Thoughts on fads, time and new things.

I have some confessions to make. I often am easily swayed by pop culture. I like Justin Bieber. I mean have you seen this kid? He's cute and talented. People say he is just a fad. When I was in the states this summer, Gabo and I watched an E! special on him. His voice coach was talking about how his voice is going through the change but they believe that he has great pitch and will make it through the change and have a career afterwards. I am rooting for him. In fact, I have made a bet with my friend Abraham here in Mexico that people will still know him in 2015. 

All that to say, I think we mostly focus on what is popular or cool now. We are impatient and we don't usually want to take time to see if something is going to last or not. So if it's Justin or an IPAD or the newest car, why do we become so obsessed with the newest thing?

Gabo and I have talked a lot lately about how there is nothing "new" we need to know about God. Everything that has been taught that is valid was written in the good book long ago. If someone has a new idea, chances are it's not from Jesus. We don't need new ideas. We need to know the old ones well. 

The book of Nehemiah is showing up EVERYWHERE in my life these days. I think God wants to teach me something about this guy. First of all, this guy was committed to rebuilding the walls. Do you know that in total the process took 12 years? Building movements and mobilizing projects TAKE TIME. 

I too have bought into the "the quicker, the better" philosophy in ministry. I believe God can do anything don't get me wrong but ministry takes time and patience. I have really wrestled with the idea that I don't know if I have done anything life changing in 3 years here in Mexico. But it's only been 3 years. 

Time...it always gets you. I don't know where we will be working in a year or where we will live in 5 years. But I know that time is precious and I need to use my time wisely. More than that, I need to trust Jesus with my time.

The Bible talks extensively about being renewed but in Christ. If we don't experience renewal, we become bogged down with cynicism, we lose our imagination or the idea to dream. These things are part of using our time wisely. If I am cynical and just want to make it through the day, I am wasting my life. I am learning it's a fine balance of the two. I tend to be "over analytical" and think it is all up to me. 

I am not sure where I will end up or what will be popular on that day but I want to continue to not lose heart as I am given one more day. And I hope that Justin still has a voice in 2015 so I can win a bet. :)

Hello Transition. My name is Emily.

So we are back and settled in after the staff conference. It was a good time in Cholula. God has done a number on our hearts and I believe that the staff in Mexico are more united than I have ever experienced. It was fun to see how Jesus is faithful to change us.

It was Gabo's first staff conference and I think he enjoyed it. He helped with the music and that blessed people immensely. I love his attitude to jump in and get to know people.

So we are getting ready to start ministry this week here in the City. I don't know what it will look like. All the faces on my team are familiar, which is a huge plus. There are just less of them. I pray that we enjoy each other and the students. I pray that we change the culture of what it looks like to be Christians here in the city. I desire deep community and students living out what God has done in their lives. Honestly, I am a little dissatisfied in that in my own personal ministry. So I am excited to try new things and risk more.

The new married stage has it's challenges in any world but here where we both have weird schedules, just adds more fun. Gabo and I have been married for 2 months but we don't know yet what it's like to live a "normal week" with each other. We'll see how it goes.

The other area of uncertainty is what God has for us in the future. Where will we be? Where will we work? What is our jobs to go with our sweet calling? How the next year plays out will be interesting and life changing I believe.

I am grateful to have friends, teammates, and family to walk with me.

Rant #1: living a 1D life instead of 3D

Caution, you could be offended. 

So I spend about 5 weeks with my family in Indiana/Michigan. It was a good time spent. Gabo and I took care of my lil' man Rylan and spent a lot of time just chilling. In those times chilling, we frequented facebook. I use facebook these days but not so long ago my friend Charity had to start a petition to get me on there. I tend to be a private person. I want to tell people things when it's my time so you can imagine when i log onto facebook and hear that someone got engaged or whatever the latest news is. Nevertheless, I know that when I sign up, I willingly participate in the craziness. 

A couple of weeks before the wedding, I decided I was going to fast until after the wedding from social networking. It was sucking my time, I was over knowing more about my friends from a computer than from their mouths. I was sick of fighting gossip. It was good. Not the first fast of this form and will not be the last. 

This summer however, Gabo and I took note of more and more comments, updates and such that made us see that people are living more in a relationship with technology than in real life. I am going to break my beef down to two parts...sharing, saying things that you would never say in 3D world and the second being the over spiritualness of Christians.

Lets start with the idea that if I write it, it isn't as scary if I say it. Actually, when it is written down for 5,000,000 people to read it, it carries a little bit more weight. If 24 year old Bobby is writing that he loves his 2 week girlfriend and she is the woman of his dreams after he just broke up with last gf 3 weeks ago, it makes his words not so trustworthy. And he looks pretty silly professing his love to everyone instead of just to her in a park or a coffee shop. I don't love that. It makes me feel like Bobby, Cindy or Jan display their feelings on facebook because they don't have the guts to say it in real life. And somehow they get some validation or some reputation by saying it to everyone. What are we trying to prove with social networking? Are we looking for purpose or worth if someone gives you a "like"? Why can't we just go back to real life? I mean, I live in a foreign country and these things help me stay connected but are we at risk from losing real relationships because we can do a couple of clicks and express all of our emotions? I don't get it. It's scary.

Secondly, let's talk about Christians on social networking. I, being a Christian, should be loving and kind and actually be more sensitive to my kind. However, I think sometimes I struggle with loving the ones that should know better. Don't get me wrong, I work in Christian ministry and we all know that social networking is THE best way to recruit students to come to events, even connecting with students that still don't believe. But more than I see us as Christians using technology to just shouting that God is great. 

Friends, Believers...listen to me. By writing "God is love. I love him because he first loved me." or "The Holy Spirit is my best friend", this is not evangelism. This doesn't pull people closer to Jesus. Actually, in my opinion, it makes you look like a religious zealot and that does not help the kingdom come. 

Please, get off your blackberry and off the laptop or the IPOD, live life with people that are in 3D. The hurting broken people that would never say it to the world of social networking. That is how we are Jesus. 

Thanks for reading.

Learning a lot and liking it.

So the new hubby and I have been spending some quality time in the Michiana area with my family. We go home to Mexico on Saturday and I am really looking forward to getting into a rhythm of life again. I am in a new chapter of life--not sure what is to come but desperately want to have a positive attitude about it. I want to share some of the highlights.

- I am pretty responsible when it comes to finances. I have lived off the support of others for the last 6 years and never have been in desperate, dyer straights where I couldn't eat. However, I do have debt. I have been working to pay off my college debt since graduating in 2004. Gabo has some debt too and we want to live within our means and plan well. I am a big fan of Dave Ramsey and Gabo read the book before we got married. I guess the question is how do we both live on one budget? We both, getting married later, are used to buying what we want when we want it. If I wanted to go to Taxco (the silver city of Mexico) and blow $100 on silver jewelry, I did it. And Gabo with music things. We are learning and growing in this area. I am completely open to suggestions from all of my 5 readers. 

- I see my sin more clearly now with the husband. I heard people say that before but I constantly try to defend and justify my actions when Gabo points out that I did something unloving or disrespectful. We are reading a book called "Love and Respect" and it is challenging us. I guess when it comes down to it...I just want to always be right. :) and I want Gabo to be wrong. Yikes. That is sin and I want to be grieved by it. 

- I think in some ways I am grieving my single life. Don't get me wrong, I love waking up next to Gabo and living life with him. But I lived an awesome single life. I had great, fun roommates that we cooked together, shopped together and watched Friends episodes together. I want to transition well but I don't want to be one of those women who forgets how to hang out with the singles because she has a husband at home. Those ladies drive me crazy. 

- I want to be healthy. I want to take steps in taking care of my body. I know a girl from when I lived in Colorado that just dropped like a million pounds. She motivates me. I think I can do it. I will just have to start cutting back on DQ blizzards. Praise the Lord Mexico hasn't discovered DQ yet. 

- In general, I am learning a lot about friendships. I think in the process of getting married, I have learned the value of a friend. Not just because they did or didn't come to one of my weddings but because the way they handled it. Gabo has been helping me understand that in friendships there are always expectations and in mine I have a very sacrificial attitude. That I will do just about anything to show that I love someone and they are important to me. I want to tell you that 97% of the wedding process, I felt completely LOVED and cherished by my dear friends. I want to focus on the 97 and not the 3%. 

Not sure what God has in store for me or us this next year. But I am looking forward to it. Hope you are too!

Just wanted you to know....

I am a married woman. :)

This one's for you Becca Paschal

So I recently was at a wedding this past weekend in Dallas and my friend Becca confronted me on not updating my blog. I have some excuses for sure...but still doesn't make things right. So this one is an ode to Becca and why I like her so stinkin' much.

• She's funny. I spent the weekend laughing with her.
• Becca's the kind of girl that is the life of the party.
• She goes with the flow, a team player and a great maid of honor.
• She is honest and vulnerable...probably my favorite thing about her.
• She is a joy to share an air mattress with even when it deflates in the middle of the night :)

Hats off to you Becca Paschal! You light up my life.

Why 2009 was good to me...

Just wanted to share with you some highlights of my last year...in no particular order.

On July 9, this guy entered my world. My sister had her first baby and Rylan is my 2nd nephew. He's great along with Brady and Carly.


I learned to follow God's calling and be content where he puts me. I have searched God's heart and know him more and love people better because of 2009.

God gave me one month of my best friend Suzanne being here in Mexico with me. She met my friends, she learned my world and she spoke grace and truth to me. And for that I am completely grateful for the month of June with her.


I learned to love in a new way. A boy popped into my life about April and he and I began dating in July. Gabriel recently came home with me for Christmas to meet my family. We'll see what is in store for us.


I got to travel a little bit.

To Chihuahua...


To Cancun to vacation with my parents and Kathryn...



Multiple trips home to South Bend...



I learned to forgive, to pass the offense and to believe the best in people. SO grateful for 2009.

Let me tell you about my weird Friday...

Some days in the city are just more extraordinary than others. Friday was one of those days. I would like to recap my adventures to and from campus. I was by myself cause my teammates all had other activities. This university is 2 hours away one way so I have to take a number of forms of public transportation to arrive.

I waited for the metrobus for 15 minutes. That is a little extreme really. After that I switched to the metro. I got a seat quickly which I was excited about seeing that that there were a lot of people standing around. I thought for a minute 'why doesn't anyone want to sit here?' I quickly realized that it was because the man sitting next to me had a strong pungent odor to him. I stayed there and swallowed my pride.

I then switched to a micro (which is like a city bus). I hopped on to find just a few seats left. I plopped down next to a teenage boy who was staring at something in his backpack. I looked over too to see what the fuss was about. Was I surprised to see him viewing the cover of a pornographic video. I was disgusted and insulted instantly. Yes, Mexico is a country literally littered everywhere with naked pictures for everyone to see. But this kid was so young and we are on a bus. My thought was that I should say to this kid 'if you want to ruin your sex life that's fine but do it on your own time'. I began to ponder if this is something the churches talk about here...pornography, infidelity, etc. Then just today I visited a church and the pastor was brutally honest about how we are unfaithful-in sexual relationships, with our bodies, in our relationships with Christ as well. He specifically talked about Pornography being a lie that people believe that will help them in their marriage, etc. I was encouraged.

Back to Friday, I got to campus and found the group I was going to work with. We sat in the lawn of the university where after a bit I began to smell something different. It quickly dawned on me that a group close to us had started smoking weed. Never before on campus had I experienced that.

I headed home after a few hours on campus. When I was almost home I was standing at the back of the micro to get off the bus and I hear a guy say to his friend 'that girl isn't mexican'. Being the sarcastic girl I am spitted back, 'really, was it that obvious?'. He followed up with 'and she speaks Spanish'.

All in all it was a crazy day in the city. I can't believe I wrote about pot and pornography in the same blog. I'm am getting more edgier!

Some of the students from UNAM want to take advantage of the fact that other universities around the country have 2 weeks off in April. They are asking for students to consider spending their second week doing ministry at UNAM...300,000 college students. Here is the video that they put together to promote the project. All student led. Students reaching students and asking other students to help. How cool is that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIem0_RnD8c

Started Celebrating a little early...

As you know, it is that time again when Emily begins to celebrate her birthday.

I happened to be in the States last week and thought it was appropriate for me to have a party there with my family.






Then I followed that up with an Aluminum Foil party on Saturday here in Mexico.







And the craziest thing is, my actual birthday is still two more days away!

If you want to know to know what I've been up to...

check out my sister's blog. She has done a better job updating than me.

http://amykring.blogspot.com

That's all for now.

Safe and Sound in His arms

Today Angie and I went to Tepito for a little bit. We had some donations to drop of at a church mission there. Tepito is not the safest part of the city. In fact, even my taxi driver today didn't want to go there. On the way home we saw a car accident that led to a fight in the street. It was a crazy day.

Anyways, I captured this picture. Angie was holding this baby at the church when he started to fuss during the sermon. Before long her arms rocked that baby right to sleep. When we needed to get going, she went to pass the baby off to another girl but he grabbed back on and she sat for a few minutes longer.

Doesn't it feel great to feel safe? I don't mean just physically even though that is a real thing for me here. But I mean emotionally and spiritually. I often refer to my walk with God as knowing he's good but it doesn't always feel safe. I know he will not let me go cause it's not in his character so why do I struggle so much to stay?

May I rest in my Savior's arms like this baby rests in Angie's.

Women that impact me.

I haven't updated in a while and that isn't because I don't love you all. I just haven't been really inspired and motivated to write anything specific. God has definitely been pointing me more and more towards his character and the amazing ways he gently affirms that he loves me and that he has a higher purpose for me.

I'm doing a Bible Study with some international sisters at a church here in the city. We are studying Esther. I had read it a couple of times leading up to this point but never dissected it the way our girl Beth Moore does it. It's been interesting. Esther has made me question and long to be a woman of character.

Esther's qualities that I admire...
-she was orphaned but was loved by her uncle. She respected him and obeyed her "father" figure
-she was chosen to go to Xerxes' harem for a chance to be queen. she never mentions her nationality and the book specifically says that even though the hundreds of women received beauty treatments, Esther never asked for anything additional. She was simple yet beautiful
- she first won favor with the eunuch hegei and then with the king. that kind of favor is not just in looks...she had charisma and character
- she was wise, obedient, submissive, compliant, listened, independent, humble and cooperative.

I have a lot to grow in. I know it. But I have hope. Jesus is faithful to change me.

And I would also like to share with you about another amazing woman.


I met Sandra about 2 years ago at a Crusade conference in Mexico. She was going to be joining our team here in Mexico City and honestly I just really liked her from the beginning. She was welcoming to the foreigners, genuine and her love for people was evident.

I've watched her do ministry here the last 14 months or so and have just really enjoyed having her here. On Saturday she heads back to Oaxaca where she is from. She will be missed.

A year in review

Yesterday I had a Day With the Lord. Let me tell you what that means. One of the blessings of being on staff is spending one day a month with Jesus. Yesterday I went to the Latin American Tower-my favorite places here in Mexico City and I was able to process some of the things that God has taught me. If it's ok with you, I want to share them with you.

-A couple of weeks ago my friend John told me that good leaders are defined by what you say no to. I haven't done a good job saying no this year. I have allowed things to creep on my plate and I took responsibility of things that weren't mine. I have learned what matters to me and I'm committed to only doing that.

-Repaying the debt of love is something I have been learning the last 6 months. I have been very diligent in working off financial debt and comparing that to paying the debt of love--I just haven't worked as hard at that. I want to love like Jesus loves and that is what life comes down to right? Loving?

-I have figured out what I am passionate about...more than just my ministry with a certain missions organization but in life. It doesn't matter where I work. It matters what I do. (more could be coming on this if I get around writing down my ministry philosophy)

-I could stay in Mexico. Because I like who I am better here. No offense to those friends reading from the United States. Something changed in me where I realized that I won't ever be "normal" again in the US but I will never be fully Mexican. I guess I'll be stuck in between for the years to come...or forever.

I think that's all for now. It's been a roller coaster of a year but am so grateful for it.

30th Birthdays done right in Mexico

My sweet roommate Angie turned 30 years old last week. It was a great time. We started the day off at Passmar, her favorite coffee spot.



Then in the evening we went to see the Sound of Music at a local theater here in Mexico.



And if we didn't think that was enough, she threw herself a traditional "quince anos" celebration but a double one cause she is 30. Enjoy the pics. It was a great weekend too.

A quick trip home to meet a new face

This is Rylan and I's first encounter.



As you can see, we are off to a great start. He was a champ today as my sister and I dragged him off to Target and Old Navy and to the national baton twirling competition. It was a good time but we are pretty pooped now.

In other news...did you US friends get the memo that they have started using $1 gold coins in the States? Friends. I beg you. This is your job to keep me in the loop as to the new happenings in my homeland. If not I show up looking as an idiot here.

Off to Costa Rica

If you think about it, can you pray for the 20 staff and students that leave tomorrow for Costa Rica. Students from all over the country will be participating in a 2 week summer project. They will be gone from July 25-Aug 8.

Please Pray:
- for team community and they would work well together
- for the Gospel to go forth in Costa Rica
- that God will use this time for our students in Costa Rica to change Mexico. What I mean by that is that our students will experience Christ and come back changed with a desire to change the country.

Update from Chihuahua

It's Monday here in Chihuahua and in just one hour I will be sharing with students about how they can be a part of launching movements on their campuses. Today Joram, Barry and I went with 5 students to visit 2 universities here in the city.

I'm excited for the next two days and how God will use us here. Praise God for this amazing church!

Pray for us:
-Joram and I will train the students well
-that I would continue to enjoy my time here
-for continuity in ministry and for us to stay in contact with leaders
-for God to do something remarkable on these university campuses and we can look back years after and say, "Look what God started in 2009"

That's all for now!

Chihuahua here we come...

And I'm not talking about the dog.

Just about a year ago, my friend Andrea and I were on top of the Latin America Tower in Mexico City filming a video for my supporters. We happened to run into another US sent missionary who is a church planter in the city. As our connection grew, he invited me along with other staff to go to Chihuahua, Mexico. He was in contact with a church there that had been praying for someone to teach them how to reach out to the universities. And since that is an area where I can help, my teammate from Holland, Joram and I are leaving tomorrow morning with the church planter to train the church and college students for 5 days. It will be a quick trip but I am excited for what God will do.


This picture was taken at one of our Monday morning training times. Joram is on the far right.

Here are some specific prayer requests:
- That God will give Joram and I the ability to communicate well in Spanish. The accents up north are a little different I hear.
- For our training times. We are preparing an Evangelism training time, Discipleship and how to Launch Movements on College Campuses
- That we would be a blessing to this church
- For great time with college students (that is why we are going)
- For access to the campus UACH and that we can take the students from the church sharing at the university.

In love with a new man...

This is my new nephew Rylan Lucas Kring. My sweet sister Amy gave birth on Thursday. I was in the middle of a biblical studies course when I got a text message from my brother. I left the class to call her. I had my priorities. :) Sorry professor.

I have sure enjoyed the pictures and stories so far but I can't wait to get my hands on him on July 23.

What a precious little guy!