HE DIED SO I COULD LIVE
HAPPY NEW YEAR ! This is what I will cling on to this year. He died so that I could live. I can go forth in 2022 and into eternity truly living, alive in Him and in freedom, with hope, zealously, with purpose, sharing His love. He breaks down any wall that is before me this year or any moment of my future. My God is love and that is how I am going to go forth, regardless of the season that He is bringing me through.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2: Corinthians 3:17
I was going to write a year in review, but most of you have been following me throughout the year so I am going to update you on the last few months. It's been a while since you have heard from me.
Here are some of my favorite memories from the last few months:
Children's Home
In November, during our home bible study, we had a guest speaker who was from the United States. He was visiting and helping our maintenance team for 3 weeks. He wanted to share at our Bible study and needed a translator. Sooooo, I may have signed up without asking one of our middle school age boys to do the translation (ooops), but I knew he could do it. He was so nervous and was honestly sort of upset that I had signed him up. But HE DID A FANTASTIC JOB, and I was super proud, smiling ear to ear. He left with a new confidence and it was so awesome to see him leave that night knowing “Even when I am nervous and the task before me is hard, I can do it.”
I had my annual ornament and Christmas making party and it was so sweet to reflect on how the kids have grown. I started with a tiny tree that was partially filled to a much bigger tree that is filled with ornaments! All of the ornaments have been made by the kids.
We painted clay jars to give to all the other missionaries at Loma De Luz. This year our focus for the Christmas season with the kids was on quality time and blessing others. We loved it to see the way the kids took so much joy in blessing those around them!
After much prayer, I decided that this Christmas I was going to spend Christmas eve and Christmas day in Honduras at the Children's Home. It was a special time and I’m grateful for the many memories made on these special days. I also was able to come up to the States to be with family on the 26th. I got the best of both worlds, Christmas here and there!
School
In the months leading up to our Christmas break the entire school was working on the memorization of the verses in Luke 2. I divided the verses among the grades and the students memorized the true reason for Christmas in both English and Spanish. They then performed these verses as a part of our school’s Christmas Program. A recording of the program can be found at this link on our school’s YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsbkHVbmF1M (the video is quite long but the verses start at 17:30 if you only have a few minutes to watch!)
Testimony of Answered Prayers
In 2021 I came to a moment where I had lots of questions for God. I asked many questions that started with “WHY”. I was feeling disconnected with the purpose of why God had me in Honduras. I was in a wrestling match with God that I could not even tell you why I was in it. A mentor had suggested that I pray boldly and ask God to show me clearly and give me moments that I would be able to cling on to that would keep me reminded of what He is doing.
Skip forward, and also going to try and make this long story short. An older boy in the home that I have always struggled to connect with because he was pretty reserved, came to me with some struggles he had been having. We shared some verses and prayers, at the end he said “Gracias, eres como un hermano mayor para nosotros.” which translates to “Thank you, you are like an older brother to us.” My heart was still wrestling with some BIG “whys”. But God has equipped me with a moment and a memory that I am able to and often think back on. One, answering my prayer but also showing me that He is working, and has clear reasons for this season.
I leave 2021 knowing a lot more of who I am In the Eyes of our Father. I am deeply loved. That is enough. This year, I will stand a little taller and more confident ready to go forward in Christ and through His strength and freedom.
Prayer Request
On Monday I head back to Honduras. For safe travels and a smooth transition back.
That the scripture we memorize and work through this next semester would change lives.
For strength, endurance, wisdom, and growth in Christ.
Thank you
Chase Gray
