I was informed of something yesterday that gave me chills and showed me just how much the Lord is working. There is a street girl that someone I am very close to from back home has been praying for for ten years. She is no longer a little girl, but she's still living on the streets. And out of all the thousands of street people in Santa Cruz, it turned out to be the mother of the little girl I played with. That little girl was brought into my life for a reason. The Lord has called me to pray for this little girl whether I see her again or not. I will pray for her for the rest of my days. And I hope, that some day some how I will see her in heaven and we will praise the Lord together and her pain will have ceased.

Continued from the last post....

Later on that day, Corina, Heidi, Corina's parents and I went to the streets again. This time to a place that they go every year. To a place that knew Corina and the El Jordan ministry. I honestly had to hold back tears at the way these people live. As we arrived about 30 people gathered around a statue in a small grassy area between two busy roads. About half of them had glue to their noses and the other half were pulling out their glue spiratically during the evening. Here, glue is the cheap drug that is most commonly used on the streets. It's the glue used by carpenters. Many times, street children are addicted to it by the time they reach 7 years old. I was told by one man that moms make their babies sniff it when they cry to calm them down. The effects of this drug is just as strong as any other drug thats illegal in Canada. Hazy, droopy eyes, rolling on the ground groaning, slurred words etc. Women, men and children all gathered around us, eager for what they knew we had, but also excited to see Corina and the rest of them again. Many of these people had met Corina and her parents years ago when they were but street kids. After we gathered them together, Corina's dad shared with them the gospel. The response varied. For those who were not high, they seemed to be drawn to the truth. People sitting in a micro that had stopped beside us leaned their heads out of the windows in order to here the message more clearly and a small crowd gathered on the grass. However, there were also many who were high who caused quite a big distraction. They fought with each other and talked loudly. Some were laying on the ground, and some simply wandered around. It broke my heart. They are having the good news of Jesus Christ layed out for them simply and yet the sin they've indulged in has caused a barrier thick and strong. After that we prayed for the food and started to hand it out. They acted as if they thought that if they didn't fight for a meal, they wouldn't get one. So, the fighting and discieving began. Those who already got one would shove it in their purses and ask for another one and those who didn't get one yet tried grabbing either someone elses meal or overbearing those handing them out. We had to hand out the food by stratigically placing ourselves. The presents were handed out much the same way.
It was about that point that I met the little three year old girl who captured my heart and broke it to peices all at the same time. She crept up beside me and tapped my leg, then quickly scampered away with a giggle. Then she peeked out from her hiding spot and ran and hit my leg again then giggled as I made a face at her. Running up to me she buried her face in my legs in a big hug. Then she grabbed my hands, so I spun her around in the air. She laughed histerically. Then we callapsed on the ground in giggles as I tickled her. After that we played all evening, I got very dizzy from spinning her around, but she loved it. A man came to me then and tried to take her from me. Seeing how happy she was when she was spinning, he tried the same thing, but she errupted in tears. He let her go and she ran terrified to me and buried her face in my lap. Her fear of men must have come from somewhere- and that broke my heart. It came time for us to leave and so I told her that I had to leave. But instead of letting go of me, she clung on even more. We looked for her mom and found that she was no where in sight, so Heidi dragged her kicking and screaming to another lady who said she knew her. The lady looked at Heidi and just said, "Why don't you just take her?". I wished so desperately that that would be the right thing to do. That I could do that with a right conscience. But this little one had a mom, and even though she was no where in sight, she may not appreciate coming back to a missing daughter. We left her screaming on the grass and it took every bit of strength in me to do so. As I looked back over my shoulder I saw her walking aimlessly down the road in search of her mom. A little three year old. And no one bothered to help her. This precious little girl will most likely grow up on the streets, and her childlike innocence won't last much longer. I don't know how to deal with the pain that causes, all I know to do is pray for her little life. That somehow she will know that she doesn't have to live like everyone around her, that the Lord loves her and she can have a better life than that. I will never stop praying for her.
I talked to Corina later about her and learned a little about her mom's story. Apparently the little girl is the youngest of 5 or 6. Most of her kids were given (by her) to an orphanage and never checked up on again.

Feliz Navidad! Christmas on the Streets was a success, and I must say that there are no words right now to describe what I saw, what I felt. It makes me remember when Jesus wept over Jerusalem saying "if you really knew the peace you could have, but you have hardened your hearts and chosen your own ways" (paraphrased). I am positive that He is weeping over the street people of Santa Cruz. As I had to stop myself from doing right there in front of them. Do they realize? Do they understand? There is peace! There is freedom! But they have hardened themselves from the thing they truly want.
After 36 hours of working through the night with no breaks, we were all tired, but anticipating the day ahead of us. I climbed into the car with Marco (Corina's husband), and three more men. I knew that this day would change me, but I really couldn't have prepared myself for what I saw. We drove quite a ways, then stopped by a few boys who made money guarding parked cars. Slowly, they all gathered behind our car and we handed them a meal of rice, meat, a platino (sort of like a roasted banana) and potatoes, along with some juice and gift bag of a small gift (probably the only gift they received for Christmas) and two little booklets. One was a tract explaining the gospel and the other a short comic, also explaining the gospel. They ate and thanked us profusly then continued on their way. At that point I just stood there praying over each one of them. That their hearts would be moved and that they would take seriously the gospel that was presented to them. We then continued on and turned down a dirt road. There was a layer of garbage covering the road and street dogs poking through it, searching for their next meal. We then pulled up to an overgrown field. Upon looking closer I noticed that there were small homes made of tarps propped up by sticks. There were about 5 of them. A small older lady came down the road then. They called her 'China' (pronounced cheena). She was literally skin and bones, with very little to wear.
After that we continued on down the road until we saw a small carved out opening in the huge cement wall. Noticing a couple people in there, Marco stuck his head in and called them to come out, for there was food here. Slowly and cautiously a couple of men came out and took our food and gift quietly, but with much gratitude. Then, as they returned into the hole, 3 or 4 more men came out and did likewise, thanking us they went back through the hole. Then, a lady with mated hair and a dirty face popped her head out and looked at us. She held up the tract that she had gotten from one of the men and said, "Can I have a bag? I want one of my own of these things." I gladly gave her a bag as well as a meal. But that right there gave me hope. One lady, who was drawn to the truth. One lady, who may influence others to be drawn to it as well. After that, another 10 or 20 men and women came out of the hole and accepted our gifts. We told them to thank God rather than us because it is only by the grace of God that this food and gift was here in front of them. And it was only by the calling of God that we brought it to them. At that moment, a man emerged from a large metal crate across the street. He had a machete in his hand and was screaming and yelling angry words. At first, I couldn't tell whom he was directing them at. Then I saw a man walking down the road carrying a dirty bucket. The man turned and started yelling back as he was walking towards the hole (which he obviously called home as well). Then other man came closer and passed by us (thankfully in his anger and drug intake he had not noticed us yet). He tried to enter the hole with his machete, but the other men held him back. It was there home and their friend that they were protecting. Dogs ran to attack us then, but someone threw a couple rocks at them and they scampered away with their tails between their legs. The man with the bucket then emerged and gave the bucket to the man with the machete (it seems that the fight was over the bucket that was taken from the other man). That didn't stop the yelling though. The guy with the machete seemed to notice us then and yelled at the man even more. "Why are you yelling at me in front of all these people!", so they went back into the crate. A couple minutes later the man came out, still holding his machete. A couple of kids driving a horse drawn cart had stopped by and were eating with the rest of us, stopped on the side of the road. So the man with the machete went to a horse and said, "I need to cut something, can I cut off your horses head? Or can you kill that man?" I had to remind myself to stay calm at that one. I trusted the boys not to go kill the other man, but I was quite sure that if he was given permission the man would cut off the innocent horse's head.
After we left that place, we went out a little farther out of town. We came across a group of tarp huts. There were about thirty people living there. Seeing us, they crossed a large trench. They were really happy to see us. A couple of them were friends of Marco's from his past. We all got introduced and we gave them their meals and refreshments. Then we told them that if they wanted to take home some juice in a bottle or something that was ok. They excitedly agreed and went to back to their houses. A couple minutes later, they came back carrying buckets! After most of them had eaten and gone back, a man stayed behind. He was a big, tough looking older man. He started to tell us a little about himself and tried to hold back his tears, but they just rolled down his face. He said that he wanted so much to better his life, but it was so hard. It was so hard to live like he did, and its so hard to move up. It was so hard to watch a grown man cry out of desperation. I had to hold back my own tears. As we were leaving, I looked back and they had gathered together. They then shouted a united "GRACIAS!".

TO BE CONTINUED....

Well, I never want to see another life-less, featherless chicken again and I have scratched 'butcher' off my list of dream jobs. But I think I'm at a chicken every 2 minutes for cutting speed, so I'd say thats progress (although I'm sure the Bolivian volunteers were at double or triple what I cut). The chickens came in entirely whole with everything attached but the feathers and we cut them into ten parts, then separated the innards. The hearts, livers, gizzards and necks for eating, the feet and heads to take home for the dogs and the rest to cook for Christmas on the streets.

Today we all sat together and ate a chopped heart, liver and scrabbled egg mixture with rice on the side. I took one bite, praying the Lord would strike my tongue and temporarily leave no taste buds behind. But it was the texture I couldn't really handle. So, as not to hurt their feelings, I went to the kitchen for more rice and conveniently stopped by the garbage can on the way by, coming back with less than I had when I left. I hope they didn't notice. Then as we were cleaning, I managed to blow up the stove in my face. I hope my eyelashes and eyebrow grow back the same color. They all got a good chuckle from that. I assume it looked pretty funny.

This week has been so busy. We work straight through from 8 am to 6 or 7 or 8 Pm with a half hour break for lunch. Without my usual siesta at noon, it's taken some getting used to. But the real busyness doesn't start until tomorrow. Tomorrow we will be working all day and all night- literally. We'll be cooking, cutting, washing (in the reverse order I just realized) and then finally on the 24th we'll be serving the food to the different churches that will be taking them to the streets. THEN, in the afternoon, we'll be taking the rest out onto the streets.

Well. In five days we managed to fill 10,000 bags of popcorn, Wrap 5000 gifts, and fill 5000 bags with candy, a gift, a tract, a sheet explaining the aim and contact information of El Jordan and 2 other Rehab ministries, and two bags of popcorn. What a busy week! Next week will be cutting and seasoning chicken (who are being butchered on Sunday) and eating all the hearts and livers for lunch (not sure I am yet ready for that, but I'm trying to prepare myself), then cutting vegetables and potatoes, then cooking all night on the 23rd. The 24th will be filled with handing out the meals on the streets, then Christmas day will be cleaning El Jordan from top to bottom. I am looking forward to next friday when I will get to hand out meals and gifts to the people living on the streets. It will be interesting to be a part of the event that we have been preparing for for over a month. Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of those who he has chosen and through this they will make the decision to change their lives.

Phew! I feel like I've been running for the past few days. And it's only the beginning! But I'm finding that I really enjoy being busy. Getting things done has a strange satisfaction to it. And the Lord has given me so much joy and strength.

Today at the Christmas party, a little girl I'd never met came up to me, took my arm and touched my skin as if it where the weirdest thing she'd ever seen. Then she looked up at me and said, "Why is your skin this color? What color is it any ways?" Then she called her sister over and they continued to marvel at my skin color, holding their arms up next to mine to show the obvious difference. Then the discovered my hair!

As the adolescents were doing an interpretive dance to "My Jesus, my savior". I was hit by something. How many of these people would still be hopeless without having discovered the hope of Jesus Christ? I thought about all the stories, all the places these people came from and I was so in awe. In awe of how the Lord can change people and in awe of the fact that he cares enough to do so. I looked around at all the people and I was so grateful. Then I started thinking about my own life, about those I know.. I wondered, where would we be if he had not taken us out of the miry clay and set our feet on solid rock. If we had been left to build our lives on sand instead of the solid rock of Jesus Christ... My life would have been washed away by the rains long ago. Yet now, now those rains have made me stronger, and only because I am standing on the shoulders of one whose strength can withstand anything. Thank you Lord!

Philippians 2:5-8

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!"

I think it's important for us to highlight the first sentence. We, followers of Jesus are to follow in the footsteps of his ministry on earth. With him proclaiming Himself as the savior- the light of the world, and us proclaiming him as the savior and light of the world. Looking at the ministry of Christ, we see that he did not live in comfort or convenience. Often, when he and his disciples went to rest or eat, crowds of people would stop them. Now instead of sending them off like the disciples sometimes suggested, He taught them of the good news. His attitude was one of humility- He saw the furthering of the kingdom of God more important than even his own human needs- which being fully human yet fully God he did have. He portrayed for us a level of commitment that led him even to death. And so, as His followers we will find that we are called to put aside our own comfort, our own plans, and what we think we need in order to see people come to know the Lord as their savior, in order to serve as Christ who was God served. For he did not come to be served but to serve. How much more should we take on this attitude?
Yet the space between wanting this attitude and acquiring it is sometimes large. It's easy for me to say if it came between my own comfort and obedience to the Lord in every day life I would choose obedience, yet to give up my sleep or my lunch in order to humbly serve without grumbling is something that requires strength that is only possible through the Lord and something that I continually have to learn how to do. We are coming into a time at El Jordan where sleep is a luxury we formerly took for granted and we will be serving instead of resting. We will be cooking for 5000 people (Yes 5000 I didn't get that number wrong) and serving it all on Christmas eve. But this is what the Lord has called us to do. And for those 5000 people living alone on the streets, it will make a difference for his kingdom. So please pray with me that they will see the Lord in what we are doing. That in it all we will be pointing to the Lord and not ourselves. And for me that He will give me the strength to serve humbly with a joyful heart even when I am physically exhausted.

Well another day is now in the past. Today was full of adventures, as I've found most days are. It started off with only 4 kids. Beba and her brother, Chaparro, little Keiden, and William. Listening to Chaparro's dramatic stories about the dragonfly and the poor gorillas complete with sound affects and flying toys. It was William's first day hanging out with us instead of going to classes with his mom- he just turned 6 months old. Lunch was spent at the home of a missionary family- it's always great to fellowship with other english speaking believers.
This afternoon started with a huge water fight with the kids- complete with the soaking of us poor Hermanas- continued in the park burning off energy and having fun until nap time, then we ate water melon and played a very.. interesting.. game called cat and rat. Because there were only a few kids we got to do things we normally wouldn't do. So, I would say today was a very fun day.
Tomorrow will be the volunteer day at the property. We will gather, play games and just spend time with all the other volunteers.

Today started with exhaustion and burden. The Lord placed on my heart and mind an old friend from Canada, and with that came a few old hurts. But after a little while I realized I needed to pray for him. Peace followed, but energy came gradually. But when we give our burdens and exhaustion to the Lord, he gives us what we need. I felt suddenly strong and ready to walk strongly. In these next few weeks especially I am going to really need to rely on the Lord for strength. He is my everlasting arms. Arms that hold me up, arms that are my only strength at times.

As we were coming home from Bible study tonight, we got hit by a motorcycle. The guy was fine, but wanted to argue that it was our fault. Here, it doesn't matter what happens, the motorcyclist is never at fault legally. So, after giving him 100 Bs to fix his front light, we convinced him that taking us to court would just be an inconvenience for him and us and after a little bit, he agreed. Praise God it wasn't any worse and that the guy was nice enough to not take us to court.

Today as we were sitting at the table waiting for the moms to come at the end of the day, little 4 year old Georgeli and I were doing some drawing. Before she started drawing her picture, she looked at me and said, "I'm going to draw a baby." After she had finished drawing, she asked me what I thought her picture was. And if you've ever been drawing with little ones, you may know this is a dangerous question. Well considering it looked an awful lot like a baby wrapped in a blanket, I said it looked very much like a little baby. She looked very serious for a moment and said. "It's a motorcycle."

Well the Christmas season is coming up fast. At El Jordan, that means little sleep and a lot of work. But it's all 100% worth it. The Christmas on the streets ministry is such an amazing ministry. We will be feeding 5000 people who live on the streets and feel so alone on Christmas. I am going to try to get everything I need to get done now before the rush starts so that I will have energy to do my best.

An update on Beba: we found out that from her fall she fractured her skull. They didn't get her into the hospital in time to properly set the bones so she is on medication that should cause the bones to heal on their own. Now the worry is that she'll get a blood clot in her brain. If she even bumps her head, she's in great danger of this happening. But! She came to El Jordan a couple days ago and I got to spend the afternoon watching her. It seems prayers are being answered. She didn't seem to be in any pain and was running around like nothing was wrong. I literally had to chase her around to make sure she was being careful. I assume she wasn't too thrilled with my hovering and enforcing limitations on her. She is such a smart, strong-willed little girl. I know the Lord's protective hand is covering her little brain. Praise be to the Lord who hears our prayers.

Things seem to be taking a giant turn for the better back in Canada. All I can say is that the Lord is the healer. There is no wound to0 deep, no addiction too strong, no heart to hard for the Lord to heal. And where there is healing, there is immeasurable, unfathomable freedom. Who is man that you care for him? Yet he continues to give us freedom and unity. Only by his grace are we truly free.

I have an urgent prayer request. A couple hours ago we got a phone call that Beba, one of the two year olds, fell and hit her head really hard. Her entire face is swollen and she has gone into convulsions and thrown up. It doesn't take a doctor to know this is serious. They plan to take her to town to the hospital tomorrow as they live very far away. Please pray that tonight will pass with no news of her getting worse and that she will be ok. She's a very special little girl.

If I could pick one word to describe my emotions yesterday it would be overwhelmed. If you ever ask the Lord to break your heart for the things that break his.. be ready to feel more than you've ever felt before. If we could feel and see even a fraction of what the Lord sees... I don't think our human hearts could take it. I asked the Lord that morning to show me what breaks his heart and to create in me a heart that hurts for the needs of others. That night after Bible Study we spent a good amount of time discussing the hopeless situation of pregnant teens living on the streets.. with no one to turn to and no way to create a decent life for their baby. To them, adoption is abandonment. Some even walk away from the only chance they have to change the path of their life and the life of their baby. When there is no will to change, there is nothing that will help them except the Holy Spirit working. After this, we drove through the part of town that the street people and the really poor live. It broke my heart into a million pieces. Garbage everywhere, kids slept on mats on the side of the road in plain sight of the world, no protection, no where else to turn. Now, my personality is such that when I see something that needs help I try and find the solution. There is none in this case. Except one. The Lord God transforming each heart to want to change and to accept that there is a way for them to get up and live a life they may no longer believe they can. The Lord is the only hope to each and every one of us. Only him. Only he can change even the dirtiest of souls. Only the Lord can pull us out of the mud and mire we began in and set us on firm ground. It may take a while to be fully cleaned of the past, but he will grant freedom. He is freedom.
The Lord is transforming my mind and my heart. How then can I go back to a world that doesn't understand, to a place that thinks so differently? My heart will be torn. Apathy is the disease of my culture.

Is anything more precious than that moment when a child wakes up and nestles close to you with her head on your chest. Today was one of those days that my heart nearly exploded. A little two year old that gave me nothing but tears and glares in the beginning now enjoys cuddling with me and being my little cleanup helper. I spent an hour playing K-nex with two new girls. Got to explain the gospel through an insult from a couple of teens.
It's been a week with no classes. No classes meant no kids. Oh how I missed them! I've noticed something here. It doesn't take much at all to get a big smile from a kid. I simply have to smile at them and their face lights up. How beautiful is that?

Today started at 6 am flipping another 176 crepes for the pastors breakfast at El Jordan. I can now truthfully say that I can flip crepes in my sleep. If I didn't have larger dreams I might consider opening my own crepe shop. I then went upstairs to drop off some whipped cream in my house and ended up falling asleep. I woke up at four and realized that everyone was gone! Not the greatest feeling.

"But thanks to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other the fragrance of life. And who is equal such a task?..... Not that we are competent in ourselves, to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, 3:5

Here is what I long for. That the Lord will make me like a fragrance of life. That the one who is the source of all competence will make me into someone who will bless people for Him. That he will make me into someone whose aroma is the knowledge of Christ. How great is the Lord that he builds us up and lifts us out of the hopeless mess we began in and creates in us a joyful heart to serve him.

Tomorrow. There are exciting happenings for tomorrow. We are going to be heading out onto the streets to meet people and invite them to start attending El Jordan. I pray that the Lord will lead us to the people he has prepared in advance. This next month's classes are specifically set aside for all the new students. They start November 8th and end December 8th.

The only failure is the one who makes a mistake and does not grow through it. Who sits in self pity and self loathing rather than get up and move ahead. In every ministry, in every new situation, we are bound to make mistakes. But it's those mistakes that teach us how to do things right. Confidence is something that is given from the Lord when we are in his will. Often times the enemy will try and drag us down by pointing out the mistakes we make instead of the truth. The Lord put us in this place to do good works. Will he leave us without teaching us and molding us to do our very best?

These past few months the two things I have learned most is to have the confidence in my ministry here to move forward and to value love above all else. In the end, it is not how efficient I am or how good of crafts I can think up that will make the difference to these children. It is surrounding them with a loving environment. At the end of the day they will remember that the followers of Jesus love people- love them. And it is because of Jesus that they do.

Yesterday was our Exposition. All the students came to El Jordan, set up a booth and sold the things that they had been making all year. The cooking students sold lunch and refreshments, the sewing students and leatherworking students sold their items and people from all over town came to see what they had done. During the morning I was in charge of one of the booths of a cooking student as she was in the kitchen and her 7 month old baby William. Nothing beats cuddling a sleeping baby in your arms. Then for the afternoon I was in charge of 20 kids upstairs. It was chaos! I had to send quite a few kids to the time out chair. But again.. being able to laugh with them and play with them is quite a blessing and even though at the end of the day I was exhausted, it was a day very well spent and I loved every minute.

Hope. When all evidence points to the contrary there is a brief glimmer of hope. The danger in hopeing is that when that thing that you hoped for leaves, you end up more alone than before. Is it worth it to hope for something more? or is there enough beauty in contentment that we should save ourselves the pain and become pessimists. And then the moments happen. The ones that caused you to hope in the first place.
This week a little baby kitten was found outside of El Jordan. He fit in my palm and didn't yet have his eyes oppened. We named him stanley. I took him on as my own and he grew strong. He was about to open his eyes when he stopped breathing. I held him in my hand as he died. It was such a shock, we all thought he would make it. Then this morning after we buried him heidi and corina decided to buy me a new and healthy kitten. So we went to the market where I was told to pick out a new one. His name is zeek. He's very cute.

Well, the electricity is still out. So Heidi and I went searching all over Santa Cruz for a cafe that has internet. But, conveniently, they all are having problems with their internet at the same time. So here we sit, in burger king, sipping coke and catching up on emails.
Lately I have really had to rely on the Lord for my strength and for my joy. And he's provided. In my reading, I have been comforted over and over by Him. Where he sends me, he also uses me. You may not see it, but he is always using those who give him their willing hearts and empty hands.
I love working here. As I come downstairs to half a dozen kids running up and hugging me saying "Hola Hermana!" it makes it all worth it. I am finally feeling at home in a foreign land. I love it. It has taken a bit to shake that deer in the headlights feeling- but I am now getting more accustomed to the way things are run here- both in this culture and at El Jordan.

Prayer request:
There are many events coming up this month (graduation specifically) and without electricity it is really hard to prepare. So pray that things go smoothly anyways and that volunteers will come together and get things done and give the Lord the glory for it.

Pray that in all the busyness we will still find time to spend in The Word and personal devotions.

The past 3 weeks in Bolivia have flown by! I have been having a blast, getting to know the children and families that attend El Jordan. For now, this is all the detail I have time for. If you would please pray for the electricity at El Jordan. It has been out for the past month. Because there is no electricity, there is no internet (which is the reason for my silence). It would be really nice to be able to communicate with family and friends back home. However I think that the whole no communication with canada thing has really helped in my transitioning into life here. I feel at home and ready serve with everything in me. I have also had a lot of time to think about my future and have made some conclusions about my career choice. Another prayer request for me would be for a clear mind- there are some things (people) back home that I have spent a little too much time thinking about. My heart is here, it would be nice if my mind would be too.
Thank you all again for your prayers both now and in the past. I really appreciate all the people the Lord has put in my life. I am truely blessed.

Wow! It's finally come! The ticket is bought and we finally got everything smoothed out with my passport, so I'm off! I can't help but think back a few (quite a few) years to when the Lord first put this into my thoughts. I was 9. Corina (the founder of El Jordan) came to my church and spoke at my sunday school. She told us about all the little kids our age in Santa Cruz. She said that a lot of them lived in boxes and sniffed glue to keep from feeling hungry. I was heartbroken. Ever since then, I added Corina and the little kids of Bolivia to my nightly prayers and as I grew up thought more and more about doing more than just praying for these kids. So being a missionary was always something I wanted to do. So of course, when I came back from my 2 week trip to El Jordan in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, I was changed. I started praying seriously about maybe going back and being a part of this ministry. And at 14 I felt that the Lord wanted me to return, just not at that moment. So, I graduated, went to college, and now- finally 5 years later the Lord has opened the doors wide.

Well, the countdown begins. I would like to be on a plane in a maximum of 18 days. My mom has been asked to go to Maui to volunteer for three months starting September 20 (or earlier)- Praise God! And so it is important that I leave earlier than that date.
I finally have been able to access my Avant account to see where my support is at. Looking at both the date I plan to leave and the progress of my support, I felt an overwhelming fear that I would not be able to make it. I still need a minimum of $1000 dollars a month to even book my flight! But thank-goodness I am not doing this alone. The Lord really spoke to me both in my Bible reading last night and in a letter I got from a dear friend from college this morning. I have been reading through Romans and last night I was on chapter 8:30-32. Wow. Here's what it says, "What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, then who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?". He gave the ultimate gift of his son to the world, why then would he not also give us everything needed to bring fulfillment to the work begun at the cross. That work being that all may know of His love and sacrifice.
I then received a letter written in April from a friend from college. She had no idea what this summer would bring, but she still gave the words that I needed most to hear. She told me to believe that the Lord can accomplish things that may seem impossible and to keep walking in courage. Wow.

So we just got out our calculator out and added up all the pledges that have not gone through yet but have been told to us. GOD IS GOOD. In a matter of minutes he solved this problem. I need 80% to leave the country. I am now at 85%!! In a week I will be boarding a flight to Santa Cruz, Bolivia!!! PRAISE GOD. Thank you all for your prayers. I am confident the Lord will provide the last 15%.

I stand now with a closed door behind me and an open door in front of me. This summer has been beyond amazing. Looking back at the plans I had for my summer, I wonder how much of this I would have missed out on. If I had stayed on the coast, gotten a job and not moved, I would not have been able to volunteer at camp, hang out with my family, or meet some of the great people I have met. What a blessing it is to have a Lord who knows me better than I do.
This week was full of blessing. I didn't know if I was coming back to camp, but I did. I didn't know if I would have the mental strength to pour into those girls, but I did. All by the strength of the Lord.
My two cousins, who I have seen only twice in the past three years, were campers this week. It was really great to be able to hang out with them and get to know them again. I had so much fun hanging out with them.
On Wednesday, something incredible happened. 7 of my girls individually decided to give their lives to Jesus. We stayed up very late having individual conversations about their decision and I got the chance to mentor them in their future walk with the Lord. It was such an amazing night and I saw life transformations happen. So if you would pray with me that as each of these girls go home, they will have mature Christians come alongside them and they will stand bold and strong in their decision.
At camp, I have also met some great staff whose devotion to the Lord is evident. It was such a joy to get to know them and serve with them. I only hope now that these relationships will not end with camp.
I would also like to ask for prayer for myself in planning my trip. The departure date is getting closer as I plan to leave in 2 weeks.
Thank you all for your prayer. I have been so blessed to have so many great people behind me and supporting me in the ways the Lord calls them to. Thank you all.

Well another week has gone by at camp and the Lord worked in amazing ways. He showed himself powerful when I felt oh so overwhelmed and exhausted. On the last morning of camp, I was exhausted, little sleep and a lot of activity was wearing off on me. I cried out to the Lord saying, "God, I am not getting through to these girls! How can I make a difference?" Well. He was working far more than I ever was. And boy did he show me. We were doing cabin devotions when one girl asked me how someone would ask Jesus into their heart. That got all of their attention. I then explained to them that first they had to realize that they are sinners and they cannot get to heaven on their own, then they need to believe that Jesus paid the price for them and then make the choice to follow him with their life. This time, something broke. Each and every girl in the cabin accepted Jesus into their life. All 7 of them! The cabin was then filled with laughter, huge smiles and a big group hug. We are now all sisters. After that I got the opportunity to share with them about what it means to follow Jesus forever. If you could join with me in praying that these seeds fell on fertile soil and they will continue to grow and hunger to learn more about this amazing God we serve that would be super. The Lord really taught me that he is strong even when I am weak. If I am giving my all for Him, he will do amazing things in the lives of those I am trying to reach.
Another answer to prayer happened today. My family and friends pulled together and made the garage sale happen. It was a huge success! We managed to raise just over $1000! And more is still coming! The Lord provides. I also found out that because of my Visa, I can leave as soon as my support is raised. So, I may be able to leave on the date that I have been shooting for: mid-september. God is good.
Thankyou for your prayer.

This past week and a half has been filled with many great adventures. First, being a part of a great friend's wedding. It was a beautiful event, and I am so happy for her and her new husband.
This summer, God has been teaching me to trust him in the area of finances. At first, I worked my butt off in town in order that I may contribute in sending myself, financially, to Bolivia. After about a month,however, I really felt him pulling me to volunteer at a local Bible Camp called Lake of the Trees. At first I was a little anxious- How would I ever raise enough money when I am away? Not only that, but how would I ever get all the preparations done? Well the Lord knows. And he knew. This is my preparation. It has been such a great joy to me being at LOTT. I am continually giving my time up to him. If my life is his, then my time is also. I have learned so much being at LOTT. Being a leader and role model to these children is a joy beyond words. I know now where my passion lies and I can see that he wants me in Bolivia in order that I may use the passion and gifting he gave me to work with the children there. The children that are hurting, the ones who long for a good role model and long for the love of Christ. I have started to understand why the Lord loves the innocence of the children. Children are indeed a precious gift to the world.
I know the Lord will provide my every need. He will not call me to something and not prepare me in every way for it.
This coming weekend, I am holding a giant garage sale. All the money that is given is going towards Bolivia. I was so encouraged to see many people from the community and my family give their stuff or their time in order to see this be a successful event. God is good. We now have 100s of dollars worth of stuff (only about half of it ours) and my entire extended family living in 100 mile is coming out this next friday and saterday to help with the garage sale. The Lord provides eh? What a great God we serve. It is amazing that he loves us so much.

Life is a journey.
As we look back, we see our footprints. Each footprint represents a time, a memory and mode of learning. However, some footprints, if not recorded, are forgotten, lost in our subconscious. And so, this blog will be a way in which I can record these memories that are to come. And this is your chance to be a part of this journey if you so choose.

As some of you may know, this next chapter in my life will be one of great stretching, learning, excitement and growing. I am officially Bolivia Bound. Here is some of what I am anticipating:
I will be leaving in september (hopefully) to help at a place called El Jordan in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Santa Cruz is a place filled with many adults, teens and children living on the streets with no way out. El Jordan gives them the hope of a better future. But most of all, it shows them the hope found only in Jesus Christ. They offer classes on how to make things that can give them an income, childraising, and many other things.
Where do I fit into all this? Well, my specific role will be to care for, teach and mold the young children of the students.
I am so excited to have begun this journey with Avant ministries walking with me and supporting me.

So, if I raise my support in time, I hope to leave in the fall. Support raising can take a long time (a couple years) or a short amount of time (a couple weeks). All depending on the amount of people who are willing to be partners in this.
I am hoping to find:
10 people to pledge $200 per month OR
20 people to pledge $100 per month OR
4 people to pledge $500 per month

Please pray with me that this is all accomplished in His timing.