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
  

Metros, Mercados and Churros

Yesterday was a fun one in Mexico City. I went with my new friends Pat and Aubrey to the market. We had to ride the Metro to get there and it was interesting. On the way home, it was packed! I looked to the left and right and all I saw were scores of people hanging on as that baby was flying down the tracks.

Last night some of us went to the part of the city called Coyocan. We had a blast and got home late.

I'm enjoying my time here hanging out and getting to know my team. The pace of life is very different here so it takes us longer to get somewhere and to do little things but I'm adjusting.

Here are some things you can continually pray for:
- that my body would adjust in a healthy way to Mexico (I just started having problems last night)
- that language school next week would be helpful and encouraging
- that God would direct us to the students that their hearts are prepared for the Gospel
- for my new friends Asa and Eman--> that their support would come in quickly so they can begin working with us on Sept. 6.

Estoy Aqui!

I have arrived in Mexico City! We came in on Sunday evening after a very long day of travel. Yesterday we went exploring for a little bit and had a really fun dinner with some of my teammate's friends and some Mexican teammates.

Right now we are in all kinds of transition. We are trying to figure out language school, where we are going to live and some of us how to navigate the city.

If you haven't seen yet, Hurricane Dean is wreaking havoc on the Yucatan Penninsula and we are going to be seeing a lot of rain the next couple of days. Mexico City is actually in the mountains so we don't have to worry about too much flooding where we are but there is concern for the homeless and the underprivileged that live in the slums and the dumps.

I'll post some pictures when I remember to take them! Thanks for reading and tracking with me!

Back Home Again

I made it home in one piece and sore face muscles from laughing so much in the mini-van. Here are some things that I'm still smiling about:

- 4 girls and 3 guys singing "You Raised Me Up" by Selah

- mad libs

- theological discussions over meals

- taking the train to South Bend

I had a blast in Colorado and now I'm home praying that the Lord will finish things up in the next 2 weeks so that I can leave to go back to Colorado for STINT briefing and then on to Mexico City!

Here are some things you can pray for:

• that God will raise the last $380/monthly in two weeks


• for good times with my family


• for healthy endings at home


• that my brain will be able to retain all the information from the conferences that I have attended and will attend


• that God would continue to take care of my intestinal track as I tread through changes

I also got to meet my niece Carly yesterday! What a cutie!

I Stand Amazed

I love Colorado. I love my Crusade staff family. I love my friends here. I love it when I can be myself and laugh and have a blast with people that get me. I also love the sky and those mountains too. This is what the sky looked like the other night. How awesome is that? I had to put down my stuff to get this on camera.

I also got to spend some time last weekend with my stepdad's family. Wayne and Sylvia took care of my friends and I as we settled into our time in CO. I'm so grateful for the rest and refreshment before meetings and challenges of going to the conference. Here is a picture of us at the Cheyenne Mountain Club in the Springs.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Colorado. Here is what I'm excited for:

- the Rockies
- dorm living with no air conditioning (ok I'm being sarcastic about this one)
- time with friends that love me and know me well
- I'll be outside of Indiana
- awesome teaching and seminars

I'll be coming back on the 28th to finish up support stuff. Pray that the Lord will finish my support in those 2 weeks. EEEEK! I'm so excited to almost be done.

I'll post pictures from Colorado. :)

MC3

My church is doing some cool things in the downtown area. I think the way we in recent years have portrayed Christ is changing. In the past, we honestly have been all talk. We say that Jesus would feed the poor and serve the needy but I didn't actually participate. I just talked about it. So we "Christians" would say it but not do it. Maybe it has been since I have started to mature in my faith that I have seen and gotten to be a part of the body of Christ doing instead of saying.

Yesterday, I went to the new community center in downtown SB to volunteer. The team is still renovating and working to get the center up and running. All 3 student ministries were there to help (middle and high school and college age). I'm feeling the burn this morning but it was so worth it. I know that I may not be able to be a part of seeing lives changed in those buildings but I know that I got to be a part of helping demolish, move and transform buildings so that lives may be impacted by a real life, practical, relevant Jesus. I don't want to talk about what Jesus would do. I want to do it.

To watch the progress of the buildings and to see the vision check out the blog. http://mylifecampaign.blogspot.com/

Have you seen this thing?

Ok friends...have you heard about this iphone? Apparently people camped out overnight in places to be one of the first in line to get their hands on this baby.



You know that I'm a girl that likes technology. I like new gadgets and trying to figure out how they work. My friend got a new phone the other day and I liked playing with it. But I don't think I would ever stand in line for a cell phone. I guess I see that there are way more important things in the world. I think the need in our culture to always have the next best, biggest, more better thing is draining to me. Here's a fact: I can't keep up with the Jones'. So I'm going to quit trying. I want to spend my money on something that matters not something else that will fill the landfills in five years.

Just thought I'd share my thoughts with you.

disclaimer: if you went out and bought one, i don't hate you. in fact, give me a call... i think i want to check it out.

Empty Houses and Whiney Cats

This week I'm house-sitting for a friend in Elkhart. She went to Phoenix where it's probably 110 degrees today. I love house-sitting for a number of reasons... let me share them with you.

- 25 year old women are not built to live at home. I love my parents--but it's just too much even when it's just for a season.
- I have figured out that I really need my alone time these days. To collect my thoughts, talk to Jesus, read a couple of books...these things are muy important to me.
- I actually like staying in a neighborhood where I can walk outside instead of by my parent's house where your only choices are taking a jaunt through the woods or on the highway.
- I think I like change in my life too... something different.
- I love having a garage! Call me crazy but pushing that button and having a door pop open for my car is so fun.

Next Monday I move back home for a bit before traveling to Colorado. Can't wait to see those Rockies.

Hope

Hope does not dissapoint. I feel like I'm in a sweet spot with Jesus lately. Of course one of complete surrender and obedience but one where He is comforting me and encouraging me as I wait on that perfect timing. I am content. I am joyful. Just thought I would tell the rest of you. :)

I did my first 5K last weekend. It was a big step for me. I started going to the gym in January but this was my first "public" appearance of real physical exercise in a long time. Amy and I walked it and it was fun. Afterwards, we headed up to Chicago where our friend Cara was doing the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Breast Cancer walks are a different culture. All 4,000 were walking for the same purpose and the shirts were hilarious. I'm including a picture of Cara getting a nice little massage after her first day of walking 16 miles and then she turned around and walked another 13 the next day. Can we say Champ?

Pray that I would continue to trust Jesus as I walk this walk.

First of all, for those that read along--I lost my password and I had to pretty much send my right arm to blogspot to get in. Sorry for the delay.

I've been plugging away here in South Bend. Well actually I just got back from Indianapolis for a week so that was fun and a change of scenery. It's been a challenge for me to believe God for big things the last couple of days. I know He is at work and wants to work in BIG ways but I like to have an agenda for what I think is best and that isn't what really is best. So that has been a struggle but it's neat to see how God is restoring and redeeming me.

My brother Eric is in from San Diego. I wish I could go back with him for a little vacation. We enjoyed Memorial Day as a family and it was really fun. I'll load some pictures of the nephew when I get a chance.

What Grown Daughters Need from their Dads...

The other day the weather stunk again in South Bend. I headed out to my Bible Study and I saw two accidents before I drove a mile. I called Roger (my stepdad) to see if I should go home--more importantly to tell me to go home. Even though I'm 25, I need a man in my life to care for me and look out for my best interest...and typically that is supposed to be filled by a father. This father/daughter issue has been a sensitive subject for me for a number of years. But Jesus has given me a stepdad who is willing to fill in and help out as I grow up. This morning, Roger dropped me off to connect with my friend EMoe and he filled up her tire. I love that guy. Just thought I'd share some of these thoughts.

A couple of days ago, I was studying Romans 13 the last couple of weeks and my mind began to wonder. I really know nothing about taxes and why I need to pay them. So I talked to my brother, Ryan about these things on Easter as we went to McDonalds for those new cinnamon melts (which are wonderful by the way). Anyways, Ryan started explaining about excise tax and all that jazz and I realized that I should have probably paid attention in high school and college. In fact, how did I pass? and how did I get that stupid academic honors diploma and made the Dean's List? What a joke! All this to say I feel a new need to understand these things so I can be a proper upstanding citizen. So if anyone has anything to add to my knowledge base, I'm willing to grow in the area of taxes.

Happy Break from Spring

Today it is freezing here, yet I still refuse to wear my winter coat. It was so warm and cozy here and now Spring went on vacation with my parents to Hawaii. My sister, brother and I are on Grandma duty this week. It's been fun and interesting for sure.

Which leads me to tell you what I praise God for:
- that Grandma drank her Tylenol PM last night without holding it first in her mouth for 45 min and then spitting it on me. You don't understand how much this ministered to my little heart.
- that my brother and I are getting along! I love this kid but I know sometimes I'm not too nice to him.
- for Monday night with my sisters, Amy and Katie (Katie isn't actually a blood relative but Amy and I will take her any day)
- for lent being over on Sunday so that I can eat sweets again!
- for Blake Lewis on American Idol--get cuter buddy!
- for my MPDBFF EMoe... I can't say enough about this chick
- for supporters that love me and stand beside me and will do anything to help me finish my initial support.

Jesus is providing for my little needs as I wait for him to provide all of my support.