more on my preparation journey

So one thing that God is helping me through is asking people outside my immediate family for money. It took some time to feel comfortable writing my support letters but I know that it is a vital part of missions work. I think leadership skills are definately going to be built as I found out that at least 4 people on my team are recent highschool graduates and by recent I mean Class of 2006 and class of 2007. Oh dear but hey we shall see and it will be an awesome experience for me. On another note my cousin is getting married this Saturday (7/7/07). Congradulations Karla Esh (soon to be Karla Weaver) and Jaime Weaver. Someday I hope God brings an man into my life as my husband. I am really picky about who I date as the next person I date I want to do it courtship style. I am tired of long dating relationships that end up in nothing. I am tired of guys trying to pressure me into having sex before marriage. Some times this purity lifestyle can be very difficult but I know it will be worth it. To be able to give my husband the gift of my body to enjoy and know that he has done the same for me is something I look forward too. Ahhh someday that will happen but for now it is learning to let God be my husband. And falling 100 percent in love with him

I just received two DVDs in the mail that were sent to Mennonite Mission Network from the missionaries in La Mesa. Wow, after I watched them I was amazed at the beauty I saw there. The clear waters of the Caribbean to the tall peaks of the Andes Mountains. I was amazed at how green everything is. It is quite a different view of Colombia then what the news stations report. It is sad how the news chooses to only report the negative and not the positive. God has strengthened my love and passion for South America. As much as I love my homeland (USA), God is continuing to give me a growing love for Latin America and Spanish culture. All I can say is Que hermoso lo que Dios esta haciendo (How beautiful is what God is doing in Colombia). A country that is in need of spiritual tranfcormation being tranformed one person at a time

So it hit me last night as I was working on a support list in preparation to send out support letters (by the way prayer support is ALWAYS welcomed) that I am actually fulfilling this call that I have had for awhile. It is nice to see my parents supporting me in service. I was thinking about some of the possible challenges I will be facing and I thought of some such as washing my clothes by hand (due to lack of modern washing machines), overcoming a strong dislike for insects and some others that I am sure will come up. I was also thinking of my strengths for this trip. These include my fluency in the Spanish language, what I already know of Latin American culture and my flexibility. It will be interesting to see how one South American country compares to another (Colombia in comparison to Argentina). I am feeling a mix of emotions of anticipation, excitment, nervous and joy.

So lately things have been happening that have been reaffirming my call to missions. To see the looks on peoples faces and hear the joy in their reactions as I tell them that I have been accepted in missions. The reaction that broke out at my church tonight as I told people that I am going to South America. To hear people praying in Spanish for me. The feeling of joy that I felt when I taught youth group tonight and I came home feeling refreshed and energized as well as getting some insight for my self. Interesting how the Sunday before I decided to apply for RAD we had a missions emphasis and the focus was Colombia. Hmmmmmm...............God has really given me such a love for Spanish and Hispanic culture...Again my prayer OPEN THE HEAVENS OVER US LET IT RAIN

more peace

I decided to go to church with my mom today instead of my usual church because I had heard that there were gonna be some Colombian women visiting and I wanted to meet them. I got to talking to them and found out a little bit more about where I will be. They told me that the town I am gonna be in is a safe town, in a valley surround by the Andean mountains with temperatures in the upper 70's-lower 80's year round. Here is some information about the Andes mountain range I will be living in. Kinda makes the Rockies look like hills

Andes Mountains

The Andes Mountains (an deez) are the longest chain of mountains stretching along the entire west coast of South America from Cape Horn to Panama and Venezuela for a distance of 4,500 miles (7,200 kilometers). This second highest Mountain Range (Only the Himalaya of northern India and Tibet are higher ) have many peaks rise over 20,000 feet. The chain is about 400 miles (645 kilometers) wide across its widest part.

Faith

Lately I have been doing alot of reading and thinking about faith. God has brought Hebrews 11 to my mind over and over again. this is what i believe to be the true definition of faith. To have faith is to be sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11 is full of people in the bible who acted out of faith and we truly blessed for it. Abraham became a father in his old age, Moses lead the Israelites out of captivity, Ruth left her homeland and everything she knew to go live with her mother-in-law in a strange land, Noah and his family were saved because he built an ark and many more.............God has given me a heart for Latin America, for South America for that matter. Despite all the political upheaval that is taking place in Colombia at this time I feel at peace about the possibility of going there. My question has changed from "Why Colombia?" to "Why not Colombia?" Two songs keep coming to my mind
With my God I will jump the walls
with my God I will knock down armies
He trains my hands for battle
With my hands I can take the bronze arc
He is my shield, my rock
He is the strength of my salvation
My high refugee, my fortress
He is my LIBERATOR!

hmmmm makes me realize I can do anything with him on my side. The other song is more of a prayer.

Open the heavens over us
Open the heavens let it rain
we are your people, we are your vineyard
open the heavens let it rain

The trees of the field have dried up
The wine and the oil has finished
Your vineyard is deserted and without value
In our solitude there is a cry

Open the heavens over us
open the heavens let it rain
we are your people, we are your vineyard
open the heavens let it rain

Return us to you we will return
Come and give us life once again
Return us from our captivity
Return your remnant

Open the heavens over us
open the heavens Lord let it rain
we are your people, we are your vineyard
open the heavens let it rain.

This is more talking about the spiritual rain that God pours over us, dry and used up as we may be God sends his rain to restore us again. Sorry if the words don't flow well as these songs are translations. So these songs have been playing over and over again in my mind lately..... hmmmm I have yet to find out why.

What happens when we obey God

So yesterday at church there was a guy who many people in the church had been praying for and he came to my church and gave his life back to Christ. When he came in I could smell the smell of beer and cigarrettes on him when he sat right behind me. I then felt God saying to me to talk to him after church. I was wondering what God wanted me to say but he told me not to worry and he would provide words to say. So as I was talking with him I found out that he had grown up in the church and then walked away from God for awhile. As we got to talking God was having me share my story with him. He mentioned that he was terrified of girls (as well as many other things that we talked about) but to make a long story short he felt calm after I talked with him. He said he felt peace when I talked with him. This is a guy in his early 30's. Thanks God for giving me this opportunity to share you with someone else.

So I opened this so that people will have a place to read my missions updates. I have had a desire for missions since I was little and a calling for it. I just had an interview with RAD (Reaching and Discipling) missions organization. They work with Mennonite Mission Network and are sending a team to Colombia this year. I admit I was a little upset when Argentina did not work out but I know God's plans are perfect and although I wonder why Colombia, I know that God will have something in store for me there. We shall see what will happen. I am learning to let God's plans work and follow what he says.