Dear friends and family. I have very exciting news. DNA, a music group from King's Kids Puerto Rico is here visiting. They are amazing. They write their own song and sing and dance to them. It's been exciting to have them here. DNA stands for Discipling Nations through the Arts, so they sing songs about love and life that aren't necessary "Christian," but are communicating Christian principles. They are doing presentations at churches right now, but their big concert is on the 31st. And I will, possibly, get to play two songs with them on piano. I'm way excited. Here's their music video of one of their songs:
Thank you, New Hope, for the piano. It is so amazing to have a good piano to lead worship from, for my personal time with God. What an incredible blessing.
Besides all of this excitement, the missionary life continues. I have very full days, I'm realizing, and it's brought me to start considering where I want to be most involved in the future. It's always a good question to ask: is what I'm doing now leading me to where I want to go? These are just ponderings that are rolling around in my head. But a major prayer request for me and the ministries in Medellin is direction. We are going through a time of defining our visions and refocusing, and while there are so many good things one could be doing, we really want to be doing what God is specifically calling us to. I pray the same for you, that you find God's specific calling for you in this phase of life.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Prostitute House
This semester we have an ongoing project for intercession. It is the prostitute house across the street. This house is a special place. For one, it's about the biggest house in the neighborhood. And it's perverted. Couples go there to mix things up, let's say. I can't imagine my boyfriend (we're imagining here) taking me to a place like that. But it keeps very busy. We never see anyone inside, we just see the guy who is in charge of the gate, and I prefer not to encounter him alone at night because he does make comments. No one in this upper-class, family-oriented neighborhood is thrilled about what goes on there, and we think it is illegal. However, when the police have been called it seems that there is some exchange of money and nothing ever changes.
So, our goal is to pray and do something about this house.
We formed teams. My team really wanted to focus on relationships. We want to get to know the guy who opens the gate, because every person that enters or leaves that place goes by him. Haven't accomplished that yet. But we also were praying for contact with people that go there. One day Jhonny (a leader who is in my group) was walking up to the door to the base and a guy was walking away from it. There was a taxi in our driveway with a girl in it. The guy asked Jhonny where this place was. Jhonny was kind of taken by surprise and just answered him. But since then we've been praying for other opportunities like that one. Then Tuesday our group just went out to walk around the neighborhood and pray. We saw two motorcycles multiple times, and finally they stopped and asked us where to find this house. We were surprised again, but this time Jhonny told them he could give directions, but wanted to make sure they realized what takes place there. The couples said yes. So Jhonny quickly told them that it is anything but loving and he would never think of taking his girlfriend or wife to such a place. He challenged them to think about what real love is and in the end we told them where to go. Another YWAMer was sitting out front when they pulled up at the gate and heard their conversation. They did go in, but they also told the guy at the door that they almost didn't come because they ran into a group of Christians.
Then just last night the boys were playing soccer in the park, and someone else asked for directions. Me and another guy from my group tried the same tactic. This girl got frustrated with us and raised her voice a little. We told her where to find the house, but it is also obvious that people react with a lot of guilt. So hopefully moral awareness is awakening within them, warning them that this is not the best way to live their lives. And we hope for more opportunities.
Please pray with us. We do pray that they will have to leave this house. But we also hope that we have some contact and positive influence before they go. I should mention too that the house is for sale, even though the business hasn't seemed to slow down in the least. We'll see what all can happen and what kind of impact we will have in the next two months of this school.
The group of King's Kids that are going to China leave for the capital today and fly out next Tuesday. Please keep them, their travel, and their time in China in your prayers as well.
So, our goal is to pray and do something about this house.
We formed teams. My team really wanted to focus on relationships. We want to get to know the guy who opens the gate, because every person that enters or leaves that place goes by him. Haven't accomplished that yet. But we also were praying for contact with people that go there. One day Jhonny (a leader who is in my group) was walking up to the door to the base and a guy was walking away from it. There was a taxi in our driveway with a girl in it. The guy asked Jhonny where this place was. Jhonny was kind of taken by surprise and just answered him. But since then we've been praying for other opportunities like that one. Then Tuesday our group just went out to walk around the neighborhood and pray. We saw two motorcycles multiple times, and finally they stopped and asked us where to find this house. We were surprised again, but this time Jhonny told them he could give directions, but wanted to make sure they realized what takes place there. The couples said yes. So Jhonny quickly told them that it is anything but loving and he would never think of taking his girlfriend or wife to such a place. He challenged them to think about what real love is and in the end we told them where to go. Another YWAMer was sitting out front when they pulled up at the gate and heard their conversation. They did go in, but they also told the guy at the door that they almost didn't come because they ran into a group of Christians.
Then just last night the boys were playing soccer in the park, and someone else asked for directions. Me and another guy from my group tried the same tactic. This girl got frustrated with us and raised her voice a little. We told her where to find the house, but it is also obvious that people react with a lot of guilt. So hopefully moral awareness is awakening within them, warning them that this is not the best way to live their lives. And we hope for more opportunities.
Please pray with us. We do pray that they will have to leave this house. But we also hope that we have some contact and positive influence before they go. I should mention too that the house is for sale, even though the business hasn't seemed to slow down in the least. We'll see what all can happen and what kind of impact we will have in the next two months of this school.
The group of King's Kids that are going to China leave for the capital today and fly out next Tuesday. Please keep them, their travel, and their time in China in your prayers as well.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Intercession
Well, the first week of the new school is over. There is a lot of exciting news.
First of all, the pregnant girl we are in counseling with came to another session.... with her boyfriend. They are planning to get married. Now, his situation is touchy. He has 11 brothers and sister, but then his father has another 45 children outside of wedlock. So, they both recognize that neither one of their families is a good example of how they want their own family to be. We will continue meeting with them, as they are preparing for marriage next month and then the preparation to be parents. They said that they would invite us. It will be in the Catholic church, and it also will be my first Colombian wedding.
We have a wonderful school! The counseling school students are all staying at our house, the Esperanzas de Vida house. There are four boys and two girls, and they all get along wonderfully. They are between 17 and 30, but have a wonderful amount of openness as we are talking about very personal stuff in classes. I have been able to help some with the teaching, and it's amazing what God's been turning classes into personal healing.
I also had the opportunity to teach two classes in the DTS: Devotional Life and Intercession. We had the intercession class on Wednesday, and I was talking about what is intercession, how we go about it, but also emphasizing that prayer is the real work of Christians and really does impact the spiritual world. That morning we spent time praying for Colombia, the government, military, and the people that are kidnapped currently. That SAME AFTERNOON, the news came out that 15 kidnapped people had been freed! Our military actually pretended to be FARC leaders transferring the kidnapped prisoners from one place to another... and it worked! One of them was the most famous woman that had been in captivity 7 years. Her name is Ingrid, and we saw the video of her being reunited with her husband and children after years of torture and separation. What a moment of joy and celebration for our nation! So, as you can imagine, we spent time in the evening classes thanking God. It was so cool to see such a huge victory for Colombia and at the same time be aware that God is inviting us to be apart of the work he is doing in Colombia.
First of all, the pregnant girl we are in counseling with came to another session.... with her boyfriend. They are planning to get married. Now, his situation is touchy. He has 11 brothers and sister, but then his father has another 45 children outside of wedlock. So, they both recognize that neither one of their families is a good example of how they want their own family to be. We will continue meeting with them, as they are preparing for marriage next month and then the preparation to be parents. They said that they would invite us. It will be in the Catholic church, and it also will be my first Colombian wedding.
We have a wonderful school! The counseling school students are all staying at our house, the Esperanzas de Vida house. There are four boys and two girls, and they all get along wonderfully. They are between 17 and 30, but have a wonderful amount of openness as we are talking about very personal stuff in classes. I have been able to help some with the teaching, and it's amazing what God's been turning classes into personal healing.
I also had the opportunity to teach two classes in the DTS: Devotional Life and Intercession. We had the intercession class on Wednesday, and I was talking about what is intercession, how we go about it, but also emphasizing that prayer is the real work of Christians and really does impact the spiritual world. That morning we spent time praying for Colombia, the government, military, and the people that are kidnapped currently. That SAME AFTERNOON, the news came out that 15 kidnapped people had been freed! Our military actually pretended to be FARC leaders transferring the kidnapped prisoners from one place to another... and it worked! One of them was the most famous woman that had been in captivity 7 years. Her name is Ingrid, and we saw the video of her being reunited with her husband and children after years of torture and separation. What a moment of joy and celebration for our nation! So, as you can imagine, we spent time in the evening classes thanking God. It was so cool to see such a huge victory for Colombia and at the same time be aware that God is inviting us to be apart of the work he is doing in Colombia.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
YWAM Medellin
Right now there is a lot of exciting ministry going on in Medellin, and a lot to keep in our prayers.
Today our mercy ministries staff along with the majority of the base staff are getting back from a 5 day health brigade in Cordoba. It was one of the largest and longest ones we've done yet. There were teams of people for counseling, for the medical checkups, and of course people passing out clothing, doing evangelism, and working with youth and children. I hope that we are able to participate in a brigade on the missions trip were planning for next July, they are amazing experiences because you can see some much being accomplished in a community.
Right now there is a camp of 40 King's Kids in our new house. They are learning dances and such, but the focus of this camp is to develop their devotional life and give classes about the character of God and a worshipful lifestyle. It's wonderful to have them here despite the noise. Many of the kids are not yet teenagers but seem to be loving it! For me the most exciting part is that some of my students from a year ago are the leaders for the new kids.
9 of the devoted King's Kids are also in Bogota right now to get their visas for China. On July 8th they will be heading off to China for a month. It has been the dream of YWAM Colombia to send groups to China for years. The group from Bucaramanga is already in China and now the Medellin group will be joining them. Please pray for their support, as the plane tickets are quite pricey, and for group unity as they travel into new cultures. Please pray that they are able to encourage the underground church and lead more to Christ.
So many plans and prayers are being realized this year! It's quite an exciting time to be apart of what God's doing around the world.
This weekend we will be starting a new semester of the Discipleship Training School and the Counseling School. Right now I am preparing to help teach the Divine Plumb Line in the counseling school. There is always a lot to do, but always so much promise that God is moving and leading us to accomplish more and more for his Kingdom. And for your ministries in your corner of the world, blessings.
Today our mercy ministries staff along with the majority of the base staff are getting back from a 5 day health brigade in Cordoba. It was one of the largest and longest ones we've done yet. There were teams of people for counseling, for the medical checkups, and of course people passing out clothing, doing evangelism, and working with youth and children. I hope that we are able to participate in a brigade on the missions trip were planning for next July, they are amazing experiences because you can see some much being accomplished in a community.
Right now there is a camp of 40 King's Kids in our new house. They are learning dances and such, but the focus of this camp is to develop their devotional life and give classes about the character of God and a worshipful lifestyle. It's wonderful to have them here despite the noise. Many of the kids are not yet teenagers but seem to be loving it! For me the most exciting part is that some of my students from a year ago are the leaders for the new kids.
9 of the devoted King's Kids are also in Bogota right now to get their visas for China. On July 8th they will be heading off to China for a month. It has been the dream of YWAM Colombia to send groups to China for years. The group from Bucaramanga is already in China and now the Medellin group will be joining them. Please pray for their support, as the plane tickets are quite pricey, and for group unity as they travel into new cultures. Please pray that they are able to encourage the underground church and lead more to Christ.
So many plans and prayers are being realized this year! It's quite an exciting time to be apart of what God's doing around the world.
This weekend we will be starting a new semester of the Discipleship Training School and the Counseling School. Right now I am preparing to help teach the Divine Plumb Line in the counseling school. There is always a lot to do, but always so much promise that God is moving and leading us to accomplish more and more for his Kingdom. And for your ministries in your corner of the world, blessings.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
And our second girl
I'm back in Colombia. It's been wonderful to be back, actually better than normal now that we have our own house and kitchen :) So exciting!
Yesterday another girl walked into our lives. One of our students that just graduated last Saturday was downtown yesterday, and noticed a girl crying. For some reason he was concerned about her, one face in the busiest part of the city. He talked to her, and he was the first person to find out the news, she was pregnant. He brought her straight to the base and she spent about an hour talking with Ana Cristina and me. We prayed for her, and then she left to go tell her boyfriend. We are waiting to hear back from her how he and her parents took the news. She told us that she just couldn't go home yet, and was thinking of finding a church when Alberto approached her. I'm so glad we could be that little bit of support and encouragement in her moment of change and guilt and fear. Please keep praying for the ministry to continue form according to God's plan.
Graduation pictures are coming soon!
Yesterday another girl walked into our lives. One of our students that just graduated last Saturday was downtown yesterday, and noticed a girl crying. For some reason he was concerned about her, one face in the busiest part of the city. He talked to her, and he was the first person to find out the news, she was pregnant. He brought her straight to the base and she spent about an hour talking with Ana Cristina and me. We prayed for her, and then she left to go tell her boyfriend. We are waiting to hear back from her how he and her parents took the news. She told us that she just couldn't go home yet, and was thinking of finding a church when Alberto approached her. I'm so glad we could be that little bit of support and encouragement in her moment of change and guilt and fear. Please keep praying for the ministry to continue form according to God's plan.
Graduation pictures are coming soon!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Our First Girl!!!
Great news! We have our first pregnant girl! It's exciting and a major prayer request at the same time.
Cristina was introduced to an 18-year-old girl that just broke up with her aggressive boyfriend a couple weeks ago. She's very scared that she's pregnant, so today the two of them are going to get the pregnancy test. She told Cristina that if she's pregnant she'll have to have an abortion because she can't take care of a baby by herself and there is no way she wants her ex around a baby. Please join us praying that she will be open to what Cristina has to say and make the best choice, and that Cris has a lot of wisdom.
Cristina was introduced to an 18-year-old girl that just broke up with her aggressive boyfriend a couple weeks ago. She's very scared that she's pregnant, so today the two of them are going to get the pregnancy test. She told Cristina that if she's pregnant she'll have to have an abortion because she can't take care of a baby by herself and there is no way she wants her ex around a baby. Please join us praying that she will be open to what Cristina has to say and make the best choice, and that Cris has a lot of wisdom.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Summing it up...
My two months in the states is rapidly drawing to a close. What a bittersweet thought. But, being here didn't go anything like I expected. I had been hoping to visit Living Alternatives and figure out exactly what Cristina and I should be doing in the next few months. After thinking through everything I've learned, we're still on square one. When I get back to Colombia we'll have to spend a few weeks just praying and talking over all the possibilities. It's how it should be though, because it gives God room to guide.
I also had hoped to map out the ministry budget and know where we would be receiving our income for the next 6 months at least. But that didn't happen how I expected either. I thought a a couple of places would commit to give a lot long-term, but not so in God's plan. Instead I've had many friends and relations help little by little. And that has been doing many things for me. It keeps me first of all dependent on God, but it also makes me so much more grateful. Having people I know believe in me enough to give and to pray, that's spiritual support that I couldn't have received from anywhere else. God is amazing at providing what we didn't know we needed.
I also had hoped to map out the ministry budget and know where we would be receiving our income for the next 6 months at least. But that didn't happen how I expected either. I thought a a couple of places would commit to give a lot long-term, but not so in God's plan. Instead I've had many friends and relations help little by little. And that has been doing many things for me. It keeps me first of all dependent on God, but it also makes me so much more grateful. Having people I know believe in me enough to give and to pray, that's spiritual support that I couldn't have received from anywhere else. God is amazing at providing what we didn't know we needed.
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