Knowing God and Making Him Known......

I am beginning to witness an extreme perspective change inside of me. God has been meeting me more and more as I get to know who He is and what it really means to have a relationship with Him. Remember how I went out to the beach that one day and was going to ask God about things on my heart? I am slowly beginning to realize what an immature approach that has been in my life! The truth is, God speaks-He speaks very clearly. But in order to hear Him, I have to have a perspective in which his voice can penetrate my heart. It's not about me....it never has been. No, it's about relationship with the God of the universe. It's about knowing Him, abiding in Him, allowing Him to really lead me in this life. I have a purpose and calling that was created specifically for me...whether or not it gets carried out depends on how well I am listening...

For now, that calling is missionary work. As I think of the possibilities of what could occur for the next six months if I am listening and obeying God, feelings of intense joy and freedom bubble up from deep inside of me. Just last Saturday, our school climbed the second highest lighthouse in the world here in Mazatlan to pray with the local church, amor y libertad (freedom and liberty). Our focus was on praying out over the city that lay down before us.....as our prayers rained down on the city of Mazatlan, we became one body. It was no longer just "their" city. It was OUR city, with all the violence, prostitution, drug-trafficking, and hurting people in it. I think it is easy to stay in the mentality that I am just here for six months, that Mexico is not my own country, and that this culture is not my own. But the reality is, God brought me here at this time for a certain purpose, and therefore, IT IS my country.....God wants to reveal what is on his heart about His people here in Mexico. Pretty exciting stuff!!!    

God started opening up my eyes to these people yesterday when our team went out to a local town. As we turned off of the main road and proceeded to travel down a dirt road, I saw the immense simplicity in which these people live. The houses only contained maybe 20-30 square feet inside and were made of broken down pieces of wood. The roofs were simple sheets of rusty tin laid across the top. Trash was everywhere on the side of the road. It was in this very broken down town where our team found a bunch of children playing in their usual spot-a wide open space of dusty earth baking under the intense heat of the sun. We went out and played a game of soccer. I don't really play a lot of sports, but soccer is one of the ones I really like. As I was guarding my teams' goal, I suddenly felt a small hand grab mine. I looked down to see a beautiful little Mexican girl, probably about nine years old. She was so excited that we had come to play with them, and as I was the only other girl playing, we clicked right away. It didn't really matter that I speak very little Spanish. I was able to tell her, "Tu pello es muy bonito!", which means "your hair is very beautiful". She beamed. She had the most gorgeous long, brown hair. 

A little boy of about five kept attempting to ride his bike across the field during the game, but tipped over after only getting a few feet along. Some of my friends soon caught on and strolled him along in his bike for a "free ride". Another little girl kept tickling me and my friends, giggling excitedly. 

Afterwards, my friend Alejandro from Mexico City told the children about Jesus and led about 7-8 to the Lord. It took just one simple soccer game to bring all these young people into God's kingdom! It didn't matter that they lived in what the US would rate as "lower than poverty" homes or that some of them didn't even own homes. They had just gained the greatest treasure in the world that could never be snatched away from them. 

Beside this, I have really been soaking up what I am learning in my classes...I keep laughing internally about the content of each lecture because I can totally see how God has already taught me a lot of this in my own life since I lost my job. Even the order of the lectures is the same-first, God showed me humility, then giving up idols, then walking in more faith....all three of those topics came up this week in that exact order. I love it when God confirms things like that! Until next time......