...Cómoda con el incómodo...

Cómoda con el incómodo. Será posible? Como misionera a menudo yo he estado en situaciones incómodos. Y yo ayudo a grupos para quienes una meta es sacarlos de su zonas de comodidad. Yo he aprendido que esto nos abre mas para que Dios pueda obrar en nuestras vidas. Cuando yo estoy fuera de mi zona de comodidad, tengo que confiar completamente en Dios, porque yo no tengo la fuerza ni el conocimiento propio en lo cual puedo confiar. Pero, yo me he dado cuenta que en muchas maneras sí estoy cómoda ahora donde estoy en Monterrey. Claro, todavía hay muchos experiencias nuevas y inciertos, pero diariamente no estoy puesto fuera de mi zona de comodidad.
Algo me pasó recientemente. La semana pasada yo estuve en Dallas para ayudar con un grupo ahí. Durante la semana fuimos a un lugar para ayudarles servir una comida a personas quienes no tienen mucho. Esto fue una experiencia nueva para mi, igual como estar en la mero cuidad "inner-city" de Dallas fue nuevo. Me sacó de mi zona de comodidad. En el momento, no estuve emocionada de estar ahí, pero ahora viendo para atrás, estoy contenta que fui. De vez en cuando yo me he encontrado animando a otros a ponerse en situaciones fuera de su comodidad, pero últimamente yo no me he puesto mucho en situaciones donde yo no se que sigue o que debo hacer. Entonces, aunque yo fui sacado de mi zona de comodidad la semana pasada, mi oración es que podría llegar a ser un lugar "cómodo" para mi. Un lugar donde yo tengo que confiar solamente en Dios para la fuera, el conocimiento, y la sabiduría para seguir.

***Como practica de algo no muy cómodo para mi es este blog. No escribo mucho formalmente en español entonces pido sus disculpas por los errores que estoy segura pueden encontrar aquí.

...comfortably uncomfortable...

Comfortably uncomfortable. Is that possible? As a missionary I have often been in uncomfortable situations and help run groups where part of the goal is to pull people out of their comfort zones. I have found that this opens us up for God to work in our lives. When I am out of my comfort zone I must rely on God, because I have no strength or knowledge of my own to rely on. However, I have realized that I am now in many ways comfortable where I am here in Monterrey. Granted there are still many new and uncertain experiences however I am not daily pulled out of my comfort zone. Something that happened recently. I spent last week in Dallas helping out with a group there and during the week we went to help out at a soup kitchen and clothes closet of a local mission. Serving in a soup kitchen was a new experience for me, as was/is inner city Dallas. It took me out of my comfort zone. Something that in the moment I wasn't too fond of, but looking back I am glad for. I have often found myself encouraging others to get out of their comfort zones yet lately I have not willingly put myself in those situations where I do not know what should come next or what I should do. So while I was pulled out of my comfort zone last week, I pray that it might be a "comfortable" of sorts place to be. A place in which I can only rely on God for the strength, knowledge, and wisdom to continue.

what the world is watching

It's late, relatively speaking, I'm in Dallas. A group just arrived, I should probably get to bed, or be working on a newsletter, but instead I decided to make a quick post. So, yesterday the FIFA World Cup Soccer event started. I have a vague memories hearing about the existence of this event growing up but coming from a football (American football) family, we always waited on the Superbowl as the huge event to gather together with friends and watch. However, even if I still wait for and "celebrate" the Superbowl, it would seem everyone around me, and it seems in most of the rest of the world, waits in anticipation for futbol/football (soccer's) every four year event. Yesterday morning was the opener. At first I thought my neighbor's dog was acting up, then that they were being attacked or fighting, only to find out that Mexico was playing South Africa in South Africa for the opening came of the World Cup. (The game ended in a tie). Later that afternoon I purchased a little Mexican national soccer outfit to send to my nephew for his birthday (I figured I'll clue him in a little earlier in life than I was). And even though I still don't live and breath soccer, I do find it fun to watch these games, or perhaps I find it fun to watch other people watch these games with such excitement and passion. Friends join together and all else is put aside for that hour and a half. It's kinda special to watch. So if you're like I was and didn't really have a clue, check it out. And if you can find some friends and watch a game or two with them all the better. I don't know when Mexico or the USA plays next, but I'm pretty sure if nothing else I'll hear the screams and be clued in to check out the game. :)

blessings

I have been lax of late in keeping up with some posts. As I explained in the last post, there have been many changes here. I think this has left my brain a little confused and not sure I'm really able to express myself. But I was reflecting today on some of the blessings and joys--some small, some big--that have come to my life of late.
I have been reminded in the last week how great and how good God is. And that no matter what the cost is of following him, it's worth it! I am so thankful for His patience.
One of the other things I am so thankful for and brightens my day and week are the opportunities I have to speak with my nieces and nephew (sobrinos). It's still quite difficult to understand everything my nephew tells me, but that's OK. It just brings a smile to my heart when he holds the phone to the window so that I can "see" my niece blowing bubbles and "watch" the dog eat them. J
In the last few days, and thanks to a new phone, my brother-in-law has been able to send me pictures. It's a wonderful surprise to receive the emails of the kids. And I'm thankful for them.
I am also praising God for the work He is doing in the youth group here. It's amazing to watch the changes in them. Sometimes, it can be easy to get caught up in the day to day and miss what's going on, but lately I've seen how God is doing and incredible work in their lives. In the last two weeks, a 13 year old boy named Hector who has been coming to the church for about a year chose to give his life to Christ. Praise God!! He has a lot of struggles in his life, but has made the choice to follow and rely on God. He still struggles but it is evident how God has been working in his life over the months and is working now to bring him to this point of surrender. I ask for your prayers for him. Pray that he would continue to follow Christ no matter the cost. That he would be able to keep attending church (there are some family situations that may make this difficult) and that he would grow in love and knowledge of God.
Life at time feels crazy and mundane all at the same time. But I am so thankful for the blessings God gives.




Just some of the beautiful fresh flowers I found at the local grocery store. :)

Summer Changes

I am so thankful that I serve a God who is faithful and sovereign. Below is a copy of a recent letter I sent out to my supporters.

I pray this letter finds you doing well. We have been busy here in Monterrey, with some great groups during March (I’ll speak more to this in a future newsletter), and preparing for the summer. However, in the last couple weeks we have experienced some changes. What follows is an excerpt from an email we recently sent out to our groups. Please read it and I’ll explain more afterward.

“We continually thank God for His sovereignty and control, even though we, at times, don't always understand why things happen the way they do. One of the things that we TIME missionaries have learned over and over again is that God can work anything for His glory. Unfortunately, we don't always see this until afterwards, and sometimes not even then. Until that time comes, we just live by faith and trust in Him who is faithful and trustworthy.”

As you may have heard, there has been an increase in violence in the drug war in Mexico. Until recently, we had not seen this violence much here in Monterrey or near places that we frequent. However, in the last few weeks this has changed. There have been increased incidences of violence happening in Monterrey and closer to the areas where we live, work, and minister. As a result groups have been canceled for this summer. Lord willing, we will once again be able to have groups next summer.

While caution and an increased awareness are necessary, I still feel safe enough to stay and live here. However, with the cancellation of the groups I will most likely be traveling more this summer. There are three groups going to Dallas, TX and as of right now my plan is to be in Dallas for those groups. I am also hoping to take a trip to our site in the Dominican Republic as well. Plans are still in the works and may still change.

I have seen again and again God’s faithfulness and sovereignty. And I thank Him and praise Him for it. As missionaries we have seen over and over again how God works all situations for His glory. So right now we are trusting in Him in the midst of the changes and situation we are facing. I humbly ask for your prayers for this situation, for my safety and the safety of all, and for wisdom for the future. Please also pray for the churches here, that they would be able to continue reaching out and ministering throughout the summer.

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord; the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah26:3-4

Thank you for your faithful support and for keeping me in your prayers. I praise God for you.

return

Ok, so it's been such a long time since I've posted on here. I need to be better and there's lots of catching up to do, we had some great Spring groups come through. However, for now I just want to share the a Psalm that was part of my devotions this morning. I read it and it resonated so much I wanted to share it. Praise God for His word!

Out of the depths I call to You, LORD!
Lord, listen to my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my cry for help.
LORD, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.
I wait for the LORD; I wait, and put my hope in His word.
I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the worning--more than watchmen for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for there is faithful love with the LORD and with Him is redemption in abundance.
And He will redeem Israel from all its sins.

Psalm 130 (italics mine)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called, those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all thigns? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' NO, in all these things we are more than conqueroros through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:28-39

I don't know how many times I have read these verses in my life. But lately they have struck me as never before. What a humbling blessing. Go back, read it again, outloud if you can, and let it's truth seep deep into your heart, mind, and soul.