Psalm 146:2 "I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Brief Thursday Update

Hi Everyone,

Here is a really brief update by video.

I don't have much time to update today as I am trying to get the final touches on the day of prayer! Thank you for your prayers.


Tuesday, March 29, 2011

What About That ONE? Thoughts On Reached And Unreached People Groups

Hi Everyone,

I have been thinking about something for awhile. I haven´t been sure about posting this because I don´t want people to misunderstand it or take it the wrong way.

But I´ve been thinking a lot about reached and unreached people groups. Honestly I am not quite sure what the statistics are for a country or people group to be considered "reached" with the gospel. I am not against us going out to reach unreached people groups and nations. We definitely need to be doing that! Jesus said in Matthew 28 to go into all the world.

But sometimes I wonder if in our enthususiasm to reach the unreached, that we might forget about the lost that are right around us. Every day here in Mexico, I am amazed in an appauling sense that even if 10% of the population were believers (I am not sure if the statistics are really that high so don´t think it as correct. I am just giving an example), that would still mean that 90% of the population was dying without Jesus....and we are considered reached in many but not all places here.

Talking to people for my research paper has made this just so much more evident to me--how deceived and lost so many people that I see every day are!

So my thoughts are this--YES! Let´s make every effort to reach and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the unreached people groups----BUT let´s not forget those around us that don´t know Him.

I think of this parable JESUS gave. Luke 15:1-7 "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable, "Suppose one of you has one hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn´t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me, I have found my lost sheep." I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over nonety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

That ONE is a neighbor, a person in the Middle East or India, a co-worker, a friend.

Lord, use us as fervent lights for you wherever we are with every day that we live. May we live lives of purpose to this end.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Medical Campaign With My Amigos Sin Frontera Friends!

Hi Everyone,

On Saturday I had the awesome opportunity to help with an Amigos Sin Fromtera (the group of believers that help people with medical and dental care that I had gone with before in the mountains) medical day campaign. It was fun. Following are some videos of different moments of the day for your enjoyment and information.









My thoughts at the end of the day!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

My Room and The View From Roof Top

Hi Everyone,

For those of you that missed the previous video of my room, Here it is. For those of you that have seen it, there are a few small homey touches.



Here is a view from the top-I had never climbed all the way up on the roof-so it was an adventure for me. Enjoy the view of the neighborhood from below.


Friday, March 25, 2011

What Is Truth?

Hi Everyone,

What is truth? It is a good question when people think that they can believe anything they want and "be okay" But there is absolute unchanging truth in God's Word.

JESUS is TRUTH. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but through me."

The GOSPEL is TRUTH. Ephesians 1:13 "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise."

GOD'S WORD is TRUTH John 17:17 "Sanctify (set-apsrt) them in the truth; Thy Word IS truth."

The HOLY SPIRIT leads us to TRUTH. John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose what is to come."

John 8:32 "You shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall make you free."

John 8:36 "So if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Cuernavaca Spring Festival

Hi Everyone,

Every year in March there is a Spring festival here in Cuernavaca. Here is a part of some of the pretty plants and flowers that I saw. I enjoyed seeing them, but then I regretted the fact that I was sneezing all the way back home. If i didn't have allergies, I probably would have ended up having a job working in a flower shop someplace---but I love my work now-so it's ok to sneeze from the flowers




Here are some beautiful flowers that I took a picture of on a walk the other day.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

At The Kitchen "Comedor" Saturday

Hi everyone,

Here are some videos from the kitchen from Saturday where I help with feeding the kids.




Here is another video-we were playing some games with the kids before they ate. I am working with the younger kids-they are lots of fun!


Sunday, March 20, 2011

From Where The Sun Rises.....To Where It Sets



Psalm 113:3 "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."


Saturday, March 19, 2011

Results Of Understanding Grace

Hi Everyone,

There are amazing things that happen when you understand God´s grace. Here are a few things I have noticed in my own life.

1) There is a sense of being at peace and rest.

2) You are able to accept God´s love for you, and are secure, knowing there is nothing that you can do to add or take away from the fact that He has forgiven your sins. You don´t have to prove anything.

3) You are able to live life for Him without worrying so much about pleasing others. You want to live to please Him instead.

4) You are able to enjoy fellowship with other people without seeking their approval. And as a result, you are able to be an example of God´s grace to them without expecting anything in return.

5) (a continuation of number 4.) As you understand God´s grace towards you, you are able to have that for others.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Update On The Way To Work

Hi Everyone,

Here is a quick video update for today! Thank you for your prayers! May the Lord bless you all.



A view of a part of the city from my sending base leader's house.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Becoming A Person Of Prayer

Hi Everyone,

It is such a delight to have people reading my blog from different countries. There is at least one person from Japan reading my blog fairly regularily. So to that person that just accessed my blog today I would like to say that I am praying for you and your country, and hope that you know how much JESUS loves you in the midst of everything that is going on.

In the midst of the suffering of so many, I have been thinking about several things. One of them is that having a safe, secure, dry place to sleep is not a "right"---- Having adequate food, clean drinking water, clothes, and shelter are things that we need and having them is a blessing from God. We need to truly be grateful for the basics.

I have been thinking a lot about prayer and my personal prayer life before the Lord and personally, I wish it did not take tragedies like the earthquake in Japan or Haiti or Chilie to be praying more for the nations. Infact, I am ashamed that I do not pray more f0r the world. It is so easy to get caught up in daily life where we are at and not think about others in other nations. I do not want to be that way. I want to be a woman that prays more fervently for the world.

For about an hour and a half during the day of the earthquake in Japan, we had very strong winds here---which is unusual. And I prayed and said, "Lord, aomething major is going on some place--help whatever is going on" I did not expect it to be anything like that.

And all of the sudden as I am typing this, I hear ambulance sirens going dobn a main roaf nearby, and I begin to pray because someone here may have their life being framatically changed by a medical emergency.

Lord, there is so much going on in the world---may I become a person of prayer. May the things that break Your heart also break mine.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Jacaranda Trees and Japan Thoughts

Hi Everyone,

It is absolutely beautiful here! The Jacaranda trees are in full bloom! God has given us so much to enjoy in so many ways!



On a side note, I've been thinking and praying for Japan a lot lately in light of the recent earthquakes. Lets be praying for the people there-such a sad and terrible loss and yet God is working through it all. I almost can't stand looking at the pictures-it makes me cry....not to mention thinking about what people are going through!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Mexico Centennial and Bi-Centennial Thoughts

Hi Everyone,

September 16th 2010 was the Independence Day celebration in Mexico. It was the bi-centennial celebration of 200 years of Mexico's independence. I was walking around the zocalo over the weekend and took some pictures of the decorations and the bi-centennial clock that are still up from the celebration! Here they are!







And then you guys know what was really neat? I found that i have something from the centennial as well in 1910. I just made the connection last night when I looked at the harmonica that my grandfather had when he lived. He passed away in 2008 and I was given a harmonica from Mexico that I just discovered was from the centennial.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Saturday Update

Hi Everyone,

Here is a video that I did on Saturday morning. Bless you all!



I'll try to update more later. This is more of a verbal update for the moment.

Friday, March 11, 2011

So Much To Pray For In The World

Hi Everyone,

I just was reading a prayer guide for what i going on in the world and there is so much to be praying for that is going on right now.

Lord help us to be a people of prayer that seek your face and are concerned about the things that are on your heart. Help us not to get comfortable or so caught up in where we live that we forget to pray for the concerns of the nations. Show us how to pray and give us minds and hearts that are in-tune with You, Your plans, and Your purposes.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Sharing The Gospel With Mexicans-Some Thoughts

Hi Everyone,

As I started my research for my cultural paper yesterday. I had a few thoughts regarding sharing the gospel with Mexicans. I was able to learn more about religious beliefs in the culture as a result of my talks with some different people yesterday. It was actually encouraging in the sense of learning more about what the people think and believe.

Pictured below is the virgin of Guadalupe. Many Mexicans believe this to be the mother of Jesus and they built a cathedral to her in Mexico city after she is said to have "appeared" to Juan Diego. The beliefs about her are highly cherished and ingrained into many people of the culture here.



I will be talking more about this at another point, but I wanted to share some thoughts about sharing the gospel with Mexicans.

_________________________________________________________
DON'T "go on the attack" about their beliefs. Doing so will not give you an opportunity to share the gospel very easily.

DON'T forget what your life was like before you knew Christ.

DON'T assume that just because you know what Catholics believe in another country or place in the world, don't assume that those beliefs are necessarily the same here. There are many different beliefs that people have here....a "whole mix" of things, and I'll be spending the rest of my life attempting to understand it all.

_________________________________________________________

DO share the gospel with GENTLENESS and RESPECT as God gives you opportunity

DO ask for God's perspective on how He sees the people you interact with daily. Remember how much He long to draw them to Himself and to a knowledge of the truth.

Do remember that Salvation is a work that the Holy Spirit does in hearts and lives and we can't try to usurp His role in that.

Do pray for the people that God has given you the privilege of being with.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Language Learning Encouragements

Hi Everyone,

I´ve been ecouraged these last few days regarding my language learning. A few people have entioned that my Spnish has improved considerably since before I left for the states for a little over a year. I too, have noticed that my language learning has improved in just the fac that

Tomorow will be my first actual day of ¨field work¨regarding my cultural research paper and gathering information by talking with people. PRAY that God would lead me to the right people who would be willing to share about the culture and their true beliefs and thoughts, that I would be able to communicate Christ´s love in words and actions, and that I would enjoy the beginning of the project that will span over the next four or five months.

May the LORD minister to you today according to your deepest needs wherever you are and in whatever youare doing today. Thank you for your prayers!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Saturday

Hi Everyone,

Here is a a video update from Saturday.



Here was a picture of the sunset--sorry couldn't get the picture without the electric wires.



And here are some more flower pictures.






I'll try to find some other things to take pictures of. I just haven't been getting out as much on the weekends lately.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Tour Of The "Work Office" For Now

Hi Everyone,

Here is another little video of where I work on Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's. Bless you all and have a wonderful weekend! I may or may not update on Saturday--depends how things go.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

My Neighborhood

Hi Everyone,

One of my greatest delights about being here is that for the first time I am actually on a street with all kinds of businesses among the neighborhood and friendly neighbors that will talk. Before where I was living in both places, people tended to keep a little more to themselves. It is so much fun getting to know them! I have decided that Wednesday is taco night on my street where I will enjoy one of the street taco stands. Here is the street that I live on. Unfortunately the video is not long enough to get you all the way down where I live-but it gives you an idea of some of the stores and things-there are so many! :) I love being able to help the local people.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Worrying Less

Hi Everyone,

You know soething that is kind of neat? I have noticed that I worry a lot less than I used to.

For example---Yesterday I had another one of those "I took the wrong bus adventures" and I do not panic or worry anymore when I do that. I just know that soehow or other it is going to work out.

So I guess it is pretty cool to see that God is changing me to be more like Him.....and it is cool to be able to see that visibly a little bit more---although it is not like I have arrived or anything.

Praise God for His faithfulness!

La Cucaracha

Hi everyone,

Several of my friends have posted their bat or insect stories-so here is one for fun.

Yesterday I had just finished taking a shower when all of the sudden something fell out of my hair!!!!

I looked down and saw a HUGE cockroach scurrying accros the floor and running to hide behind the toilet. (They can run quite fast!)

DIS-GUST-ING!!!!!

It must have been on the shower curtain or something originally.

I grabbed this thing that we use to push the water off of the floor towards the shower drain and was determined not to let the cockroach escape.

Once I had it blocked by the water pusher thing I began to hit it with it--and started making all of these odd karate type noises as I was doing so. (Maybe it helped me hit it harder or something)

THANKFULLY there is now one less cockroach for mankind here in Mexico----i just can´t believe it landed in my hair! ew!!!!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The Importance Of Being A Peacemaker

Hi Everyone,

Because of some situations that I have been in the midst of or observing lately, I am daily reminded of the importance of being a peacemaker.

The way we interact with one another, whether in our own homes, in public, or whatever the situation may be, is so important. The way we speak to one another, esspecially in times where there is conflict, can either hurt or strengthen our testimony, depending on how we handle the situation. Our words, and the way we say them can either tear down or build up those around us. And what we say or do doesn´t just affect us--it affects those around us and contributes to the atmosphere they are exposed to.

It is so important to live at peace with those around us as much as is possible with us. We are NOT to be as the world, but rather we are to be reflecting CHrist to the world around us.

Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Romans 12:17-18 "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."

Hebrews 12:14 " Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."

Please pray for me to have wisdom and to be a peacemaker....reflecting HIS LOVE to those around me---Thank you.