One Thing I Do Know

John 9:26

Wow, so much has happened since the last time I wrote! In the past two weeks I have gotten to see so much of God's handiwork in the beauty of Honduras. From palm trees and plains to pine trees and mountains, God's creation has continued to amaze me. Two weeks ago, I got to travel to to a small community 7 hours away to see women who make baskets out of pine straw. This past week was Semana Santa, which means "Holy Week" in English. However, to Hondurans it means Spring Break. It's a week where all government offices and businesses shut down for vacation. There are many religious activities and traditions that occur, but for the most part everyone heads to the beach.

For us, we got to travel to Copan for a youth camp! It was a great week spent with some awesome brothers and sisters in Christ. After learning their stories and getting to know their hearts they quickly became more than friends, and we saw them as family. I have been amazed at how quickly it feels like you've known people forever when you spend time with believers that share your passion for serving God. There is so much unity is our hearts already through our common citizenship in the family of Christ Jesus.

Being at camp on Easter was a little odd for me personally. At first I thought how in the world will they get 80 high school and college students to go to camp on Easter weekend. I then learned that celebrating Easter, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday isn't really the idea of Semana Santa. Not to say that they don't celebrate Easter here, it's just not as much of an emphasis as the entire holiday week is. Though after scrolling through Facebook and Instagram I began to think maybe it's not that much of an emphasis in the states either. I was a little disheartened when I saw more about eggs, bunnys, and who had the best matching outfits than I did about a risen savior and the miraculous story of Jesus dying on a cross for sinners like me.

After mulling it over in my mind I started thinking why do we celebrate Easter? Is it a time that we recognize the story of Jesus and his resurrection, or is it a time that we humbly weep in celebration of the sacrifice that has been given for us? For me it's been a time to step back from the traditions and celebrations of Easter and acknowledge the conviction that comes with remembering the emotions, love, tragedy, and miracle of that original weekend we "celebrate."

Early this week I was reading in John about a man born blind being healed by Jesus. After his healing, he was questioned by the religious leaders about who healed him. His response was genius, "One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see". They continued to question him, and he responds with such whit and truth in love that they throw him out! (John 9:13-34) If you haven't read this passage lately then I definitely encourage you do so!

Now what does that have to do with Easter? Nothing really except for the fact that it's "the one thing I do know!" There's a lot of things I don't know; there's a whole lot of things about the Bible that I don't know or understand, but there is one thing I do know. I know I was lost and now I am found. I know I am loved by God and nothing I can do can change that. I know Christ died out of love for me and defeated Satan for all of mankind by beating death and living again. I know that nothing I can do will ever be good enough to deserve the love of God and eternal life with Him. But I do believe that God has proclaimed all of these things so that I may believe in Him. All he wants from me is to love and obey him. I don't know what that looks like for tomorrow, but I step out in faith and try to do what His word says each day.

If there is one thing I know for sure, it is that from the beginning of time God has created an amazing love story. I know that I am sinner who was separated from God. I know that if it wasn't for Jesus's death and sacrifice, I would still be separated from Him. I know that by his love I am no longer separated from God, and that through Jesus, I have eternal life.

I know I am saved only by the grace of God!

My prayer is that someone will read this and come to know the same thing for themselves. God is doing great things in Honduras, Tennessee and all over the world! We are blessed to be apart of his plan and excited to see what He has for our future and for yours!