In Memory Of Tamara Hernandez

Her name was Tamara Hernandez. This is her story (http://breathing-with-god.com/2012/01/31/hello-world/).

I met Tamara when I attended a small group through Saddleback Church's college group called Crave. She came by herself to my friend Elizabeth's house. She had just moved from Texas to Irvine and sought a Christian community through Saddleback. I remember her being quite shy at first, but soon she began to open up. The conversation that we had was simple, fun and sweet. Her faith was remarkable and I did not expect to make a new friend that night. She asked that we would pray for her as she sought to make new friends in this new place.

It wasn't until I became Facebook friends (I know...hahaha lame inter-web schtuff) that I heard about her story. Tamara had a inherited chronic terminal disease known as Cystic Fibrosis. Its a disease that makes it extremely hard to breath even doing the most simplest of things. However, upon only running into Tamara a few times, I could see that she did not let this unfortunate disease destroy her attitude or faith. She lived out loud for Christ in a way that inspired many people. She soon became a beloved member of the community at Saddleback church and was well known.

Tamara passed away yesterday due to complications of a double lung transplant. Its not the best thing to find out over the internet. Especially when I had chatted with her at Crave just before I went back to school after my Spring Break. Especially when I found out she got engaged not too long ago. To know that the world has lost such a beautiful soul is a sad thing, but Jesus says to rejoice because the believer is only asleep and they are finally home experiencing the true joy of being in God's presence.

Tamara has been in the back of my mind all day today. During auditorium, we sang the song "Marvelous Light"...these lyrics made me think of Tamara.

"Death has lost its sting...Your breath fills up my lungs, now I'm free, now I'm free!"

You are finally free Tamara. Breathing in the presence of the Almighty. Finally, you are free to worship  Him and sing at the top of your lungs in your new heavenly body. You are an inspiration and you truly reflect the goodness and faithfulness of Jesus. Thank you for your presence, kindness and strength. Rest in peace, beautiful girl. You have touched my heart. And many others as well.

Rest in peace in the arms of the One who holds you now.

All The Small Things

I know naming the title of this blog after a cliche song by Blink 182 is not really ideal for the purpose of this post....but just bare with me.

I have just completed my first week of actual family camp up at the Herm. I had 3rd/4th graders for the week and all I can say was that these group of kids were super squirrelly. I was glad to have 4 campers that I had last year run up to me at registration and give me a huge group hug. Definitely brightened up my day.

One of the most challenging things for me this week was recouping after a hard day at work. My energy was zapped after each session. However, praying to God for strength gets me through it. Mind over matter too! I was definitely feeling good after doing my dining duty though. I know....crazy right? I feel that I do need to do dining duty to keep my head level. There's nothing that I fear more than pride and busing tables after Day Camp helps me in humility.

After dining, I was so overwhelmed with God's goodness that I just laid in my bed at peace. I then received a text from a friend back at home where she told me some wonderful news that just overwhelmed me with God's goodness again. It was news that sent my spirit soaring because I had been praying for this certain thing for a while and to hear this good news made me cry. In that moment, one of my friends from Day Camp came in my room and thought I was crying because I was upset, but it was the total opposite! In that moment, she also became encouraged because she is in a tough season of her life right now. To share with her in that moment was seriously a God thing. The fact that she walked in my room at that very second was no coincidence. God did a snowball effect of Epic-ness.

I am trying to look for God in all the small things. The small moments where I see God work. The small moments of bliss. The moments where my mind captures a picture of something beautiful like looking up at a mighty Redwood tree or seeing the joys and faith of a child.

In all the small things, I find the moments where God meets me, calls me His beloved and shows me grace and mercy despite all the selfish things I have done this past year.

How great is my Lord. And I am so in Love with Him.

Bridge Moments

It's funny how God seems to whisper to you when you need it most. Or just the fact that He has perfect timing for everything. Some people may know that I was so incredibly nervous and broken coming into this summer, but I'd just like to say thank you SO much for your prayers. They are being answered each and every day.

The other day, Christian Sweeney and I had some quality time since we had not seen each other in a couple of days. We decided to sit on the bridge that is just above Conference Dr. (which is Mt. Hermon's main road). As we sat with one another, we shared life together. Our joys, fears and pains. I was so grateful for Christian in that moment because I felt like we both needed each other in that moment. We prayed for one another and read Isaiah 43 together. Basically, one of the main things we want out of this summer is to grow and reestablish our confidence in Christ. This last semester, I did not like who I was and was disgusted with the things that I had done. My confidence had completely diminished since last summer.

However, as we got up and headed to the auditorium, I saw the theme verse for the summer and it hit me. I had been looking for this theme verse for a while and never found it on Mt. Hermon's website. God has a sense of humor because I couldn't have asked for a more perfect moment to see that verse. It read as this:

"The LORD is your confidence..." Proverbs 3:26


In that moment, Christian and I were overwhelmed by how good our God is. We were so joyful that we were laughing. I have been sharing this moment with as many people as I can. I love it so much. Afterwards, I had a wonderful, fun conversation with my friends Chris and Fender. Lots of laughs. Good times.

As I sit here and type this up, my heart is filled with joy. My fellow counselors are all here together singing worship songs on our free time off. I love this place. I love these people. And I am so blessed to be back in God's presence. I was indeed a prodigal's child this last year. It feels good to rest in the Father's love once again.

Peace from the Herm.

Mt. Hermon's Training Week!

Hellooooooooo from the Herm!

I know its been about a week since some of you have heard from me, but let me reassure you that all is well. I'm trying to sum up the last couple of days...which is EXTREMELY hard to do because I have literally had no free time on my hands (except for now).

As you all know, Lindsay and I got up here safe and sound. We are having a BLAST! She's down in Child Care (her camp name being "Coral") and I am back to the place that I love so much! So far, each and every day is kind of like the following:

Get up, eat, meeting, seminar, meeting, decorate, eat, meeting, decorate, eat, meeting, another meeting, decorate, shower and sleep (throw some dinner rehearsals in there for Wednesday too!). I literally have NO free time. That will all change when the campers and their families come. But as of now we have been sitting through meetings dealing with Conflict Management skills, a Child Abuse seminar, Staff bonding activities and how to handle campers with special needs. Its been informative, busy and wonderful.

Anyways, I LOVE everything about this summer so far! I love my staff (old and new) and the theme this year is "California Jones; Journey to Relic Isle" or something close to that. Day Camp is themed as Relic Ruins and my staff and I have been hard at work to make my Supervisor's design ideas into reality. Might I add that it is working?! :)

Its hard to summarize EVERYTHING that we have all been doing. I do believe God's hand is definitely in on who He has called to serve this summer. I have discovered that I am not the only one who came into this summer broken, apathetic and numb. It feels good to know that their are others like me here; who were nervous about coming to camp. Wondering if they really should be here. The other night my day camp staff and I went to the beach to share our lives with one another. To tell each other about our years and where we are at. Joys and Trials. Its a tradition for summer staff up here to do this. I am not going to lie...sharing what I have gone through and where I am at in my life was so hard. Especially when I have NO idea what God is doing in my life at the moment. I am at dry season as of now, but I do have hope that God is going to work wonders this summer. Especially when our theme is based on learning about the Holy Spirit.

I can't help but reflect on the last year. How stupid, selfish and controlling I have been with my life. I am definitely not in the same place as I was last summer. However, I did come in wanting to serve and wanting to see my campers again. I am hoping that that in itself will allow God to mold me and make something new out of me. The walk is going to be scary, but I am not alone. My friends are right here with me.

As far as my Day Camp staff goes, we have become SO close already. Everyone is so easy to talk to, I feel comfortable with everyone which allows me to be my goober-ish self and I LOVE hanging out with some of my staff from last summer (day camp, other Conference staff, Pondy and Redwood). I love hanging out with Whinny, Spike, Mowgli, Sassy, Hooligan and Amp again. I have missed them terribly! Not to mention getting to know my awesome new staff. The girls being Summit, Frizz, Katniss, Otter and Tunes. The guys being Sunny, Crash, Whopper, Twizzler and Ace. Not to mention hanging out with my lovely boss, Heidi.

Sorry if this entry is all over the place, but I have yet to even process this week. All I can say is that I am SO extremely happy and grateful that God has allowed me to do this again this summer. I haven't been this happy in a while. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in my life this summer. I hope to have an open mind and heart as I listen carefully for the Holy Spirit.

Ta-ta for now! :)



~KRICKET

Something Beautiful

I have been reading Isaiah. I love this book. God really knows how to talk to me through this book. The things He tells me gives me hope, makes me joyful, makes me feel loved and comforts me whether I am in a season of joy or pain. Here are some passages from Isaiah that are speaking to me. I believe that the Holy Spirit directs my eyes to the things in this book that I need to hear the most. It quenches my soul. I love sharing this. Its pure joy. What are God's promises? These are them.

Thus says the LORD:

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD;
though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
"Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?"
"Say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
"...fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
"For I, the LORD your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, "Fear not,
I am the one who helps you"
"Fear not, you worm of Jacob,
you men of Israel!
I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD;
your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel."
"But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel;
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine!"
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walked through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you."
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you."
"Fear not for I am with you."
"I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior."
"BEHOLD, I AM DOING A NEW THING;
NOW IT SPRINGS FORTH, DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT?
I WILL MAKE A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS
AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT."
"I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud
and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you."
"I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me."
"...even to your old age, I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear,
I will carry and will save."
"Shake yourself from the dust and ARISE;
...loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion."
"And the LORD will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong."
"Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river..."
"...I will comfort you."
"You shall see and your heart shall rejoice."