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Carolina

This past weekend Jin and I went to North Carolina for a little rest and relaxation! I wish I had taken some pictures but we were just having too much fun! First, we flew into Fayetteville around 10 pm and drove back to Goldsboro with Jin's mom. We stayed up till almost 2 AM with Jin's parents and little sister, Jessica, looking through old family pictures for the wedding. It was so fun :)

The next morning we got up and drove to the Bojangles in Clayton to meet with Chris and Cathleen Thore to talk about Summershine!! Summershine is the ministry that we will be working with in Newburgh, NY this summer. We will be driving up there around July 11 and spending three months in an RV working at the KOA kampground planning activities for families. We spent several hours with them going over the plans for the summer. I am SO thankful for this opportunity and excited to see what God does.

Then we headed to the wedding! It was so fun to see Elizabeth and Joel get married and see lots of old friends. Jin hadn't seen a lot of his college friends in a year so it was a great time of catching up and hearing about the last year. After the wedding we headed back to Goldsboro and hung out, ate some "Kimchi Jjigae", and watched our new favorite show "Bones". The next morning we got up early and drove back to Fayetteville to head home.

Then we had Mother's Day lunch with my family and got ready for the week. It was a great weekend and I'm sad that its over, but looking forward to July 1!!!

Sorry this post is just text...I always forget to take pictures!!

The Bell Safari

Paige, Jenny, Me and Joanie at the Dallas Winter Conference

Two people who were very influential in my life throughout college: Jenny and Cody Bell. I met Jenny one of my first weeks as a freshman at Texas A&M and she met with me and encouraged me to join Campus Crusade for Christ. Over the next few years Jenny discipled me and showed me by example what it meant to live an evangelistic lifestyle. Her discipleship ultimately led me to get involved with the Greek Bible study and go on summer project. And of course, that changed my life :). I am so thankful for the impact that both Jenny and Cody have had on me and my walk with God, so I want to share with you about an exciting opportunity that they are going to be a part of! They will be moving to Zimbabwe (Africa) to work with LIFE ministry Zimbabwe (Campus Crusade for Christ). Cody will be working with the local people training pastors, distributing aid, and showing the Jesus film. Jenny will be working with staff women and caring for orphans and widows in the community.

Jenny, Tanner, and Cody Bell

 I wanted to share something from their website  that gives a picture of what they will be doing.

"What brought us to this decision? Several reasons brought us to the same conclusion - to go:

1. 1.We will have the opportunity to learn more of what it is to live by faith, from some of the strongest and some of the most passionate Christians on Earth - Africans.
2. 2.It gives Jenny the opportunity to use her gifts of Mercy and Helps (Empathizing with so many needy people and doing what she can to encourage and help them).
3. 3.The opportunity for Jenny to work with orphans, widows and care for the national staff.
4. 4.Tanner to be exposed and immersed in different cultures to create more of a Global mindset.
5. 5.I (Cody) will have the opportunity to empower Africans to lead and reach their people in the best ways possible.
6. 6.I will be able to pioneer, through reaching a province and searching for emerging African leaders that I can invest and build into that will replace my leadership.
7. 7.To learn how to lead, train, empower in different cultures to form me into a more global minded leader.
8. 8.I will have the opportunity to learn leadership in an international context at one of the best African Graduate Schools (African Leadership and Management Academy in Harare, Zimbabwe). I will be earning a masters degree in Leadership and Management while we are living in Zimbabwe.
9. 9.To be drawn nearer to our Lord through new challenges.
10. 10.To be obedient to His calling"
    
    
    Please pray for the Bell family as they seek to raise the funds to fulfill God's calling on their lives. If you would like to give towards their ministry click here! 

Missing another part of the world

So for the past week or so, East Asia has really been on my heart. I just miss my time there! The area is so distinct, so its hard to explain what it was like for me there. Those 6 weeks were very difficult but amazing too! I made some really sweet friends and saw God's power like I had never seen before! I honestly don't think about my time there often, probably because it was such a different experience. But, I want to be more diligent in praying for that area and my friends there. So, I want to ask you my readers to join me today in prayer for that area of the world. Pray for God's power to be manifest in mighty ways and for hearts to be softened for the Gospel. 

Chicken feet...i promise i really ate one.

Yeah, I got my haircut one of the first days and the stylist asked me to come to Japan with him to be his hair model.

beautiful scene

Jaozi (dumplings). One of my friends taught me how to make these!

Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."


PS I need to start learning Korean...

Road trip!!

This past weekend Jin and I traveled back to Aggieland for one last visit before we move to Colorado! It was so much fun! Our main agenda was FOOD...we wanted to eat at all of our favorite places that we can't get anywhere else.

First stop: Beef fajitas at Ninfas (I didn't even get a picture of it because we were so busy eating!!)

Next stop...$4 movie (can't beat it!!) We saw "The Lincoln Lawyer" it was really good!

Then we went to Mugwalls to talk and read a little bit.

But we ended up just playing on our IPhones :)

Then we headed over to my good friend Haley's to get ready for salsa lessons at the Village Cafe! I wish I had taken a video of this. It was so much fun! 

The next day we finished our food frenzy with our all time favorite College Station places...Jin's and Blue Baker. 

Yes, he is.

Then we headed over to the George Bush Library for a little "picnic" before we headed home. It was a great weekend and I leave you with this little treat. 

fearfully and wonderfully made

For the past several months I have been volunteering a crisis pregnancy resource center, working with women to educate them and provide support during a really scary time. I absolutely love it and a highlight for me has been working with clients on a consistent basis. Sarah (I changed her name...) is one of those clients. I met her on one of my first nights at the clinic, she came in for an appointment to confirm her pregnancy and get help. One of the other volunteers and I took her into the counseling room and started talking to her about her situation. Sarah came to the United States from Kenya to go to college in 2010 was hoping to go back after she finished, until she found out she was pregnant. We were able to talk to Sarah about her options and she signed up for an education program that the center offers to learn about pregnancy and parenting and earn baby clothes and other items at the same time. For the next several weeks, I helped Sarah through the education program. We watched videos together about nutrition, fetal development, and the delivery process. But one day Sarah just stopped coming. The volunteers and I tried to call her but her number had been disconnected. I was disappointed and though I would probably never see her again.

But just a few weeks ago I received a note that Sarah had called one of our other volunteers. We reconnected with her and found out that she had just had a healthy baby girl! This past Saturday I was able to visit Sarah at her apartment and meet her little girl. It was so fun to see the baby and be reminded of just how amazing life really is. I sat with Sarah for several weeks while this little baby was growing inside of her and to be able to hold this baby was so fun!

For you created my inmost being; 

   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

   your works are wonderful, 

   I know that full well. 

 My frame was not hidden from you 

   when I was made in the secret place, 

   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

 Your eyes saw my unformed body; 

   all the days ordained for me were written in your book 

   before one of them came to be. 

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! 

   How vast is the sum of them! 

 Were I to count them, 

   they would outnumber the grains of sand.

Psalm 139: 13-18

25 years ago...

Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary to my parents! 

25 years ago in a Oklahoma City, OK they became Mr. and Mrs. 

Thank you for providing such an amazing example of love and marriage to your children!

Before the throne of God above

So lately I have been listening to this Shane and Shane station on Pandora while I'm getting ready in the mornings. I have fallen in LOVE with their newest CD "Pages". Its actually not that new, (2007), but its new to me! So if you haven't listened to it, I encourage you to check it out! This is a pretty well known song but I just LOVE the lyrics.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

86 days

DAYS TILL...

1. The days of the long distance relationship are over
2. My name will begin and end with E
3. I will be moving away from 2 Twin Bridge again, this time for-eva
4. The person sharing my bathroom will NOT be stealing my clothes 
5. I'm getting MARRIED!

Nope, I'm not counting down or anything...

Another reason why I can't wait to move to Denver!

Denver Seminary!

Yesterday I found out that I have been accepted to Denver Seminary for a Master of Arts in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health! Hopefully, I will be starting school next spring. 

Why do we minister?

Motivation for ministry does not come from the ministry, the motivation for ministry comes from the unveiling of the glory of Jesus Christ.

--from an email I got at work. 

This is totally something I have been thinking about lately! Then I saw this on someone's email signature and I just had to post it. 

Sometimes when God becomes your "job" it becomes a routine and you forget that ministry is first and foremost for the glory of God. And not for your own personal glory. This idea hit me over the head when I was in Guatemala and I have been thinking about it ever since. I was very convicted of doing ministry for my own personal satisfaction and fulfillment (to feel good about myself), rather than to serve the Lord. Have any of you ever struggled with this? Anyone? How does this even happen?

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?

I guess we just start to find identity and in good works and what we are DOING (who we think we ARE) instead of what Christ has DONE and who He IS. What an empty pursuit. That is just not the Gospel! 

Romans 5:8 "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinner's, Christ died for us." 

Somehow I forget that God's glory is my sole purpose in life, whether in full-time Christian work or not! It is when I see His glory that my heart is turned toward ministry. Lord, please continually remind me of this truth. It is freedom! 

This picture has nothing to do with this post. I just like it :) I took it on our last night in Antigua. 

I can't wait to move to DENVER!

A few reasons why I'm so excited to move to the "Mile High City" (in no particular order)

1. Of course, the scenery. 

Denver has tons of parks and lakes against backdrop of the Rocky Mountains

2.peer pressure to be healthy! 

The city has bikes you can rent and return around the city. Its like REDBOX for bikes!

I can't wait to cook yummy meals like this!

3. Finding fun local places to frequent

We found this place when we were in Denver in March. Its right in the middle of a neighborhood and the ice cream was delicious!

3. Being only 1/12 hrs away from Estes Park! I have gone there almost every summer since I was little. Jin went with us when we first started dating, lots of fun memories there :)

Fly Fishing

At the top of the Aerial Tram

Of course he was a pro :) haha!

4. Outdoor activities

This is the flagship REI store...of course they have kayakers out front

And being able to go skiing on the weekends!

Pictures!

Learning how to paint!

Some ladies at church

Davida and I acting out the story of Jonah with the kids

Eating lunch together...it was so good!

Claudia Veronica

Sweet smile

Samuel loving his reflection

Natasha, Ashley, and I after we finally finished painting!

Vivi!

Sweetest little girl

Reading about God's love in Spanish!

love this family :)

In Antigua!

Ferndanda at the beauty shop

Joyful

You make known to me the path of life; 

you will fill me with joy in your presence, 

with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 

--Psalm 16:11 

Every tribe and tongue...

So, on the first full Day in Guatemala we went to 2 church services. I had never been to a church service overseas and it was an amazing experience. I felt the presence of the Lord so strongly as I watched these people worship with their whole hearts. Most of the time, I had no idea what they were saying but it reminded me that God is bigger than my "American" view of Him. He is Lord of ALL nations and one day people from every nationality will worship Him together. I can't wait! 

Back from Guatemala (and Denver)...pics to come soon!

So i'm finally back in Dallas after a long two weeks! The first week was spent in Guatemala working with a church in children's rescue home and a feeding program! I spent most of the week painting the boys and girls' rooms and playing with the sweet kids. More stories coming soon...

Then last week, Jin and I traveled to Denver and Colorado Springs to check out our new home! We will hopefully be moving there in the early fall. It was a fun week, a little overwhelming but a sweet time together also! This is a huge step of faith for us, but we are very excited! 

Join my team!

The children’s clothes were torn and dirty and there was a faint smell of human waste in the air.  As we drove up to the school they ran to greet us, barefoot in the rocky dirt. This was the first time an American had entered the village and so the whole community came out to catch a glimpse. One boy captured my attention as I watched them waving through the window.  When I got off the bus and approached him, I noticed  that he was wearing an old  “Boomerang Express” t-shirt like the ones we had for VBS a couple of years ago. I started talking with him and in broken English he told me his name was Marvin. Once he realized I knew little Spanish, he tried to teach me simple vocab words like “Caballo” (horse) and “Manzana” (apple). I was able to talk with Marvin that afternoon and share my testimony with him. I gave him a bracelet that tells the story of God’s love and was able to go through the plan of salvation with him. 

After spending some time in the individual classrooms our team passed out packs of food and toys to the children. I was surprised to see Marvin running up to me with something in his hand. He handed me an old worn out horse Beanie Baby and told me he wanted to give me something to remember him by (“a recuerdo”). This boy had nothing and yet he wanted to give me a gift. I was humbled by the gesture and reminded of the story in Luke 21 about the widow who gave all she had, even though it was only two coins. Marvin  taught me a valuable lesson about faith that day.

This story is from a trip to Guatemala with Global Aid Network in November, I shared about Marvin briefly before but this is the whole story. My team and I were able to share Christ with an entire community using the Gospel bead bracelets as well as provide shoes, toys, and food.  I will be returning to Guatemala with Global Aid Network in March to work with an orphanage and after school programs with a local ministry called ENDAC. We will be providing water filters as well as food and school supplies for the children in these programs. Please pray for our team as we travel back to Guatemala City to share God’s love to a country in dire need of hope.

I need to raise between $1,500 to $2,000 to fund this second trip. 

That means If 40 people give $50 I will reach my goal!!

 I am so thankful for the team of people behind me this year supporting me financially and through prayer. I am trusting God to continue to provide by adding new people to this team. If you feel this is where God is leading you just click here!

Also, if you know of anyone who might be interested in joining my financial support team for this trip please let me know!