Like bringing more than 300 people to attend classes in our community center, which is our main ministry of showing people Jesus- by building relationships and demonstrating his character in our own lives. He's given Beckah and I opportunities to build deeper friendships with some of our family members here. He's specifically put one extended family on our hearts. The mom loves God but her husband is strictly Catholic and doesn't want her near Christians. By the grace of God, he's changing and we got to spend a whole afternoon playing futbol with them last week. They are a really sweet, loving family- just lost and trapped in the customs of their country. We're praying God continues working on the husband's heart especially.
God has also given us so much freedom, joy and laughter with our friends here. We just celebrated Mexico's independence day on September 15th. We were both nervous about spending the entire day with all of our Mexican friends...really we were worried about maintaining our Spanish for so long, while enjoying their company and not getting exhausted. (Speaking and constantly translating Spanish in our heads can be draining). What a surprise it was for God to enable us to have a wonderful conversation with the sweetest old man, Abel, for a few hours at dinner. He's a strong believer and we got to talk with him all about God, the Holy Spirit, heaven, and how he used to be a prodigal son. It was sweet! The night was full of fireworks, watching el grito (the traditional Independence yell: "viva Mexico!") on tv, eating yummy posole (delicious soup with loads of ingredients) and cracking up with our awesome kiwi (new zealander) missionaries on the car ride home. We had asked God to help us glorify him in our fun before the day started, and he totally blew our expectations! He is LIFE and the Creator of FUN!
The Lord has also been doing some things that we cannot see. It's these things that really excite me!
He has been ministering to both Beckah and I, answering our prayers in giving us more love for each other. We have both struggled with jealousy...she's one of the coolest girls I've ever known and Satan has tried to use that to make us stumble. Praise God, he has shone his light on our sin and brought us even closer in repentance and forgiveness. Hahaha he always wins over sin!
He has also been doing more in my heart, tenderly growing and leading me. Since I've been here, I've struggled with being uncertain about his plans for my future. I've allowed fear to creep in and at times, I've forgotten why I'm here. I exist purely for him and his delight. How silly of me to forget his promises!
"I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart." Jeremiah 24:6-7
"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with ALL your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:12-14
He deserves everything. Not the leftover pieces of our hearts, but the very best. We can trust him with our WILDEST dreams! He keeps giving me dreams about surfing (something I've never gotten to do but one of my biggest desires) in which I'm able to ride killer waves without even using a board. I know he is going to go beyond all my expectations in every single desire I have from him. It's because he's the one that has given me my desires. Of course the Creator of my dreams is going to fulfill them!
ALL OF YOU, I would not be here without your prayers and support. I thank you more times than all the tortillas I've eaten here (that's a lot).
Please keep praying for:
- our sweet Mama's grandson who has an abusive step dad....this boy is quite special. 9 years old and she's never seen him upset. He's constantly smiling and has the purest heart. Our Mama's worried about him eventually turning to the streets like so many kids here do.
- The Spirit to abide in us and lead us in ALL of our words, thoughts, and actions so that God receives ALL the glory here.
- The Spirit to lead more and more people into Oasis (our church and community center). We long to see lives saved.
- Beckah and I- more and more love and service for one another
- My kickboxing aerobics class this Saturday. I've never taught before, just attended a few classes in Auburn....and now over 60 people have signed up to come. HAHAHA it's gonna be cra-cra! Sounds silly, but pray for God to lead me in teaching this class...it's a way to build relationships with theses people. I'll be teaching it every Saturday.
- our extended family here who desperately needs Jesus. We're praying for the husband especially.
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