YOU NEVER LET GO!!

There will be an end to these troubles...
but until that day comes:
still I will Praise you
Oh no you never let go!
Through the calm and through the storm..
Oh no you never let go!
Every high and every low...
Oh no you never let go!
Lord: YOU NEVER LET GO OF ME!!!
(by :Matt Redman)..

Why this song? Today, you
might have felt like the world was falling into pieces, and you are this insignificant person in the world that isn't capable of change. Someone close to you might be sick, that might have been the case. Or you might have felt it was the happiest day of you life, or just another regular boring day....

This wasn't just any other day...Yesterday wasn't just any other day...Tomorrow won't just be another day...

For the past week, Honduras (my country) has been facing many political problems, that are having big effects on our economy, education, government, family, etc....
As every other country, society, person: every one has a history and a past. No one wants bad things to happen, yet they do. As humans we tend to stress and worry about what will happen tomorrow. Its just natural to do so.
The events that have been happening in Honduras with the removal of a president, a new government, responses from the international community, and reactions of the own Hondurans have created stress that is just not healthy. But what can we do, when we are uncertain about tomorrow's security?

All we want is peace and freedom. This won't be the last time something like this happens, similar things just happened in the Middle east, and South America. So far, only a few (very few probably less than 20) have been injured; and in Honduran history it has been a pacific time while there is political turmoil, because our history has tended to be very violent. We do not want blood to be shed and do not want to continue fighting with our surrounding countries. Honduras might have been put in a corner by the rest of the world, but we have high hopes that our country will be able to move forward instead of repeating history or worse.

Every one is stressed. We have a curfew, many businesses aren't working and people are losing more jobs each day. Children aren't going to school because the teachers are now in a strike. They could potentially lose the school year. And so many other unleashing events that give more uncertainty to the people as well as awaiting the news to see what "progress" has been made in this whole process.
Today, I talked to my grandma on the phone. My grandma asked me, "How are you?" I said,"Fine." she was asking about the situation in the country, so I said, "Well, I could worry like every one else, but I won't. I don't think it'll be the end of the world and if something is to happen to us, I'm ready: I know where I'll end up, I know where your gonna end up. We just have to trust God and try not to worry." That might seem very non-challant, very chill and calm from my part with all that is happening, yet if I said I was worried my grandma would've just worried even more. Of course I'm worried, its only natural that I would be worried, (just a little bit). Yet I'm not exposed like the military and police who are working everyday to try to keep the country safe. They need prayer, the new government needs prayer, even those removed from the government for the judgment they receive will be tough. The other countries need prayer so that they may take reasonable and good decisions, because 8 million people will suffer the consequences. They already are living the consequences...
The majority are o.k. right now, almost no blood has been shed, yet the uncertainty for tomorrow is tremendous. Yet we need not be worried about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself.

So, the song I wrote at first showed up in my shuffle earlier today...Its true. God is near, He is with us. We shall fear no one because he is with us. He never lets go! Through the calm, the storm, high an low. He loves us, no matter what. Even though Honduras might be stressed and worrying for tomorrow, we must trust that all of this suffering is for the better. In the midst of all we must praise him...praise Him and be in constant prayer for Honduras...

HE NEVER LETS GO!
Ni tribulacion o angustia nos podran separar de su amor!

Helga Sierra

airports, traveling, people...

stuck in the Miami Airport for 3 more hours, currently very tired; 2 nights with only 5 hours of sleep and traveling on both of the following days, whose fault is that of being tired? Mine... Why do I have to love poeple and movies? instead of packing, I go visit all of my friends which I guess is fine given that I wont see them for 2 1/2 months; the next night instead of sleeping I went to the movies: first, I spent time with my aunt and uncle which I think was good; second, the movie was AWESOME!!!

Anyways, I'm on my way to get home; pretty cool stuff I think. I'll get to see the family and friends. Maybe even go to the beach while I'm down there; no wait, I will most definitely be going to the beach, then again I am a very proud person when it comes to the beaches in Honduras...This reminds me: 2 days ago a 7.1 earthquake shook my country. First: it started in the ocean and could have become a tsunami: I'm glad it didn't. My family and friends are o.k., thankfully; but many people of all ages died. Why do these things happen? I have no clue, but I know that something greater and better is supposed to come from them...as for now I think all we can do is pray for my country, I know it'll get better.

Going back to being stuck in the airport, yep its boring; people watching is fun though: so many people go through a single point and everyone is so different. Its in places like this where I know that I have to learn how to speak in many other languages. Its a fact of life, it just open so many barriers.

I guess my attitude about staying in a super long lay over should change; there's lots of stuff to do in an airport. Call friends and catch up; go to the stores; walk (exercise=good); eat (lots of restaurants here); stare at people and even maybe meet a few.....

sorry for the random train of thought that I had today, maybe its the lack of sleep.
Anyways, have an awesome day :)

un abrazo (haha),
Helga

No Boundaries...

In regards to the drawing: I did it at KLF last Sunday; I think its self explanatory and just basically deals with the God's greatness, the three-in-one and the fact that many times as humans we fail by putting Jesus in a box; we make him what we want him to be. It shouldn't be this way though, He is looking for a relationship with us, because He does love us, so much that we don't even have a clue as too the extent of his love. The colors are all very vivid in order to portray the beauty of life; which now I realize is so amazing, everyday something different and beautiful shows up in front of me. I think that if we all stopped and noticed we would find more and more beauty that God made just too spoil us, His kids.
About Jesus in a box: His power is beyond that. He does not belong in a box and will keep shaking us until we're at the right place with Him, in a relationship where he is our friend, Lord and Savior. Pretty awesome huh?
Think about it....

Restorers of the Broken: a different generation

Yesterday, I did some painting/drawing at KLF. Drawing b/c this picture was made with dry pastel, a media that is fun to play around with sometimes. You should try it, its kind of like chalk; I do believe that everyone is creative and is an artist. Here's the thing: in my last blog, I talked about how God is raising people to be the ones who repair broken walls and rebuild the age old foundations; so then I decided to make art inspired by that Bible verse because it was just stuck on me through out the week.

So, I went to KLF and started painting, and Daniel Oppong (college pastor at KLF, for those who don't know him, which is very unlikely) and the worship team introduced a new song: You Love Never Fails. Haha, this made me beyond happy, it was one of my true desires to sing that song at church this past weekend, because the song had been on my mind all week. That just made me want to make the drawing even more...

I finished drawing early and was able to observe the congregation worship; it's pretty cool to just step back and watch so many people truly worshipping. :) Then during Brandon's preaching he started talking about the world wide revolution and reestablishing of what christianity is and will be...so I thought it was pretty cool that it went along with this image that came from Isaiah. Brandon said that those who were born after the 80's all the way to the present are the generations that will ask all of the questions and will only believe that which is genuine and true...WE are that generation that will create the change in this world. HaHA, we will rebuild broken relationships, create new relationships with people from all generations: old and new; we will reform the ways by which christianity is seen.

This was just a little more on what's been on my heart and mind this week, and how hopefully this painting will affect someone's life today or sometime in the future..
I decided that the painting should be for KLF, I originally thought it would be for the college group; but because we don't have a permanent place I decided that it should go in the KLF offices and Brandon asked if it could be in his office, and I think it'll fit perfectly. so if you're ever in Brandon Hawk's office (Brandon=KLF pastor, for those who don't know) check the painting out and remember that this is a generation that will restore all that is broken.

As for now, I shall enjoy my day off from school, maybe even do some homework, work on some other art projects, maybe just chill, enjoy a pretty day.

con mucho amor, un abrazo!
Helga

His LOVE NEVER FAILS!!

summer week 1: a year ago I was thinking about my class senior trip and how it was the end of the world because I would no longer be with the people that I had basically spent my life with (I met most of them when I was 4 years old, so 14 years: a whole lifetime). I was planning on going to college and I didn't know where yet; especially not a tiny town in the middle of no where texas.... but everyday ACU did something different to try to get me to go to school here, and by mid July I knew I was coming to Abilene.

Little did I know all that God had in store for me; it was an amazing year full of surprises: both good and bad, but overall good... First, I was in a good school, then I found this amazing church which is my family, I've made lots of friends who are family as well; lost a family member and learned more about the amazing things God has in store for me and my future.....

So this May, instead of thinking what I was doing for a trip or graduation and other random stuff that I thought was important a year ago, I have decided to focus on other stuff: truly embracing the relationship with my creator...the other day I went for a walk and just looked at the clouds: THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!! every day they change, especially in this crazy Abilene weather... did you ever notice ants: they're pretty strong for such a tiny size- they bit me by the way, which is why I noticed them- but anyways God made them...where did He come up with all this stuff? I don't need to know that, but I do want to embrace that creativity, because that is what makes me like Him, and at the same time different than everyone else...

All of this and more to say that God's Love never fails; I made it through a year of being completely away from home, losing a loved one and just life! WOW!!! His love never fails...He IS the same through the ages, His love never changes...

While looking at the clouds and just being amazed at the God of wonders and pondering over 1 year of being in this texan land and this is what God said:
"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame." (Isaiah 58:11)....Wait What???? that just happened....I lived that, I still am living that...His love never fails. My needs were more than satisfied in this far away land and yes my frame was shaken and strengthened. There's more: "You will be like a well-watered garden; like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58:11b.) This is what I am waiting for during this summer; its what I know will happen with most of my friends; I believe it. I've seen God's work, so why doubt more of the things in store for me and those around me? haha it just makes me happy. HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS!

And so to my friends/family I say (again this year is over, time flies by so fast its not even funny sometimes), "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." (Isaiah 58:12)...Think about it, you've been called to a great movement haha, BELIEVE IT!! it's pretty amazing that our creator has every beautiful thing planned out, even the smallest stroke that a butterfly's wings make...

He is my faithful Father and creator; His love never fails....

haha, much love....

Helga

ps: take a walk and look at the stars; smile at someone you've never met: it could make their day a much better one...

right here, right now..

First Blog, interesting huh? People back in Honduras would say I've become too American, but hey, who cares...Its a part of embracing the new culture I'm living in and I have to live in the present...so here goes:

I'm Helga, 18 years old, in less than a week I'll be done with my freshman year in college; WOW!!!!! time flies! I didn't think I would be done so fast, it makes me sad; because I've made friends for a lifetime. In less than 12 months they became my best friends....and now I won't see them for 2 and a half months, that's a very long time in my book, cuz it'll be summer and I won't be doing that much, or at least not as busy as I would be in school. I'll see...

Over the past 3 weeks so many things happened...I've changed a lot. God's been working wonders and given me a calling I never expected to have....let's just say art is a very big part of me...so there's been lots of art in my life in the past 3 weeks...My calling: well I've decided to embrace it, that's what I can do, be obedient and be the best at what I do....
I was born to be different and excellent, because, well God is my Father and has given me all the capacities to be like that....so have you who is reading this: YOU WERE BORN TO BE EXCELLENT, no matter how difficult or easy the circumstances you in might be, you can be excellent...its hard, I know tell me about it, i don't do it all the time, but I try... so should you!!!

just embrace the calling, even though it my seem something out of this world and sometimes really scary, just be obedient.... be different, be a son or daughter of the Most high, cuz you are! and He will always love you, even though we might fall sometimes....any ways, we don't have much time in this life...so this summer embrace your calling, live life, enjoy a sunset, breathe, smile, laugh, cry, give you mom a hug (tell her you love her, it will rock her world; do the same for your dad, they like hugs too); love, make some music, paint, go skydiving; grow!!

I know we will grow over the summer, I plan on doing so, and even if I am in a different place (Home, which is supposed to be more familiar, but given the changes in my life it'll be hard to see what happens in my relationships with friends from back home)...I plan on being bold, even more than what I used to be!...but I am truly happy to go home, to spend time with my family and church and just share all that I've learned..and when I say family I mean family, cousins grandmas, grand pa, aunts, uncles, parents, bro (cuz that's how we do it in Latin America, family is, well, everybody...)! Oh yeah and that growing thing: it'll be awesome, we are forming our identities, fulfilling our callings (and if you don't think you have a calling, you do and its awesome I bet, just saying)

ohh yeah and I thought I should put it out there:
"⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." yeah that's right: you received a present from your Dad, you've taken it by faith and yeah guess what the works, mmhhmmm they were prepared in advance...so umm why doubt it, you have a calling, a calling that should be done with excellence, resembling that of our creator....that's one awesome verse, I'm just saying, truly study it, ponder about it, realize how important and great it is, because it is...it has made me change my way of thinking several times....

so almost done...school's out in a week, but I'll have to stay in Abilene for 3 more weeks, which I am actually looking forward to, so if anyone wants to visit during those 3 weeks, that would make my day/week/month....

so live in the present, what's done is done, embrace you calling NOW!!!

haha.....

seriously, lots of love!!
and a hug!!!
(would say a kiss, (one the cheek, obviously); but Americans get weirded out by that; I guess its a latin thing, I mean that is how we greet each other, haha, so I wont say that)...

have one awesome day!!
Helga