Saturday, January 16, 2010 

What would we do without Margaret!?

I have to take a moment and gush about one of our fellow SLM volunteers here in Bolivia! Wonderful Margaret works at a Hogar (orphanage) here in Bolivia, in Santa Cruz, not too far from where I live. Like all the volunteers here, she has hard work and a busy schedule that keeps her on her feet all day – but you can always find Margaret being kind, patient, and helpful with the children while being the older sister for her fellow SLM volunteers! :) On our retreat last weekend, she shared a beautiful letter she had written to herself before she came to Bolivia to work with her girls at her orphanage – but it also served as a beautiful reminder to all of us of why we are here and who we came to serve! I’d thought I’d share…

Message from Margaret:

“Be not afraid...face the brokenness that is being revealed to you within your own heart. Turn to Jesus Christ that you may know the second Person of the Trinity, as you have been desiring to. Dive deep into the relationships before you – do not be afraid to speak though you may not always have the words nor feel that you are being understood. Deeper meaning is conveyed in your actions. Do not be afraid to be joyful, to let go of whatever it is that darkens and oppresses the heart: it is not Truth.  Read Scripture – meet Christ there in His story and hold on to His life in the depths of your heart. Pray and open your heart to God. Be not afraid of your own wounds...If you let go of the wounds who have made you who you are, you will not cease to exist but will come into the fullness of who Christ can make you, which is more yourself than you can imagine. Write in your journal – the smallest things will be memories to treasure when the experience has faded into “a while ago.” Have fun and revel in the experience that is an extreme privilege to participate in. Do not be afraid, most of all, love the girls.”

-Margaret Stortz