Something Extraordinary

If you've never read any of Shauna Niequist's books... you need to. Seriously. I want to write like she does one day. 

Over the past 1 1/2 months I've lived in San Juan, her most recent book, "Bittersweet," has been a true companion for me. Two nights ago, I opened the book to start reading and to my delight, the next story was titled, "San Juan." The whole story was encouraging, convicting and life-giving to read about her experiences in the city I'm calling home for the next year. But, there was one paragraph that sums up my heart, soul and time in San Juan so far. I'd like to share it with you. 

"It's so easy, when your own world feels a little dark and fragmented, to become increasingly self-focused, only able to see the frustration and pain of your own life. I brought my frustrated, wound-up self to San Juan and realized all at once that I was in the middle of something extraordinary." 

I might as well have written that paragraph. It sums up my life for the past month. It sums up why I love Niequist so much. She goes straight to the heart. If I'm going to be honest, I came to San Juan in a daze. The past 2 years have been incredibly difficult, challenging and growing for me, and it's been easy for me to have tunnel vision. To only see the battle that's being fought in my heart and mind. Since I've been here, God has, in many different ways and through many different people, reminded me that there is a whole world out there. That it's not all about me. He's reminded me of the big picture. To open my eyes and look around once in a while. It's become more and more clear to me, as Young Life has really gotten started, that I'm in the midst of something extraordinary. Now, it's a daily fight to get out of my own head and soak in the moments that are happening around me. 

Here are a couple moments of extraordinary that happened over the past week: 

Sophomore girls dressed to their Greek Parthenon theme

1. Baldwin Spirit Week: The only thing I can remotely compare this to is Homecoming Week in Texas high schools. It's a huge deal. Each grade is responsible for decorating a hallway with a certain theme, and then each day of the week has a different costume theme. For example, today the theme is video games.... so the sophomores are dressing up as Pac Man and the juniors as Super Mario characters. The whole week is a competition between classes, and the kids are all about it. Students were at the school until 9 p.m. each night last week, and all day on Saturday and Sunday working to finish their hallways. Matt and I got to go and help them decorate their hallways and it was an awesome time to hang out with kids. I helped out the sophomores, which is basically a class of 30 girls... got to know all their names and spend hours having a shared experience with them. Looking back on it.... that is extraordinary. That God would allow me to spend time with them, to give me conversations with them and a chance to help them with something important. If you don't believe me that this is a huge deal... check out the pictures from the week!

Sophomore girls in their finished hallway! 

Baldwin Juniors dressed as Mayans

Matt and I hanging out during Spirit Week

2. Our 2nd Young Life club: Hands down one of the most fun clubs I've ever been a part of. We met in the San Juan Beach Hotel and kids had a blast rocking out to songs, human bowling, winning prizes and having random dance parties. The whole night was sweet, but during Matt's talk it dawned on me that this could be the first time these kids begin to understand who this man Jesus really is. That was overwhelming to me. That reminded me that I'm in the midst of something extraordinary. 

Practicing songs before our 2nd club! 

Human bowling!! 

Robot dance party!!

God is doing huge things here in San Juan. When I stop to think about it, I'm in awe that God would allow me to be a part of this. That He would trust me enough, think me worthy enough, adequate enough to be doing this. I don't deserve it... to be in the presence of extraordinary... but while I have the chance, I'm going to enjoy every single moment of it. 

Thanks for caring. Thanks for praying. More updates soon! 

Love,

Lindsay 

One month in...

One month and a few days in to my life in San Juan. It's a little incredible... and by incredible I mean unbelievable, ridiculous and life-giving.

Sitting in Starbucks thinking about the reality of me being here, helping out Matt Golley with Young Life, I'm overwhelmed with everything that God orchestrated for this to happen. Some would say this story began for me 10 months ago when Matt first presented me with the idea of moving to San Juan. Some would say it started a 2 1/2 years ago when Matt was hired to start YL in Puerto Rico. But for me, as I look back, it started during the fall of my freshman year in college when I first met Matt. Our paths crossed while I was training to be a YL leader and Matt was helping out with the program. God blessed me with a new brother that first semester, and continued to bless me with him as our friendship grew throughout my time in college.

So, for me... that's when this story started. With a seemingly random friendship that God allowed to stay in my life the past 4 years. Matt and I talked about doing ministry together one day... back in the day. And the fact that God brought it to fruition is mind-blowing for me.

The past month has been filled with everything you could expect when moving to a new place. I've gotten lost my share of times figuring out my way around San Juan. I've eaten mofongo, a classic Puerto Rican dish. High school kids have made fun of my attempts to speak Spanish. I've made friends... Puerto Rican and American. I found a church. Worshipping and listening to the Bible being read in Spanish is really growing on me. I've spent time on the beach. I've missed my family and friends... some days more than others. I miss cold weather. I've had days where I love being on my own and days where I want to live in a house with 10 girls again. But life is happening. It's actually happening at a speed comparable to NASCAR... or rockets... or light. And each day it happens a little bit more. I meet a man who works at Subway and he helps me with my Spanish. I meet a few more high school girls. I find my way to the high school without getting lost. I get to watch beautiful sunsets over the ocean. So life is happening here. In my mind, in my heart, in my soul, on my skin.

But... as if all that life wasn't enough to keep me busy, Young Life has also been happening here. We've been continuing with weekly campaigners and had our very first Young Life club ever on Monday. High school kids from all over San Juan came, had a blast and got to hear about how God created them in his image. Unique. Special. They heard about how they belong to Someone. Club wasn't perfect. We're working out kinks and learning how to do ministry in this culture... but it happened. And that's more than a little incredible. It's huge.

Those kids getting to hear that they were created, that they belonged to someone is a sweet thing. It's been a sweet thing for me to know that, too. That in a place where I often feel I don't have a place... I belong. I belong to my Father, my Abba. As Young Life really kicks off here for the fall, one of the things I'm most looking forward to is sharing that truth with kids. That no matter how your life looks or what the world thinks of it... you belong.

Thanks so much for sharing with me in this! I promise to do a way better job of writing more frequently. Love you all dearly.
-Linds