Dear friends and family,
I have wonderful news to share with you. The Lord has graciously allowed me to have the opportunity to go serve a missionary family for two weeks in Siguatepeque, Honduras. This will be my first short term missions trip. While I am there I will be helping out with the daycare for single mothers and the medical clinic that they run. I will be leaving in four weeks! Things sure change fast for me!
PLEASE pray for the Patterson family (the missionaries). Pray for the work they do in sharing the gospel. Pray that God will be glorified in everything we do. Also, please pray that God will use this opportunity to conform me more to the character of his Son.
If possible, would you prayerfully consider supporting me financially? I need to raise $600 for my plane ticket and room/board. Any extra money that is raised will be donated to the missionaries. If you're interested please feel free to email me or call me with any questions.
You can mail checks to me at:
Sarah Jo Spears
11711 N. 50th St. Apt. 207B
Tampa Fl, 33617
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
An open letter to my father
Daddy,
Tomorrow is Father's day and I should probably be studying right now, as I have two exams Monday morning. However, be that as it may, I've been thinking a lot about you today. I wanted to wish you a happy Fathers Day. I know that I haven't always been the best at keeping up with birthdays and holidays, especially since I've moved to Tampa. So, I hope this letter will suffice.
I worked 12 hours today. It was a long day. But you know, whenever I think about how hard I have to work, I remember that I have never worked (and probably never will) as hard as you have. I remember growing up watching you go to work at all hours of the night. I remember you working out in the hot sun for 16+ hours, only to come home, sleep for a few hours and then get up and go to work again. You showed me to never be afraid of hard work. That is one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned.
Despite how much you had to work, you always had time for us. You were there for us every weekend. To take us out on the lake, or out on our four-wheelers. You came to more of my band performances than anyone else.
And one thing, thank you for disciplining me. I might have hated you when I didn't get my way, But, everyday I am more and more grateful for the discipline you instilled in me. There are so many kids out there these days in self-destruct mode because they never learned to control themselves. Even when I was a rebellious teenager, and I thought that I hated you, I never did, I always knew that you were my dad and that you were on my side.
Dad, I don't think i've ever told you, but I am so proud that you are my daddy. God could not have given me a better father. You have overcome so much in your life. You have made me believe in giving people second chances. Because of you, I know that it is possible to overcome any obstacle. You taught me to be brave and to stand up for what I believe in.
I know sometimes you feel like you weren't a a good dad, that you could have done better. But I want you to know that I that I thank God for you everyday. You have made me the woman I am today. I never would have made it this far without your instruction. You taught me to stand on my own two feet and to stand by my beliefs, for better or for worse.
You gave me a better childhood than any one person deserves. I remember being little and crawling in your lap and asking for a "sip of your tea" and you always gave me some, even though mom didn't like us drinking it. I remember laying in bed and hearing the sound of your motorcycle pulling up into the driveway and drifting off to sleep knowing I was safe cause you were home. I remember being a teenager and running into your room in the middle of the night to wake you up so you could kill the "giant" spider in the hallway. You always would. I remember going to car shows, gun shows, motorcycle shows and flea markets together. Truth be told, I never got into most of that stuff, but I loved being with you. I loved when it was just me and you. If I was going to draw a picture of what happiness looks like I would draw a picture of me and you, riding in a truck with the windows down on a cool spring day, eating boiled peanuts and listening to country music.
Daddy, I hope I make you proud. I try really hard at school because I know you worked hard to help me get here. I hope that you are pleased with the choices I have made. I am, and always will be your princess.
I love you with all of my heart,
Sarah Jo
Tomorrow is Father's day and I should probably be studying right now, as I have two exams Monday morning. However, be that as it may, I've been thinking a lot about you today. I wanted to wish you a happy Fathers Day. I know that I haven't always been the best at keeping up with birthdays and holidays, especially since I've moved to Tampa. So, I hope this letter will suffice.
I worked 12 hours today. It was a long day. But you know, whenever I think about how hard I have to work, I remember that I have never worked (and probably never will) as hard as you have. I remember growing up watching you go to work at all hours of the night. I remember you working out in the hot sun for 16+ hours, only to come home, sleep for a few hours and then get up and go to work again. You showed me to never be afraid of hard work. That is one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned.
Despite how much you had to work, you always had time for us. You were there for us every weekend. To take us out on the lake, or out on our four-wheelers. You came to more of my band performances than anyone else.
And one thing, thank you for disciplining me. I might have hated you when I didn't get my way, But, everyday I am more and more grateful for the discipline you instilled in me. There are so many kids out there these days in self-destruct mode because they never learned to control themselves. Even when I was a rebellious teenager, and I thought that I hated you, I never did, I always knew that you were my dad and that you were on my side.
Dad, I don't think i've ever told you, but I am so proud that you are my daddy. God could not have given me a better father. You have overcome so much in your life. You have made me believe in giving people second chances. Because of you, I know that it is possible to overcome any obstacle. You taught me to be brave and to stand up for what I believe in.
I know sometimes you feel like you weren't a a good dad, that you could have done better. But I want you to know that I that I thank God for you everyday. You have made me the woman I am today. I never would have made it this far without your instruction. You taught me to stand on my own two feet and to stand by my beliefs, for better or for worse.
You gave me a better childhood than any one person deserves. I remember being little and crawling in your lap and asking for a "sip of your tea" and you always gave me some, even though mom didn't like us drinking it. I remember laying in bed and hearing the sound of your motorcycle pulling up into the driveway and drifting off to sleep knowing I was safe cause you were home. I remember being a teenager and running into your room in the middle of the night to wake you up so you could kill the "giant" spider in the hallway. You always would. I remember going to car shows, gun shows, motorcycle shows and flea markets together. Truth be told, I never got into most of that stuff, but I loved being with you. I loved when it was just me and you. If I was going to draw a picture of what happiness looks like I would draw a picture of me and you, riding in a truck with the windows down on a cool spring day, eating boiled peanuts and listening to country music.
Daddy, I hope I make you proud. I try really hard at school because I know you worked hard to help me get here. I hope that you are pleased with the choices I have made. I am, and always will be your princess.
I love you with all of my heart,
Sarah Jo
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Dicontentment Part 2
I'm half way though my first semester of nursing. It blows my mind that the summer has passed so quickly. Being in nursing school is different than anything else I've ever experienced. It's honestly a full time job. I've really been struggling with being discontent. I feel like I shouldn't have to be here, shouldn't have to being doing all this school work in the summer. I have gotten to the point where I wish I was anywhere but here. I can hardly stand going on facebook anymore because all I see is everyone else getting to do everything I wish I was doing. I'm tired of getting up early, I'm tired of studying all the time, tired of being around stressed out exhausted people constantly. Please pray for me.
I wrote this in class today:
"I never realized,
when I let that first thought
sink down in my heart
That it would come to this
like an Israelite
accusing God, blaming God
"Why did you bring us out here to die!"
Lusting after meat, after milk
Desiring to create a God they could control
Never satisfied
Discontentment, a thorny weed
Choking the life of the branches
fruit, once ripe, sweet, now shriveled, bitter
I have made my bed amidst the thorns
seeking what can never be found there
Looking for something to ease the ache
Yet, the more I turn over and over
The more the thorns tear my flesh"
I wrote this in class today:
"I never realized,
when I let that first thought
sink down in my heart
That it would come to this
like an Israelite
accusing God, blaming God
"Why did you bring us out here to die!"
Lusting after meat, after milk
Desiring to create a God they could control
Never satisfied
Discontentment, a thorny weed
Choking the life of the branches
fruit, once ripe, sweet, now shriveled, bitter
I have made my bed amidst the thorns
seeking what can never be found there
Looking for something to ease the ache
Yet, the more I turn over and over
The more the thorns tear my flesh"
In my foolishness I could not see how allowing myself to dwell on the things I could not have, would steal the joy of the things I do have.
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