Long surrender
9/13/2025
I was in Montana, waiting to get an appointment with the Italian consulate for my visa. I had a been coming up against wall after wall of challenges. These challenges had left me feeling discouraged, full of doubt and confused. I had been seeking the Lord for guidance but heard nothing but silence. I was feeling this same way during a worship time and honestly just exhausted. As I was crying out to the Lord I heard Him ask me to surrender, even if I didn't understand, to surrender again. He continued to ask me to wait on Him even if I didn't hear an answer. In that moment, I surrendered to God another layer of my heart in this journey. It's not as though surrender hadn't been in my vocabulary before or that this path to Italy had never been surrendered to God. If that was the case, maybe it would have been an easier surrender. No, this was one of those layers of surrender that you didn't know you needed to give over to God. This was a place in my heart that only God knew, a place of long surrender.
The truth is that I would rather have God than any direction, any dream or any purpose or plan. Surrender is saying that God is more important and more worthy than anything else in your life.
After that night I felt a shift not only in my heart but in my circumstances. I could hear God's voice directing me into new growth, leading me in understanding of my calling and purpose in such a beautiful way. Within a few weeks God opened the door for my visa interview in Chicago, He gave me the opportunity to go to the YWAM base in Italy for a month and get to see my sister in London beforehand!
As I reflect on this, these words ring true:
"Anything you bestow on me or reveal to me or promise to me is too small and unsatisfying if I do not see or meet you in it. For surely my heart cannot truly rest or ever be fully contented unless it rest in you."
I was in Montana, waiting to get an appointment with the Italian consulate for my visa. I had a been coming up against wall after wall of challenges. These challenges had left me feeling discouraged, full of doubt and confused. I had been seeking the Lord for guidance but heard nothing but silence. I was feeling this same way during a worship time and honestly just exhausted. As I was crying out to the Lord I heard Him ask me to surrender, even if I didn't understand, to surrender again. He continued to ask me to wait on Him even if I didn't hear an answer. In that moment, I surrendered to God another layer of my heart in this journey. It's not as though surrender hadn't been in my vocabulary before or that this path to Italy had never been surrendered to God. If that was the case, maybe it would have been an easier surrender. No, this was one of those layers of surrender that you didn't know you needed to give over to God. This was a place in my heart that only God knew, a place of long surrender.
The truth is that I would rather have God than any direction, any dream or any purpose or plan. Surrender is saying that God is more important and more worthy than anything else in your life.
After that night I felt a shift not only in my heart but in my circumstances. I could hear God's voice directing me into new growth, leading me in understanding of my calling and purpose in such a beautiful way. Within a few weeks God opened the door for my visa interview in Chicago, He gave me the opportunity to go to the YWAM base in Italy for a month and get to see my sister in London beforehand!
As I reflect on this, these words ring true:
"Anything you bestow on me or reveal to me or promise to me is too small and unsatisfying if I do not see or meet you in it. For surely my heart cannot truly rest or ever be fully contented unless it rest in you."
Visa update
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6/16/25
While God has used every moment of this visa journey, there have been many unexpected changes. After my first visa being denied I have been re-applying and trying to get an interview again with a consulate. After much waiting and a lot of changed interviews I am so grateful I have secured an interview in Chicago in September! Praise God! This means that I will go in for my interview and they will again process my visa and decide to deny or accept it. Lord willing I will be accepted and hopefully be in Italy either in the fall or winter.
For the visa interview I am required to have bought a round trip ticket to Italy, and the ticket I bought for my last interview is about to expire as I have moved it month by month up until now. I have prayed and decided to use this flight before I lose it and spend a month this summer in Italy volunteering at the YWAM base! I am so excited to serve on base and get to meet the staff I have been talking with for the last year finally in person! I can't wait to serve with their ministries in person and get to know more of the culture I will be living in for the next 2 years! I will be going from July to august then staying back home august through the fall. I am so excited to get my feet on the ground in Italy! Praise the Lord, and thank you for supporting me and lifting me up in prayer through this whole process! God is so faithful!
While God has used every moment of this visa journey, there have been many unexpected changes. After my first visa being denied I have been re-applying and trying to get an interview again with a consulate. After much waiting and a lot of changed interviews I am so grateful I have secured an interview in Chicago in September! Praise God! This means that I will go in for my interview and they will again process my visa and decide to deny or accept it. Lord willing I will be accepted and hopefully be in Italy either in the fall or winter.
For the visa interview I am required to have bought a round trip ticket to Italy, and the ticket I bought for my last interview is about to expire as I have moved it month by month up until now. I have prayed and decided to use this flight before I lose it and spend a month this summer in Italy volunteering at the YWAM base! I am so excited to serve on base and get to meet the staff I have been talking with for the last year finally in person! I can't wait to serve with their ministries in person and get to know more of the culture I will be living in for the next 2 years! I will be going from July to august then staying back home august through the fall. I am so excited to get my feet on the ground in Italy! Praise the Lord, and thank you for supporting me and lifting me up in prayer through this whole process! God is so faithful!
moments of gratitude
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"The tension between what is, and what we dream of is important. Not to discount what we have, but to hold onto that middle ground, because it's in there that the magic happens."
Susan Branch |
sweet gifts
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December 2024
This fall in Minnesota has been marked with sweetness! I have gotten to do many things that I have missed including seeing the beauty of the seasons change and watching the first snow fall. But the biggest blessing has been the people! Nothing takes the place of being in person with friends and family! I have had so many sweet conversations and been able to be with people for the simple moments of life. Staying with my grandparents near family during the weekends has made it possible to be connected to life with them and spent time with family I have missed! During the week days I stay with the sweetest family in my home town. The amount of laughter, conversations and shenanigans with these friends has been my highlight to come home to in the evenings! As I know these moments won't last forever, I have found myself truly grateful for all that God has provided in this season, among which people have been the sweetest gift!
This fall in Minnesota has been marked with sweetness! I have gotten to do many things that I have missed including seeing the beauty of the seasons change and watching the first snow fall. But the biggest blessing has been the people! Nothing takes the place of being in person with friends and family! I have had so many sweet conversations and been able to be with people for the simple moments of life. Staying with my grandparents near family during the weekends has made it possible to be connected to life with them and spent time with family I have missed! During the week days I stay with the sweetest family in my home town. The amount of laughter, conversations and shenanigans with these friends has been my highlight to come home to in the evenings! As I know these moments won't last forever, I have found myself truly grateful for all that God has provided in this season, among which people have been the sweetest gift!
exciting changes!
It's been more than three years since my dad and I drove up to the base with my car full of stuff and I began my journey here as a missionary. I left Minnesota with a confidence that God was calling me to be in ministry, and I knew that he was directing me to Ensenada. I could never have imagined the ways he would bless this time in my life. I have been astounded at the friendships I have made, people who have touched my life and drawn me closer to Jesus. Not to mention the beautiful things that God has done as he has ministered to others hearts through my life! I have found so much joy in serving him and loving him and others in my time in Mexico.
As I have been praying about the future and asking the Lord to use me wherever he desires, I have felt the Lord lead me in a new direction. He is calling me to join staff with YWAM Cultivate in Italy! I have known about this base for awhile and before I joined staff in Ensenada I was praying about staffing there, but I felt the Lord direct me to Ensenada. YWAM Cultivate in Italy is the same organization as YWAM here, its just a different location with a different cultural focus. The vision God has given them for ministering to the culture is to focus on the Bible, hospitality, cultural interchange, worship, and the arts. Their desire is to see the gospel shared through the unique avenues that Italian culture connects with such as arts and hospitality.
The heart of this base is to see revival happen in Italy and especially to youth! Although Italy's past is rich with revival, as of recently the number of practicing Christians with a relationship with Jesus is pretty small. Sadly church is widely not attended and for young people, faith in Jesus is viewed simply as a tradition and religion. I am so excited to see the Lord speak life and encounter many in this country with the deep truth of his love and power! For a long time now I have had a heart for Europe and for Italy.
Although it is sad to be saying goodbye to this time in Ensenada, a place I love so dearly, I feel confident of the Lords directing in this new season. So with the same confidence in the Lords calling as when I arrived in Mexico, I go to Italy, knowing that he who calls me is faithful. Speaking of faithfulness, I cannot tell you how deeply grateful I am to each one of you! Whether I have known you my whole life or met you while I was in Mexico, your faithfulness to partner with me in prayer and finances during this time has been truly incredible! Because of you I have been able to call Mexico my home and share the gospel with so many beautiful people! From my heart, truly I thank you!
As I have been praying about the future and asking the Lord to use me wherever he desires, I have felt the Lord lead me in a new direction. He is calling me to join staff with YWAM Cultivate in Italy! I have known about this base for awhile and before I joined staff in Ensenada I was praying about staffing there, but I felt the Lord direct me to Ensenada. YWAM Cultivate in Italy is the same organization as YWAM here, its just a different location with a different cultural focus. The vision God has given them for ministering to the culture is to focus on the Bible, hospitality, cultural interchange, worship, and the arts. Their desire is to see the gospel shared through the unique avenues that Italian culture connects with such as arts and hospitality.
The heart of this base is to see revival happen in Italy and especially to youth! Although Italy's past is rich with revival, as of recently the number of practicing Christians with a relationship with Jesus is pretty small. Sadly church is widely not attended and for young people, faith in Jesus is viewed simply as a tradition and religion. I am so excited to see the Lord speak life and encounter many in this country with the deep truth of his love and power! For a long time now I have had a heart for Europe and for Italy.
Although it is sad to be saying goodbye to this time in Ensenada, a place I love so dearly, I feel confident of the Lords directing in this new season. So with the same confidence in the Lords calling as when I arrived in Mexico, I go to Italy, knowing that he who calls me is faithful. Speaking of faithfulness, I cannot tell you how deeply grateful I am to each one of you! Whether I have known you my whole life or met you while I was in Mexico, your faithfulness to partner with me in prayer and finances during this time has been truly incredible! Because of you I have been able to call Mexico my home and share the gospel with so many beautiful people! From my heart, truly I thank you!
Hope Academy
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One of the ministries we have on base is called Hope Academy and it is a school designed for the base kids whose parents are missionaries. Each of them would normally be doing their school at home while their parents were serving on base, so this school serves as a community for them to feel supported as they grow. We teach different classes for them and also help them with their school curriculums. It is truly a gift serving them as their teacher and championing them to grow not just in education but in their character and relationship with God. Getting to daily pour into these students and help them know the Father is a joy. My heart is that these missionary kids who grow up around people who know God and serve him would also find the deeply powerful truth that God also loves and cares for them! We would never want these kids who have grown up seeing the miracles that God is doing to never know the miracle making God we serve! This fall I had the opportunity to serve as a teacher for the school and now this winter through spring I will be the lead teacher, getting the chance to love and serve these amazing youth!
Favorite moments
Each year we have a team that comes who are from England. The majority of this group is non Christian. They are an amazing group of students and I have had the privilege of working with them for three years. This year during one night we had an opportunity for the students to stay and ask questions if they were interested in hearing more about our faith. I sat with two amazing women, who both had some really good questions. After we talked for awhile they both shared that they wanted to give their lives to Christ and start a relationship with Him! It was so beautiful to see God working in their hearts throughout the week and bringing them to a point of surrender to him. Being apart of that moment was one of my favorite moments this summer!
One night each week we had a commissioning night to talk about the great commission and our calling to go and make disciples. One of these nights toward the end of the summer was my favorites. As worship began the students began to really respond to the Holy Spirit and his calling on their lives. A lot of the students were actively surrendering to the Lord. One student came up to the front of the room and publicly declared his commitment to follow the Lord's calling on his life to share Jesus with the world! The room was deeply impacted by his bravery and more students came up to share their commitment to Jesus. As I looked around the room I could see students hugging each other, praying over each other and crying. It was so stunning to see God actively working in their lives!
One night each week we had a commissioning night to talk about the great commission and our calling to go and make disciples. One of these nights toward the end of the summer was my favorites. As worship began the students began to really respond to the Holy Spirit and his calling on their lives. A lot of the students were actively surrendering to the Lord. One student came up to the front of the room and publicly declared his commitment to follow the Lord's calling on his life to share Jesus with the world! The room was deeply impacted by his bravery and more students came up to share their commitment to Jesus. As I looked around the room I could see students hugging each other, praying over each other and crying. It was so stunning to see God actively working in their lives!
What is it worth? I was kneeling in the soft green grass as I heard God's soft voice say: "Go to Madagascar, it will be worth it." I had been praying about where I would go on outreach and as I heard these words I decided to trust what God deems worthy of my attention. As I shared in my last update the outreach left me amazed at the impact of saying yes to what God values. I saw more people saved in three months than in my whole life time! It made me ponder this question what is God saying is worth it in my life to invest in that I don't give value to? Or what things have I said no to out of fear that God sees potential in? It wasn't easy and there were many times that the sacrifice was hard. But in the end what God said was worth it far outweighed the sacrifice. Often what he said was worth it also was an answer to a prayer I had had, but the answer was given to me in a way I had never expected.
As I am looking to the future and knowing that God has called me to missions for the next two years, there are many options I am considering. I know that all I want truly is what is worth it to God. I am willing to go where he calls me and do whatever ministry he calls me to if it's worth it and valuable to Him. Even if there is sacrifice we know that ultimately the fruit that God has will outweigh the sacrifice. What is God is saying "it's worth it" to in your life? The unreached
One of my favorite moments in Madagascar was going to an unreached village on the east coast. Our team had the opportunity to partner with a missionary there whose ministry is to fly by helicopter to villages that have never heard the name of Jesus. He goes to 12 villages a month with a team of doctors and dentists and shares the gospel while providing much needed care to these remote villages. By the end of his time in the village out of those who accept the gospel, he will bring a few back to a training school to disciple them to be the pastors of that village. Those who have accepted Christ in that village will hike to the next village and prepare the way for the next group to share the Gospel with them. Our team had the incredible opportunity to fly by helicopter and share the gospel and stay over night in an unreached village. The village was filled with people, and they welcomed us so warmly, preparing our food for us and giving us their houses to stay in. Everywhere we went they prepared dances for us and welcomed us with music and joy. Many accepted Christ and we got the privilege of baptizing them and praying over them!
One of the most beautiful moments for me was went I shared my testimony in the village. Everyone was gathered around me, their eyes directed at me, one of the first foreigners they had ever seen. I felt intimidated, the Lord has placed on my heart to share why I am named Faith. As I shared about what faith is and why God is the one worthy of our faith and trust in him, I saw the eyes around me be attentive to what I was saying. I was sharing about God's faithful , trustworthy character which has changed my life and can change theirs too. I was shocked to think that my story so different from theirs can have one thing in common, the faithful loving character of God. I will never forget the privilege of leading people to Christ in this beautiful village! |
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Growth!!
I am amazed at the growth that this season has brought! Not only in my life but in those around me! Each week holds many opportunities for the students to learn, serve, create and draw near to God as he transforms them! Here are a few highlights:
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Fall DIscipleship training school
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October 15 2022
This fall has brought on a new and exciting adventure! I am staffing our fall Discipleship Training School (DTS)! A DTS is a five month school through YWAM that is focused on growing your relationship with God and sharing God with others. These first three months we will be in class with powerful topics such as hearing Gods voice, the Father heart of God, God's redemptive plan and many more! This time is all about discipleship and growing nearer to God. Next the students will being going on an outreach for two months to another country where they will share the gospel through many different ministry opportunities. As a staff member of this school I get the privilege of discipling and leading these students in the time they are with us. I will also be leading one of the outreach teams to another country (I can't share where quite yet) to share the gospel coming up in December! We have a group of 31 students from 10 different countries and it has been so amazing to get to know them! God is already doing amazing things as we are about to start week 4 of lectures. We just went camping as a school and learned all about the Father heart of God. As we were surrounded by such beauty, I was reminded of how good our Father is. I am astounded and grateful that I get to disciple and share the gospel in such a beautiful place with such beautiful people. Our Father is good!
This fall has brought on a new and exciting adventure! I am staffing our fall Discipleship Training School (DTS)! A DTS is a five month school through YWAM that is focused on growing your relationship with God and sharing God with others. These first three months we will be in class with powerful topics such as hearing Gods voice, the Father heart of God, God's redemptive plan and many more! This time is all about discipleship and growing nearer to God. Next the students will being going on an outreach for two months to another country where they will share the gospel through many different ministry opportunities. As a staff member of this school I get the privilege of discipling and leading these students in the time they are with us. I will also be leading one of the outreach teams to another country (I can't share where quite yet) to share the gospel coming up in December! We have a group of 31 students from 10 different countries and it has been so amazing to get to know them! God is already doing amazing things as we are about to start week 4 of lectures. We just went camping as a school and learned all about the Father heart of God. As we were surrounded by such beauty, I was reminded of how good our Father is. I am astounded and grateful that I get to disciple and share the gospel in such a beautiful place with such beautiful people. Our Father is good!
True humility
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Fabiola, Mario and Mario Junior, one of the sweetest families! They both are hard workers and work in farming as field hands. Recently Fabiola stopped working to be able to help her mother who is ill. Because of their family's financial situation they were selected to receive a Home of Hope, built by our team of about 20 youth. Getting to know this hardworking family has impacted me deeply. During the three day house build I had the opportunity to talk with Fabiola and ask about her life. As she showed me their sparse old house she pointed out that they slept on a wooden bed with no mattress. She also shared that she was so grateful to have a new home because in their old house they would often get raddle snakes inside! The snakes would come down from the mountain in the summer and enter into their poorly sealed house. I will never forget their humble responses as we took the family to shop for necessities for their home. When we first started shopping Fabiola didn't put much in the cart and she would constantly tell us that she didn't need anything else. It was so sweet to see them smile at each other in shock as we bought two and a half carts full of items for their home. Fabiola and Mario's humility and stewardship really impacted me. As we gave them their new home I was reminded of this verse: "One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little will also be dishonest in much." Luke 16:10 I can see that God is using Mario and Fabiola in big ways as they have been faithful with the little that they have.
miracles
This last week I was reminded of the generous God we love! Before we went out to ministry our team decided to use some extra money to buy supplies for the orphanage we would serve that day. A few of us unloaded off the bus and ran throughout the store gathering all sorts of supplies that would bless them. In our minds we bought what we thought would be of help to them. As we arrived to the ministry and started unloading our haul of items, the smile on the ministry owners face kept growing. We placed the items in their pantry, as the ministry owner thanked us she explained why she was so happy. She showed me the pantry where items where missing and that the food we brought filled in the deficits and provided exactly what they needed! They were just recently running out of food and had no money to provide for more, as the number of children arriving kept growing. She explained to me that she just was praying for supplies and then we arrive with the exact answer to her prayer! She didn't even need to communicate her needs to us but God communicated for her. I love this story because it remind me of how God likes to move it our lives. He often times uses us to be apart of a miracle in the next persons life. He uses us to show his providence to the world and that he is a God of generosity. All we have to do is partner with him and be willing to be apart of another persons miracle as we show God's generosity to the world!
a new friend
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I carried my Bible in my hand, prepared to hear God's voice directing me to give it to someone. As our group of six walked passed small houses with fences and flowers we could hear the dogs barking through the streets. Our team was distributing Bibles, with the goal of giving it to a specific person that we felt the Lord was directing us to. We had walked by this little store once before and seen a beautiful mom with her two children. As we looped back around to see them in the same place, I could tell that she was the one Jesus wanted me to share my Bible with. She smiled at me as I shared with her what I sensed she needed to hear. Her smile was so welcoming and as I looked at her dark eyes, it felt like I had met an old friend, not a stranger. As she held the chips she bought from the little tienda, she opened up to me about the hard time her family is going through. Her mom had cancer and she is the only one out of her siblings who can drive 40 minutes to take care of her. Through her eyes I could see the worry and strain it has taken on her. My friend who translated for me gave her some money that he felt she needed for her family. As he gave it to her she started crying. We prayed for her and her family and I gave her the flower that I had picked for her that displayed the care God has for her. It was so beautiful to meet this sweet friend and show her how much God loves her and her family. As I ran across her a few days later, she met me with a big smile and gave me a hug. She shared with me that the day we had given her the money and a Bible was the day that she didn't have food for dinner and could only buy chips. As I talked with her for a bit, she invited me to come to her house whenever I am back in her neighborhood. I am so excited to see my new friend again sometime! I am praying that the Lord with continue to provide for her and show Himself to her through His word. I am amazed that the simple moments we take to see someone and pray for them can be God's way of providing a miracle in their life!
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Recently I had the opportunity to speak in our Discipleship Training School. I was asked to lead a reflection on the weeks topic of God's redemptive plan and Bible overview. I was really excited as well as daunted by the largeness of God's redemptive plan! While taking time to prepare for the teaching, I was struck by the beauty of God's redemptive plan once more.
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God's redemptive plan
His beautiful plan based on his character was set in motion at the beginning of time. We see his faithfulness throughout history, even to a people so faithless. He remained faithful to his covenants with his people, because of his goodness and not our own. The Creator of the universe decided to not only remain faithful, but go to the full extent of love for someone and give his life for our redemption and his glory! I am amazed that because of his grace we get to be apart of his redemptive plan. God has redeemed my life and now I have the privilege to engage others in his redemption!
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Its so beautiful that through our gifting's and skills we have the opportunity to share God's plan with the world. This to me is so motivating. This is hope for the future. Because of this I want so many more to know about God's redemptive plan and engage their lives in it, giving their lives to the Redeemer.
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Home
I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend at home! There is nothing like hugging the people I love most and have been longing to see. Additionally there is no sight so beautiful as your own drive way! Throughout the months I have lived in Mexico, while filled and happy to be serving I have at the same time carried a longing. It is so strange to me to carry around a longing for the people I love even in the midst of a life I love. I have a friend who has a piece of art on her wall that says something like this: "When we have a longing for those we love it means we are fortunate enough to have family and home in more than one place". While the art hanging on her wall is more eloquent than this it still holds a lot of meaning for me. In fact I have found that this longing for home has a deeper goal. It draws me deeper into longing for my true home. I ache for new creation, redemption and being with my Father in Eternity. This ache for home I have found is an invitation into deeper relationship with Jesus. While I miss my family and home in Minnesota, the truth is that my home is where I am with Jesus and my life I surrender to inviting others home with Him. There are so many opportunities that lie in our struggles, I am grateful for a Father who wastes nothing.
GEnuine Hope
I love Christmas. It has always been so magical to me. I think most people enjoy Christmas, its not hard when we are surrounded by so many beautiful things at this time of year. Only as an adult has the gravity of Christmas actually made sense to me. Each song, decoration and Christmas tradition are fun on their own, but how much more beautiful they are when they are used the way they were intended. They are meant to be a magnifying glass pointed towards Our Beloved Father. When I was a kid, and the Christmas season began I had this growing anticipation for Christmas day. As an adult my anticipation has grown and expanded. It seems that the Christmas season only mirrors the joy and anticipation of my hope for Christ's return and redemption of many. This anticipation for his return propels me forward into a desire for others to know this beautiful story that began in the garden and continues in the manger. I am so grateful for the Fathers deep love that fills our lives. As I reflect on Christmas I am even more honored to be serving in Mexico, and partnering with all of you! It is because of this hope, that we share him. Thank you so much for making it possible for me to be sharing this hope with the people of Mexico. Your partnership truly has blessed me in so many ways. I cannot tell you the difference it makes to know that I have a team of people who partner with me and support me in the calling God has given me. I couldn't be here without you! I pray that each one of you experience his joy, love and hope this Christmas season. As we look at the new year let's remind ourselves of his faithfulness throughout all of time, because of this we have our hope set on him for the future! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Seeds
There are moments that I forget where on the globe I live! It may sounds silly, but it happens when you live and work in a place with many people from many different places. I am brought back to the realization of my location when I hear the mariachi band that seems to play outside of my apartment and the salsa dancing across the road! Every friday I go out with the DTS to do evangelism in the downtown area. I love this ministry and opportunity I get at the end of every week. I have learned even more about the culture as we go out to start conversations with people and share the gospel. I love the openness of this culture! Many people are willing talk to talk about Jesus and share about their life. As I go out every week I can't help but think about my own story, and reflect on my ability to be open with people. Am I willing to start conversations around the gospel, not only that but to walk with them and disciple them? As we go out every friday we sow seeds of life and truth in the lives of the people we meet. No matter how small or seemingly invisible these seeds may be God knows them. He is faithful to use the seeds we plant to reveal who he is to others, no matter where our location on earth.
gracious giftsThis month I have been thinking about God's goodness and grace. Each one of these pictures shows a blessing God has given me this month. These are things I don't deserve or need but he gives them anyways. I am amazed at how he sees the little things in our hearts and minds that we don't even think to pray about. God is so gracious to give these little sweet things to us in his timing. They are all the sweeter because they are in his timing and given by him. This causes me to live even more in a way that reflects God's heart of generosity towards others. Because He has been so kind to me I can't help but want to do the same to others.What are the simple blessings God has given you, and how can you be a reflection of God's generosity to those around you?
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The most precious gift
August 2nd 2021
One of my favorite activities of the week is called injustice night. The intent of the evening is to raise awareness on certain injustices in the world and seek the Lord on how to take part in ending that injustice. This year we focused on Bible poverty. After learning about the lack of Bibles in many people groups and places in the world, we went out into the community of Ensenada and distributed Bibles. Along with the Bibles we shared the gospel, prayed and gave food to those in the community. After this we spent some time praying over the world to end Bible poverty. It was amazing to see God speak to so many students and the see their obedience. One of my favorite stories is in the picture above. Our team came across a home with a sweet elderly couple who lived there. They invited us in to their home and shared with us their story and how they too were believers. They were so honest with us about how lonely they are and the struggles that they face. It turns out that the wife had many health issues and the husband took care of her every day. We spent a lot of time with them talking with them about the gospel and encouraging them. We prayed for them and gave them a Bible. At the beginning of our time spend together the man seemed very confused about the gospel and who Jesus is, but by the end of our time together He began remembering so many specific stories in the Bible and ended up sharing the Gospel with us! As we left I was reminded of the power of the Gospel to unite and encourage strangers from different parts of the world! |
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ADVENTURES IN COLORADO
When God called me to be in ministry I was so excited but also hesitant. I really felt like I needed training in order to head into a leadership position or any position in ministry. I was looking at schooling options and was lead to do a SOMD [School of Ministry Development] in Denver Colorado with YWAM. During this leadership school I gained so much practical and spiritual wisdom for being in ministry. Leaving that school, I felt so much more equipped for ministry and confident in the Lord's direction. A month later I did another school in Denver called a BCC [Bible Core Course]. In this school we read through the Bible in three months, had classes on different books of the Bible and gained many tools to study the Bible on our own. By the end of the school a deeper love for the Bible and for God was rooted in my heart. Both of these schools were an answer to prayer for me and have given me tools and confidence as I step forward into how God is calling me to serve in Mexico.
When God called me to be in ministry I was so excited but also hesitant. I really felt like I needed training in order to head into a leadership position or any position in ministry. I was looking at schooling options and was lead to do a SOMD [School of Ministry Development] in Denver Colorado with YWAM. During this leadership school I gained so much practical and spiritual wisdom for being in ministry. Leaving that school, I felt so much more equipped for ministry and confident in the Lord's direction. A month later I did another school in Denver called a BCC [Bible Core Course]. In this school we read through the Bible in three months, had classes on different books of the Bible and gained many tools to study the Bible on our own. By the end of the school a deeper love for the Bible and for God was rooted in my heart. Both of these schools were an answer to prayer for me and have given me tools and confidence as I step forward into how God is calling me to serve in Mexico.
Gifts to be given
This month I had the opportunity to help with one of the ministries YWAM Ensenada has, called Homes of Hope. This ministry focuses on building a home for a family who is in need. Often times these families have homes but their homes aren't very safe and have only been made out of what materials they can find. Homes of Hope brings teams out to build a home for a family in 2-3 days. My favorite part of this ministry is spending time with the family. Recently our Mission Adventures staff went out and helped a team build for a beautiful mom and her two teenage girls. While painting I got to talk to the family using my broken spanish. I had an amazing time connecting with them, asking about their life and family. I woke up the next morning of the build thinking about them and excited to finish the house and give them the keys to their home. The second day of the build is usually focused on the details of finishing the house, one of these details is to make a sign for the house with the family's name on it. I had the privilege of painting the sign for the family! This is such a little thing, but to me it shows that this home is truly theirs. No matter where they are in life they can see this house and know that it was a gift from God. I cannot tell you how beautiful it was to seeing the joy and tears on the family's faces as they received this gift from God. As I have been reflecting on this moment I can see parallels in my life. This month as I have been moving into my apartment I have been constantly reminded that my life is a gift from God. It's not my own, it was given to me by him. Because of this I want to give away all I have to see Him glorified. This is my prayer for this family that received a home as well. I pray that every time they see their house they would be reminded of God's goodness and live in away that shares that truth and goodness to others.
This month I had the opportunity to help with one of the ministries YWAM Ensenada has, called Homes of Hope. This ministry focuses on building a home for a family who is in need. Often times these families have homes but their homes aren't very safe and have only been made out of what materials they can find. Homes of Hope brings teams out to build a home for a family in 2-3 days. My favorite part of this ministry is spending time with the family. Recently our Mission Adventures staff went out and helped a team build for a beautiful mom and her two teenage girls. While painting I got to talk to the family using my broken spanish. I had an amazing time connecting with them, asking about their life and family. I woke up the next morning of the build thinking about them and excited to finish the house and give them the keys to their home. The second day of the build is usually focused on the details of finishing the house, one of these details is to make a sign for the house with the family's name on it. I had the privilege of painting the sign for the family! This is such a little thing, but to me it shows that this home is truly theirs. No matter where they are in life they can see this house and know that it was a gift from God. I cannot tell you how beautiful it was to seeing the joy and tears on the family's faces as they received this gift from God. As I have been reflecting on this moment I can see parallels in my life. This month as I have been moving into my apartment I have been constantly reminded that my life is a gift from God. It's not my own, it was given to me by him. Because of this I want to give away all I have to see Him glorified. This is my prayer for this family that received a home as well. I pray that every time they see their house they would be reminded of God's goodness and live in away that shares that truth and goodness to others.
