On the Move...

I'm in Orlando, FL again for cross cultural training before going back to Mexico in July. Training has been interesting and I'm learning some new things as well.

My mom and sister came to visit last week. Here is a picture of me with them and my dear friend. She and I interned in Colorado before I left for Mexico. It's been really fun spending the summer with her.

I'm terrified of spiders. I'm not afraid of a lot of things but spiders is at the top of the list. I become pretty hysterical when they are around me too. One of the only times my sweet timid stepfather raised his voice at me was when he thought I was yelling "FIRE!!!" from the basement instead of "SPIDER!!!"

I have had my run-ins with these pests since coming home to good ole Indiana too. I was driving down the street and a nice jumping spider wanted to get out of the car. I later after a small anxiety attack on the street successfully killed that mutant. That evening I felt it was appropriate to bug bomb my ford explorer to rid my friend of all his little eggs.

But the kicker of the car spiders came on Tuesday when I was driving my mom's car down the Indiana toll road. A spider of greater size decided to make his presence known as I drov 75 mph down the highway. I calmly pulled over, put the car in park, flashers on and annihalated that creature.

I'm not sure why I'm so afraid of spiders or why God feels it's necessary for me to continually be greeted with my enemies in small confined places while I'm operating automobiles. Nonetheless, it has brought thrill back into my driving ability.

**please note if you are my state farm agent reading this, it's all made up. I didn't stop my car on any busy highways or put myself in danger while driving :)**

LASIK

I had LASIK eye surgery last week. They numbed my eyes up and wrote with a surgical marker on where they were going to cut. It was a pretty cool experience. Here is me before sugery. A shout out to Melissa Pierce for the rad pictures!
The night after the surgery I was awake most of the night just thinking. I didn't have any pain in my eyes but I had a headache. My sister was with me at the hotel and of course I woke her up mainly because I was bored. It reminded me of when I was young. We used to go visit my dad (my parent's divorced) and I would stay up all night. I just couldn't sleep. I remember just talking to my sister Amy so she would have to stay awake with me. I hated to be alone in a house and neighborhood that was unfamiliar to me and she was my safe haven. So here were were about 12 years later and the story was the same but we were in a hotel in Dayton, OH. How grateful I am for a sister that will stay awake all night with her brat sister when she can't sleep.

I've been on a lot of planes lately. I like to people watch while in transit to different places. Everyone is talking on their phones or emailing someone for work or something...I'm not really sure. On Thursday I began to think that all of these people have different agendas, different jobs and unique passions that fuel them to keep going. For instance my brother Ryan loves art. He's passionate about it. It takes him places that I will never go- sculpture classes, art shows with wine, cheese and crackers that include a bunch of other artists that are passionate about art too. I don't fit in there at all but I love to visit it. And my cousin Kim is working on an initiative in Indianapolis to make the city more accesible by walking so that the people of Indiana are healthy. How unique and fun! Yesterday I was on some more planes. I sat next to this woman who is a web designer for Samsung. She talked about how she wants to help Samsung be the biggest selling cell phone company in the US and man is she passionate about cell phones. It was almost silly to me.

Then on the next flight I sat next to this couple that works for a flavor/ingredient inventing company and they were testing new kinds of gum. They had a doctorate and masters in food science. Their main purpose was to help food taste better! Who knew that was actually a job where people studied and were excited about it?

That made me start to think about my job and my passion. I'm so thankful that my job gets to line up directly with what I'm passionate about. I sometimes think that my passion is more important than others..because it has an eternal purpose. But even someone that works at Samsung or a Gum tasting company can still be eternally minded and love coworkers and customers that way that Jesus does. Just some thoughts that I wanted to share.

I am at home in South Bend now and it's not necessarily what I expected to say the least.



I'm learning to wait. God is teaching me that He is in control of my life and schedule and my coming and going. I hate it. It comes into fruition watching the dying process. I don't want to be morbid but most days I don't think it can get worse and then it does.




This has led me to think a lot about heaven. How does one cross from life to death? Can my grandma "see the light"? Is she waiting for someone else to come and say good-bye? I have a lot of questions and the Bible doesn't exactly answer them. I just know that there is a God who loves us and his ways don't always make sense to us.

Grandma and I at Thanksgiving 2006

I remember many summers ago I was in Myrtle Beach and when I was stressed a friend would whisper in my ear a verse that has to be my focus today.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" Jesus speaking in John 14:27

Michelle and Becky headed back to the States last week to transition to new things in ministry. Our house is quiet and feels empty. The nature of our jobs in ministry calls for lots of transition and goodbyes. I don't think I'll ever get used to it. Their time here was fruitful and great.

Next week, I will be transitioning back to the States for the summer. I'm bummed about leaving Mexico already but excited about my summer.

O tested soul, perhaps the Lord is sending you through this trial to develop your gifts. You have some gifts that would never have been discovered if not for trials. Do you no know that your faith never appears as great in the warm summer weather as it does during a cold winter? Your love is all too often like a firefly, showing very little light except when surrounded by darkness. And hope is like the stars--unseen in the sunshine of prosperity and only discovered durning a nigh tof adversity. Afflictions are often the dark settings God uses to mount the jewels of His childrens's gifts, causing them to shine even brighter.

Wasn't it just a short time ago that on your knees you prayed, "Lord, I seem to have no faith. Please show me that I do"? Wasn't your prayer, even though you may not have realized it at the time, actually asking for trials? For how can you know if you have faith, until your faith is exercised? You can depend upon the fact that God often sends trials so our gifts may be discovered and so we may be certain of their existence. And there is more than just discovering our gifts--we experience real growth in grace as nanother result of our trials being sanctified by Him.

God trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury but by causing them to endure lengthy marches and difficult service. He makes them wade acroos streams, swim through rivers, climb mountains, and walk many tiring miles with heavy backpacks.

Dear Christian, could this not account for the troubles you are now experiencing? Could this not be the reason He is dealing with you?

--Charles Spurgeon

Last week on vacation my sister and I received word that my Grandma was in the hospital with pneumonia. She has battled Alzheimer's for 10 years now. We rushed home to be there with my mom and family. She's back in the nursing home now and stable but not better. I'm learning about grief, mourning, closure and the order of those things when someone isn't actually gone. My life is really confused right now but I did ask for trials and a deeper faith just a few weeks ago. This was my devotional yesterday. It spoke right to my soul. Thanks for reading.

Peru!

I got back last week from going to a women's conference in Lima, Peru. I had a blast with staff from Mexico. I heard from women all over Central and South America and how we as women can walk with Jesus through anything.

We even got a chance to take a picture with the wife of the president of Campus Crusade for Christ. Here is Judy Douglass to the right of me.

Overall, it was a great experience. But I'm so glad to be back in Mexico City. There's no place like home!

Things have been busy here. We finished off last week with a spring break week of 65 staff and students from all over the US. Here is my group for week 2 below. We laughed a ton together and saw the Lord show up as well. All seven of us were able to get on a very private university. Katie, Jenny and I met a girl named Gaby who gave us a name of a guy who is a Believer on campus. The next day we met Pablo outside of the entrance of the university. As I began to share in Spanish about our vision for reaching every college university and student in Mexico City, he began to text his friend Yanneth to have her come meet us as well. Yanneth promptly appeared outside as well. Their excitement grew as I shared how God has already began to start movements on other campuses. Pablo mentioned that he had numerous friends on other campuses that would be interested as well. Also, Pablo has already emailed me to connect when I get back from traveling.

After our party on Friday, our staff and I were on our way to Acapulco to host a Mexican Student conference on the beach. Students were trained in sharing their faith and launching movements and they even shared with each other how they saw the Lord reach students on their campus.

I even had a few moments to cool off in the pool.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Lima, Peru for seven days with staff women from Mexico. We will be going for a women's conference. So this year, I will be celebrating Easter in South America. I'm really excited about this opportunity.

It's Thursday night at 11:45 pm. I'm sitting on the couch with Becky and Sandra working on housing assignments for our student conference that is coming up this week. We are in the midst of week 2 of spring breakers in Mexico City. It's been super busy and exhausting but I've have seen the Lord show up in some very beautiful ways. I leave for Acapulco for the student conference in less than 48 hours with over 100 mexican students from all over the country and all I can think is....man I love this job. :)

Just wanted you to be in this with me. Thanks for everything you do.

Giants of Silence a Hit

Today, the band officially left. I might be as tired as they are but it was so worth it! God moved in some really neat ways to arrange concerts, provide funding and make His name known. I'm attaching some pictures.

I'm blessed to be a part of something so big. Wish you could have rocked out with me at the concerts!

This has been a roller coaster of a week. On Monday we had a day with the Lord. Matt and I went to the Latin American Tower to pray for the city. It was such a cool experience. On Monday, I didn't really have an idea as to how the Lord would ask me to surrender things in ministry and in my life.

Here are some pics from the tower:

As I trusted Jesus this week, he continued to confirm to me that I was in his hands and that He is bigger than circumstances on earth.

Here are some specific things to believe God for with me:

• for the band called Giants of Silence http://www.giantsofsilence.com/ that is arriving tomorrow to play at various venues in Mexico City
  
• that I would walk humbly with the Lord and continue to trust him with the outcomes
  
• for this city! that the Kingdom would come to Mexico City and to the rest of the country
  
• for my friends that are visiting in the next couple of weeks

Also, to those who "just happened" to send packages this week to encourage me, it worked! Great timing friends!

Love to all,

Emily

What I've been up to...

It's been a busy couple of days here.

First for Christmas, my parents bought the ladies in our family tickets to the Lion King in Detroit when I was home. I liked it so much in the states that I went again on Friday with some of my teammates and friends. The costumes, the music, all of it is incredible. I feel blessed to live in a city where I get these opportunities.

Second, the whole team headed up to Naucalpan, which is in the state of Mexico, the last two days to visit approxiametly 15 campuses. Yesterday was a hard day for me. Kevin and I visited 3 universities and struck out. I have to continually remind myself that God is at work and just because I don't see it for one day doesn't mean He's not working. On the way back to the hotel where we were staying, Kevin and I had an opportunity to share the Gospel with our Taxi driver. Today, Michelle and I went to Universidad Mexicana and met Isabel. She told us that her mom is a believer and she is constantly thinking about spiritual things. It was a fun couple of days but exhausting as we explored.

New Team, New Semester

Here's the new clan (missing a few though)...we are a pretty good looking clan.

Things are on a roll here. We don't really ease into much. Last week I was with the Keynote prep team visiting student leaders that are helping set up outreach concerts on their campuses between Feb 10- Feb 25. I was so encouraged by some of the students comments as they prepared for the event.

Here are some things I heard:

"I believe that God is going to use this concert to reach my campus. We want every student to have an opportunity to respond to Christ."

"God I ask for every student on my campus to know you" -student praying yesterday

"I don't only want to reach Mexicans in Mexico but I want to go to the US and Canada and reach the lost Latinos there as well."

As you can see, God's hand is moving across this generation in this city to do something incredible. I am so excited to be a part of it.

Just wanted to let you know....

That I'm back

in Mexico

and I am so excited to be here.

Love, Emily

Indiana for Christmas

I made it back home to Indiana on Sunday to celebrate Christmas with my family. I was welcomed by my parents at O'Hare Airport and a ton of frigidness! I've been busy staying warm, drinking tea, shopping and visiting friends.

Here are some things I've been up to here at home:

My sister, Amy helps run a reading program at our church's local outreach in downtown South Bend. I helped last night at the Christmas Party before break.

But before I left Mexico,

We said Good-Bye to our teammate Nate with a bowling party

And attended a staff conference for staff all over Mexico. Here are my friends and I (Clau, Angie and I).

What a semester! Thanks for walking with me through it!

24 Hour Prayer

We started off our last week on campus with praying for 24 hours. We split up times and Kevin set up a room on our roof for us to withdraw with the requests written on the walls. What a haven it was! We have voted and the prayer room is staying for good! I personally met with the Lord and thanked him for the things he has done in our hearts, in our lives, and in this ministry. We prayed for our time at home, campuses that we want to see reached next semester, for things that we want to be true about ourselves, our families, our financial support and health concerns.

I snapped some pictures of the requests and the room. Enjoy!

Things have been busy around here, let me share with you some highlights.

Thanksgiving was a blast! I watched as Caitlin prepared our first Turkey here. We ended up having 20 visitors come and eat. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the actual people but just the table all set up.

As you can see, we had plenty of food and just enough seats.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to go visit my friend Heather Sanchez in a city called Queretero. It is 3 hours away by bus. Heather and I know each other from when I was interning at the University of Northern Colorado. She's on staff and married.

And today we had the opportunity to go to the Red Cross to pack boxes for victims of the floodings in Tabasco. It was fun to do something that you could see an immediate result from. We packed 5 pallets of boxes today!

Please pray for us:

• as we finish the semester, that we would do so strongly- not wasting any day on campus
• for team transitions- our teammate Nate is leaving and Kat is coming back from a long time in the states dealing with sickness and we have 3 new teammates coming in January as well.
• for our time at home with our families
• for transition back into the United States and cultural shock
• that we would remain steadfast in our walks with the Lord
• for revival in the hearts of Mexicans and we would see this city transformed by the Gospel
  

We got to spend a day with the Lord today. Classes and many businesses were closed as they celebrated Revolution Day here. So I headed to a coffee shop. I was reminded of some sweet things.

In July, my friend Vanessa and I layed before the Lord the idea of me being finished with support so I could leave with my team. As we prayed, the picture of God asking Noah to build the ark before one drop of rain fell. At the time I believed that God was asking me to start packing before support was in. Noah by faith built that ark and I by faith sent invitations out for a going away party and made every plan to leave. And God sent the rain and I left with my team. Now I'm here in Mexico City and seeing God's character show up in new ways everyday.

I love the book of Romans (if you haven't caught that yet). Today I was reading in a devotional about Romans 4 which happens to be one of my favorite chapters. This chapter points to Abrahams faithfulness to be the father of many nations even before he even had a child. Here is what it says:

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:20-21

As I thought of this today, I was reminded of our hope for City Wide Transformation here in this city. What is the difference between Abraham and I? I believe that God has promised us that He will bring every nation to himself. He says that in the Bible. So if Abraham could be fully persuaded then why can't I? I don't have the power to change this city or country just like Abraham didn't have the power to bring a child into this world. He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. The power that made Abraham the father of many nations is the same power that is at work in this city. I am fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He promised here too.

What I'm reading these Days

It was suggested to me by my friend to check out the book written about the life of Jim Elliot called "Shadow of the Almighty". I've been reading it for about a week now and am hooked. You should pick a copy if you are a reader and want to be encouraged. Here's one of my favorite quotes so far. As you can see, he had a passion for Latin America too.

"Mexico has stolen my heart. We've been here for a fortnight and they have invited me to stay as long as I wish. Right now I almost wish it were for life...The Lord has been good to me in bringing me here and giving this brief opportunity to se the field and hear the language a bit. Missionaries are very human folks, just doing what they are asked. Simply a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody."

I couldn't agree with you more Jim.

Birthdays and Fun at the Beach

Every year, Short term teams from all over the world take 4 days off to relax, recharge and meet with staff from the states. This year, our midyear conference just happened to fall over my 26th Birthday. What a great way to mix work with fun!

I was able to celebrate with some of my friends and favorite food in Mexico as well. We made banana boats and had our cook at the restaurant stick them in the oven--messy but good.

But mor than that, we got some amazing time with staff from the states that came down to specifically develop us and help us work better as a team. We did a personality/strength test and compared our results with the rest of the team. What an eyeopener to see how we all are wired so differently but together we are God's provision for each other.

Here are some things to pray for me as we beging to wrap up this semester (I can't believe it's already that time):

- that I would trust and walk in the way that I was made in Christ...meaning I would live out of my strengths and not be abandon them.

- that my identity and worth would continually be in Jesus and Jesus only

- I would be able to connect with students from this semester to encourage and help plan for the spring.

- I would enjoy my weekend in Puebla with other staff women from around the country.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave a comment.

The Opportunities We Miss

We have become pretty accustomed to the Metro these days. We take it a couple of times a week. Early on in the semester, I began buy a bottle of water everyday from the same vendor inside our metro stop. It was a young guy and everyday we would chat a little and that would be all. I had the hopes of getting to know him to share the Gospel with him. I think the "friendship" gave me hope of having real Mexican friends apart from ministry. Well one day I went down into the metro and his stand was closed and hasn't been reopened since. I realized that I kept waiting and waiting for a better time to share with him and now I've missed my chance.

It makes me think about all the times I miss sharing Jesus with someone because I want to be sure about the relationship. What opportunities have I missed today?

ASK JESUS TO SAVE YOU

Now, many of you know about my growing obsession with tracking with the stars. I love reading people.com when I get time (which has to happen usually) but I ran across something this morning that I would like to share with you.

In this picture of Britney Spears heading to court, the paparazzi and people flood around her car. If you have not heard, there is a pretty crazy custody battle going on for her kids with exhusband Kevin Federline. Anyways, there is a sign in the back of the picture saying, "ASK JESUS TO SAVE YOU". Yes, I'm glad that Jesus finally made http://www.people.com/ but not in this way. I am going to get on a soap box here and this is why blogs were created for soapboxes. I love evangelism. I love for people to come from dark to light in front of my face because of the life-changing nature of Jesus Christ. However, I feel that this sign is more of a hinderance than a stepping stone for Britney to the Gospel I'm 96% sure that when she looks at this sign she feels judgement, condemnation and shame from the "Christ Followers". I have in the past prayed that someone would enter Britney's life to tell her about Jesus but this isn't the fashion that I hope for. Relationships...that's what changes lives. My relationship with Christ is what changed my life and as I build relationships with others, they see that my walk with the Lord is not one of shame, condemnation but one of forgiveness, grace, mercy and unconditional love and that my dear friends is what saves us through Jesus.

Faithfulness

Here are some exciting things going on right now in Mexico City:

• Becky from St. Louis is visiting and I'm 98% sure that she is joining our team in January. She's great, excited and up for about anything. I can't wait to have her here permanently.
• We went to campus on Friday and found a Christian group already there. This is good news....many students knew about the group and could give me info about it. Praise the Lord that God is calling students to reach their campus.
• We are going for our mid-year conference next Thursday in Puerta Vallerta. I can't wait for the beach, to see friends and to get out of the city for a few days.
• We have found some potential movement launchers at my favorite campus along with Christian Professors. How cool is that?
• I have gotten some fun emails lately...what an encouragement to me.
• I am so grateful for my friends that the Lord has provided for me. He is so faithful to love me by giving me faces (and voices) that will be a guiding light to Him.

Thanks so much for reading and praying with me.

We have had a busy weekend! My friend Heather who is on staff with Crusade too works in Queretero, Mexico came to visit this weekend.

We got to visit Chapultapec Park (for the first time for me even though it's only 10 blocks from my house), spend time with my team and go see a play and out to eat Greek food with friends as well. Heather and I worked together at the Unversity of Nothern Colorado when I was an intern with Campus Crusade and she was just coming off of STINT in Puebla. Our friendship was fun and we got to work together to reach out to students in Colorado. I was in her wedding last December and now we both live in Mexico, working and serving Jesus! It was fun to catch up with her.

Also visiting is our new friend Amy. Her parents work for Crusade and specifically send staff kids on summer projects. This summer over 50 missionary kids will be coming to Mexico City to reach out to high school students. Amy and Caitlin are pictured below.

My roommate Caitlin has gotten involved in a local theater company and has begun to reach out to college students in something she is passionate about --Fine Arts. Last night we went to see the musical CATS. It's a strange musical regardless of the language. Here's a picture with Caitlin and some of her friends from the cast.

Today, we are privileged to be spending the day with God. Once a month, we take the day off to connect for a length of time with Jesus. What a blessing that this is a requirement for my job. Pray for our team--many of us are struggling with personal things. Pray that the Lord would mend hearts. Thanks for reading and praying!

Road Trip!

We decided after a meeting in Puebla to check out Veracruz, Mexico. It's on the east coast only 5 hours from Mexico City. Here are some pictures from our adventures...

Who do you want to be?

God is continually working and showing me more of himself. As we talk to people from cab drivers to students to pastors and parents, we see the need for revival is a reality. On our walk to the metro, there is graffiti on an area of a skate park that left me speechless the first time I saw it.

"A LOT OF PEOOPLE WISH TO BE SOMEONE ELSE". Written in English. People are searching for significance and truth in a place where at times could be perceived as a desert. Pray that these people find Christ on their journey for success.

The Honeymoon Has Ended

Often in ministry, we talk about the cycles of momentum. The main on lasts about 6 weeks and it is called the honeymoom phase. This means that everything is great, you love the culture and you "seem" to be adjusting well. After that, it goes into a time of hard adjusting of figuring out who you really are in this culture. Today the honeymoon stage ended. People say that one of the hardest parts of living in another country is attempting to get a haircut. I tried today and it's was unsuccessful. It's been a rough one. Who knew my hair would suddenly mean so much to me? This issue is deeper than that but I'm looking forward to what is to come in Mexico--to see who I am in this country, in Christ and what it looks like to love well.

Needless to say, I may not be posting a picture for awhile (hopefully the follow-up appointment tomorrow will be better)!

Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. --Acts 28:31

I read this last night when I got home from a hard day on campus. Sadly, I didn't preach boldly. I was scared and lived a defeated day. Caitlin and I had a hard conversation with some girls on campus. They had really been searching for truth and they found some bunk spiritual stuff like reincarnation and that Jesus was just a man who died for political reasons. I really wrestled with the Lord last night that if people were looking for truth...how come they couldn't find him? I haven't really reached an answer but I know that God is good and he desires that none shall perish.

Today was a little different. I woke up in a really horrible mood and skipped working out with Kat and spent some time with the Lord. I was determined to help further the kingdom and be obedient today. Nate and I went to a campus and it was so refreshing! We went to a campus that has a thriving student led ministry. I met some amazing girls and just saw genuine authentic community being played out.

HERE IS THE GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT WE VISTED TODAY

I praise God for days like the last two. I realize that not every day is going to be easy or refreshing and in actuality we are in a battle for student's souls. I just have to choose everyday to pick up my sword and fight with Jesus. He doesn't need me to fight but he certainly doesn't want another defeated Christian in the world.

Busy Little Weekend

We officially started meeting as a team on Thursday. Our last teammate, Kevin finished support on Friday and will hopefully be coming this week. On Saturday, we went to party for another college ministry in the city to continue our partnership. There were all kinds of fun activities there. Including water games, a mechanical bull, awesome Mexican food and a praise band.

Yesterday, we also spoke at two churches that are partnering with us to reach college students. It was a very long day but I believe that God is going to use these pastors and these church bodies to help us give every college student an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. It's an exciting time to be a part of ministry here in Mexico!

Thanks for walking with me and literally being the hands to reach this country.

My Cupboard

As many of you know, last year my goal was to be down here working with the team last year. However, God had different plans and desired that I would be developed at home in Indiana for a full year and never get an opportunity to serve with the team from 2006-2007. Well I'm here now and am enjoying it but living in this house, I see evidences of the girls living in hope last year for me to be here. The other day, Kat and I were assigning cupboards in the kitchen and we found my cupboard from last year! I took a picture for you.

It was a weird moment for me. I love God's sovereign plan. Just thought I'd share with you.

Adventures in Cuernavaca

My team and I spent the last week at Language School in Cuernavaca Mexico. Not only did we learn more of the language but we made new friends and had some adventures. Here are some pictures.

Here is my friend April and I. She's from California and is studying Spanish for the next 4 weeks and is hopefully going to come and visit us in Mexico City. We went to an Ecology Park for a field trip one afternoon.

One evening, my teammate Kat and I went with some other students to a Luche Libre fight. It is like a less professional version of WWE.

I also made a small wager with one of my friends regarding one of the matches. I came out with 40 pesos!The luchadores were so dramatic but we had good laughs from our seats.

We had a blast and our host family were Christians and loved us well. We hopefully will be able to see them again in Mexico City for a soccer game.

Here are some prayer requests:

• that I would continue to learn the language but on a heart level
• for our meetings that start this week for ministry
• that our team would continue to unify for the sake of Christ