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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Los Vientos Del Cambio

Amigos, se que eso no es perfecto, pero tengo sueñito y quiero dormir =) Si no entienden algo, mensajeame por face no mas. Dios les bendiga y me jalo al sobre ;)



Alguna vez te has hecho la pregunta "¿Dónde está Dios? ¨ Yo, si.  Yo lo he preguntado un mil veces, y más de una vez durante las últimas semanas. Ahora que lo pienso, era realmente más como  ¿Por-qué-no-puedo-sentir-Dios-en-este-parte-de-mi-vida-se-llama-HOY?....este tipo de sentimiento. Sí. Eso es. Ahí está la dificultad. Es como ya sabemos que Él está ahí, pero no puedes sentirlo mucho.

Y ya has sentido esos sentimientos exactamente en el momento en que te sentiste que Dios fue lo más necesario? Lo he hecho.

Mientras yo estaba empacando mis cosas hace una semana y media, llegué a estar tan abrumada emocionalmente que sentí que no podía continuar. Así que, por supuesto, hice lo que la mayoría de los 20 tantos años harían... Me tomó un descanso con facebook. Yo estaba mirando fotos recientes publicadas y la soledad estaba devorando a mí.  Yo estaba en silencio lamentando mi dolor y pidiendo a Dios por qué se sentía tan lejos.

De repente, Dios me hablo, y me dijo que regresar y ver fotos que se tomaron cuando me mudé a Perú, hace casi dos años. Cuando empecé a ir hacia atrás y ver las fotos, me acordé de los sentimientos que sentía, los desafíos que me enfrentaron cuando estaba acostumbrándome a la vida aquí. Justamente, lo sentí de nuevo ... Él estaba hablando conmigo otra vez. Él me dijo, "Nancy mi mano estaba contigo, guiándote y dirigiéndote. Mi mano siempre ha sido contigo durante todo este tiempo. ¿Qué te hace pensar que va a quitar mi mano de tu vida ahora?"

http://tinyurl.com/79jcuta

Vez, estas palabras significaban mucho para mí en este momento, porque me había sentido su voz, llamándome a hacer algo que me incomoda... sí, una vez más. Para algo aterrador, nuevo y fantástico.

Cuando vine a Perú por primera vez hace dos años, sinceramente, no estaba pensando que Dios me llamaria a América del Sur. Pero lo hizo. Yo no sabía que iba a vivir en un orfanato en Ventanilla, Lima por casi un año enseñando inglés y la Biblia. Yo no sabía que cambiaria mi corazón para ser una persona que planta las iglesias en las casas en Ventanilla por casi un año. Sin embargo, El lo hizo.

Y ahora, Él me estaba llamando a otro lugar. Vez, yo había llegado a Chorrillos, que es uno de los cuarenta y tres distritos de Lima (Mas o menos dos horas y media de Ventanilla) y sólo tenía previsto quedarme un día o dos días máximo. Nuestra  amiga tan linda, Amanda, (Ella es de Tyler, Texas, y también es un misionero acá, junto con su esposo, Shaun...chévere, ¿eh?) bueno...me había invitado a venir a pasar algunos días con ellos, porque ella sabía que yo no estaba haciendo bien. Dios me había mostrado varias cosas en mi vida personal y ministerio, y yo también había hecho algunas decisiones que me había traído a un lugar donde necesitaba un poco (ok mucho) ayuda. Entonces, fui a Chorrillos para pasar un rato con Amanda y Shaun. Cuando llegué a Chorrillos, dormía por la mayor parte de tres días y noches seguidos.  Cuando me di cuenta de cómo absolutamente agotado yo estaba en todas las áreas de mi vida, supe que algo fuerte había pasado.

Durante los siguientes meses, el Señor comenzó a trabajar en mi corazón y me llamaba más hacia sí mismo. El comenzó a definir los detalles de mi identidad en Dios, y mi identidad en el cuerpo de Cristo. Había temas dolorosas en mi vida que estaban apareciendo, y El me hacia recordar que él estaba allí conmigo, que me sostenía. Hubo muchos días en que yo había pasado mucho tiempo en mi habitación con la luz apagada, acostado en la cama, escuchándole, pidiéndole que me hable.  ¿Y sabes qué? Él lo hizo. Uno de las cosas que El me dijo fue que yo tenía que estar en Chorrillos. Puedo señalar el momento específico en que sentí la llamada a ser parte del equipo de Chorrillos, pero, sí soy sincera, yo lo dudaba y lo luchaba. Pedí a Dios por su confirmación, y Dios me dio la confirmación a través de ser capaz de hablar con Lauren y hemos dado cuenta de que Dios nos estaba llamando a dos lugares diferentes.

Esa para mí fue la parte más difícil... despidiéndome de Lauren. Si soy sincera, realmente se sentía como estaba terminando con un enamorado. Para clarificar las cosas, me gusta los hombres....por se caso jajajaja.... Pero en serio, cuando has pasado dos años de tu vida con alguien que te ve en tus días buenos y tus días malos, ella sabe lo que me molesta y lo que me gusta- y me conoce hasta el punto que se puede predecir mi próximo acción. Bueno cuando las cosas son asi, es difícil a separase de esa persona. No por lo que han hecho o dejado de hacer, pero por el vínculo que tienen juntos, las cosas que hemos compartido juntos. Intentando de explicar que está dejando a esa persona porque sabes que tienes que ser obediente a Dios..esto es dificil...en serio. Es darse cuenta de que estás en un lugar donde se necesitas sanación.

En realidad, un golpe al orgullo también, si estamos siendo honestos, porque te enfrentas a los factos: que son los problemas en tu vida que tienes que enfrentar.  Es tener victoria sobre tus problemas en lugar de huir de ellas. Y sin saber realmente lo que el ministerio será durante o después del proceso, pero confiando en Dios, que El sabe lo que es mejor, y eso es lo que te hace seguir adelante. Es saber que lo que se necesita cobertura y comunidad, y darse cuenta de que es algo que una persona tiene que hacer intencionadamente. Es confiar en que Dios...que El cuidará de los que tienen estas dejando, y que Él proveerá para todas sus necesidades.

Despidiéndome de los nuevos creyentes también fue bastante difícil. Lauren fue increíble en todo esto. Yo no conozco a ningún otro compañero de equipo, que podría dar una fiesta por su compañero de equipo, pero Lauren lo hizo. Yo tuve la oportunidad de explicarles que la razón estaba mudándome a Chorrillos y estoy muy agradecida que fui capaz de hacerlo, porque sé que muchos misioneros y pastores no tienen esa oportunidad.

Aunque sé que Dios tiene grandes planes para mí en Chorrillos, estoy todavía en el proceso ser triste... lo que siento es una pérdida, pero sé que es algo que a los ojos de Dios es algo mucho más grande que me puedo imaginar.

Si solo pudiera decirte que yo fui la súper- Cristiana que nunca duda Dios y que siempre tiene la fe en Dios- que Dios  sabe lo que es mejor para sus hijos....Y aunque sé esta verdad,  es fácil de olvidarlo. Sí, en vez de sentir todos los sentimientos correctos, yo estaba enojada con Dios. Yo pensaba "Dios, si supieras que mi ibas llamar a un otra parte de Lima, ¿por qué me dejaste comenzar un ministerio con Lauren, vivir dos años de mi vida en Ventanilla, hacer amigos y ver a la gente llegar a conocerte y comenzar a crecer en su fe?" Bueno...justamente cuando mis pensamientos llegaron allí, Dios me recordó que no era mi ministerio, no, ahora no, nunca, sino de él. Ouch. Verificación de la realidad. Dios no me necesitaba. El se puede trabajar sin mí o conmigo.

Bueno, es verdad que Dios no me necesita, pero él me ama mucho más que una necesidad.  Él ve el cuadro completo, y eso es lo que hace esta cosa tan hermosa. Que él me quiere, me desea, anhela una relación conmigo. Él quiere lo mejor para mí, y Él siempre ve el panorama más amplio, y está escribiendo una historia de amor a través de mi vida.

Por lo tanto, este parte de mi vida consiste en dejar. El perdón de las cosas que, cuando pienso en ello, realmente no tengo derecho ser enoja. Este ministerio no era mío, en primer lugar. Siempre fue tuyo, Señor. Estas personas no eran los míos tampoco. Siempre fueron tuyos.

Así que, mis queridos amigos, les pido por oración durante este tiempo. Pido oración contra el enemigo que los pensamientos de rechazo, condena, la competencia o cualquier otra cosa que no viene de Dios trata de invadir cualquiera de nuestras vidas, o a los ministerios que nos ha dado.

Pido sus oraciones por Lauren durante este tiempo; ella será la líder principal del Ministerio de Ventanilla. Dios se lo ha dotado en muchas maneras y ella es una persona tan fuerte, pero es difícil estar solo, no importa quién eres o dónde estás. Les pido que oren para que Dios sigue enviando líderes fuertes y que Dios verdaderamente multiplica el tiempo de Lauren mientras ella se tira en direcciones muy diferentes. (Para ver lo que Dios sigue haciendo en Ventanilla, consulte el blog de Lauren en www.laurenservinginperu.blogspot.com)

Pido oración por mí también, mientras descubro más acerca de quién es El, y quien soy yo, y lo que me ha llamado a ser y los llamados y dones que Él ha puesto dentro de mí. Pido también por oración en mi trabajo a través de los problemas personales que han surgido en mi vida, y que dejar que el Señor realmente me hace todo.

Pido oración para el ministerio en general, tanto en Ventanilla y en Chorrillos para que Dios sea glorificado, y que Satanás no tendría ningún bastión en todo de esto.

Pido oración para todas las personas involucradas en ambos ministerios, que sus ojos no sean puestos en un líder terrenal, sino en el Buen Pastor mismo. Pido oración mientras Dios comienza algo nuevo en mi vida. Que no sea resistente a los cambios ordenados por Dios, pero que puedo aceptarlos y vivir en la verdadera libertad en mi vida diaria.

Esta vez, para mí no sólo será un tiempo de sanación, pero también un tiempo de Dios me está mostrando  lo que  es mi parte en el ministerio dentro de este equipo nuevo.

Ninguno de nosotros realmente tenemos la oportunidad a dejar  nuestras vidas mientras arreglamos los problemas, y es lo mismo para la vida de un misionero. Así que, como espero hacer el ministerio en un entorno nuevo y nueva ubicación, aumentar el apoyo que se necesita para vivir aquí, etc, pido oración por la sabiduría y la fuerza que Dios sigue para definir quién soy yo en él, y especificar los dones y el llamamiento que ha colocado dentro de mí, y cómo voy a servir al pueblo de Chorrillos.

Voy a escribir más sobre algunas de esas cosas, así como más información sobre el equipo ahora estoy trabajando en los siguientes puestos. Como siempre, gracias por leer y que el Señor te bendiga y te guarde.

Winds of Change

Have you ever asked yourself the question ¨Where is God?¨ I sure have. I´ve asked it a million times, and more than once over the past few weeks. Now that I think about it, it was really more of  a ¨Why-don´t-I-feel-God-in-this-particular-part-of-my-life-called-TODAY¨ type of feeling. Yeah. That´s the one. That´s the question. It´s like you know He´s there, but you just can´t feel Him much.

And have you ever felt those exact feelings right at the time when you felt you needed Him most? I have.

As I was packing up my things a week and a half ago, I became so emotionally overwhelmed that I felt I couldn´t go on. So, of course, I did what most 20 something- year olds would do...I took a facebook break. As I was looking at recent pictures posted, the loneliness was eating away at me, and I was silently lamenting my pain and asking God why He felt so far away.

Suddenly, I felt Him nudging my heart, telling me to go back and look at pictures that were taken when I first moved to Peru, almost two years ago. As I began to go back and look at these pictures, I remembered the feelings I felt, the challenges I was facing as I was adjusting to living here. Then I felt it again...He was talking to me. He said, Nancy my hand was with you then, guiding and directing you. My hand has always been with you- through this whole journey. What makes you think I will stop guiding you now?


http://tinyurl.com/79jcuta
You see, these words meant so much to me at this time, because I had felt Him calling me out of my comfort zone...yes, yet again. To something terrifying, new and fantastic.

When I visited Peru for the first time over two years ago, I honestly didn´t think God would call me to South America long-term. But He did. I didn´t know I´d live in an orphanage in Ventanilla, Lima for nearly a year teaching English and the Bible. I didn´t know He´d move my heart to become a house church planter in Ventanilla for almost a year. But, He did.

And now, he was calling me to yet another place. You see, I had come to Chorrillos, which is one of the forty-three districts of Lima (about two and a half hours from Ventanilla) and only planned to stay a day or two...a few days at max. Our sweet friend, Amanda, who is from Tyler, Texas and also is a missionary here in Peru along with her husband, Shaun, (cool, huh?!) had invited me to come spend some time with them, because she knew I was not doing well. God had brought up several things in my personal life and ministry, and I had also made some decisions that had caused me to be in a spot where I just needed some help. So, I headed out to Chorrillos to spend some time with Amanda and Shaun. When I arrived in Chorrillos, I slept for the better part of three straight days and nights. When I realized how absolutely worn out I was in every area of my life, I knew I had worked myself into a bad spot.  

Over a period of a few months, the Lord began to work on my heart and call me closer to Himself. He began to define the specifics of my identity in Him, and my identity in the body of Christ. As painful issues in my life were surfacing, He reminded that He was right there with me, holding me. There were so many days that I just spent time in my room with the light out, laying in bed, just listening, asking Him to speak. And He did. One of the most life-changing things that He told me was that I needed to be in Chorrillos.  I can pinpoint that specific moment when I felt God calling me to be a part of the team in Chorrillos, but, to be honest, I doubted it and fought it. I asked God for confirmation, and even with my Gideon-like spirit, asking him for water on the fleece, God so mercifully gave me that confirmation through being able to talk with Lauren and realizing that God was calling us to two different places. 

That was probably the most difficult part...telling Lauren goodbye. If we´re being honest, really felt like more of a break-up than anything. When you´ve spent two years of your life with someone who sees you on your good days AND bad days, knows what your pet-peeves and the kind of stuff you like and who can even give you 26 birthday presents on your 26th birthday and be spot-on on almost every single one of them, and knows you down to the point that they can predict your next move, it´s hard to leave that person. Not because of anything they´ve done or haven´t done, but because of the bond you have together, the times you´ve shared together. Trying to explain that you are leaving that person, and it´s not because of anything they have or haven´t done, but because you know you have to be obedient to what God is calling you to do is extremely hard. It´s realizing that you are in a place where you need healing. 

Really, a blow to pride too if we´re being honest, because you´re facing up to the facts: that are issues in your life that you need to deal with. It´s facing your issues instead of running from them. And not really knowing what ministry will look like through the healing process or after it, but trusting that God does know what´s best, and that is what you go on. It´s knowing that you need accountability and community, and realizing that it´s something you have to intentionally make moves to be a part of. It´s trusting that God will care for those you have to leave, and that He will provide for all of their needs.

Telling the new believers goodbye was also quite hard. Lauren was incredible in all of this. I don´t know any other teammate who would be able to single-handedly throw a party for her teammate who was leaving, but Lauren did. I was able to explain to them that the reason and I am so thankful that I was able to do that, because I know that so many missionaries and pastors do not have that opportunity, and the people never truly know why they are leaving. 

While I know that God has great plans for me in Chorrillos, I am still very much in the middle of the grieving process and morning what I feel is a loss, but I know is something that in God´s eyes is something much bigger than I can imagine.

Wish I could tell you I was the super Christian who never doubts God and who always has the faith that God does know what´s best for His children. And while I do know this truth, and it´s easy to forget. Yeah, instead of feeling all of the right feelings, I was mad at God. I thought God, if you knew all along that you were going to call me to another part of Lima, why would have let me start a ministry with Lauren, live two years of my life in Ventanilla, make friends and see people come to know you and start growing in their faith? It was about that time that God reminded me that it was not MY ministry, not now, not ever, but His. Ouch. Reality check. God doesn´t ¨NEED¨ me. He can work with or without me.

Right, God might not need me, but He loves me so much more than just ¨needing¨me. He sees the whole picture, and that´s what makes this thing so beautiful. That he WANTS me, He DESIRES me, He longs for RELATIONSHIP with me. He wants the best for me, and He always sees the bigger picture, and so His calling me away from one thing and to something else is just part of the love story He is writing through my life.

So, that involves letting go on my part. Forgiveness of the things that, when I think about it, I really don´t have the right to be angry about. This ministry was never mine in the first place. It was always yours, Lord. These people were never mine either. They were always Yours.

So, my dear friends, I do ask for prayer during this time. I ask for prayer against the enemy that as thoughts of rejection, condemnation, competition or anything else that is not of God tries to invade either of our lives or the ministries God has let us be a part of. 

I ask for your prayers for Lauren during this time as she will be the senior leader of the ministry in Ventanilla. God has gifted her in so many ways she such a strong person, but it is hard being alone no matter who you are, or where you are. I ask that you pray that God continues to raise up strong leaders for what God is doing there, and that God would truly multiply Lauren´s time as she is pulled in so many different directions. (to see what God continues to do in Ventanilla, check out Lauren´s blog at www.laurenservinginperu.blogspot.com) 

I ask for prayer for myself, as I discover more about who God has called me to be and the callings and giftings He has placed inside of me. I ask for prayer as I work through the personal issues that have surfaced in my life, and that I let the Lord truly make me whole.

I ask for prayer for ministry in general, both in Ventanilla and in Chorrillos that God will be glorified, and that Satan would have no strong-hold in any of this.

I ask for prayer for all of the people involved in both ministries, that God would continue to focus their eyes not on an earthly leader, but on the Good Shepherd Himself. I ask for prayer as God begins new things in my life. That I would not be resistant to God-ordained change, but that I would accept it and live in true freedom. in my daily life. 

This time for me will not only be a time of healing, but also a time of God showing me and what my part of ministry within this team will look like.

None of us really get to ¨stop life¨ to deal with our issues, and it´s the same for the life of a missionary. So, as I look forward to doing ministry in a new setting and new location, raise the support I will need to live here, etc., I ask for prayer for the wisdom and strength as God continues to define who I am in Him, and specify those gifts and callings he´s placed inside of me, and how I am to minister to the people of Chorrillos.

I will write more about some of those things as well as more about the team I am now working with in the following posts. As always, thank you for reading and may the Lord bless you and keep you. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Name Branded

With Christmas coming up, it´s easy to get tied up in material things. Today I went with my Amanda (a sweet missionary friend who is ALSO from Texas) to pick up a Christmas package at the central post office here in Lima. Picking up packages can be quite an ordeal, especially around Christmas time, and the whole event usually takes a good few hours. So, while Amanda was inside, (they one would let the actual recipient of the package into the post office) I wondered around to the nearest market to see what I could find. Surprizingly, I found that the market was filled with stores that sold American-brand clothing. I got really excited because I had found Ann Taylor, American Eagle, Union Bay, Old Navy, Forever 21 stuff for really cheap. I really didn´t need any new clothes, but it was more of the thought of being able to sport some American brands that can be somewhat pricey for pretty cheap. But then I had a realization-the only reason I was thinking about these things was to ¨impress¨ people with my clothes, and to the people here, names like Forever 21 didn´t mean anything.

Something very funny aslo happened while I was at one of these stores. I did try on a few things, and because the sizes here are so different, our American sizes mean very little to the average Peruvian. I told the lady I was looking for some skirts, and she pulls out one and hands it to me. A lovely skirt, but only one problem: it was size 1. Yes. I normally wear a 1....with a 0 attached on the end of that, but this lady was convinced that this wouldn´t matter and that I could still try it on. You can imagine how that went. What was even funnier is that when I asked for something with a little bigger size, she handed me a skirt in size 0. Yeah. That went over well. Or, should I say didn´t go over anything?!?!

Needless to say, I did´t buy anything at this market, but it did make me painfully aware that sometimes I dress according to what I think people will think of me.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last couple days leading up to Christmas...speaking of things to wear, can I just say that it´s SO WEIRD being in a place where it´s summertime during Christmas. Makes for some interesting santa suits....

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Arms to Hold You

I have come to know a lonliness, darkness that I have never known before. But I didn´t write this blog to brag or even talk about these things.

When you know the unprecidented depths of these things,  you also know the an uprecidented overflowing grace and mercy- a side of God you have never experienced before- if you so choose. 

I am so thankful for this grace and mercy...and for the arms of Christ to hold you when you walk through the spaces where there is only room for you and Him.



As I was writing this blog, this song began to play and I began to cry, realizing how relevent it was. (Lisa, this was the CD I opened today, and God knew it would minister to me today...thank you.) 

Sometimes I feel like winter, cold I feel
Icicles are forming
It's hard to tell what is real
Cold winter, cold winter day

Frost is on the windshield and it's hard to see
Air is like slivers
It's hard to breathe
It's a cold winter, cold winter day

Warm me up inside
And let your face from me not hide
'Cause You are what I long for
To melt this cold heart of mine
'Cause when You are around I am found

Sometimes I feel like the prodigal, a wandering weary son
Gone in search of something beautiful
Something to make me one
It's a cold winter, cold winter day

The world is full of lies that will only rob you blind
Hit ya' when you are not looking
And steal away your time
It's a cold winter, cold winter day

And warm me up inside
Let Your face from me not hide
'Cause You are what I long to find
To melt this cold heart of mine
And when You are around I am found

Warm me up inside
And let your face from me not hide
'Cause You are what I long to find
To melt this cold heart of mine
'Cause when You are around
'Cause when You are around
And when You are around I am found

Winter: Shawn McDonald


Friday, December 2, 2011

What I think I look like...What I actually look like...

 
Ever had an impression of yourself? A not-so-accurate impression or view of yourself? Well, the above picture was meant to be a joke as I was looking over pictures of when we went to Ecuador and remembered us taking pictures on the beach...and thinking how attractive I THOUGHT I looked. Little did I know...attractive was not ANYWHERE on the list...and neither were any other words of the type! 

Ever asked God to give you a TRUE impression of yourself? Like what He thinks of you? I have asked Him recently what He thought of me and it was actually the opposite of what I thought of myself.

He calls me ¨strong woman,¨ when all I see is weakness.
He tells me I am bold when all I see is fear.
He called me beautiful when all all I see is dissapointment and failure.

He called me by name
And I am His

But so many times I run to others first. 
I run to those I can physically touch, 
forgetting the One who loves me most
Is standing right there
Waiting...

And when I come before Him, confessing my faults,
I find a whirlwind of grace
a new life that pours into my soul
as His forgiveness pours through me
and enables me to forgive others.

Take a minute and ask God what He thinks of YOU...you might just be surprised what He tells you. 


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Zoo-ing and things...

Wow. I know it´s been forever since I´ve blogged. I wanted to update on several things that have been going on here...please excuse broad range of topics that will be covered in this blog, but think of it as a zoo...crazy, and lots of different things to look at and read about. =)

I actually got the privelge of going to the zoo here FINALLY and I had a blast. I saw so many beautiful animals, some of which I had never seen before. Here are some pics.


This panther was my favorite out of all the animals. Don´t know why, but I´d never seen markings like this.

This seal was crazy! It would go and swim in it´s little pool and then when it was ready to come in, it would stand up against the door on its TAIL!!
One of the animals I´d never seen before...

a REAL tucan!
Many of the houses in the jungles of Peru look like this. 



tortuga!! (turtle)
The birds here are the most colorful I´ve ever seen. 




This fish looked like it had gold specks woven into its scales.

This wolf was so pretty...it looks like it could be a picture in a story book.

Well, it´s impossible to sum up all of the things that have happened in the last two months, but it´s been quite a lot. I have seen at least one more person accept Christ as their savior, and I am so excited about what is to come. 

Salvation bracelets have been a huge blessing these last couple of weeks. We had the supplies to make several hundred, and many that were already made, so many of our Peruvian friends have been using them to witness to their friends. So neat to see. 


Carlos, a 17 year old boy who became a believer about 4 months ago, is helping make bracelets.


 We also got to hang out with a mission team in another part of Lima. They have four sweet interns that are with them for 9 months, and they wanted to see our part of Lima, so they came out for a visit. 

 Some of the neighborhood kids working on arts after a Bible study. They are writing on paper hands one good thing they will do that week. 

Please continue to pray as things things seem a little crazy right now. Searching for vision and purpose as I continue to learn the language and culture. We are still studying the Bible with different groups several times a week, and wanting to start more groups, or re-vamp some of the ones that we had in the begining. Thank you so much for your prayers. 
This picture is incredible, isn´t it? I took it as I was walking down a street at the zoo. It reminds me of the peace and rest we can have in Christ. Something you´ve taken advantage of today? 

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Why Don´t You Come In?

Seven sweet faces staring at me from behind bars. Seven pairs of eyes full of questions, their ponytails lopsided, hands damp from washing and hanging clothes.

Why don´t you come in? They ask. 

I can´t. I respond. 

My hands reach through the bars that separate us to touch their hands, to let them know that not only do I care about them, but that I love them with a love they may never understand.


http://tinyurl.com/3mgvbjn


Many of you know that I lived in an orphanage with 800 kids last year teaching English and the Bible to the kids who lived there. I taught these kids, ate with them, played with them, shared a year of my life with them. 

About four months ago, I was told that all strings between the orphanage and myself and Lauren had to be cut. I was told that there were suspicions that I was helping construct another orphanage, and the director thought I was only there to try to take kids out of his orphanage and bring him to my orphanage. I tried to explain the truth, that we are not trying to establish an orphanage nor are we helping anyone start one. We are here to study the Bible. He didn´t believe me. So I never told the kids or the people that were a part of my life for a year good bye...I just left. There was no time for any of that. 

To this day, the kids do not understand what happened. They do not understand that the situation is much deeper than we can see- that there was a spiritual battle being fought.  When we see some of them outside the orphanage from time to time, we are able to explain what happened. 

Today was kinda one of those days. 

We went to go visit a family that lives right next to the orphanage, and as we were walking by, some of the girls saw Lauren and I walking by and began calling our names. 


We stopped and talked to them, telling them how much we loved and missed them and reminding them not to forget what Jesus did for them on the cross and that He wants a person relationship with each of them. 

That was just a few minutes ago that all of this happened. I am asking God to show me what to do. If I should go back and talk to Miguel and see if I can reconcile things...somehow explain things all over again and pray that he will listen.

There are over 100 children in that orphanage who gave their lives to Christ last year, and before any of this happened today, the Lord laid on my heart to go back and ask permission to baptize them...not because I believe in any way that baptism saves, but because as I study the Bible I see that baptism almost accompanied salvation...the outward sign to the inward change. 

I would appreciate your prayers during this time. For wisdom and grace, maturity and boldness. I know that God has called me for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14). 

I am not only thankful for the time I spent in this orphanage, but I am thankful that I was forced out. Because in that, the gospel has been spread to the surrounding cities and districts. The time I would have spent in the orphanage, I now spend outside the orphanage, and many families have heard about how to have a relationship with Christ. 

But now more than ever, we need direction and a clear short term vision. Please join us in prayer for this.