This is Nicaragua (video)

A calling to Nicaragua

I have decided to do a video blog on how God has called me to Nicaragua. Hope you enjoy!

Doing God's will

As I sit here in the airport with tears falling from my face. I don't even know why I cry? But then I realized I have a burning passion for missions and reaching God's children in other countries. Many people don't understand that calling because only few are chosen to be missionary's. God has called each one of us to many different things because we are the body of Christ and one can not work with out the other one. We all build up the body of Christ. I can give you a description of how it feels to leave a country, for example, like when you leave home for the first time and leave everything you have ever loved. That is how is how I felt when I left Nicaragua this time.

In my past missionary work I have fallen in love with many countries and have felt called to those countries, but doors have closed. Some people may say to me "you change your mind all the time." But you know what I am searching for God's will in my life and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Sometimes we just have to walk in faith that maybe it will happen and if dose not then we should pick ourselves back up and try again because all that Satan wants is for us to give up! Don't ever give him the honor.

Awhile back before I got to Nicaragua God gave me a dream of an orphanage, but it was a ranch with horses and animals in Nicaragua. I never really ever dream and when I do it is God. Then a day later I called my friend Rachel and told her I had this dream and she told me that her sister and her were talking about doing something like that in Nicaragua. Now that just tells you that is GOD all right there! Then a couple of days later I had another dream about it. It was a couple of days before I left to Nicaragua. Also, to remind you I was not going to go to Nicaragua because there was so much going on and I did not have the funds to do it. But God put a huge burden in my heart to go. He put that burning desire that I had to go and I booked my ticket last minute. It was the best thing I have ever done! I know God has called me to something bigger and the beginning is in this country. The nation of Nicaragua!

To tell you the truth I can not even write everything in this blog of what God did though me and others! OMG!! God moved in Nicaragua and through me! People were encouraged, freed for the first time, loved, were freed from demons, etc...It was for me as well I was able to grow in so many ways and learn to truly love God with all of my heart more then I have ever had. God broke me! I laughed, I cried, I fell to my knees, I loved, I hugged, I encouraged, but all for God's kingdom.!

I hope to tell you all may stories of the people I met along the way that God transformed through his might power. HE is AMAZING!

Breaking the Chains

Has it been already to weeks since I came to Nicaragua? Wow! Time goes by so fast when your having fun. Nicaragua has been one of the most challenging times for me. It has been the first time I have done a missions trip on my own and not with a group of people. I have been able to hang out and encourage some of the local missionaries here in Nicaragua, but I have also seen the struggles and everyday battles that have gone through. I never really knew how hard missions work was until I got here. But I have never fell so much in love with God in one place before. I have seen the darkness in this place. I have seen the hopelessness, My hear breaks for the youth here and the children, well I would say for everyone!

This weekend I was able to plan out a youth retreat for the youth at the church I am working with. We took everyone to a farm in the middle of no where. We slept outside, froze to death, cooked with wood, did not shower, got stung by wasps, slept with chickens, etc... It was an adventure in its self. But best of all chains were BROKEN! I felt God was telling me that I needed to speak about the lies of Satan that we hear. The lies that ties us down from truly know how much God loves us, but how we are free from condemnation through Jesus Christ.
 

As I shared my testimony about my life and how I was a broken teenager that was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Also being told I will never be someone in live that I was worthless. I was a broken teen. Those lies from my past took a toll in my Christian life until a year ago I was set free because I was worthy to be LOVED by God. He made me worthy. As I said my testimony to there kids all I could see is their heads shake in agreement of how they felt the same way as when I was a teenager. Then I asked all of them to grab a piece of wood and to write down ever lie Satan or anyone has ever told them... I told them this was the day that we were going to be set free from every lie and everything that is holding us back from truly experiencing the love of God. As we started a fire outside I told the teens we are going to burn this piece if wood with all the lies we have ever believed...

As the songs were playing I prayed to God saying thank you for the freedom he has given us and that we will not believe these lies anymore!!!! We all bowed our heads and just prayed to God and I told them when they were ready to bur those lies they could get up and throw it in the fire. I could see their faces and how so many of them have been hurt in so many ways. One by one they would put the wood in the fire to burn those lies forever! Then I asked them to grab something from the ground and throw it in the fire and scream out I am FREE from ____ what ever they felt they needed to say! As they went up some were in tears, but God was breaking them free form all of those lies they have all believed their whole lives. God did some amazing this in that retreat. I had so many kids come up to me and say that they were told by their own parents that they were scum! That they would cut themselves, use drugs, and were depressed. I praise God that I was able to be there for them that day. To tell them that they are loved children of God

Thank you so much for reading this story and all for your prayers. God bless!

You're the God of this city...

I arrived in Jenotepe, Nicaragua 3 days ago and I feel like I have been here for a month already. I have enjoyed these three days of making lots of new friends. Right now I am working with a church ministry. I am living with my friend Rachel and the pastors of the church family. I am very blessed to be surrounded around so many Godly people.

I really don't know where to start... There has been so much going on that I really can't start telling you how amazing it is here. In my whole life I have never seen so many people starving in Central America. Nicaragua reminds me of Africa, but with Latinos. It is considered the 2nd poorest in the western hemisphere, Haiti is number 1. My heart breaks for the people here in every way.

Yesterday, as I walked into one of the barrios (small village) I felt darkness and spiritual warfare. My heart just stopped and it skipped a breath. I felt the darkness that the people live in. As I started to walk away to the streets I started to worship God singing "you're the God of this City" I started to pray for the village. I raised my hands up to Jesus to break the chains of drugs, alcohol, depression, suicide, and violence! People were just staring at me like I was a crazy lady! hahahaha... I am a crazy lady for JESUS!

Nicaragua is a broken country. It thirst for Jesus. I can tell you that 75% of families here don't grow up in a home with a father, and if they do their father beats up the the mother for drugs or alcohol. This is a country of the fatherless, but you know what? God is their Father! He loves them more then I could ever love them.

Today I was able to spend time with a very special family that has stolen my heart. God blessed me with a few extra dollars that I was able to take them out to a restaurant for the first time. I told them that they could order anything they wanted and they all screamed with a cheer of JOY. As we finished our meal the mom told me thank you and that this was the first meal that they have eaten in 3 days.I can't imagine going hungry for 3 days. This family grew up in an abusive home and one of the children were sexually molested... My heart just hurts!!!!!

Why do we still stand there and let this happen? We go on with our normal lives and live the same way that we are comfortable with. You might read this story and say "wow this is sad" then go back to the same way you are living. Why if this was your family? your child? We are children of God. These are God children!

Please lift up Nicaragua up in prayer and for my time here. Thank you for reading this and for being part of this journey with me.

Who am I?

Who am I? I am a child of God, chosen, loved, beautiful, creative, missionary, etc... God has made each one of us unique. He has blessed us with so many gifts! But there is times in our lives we ask, who am I? We forget... We forget that God has made each one of us unique. Most of all that our identity is found in HIM alone. But with that said, why do we keep wondering who you are?

We get consumed in our daily routine of work, priorities, and materialism that we forget why we are here and why we are still breathing. God can take your life by a snap of a finger! I know that might sound threatening or who dose God think he is? He is our creator! He has given you another day to live. You are chosen to be on this earth in this moment and time. But the question is, who are you living for? What are you living for? things? riches? friends? family? etc... You might be saying to yourself, but family is important! But they are not more important then God! God created them and I can bet you a hundred dollars that God loves them more then you could ever love them.

Where am I trying to get here? Well, that everyday should be a sacrifice to God! A worship! A praise! Laying down your life for others! Loving like Jesus did! It really is about bringing KINGDOM to those around us. EVERYDAY! Everyday is a gift of God! As a missionary I have learned that no matter where I am at I must LOVE like Jesus. I must lay down my life for my brothers and sisters. We are all God's children. He loves us no different then the poor man or child dying in Africa of AIDS. Here is a challenge "if God truly lives in you, then you have His heart." Meaning God's love lives in you and you see with His eyes. If not I pray that God will open the eyes of your heart and let you see. Sometimes we truly are the blind because we are to scared to truly see what is beyond what we can comprehend. But God has put His hands upon your eyes to SEE.

In four weeks I will be in Nicaragua. I have no idea what God has for me there. All I know is that I have a plane ticket and no money for food or a place to stay. But, I fully trust that God will provide while I am  in Nicaragua or even here before I leave. One inspiration for me is these 2 guys I met in Guatemala last year. They took no money and just a back pack. They went out and stepped out in faith and trusted God that he would provide. They had some rough times out there eating out of trash cans, etc... They let God take control of everything and you know?  God provided. At the end of the trip they ended up with $1000 in different currencies. God is AMAZING!!

I want to change the WORLD!

"I want to change the world" those were the words in my mouth when I woke up this morning. But, there is a quote that says, "you have to be the change you want to see in the world." That hit me, how am I being the change? I am living the American life consuming every product I see and can get my hands on. I am living a life of luxury. I can say pretty much on average I spend over $200 a week on stuff and going out. Wow, that is ridiculous if you look at it! When there is people out in this world living on less then one dollar a day. 

I remember while my last missions trip I was living on $2 a say not including lodging. I was living off bread and Top Ramen. That was the life! hahaha... (not really). I got to live with the poor and live out of a molded tent with termite holes all over it! Then I come back and I have a nice room and bed to sleep in. I am not saying it is bad, but sometimes I have to be more grateful for what I have. I seem to just adapt back into my old habits. 

As I sit outside in my Guatemalan hammock  drinking some Guatemalan coffee. I start to pray to God how can I be that change. How can I live it out in America while I am here in the States? Then a song from Hillsong come up "lead me to the cross." It talks about carrying your cross, laying down your life, and leaving everything behind. That hit me hard! I want to carry that cross and leave everything behind! I want to be that for you Lord everyday of my life! So, I have decided to live on $2 a day until I leave to Guatemala. I know this is going to be one of the biggest challenges for me. I am a shopper. I have always been my whole life. This will not include Gas (I have to get to work hahaha...). Every extra cent will go towards my missions trip to Guatemala. Also, helping other missionary's if I have the extra funds.

 

If any of you would like to join me in doing this let me know. This could be an amazing challenge for you too. I challenge you to think of the quote I gave you "you have to be the change you want to see in the world." How can you be that here and now? 

I pray that God will fill you up with his love. His unfailing love and hope everyday! You are God's children made perfect. You are meant to do great things! Here and now! Not later!! How can you stand up to that calling! God believes in you! I believe in you! Come on brothers and sister! You are a world  changer! Changing the world doe not mean the whole world. It could mean here in you community! So step out and don't be afraid! Stop living it SAFE!! You were not meant to live it safe but be a radical because you know JESUS!!