A Good Lesson Learned

A wise man once said...

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped in the heat of the summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord'--and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:1-5

Aaron Weiss once said, "Find a friend, stay close with a melting heart and tell them whatever you're most ashamed of."

I highly recommend confession. Not just to God, but to people. There is so much freedom in being able to stand before God and people with a clean heart, harboring no iniquity. I don't think people realize how much unconfessed sin or animosity towards another person really affects the heart and soul. Look at that verse--"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long". It's so true! Unconfessed issues are such heavy weights on the heart, and develop such deep roots in the soul. When your heart is clean and you have nothing to hide, you're able to receive and give love freely, without fear, because you are finally able to be who you really are, not someone you're pretending to be. Obviously this is something I just went through, so I'm recommending it to you and you and you. So, please, go find someone you can trust, and tell them the worst thing you've ever done. They'll understand and help you through it, as will God, and life will just be that much more beautiful.

In love and hope,
B

God is good.

I think if I had to use one word to describe what has went on during this first couple weeks of the lecture phase, I would use the word "exposed". Never in my life have I felt so exposed for who I really am in such a short time, than in these past weeks.
For those of you who've read Blue Like Jazz, do you remember the chapter about Donald moving into a house in Portland with 6 other guys, after living all by himself out in the country? The transition for him was very difficult and mentally exhausting. I feel like that chapter is describing my life right now. I live in one room with 18 other girls. 18. I've spent the past 8 or so months, holed up in my room, only coming out to work my 9-5 job and to see a friend a few times a week. So for me, this type of living has been exhausting. But it's so beautiful at the same time. I'm building some amazing relationships, and light is being shed to the areas of my heart that I've been trying to keep hidden for quite some time. I'm learning that it's much better to be exposed for every aspect of who I am, the good and the bad, than trying to keep up with this ridiculous mask I've been wearing (and trying to perfect) for years on end. And finally, now that this mask is being torn down, I'm gaining the closeness with the Lord I've always wanted.
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised."-Proverbs 31:30
I'm really thankful I don't have to pretend anymore. I hated myself and it wasn't fun.
God is good, and I take comfort in knowing that will never be a lie.

Here are pictures of some adventures we've been having...


me, arielle, julia, ashley and anna

hawaiian tourist and WT american

me and the llama down the road

Julia, Arielle and Tohnya's birthday party

Beautiful Kelly playing us a song

International Love Feast

MMM.

Juuulia

More birthday party

prepped for the ropes course

the chapel

blackberry picking!

Ashley had this little cat toy with a massive mouth buried in the bottom of her purse, along with some stray skittles. when she pulled it out, it had one of the skittles lodged in its mouth. we pretty much laughed for like 15 minutes.

dorm girls


Facebook me to see a ridiculous amount of other pictures.

I love you,
Becky

I've arrived!

Welp. I'm here!

Two things.

A. Oregon is beautiful. The sky is crystal clear, the temperature is perfect and the humidity is low. I'm not sure I've ever felt such a clean, dry breeze. Everything is green, green, green, just about to turn colors at the for the start of fall.

B. Oregon people are incredibly kind. Or maybe it's just the kids at the YWAM base and the church we went to this morning. Either way I feel very at home.

No adventures to speak of just yet, but I'm sure there will be in due time. Tonight at 6 we're doing some crazy intense ropes course in the hills around the base. Also, I found out we might be headed to Tibet for outreach. Eeeee! As most of you know, this is probably the #1 place in China I want to visit. One of the girls told me last time she was in Tibet, she was traveling somewhere on a bus and a Tibetian monk came and sat on her lap. Becky's dream come true? Yes.