"Jesus was forcing His disciples to trust Him. God would have to come through for them because they had nothing else to fall back on. This place of trust isn't a comfortable place to be; in fact, it flies in the face of everything we've been taught about proper planning. We like finding refuge in what we already have rather than than in what we hope God will provide. But when Christ says to count the cost of following Him, it means we must surrender everything. It means being willing to go without an extra tunic or a place to sleep at night, and sometimes without knowing where we are going."
Francis Chan
The above quote from "Crazy Love" reminds me so much of how our life has nothing to do with us but all about God, an all consuming and powerful creator who gave us life and everything that we need to live our lives to the full. Yet our life is but a breadth here on this earth. I am being challenged to live life not for myself or what I can get out of God or this world but how my life will glorify Him. I want to join Him in this adventure of life and not simply ask Him to come along side the destiny I set for myself.
I believe He has been teaching me these things in these past years of my life with purpose as I have come to that place more and more of learning to trust in Him with full abandon. Still, I have a long ways to go where I can fully lean on Him in moments of anxiety, insecurity and doubts of the present and the future. Needless to say this journey is a freeing one and thus as I embark upon my newest journey, I am reminded over and over again to lean on Him and to step out in faith, one step at a time, because He is guiding.
I may not see fully what He is doing or directing me to do. I don't have the complete picture yet. I do, however, have pieces of the puzzle. I will be honest and admit I am scared to take the next steps that He is guiding me down as they will take an act of faith. I have ideas about what the end of this year will look like, however, I know well they could change as has been my life's journey, in particular the last 3 years since I left to do full time missions. Beyond these steps, I am learning to move forward in faith and absolute trust, much like the disciples must have experienced, and surrender my future to Him. Trusting that He has my steps ordered.
Mid March I will leave Kansas City once again to start a new journey. I will be going to Portland, Oregon for a month to learn more of what the Women and Children's Advocacy Center does and all aspects of its operation as a ministry. I have been trained and seen first hand their training workshops in Costa Rica. A team of us will then travel to S. Africa for a 2 week training in which a church there has invited the WCAC to train some of its members. From S. Africa, I plan to travel to Australia, where I will stay for some time with my good friends in Sunshine Coast while figuring out my next steps and traveling and networking with the contacts I have in Australia and then to other locations of Oceania.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
He is doing a new thing!
Scene: Wendy's in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica with fend for yourself seating and others lurking to take your table as soon as you get up....
characters: my friend Christy and I, our almost weekly meeting up (after she takes two or three buses down from the mountains and I wait a long time to pick up a bus close to my apartment)
Christy: "I have something for you." hefting her 30 pound backpack on the table
I smile and think to myself... Oh dear, now what kind of surprise does my spontaneous friend have for me? Out proceeds a rather large seashell... mind you we are not close to the beach, over several hours by car, so she had toted this shell with her over some what of a strenuous journey.
Christy: "As I was cleaning/shining this shell God told me to give this to you."
Now I am the owner of a fine shell that has been transported back with me months later to my temporary home in Kansas City. She told me that in my next journey/season I was going to be like this seashell that rides the waves. I won't know where I am to go or my next step until I proceed and God will be guiding it every step of the way.
Now I am the owner of a fine shell that has been transported back with me months later to my temporary home in Kansas City. She told me that in my next journey/season I was going to be like this seashell that rides the waves. I won't know where I am to go or my next step until I proceed and God will be guiding it every step of the way.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isa. 30:21
Of course this was just additional confirmation that He is guiding me but no direct answer or location. My other good friend Marcel and I commited to fasting and praying together for my next steps prior to me leaving Costa Rica. I was somewhat hesitant to return to KC without an idea of my next steps or specific direction. My friend received the same that I would not know my next steps until I arrived back in KC.
Its been a testing of my patience and faith to be home with so little "known." I have been anxious to figure it all out, but He has been so faithful in the midst of it all. I realized once I arrived home, how burntout I was and needed His refreshing and healing. Needless to say its been a difficult past three months but oh so good and a chance for me to learn to TRUST without fear and be healed and restored to a place where soon I will be ready to minister again. I needed to recenter and refocus on Him, my purpose for doing ministry and not the daunting need that exists.
I, as of this week, felt a "go" and a quickening in my pulse to begin taking steps out in faith; knock on those doors and test the waters. For many months now I have felt Him tell me to go where my heart leads me. Maybe to the majority of people that would seem like a huge relief; to me its just scary. Perhaps I am even scared to dream BIG, because honestly I have some crazy dreams.
I have felt for sometime my season in Latin America is over. I have longed to visit other parts of the world but felt that was just my adventurous and exploring side of me. I never thought that maybe it is truly a part of who I am and how God created me to embark upon and work with many nations and people groups. I also began to have this deep need within me to embrace a people group and place as my own and finally root. I know to those who know me well, that may be truly shocking. I have always been a free spirit, living simply with little to no earthly attachments.
So I had to ask myself what is it exactly that makes me tick and where, if I was given the choice to choose any location and ministry, what would that look like? I decided that the most recent tug on my heart was towards rooting somewhere yet would this take away from that innate side of me that still desires to invest in and travel to other parts of the world? How would those things meld together? Was I being crazy in thinking there was a way to do both? Would I be able to root somewhere and pioneer ministry and training on location while still taking and providing support and training abroad?
My answers seem to come through my dialect with friends/contacts with the Women and Children's Advocacy Center as well as those working as leaders in YWAM bases. I am dialoging with the possibility of pioneering and networking with my contacts in Australia/PNG/Samoa/Vanuatu and elsewhere; while still praying about the specific location in this part of the world to root. My ideas for now are to see how I can work with the WCAC (Women and Children's Advocacy Center) and YWAM bases in Oceania, this particular part of the world, and from there doing pioneering, investigation and networking while being available to take the celebrate children training (through the WCAC) to remote locations where people are already working with children and women at risk and just need more support, training and resources. I also want to be back on a base and a part of community life. So, I will most likely work to help as part time staff wherever I end up.
Details and specifics to follow.... still praying and working it out. Will be posting more regularly.
I have felt for sometime my season in Latin America is over. I have longed to visit other parts of the world but felt that was just my adventurous and exploring side of me. I never thought that maybe it is truly a part of who I am and how God created me to embark upon and work with many nations and people groups. I also began to have this deep need within me to embrace a people group and place as my own and finally root. I know to those who know me well, that may be truly shocking. I have always been a free spirit, living simply with little to no earthly attachments.
So I had to ask myself what is it exactly that makes me tick and where, if I was given the choice to choose any location and ministry, what would that look like? I decided that the most recent tug on my heart was towards rooting somewhere yet would this take away from that innate side of me that still desires to invest in and travel to other parts of the world? How would those things meld together? Was I being crazy in thinking there was a way to do both? Would I be able to root somewhere and pioneer ministry and training on location while still taking and providing support and training abroad?
My answers seem to come through my dialect with friends/contacts with the Women and Children's Advocacy Center as well as those working as leaders in YWAM bases. I am dialoging with the possibility of pioneering and networking with my contacts in Australia/PNG/Samoa/Vanuatu and elsewhere; while still praying about the specific location in this part of the world to root. My ideas for now are to see how I can work with the WCAC (Women and Children's Advocacy Center) and YWAM bases in Oceania, this particular part of the world, and from there doing pioneering, investigation and networking while being available to take the celebrate children training (through the WCAC) to remote locations where people are already working with children and women at risk and just need more support, training and resources. I also want to be back on a base and a part of community life. So, I will most likely work to help as part time staff wherever I end up.
Details and specifics to follow.... still praying and working it out. Will be posting more regularly.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Discovering the Concept of Home
I've been thinking of late... wouldn't it be so nice to just simply click my heels and say there is "no place like home, there is no place like home" and suddenly, I am home. The question is, where is home exactly? This concept or word "home" what does that mean exactly? This is what I have been asking God, where is the place that He wants me to root? I have this innate desire to root; finally (just as I am to those who know me best, a free spirit) the idea of rooting somewhere used to be so binding and so restrictive now I just think how reassuring it would be to know where in the globe I am to establish myself next. I was so convinced I was called to remain in Latin America; I no longer feel I am tied to Latin America only. Many have spoken words over my life that I am "called to the nations." So what does that look like exactly? A pretty crazy concept. I spoke with Janna recently about it. Janna is the founder/director of the Women and Children's Advocacy Center and she has attempted to help me discover what it is exactly that I want to do for my next steps. The ironic part of it all is that really I could go anywhere its not so much about location as what exactly I want to do once I get there.
I went last week to the prophetic room/ministry at IHOP (International House of Prayer) to get some direction and clarity. I did get some encouraging words that God is speaking but definitely not specifics or location. The funny thing is what was confirmed in this time was more of my giftings and strengths which is quite ironic as they saw such variety and diversity in my giftings and strengths; some I have known for a long time others that I have discovered only recently. Yet I left definitely more encouraged but also more confused about exactly what or how these giftings will have place in the next location God calls me to. I feel strongly somehow all the little pieces of my life and the giftings will be used in my next location, which I sense will be long-term and where I can root and then go out and do shorter term work from there.
The other ironic thing about having spent time in the prayer room/IHOP is that I happened to walk out into the foyer for a second and while there I overheard some guys conversing and that one of the guys had a t-shirt with the slogan/words "Sex + money" (for those of you who don't know, this is a particular project initiated by YWAM to document the sex trade and its impact on modern day slavery). The interesting part of it all is this was a reminder to me of some of the training and research that have played a huge role in my life in the past years in missions. The embodiment of this all while working to train volunteers in areas of justice with YWAM, getting training through Not for Sale in the areas of anti-trafficking, and now spending time at IHOP. I feel lately God has been stirring more and more a passsion for 24/7 intercession and worship in my heart just as pioneering; beginning any ministry and work comes about through a huge investment in prayer and years of asking and seeking God for wisdom and His hand to begin and direct in the initial stages and as the backbone throughout any ministry. Exactly how this all will meld, come into existence, I am yet clueless; I just sense God stirring my heart more and more to find out exactly how He is going to put all those pieces of my various interests, passions, training and experiences into practice or to at least, make a little sense of the random order of my journey.
This video below is put out by my friends doing a series of videos on Human Trafficking in Costa Rica:
Alrevez. [Backwards] from ofbrokenwings on Vimeo.
I went last week to the prophetic room/ministry at IHOP (International House of Prayer) to get some direction and clarity. I did get some encouraging words that God is speaking but definitely not specifics or location. The funny thing is what was confirmed in this time was more of my giftings and strengths which is quite ironic as they saw such variety and diversity in my giftings and strengths; some I have known for a long time others that I have discovered only recently. Yet I left definitely more encouraged but also more confused about exactly what or how these giftings will have place in the next location God calls me to. I feel strongly somehow all the little pieces of my life and the giftings will be used in my next location, which I sense will be long-term and where I can root and then go out and do shorter term work from there.
The other ironic thing about having spent time in the prayer room/IHOP is that I happened to walk out into the foyer for a second and while there I overheard some guys conversing and that one of the guys had a t-shirt with the slogan/words "Sex + money" (for those of you who don't know, this is a particular project initiated by YWAM to document the sex trade and its impact on modern day slavery). The interesting part of it all is this was a reminder to me of some of the training and research that have played a huge role in my life in the past years in missions. The embodiment of this all while working to train volunteers in areas of justice with YWAM, getting training through Not for Sale in the areas of anti-trafficking, and now spending time at IHOP. I feel lately God has been stirring more and more a passsion for 24/7 intercession and worship in my heart just as pioneering; beginning any ministry and work comes about through a huge investment in prayer and years of asking and seeking God for wisdom and His hand to begin and direct in the initial stages and as the backbone throughout any ministry. Exactly how this all will meld, come into existence, I am yet clueless; I just sense God stirring my heart more and more to find out exactly how He is going to put all those pieces of my various interests, passions, training and experiences into practice or to at least, make a little sense of the random order of my journey.
This video below is put out by my friends doing a series of videos on Human Trafficking in Costa Rica:
Alrevez. [Backwards] from ofbrokenwings on Vimeo.
Monday, October 31, 2011
A Time for Everything...
Its 1:30 a.m. and I am up... really feel like I should stop and truly process. Would love to process with someone right now but sometimes its harder to explain verbally, so here goes my attempt.
I am back in the U.S. indefinitely after a 3 year stretch in Latin America. I am not sure how to feel or be. I had a nice re-entry welcome at 1 a.m. when my 3 new roomies, who just happen to be some of my closest friends and sister. We all went to bed far too late that night. When I woke up I felt sad to not be in a foreign country any longer or with people as my roomies had all gone to work. However, the rest of the day kept getting better and better. First of all, the weather here has been freakin' amazing.. ie. for October ... in the 80s, sunny and gorgeous with trees just now beginning to change color. This is the first time I have seen true Fall in 4 years. Autumn is my favorite season! Then I get home and went to the Boiler Room where I proceeded to meet 2 individuals; one was in YWAM for 4 years in various countries and the other who has been working with children at risk in KC and is going to open a home for children in need in KC. Crazy, no matter where I turn, God won't let me go too far from my calling/passions.
I am back in the U.S. indefinitely after a 3 year stretch in Latin America. I am not sure how to feel or be. I had a nice re-entry welcome at 1 a.m. when my 3 new roomies, who just happen to be some of my closest friends and sister. We all went to bed far too late that night. When I woke up I felt sad to not be in a foreign country any longer or with people as my roomies had all gone to work. However, the rest of the day kept getting better and better. First of all, the weather here has been freakin' amazing.. ie. for October ... in the 80s, sunny and gorgeous with trees just now beginning to change color. This is the first time I have seen true Fall in 4 years. Autumn is my favorite season! Then I get home and went to the Boiler Room where I proceeded to meet 2 individuals; one was in YWAM for 4 years in various countries and the other who has been working with children at risk in KC and is going to open a home for children in need in KC. Crazy, no matter where I turn, God won't let me go too far from my calling/passions.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Bringing liberty to the Captives
Hello all!
I wanted to share a bit of the theme of our base today... raising awareness and praying for victims of human trafficking. One of the students of our school lead an intercession time with the base, challenging us to move and act out on behalf of these victims globally. He shared that if each of us could share with at least 3 friends of ours, links that raise awareness to this area of injustice; asking them to do the same and share with three of their friends, then awareness is multiplied on a large scale. So I am writing this blog to do just that and ask others to join me.
Having done a 2 week training in 2010 with Not for Sale and having friends who have worked in this area to combat human trafficking, stirs my passion and my heart for what is happening globally. In some way, I feel God is going to use this training and my passion in my next season of life. I am excited to see just how He unfolds this and directs me in my next steps.
I also felt my personal conviction is once again to remember my new year's resolution to only purchase fair-trade chocolate and coffee. I have wavered in this commitment a bit over the past months, but I will admit it is hard in a country that sells little to no "fair-trade" products. Still, with your help, I want to be held accountable again and finish my commitment to the end of the year and then reassess after the end of 2011. Please join with me and keep me accountable as I know my purchases and conscience are being held accountable to the millions of slaves all over the world that are sold for my consumer benefit along with my fellow citizens of the world.
I wanted to share a bit of the theme of our base today... raising awareness and praying for victims of human trafficking. One of the students of our school lead an intercession time with the base, challenging us to move and act out on behalf of these victims globally. He shared that if each of us could share with at least 3 friends of ours, links that raise awareness to this area of injustice; asking them to do the same and share with three of their friends, then awareness is multiplied on a large scale. So I am writing this blog to do just that and ask others to join me.
Having done a 2 week training in 2010 with Not for Sale and having friends who have worked in this area to combat human trafficking, stirs my passion and my heart for what is happening globally. In some way, I feel God is going to use this training and my passion in my next season of life. I am excited to see just how He unfolds this and directs me in my next steps.
I also felt my personal conviction is once again to remember my new year's resolution to only purchase fair-trade chocolate and coffee. I have wavered in this commitment a bit over the past months, but I will admit it is hard in a country that sells little to no "fair-trade" products. Still, with your help, I want to be held accountable again and finish my commitment to the end of the year and then reassess after the end of 2011. Please join with me and keep me accountable as I know my purchases and conscience are being held accountable to the millions of slaves all over the world that are sold for my consumer benefit along with my fellow citizens of the world.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Dreaming.... birth of an ever-expanding vision
Remember when you were young and you dreamt of exploring and conquering the whole wide world; no limitations or boundaries... the earth was your backyard? I remember playing, as nerdy as this is, star wars with my friends and turning our whole basement into a city of tents and space ships where we could go forth into all unknown planets and space....
This analogy is in a way what I feel God is bringing to life once again for me personally and for this school. The words I heard Him speak for these students were about renewing their dreams from childhood; challenging them, all of us, to not only dream, but dream BIGGER. Many have since come to me to tell me that in these past weeks He has been not only reminding them of those past dreams, but reminding them how He has and is fulfilling and making those dreams a reality. Not only are they seeing their dreams realized in their young adult years but now HE is giving them new visions and dreams greater and more radical than those from childhood. Who can truly upon looking back on their life as an adult or even on their death bed, recognize these often times, unrealistic or impossible dreams that have come to be in full fruition?
I personally am so privileged to have done so much in my short life thus far.... dreams of learning another language, ministering to street children, living in another country, living in Latin America, working as a missionary/volunteer, training, becoming a trainer, having a legal career, getting a degree, making friends/contacts all over the world, having explored many parts of the world, even on the other side of the world.... And yet there are so many new dreams God has been birthing in me since living abroad, but more so in these past months, i.e. recently.
I have mentioned the Women and Children's Advocacy Center in previous blogs. I will add the link to their ministry again. I have been feeling more and more in some form or fashion my next steps will be partnering with them in many ways. I don't know exactly how or what that will look like. As some of you are aware my commitment here in Costa Rica will end with the end of the lecture phase which is September 23rd. I have been processing and praying about my next steps. I do feel that my season/time in Costa Rica and probably in Latin America is coming to a close. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and living here but my heart is stirring for other things, parts of the world, to pioneer new things and enter into a new season where I discover where my own ministry will be birthed. I have received words and challenges from others and in my seeking our Heavenly Father that I am called to the Nations; which in many ways is a new challenge and comes as a surprise to me. I always thought my calling and passions would be realized in being established in Latin America. Recently He has been stirring my heart for other places in the world. I am not sure where or how exactly that will come about. Would you join me in praying for clear direction and provision in this?
The School is half way through and I will need to know my next steps in the next few weeks so I can book a ticket. I also will need to begin fundraising as going to another part of the world and establishing myself will take more funding than I have currently been able to raise.
Check out this video and just one of the projects the WCAC is involved in.... inspires me to go forth and change the world one step at a time... I pray it inspires you in the same way....
Women & Children's Advocacy Centre from wcacentre on Vimeo.
This analogy is in a way what I feel God is bringing to life once again for me personally and for this school. The words I heard Him speak for these students were about renewing their dreams from childhood; challenging them, all of us, to not only dream, but dream BIGGER. Many have since come to me to tell me that in these past weeks He has been not only reminding them of those past dreams, but reminding them how He has and is fulfilling and making those dreams a reality. Not only are they seeing their dreams realized in their young adult years but now HE is giving them new visions and dreams greater and more radical than those from childhood. Who can truly upon looking back on their life as an adult or even on their death bed, recognize these often times, unrealistic or impossible dreams that have come to be in full fruition?
I personally am so privileged to have done so much in my short life thus far.... dreams of learning another language, ministering to street children, living in another country, living in Latin America, working as a missionary/volunteer, training, becoming a trainer, having a legal career, getting a degree, making friends/contacts all over the world, having explored many parts of the world, even on the other side of the world.... And yet there are so many new dreams God has been birthing in me since living abroad, but more so in these past months, i.e. recently.
I have mentioned the Women and Children's Advocacy Center in previous blogs. I will add the link to their ministry again. I have been feeling more and more in some form or fashion my next steps will be partnering with them in many ways. I don't know exactly how or what that will look like. As some of you are aware my commitment here in Costa Rica will end with the end of the lecture phase which is September 23rd. I have been processing and praying about my next steps. I do feel that my season/time in Costa Rica and probably in Latin America is coming to a close. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and living here but my heart is stirring for other things, parts of the world, to pioneer new things and enter into a new season where I discover where my own ministry will be birthed. I have received words and challenges from others and in my seeking our Heavenly Father that I am called to the Nations; which in many ways is a new challenge and comes as a surprise to me. I always thought my calling and passions would be realized in being established in Latin America. Recently He has been stirring my heart for other places in the world. I am not sure where or how exactly that will come about. Would you join me in praying for clear direction and provision in this?
The School is half way through and I will need to know my next steps in the next few weeks so I can book a ticket. I also will need to begin fundraising as going to another part of the world and establishing myself will take more funding than I have currently been able to raise.
Check out this video and just one of the projects the WCAC is involved in.... inspires me to go forth and change the world one step at a time... I pray it inspires you in the same way....
Women & Children's Advocacy Centre from wcacentre on Vimeo.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A Labor of Love
So... this expression has been playing over in my mind "you win some and you lose some"... its sort of how life works when you work with children at risk globally. It takes a liftetime of investment to individual children to make a long-term impact, but you know what? I am seeing the fruit of even shorter-term investment. This gives me hope.
Since being back in San Jose, Costa Rica, I am excited to be able to support my room mate here who began as my student, then friend, staff for the Children at Risk School(CRS) and finally leader of Metro ministries in Costa Rica. It has been a huge responsibility and undertaking but since I left to go to Mexico, the entire ministry was placed in her lap. Since, she has made this ministry her own and there is visible fruit to see from her labors already. Even more exciting to me, when I go and help her with the kid's ministry, I see her putting into practice what she has learned from the year she took the CRS and training and how God prepared her at this time to be a pioneer. She could never have imagined she would be running such a program on her own or how God worked it all out, but its a perfect fit for her. I enjoy seeing not only the kid's faces light up seeing the "Metro Kids" truck coming to their neighborhood but also Renate's face as she shares with the kids about God. To read more about her ministry, I have included the website on this blog. To me, this is the fruit of our training and school. At times I get discouraged asking myself how am I personally impacting these kids lives but in moments like these, are when God reminds me that the impact the students are having from the training they received is multiplied so many times over than what I can alone do. By disciplining, training and encouraging the students to dream big and to go forward in the vision God has given them utilizing their gifts, impacting, restoring and bringing His light to the broken children all over the world; it brings me joy and allows me to "stay the course," in essence.
Another exciting thing that I get to see is how the Freeman family has been able to pioneer work with children and youth at risk in a town in Costa Rica called Jaco. I have blogged about this area before where we as the 1st Children at Risk School did three months of outreach, researching the need and the resources and work that was already going on there. Jaco is known for "sex tourism" and it also has several migrant communities that live in impoverished conditions in the river areas of this town. Since this school's outreach, there has been another group of students continuing the pioneering work there as well as yet another couple of students from the CRS in Tijuana there right now. I can already see the impact and change that community has had just simply by people investing and networking and unifying the work that is already going on in the town. The Freeman family, with whom we pioneered the CRS, moved there about a year ago and have a heart and vision to see change in that community as they are commiting long term there. Several of the youth we worked with, have grown and changed. Some had considered doing a DTS in San Jose but unfortunately they ended up choosing their own path which seemed not to be the best choice for them. Yet, I trust in God that the seeds that were planted in their hearts from the Freemans and students loving on them, will ultimately bear fruit in their lives long-term. One boy in particular came this weekend to San Jose and seeing how he went from being a youth who had no value, to who he is today, allows me to see simply in his demeanor, the value put back into his life through knowing his value and worth in God. All the labor is well worth the effort. I remember when we used to ask him what he liked to do or was good at, as all the others boys surfed, played soccer, worked, etc. he said nothing and he really meant it. He just went to school to kill time and then would go play video games all day. He would walk around with his head hung low. Now he walks around with a lot of confidence in himself and knowing and recognizing God's presense and his value in God. He is a different teenager than I knew over a year ago and its because a few guys and girls took time to invest in him and help him see his value. This is why we do what we do! He now surfs and the funny thing is; just today he showed me his profile pic on FB of him surfing the waves, which prompted me to write this post. Please keep the Freeman family and team in your prayers as they are going forward working in a local preschool and also continuing to work with the youth in this town through surf and skate competitions and being open to simply forming relationships that are planting seeds in the lives of these often forgotten children and youth of Jaco.
Since being back in San Jose, Costa Rica, I am excited to be able to support my room mate here who began as my student, then friend, staff for the Children at Risk School(CRS) and finally leader of Metro ministries in Costa Rica. It has been a huge responsibility and undertaking but since I left to go to Mexico, the entire ministry was placed in her lap. Since, she has made this ministry her own and there is visible fruit to see from her labors already. Even more exciting to me, when I go and help her with the kid's ministry, I see her putting into practice what she has learned from the year she took the CRS and training and how God prepared her at this time to be a pioneer. She could never have imagined she would be running such a program on her own or how God worked it all out, but its a perfect fit for her. I enjoy seeing not only the kid's faces light up seeing the "Metro Kids" truck coming to their neighborhood but also Renate's face as she shares with the kids about God. To read more about her ministry, I have included the website on this blog. To me, this is the fruit of our training and school. At times I get discouraged asking myself how am I personally impacting these kids lives but in moments like these, are when God reminds me that the impact the students are having from the training they received is multiplied so many times over than what I can alone do. By disciplining, training and encouraging the students to dream big and to go forward in the vision God has given them utilizing their gifts, impacting, restoring and bringing His light to the broken children all over the world; it brings me joy and allows me to "stay the course," in essence.
Another exciting thing that I get to see is how the Freeman family has been able to pioneer work with children and youth at risk in a town in Costa Rica called Jaco. I have blogged about this area before where we as the 1st Children at Risk School did three months of outreach, researching the need and the resources and work that was already going on there. Jaco is known for "sex tourism" and it also has several migrant communities that live in impoverished conditions in the river areas of this town. Since this school's outreach, there has been another group of students continuing the pioneering work there as well as yet another couple of students from the CRS in Tijuana there right now. I can already see the impact and change that community has had just simply by people investing and networking and unifying the work that is already going on in the town. The Freeman family, with whom we pioneered the CRS, moved there about a year ago and have a heart and vision to see change in that community as they are commiting long term there. Several of the youth we worked with, have grown and changed. Some had considered doing a DTS in San Jose but unfortunately they ended up choosing their own path which seemed not to be the best choice for them. Yet, I trust in God that the seeds that were planted in their hearts from the Freemans and students loving on them, will ultimately bear fruit in their lives long-term. One boy in particular came this weekend to San Jose and seeing how he went from being a youth who had no value, to who he is today, allows me to see simply in his demeanor, the value put back into his life through knowing his value and worth in God. All the labor is well worth the effort. I remember when we used to ask him what he liked to do or was good at, as all the others boys surfed, played soccer, worked, etc. he said nothing and he really meant it. He just went to school to kill time and then would go play video games all day. He would walk around with his head hung low. Now he walks around with a lot of confidence in himself and knowing and recognizing God's presense and his value in God. He is a different teenager than I knew over a year ago and its because a few guys and girls took time to invest in him and help him see his value. This is why we do what we do! He now surfs and the funny thing is; just today he showed me his profile pic on FB of him surfing the waves, which prompted me to write this post. Please keep the Freeman family and team in your prayers as they are going forward working in a local preschool and also continuing to work with the youth in this town through surf and skate competitions and being open to simply forming relationships that are planting seeds in the lives of these often forgotten children and youth of Jaco.
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