Costa Rica Mission Trip

 

I love when we get to see God's will play out in our lives.  The Lord began a work in Brett and I before we ever even knew each other, and now, many years later; so many things are making sense!

We desire to see followers of Christ live out the great commission.  Through many prayers we have started the process to start a non-profit that will give us a platform to give those seeking to serve, an opportunity to do so in capacities that may not otherwise be available to them!

One way we are doing that is through low-cost mission trips.  In May 2015 we are leading a group of 14 (children, teens, & adults) to San Jose, Costa Rica for a week long mission trip.

Please pray for our team, Mission of Hope Ministries, and most of all, the people who we will come in contact with!

A more specific way to pray for us, is financial provisions. 

 If you want to support us financially; for a $20 donation we will send you the T-shirt shown above!  I can ship the shirt anywhere in the United States.  Donations can be made by check or paypal!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!!!

Country Spotlight: Pray for Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica : Rich Coast

- The "riches" of Costa Rica attract many to the country in hopes of escaping poverty and making a better life for themselves, only to sink even further into poverty

-Pray for the ministries of Costa Rica, both domestic and foreign, that their work continues to impact the country in the name of Jesus

-Pray for the people we will come in contact with May 2015 when we lead a group of 14 on a mission trip to San Jose.  Lift our team up in prayer, for most of our group, this will be their very first mission trip!  Pray for Mission of Hope ministries, the group we will be serving with while in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida en Cristo: Because true "pure life" can come only through Christ!

Restore My Soul

Recently Brett challenged his teen class to memorize Psalm 23.  On New Years Eve, he asked them to remember and share something God did for them in 2014.  Before each one shared he had them read the 23 Psalm aloud, since they were all suppose to be studying and memorizing the passage.  

 

As I sat there and listened to 15 teenagers read aloud the very powerful passage I became more and more emotional!  My heart and mind broke down each verse and what it meant to me, especially over this last year...

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

The end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 was a hard lesson on letting go and allowing the Lord to truly be my shepherd.  I could go on for days about how lost I am without Him and how going my own way always ends in Him finding me and bringing back to a place of "safety" under His rod and staff.  There is nothing I need or want outside of the goodness and mercy of the Lord.

 

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

 

Despite where I may want to wander or stray off to, He is so good to bring me to a place of rest and peace, the beginning of 2014 was just that as he took me from all distractions and into a place of truly being still in His presence.

 

He leads me beside still waters.

 

Daily I thirst for something more than this world; the hectic, crazy, evil, torturous world.  The Lord has taught me to listen and seek out His voice, and He will give me the purest, living water; Himself.  Jesus is the still, peaceful, quenching, living water our souls long for.

  

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

 

 Restoration means to return something back to its original state/design.  I have never been perfect, but that is what God created me to be, and sin took that away.  Everyday God is repairing a piece of my soul and bringing me one step closer to, not my own, but His righteousness.  Not that I may boast, but that I may do my part to spread His name and cause to every soul in need.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

 

 This year definitely had its challenges.  Through them all God has not changed, He has kept every promise.  His deity, omnipresence, and Word are my backbone.  I shall not fear!

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

 

The Lord's power prevails and His anointing prevents the enemy from disturbing His perfect hospitality, that I may enjoy the goodness of my Lord.

 

my cup overflows.

 

2014 was most definitely a year of blessings.  The desires of my heart have been abundantly given and I pray that they only increase my service to the Lord.  That they may aid as facilitators to what He asks of me!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

 

Through it all, I long for forever, the emotions of home overwhelm me.  His grace is sufficient for me.  His unending love is my cornerstone. In Christ alone, I have hope for 2015!!!

Many were my plans...

Reflecting and Remembering...

2014 was one of few years that were for the most part all planned out.  I knew where I was going to be and pretty much what I would be doing every month of the year.  However, it turned out to be the most surprising spontaneous years of my life.  

God is alive...

Our God is alive and working.  Although He is never changing, He is in the business of changing lives.  I love the way he molds and works us into who He designed us to be.

Here is a very short timeline of 2014...

Jan: I left for the World Race, expecting to return in November.

March: God impressed upon me to bless someone in His name and He led me home for a week for my sisters wedding, where no one was expecting me.  While home, Brett purposed that we become a force of one for the kingdom of God.

April: God's voice and guidance for the future became loud and clear to me,  I returned to the United States, Brett met my flight in California and on April 30th, Brett and I got married.

May: The first week of May we drove across the southwestern united states, exploring new territory new to both of us on our way home.

June: In June we spent three weeks with young souls at church camp and made a fast weekend trip to Texas where Brett officiated his first wedding.

July: We drove a van of teenagers to South Carolina for a week of serving the people of Hilton Head Island.

Sept: Something God has laid on both of our hearts began to tangibly manifest as we started making preparations to lead a mission trip to Costa Rica

This winter we experienced a little bit of a schedule slow down and I pray we use it to remember all the wonderful, unexpected blessings of the year!

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21