I am Inadequate

I am inadequate to do the work the Lord has for me in India. 

As sit here and ponder of the things I lack to teach people about Jesus or even help people in India the Lord reminds me of every person He used in the bible who was inadequate to do the work the Lord had sent them to do. 

               Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. Exodus 4:12

for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:20

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27

None of us are adequate to do the work of the Lord. It does not matter what degree we have or how much money we have. The Lords ways are far beyond our ways and far beyond what we can comprehend (Isaiah 55:8-9).

All we can do is humbly accept what he has given us and the work He lets us partake in. We are unworthy of it, but because of His grace He has made us worthy to serve Him.

Yes, through the opportunity to serve Him we will mess everything up, but He still uses us because He wants us to be part of the work he is doing so that we may experience Him.

We truly serve a gracious God who deserves all praise and honor! 

Be Humble... 

I am YOURS!

For the past of 8 years of being a Christian I never knew what it truly meant to tell the Lord "I am yours." But now I do! 
8 years ago God put a desire in my heart to be a missionary overseas. There where times when doors where shut and when doors were open. There were times when scars were so deep and wounds that hurt, but the Lord gave me His strength to keep going. First, was keeping my focus on Jesus and never looking back. Never fearing what man would say because nothing was to please man but God. 
After a year of sitting at God's feet at Impact 195 I learned what God's love looks like and what restoration feels like. Those wounds were stitched back up with God's Love. 
The Lord gave me a vision after I came back from India dancing on the rooftops with my teammate (Caitlin) to the song Rooftops from Jesus Culture (hahaha... and as I write this the song comes on my playlist). The song represents why I am going to India because of His perfect grace and because by Him I freely live. So I shout from the rooftops (of India) I AM YOURS! 
Never in my life have I ever wanted to be more with God. To please him with my whole life. All I want is more of Him and nothing else in this world. My whole life is fully devoted to Him and my focus on Him has never been so strong as it is now. When we finally get to this point of complete surrender we experience freedom like no other. I am finally FREE! 
As we continue to run the race never let your eyes swayed by the earthly pleasures because you father in heaven has so much more for you then you could imagine. His word is alive and active and He is a father that keeps His promises we just have to hold on to those promises even when things are being shaken up. We are His and our desire should be that He is ours. As He desires for us to be fully His.  

 

Here I am before You, falling in love and seeking Your truthKnowing that Your perfect grace has brought me to this placeBecause of You I freely live, my life to You, oh God, I giveSo I stand before You, GodI lift my voice cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am Yours
All the good You've done for me, I lift up my hands for all to seeYou're the only one who brings me to my kneesTo share this love across the earth, the beauty of Your holy worthSo I kneel before You, GodI lift my hands cause You set me free
So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaimThat I am Yours, I am YoursAll that I am, I place into Your loving handsAnd I am Yours, I am Yours
Here I am, I stand, with arms wide openTo the One, the Son, the Everlasting God

There is Freedom

My life... It's hard to imagine my life without God now. I am coming to the 8 year mark where I gave my life to the Lord. It has been the best 8 years of my life! and I know this year will be the best yet as I move to India to do God's work. So here is my story:

My father was a missionary/ pastor in Mexico. He was tender hearted, loved God, amazing teacher of the word, very smart, was amazing at playing the drums, and loved his daughters (myself and sister). He opened drug rehab homes in Mexico which are still going as of now. Thousand of people came to know the Lord because of how the Lord used him. He was my example of what it truly meant to live for the Lord.

Then years down the enemy took him down and he fell into drug addiction and alcoholism. He went to be with the Lord when I was 11 years old. My world seemed to crash down...

However, I had such an amazing mom and grandma that taught me what it meant to follow the Lord. Every weekend and holiday we would be in Mexico with my grandma. We would attend a Pentecostal church every Sunday where I taught Sunday school to the little ones at 12 years old. Moving on, when I turned 13 I started seeking things of the world and I got kicked out of school for having illegal drugs on me. My grandma was the only one for me who was God's hands and feet for me through all of this and she got sick. She went to be with the Lord. I was devastated... I searched for the things of the world even more.

I stated smoking weed everyday and drinking. That is how I would keep myself numb. Then for 2 years I became a meth addict. I OD so many times. There was one day where I completely was dead. My friends said I turned purple and I had no pulse. I remember in that moment where I took my last breath I asked the Lord to give me a second chance. As I woke up and took in a breath of air I knew the Lord had given me that 2nd chance. He had a plan for my life.

From that day my life has been dedicated to serve the Lord. By His grace I've started ministries and I have been able to travel over 35 countries. I have seen the sick healed, blind see, and people coming to know His name. Best of all I have seen His love for each nation. How he cries out for His children. How he cries out for us. I have seen His GRACE. How there is FREEDOM in the name of Jesus! In my life God has set me FREE and I will proclaim from the rooftops of India that he is God!

I am picking up my cross and following Him no matter the cost. I am willing to lose my life in order for those that never heard to hear the name JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!

God's Dream for Me

God has put it my hear to share the dream He has put on my heart. 

 

There couple of days the Lord has been giving me dreams about India. Most of those dreams have been about human trafficking victims. I have felt what it means to be in their place, I have felt the love the Lord has for them, and how there is HOPE when there is none. The dreams that the Lord has given me have been very vivid for me in ways where I wake up crying for the people of India. 

 

 

As I sat in my room praying and asking the Lord what is it that He wanted me to do with these dreams I felt Him say to use my talents. As most of you know my natural abilities are in art. I do photography, draw, make jewelry, and play guitar/ sing.  

 

Then I had a vision of making jewelry/ accessories, paintings, and clothes. This will help human trafficking victims make a living for them and also for ministry to continue to help victims like this. 

 

Here are the three main points:

 

Discipleship Doing daily bible studies, prayer, and mentoring them individually to encourage them in their growth and walk with the Lord. 

Training  Trained in the trade of jewelry-making. They will learn to work with a variety of high-end, semi-precious stones to make beautiful pieces that are sold internationally.

Educating Through teaching English and basic life skills, they will be empowered with a new confidence and competence for a changed life.

Pay: 

Wages & Work Hours  Paid above fair market value and operate on a 40 hour work week.

Loan Payoff After their first year, each of them are  eligible for a loan. They pay it back with a 0% interest rate. This is in response to predatory loan lenders who charge 600% -1000% annually, making repayment impossible for these women.

Paid Training During our 3 month training period, each women receives a salary, that increases with full time employment after this term.

It's so amazing how God has put Human trafficking in my heart for awhile for India but I did not have clarity of how it would look like but now he has given me a clear vision. This is His will! This is His dream that He has put in my heart. 

 

Thank you to those who are part of this dream. Thank you for giving your treasures and time to make this happen. Please keep praying for this ministry. God is going to do something AMAZING and you are part of it. 

 

Today is my deadline to raise $1600 and $500 more in monthly pledges. Please lift that up in your prayers. If you know anyone that would like to be part of this dream and would like give a tax deductible donation send them to: https://www.mogiv.com/rockmissions/damariscontreras/

 

My savior He can move the mountains and I know He will. Please join me in prayer. 

 

Called to Cast out Demons

MARK 16:15-20 

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons......, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

As a Christian I never thought much about casting demons or of "demons", but that they are actually pretty SCAREY! As I got into the missions field I started to become more aware of the darkness here on earth. Satan is real and demons are too! Through the years of traveling and being on the field I have had opportunities to cast out demons and bring freedom to those who have lived in captivity for so long. 

Leading to India I have never experienced so much attacks from demons... as I slept at night in India during our last trip in April I was choked by demons in my sleep. And even prior to the trip in my dreams I was attacked and I was constantly sick with a fever. At this point I knew I needed to put on the full armor of God everyday (Eph. 6). We are in a battle everyday, but sometimes we are so oblivious to it all, or vise versa... 

Coming back from India into the states was also a time where the enemy was trying to put fear in me. As I was sleeping one night in my bed I was awaken at 2 am with a horrible sound where at first I thought it was some drunk person outside of my window throwing up (it sounded really bad). Then as I tried to figure it out I heard a demon saying my name in a grumbling sound. I started to rebuke it in the name of Jesus and it started to fade away. Somehow I felt the peace of the Lord and fell right back to sleep. The next night I had a dream where I was standing in front of an Indian mirror looking at how beautiful it was and looking at myself standing in such a dark place. Then suddenly the pastor's wife we worked in India came up to me. She said "I am going to teach you how to cast out demons. First, you make sure this is where the Lord wants you to do, then remember you have all authority, and then you tell them to GET OUT in the name of JESUS!" 

(Pastor's Wife Stella)

Then the next day we had a worship leader at our school and he said "someone here is being attacked by demons." I raised my had even though I did not want to and I knew in that moment that the Lord was calling me to lay hands on people who needed to be freed from captivity from the enemies strong holds. He had let me experience these attacks because I use to have fear, but God has let me know that there is no fear because He has given me all authority.

As the enemy keeps attacking me physically with bronchitis and fevers this week I know that there is power in the name of Jesus! Demons will flea at the sound of His name! Our God reigns forever. 

I have 6 weeks left until I move to India. Please keep praying for me and my team as we continue to prepare and raise funds. I am still in need of a huge part of my trip in order to go 

and live there. I pray that you would consider in partnering with me. You can read more Info on this site and give to this ministry through there: https://www.mogiv.com/rockmissions/damariscontreras/

(Praying for healing)

(Worship with my India sisters)

Give me Faith

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

In this season of my life God is building my faith because it is not unshakable... He wants us to have a faith that does not change with our emotions, but a faith that is only found in having a strong foundation in His truth and who He is. 

As I sit and pounder my life this far I have seen a faith that has been shaken because of my lack of knowing and standing in His truth. Faith should be who we are, not who we think we should be. I want to have a faith the believes the impossible even when things seem impossible. I want to believe even when I am holding onto the last strand and it breaks...and say I still believe! 

However, my faith has been shaken this month... As things never seem to fall into place... I felt my world crashing down like there was a ton of bricks on top of me keeping me from breathing and seeing what was ahead. In that moment I asked myself, " where is your faith?" It says in Hebrews 11:11- Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Are we "certain" of what we do not see? 

As I sit here reminiscing of God's faithfulness in my life I have seen His hand of healing, His power, His love, How great He truly is. I have seen His hand upon His children and His LOVE that can never be compared to anything in this world. I have seen His love heal many lives and mine. He truly is faithful to finish the good work He started in us... 

I wanted to share this video of pictures and clips from the past 7 years of my life. Beginning  from starting an orphanage ministry to going out into the missions field... 

https://vimeo.com/52807640



My life His Story from Damaris Contreras on Vimeo.

His burdened Heart

I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7

I will rejoice! I said I will rejoice! Even through my trials and what ever the enemy brings my way, I will rejoice! This week has been a week of heavy spiritual warfare for me. There has been points where I have been crawling on the ground trying to find strength to pick myself up. But through it all I will rejoice because I serve a God that cares and no matter what His plans for my life will never change. He is faithful! 

As I came upon the verse Psalm 31:7 it shows God's heart for His children but also how we should react when we are facing hard times in our lives, He cares! As I was thinking of His heart for His children the Lord reminded me of a dream  He gave me a month ago where I was saving children out of slavery. Some of you may not know that children are sold in many 3rd world countries into child labor or sex slavery. India is one of the biggest child slavery countries in the world. Girls at the age of 5 are sold by their parents into sex slavery and boys into beggars. Most of these children don't ever make it to be adults because they are disposed of when they are of no use or some of the children are burned alive. There are 35 million orphaned children in India and most of those children live on the streets. Does that break your heart? because it breaks God's heart! 

As the Lord reminded me of that dream of saving these children he also showed me what it meant to be in their place. It was such darkness that I have never felt before and a hopelessness... However, as the weeks passed by I forgot about that dream. Then today as I go to check my mail I see a book called "No longer a Slumdog." I have no idea who sent me this book. It was about horrible stories of children in India and what they go through everyday. I could not continue to read the book because I was sobbing so bad while reading it. It broke my heart into pieces. Then I heard the Lord say, "it's ok to cry because I am giving you my heart."

My plans for going to India were not to work with the orphaned children there but the Lord is clearly speaking to me and giving me His heart for the children there. He has woken up that passion I once had for orphaned children. The Lord sees his children hurting as it says, ...for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. The Lord cares for His children that are hurting. This little ones do't have a voice, but God has given me a voice to speak for these precious little ones. My heart has been moved to serve the children of India... Furthermore, as some of you know I started an orphanage ministry 7 years ago... It was my passion, but the enemy robbed that passion away and now the Lord has reminded me of it. Oh Lord you are so good to me! So here is to the start of a new journey! 

I pray that you will be encouraged through this blog and that God will reveal more of His heart for His children. Thank you for reading 

His Promises

This week I have spent it in the Grand Canyon with my family and my intentions of coming were to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them, but God has been revealing so much to me about who He has made me to be and where He is leading me.

Going 2 years back while I was in Romania doing missions work for 2 months I shared a room with 3 of my best friends and one day we decided to just have a prayer night in our room and hear Gods voice. As we were still we prayed to the Lord to reveal to us where He wanted us to go. Was it to start an orphanage in Nicaragua together? or serve Him somewhere else? As we were sitting still I did not hear anything which was rare for me. But as we were going to sleep I prayed to the Lord to show me in my dream. So during my sleep God gave me dream. I was in a small broken down old car and the car ended up breaking down so I took it to the shop where they were taking forever to fix it and I knew I had to be somewhere, so it finally was fixed! As I started driving I was going up a hill and place that looked just like the Grand Canyon. As I was going up the hill the car kept taking forever to get up the hill and I was anxious to get up to the top of the hill ASAP. I finally got to the top of the hill and there was an airport and as I ran in to check my bags they told me that I could not take the clothes I was taking, but I asked why? "it's so HOT there." It took me a minute to think it through if I should go but I said, "take it all!" As I got on the plane it landed somewhere where there was tents and thousands of African children eating on mats on the ground eating Ugali and I sat down and I said, "I am finally home!"

God has me on a beautiful journey with Him of romance and adventure. As the dream he gave me when the car broke down He was doing something new in me and equipping me that was IMPACT 195 and going up the hill of the Grand Canyon was the journey He is taking me with Him which India is part of  it. There will be  times in the journey when I want to run but  I just have to enjoy the ride and the view which is my daddy Abba. Then when I got to the top and said I won't take my luggage is when I will be at a point where I truly will die to who I am. Then finally getting to the end of my journey is Africa. I don't know when that end will be but right now I am enjoying the journey he has me on and what He is doing through me. 

Today was a reminder of how He keep His promises. As I looked out to the Canyon I saw this beautiful rainbow and I heard the Lord say I am faithful to finish the work I have started in you. I don't have to strive, I don't need to be anyone else but who God made me, all I need to do is sit back and enjoy the beautiful work He is doing in me. I get to be part of this grand adventure with Him! I get to serve Him! 

As the day ended I looked to the sky and I saw His face in the clouds. He spoke to me you are my beloved and I delight in you. As He reached His hand out to me he said dance with me my beloved. At that moment I felt freedom! I realized that His promises never change and that I am the daughter of the king of kings! I am His and He is mine... 

Sacrifice

Sacrifice? What is a sacrifice? Most people look at missions as a sacrifice. Which means giving up all of your comforts, belongings, family, and friends. Yes, that is true when God has called you to the missions field you won't have the same comforts of home, or you don't get to see your family unless you skype them. But all or that is little compared to how great is our God and how faithful He is.

What does God say in the bible about Sacrifice? Genesis 12:1-9. As we look at the life of Abraham in the bible he was a man of faith who left everything behind when he heard the call of the Lord. He had to leave everything that he knew, a home where prosperity and sustenance were taken for granted (11:27–32), and go to an unknown land where he would have to trust in the providence of the Lord and not his own plans or family ties. As Abraham trusted the Lord blessed Him beyond what he could imagine...  As this quote say, “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Even though, yes Abraham gave up everything he knew who his God is and that everything else did not matter because God was in control. As I get ready to head to India in 4 months I know who my God is and I fully trust Him in the calling He has placed in my life to make disciples of all nations.

Going to India for me is a privilege and more less then a sacrifice. I get the opportunity to tell people about Jesus who have never heard His name. I get to love on the broken and see God break chains of bondage that have been there for thousands of years! What more could I ask for? I get to part of the greater work that is eternal. As some of us get caught up on our jobs, money, having the latest and the greatest we tend to lose what is eternal. We need to have an eternal perspective and not a world one because when we have an eternal perspective we tend to worry less. As I see going to India as a privilege is because God has given me an eternal perspective and that helps me trust Him more in any situation.

I wanted to introduce my team of 19 people going to India with me. I am blessed beyond words to be working with such an amazing team of people who love the Lord. Here is a picture of them:

If you would like to know more information about India or would like to donate click here:

https://www.mogiv.com/rockmissions/damariscontreras/

A greater CALL!

God calls us to a greater work then ourselves. Do you want to be part of transforming lives through the living God? Do you want to be part of the greater work? This April God is sending me to India with a group of 10 other missionaries. I know He has incredible things planned for this trip... He has given me a glimpse of the broken hearted will be restored the sick will be healed and the blind will see. For the FIRST TIME people will know the name of JESUS CHRIST! I know some of us can't go on this trips like these because of obligations, but God has given us the recourses to bless other so that they may carry on the work God is doing now. As a team we are in need of $14,000 by tomorrow @5pm to make this happen. Come and be part of the greater work God is doing! All donations are tax deductible. Let me know if you would like to help. God bless!

Open the eyes of my HEART Lord!

Then Jesus called the people to him. His followers were also there. Then Jesus said, "If any person wants to follow me, he must say 'No' to the things he wants. That person must accept the cross (suffering) that is given to him, and he must follow me. (ERV) 

Mark 8:34

Lately God has been teaching me about counting the cost and what true suffering means. I have never really grasped what that meant in my life as a follower of Christ. What does it really mean to count the cost? Would you be willing to serve God and becoming a door mat so that others will step on you? Would you be willing to die so that others may hear His name for the first time? And when you die no one will ever remember you. Are you willing? If you really set your emotions aside and really think about it what will your answer be? Most of use would say " Yes Lord I love you but that is not for me..." We really are not willing because we keep putting those excuses that God is not calling us to that. Yes and maybe God is not calling you to be a murderer, but would you be willing is the question? 

As there is 3% of missionaries that have gone out to places that believers are persecuted. That just shows how many people are actually willing to go into dangerous places so that other may hear the Gospel. Do we even care? Do you care? When we die and face God "He will say, "did you care enough for your brothers and sisters? Did you care for my children?" 

As these thoughts and convictions has been going through my head these couple of weeks I realized I was not counting it all lost. I was still playing safe. Yes in this blog I am speaking to myself. I am guilty of denying Gods' children from His word and truth. As I recognized that I was selfish God put a burden in my heart for places that have never heard his name. He has put India, Middle East, North Korea and North Africa in my heart. These places are the most dangerous, but also where many people have never heard of the name of Jesus and how he is the Son of God and has died for our sins! We know it aren't we special? Yes but now that you know are you sharing that with others? Have you shared it with someone that has never heard of His name? 

As my study at IMPACT 195 comes to an end next month I have realized why God has left me in the USA to sit as His feet for a year. I have realized who he has made me. He has made me a women that is after His own heart and that has no fear of man. I am finally understanding why God has put me here and it is to go to some of the most dangerous places on this earth, so that others may hear His name and know His LOVE! Furthermore, during my whole life I have had dreams of always traveling and hiding in places because I was being chased, but I had no idea why I was being chased. As I come to a conclusion now it makes more sense that it's because I was preaching the GOOD NEWS! Praise the Lord! 

I leave you with this, "Are you counting the cost?" Or are you just sitting there pondering "this is not for me!" Then we must ask, are we really His children? His children have His heart. Do you? 

His Children

As 7 of us headed down to Mexico last week all I could think of was of seeing my kidos at the orphanage again. I have not seen them in a couple of month because of the busy craziness of my life lately. I have been going to this orphanage for over 7 years. The first orphanage called El faro in Tijuana, Mexico is where we spent the first night. It was an amazing time just loving on the kids and doing devotionals with them.  The best part for me was sleeping over with the girls in their dorm and getting tickled to death (they found out my secret).

The kids at El faro during devo.

As we headed out the next morning to go to the tecate orphanage for boys I was a little sad we had to leave the other orphanage so soon, but I was ready to see some of my boys that I have not seen for a while. They are actualy part of the other orphanage in Tijauana, but they had to separate the guys from the other orphanage because of problems of having them together with the girls. As you know being a teen can get a little crazy. However, as we got there there was only half a roof in their home and no windows and doors. They were also limited of food. Our bathroom was a whole in the ground. It made me realize how privileged I am.

Inside the house

The hallway

The House

The bathroom

Beside the circumstances they did not complain! We worshiped with them. Loved them and had the best time of our lives! God really used us to bring comfort and joy! Also a revival in may of their lives. It was so beautiful. We also got up at 5am to worship with the kids and watch the sunset (don't tell anyone I gave them candy too). It was a beautiful night with them and the Lord.

Most of these kids don't have stable relationships and it would be nice to have people commit to going down every week or every 2 weeks. Love is what they need the most. Also there is so much needs in materials to build and food needs. They also need help in paying the electricity, mortgage on the property, etc... There is so much need!

The team with the kids and staff (farewell picture)

If you all would like to help in any way contact me at 619-750-7403. Also if you would like to come down let me know. It would be a blessing to have you on board!