- made me question God. But really, who am I to question His gifts? The woman had asked for prayer about the little girl's pain -- and God had answered her prayer. Why was that gift good enough for her, but not for me? 


Perhaps when we're blessed with much, we demand much. Perhaps we become less satisfied, and like Adam and Eve, ask for more -- more than what God has already given. I don't think it matters that we're not asking for more for ourselves -- we're asking for more than what God has given, and are discontent when He doesn't give what we think is necessary. 


But if God's word is true (and I believe it is), then I need to accept the truth of these verses:



My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness . . . (2 Corinthians 12:9)


But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus . . . (Philippians 4:19)

His grace and His goodness are enough. We may fail to see the fullness of His provisions, but that's our own vision problem, not His lack of benevolence. 


So I'm praying that God will open my eyes so that I can truly see His gifts for what they are. I know in my mind that "enough" is enough -- and I'm ready for it to sink into my heart. 


Do you question God's gifts? Does "enough" sometimes seem like it's not enough? Do you believe God when He says He will provide for all your needs?

{this moment}

Participating in . . . 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments [at SouleMama] for all to find and see.

                                                                                                            - Amanda Soule

Jeanci kept latching on to DD14's hand throughout the day. It was a precious sight.