Hi Lovely people,
Its been a long time since I updated you on my blog, I am sorry.
SO many things have happened but I will try and keep it detailed but yet brief. I know without a doubt that I have been stretched beyond my comfort zone in every area of life- spiritual, physically and emotionally.
My first big blow last semester was losing a team member, Cochran was a great addition to the team but he didn't realise the commitment and decided to leave in later October, I could not help but think that I could have done more to keep him here with us on mission but once he made his mind up, he was gone.
To be honest it was defiantly a blow to my leadership ego but also personally. When your on a team, your together all the time more so then any family member or best friend could be and you become like family in a very short time.
I do believe that God had a plan and I know it wasn't a surprise to Him. We had to move around a lot of things but we are still passionately serving on mission. We have become wiser in our work instead of trying to compensate for our team turning into 2 girl band.
God is so good he has given us more opportunities to partner with the other team in the Arlington area and we have been able to speak to more students and lead Bible study then I thought possible....
November we began to lead a strong group of students in mentoring- helping them gain understanding of how to be a good example, a Godly leader and servant to the community.
Our Students are so passionate about serving they really needed people to come along side them and encourage them to pursing showing people the kingdom of God in there serving.
It reminds me of A service project we had for students in December: we invited students to help with a service project day our aim to serve 3 charities and present the gospel message with children and play games face paint kids faces at a apartment complex in one day.
We invited our students to arrive at the church at 8am to rehears the gospel message and go onto serving our first Charity only 3 students turned up . it was quite funny because it was two guys and one girl. Both guys are quite and one in particular is super quite, it made me sad that many didn't turn up - but my heart was so overjoyed that these 3 did overall the group of students are quite and reserved but I was excited to see how God moved on these students hearts.
The practiced the play and then we moved onto help a safe house with the yard work and some basic housecleaning chores. Not once did we here are students complain. How crazy amazing is that, students who don't complain..WOW !!
We also went to the apartment complex and the students loved on the kids and painted faces and played games and when we presented our play some kids knew about jesus but some did not and Praise God 5 kids prayed the sinners prayer kids style.
It was such a glorious day.
Days like that are one of the many reason why I am passionate about what I do. My students ministered to variety of people, they stepped out of there comfort zone and poured there time, strength and grace upon people that were in need, that didn't know about God. His Kingdom came and was shown by there acts....
My teams in Arlington blessed me with a great gift money to go home and I wanted to thank you all for your sponsorship and support in doing that it was very much needed and was so glad that I was able to visit my crazy, lovely family and friends. I got to rest, eat and top up on some family time. My family are doing well but still need Jesus in there lives. My Nana of 88 is still passionate for the Lord and is continue to pray for me and the ministry she is what you call a firecracker :)
January came around and Bam! Our youth pastor stepped down due to work, a baby on the way and the commute to Dallas and Arlington.
I was the youth director assisting the youth pastor and now all of a sudden I am in the youth pastor role, I call myself the youth director, I don't feel comfortable calling myself a pastor and I still am grasping to juggle being a Hub leader managing everyone in Arlington, being a team leader and speaking in schools and mentoring kids and also lead and manage a youth group.
On paper it doesn't make sense in my mind.. its a bit jumble and in day to day it can be really crazy but God has given me this to shepherd these people to pour more wisdom that God has given me into the students, into the youth group and the other team.
I really appreciate your support in time and prayer and your sponsorship.
Thank you
if you could please keep me in prayer specifically about:
Next year my next step in what I should do with my visa, I have one more year with Pais and I have the next month to think about what I would like to do go home and find a new ministry to be a part of or begin the process getting my green card.
I miss my home but I also have a rule in life: "remember the last thing God clearly told you, to do with your life and stick at it until he says other wise" the last thing was Join Pais and go to America and since praying about this since October , I have heard the same thing over and over again. If you could pray for me and the whole crazy process that would be great.
I want to lift this up to God as I will need to give my answer to Pais in the next 2 weeks.
p.s
please let me know about your lives, I miss the world not filled with teens, please let me know how your doing and what your up to,,,,
