My testimony

 

I feel pushed, nudged, or whatever you want to call it, from God to give my testimony.  This has been on my mind during my alone time and I keep fighting it. And you know what happens when you try to ignore something that God tells you.... He gets louder. I think someone needs to hear this and I am not sure who. So this post will be here and on my other everyday blog as well. https://outstandingfaith.blogspot.com/

This the sermon version!

I grew up in the church. Sunday mornings, Sunday nights and Wednesday night church. AND anything in between. The rule at my house was if you are well enough to go out on Saturday night, you can get up for church on Sunday morning! So I did. And that is how I met my hubs! But that is a different story. Lets not get sidetracked!

I was baptized at 8 yrs of age. I don't think I knew what it met. Well, I know I didn't really know, but I knew I wanted to take communion with everyone else. I feel like that I went through the motions. I knew what it meant to be a Christian and I believe that Jesus is my Lord, but I didn't know what it meant to follow Jesus. It wasn't until later in my life that I learned this.

So over the years I started to move away from church. I felt it was more "fun" to go out. So I indulge myself in a not so good life. I am sure people will think they are mild compared to some, but for me it was not who I wanted to be. I stopped going to church and praying. I stopped reading my bible. I felt so alone. It took me trying to have a family and the struggles with infertility to get me back on the road with God. We had to go through so much for 6 years to just get to the point of having our children. It was a long road and the hubs was so supportive through all the emotional ups and downs. But I had to learn to trust God and his timing. This is where I learned patience. I had to wait so long. I prayed so hard. Looking back, I can see God working through me. I am NOT saying that God did this to me. This is just something that happened and God used this to work a wonder in me and soften my heart. Throughout our trials, we have to lean more on Jesus to get us through them. This is where we grow more in our faith and trust.

After having twins, I feel I grew closer. I started attending church again. I was growing my relationship with God and our family was growing in Christ. Our home was peaceful and throughout the ups and downs that came at us, we were able to handle them. Like when we tried  our fertility treatments again only to not have it work. Having God say no is hard. Even when I wanted more kids, but God knows the plans he has for us and I just have to trust. Little did I know that this was for the best and not in my plans to have more children. But I still cried.

Then at age 44, I got the news that I had breast cancer. This is where I truly learned faith. This is my faith testimony. I had to put all my trust in God to heal me. I had to trust the doctors to help me. This was way out of my hands. I had NO CONTROL. and I didn't like it. It was so scary. I was faced with death. Well maybe not death, but when you hear the word cancer, that is the first thing you think of: dying. Then once I was able to get over that shock and start treatments and figure out what to do, I had to deal with the side effects of the treatment. That was another roller coaster of faith and leaning on God to help me. THEN...I had to go through radiation. This was yet another. I had to lay half naked on the table for 15 minutes while I was being scanned with radiation. While the rad tech watched me. Yet again, another road of faith and leaning on God to get me through it all.  

During this time, a one year journey, I prayed hard, got on my knees a lot, and looked for answers in the bible, worship songs and through teachings of pastors to help me understand. I could feel my faith and trust grow. I could feel peace that I never felt before. It's weird, because I hear people say that and never understood until then. 

It has been 10 years since my cancer and I can say that I am still on this journey. I have ups and downs as anyone would. Heck, we are human. but we are children of God. Forgiven. So don't be so hard on yourself.

The interruption you are going through in life gives you the opportunity to pause and rethink. It is not a one time event to place your faith in Jesus. This is a something you do everyday. In Luke 9:23, Jesus looks at his disciples and tells them, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

Bendiciones,

History

 

2019

2011

Preparing for a presentation of our mission team, I have been looking through old pictures of my trips, but also of pictures of trips before me.  Looking at our team's history, it is rich in so much love through the work that we do.

    It all started in 1969, with a couple from Ballardsville Baptist who went to Honduras. Then ever since, they have gone and taken others with them. This grew into a group going to build churches, schools, homes, and anything else that is needed. This was done through 2016, when we started the medical clinics.

    Now, our team has so much to offer. We still have construction, and medical clinics, but show the Jesus film, have a community movie night at one of the local churches, women's ministries and children's VBS ministries.  It is a lot of work, but worth it. We see how we help others and show them love through all these different avenues. 

    I am so excited about our trip this year. We didn't have clinics last year, and we are going back to them this year. I can't wait to see who I will meet and who God places in our path.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Bendiciones,

Trusting in my faith

 

bibleverses.net

Trusting in my faith is hard to do. I'm sure it is hard for everyone, but I find it really hard at times. I am the type of person that likes to be in control. I have trouble giving that up at times even though I pretend to myself that I have given it up. I mean, we all do it. We say that we are going to trust the person in charge of the project, but we feel that we can do it better, or they are not doing it fast enough for you. Then you slowly start to take over little things, then before you know it "POOF" you have control. We are meant to work together for the God of others. This may mean that you are not in charge and you are learning how to follow. This is a good lesson to learn.

So this 2022 mission trip has me on edge. We have not done medical clinics in 2 years! And this year we are starting back up with them. We would love to have clinics every day, but we are only having a total of 4. My concern is, as always, enough medical staff to run the clinic. I know I am beating this drum over and over, but it worries me. I want to give the very best for the people in those communities because they really need it. But I also want to give the best care and take the time to show them God's love. But God always pulls through. We may run out of meds, we always are able to get more. We may have a lot of people show up at the end, but find a way to see them all. Some may have to go to the hospital, we find a way to get them there.

You can have worry, fear, uncertainty when God calls you to step out of your comfort zone. That's normal But trusting in your faith is where we stand apart from others. This is called courage. We know God is beside us. He will give the words to speak, guide our hands and knowledge for us to have wisdom to care for them.

I am excited and July will be here soon!  This is my calling and God is growing me in all the planning and prep for our trip and every time I go I see God more and more.

Bendiciones, 

One at a time

 

Recently, my church had a collection of sermons about "one at a time".  It brought to light that we are a piece in God's plan, one at a time.

Do you find that it is sometimes overwhelming when you hear that calling to be on mission? I know I can let fear start to fester, and then it overtakes me to where I think I can't do anything. Being on mission, means that you take it one person at a time. One step at a time. That ONE seed, ONE word you plant, is the beginning of something greater that you may never see grow. I remember when I was "forced" to do this. Put it all on the line, my emotions, my fears and speak to a complete stranger about my testimony. I WAS SCARED! But the more I spoke, the more I realized that people want to listen. They want prayer. And I had to pray. OUTLOUD, in front of people. I learned God took my fear and turned it into something else.  

This is in everyday life. You do not have to go far across the country to do this. It starts with one word of encouragement. Reach out to someone that you know or see that is in need. There! the seed is planted. One at a time.

It's kinda like when you pay it forward. You know, when someone in front of you at the drive through pays for your meal or diet coke and you are to continue this by buying the person's behind you.  And yes, just because you only got $1 paid for you and the people behind you cost $7, you still do it. Because you don't know how that will help them or affect them. You still do it. You have experienced God's love and grace and you pay it forward to others you meet each day. It is contagious. They feel better and make someone they meet feel good. And so on, and so on, and so on! One at a time. 

My mission field, at work or in Honduras, I have to remind myself, one at a time. And when I remember that, I am not so overwhelmed. I can do it. My heart still beats fast, and my ears get really red, but I take that step out in faith. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Bendiciones,

getting started

 Its that time again to start our planning for this year. I do have to say, I am having to really dig deep and lean on my faith and trust this year.  Why? Because we only have one nurse so far for our medical clinics.  And guess who that nurse is.....yup....ME!!  We will have a local doctor but it is just me and that doctor running clinic tables so far. I am a little nervous about it. The last time we had clinics we helped 150-170 people each clinic and one of the clinics we helped 200 amazing people!! 

So I keep telling myself:

~God is in control

~ Be flexible

~Remember why you are doing this...to LOVE one another

~God can do ANYTHING when I think it is impossible

So I am going to pray and trust for God to do so much more with the 15 of us on our team to work His miracles.  

Please pray for us as we plan ahead. 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

John 13:34

Bendiciones, 

Meeting!!

 It's time to get our informational meeting with others! I am so excited because this is when everyone comes out to get more information on our trip and about our team. We get to speak to what we are doing for God's plan and what God has done through us.  

Our meeting is Monday night. One more day. 

Please pray for our team and those considering joining our team.

Isaiah 6:8; Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Bendiciones,

Planning time!

I am in the planning mode! Our team met this week and we are planning our 2022 trip! I am so excited. We will be going in July. We are still planning what our trip will entail. We have talked conducting medical clinics along with our community service of prayer walks, childrens and womens ministries. 

A lot into planning this and getting all the requirements in place. We rely on our partners in Honduras to help us out on that end in the country. We do what we can from our side in the US. It is a lot of work, but worth it. It was so good to see our partners in person and plan together. It seems like chaos right now but it always comes together in the end.

I just can't explain the feeling that I have. This feeling of love that warms my heart when I think about what we have done to help those in Honduras. It was reported that one of the communities we were in for 2 days doing children and women's ministries and going door to door to pray for those in the community had a big impact. Since we have left, the attendance at that church has grown. This is a reminder that you plant seeds and may not see them grow, but the seed is planted.

Pray for our team as we plan ahead and that we are able to hear what God wants us to do. That we see the doors open and have the courage to walk through.

Pray for those thinking about being a part of our team and give them the courage to take that step in faith.

Bendiciones,

Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1