Uncategorized

half way

Monday, February 23rd, 2009 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

I can’t believe I’ve reached the half-way point of the internship and this is the first time I’ve posted. My apologies!

The past 6 weeks here in Guatemala have been incredible. Every moment is full. Our days are filled with many responsibilities including class time, homework & studying, shopping & cooking, cleaning, ministry preparation, and outreaches. Each week we learn about and explore some new aspect of ministry on the mission field. Everyday is an adventure.

Each week we travel to an indigenous village. It’s like stepping back in time…or like stepping into a Discovery Channel program. God has been doing amazing things there, but there is still much to be done. The devil has a strong grip on these Mayan people, but we know that our God is greater and is able to break that stronghold. Please pray for these people, that their hearts will be receptive to hearing and accepting the gospel.

For an entire week we were trained in building biosand water filters. It might sound lame, but it was so amazing. We spent the week doing some pretty hardcore manual labor out in the Guatemalan sun. We cranked out 4 filters from start to finish. It was awesome to be working with the whole team and accomplishing something that we knew would inact lives. At the end of the week we got to go to a village and install 2 of the filters in two families’ homes. It really impacted me when I held the two month old baby at the second home. Because of the simple water filter we were putting in their house this baby would start out life healthy. The people in Guatemala suffer from many diseases and sickness that are from dirty, contaminated drinking water. Simply having clean water to drink can change their lives in such a huge way. It is also an amazing opportunity to share Jesus with them. He gives us living water.

Last week we did several children’s crusades in local schools and right here in our neighborhood. It was an incredible time of imparting the love and acceptance of Christ to these kids, and also to sing crazy songs and laugh and have fun together. Everyone on the team came alive for those kids. We had a blast singing and dancing and doing skits and preaching the Word. It was also great to pray with them and to speak destiny and purpose over their lives! Such an awesome privilege.

This past Saturday was the halfway point of the internship. 5 weeks down, 5 to go! It’s gone by so fast, I can’t imagine how fast the rest will go. Saturday was also my birthday. I am 23. So crazy. It was a great day. The team had surprises for me all throughout the day. I was awoken at 5am to firecrackers going off right outside of my window. Talk about a surprise! It’s a Guatemalan tradition, and the guys on the team insisted that I have a true Guatemalan birthday! Later on there was a pinata, and then chocolate cake!! We also got to go horseback riding through the jungle. I have to say that it might be the coolest think I’ve ever done on my birthday. So indeed, 23 came in with a bang (literally) and I expect it be quite the year. I’m ready for it.

Here are a few photos…

Photobucket
Elsa, Anna, and their little brother at the village

Photobucket
A typical home in the indian village

Photobucket
One of the beautiful neighborhood girls that I’ve fallen in love with!

Photobucket
One of the babies I’ve gotten to hold and love.

Photobucket
The team!

Photobucket
Buying fresh fruit at the local market

Photobucket
walking on water…

Thank you for praying. Be confident that you are making a difference!

It’s time!

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The time has come! I am so excited. By Wednesday evening I will be in GUATEMALA!! I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this day. It’s amazing to look back and see how God’s hand has been upon all the planning and preparations leading up to now. He is ever faithful. I am very much in love with my creator.

There are 7 of us from the SGM that are going to Guatemala but there is also a group of 5 other students who left this morning for the Philippines to complete the same program. As you are remembering me and the Guatemala team in your prayers, please remember the Philippines team also!

I have a few prayer requests. Sometimes it is hard for me to specifically ask for prayer. I have had many people tell me that they will be praying for me and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that! I am learning that the body of Christ functions best when each member is lifting the others up, and that we can help one another do that by simply expressing our needs. Let’s make a deal. I will tell you my needs if you tell me yours! I’m serious. Just because I’m in a far off land doesn’t mean that I don’t care about what is going on in your life! If you have a need, please let me know…I’d love to pray for you! Email me! [email protected] I’m assuming that you’ve agreed to this…cause here I go!

For the first three weeks of the internship we cannot contact home at all. No phone calls, no email, no facebook. When I was away at school I talked to my parents almost everyday, if not several times a day! Needless to say, these three weeks are going to be tough. I know I can do it, but I’d love a little prayer to help me through! 🙂
Second, the weather is looking iffy for my day of travel. I have four flights between here and Guatemala and very tight connections at each layover. Please pray for no flight cancelations or delays and that no one misses any flights. Also pray for the whole team for general travel protection.

Thank you so much for coming and reading my blog and taking the time to invest in my life. I’ve always asked God to use me and He’s doing it! Following Him hasn’t always been easy, and it certainly has taken me down roads that I wouldn’t have taken on my own. He’s been there each step of the way, sometimes in the light with a beautiful path marked out ahead of me, and sometimes in the dark when I have to listen so carefully to the whisper that is telling me where to place my next step. Thank you for also being there for me, even when the steps I was taking or the paths I was choosing didn’t make sense to you. Even now, some of you might not really understand why I am doing what I’m doing, and that’s okay. I’ve made a decision to obey and trust God no matter what. Thank you for being here anyway. I appreciate you.

As I already mentioned, I am not allowed to contact home for three weeks. So…this blog will be inactive for three weeks. However, as soon as possible I will be back and have photos and stories that I’m sure I’ll be bursting to share with you. 

Thank you for reading. Thank you for going this journey with me. Thank you for making a difference.

What is she talking about?

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Just in case you’re lost and wonder why on earth I am going to Guatemala…

Last May I graduated from the 2 year program at Christ For the Nations in Dallas, TX. I knew that God was calling me to go to the mission field so in August I enrolled in CFNI’s Advanced School of Global Missions. I spent this past semester in Dallas being trained by amazing men and women of God who have each had incredible experiences spreading the love of Christ to people in all corners of the earth. To complete my training in the School of Global Missions I have to spend one semester on the field…GUATEMALA! CFNI has partnered with a missions organization called Calvary International. Calvary has a program called the Timothy Internship (TIP) and that is what I will be participating in for the next ten weeks. After completing TIP I will have completed all requirements for CFNI and be a graduate of TIP which in an open door to many opportunities to work with Calvary all over the world. TIP is a hands on missions training program that combines classroom teachings, and hands on application. Their goal is to develop a productive worldwide missionary force. I am excited to be a part of it.

There are 6 other School of Global Missions students going to Guatemala as well. They are amazing people and I am looking forward to serving with them! We will be gone from January 14 till March 28. And now you know…

2 weeks and counting…

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

It’s almost unbelievable. Two weeks from this very minute I’ll be in Peten, Guatemala- settling into my home for the following ten weeks! There is much preparation still to be done. I have shopping to do, bags to pack, books to read (lots of books to read), and people to see before I leave. I’ve been enjoying my time in PA. I’ve visited several dear friends, and am spending lots of time with family…which I love.
Even though I’ve been told extensively what to expect in Guatemala, I still get a few butterflies in my stomach when I think about it. I’m positive that it will be an amazing, life altering experience, but that doesn’t make the butterflies go away. If there is one thing I would ask you to pray for at this moment, it’s that I can get through the next two weeks with peace and confidence. I know that God is faithful and will give me grace to get on that airplane. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Check back soon for photos and maps!  In the meantime, I’ll be reading, reading reading. (We have a required book list to finish before departure…and I’m just starting…eek!)

just a start

Saturday, December 6th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Hi Everyone!
I’m really excited about setting up this site to keep everyone updated on my upcoming journeys to Guatemala & Mozambique!! It might take me a litte while to get it fully up and running so please keep checking back! Once I am in Guatemala I plan on updating at least once a week to let you know of all that God is doing!
Technology is such a blessing in the life of a missionary! Truly, nothing beats the good ‘ol pen and paper, but it’s so convenient to be able to freely convey to friends and family all that is happening, right when it happens!

So…thanks for stopping by! Keep checking back.