A Match Made in Heaven!

Updates, updates, updates! Even though it's only been a few weeks since my last blog this one is full of all kinds of fun updates!! 

God continues to humble and bless me as I walk this journey with Him. On top of being a GEM intern, I'm excited to announce that my home church, FBC Mckinney, has re-activated my TYW missionary number with them! I am beyond ecstatic to prepare and leave for the next year with the full support and encouragement of my home church body! 

In my last blog I gave some background information on LCM, I'm thrilled to now be able and give everyone even more details about the specific ministry I've been matched with while in London! And as the title of this blog states, I truly believe it is a match made in Heaven! Bethel Christian Centre has been working in the Dagenham area of London for over 10 years with a wide range of established outreach activities. The ministry has recently been resourced with more team members who are excited with the possibilities of taking the ministry forward and I can not wait to join them! I was able to speak with Jeff, the team leader at Bethel this past week and throughout our conversation God showed Himself in amazing ways! As we talked about the needs they are looking to address and the strengths God has blessed me with, it was as if I was specifically made to fit into this ministry, which is probably more true than even I realize at this point! I'm excited to be able and use all the experience I've had over the past 11 years working with children's and youth ministry and apply them to the awesome work God is already doing at Bethel!

Thank you for praying for me, keep it up! God has blessed me beyond belief so far in this journey and I don't expect Him to stop anytime soon! I'd like to ask for continued prayer for funding, for preparations and Visa procedures and for the hearts and minds of all the people who have and will be affected by the ministry at Bethel and my time there. 

If you'd like to partner with me monthly at $25, $50 or $100 (or provide a one time gift) you can donate in 2 ways, both tax deductible,  either through GEM at www.gemadventure.com/donate and use my # 09955 or through FBC Mckinney at www.fbcmissionallife.com/missionaries and use my name or my TYW #, TYW13.

Thank you again to everyone who supports me in so many ways as I attempt to ". . .run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1b-2 

New beginnings. . .

"When God gives you a new beginning, it starts with an ending. Be thankful for closed doors, they often guide us to the right one."

I'm not sure where I heard that quote, but man does it hit home! If you've read my previous blogs or talked to me at all in the last year, you might know why. Just in case you don't fall into one of those two groups, let me catch you up.

It was just about a year ago that I began the process of applying for the World Race, I would get accepted, I would fund-raise, I would attend training camp, I would fund-raise some more and in January 2015 I would leave on the race. . . at least that's what I thought. I did get accepted, I did fund-raise, I did go to training camp. . . and then something changed. I wasn't sure what to do, I had said yes, I had come this far, surely God wanted me to continue and leave on the race, at least that's what I wanted. From that point on things got harder and complicated, you see, that's what happens when you try to push open a door God is closing. Finally in December 2014, 4 weeks before launch for the World Race, I said yes to God again and stepped away.

That was the ending, this is the beginning. Shortly before I stepped away from the World Race I was having a conversation with someone at Greater Europe Mission (GEM) about my journey with the World Race, they told me they looked forward to seeing me the day after what would be my launch date. What? Really? I'll be gone! Those are things I thought during that conversation. . . a few weeks later though, I found myself in his office, the day before my would be launch. I thought, it's too soon to be here, I need time to "grieve". But Bryan (the best dreamer of Kingdom dreams I've ever met) told me something that day that struck me, "Missions doesn't happen on accident" in that moment, everything that God had been teaching me through my World Race journey came into focus, intentionality. I left that day and began praying about GEM and all the different countries and ministries they work with and if I fit into one of those. A couple weeks later I went back into the GEM office with 3 ministries God had really drawn me to, to my surprise GEM had a ministry in mind that they felt would be a fit for me as well, but didn't want to place me somewhere God wasn't calling me to so they asked about my 3 ministries first. . . and because God is an amazing and good God. .  the ministry GEM had in mind was also one of the 3 ministries God had shown me!

So here I am, at the beginning of this new journey with God! I'm taking the lessons I learned through the World Race and am being very intentional in all my preparations with GEM. I'll be partnering with London City Mission (LCM) in London starting in August. LCM is an amazing ministry working in London to see more people across the city come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord by serving the least reached of London. You can learn more about LCM at their website, www.lcm.org.uk

Thank you for reading my ramblings, thank you for praying for me and thank you for being on this God journey with me! If you'd like to donate to my GEM partnership you can visit the GEM website at http://www.gemission.org/ and click the Donate tab, you can find me by my name or my ministry number of 09955. Excited for what God has ahead and excited to be able and share it with you. . . and remember, before you can have a new beginning, there has to be an ending!

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." - Lamentations 3:22-24

The gift of letting go. . .

There doesn't seem to be a good way to start this blog so I'll just jump right in!
Yesterday was Christmas and I hope everyone had an amazing day spent with family and friends, fun new "toys" and relaxing from the craziness that leads up to the day. I also hope you had an opportunity to reflect on the true reason we celebrate and rejoice in the grace and mercy that we can enjoy that was made possible by the birth and death of our savior!
If you've followed my blog at all, I hope one thing you have taken away from it is how much God has been growing, stretching and teaching me through this World Race journey. Yesterday was no exception. My last blog touched on the revelation of just how independent God has showed me I can be, this week He has blessed me with the gift of peace for letting go of something I really, REALLY wanted to hold on to. The World Race.
Although finances definitely played a role in my decision, it is not the lack of funds that lead me to let go, as I know I serve the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He can provide far beyond anything I may need. I struggled with losing/leaving the amazing family I have in Q sQuad but even in that God has shown His love and provision over the last few days in all of the texts, calls and messages I have received from them letting me know that World Race or not, they are still my family and I am forever grateful for that!
God has been amazing in giving me a real peace, one that surpasses all understanding (at least on my part!) in this decision. God has a plan for my life so much bigger than anything I could ever even dream of and I believe that every revelation in this process, every person He brought into my life and every situation I faced and overcame (I'm looking at you training camp!) are preparing me for what He has in store.
To everyone who partnered with me in this journey either through prayer, gear or financial support, thank you again! Rest assured that everything you gave did and will be used to build up and expand the kingdom of God with or without my involvement and God will bless your faithfulness to His calling.
I pray that you will continue to follow and pray for my God journey through my personal blog (as this one will soon be no more) which can be found at http://thebeautyandwonderwithin.blogspot.com/
Thank you again, I love you all!
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." ~ James 1:2
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those that love him." ~James 1:12

Alive and well. . . Maybe

Alive, yes. Well. . . that's harder to answer. It's been 6 months since I've updated this blog and the reason is. . . knowing what I want to say and how to say it has been harder than usual. 6 months in Bolivia, anywhere really, has this way of completely changing your world, your life, your perspective, you. A different you means different feelings and different ways of communicating those feelings. "How is it being back?" "Did you love it?" "Tell me all about it", these are a few of the questions that seem nice and harmless to most, but send me into a spiraling panic. . . sounds weird right? 6 months, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't seem like it would be all that long, but when I'm faced with compressing it down into 'small talk' it feels like an eternity. The faces, the people, the places, the kids. . . it's all too much. All of those things, and so much more were used by God in those 6 months to show me a lifetime of revelations. He showed me things about myself, about His word, His plan and where I fit into it, His people and most importantly, He showed me more of Himself. I realized not only what I can do and what I am capable of, but what I can do in Him and what He can accomplish through me when I step out of the way and let Him. So, am I well? Yes, I feel that I am, what I'm not is comfortable and in all honesty, I kinda love that! It lets me know that standing still is not what God is calling me to, that He is calling me out and waiting for me to respond. So although the first step in my journey has come to an end, I continue to pray, and ask for yours, as I seek the next step God already has planned for me in this beautiful and wonderful adventure called life.
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you." -John 15:15-16

April Fools. . . .

Not a "holiday" I enjoy! I've never understood the fun in making someone believe one thing and then making them realize it's really something else. Unfortunately for me, I feel like I'm trapped in the biggest April Fool's joke ever, and can't figure out the punchline. 3 years ago I decided to seriously consider this missions "thing", 2 years ago I decided to quit my job to follow through, 1 year ago I began preparing for a life of missions and 2 months ago I fell in love with a sweet little boy that changed everything. I thought I knew why I was coming to Bolivia, I thought I knew what the purpose of this trip was, I thought I knew what I was ready for. . . but just like He always does, God reminded me, it's not about what I know or want, it's about His plan, His will and His way. So after much prayer, and a deep breathe, I went to the staff of Casa de Amor, as a single woman, and asked about the steps I needed to take towards a Bolivian adoption (you see, the thought of walking away from my sweet boy in 4 short months seemed agonizing and unbearable). Once again I'm in a place where I am facing my desires and wants and God's, and distinguishing the two are much more difficult than I thought. Think of every negative a country could have in the adoption guidelines and I have that here. . . I'm single, I'm American, I'm a volunteer at the orphanage where he lives and I already have a relationship with him. . .all huge red flags for the Bolivian government that cut my approval chances down to less than 50%. So everyday seems a little harder now, a little shorter and I worry a little more about the day when I have to look precious "S" in the face and walk away. I wonder, what am I missing? What lesson or plan is God trying to convey that I keep confusing? What I keep coming back to is this, I don't have to trust the plan, I don't have to trust the situation, I just have to trust Him. He is bigger than this, He is bigger than the hurt I may feel in leaving and He has only His best in store, whatever that may be. If you would, could you pray for me, for baby "S" and his forever family whoever they may be, for the other 29 kids currently in Casa de Amor houses and for all the staff and volunteers that love on these kids and bond and grow attached and then have to leave, may we all be reminded of the greatest love that has been given to us and know that He never fails, He's never late and He ALWAYS provides just what we need, just when we need it!
A few pics of my sweet baby "S", you know, so you can see how adorable he is! :-)

I can't help falling in love. . .

. . .with every single child here! It's hard to believe I'm starting my fourth week here already, that's a month! There is still some major settling in to do, next week I start my Spanish lessons so that I can communicate better with the Bolivian Tia's and the kiddos. Excited and nervous about that all at the same time, my Texas tongue appreciates any and all prayers as I try and master this new language! As for getting around town. . . I'm beginning to think I may never fully grasp the bus/truffi system, but taxi drivers love me! haha! It's a little more expensive, in terms of B's (the currency here) but in terms of dollars is only costing me about $10-$15 a week and it's also much safer than some of the other forms of transportation. Now. . . .back to the kids! Currently I'm working two days at House 1 with 12 babies and two days at House 3 with 5 of the older kids (and The Mitchell's!). Have I mentioned that I love all them yet?! haha! Not that I play favorites, but there is one baby in particular that has stolen my heart. We'll call him Baby "S" , Baby "S" arrived in the world on Feb 12, just 2 days after I arrived in Bolivia. It was a rough start for "S" as his mother tried to smother him right after birth but by God's unfailing grace, she was unsuccessful, I can't help but imagine the HUGE plan and path God already has mapped out for this little guy! If you ever stop by House 1, chances are you will find me holding or loving on "S", I've given serious thought about how I might bring him back with me in 6 months! Through all the homesickness, all the fears, all the struggles with language and transportation and culture it amazes me how holding one of these sweet kids puts everything back in focus, everything about why I'm here, why I left my friends and family seems so clear again. I remember that it all comes back to this, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." -James 1:27

Me and sweet Baby "S" :-)

Good things come to those that wait. . .

And wait I did, for 3 very long days in the Miami Airport! My trek to Cochabamba began Tuesday Feb 7th as I departed DFW and headed on my way! After a a 3 hour plane ride, God gracing me with a very nice, very helpful seat mate and a mad dash from one end of the airport to the other (with ALL my luggage and said seat mate helping me) I arrived at the gate of my second flight to find out. . . they had closed the flight and I had missed my connection! NOT what I wanted to hear. After a few hours it was decided that the best course of action was to. . . wait it out in Miami until the next flight offered by the airline took off... at 10pm Thurs night! After becoming very familiar with the international terminal in Miami and what felt like a TON of waiting, I was finally on my way! A quick 6 hour flight to Santa Cruz, a stop through customs and one last 45 min flight and I was finally in Cochabamba!! Once I passed through immigration, I saw the best sight I had seen in days. . . familiar faces!!! :-) So thankful for T.J and Tammy Mitchell!!
After a quick stop for a traditional Bolivian breakfast (pastels and api, the jury is still out on the api!) I was headed for my new home for the next 6 months! I was able to meet my roommate, some of the Tia's and then finally. . . the KIDS!!!!! It was without doubt, love at first sight! :-)

A week in and I'm still getting my bearings as far as the city and public transportation goes, still struggling some and learning the language (the kids and tia's are a HUGE help there!) and adjusting to the altitude! Overall I'm loving being with the kids, grateful for built in friendships and encouragement from the Mitchell's and excited about the new friendships to be made with the international volunteers that are here now!  There was lots of waiting. . . but I can already tell there will be lots of reward! Excited for the next 6 months! " Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." -Psalm 27:14