Happy New Year to you all!!!
It’s been a very long time since I’ve written, so I will do my best to not forget anything.
I was in the States in November and came back home to Argentina the second week of December, just in time for our annual evangelistic outreach event to the indigenous people of “el campo” (the country side/desert). We had about 600 people here for 5 days; during this week I was able to work with kids 1-3 years old. I was known as “Mama Carissa”, I had the privilege of taking care of one little girl almost all day every day. There were five kids on my list, but being of such a young age they were very attached to their moms. Guadalupe was a one-year-old girl who was uncomfortable with almost anyone but her mom and I; I felt so honored to have the trust of this precious girl. There were, however, other days where I took care of five or six kids. One day in particular, we were able to go to the aquarium and the zoo! I was in charge of 5 kids ages 5-9, it was wonderful time where I saw so much joy in these kids who had never been to the big city nor the aquarium or zoo. It was a wonderful experience and I hope and pray that these kids will never forget the love and care that was shown to them by so many people willing to serve them with the love of God!
The last night we had a Christmas Dinner for all of them! I really enjoyed being able to bless these people, one thing that I was able to do was give new clothes to many of the children! There was one little girl, Maria that I had been taking care of during the week, she had worn the same clothes the 5 days and looked as thought she had not taken a bath in many week, her hair was matted and she probably had lice. I found a cute dress and some coordinating shoes for her, I took her in the bathroom to get her ready for the special dinner! I wanted so badly to bathe her, but the water on the base had completely been shut off and nobody could find a way to fix it, the only thing we could do was wait, but seeing that the dinner was already being prepared and we had no idea when the water would come back, we did what we could. I took Maria into the bathroom changed her clothes and fix her hair into a simple braid, trying to make the most of the situation and lack of water. As we went out of the bathroom to find her mom, I noticed the huge smile on her face as she gently touch her new clothes! As I walked toward her mom with a smile on my face, I saw the look on her moms face…pure shock. Maria ran up to her mom and hugged her, her mom began to touch her daughter and ask herself “is it really you, Maria? This is my daughter? Are you sure?” I was filled with pure joy! This woman was filled with an inexpressible joy after I had felt bad for not being able to bathe her daughter. God is so faithful! I was blown away by the way that God moved and touched this woman’s life.
Well...this is pretty long, so i'll write more when i can.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Gratefulness isn't found in the material things...
As i have chosen to live and serve on the YWAM base in Argentina, i have also chosen to trust God to provide for my every need. Each day i recognize the gratefulness i have for the many things that i am blessed with.
...we live in a nation that freely allows us to practice religions and worship our creator, but are we grateful for that freedom? are we fighting for it? WAKE UP AMERICA AND RECOGNIZE THE FREEDOM WE HAVE! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD GIVES YOU EACH DAY! you never know when it all could be stripped away from you. there are people being persecuted for believing in God and we, in the United States, sit around and waist the amazing blessing that we have; we can love God, worship Him freely, wherever, and whenever we want to...but do we take the time? do we value our freedom? He is there waiting for you, He will never stop pursuing you, He loves you and has a purpose for you life...(just a thought)
...i have family and friends who love and support me! They have chosen to step along with me in this journey of faith and have also chosen to cover me in prayer! i am so blessed and eternally grateful for my family and friends who have walked with me through the years and watched me as i learned and grew to understand the dreams that God has for my life! to have a support system that prays for me and takes time to listen to all of my stories, challenges and experiences and comfort me through it all...i am so grateful for each and every one of you (you know who you are) who have taken the time to invest your time in my life that i might have the privilege to invest in the lives of many others worldwide!
...a warm home to come to when i get to leave Argentina for a little while. In Argentina my home doesn't have heating and in the winter we learn to keep warm and keep a good attitude because this is the life God has called me to and i wouldn't trade it for anything!
...the loving arms of Jesus that are always wide open ready to embrace me! He is always with me, pursuing me, and watching out for me...even the little details in life!
what a gracious and personal God we serve! There are days that i feel like all i have is Jesus, but even in those moments, i know that having Him is more important than anything in my life because He is the one who gave me life and no one could ever take away my Jesus!
...we live in a nation that freely allows us to practice religions and worship our creator, but are we grateful for that freedom? are we fighting for it? WAKE UP AMERICA AND RECOGNIZE THE FREEDOM WE HAVE! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD GIVES YOU EACH DAY! you never know when it all could be stripped away from you. there are people being persecuted for believing in God and we, in the United States, sit around and waist the amazing blessing that we have; we can love God, worship Him freely, wherever, and whenever we want to...but do we take the time? do we value our freedom? He is there waiting for you, He will never stop pursuing you, He loves you and has a purpose for you life...(just a thought)
...i have family and friends who love and support me! They have chosen to step along with me in this journey of faith and have also chosen to cover me in prayer! i am so blessed and eternally grateful for my family and friends who have walked with me through the years and watched me as i learned and grew to understand the dreams that God has for my life! to have a support system that prays for me and takes time to listen to all of my stories, challenges and experiences and comfort me through it all...i am so grateful for each and every one of you (you know who you are) who have taken the time to invest your time in my life that i might have the privilege to invest in the lives of many others worldwide!
...a warm home to come to when i get to leave Argentina for a little while. In Argentina my home doesn't have heating and in the winter we learn to keep warm and keep a good attitude because this is the life God has called me to and i wouldn't trade it for anything!
...the loving arms of Jesus that are always wide open ready to embrace me! He is always with me, pursuing me, and watching out for me...even the little details in life!
what a gracious and personal God we serve! There are days that i feel like all i have is Jesus, but even in those moments, i know that having Him is more important than anything in my life because He is the one who gave me life and no one could ever take away my Jesus!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
I'm Home!!!!
I went to the park today and had fun taking pictures and playing around with my siblings and friend Em!
It's been fun to spend time with Em after doing our school together in Argentina!
It has been wonderful to spend time with family and friends!
More stories and pictures to come!
It's been fun to spend time with Em after doing our school together in Argentina!
It has been wonderful to spend time with family and friends!
More stories and pictures to come!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Visions, Hopes and Open Doors...
Visions...
God gave me a vision recently that was something like this...
"i was standing on a beach with Jesus, we weren't actually standing we were running.
He was ahead of me and He kept looking back to make sure that i was okay.
With each glance He would say, "Come on, there's something i want to show you! You can do it, keep running, i've prepared something for you!"
This run was not a challenge, but we were laughing the whole time! it was wonderful!"
in this vision i was shown more of who Jesus wants to be in my life; He wants to be my friend, someone that i can laugh with, someone that i can run with. He wants to show me new mysteries each day! Since He gave me this vision, i've been spending a lot of time with Him and He inspires me to be more like Him! we have had some pretty great times together! i like to go sit on the basketball court at night and talk with Him. One night we talked for 2 hours, it was awesome how many things HE showed me, all because i chose to believe in this vision He gave me and accept Him as my friend!
Hopes...
Some of my hopes would be:
to see my great-grandchildren follow Jesus
to live everyday recognizing the presence of God at my side and use His power with every opportunity He gives me
to one day see my extended family standing by my side in Heaven as we stand in awe of the presence of OUR Lord and Savior
to raise children from other nations
Open Doors...
God has opened a new door for me!
a couple of weeks ago i was talking with my discipler and she said that i should pray about the ministries i want to be involved in and even more than being involved, embrace it, be passionate about it. I had told her that one of my passions was kids and she said i should pray and consider helping with the soccer school we have in the neighborhood or ask God if there's something else He has for me.
i didn't really have peace about helping with the soccer school, but i told God i'd be willing to do it if that's what He wanted.
i started praying and feeling that God was calling me to raise up a new ministry.
It's been crazy to see God open new doors as i begin this journey trusting Him. So, this ministry that i am starting is to provide an afternoon snack time with the kids of my neighborhood. i also want to be able to sing songs, color pictures, and share the love of Jesus with them. i have already talked to the base directors and they are in full support of the ministry that God is calling me to. They have encouraged me to talk to others and get a team built. i don't know the details of how it will happen, where the money is going to come from, or even when it will happen, but i am taking little steps forward and trusting that God will provide all my needs in his timing!
i am really excited to see all that God will do in my life, He has become so much of a friend to me that i really enjoy following His foot steps!
i hope and pray that all of you, my friends, family, and readers can help support me in your prayers as i step out in faith trusting that God will provide for all my needs as i open this door and help the needs of the little kids in the neighborhood of Borbollón.
God gave me a vision recently that was something like this...
"i was standing on a beach with Jesus, we weren't actually standing we were running.
He was ahead of me and He kept looking back to make sure that i was okay.
With each glance He would say, "Come on, there's something i want to show you! You can do it, keep running, i've prepared something for you!"
This run was not a challenge, but we were laughing the whole time! it was wonderful!"
in this vision i was shown more of who Jesus wants to be in my life; He wants to be my friend, someone that i can laugh with, someone that i can run with. He wants to show me new mysteries each day! Since He gave me this vision, i've been spending a lot of time with Him and He inspires me to be more like Him! we have had some pretty great times together! i like to go sit on the basketball court at night and talk with Him. One night we talked for 2 hours, it was awesome how many things HE showed me, all because i chose to believe in this vision He gave me and accept Him as my friend!
Hopes...
Some of my hopes would be:
to see my great-grandchildren follow Jesus
to live everyday recognizing the presence of God at my side and use His power with every opportunity He gives me
to one day see my extended family standing by my side in Heaven as we stand in awe of the presence of OUR Lord and Savior
to raise children from other nations
Open Doors...
God has opened a new door for me!
a couple of weeks ago i was talking with my discipler and she said that i should pray about the ministries i want to be involved in and even more than being involved, embrace it, be passionate about it. I had told her that one of my passions was kids and she said i should pray and consider helping with the soccer school we have in the neighborhood or ask God if there's something else He has for me.
i didn't really have peace about helping with the soccer school, but i told God i'd be willing to do it if that's what He wanted.
i started praying and feeling that God was calling me to raise up a new ministry.
It's been crazy to see God open new doors as i begin this journey trusting Him. So, this ministry that i am starting is to provide an afternoon snack time with the kids of my neighborhood. i also want to be able to sing songs, color pictures, and share the love of Jesus with them. i have already talked to the base directors and they are in full support of the ministry that God is calling me to. They have encouraged me to talk to others and get a team built. i don't know the details of how it will happen, where the money is going to come from, or even when it will happen, but i am taking little steps forward and trusting that God will provide all my needs in his timing!
i am really excited to see all that God will do in my life, He has become so much of a friend to me that i really enjoy following His foot steps!
i hope and pray that all of you, my friends, family, and readers can help support me in your prayers as i step out in faith trusting that God will provide for all my needs as i open this door and help the needs of the little kids in the neighborhood of Borbollón.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Who do you work for?
Just a few ramblings that have been buzzing through my head...
Everything we do in life should be done to serve and glorify God...
i know, i´ve heard it a million times, but it´s true. And once you start to think about the sacrifices that Jesus made for you, it´s not so difficult to see the importance.
we should not be a slave to our bodies, nor our emotions, nor the circumstanes around us. But our bodies should be our slave. we should not give up when things are hard, when we are tired, when people are disrespectful, we should just do our best to love and respect others and give our all to be like Jesus. We should follow His lead, he knows what it´s like to suffer, He knows what it´s like to feel hungry, tired, beaten, mocked, weak, yet He gave His all, He gave us His life. He layed layed it down, no one took it from Him.
So my question is, why aren´t we willing to go to work in the morning, or water the lawn, clean the house, help others, run a race or exercise so that we can expand the kingdom of God? i know you might not see how cleaning a house or running a race could expand His kingdom, but being ready in every area of your life is the best that you could do.
we have become so selfish and self serving that we don´t even see the needs of the people around us. God has given us so much, but He didn´t give it to us that we would squander it or waist it. No, He gave it to us that we might us it effectively and make something good come from it.
He gave us time that we would use wisely, serving others, going to work,and maybe we should use it to spend time with Him. He gave us a job that we would be able to provide for our family, to go on vacation, or possibly to support a missionary or orphan in need.
God has given us things that we would administer them well. We should be so thankful for the things that God has so graciously given to us and we should be willing to take responsibility to care for those things.
Colossians 3:23-24
¨Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is Lord Christ that you are serving.¨
Everything we do in life should be done to serve and glorify God...
i know, i´ve heard it a million times, but it´s true. And once you start to think about the sacrifices that Jesus made for you, it´s not so difficult to see the importance.
we should not be a slave to our bodies, nor our emotions, nor the circumstanes around us. But our bodies should be our slave. we should not give up when things are hard, when we are tired, when people are disrespectful, we should just do our best to love and respect others and give our all to be like Jesus. We should follow His lead, he knows what it´s like to suffer, He knows what it´s like to feel hungry, tired, beaten, mocked, weak, yet He gave His all, He gave us His life. He layed layed it down, no one took it from Him.
So my question is, why aren´t we willing to go to work in the morning, or water the lawn, clean the house, help others, run a race or exercise so that we can expand the kingdom of God? i know you might not see how cleaning a house or running a race could expand His kingdom, but being ready in every area of your life is the best that you could do.
we have become so selfish and self serving that we don´t even see the needs of the people around us. God has given us so much, but He didn´t give it to us that we would squander it or waist it. No, He gave it to us that we might us it effectively and make something good come from it.
He gave us time that we would use wisely, serving others, going to work,and maybe we should use it to spend time with Him. He gave us a job that we would be able to provide for our family, to go on vacation, or possibly to support a missionary or orphan in need.
God has given us things that we would administer them well. We should be so thankful for the things that God has so graciously given to us and we should be willing to take responsibility to care for those things.
Colossians 3:23-24
¨Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is Lord Christ that you are serving.¨
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