Life and Mexico

Wow, everyone! I'm so sorry for slacking on my blog. I wrote a huge blog right before I left for Mexico but forgot to post it so... MY BAD!

Wednesday June 28th was my 20th birthday. Thank you for the cards, phone calls, and presents everyone! As intern tradition continues, I got a celebration birthday breakfast at Kris and Yurihn's. Dorothy made some amazing dishes and we had strawberry rhubarb pie (that I made) and tiramisu for dessert. It was fun and I really appreciated it.

Mexico was AMAZING! I can't wait till the next trip. I wish I had time to tell the whole trip but I will share a few fun stories later tonight. I have to get back to work. We are preparing for Camp Gilead this week. Camp starts Sunday and I will be leading the Missions Skills Class and also beachguarding. I love you all and miss everyone home.

God is moving here and changing my life. Its hard but there is no other place I would want to be than in His arms.

Check out my pics from Mexico. No captions yet. Sorry time is precious and I am already only aleeping about five hours per night cause I have to finish to Koran by Thursday... I'm a walking zombie. LOL

Stac

Aquila and Priscilla

For homework one night last week, I had to read the whole book of Acts- Abi is a slave driver ;) In Acts 18 reveals the story of Aquila and Priscilla. I love reading this chapter! Talk about some major helpership! They practiced hospitality in Corinth after being expelled from Rome. Together they built tents and hosted Paul, a stranger, for 18 months. Within that time, Paul was their guest. Aquila and Priscilla not only opened their home to Paul, they opened up their work to him as well, so that Paul was able to support himself while he ministered at Corinth before the arrival of Silas and Timothy (ACT 18:5). Priscilla and Aquila accompanied Paul from Corinth to Ephesus. In the synagogue of Ephesus they met a man Apollos, whom they discipled. This couple served God at risk of their own lives. ROM 16:4 "They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them." They hosted a house church (1CO 16:19; ROM 16:5)in Ephesus and Rome. In ROM 16:3 says "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus." They were considered by Paul to be his equals.

So what can we learn from them? One that God give us appropriate mates with which to minister and work. God's desire is for us to reach the world with His love. I believe that God will bless me with a mate that we can work side by side for His kingdom. Out of all of the couples in the bible, Aquila and Priscilla's marriage is something I pray God will bless my marriage with. How amazing would it be to minister to others as a team with your spouse! "Bloom where you are planted" was the motto Priscilla and Aquila lived by; they were faithful in serving the LORD wherever they were. God bless me with a servants heart such as that. Make me a Proverbs 31 woman. PRO 31:30 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

Missions vs Evangelism

Have you ever stopped to ponder the difference between missions and evangelism? Today I was introduced to a new view I have never heard. Evangelism is witnessing to unbelievers who are "like" you. So lets say I share the gospel with my co-workers or peers at school--> that would make me an evangelist. However, missions is when you minister to unbelievers who are "not like" you. So going to Mexico to spread the gospel would be missions.


My question is then, "What does missions mean?"

I got into an interesting discussion with other interns in the office. This week we are learning about Missions in the Church. We had to read the five purposes of your life within Rick Warren's best-seller Purpose Driver Life. The last purpose is missions. In Rick's terms it was said "You are called to a mission". When you think of missions, what do you think of first? Most I think would say that missions is reaching out globally, to preach the gospel... something to that effect. My argument would be missions can be any where. Why restrict missions as an overseas, drop everything, and raise support deal? I believe you can be a missionary in your home town. What if I was a CEO of some Fortune 500 Company and spent a lot in the office? I could make a "global impact" by donating funds to an organization. With every church that gets built, school setup or individual missionaries living abroad, finances are needed. Am I a missionary for God in a sense? I would say yes. More importantly, if we are all "called to a mission" can't my mission be the corporate world. Business people need to hear the word of God. In retrospect, I could start up a Kingdom Company, that makes global impact yet has a business core. God has put a desire in my heart to reach out into the corporate world. I pray that God will use me to further his kingdom through business. If a company is built on solid, ethical standards and morals and incorporates a Christ like environment, could you just imagine the impact. Some of the most influential and powerful people are business men and women. Someday I pray God can use me in this way. Missions doesn't have to be restricted. God allows us to reach unbelievers who are unlike ourselves, in ways we couldn't even imagine. Operation Christmas Child, adopt a child, donate shoes for kids in Jamaica, money to build a home for a family in Mexico, missions opportunities are all around us. What is your mission?

Inspirational Thoughts from Mr. Chambers

No one likes change. We all like the familiar things in life. Whether its friends, places like the mountains, a way of doing things, or perhaps your choice of cereal. As I read my devotion from "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers the last sentence caught my eye. Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know...”(John 7:17)

Now I don’t think that it is saying that I have to change everything in my life but I need to embrace change. More importantly, to embrace God’s will. His will may call us to be uncomfortable. God’s will could change our lives so rapidly. Instead of working an amazing job that pays the big bucks, you could find yourself unemployed, moving into a smaller house, and selling your Porsche. I don’t want my life to be focused on what I once was but becoming something I could never imagine being.

What is God’s purpose of me being here in Connecticut? I have yet to see it. I find myself upset everyday… NOTHING is the same. My expectations have flown out of the window along with my dreams. I am left with a blank slate. God do with me what you will. Make me into something I have never been.

Misson: The Crazy Cat Ladies

Well, I thought garage sales in Loveland, CO were strange. Naive me! So my director Kris owns a three story home, where each floor is an apt. Behind his home is a small two bedroom cottage that his brother's mother-in-law Dorothy lives. Before Kris aquired the home, two older women lived in the cottage. They had 14 cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They got kicked out of their home due to the stench and filth of the place. Kris had to replace not only floor but the subfloor, cabinets, etc. Very gross to say the least. Well, apparently wherever they moved to, cats were not allowed so they let all of the cats go free on Kris's property. The cats live underneath the cottage. Now the EXTREMELY strange part of this ordeal. Directly behind the cottage is a small cemetery. These two crazy cat ladies come around 11pm into the cemetery right behind and bring TONS of dried food, canned food, and water. They place all the food and water right behind the house in the baby section. Oh then they begin to call out ALL of the cat's names. The ladies then leave and come back one or two more times.
So last night Vanne and I had some fun with them. When they pulled up into the cemetery we sneaked into the cemetary and hid behind a giant tombstone. We hopped around to a couple of them untilwe were close. Vanne began to make cat noises and spooky noises. One of the ladies said I hear noises and the other said, there are always noises is the cemetary. But the scared lady turned off the car and took a flash light and shined the light in our direction. Thankfully we were behind a big tombstone. I about died of laughter! So as we were planning on how to scare the ladies, the "scared" crazy lady kept shining the flashlight at us. Kris yelled at from his lawn and the mission bomed! We got caught by the light as we crawled back. Needless to say it was really funny and those ladies are completely crazy. They came back two more times; once at midnight and then again at two.

Be Strong and Courageous

Adjusting to a new place can be difficult. For me it has been hard. The language barrier probably is the biggest obstolcal. I get so frustrated with myself, when I can't remember all the vocabulary and I live with native Spanish speakers! I love the people here to death but I can just get so bogged down.
Plus my apartment was supposed to be ready on the June 1st but now it won't be until the 9th, so I'm still living out of my suitcase.
I decided to do my personal reading out of Joshua. The first chapter keeps repeating the phrase "be strong and courageous". That phrase is truely a God send. During this time, I need to be strong in God and courageous in whatever is set before me.

Since I have blogged a lot has happened. I went to Massachusetts to the Yankee Candle Co. and the Butterfly Museum on Sunday with a woman I met at church. Iris brought her cute little duaghter Isabel. Monday, Memorial Day, all the interns went to Kris's mom and step-dad's home for an all day BBQ. Very relaxing and fun. Tuesday and Wednesday we worked all day at the office. Sonya, the new intern, came on Wed. night along with John the missionary from China. Kris and Bob had to stay overnight in Chicago due to weather so they did not get back until Thursday morning.

John is really cool. He does missions work in China. All day Thursday, he taught us about Chronological Story Telling. This method uses reaching people by telling sotries, starting from creation all the way up to Jesus. 2/3 of the world prefer oral communication verses written. I hope that someday I can experience this kind of ministry. Friday we spent the day learning about China and John's ministry there.
If you have never watched Ee-taow watch it now. Every Christ follow should watch this!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2167162629886718161
It's just a small segment cause I couldn't get the other to work but go to brianturner.org to watch the whole 20min video. So amazing!

Well, I am going to go get ready for church. This week we will be working on camp and class time will be on "missions in the church." Thanks for all of your prayers! Miss you all!