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
  

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.