With adversity comes strength, an ability to overcome obstacles, a radical transformation within. The human spirit is resilient and has an

Transcription

1 With adversity comes strength, an ability to overcome obstacles, a radical transformation within. The human spirit is resilient and has an unimaginable capacity to bounce back after a storm, leaving us with more magnificent inner beauty and strength than before the kind of beauty that springs like wild flowers in the desert. Rajni Kurichh

2 Thursday: Resilience Verses of the day: I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 Quotes for Reflection: Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again. Nelson Mandela Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. Ambrose Redmoon It is important, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated. Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling) I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. - Maya Angelou I learn more about God from weeds than from roses; Resilience springing through the smallest chink of hope in the absolute of concrete - Phillip Pulfrey 2. What do you think about resilience? 3. Have you ever seen someone with resilience? What did it look like? 4. How do you see God in the world?

3 Friday: Serving Others Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King, Jr. The strongest people make time to help others even if they re struggling with their own personal problems. -Unknown The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope. -Barack Obama 2. Why is it that you have decided to come and serve families in Mexico? 3. What good do you think you ll be doing this week in Mexico? 4. How do you plan to give yourself to this experience?

4 Saturday: Commitment Verses of the day: Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40 The truest form of love is how you behave toward someone, not how you feel about them. - Steve Hall You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear. - Sammy Davis, Jr. The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment. - Tony Robbins What helps you persevere is your resilience and commitment. - Roy T. Bennett 2. What are you committed to in your life? 3. How hard are you willing to work this week, to do what we have come to do, and in a way, you will be proud of? 4. What is your goal for today?

5 Sunday: Humility Verses of the day: All of you must clothe yourself with humility in your dealings with one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7 And they said one to another, we are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear. Genesis 42:21 Preservation of one s own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures. - Cesar Chavez Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it s thinking of yourself less. -Rick Warren Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don t have to have a college degree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. -MLK, Jr. A flower does not use words to announce its arrival to the world; it just blooms. - Matshona Dhiwayo 2. In your life, would you say you are more concerned with yourself or with others? 3. How do you show humility while immersed in a different country, culture, economic class? 4. Who is a person in your life who models humility in how they live?

6 Monday: Love & Compassion If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:1-4 In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you. - Andrea Dykstra "One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving." - Paulo Coelho Difference of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open. - Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling) 2. How have you acted in love this week? 3. How has acting in love shaped your experience, and the experience of those around you? 4. What is your goal for today?

7 Tuesday: Transformation Verse of the day: With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? -Micah 6:6-8 What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. - Maya Angelou The seed must grow regardless of the fact that it s planted in stone. - Tupac Shakur Beautiful are those whose brokenness gives birth to transformation and wisdom. - John Mark Green Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek - Barack Obama 2. Have the experiences of this week changed you in anyway? How? 3. What have you learned about yourself through this experience? 4. Emotionally and spiritually, what would you like to take with you from Mexico?