Preparing for mission, daily

 

Flower at my house

Flower in Tela Honduras

To be on mission, you must prepare daily. Because mission is every day. You don't have to travel somewhere to be on mission. Mission is wherever you are, with whoever you meet. I found it so easy to talk to others and "be on mission" when I was in Honduras. I don't know why, maybe because it was the feeling of being welcomed by the people I spoke with and helping them in the medical clinics. I was in my comfort zone of talking medicine. Putting bandaids on boo boos.  It was just a feeling of comfort because that is what we were going there to do. When you are here at home, it can be intimidating to talk to people in your own community outside of church. It takes courage to speak up and stand up for what you believe in. I know that when I get that small urge/push from God, I am often resistant.  And it is usually out of fear. My mind says to me that they will think I am crazy God person and not listen, or think I am judging them. 

But after my trip in the states to Evansville, I found that it is the same as Honduras. People, no matter where they live, need to hear about Jesus. And some have not ever heard of him, yes even in the states.  Jesus said that whatever you do for someone to you for me. This doesn't have to be something big, but it can look like giving someone food or drink, encouraging them with a kind word or just a simple act of helping them with a need they have. Giving someone hope is showing love of Jesus to others. It shows they are seen and valued. 

And you can do this EVERY DAY! Just walking your dog and saying hello to a neighbor is a start! Pray to God that he will open your heart to see others through his eyes and their needs. Pray that He will give you courage to step out in faith to help them. God will provide the words and actions you need to help. All you have to do is be the vessel. And with those small words or acts, you will point others to God. One word at a time. We all have a testimony and telling your testimony of what God has done for you and how your walk in faith has made you a better person is the first step. Because in the long run, we are all the same. We all  have the same problems and concerns, they just present to each of us a little differently. Just as the flowers above, they are from different countries but beautiful just the same. 

Matthew 25:40: "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Blessings to all, 

A new start

 

I am making a new start with serving. I have taken the step to serve in my backyard. What I mean by that is I will be going out and serving on mission within the US. I feel that all the things that I have been doing and he experiences I have while on international trips, I need to do here. I took the leap to go on a trip with Send Relief. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I can tell you, I have signed up for more!

My first experience was just a few weeks ago. One of the projects assigned to me was cleaning and repair of a school playground. This was great and the kids were so excited to see us. It was great to give back to them and show them that people are willing to give back. I worked with my group on the hopscotch and 4 square. I had to measure out the blocks, tape them and paint. And of course, when all was done, I had to test it out. 

You know you have to make sure that it "works"! And it was perfect. 

If you love missions, looking to give back, to help others and serve Christ, this is one way to do it. And they are short, weekend trips. 

I am excited and looking forward to my next trip. It isn't until August, but this gives me time to work on my pickles and fundraise for my future trips. I have already bookmarked 2026 trips too! My next trip is taking me out of my comfort zone. I will be traveling by myself. I have not done that before. I have always gone with a team, and this time I will be joining others I have not met and becoming part of a bigger team. 

God teaches us a lot in just everyday experiences and guides us. I trust that this step out in faith, God will be with me along the way. So until then, I anticipate when this trip comes and pray that I will be able to bless others.

Romans 8:28.  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose"

Bendiciones,

Feeling prickly

 

It has really been a tiring last 2 days.  Yesterday was a long day of travel. I finally got home at 1:30 am! We left Mexico at 5:45 am! It was a long day.  And there for about 5 minutes, I thought I was going to have to stay the night in Atlanta! Here’s the story ( you know I got a story for everything!)

My connection to Atlanta, I only had 45 minutes to get to my connecting flight to Louisville. I landed in A terminal and needed B terminal. If you never been to Atlanta airport, that is not close to each other. I have to take a tram to the different terminals. So I found the tram and started to head to B1 gate. I was thinking, this is great because B1 will be right at the start of the terminal.  Boy was I wrong! It was at the very end and I was at B17! And the plane is to start boarding at 9:55.  It was 9:52! I was hoofing it down that terminal, dodging people, weaving in and out of traffic, going upstream! 

I made it only to find out that my gate was changed to A12! If you remember, I was just in terminal A like 10 minutes ago. And they are boarding now! I ran all the way back to the tram! I was coughing, wheezing.  People staring at me. I must have looked like I was dying! But this 56 yo gal did a run and survived! 

I made it to the gate and they had just started to board.  I made it! I got a good seat and made it back home. 

Today. I slept until 10:30! Then began the daunting task of unpacking! Why is it so hard to unpack? I had a ton of laundry to do too! It’s all done and now things are back to normal. Or is it?

Ask anyone who has gone on mission and they will tell you that it is never back to normal when you return. Every time I go, a piece of me has been worked on, changed. Experiencing a different culture will do this. It’s like I’m the clay and God is constantly molding me and making me into a better person by showing the needs and giving me the courage to follow through with the task he has entrusted in me.

This past week, I helped with the building of Ruth’s shop, which will help her provide for her and her family. I was able to give encouragement to Miriam and lift her up. I was able to play with the kids and give them laughter and smiles. I was able to pray with the women and pray over their children that we gave diapers to. I was able to be part of an amazing team and meet some people that will forever be in my heart. 

Gos can use you. He uses me everyday, despite my flaws, imperfections and failures. But I get up and do it over, everyday. You can’t give up, because you never know who you will  bless. 

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.        Matthew 16:25

Be patient and stand firm because the Lords coming is near! James 5:8

Bendiciones,

Aloe

 

The aloe plant. This is an amazing plant. It grows with very little water and in the sand. And it has healing properties. It doesn’t take much and it gives much. 

The Aloe Family mission chose this name because of just that. They want to give much to those in need. 

Our team went to visit the girls home and I was so amazed at how God used Natalie to help these girls. Here is the short version of how the girls home was founded….

Back in 2020, Natalie was working for another mission foundation. At the time, she was working on a construction project and noticed some girls in the house next door. She asked about going over there to talk with them and was told not too because it was a very dangerous house with drugs,etc.  then one day while working, the girls was watching her and they came over to talk with her. She found out that they were not being treated very well and abused. 

Natalie was approved and given permission to build the girls home but had to raise the money. God is so good and she was able to raise the total funds needed! But guess what….this was in 2020, and covid happened! She didn’t know how this was going to happen. There were people in that town that pulled together and built the girls home. 

It opened in 2021 and those girls were able to move there and their lives have changed. You see, they are able to be kids, they go to school now. Go to church. They have friends and can live without being afraid. They are smiling and laughing. 

I was able to go and meet these girls. They are amazing! And they had us dancing, playing games and even talked us into an impromptu ice cream party! I learned this day that I am too old to hop on one foot. So they made a concessions for me and let me skip in the game! My 30 yo body in my mind doesn’t register in reality to my 56 yo body! So much happiness, laughter and smiles. 

Our God is good. Yes we have hard times, but God….

He puts people in our paths to help. That person may be you. If you feel that tug to do say or do something, that is God pushing you. He pushes us to do things that are not easy or comfortable. It’s scary, but oh so worth it! 

What are you called to do? Will you be brave and do it? 

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything. BUT ONLY GOD, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7

Bendiciones 

Perseverance

 

Have you ever had to persevere? How long did you have to push through? An hour? A day? Longer? Do you have hope? Or do you always have a plan B and that plan B is what you expect…you never expect plan A to pan out but keep your fingers crossed for it. 

I have experienced for a first time, the border of Mexico and the states. Seeing the desperation of these people wanting to come to the states for a better life has left a lasting impression on me. One family has been waiting 41 days for their appointment to cross over!  They want a better life and don’t blame them? So many mixed thoughts by everyone in the U.S. about this. But have you ever really looked and considered the person trying to come? 

Here is their dedication- the show up at the border. They have to get an appointment to even be considered to cross over . This appointment is weeks or months out from their arrival. Then they live in tents awaiting this appointment and it isn’t guaranteed that they will be allowed to cross. Then what do they do? So many uncertainties yet they have hope that they will cross over. The thought of not being allowed doesn’t even play in their plan. 

Do you have that dedication to persevere what you are facing with hope? It is hard, and keeping that hope and faith is even harder. Each one of us has experienced or is experiencing this in our life. Seeking the Lord for strength and keeping our eyes fixed on him is the only way we can survive and get through it. The outcome may not be what we want but we push on and continue to persevere to reach that goal. It may take a while, but do not be defeated. God will not leave us, he will be with us through it all! 

So I will end on this- the people I met at the border, some sad but had hope. Everyone I spoke with had a beautiful smile and have a dream- to have a better life for them and their family. They were not giving up. Isn’t this what we all want? 

Never give up

James 1:3: because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Bendiciones,

The dump

 One of our missions is to go see people at their home- home visits is what we they call it. This day was hard. We went to visit those at the garbage dump. 

Here in Mexico, there is no garbage pickup. People have to bring their garbage to the dump themselves. There is people that go to the dump and sort through it for things they may want. But then there are others that have built lean-to shacks to live in. The poverty and homeless here is nothing like I have seen and it breaks my heart. The people we met and prayed over were in despair. At a low. I am crying as I type because they do not know how it happened. One day they are living their life and the. The next they are homeless, just trying to survive. 

It is almost comedy of the things that we (and me) complain about in our lives. Some call it first world problems. We all need to be on our knees thanking God for everything that he has given us. I have so many blessings and yet I still complain. 

His never said that we wouldn’t have trouble but he did say that when trouble comes, he will be with us. Never leave us. I take comfort in that. But there are some that do not have a relationship with Jesus and do not have that comfort. That is what we as believers are commanded to do- Go and tell others and show them the love of Jesus. 

Sorry to be a downer today, but life is not always fun times, there is hard times too. Sometimes our hard times seem to last a long time. 

We will get through it! 

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 

Bendiciones 

In Mexico!

 I made it! Getting here was hard and long. The weather made it difficult for our team to arrive on Monday but we got here! Lots of delays and cancelled flights. What the devil tried to keep us from getting here, God had other plans!  

So my story is my flight to Atlanta was delayed. Delayed long enough for me to miss my connection! So what to do now?? Well I tried to get another flight to phoenix and the only one was at 4:30!  That isn’t too bad but our team was meeting up there at noon!  I took it and told our team leader and he said to try to get into San Diego. So I went back to the service desk, and stood in line once again! I almost said, screw it, I’m not standing in another line. But I thought, what else am I going to do but sit at the terminal and do nothing. 

So I am standing in line and I got the same service desk lady again. Thank God #1. I told her what is was doing and she looked. They had seats but they couldn’t transfer because it was greater than 100 miles. So I said, hurry and get my previous ticket back!! She said, oh guess what. A seat just opened up on the 11:15 flight!!! I said I’ll take it!!! Thank God #2!!! 

Our team finally made it to the mission house at 11:00 pm that night  going through the border at night was a little uneasy, but uneventful. We did get pulled to the side but it is probably because we were in a 12 passenger van.  That would flag anyone! 

I was reminded this day from my devotional of who God says I am.  Despite all the hold ups, distractions, and events, God says throughout scripture that we are loved, righteous, conquerors, secure, blessed, redeemed, unconditionally loved.  

So in the midst of all the disappointments, distractions, keep your eyes focused on God and his plan! 

Ephesians 3:20- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us 

Bendiciones to all