Hola y'all.

Well, if you were wanting to know about my spring break, the title of this post pretty much wraps it up. Speaking in broken Spanish with a southern accent has never been more fun.

But in all seriousness, this past week was the greatest of my life. I spent my spring break in Cedro Galan, Nicaragua for the third year in a row, and I had my life changed. 

Now, I don't want to bore you with endless stories and inside jokes that won't amuse you via blog, but I do want to tell you a few things in hopes of inspiring you to go on a missions trip of your own. And if your trip is with Briarwood High School to the Monte Hermon School in Cedro Galan, Nicaragua, then more power to you. Cause that place is truly idyllic.

In a nutshell: Although we have a children's ministry, a sports clinic, and a construction team throughout the week, our trip is mostly considered to be a medical mission. We had a medical clinic with three doctors, an eye clinic, and a pharmacy (in past years, we've also had a dental clinic).

Honestly, what touched me most about this trip was the ability of the Nicaraguans to praise God through every circumstance. Since this was my third year to go to Nicaragua, this was no surprise to me, but for some reason it just seemed especially evident this year. I don't know if it was the fact that I was able to speak more spanish than usual or what, but something about the people touched me in a different place this year than in the past.

Another thing I want to point out is the ignorance of today's Christian society. This is basically just a reiteration of what I said a couple of weeks ago about missions week, but I want to say it just one more time. I would encourage all of my blog readers, regardless of whether or not they are Christians, to visit a third world country, even if it's not on a missions trip. It is truly eye-opening. You all know the phrase "Ignorance is bliss." I've never heard a truer phrase. Because, guess what guys, the world is a much better place when we are oblivious to what is happening in it. But we are not called to be ignorant people.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to know more about the trip, please PLEASE please ask me more about it. I hunger to tell people about my experiences in Nicaragua. Seriously. I have so much to tell. 

Thus concludes yet another soap box by Clumsy Kim.

“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Ring around the rosie - Nicaraguan style.

 "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."

"A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

"And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Our cinematic welcome to Monte Hermon.

Goodbye, goodnight, adios, buenos noches. It's all the same to me.

Clumsy Kim.

When I grow up, I want to be Sara Bareilles.

A little background for you: Sara Bareilles is my favorite singer. Ever. You just can't beat a pretty girl with a powerhouse voice, playing the piano, singing songs that she wrote herself. It's just not possible. I'm sure more posts about my girl Sara are still to come, but for now that's all I'm gonna say about her.

I don't pretend to believe that y'all actually watch every video that I put on here. That's just not realistic. I know y'all probably have way better things to do than watch music videos and live performances and random funny stuff that I laugh at way more than I should. But this one... you don't have better things to do. Listen to it. I heard it for the first time this past week and it nearly brought me to tears.
Ok, not really to tears. But it's fantastic.

The singing doesn't actually start until about one minute in, and the absolutely breath-taking (no pun intended) part doesn't come in until about five minutes in, but part of Sara's charm is her wit. So listen to the beginning to get the full live experience that is Sara Bareilles in el concierto.

Click here to listen. Close your eyes if you must. Get the full effect of this. No distractions.

And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

Christian school, Christian friends, Christian family.

Curse or blessing?

This past week at my school, we had an event called spiritual impact week. I can remember weeks like this in previous years, when we had missionaries come speak to us during class, when we weren't allowed to have tests so that we could "put our full attention" into the missions conferences that went on each night after school, when we were overjoyed to have chapel services each morning because they were extra 30-45 minutes that we didn't have to be in class.

And I realized this week how disgusting it is that I only remember these weeks that are supposed to be dedicated to honoring missions because of my lessened work load. 

Being at a Christian school in the south for twelve years is a dangerous thing. It is far too easy to become comfortable in the faith and forget that there is, to use David Platt's word, a radical side to Christianity. I believe that God expects us to be passionate about Christianity, and instead, we use it as a lifeline. Saying a prayer is similar to phoning a friend. You use it as a last resort.

And something that I found really bothersome about this week is how nobody even reacted to the incredible testimonies we heard. Have we become so comfortable in our false pretenses of Christianity that not even stories of modern-day slavery touch us? The fact that these events are still going on in the world should shake us to the core.

Simply put by Lifehouse in their song Everything, "How can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?" How can we be spoon fed the medicine of JESUS and not show any results?? No fruit???

I'm praying for the hearts of sleeping Christians to be awakened everywhere, because, while we are bundled up in our cacoons, things are happening in the world that are furthering the gospel, and there are things happening in the world that are destroying it. And God has not called us to lie in our beds and wait for things to happen.

I'm going to remember every chapel that took place this week, because it is important to grab this opportunity that I've been given by the horns and learn all that I can while I still have it waiting for me every day at school.

Below is a video of what is now affectionately known as "the Lifehouse skit." It was performed by some of my friends this week as a part of spiritual impact week, and while it's a powerful video under any circumstances, something about seeing it up close and performed by people that I've grown up with is extremely touching. If you haven't ever seen it, I suggest you watch it now. Now.

And the answer to the question at the beginning of the post? Blessing. Definitely a blessing. 

Wow, that was a long post. I hope I didn't bore you to tears. That's just something that's been on my heart and I wanted to share it with the whole wide internet. 

Clums.