Friday, August 29, 2008

Mexico 2008

Here's the video slideshow of our trip. It seriously brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it, I can't wait to further this passion.
mexico missions trip.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Mexico Missions Trip, The Full Story

DISCLAIMER: This may be super long, because alot went on on this trip, hopefully I can shorten it to the main point!

So I'm going to start off by saying that its funny how when you go on these trips you think your being selfless in going, but I have to admit I was selfish, because I was sad that I didn't feel impacted until the last day, when I realized, one that just serving someone food or the painting we did is bigger than I can even comprehend to them, it means everything that we would make them a bracelet out of yarn. But I also have to say that after going on this trip, the reason its taken me so long to write this is because i've been overwhelmed with my calling, and life itself, and God has been overwhelming me with his grace and mercy. The one huge thing I walk away with from this trip is that I feel God revealed more of my purpose on the trip. I've never felt so content and comfortable as I did when I was working with the kids there and the women in the rehab, just meeting new people and being there to hug them and love on them is so much to me. I really feel a calling to do more in missions, which was never even on my mind before this, I never thought God would use me in this way, but it took this trip to reveal it so thank you Lord that I went! Another thing that was cool on this trip was that the last day when we had a service for the women, Cory did her testimony and after everyone was crying and we started praying for the women there and I felt this gut feeling that I need to pray and just hold this woman next to me, Elisabeth. It turns out she had just gotten out of detox and was there for drugs, spoke little English, and so I just started praying and crying and hugging her knowing, at least she would hopefully be able to understand the love I was trying to give. After we finished praying she told me that she felt the presence of God in her and that she would always remember me for bringing her that, and that seriously brought me to tears, not that I already wasn't, but to have someone tell you that you made a difference, no one has ever told me that before, I felt so in awe of God, because it wasn't me it was God. There was also another girl I felt lead to pray over and she was the youngest girl, 12 and there for behavioral issues, and it was cool to connect because she got that I was close to her in age, that I wasn't like overshadowing her, and when we were leaving the rehab she ran up to me and gave me a big hug and said she loved me and started crying in my arms, and that was also a huge moment for me, it was God again showing me how amazing and awesome he is. I'm not the same after this trip, God has covered my brokenness with his love and grace. This experience will never leave me. Its sad now to think about it because like everyone has told me, it feels like I left my heart there, and all I want more than anything is to go back and finish what I started.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Mexico Missions Trip 2008

I'm still a little too overwhelmed to right about everything that God did on the missions trip I just got home from, but I did want to share a few quick notes of the trip. One main thing I learned is that the language barrier is a very small detail in working with the kids and working with the women at the rehab, even knowing just a little bit of spanish can go a long way in showing God's love to people of all ages. Another thing I learned is that when you come back its almost like you left part of your heart with those kids and the women at the rehab because all I want more than anything is to go back, and finish what I started there. God gave me such clear views of his plan for me and his love for me. He showed me that "secret place" where I can be fully in God's presence and live and love my life. There's so much I want to share but I need to get more of a firm grasp on it all before I share all of it. God changed me in so many ways over the past week its amazing. I never want to go back to who I was. Im in love with my life, and am truly happy for the first time in a long time. I came home with new friends, new perspective, and a new beggining, which was what I've wanted all year. I've never been so excited to live my life for God. So now I start the newest leg of my life's adventures. I can't wait to share all of what God did in that one short week, but for now this will have to do!