Mexico City feels totally different than any place I've ever travelled.  The smog is not as bad as everyone claims.  Even though there are a lot of tourists, the spiritual atmosphere is dark at times. However, the people were so open to talking with us as we sang worship songs in Spanish on the streets. There are SO many prostitutes roaming the streets. Although they wear a fasod, when you look into their eyes, you see shame, guilt, and fear. One woman already asked us to perform at her church, so we are looking to do that in the next few weeks.

I'm so excited to work with the 17 girls in the safe homes. We are going to spend 5 afternoons with them a week. All the girls are between the ages of 9 and 18 and have been sexually exploited. Every night of the week we are going to take turns praying throughout the night at the safe homes. Today we watched the movie Volviendo, a documentary about human traficking in Latin America. It was powerful and eye opening.  The Mexican government supports the movie even though it is obviously Christian.

In the last day, all of the money came in for every student, thousands by anonymous donors! Praise Jesus! Thank for continuing to pray for the Lords anointing over us and for his will to be done here in Mexico City. Please also pray for the outreach groups in Ensenada and Chiapas.

My latest essay in Spanish!  I'm leaving today for Mexico City!  AH!

 

Preparación para una Aventura

December 17, 2013

Durante el mes de Noviembre, yo he aprendido mucho sobre la cultura Mexicana.  A el mismo tiempo, mis amigos y yo hemos sido preparados para nuestras cruzadas.  Nosotros escribimos dramas para niños, aprendimos bailes, y escribimos sermónes para las iglésias y jovenes, también escribimos nuestros testimonios para compartirlo con chicas en Casas Seguras en la Cuidad de México.  En mi equipo de cruzada, estamos cantando canciónes en español para presentar en concierto.  Addicionalmente, estamos preparandonos para enseñarle a las chicas como tocar instrumentos y differentes conceptos de música. 

                Durante la semana del Dia de Gracia, muchos iglesias vinieron de los Estados Unidos para construir casas para los pobres en Ensenada.  Aunque yo no fuí para construir las casas, yo pasé tiempo con las familias que aplicaron para una casa.  Los otros estudiantes de JUCUM me dijieron de su experiencia con las familias.  Su casa vieja eran piezas de plástico, cartón, y objéctos al azar.  La casa nueva tiene un cuarto para dormir y un cuarto para cocinar.  No se mira glamorousa, pero simple y segura.  Cuando los equipos fueron a comprar comida, los muebles, y cosas para la familia, ellos estuvieron muy contentos con lo que parecia poco.  Las familias se sintieron muy emocionadas y agradecidas por su casa nueva. 

                La gente en México son más amables, hospitalarios, y generosos.  Ellos les gusta cuando yo hablo en español, aunque yo hago errores.  Ellos les encanta hacer comida y  invitarte a su casa.  Me gusta sus tacos picantes, pero odio sus dulces con chile.  Me encantaron sus postres, especialmente el flan, y el chocolate Mexicáno.  Las chicas en mi cuarto les gusta ir a Café con Leche para beber té de chai.  El servicio es lente, pero amigable.     

                El Catolicismo ha tenido un gran impacto en México.  Hay muchas personas Católicas en Ensenada.  Ellos voloran la Scriptura y tradición, interpretado por el magisterio y el papa.  En la iglesia Católica, hay 7 sacramentos:  el bautismo, la confirmación, la comunión, la confesión, la penitencia, unción de los enfermos, órdenes sagradas, y matrimonio.  Ellos celebran la Navidad con entusiasmo, con luces, con regalos, y con fiestas que termina en la madrugada.  Nochevieja es un día importante también.  En Ensenada, hay muchos iglésias protestantes también.

                La semana pasada, un misionero de República Dominicana nos ensenó sobre la cultura de su país.   Las personas son honestas, entusiasticas, y dramáticas.  Similar a la cultura Mexicana, los Dominicanos son cariñosos, generosos, y amistosos.  Ellos no tienen servicio de atención al cliente en sus tiendas y supermarcados.  Cuando necesitas tener la atención de el empleado, tú lo haces por gritando y forzando tu camino a través de la línea.  Las personas son muy carismáticas y tienen servicios de iglésias por 4 horas.  Ellos no tienen un horario, pero es normal llegar 3 horas tarde.  Estoy emocionada por aprender más de la cultura de los Dominicanos.   

                Durante la cruzada, tengo que estar muy flexible y tener un buen actitud.  Hay una diferencia en el tiempo y no voy a tener mucho descanso.  No voy a estar en los mejores condiciones de vida.  Tal vez no me va a gustar la comida o me voy a sentir enferma.  Tendré que ser paciente con las demás personas en mi equipo.  Tendré que ser obediente a mis líderes aunque no me gusta su decisión.  Tendré pensar de las personas en mi equipo más importantes que yo misma.  Sé que mi cruzada va a tener éxito si hago estas cosas y confiar en la fuerza del Señor.    

Decorating el arbol de Navidad

I’ve been trying to post this for over a week!  WiFi has finally worked for two minutes straight!

So our 5-day wilderness adventure was full of crazy surprises!  From the beginning, we were constantly in suspense because we never knew what we were going to do.  God was teaching me to depend on Him for strength minute by minute.  In our teams of five, we hiked over 26 miles on mountainous trails in the dry dessert heat.  My calf muscles have expanded while my stomach has shrunk (at least for a day or two).  I will forever be grateful of toilets, toothpaste, showers, sleep, food, and laundry machines.  The sun sets and stars were AMAZING!  For the first time I saw a shooting star! 

In Tijuana we had the opportunity to hear from a man who has been in prisoned in Iran for sharing the gospel, Dan Bowman.  His whole body and life testimony scream Jesus.  His personal stories make me so excited for my future adventures with Jesus.

Dan’s message was so simple but profound.  The essence of his teaching is this: everything I do for God must come from intimacy with God.  The Christian life is discovering more of His love for me.  Everything else fades with a deeper realization of who Jesus is.  It was never God’s heart that we would do anything out of obligation, but always out of love.     

Dan said that passion isn’t based on our feelings, but on God’s unfading character.  Passion comes from a deep understanding and revelation of His truth.  I needed to hear this so much, because I thought that my passion for God depended upon my feelings.  Now I understand that even though my emotions go up and down, I have not lost my passion for God if it is based on who He is.  Passion doesn’t come from striving but rest in the Lord.      

What keeps us from a lifestyle of passion?  Focusing on our failures.  Walking with God is learning to enjoy a friendship, not about getting everything right.  Instead of focusing on fixing ourselves, we only need to fix our eyes on Jesus.  A legalistic list of things we need to do brings judgment and comparison, but when Jesus is at the center, there is freedom.  I can live the way I was created to live.  We often make Jesus unreal, but He wants to be included in every moment of our lives.

Sometimes I think that growing and being and the process of becoming like Jesus is somehow not good.  I want to “arrive.”  Yet Luke 2:52 says that Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.  So Jesus grew!  God is showing me that there is nothing shameful in growing, but He is with me in the midst of the process.   

I want to be defined by my love towards Jesus.  I want to live in the truth of how He sees me.  I want to be so preoccupied with Him that I don’t have time to sin.  I want to live in faith stepping out on what I believe He’s calling me to do.  If I fail, I know that He’s still proud of me and still loves me! 

As we were handing out cupcakes to prostitutes last night, some of us had the opportunity to talk to Maria again, who introduced us to many of the other girls.  A few days ago Lizbeth, (the Unfading Beauty leader), was able to spend three hours talking with her at Starbucks.  Please pray that God would continue to soften her heart.

Please continue to pray that each person would be able to raise all of the money for the outreach.  One family still needs to raise $10,000.       

I have to preach in Spanish during my outreach!!  It is kind of overwhelming for me to write a sermon, bt I am trusting that He will show me how to prepare now and what to say.  I want to trust Him with each day, and I’m excited for the future plans he has for me!

Yummy Mexican desserts

My amazing roommates

Miki, me, Alejandra, Ashley, Nicole, Anna, Alexia

My Niko team

Neko means to overcome in Greek. We did that this week in the wilderness as we hiked over 26 miles up mountains and with heavy backpacks!