Count Me In: Africa!

This is crazy, exciting and almost surreal. I am going to Africa. My family is going to Africa. The opportunities God has provided for me this year are beyond my expectations. In a previous post I shared about my adventure to Moldova. That trip was my first time to go on a ministry trip and to go out of the country. In the same year I get to take another trip out of the country to a different continent to love on more of God's people.

I am overwhelmed by the amazing places God is taking me this year. I knew this year would be a year of opportunity and experience. Only God knew what all that meant. I still don't.

I do know what God has placed in front of me right now though and I am dedicated to this new adventure. So much responsibility comes with being a part of a trip like this.

First, I have to be preparing myself. I have to be seeking Him and His will so that my heart will align with Him for this trip. You can play a part in that too. Be praying for me. Pray that my heart and eyes would be open for all that God wants to show me for Africa - that I would receive His portion for me so I can pour it out onto the people of Africa.

Also as I prepare myself for this trip I am praying for those in Africa. They are our mission; their hearts. It is my desire that they truly feel God's love and experience Him. Be praying for the hearts of the people in Africa that they would be receptive and that they would be changed, not by us, but through us.

Lastly, this is a costly trip. While we are saving our money we could use your help. For each person to be a part of this adventure to Africa it costs $3600. This includes our flights, housing and food for two weeks, safari we go on in the middle of the two weeks, and pretty much anything we a part of while there. This number times 6 (the number in our family going) seems so huge. God has built my faith so much though and I know He is more than enough. He provided for my trip to Moldova in such a short amount of time. That is nothing to Him.

We are asking that you pray about donating to our trip. Share with others about what God is doing in Africa and get them to play a part. To support my family follow this link and you will be able to donate through our fundraising website. If it is easier you can always send the donation through mail or hand it directly to us. We are also selling t-shirts! They are great shirts and when you buy a shirt the money gets donated to us. If you are interested in buying a t-shirt contact me or someone in my family. We really do appreciate all of you. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in Africa.

God is working and I am so thrilled. Get excited with me. Partner with me and my family in this adventure in whatever way possible. There couldn't be a "Go" team without a "Stay" team praying and sending us out. Thank you SO much for your support.

The Changing of Colors

Summer. Fall. Winter. Spring. From one season to another our surroundings change - Sunny and dry to chilly with falling leaves to a magical cold (with possible snow) then to sunshine and cool air until the cycle begins again. There is a constant change in our surroundings (especially in Texas :)) that produces growth and life.

We experience these seasons in life. Not only as characteristics of the weather but personally, in our hearts and minds and simply our journey through life.

Recently, along with this change in weather (which is delightful!), I have felt a shift in this season of life. The ending of the old and the beginning of the new. I like change. I get restless with a repetitive pattern of life. It could be easy to become too comfortable and I am not okay with that. Change inspires thought. It builds character and causes growth.

It is the simplest events of life that spark change - that mark a shift in seasons - a change of colors. As our latest show at school came to an end, my season of stage managing ended too. Immediately I was switching roles, auditioning for a show, and preparing for a new adventure. It amazes me how quickly change can occur and the effects that has on people. We have to allow the previous season to be a preparation for the next. Stop trying to hold yourself back when God has SO much more for you if you just let go. Remember the experiences but embrace what is now and what is coming. This show is a part of my last season of high school. It's exciting! No, it's not all easy but its fun! It's an adventure - those are never perfectly smooth. Enjoy this adventure. "It's simple - it's not easy, but it's worth it."

All this to say I am excited about this change in color and adventurous, refreshing, new season.

Moldova Reflections

Have you ever had an experience that words could not express? An experience where feelings could not be relayed? That is exactly how my adventure was to Moldova. In reading this, I hope you at least get a glimpse of all that we saw and felt.

Upon leaving I prepared myself for the brokenness that had struck the land and wounded the people. I knew the poor conditions were beyond anything I had experienced. I was ready. At least, I thought I was. I did not have many expectations for this trip aside from the fact that I knew God was working and had plans bigger than we could imagine. He was going to provide opportunities for us to minister to woman and girls, to visit poor families, and speak in front of hundreds. God was going to change lives through us. I was sure of that. What I was not ready for was that He was going to change my life through them.

Yes, of course, God did provide opportunities above and beyond those that we had expected. He worked in the hearts of the pastors who graciously supported (that is unheard of in Moldova) the girl’s conferences our friends were holding where we (the four of us who went) spoke to hundreds of women and girls. They prayed for us before we came, prayed for everyone attending the conferences, and one of the pastors and his family even opened up their home for our group to stay in when we traveled to the South of Moldova. Unexpectedly our friend, the woman leading this group to Moldova, was asked to bring a message to a church we would visit. Women do not speak in the churches there – ever. God opened so many doors. All throughout the week we were given times to share with the girls and simply love them. We were able to visit an orphanage/school for children of all ages who experienced some kind of mental disability and see them in their classrooms so excited to learn. The opportunities that God gave us while we were there were more than we could expect especially because of the barrier between woman and ministry there.

The times I was overwhelmed the most though is when I would be sharing with people yet I would feel touched, changed, and blessed myself. So many times I would think, “I am here to touch the lives of these people yet they are touching mine.” My favorite time of the entire trip is when we visited a women’s shelter. We heard heart-breaking and devastating stories of the lives of these women but in return were able to encourage each of them; sometimes with a simple, few words or a promise from God’s word. It did not matter that we were only there for a couple of hours because we saw an obvious change in the eyes and hearts of these woman in that short time. I left that place overflowing with joy. The hospitality of the families there is another one of the things that blessed me the most. Throughout the week we visited different villages for girl’s small groups. We would meet in these girl’s homes – some of these girls walked forty-five minutes from another village in the snow, the dark, and the biting temperatures just because they were hungry for more of God – who eagerly waited for us to share with them. Every time we met in a home they would set out hot tea and cookies (something we ate too much of while we were there :)). This simple act showed their willingness to give even in their lack. We experienced this all throughout the week. They gave because they wanted to and not because they expected anything in return. At the end of the week when we traveled to the South for the last conference where we stayed in the home of the pastor we experienced so many unexpected blessings. It was below five degrees the whole weekend and we could not get warm. No matter how many layers we added to our already thick bundle of clothes the shivering did not go away and our freezing cold hands and feet remained. We prepared ourselves mentally that it would be freezing the rest of the weekend and the pastor’s home we were staying in would not be much different. Heat, indoor plumbing, and comfortable conditions are very rare in the homes there and we did not expect anything else in their home yet when we arrived in their home they led us to a perfectly prepared and heated room (using coal that meant they might not have heat for a week because they could not afford to buy more). They also cooked us dinner and to our pleasant surprise had indoor plumbing (meaning we could actually use a bathroom inside)!! There is no way to describe the excitement over that simple blessing. All of the harsh conditions I had prepared myself for did not even matter. God led us every step of the way and so many hearts were changed in Moldova, including mine.

There are no words to express how grateful I am for your support (no matter what that looked like). We could not have walked so smoothly through this adventure without all of the people who faithfully battled in prayer for us. This experience changed my life. I didn’t have culture shock to Moldova. God had a specific plan for me there and He had prepared me. But I did have culture shock to America. My mind wanted to conform everything I was seeing in America to fit to the culture of Moldova. My heart wanted so badly to have the joy and fulfillment of seeing hearts touched and lives changed every moment. The transition from my mission in Moldova to my mission back home (because I do believe He has a plan for me right where I am at) was a challenge. I am forever changed by the experience I had in Moldova and I know God forever changed so many people there too. I have learned that His plan for me here is just as important as it was there. Until my next adventure…

Do You Know What This Means?

So I leave for Moldova in 6 days. Leaving for Moldova means the last semester of my high school is starting. This last semester means I have made it through 7 semesters of high school already!! This also means I am so very close to graduation! After graduation means I get to enjoy a wonderful summer before college. This summer also marks the last summer before college!

Do you know what all of this means?

My trip for Moldova all leads up to an exciting nonstop season and means college is very close!

Woah! Okay, I am done rambling. If you cannot tell, I am so excited about this season... and college :)

Take Me Deeper

This has been a long awaited post but I am finally getting around to playing catch up on sharing different things God has been showing me and what is going on in my life.

These past few months have been so full and extremely busy. The fall semester I spent quite a bit of time acclimating to my senior schedule and working out college details. Academically it has been a challenge which can be stressful at times. My time management skills have faltered a little. It is so abnormal and I am looking forward to overcoming that in the spring semester. I tried to blame it on senioritis but I don't need an excuse because that just causes my motivation to decrease even more.

Academics are important to me. God calls us to work at everything we do with all of our heart as if we were working for Him and not for men (Colossians 3:23). That inspires and encourages me. This semester (in my school struggles) all of it became so tedious and mundane. I became restless in my day to day living. Frustration slowly crept in as I sought the Lord in all areas of life but specifically in my academics. I desired to spend time in His presence but the overwhelming amount of school was a battle. I lived freely and fully and enjoyed life. I really did make wonderful memories but there was this unspoken frustration when it came to school and just important tasks I needed to get done.

I lacked motivation academically. The lack there came from the lack of excitement in a way spiritually. Yes, God is constantly teaching me and opening my eyes to a different perspective but I felt dry and needed refreshment. That is exactly how I felt academically.

At this time I became weaker. My strength drained even more. But His strength became more evident. In my weakness, His strength was greater. God was breaking me so that He could be my source of strength. He was taking me deeper.

These past few months that has been a constant process. My weakness has become more obvious but only so His strength could become mine (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) so that I could grow into a deeper level with Him. This past semester God used academics to reveal that. Even in school I cannot do it in my own strength. When I try to do even those little things on my own I become frustrated and drained. God created us to need Him and and I am learning that. If I am purposeful about my time with the Lord His strength will be mine in my weakness.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." -Matthew 6:33

Jesus is talking to the multitudes and previous to this verse he explains that if God takes care of the birds of the air how much more will He care for us? He encourages them to not worry about the daily things in life but be faithful in seeking the Lord first and everything else we need He will take care of.

That has been my motivation and what will carry me this semester. I am learning every day how refreshing the presence of God is and the strength I gain from Him. I look forward to this last semester of high school to live out all that God has taught me and is continuing to teach me. I will definitely need that as I continue into college and medical school especially. I love how He prepares us for all that He has for us. I see the preparation and am so thankful for God's personal relationship with us.