A Cloud of Witnesses

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Throughout Scripture, God makes it clear that there is power in numbers. From the friendship between David and Jonathan and the companionship between Paul and Silas to the creation of Eve to partner with Adam to Jesus calling his twelve disciples, it is evident that God ignites power in numbers. God uses Christians to sharpen one another, to encourage one another, and to pray for one another. Sometimes it's those relationships that keep us going, give us discernment, or challenge us in some way. There is strength in this edification that sometimes cannot be explained.

I have been richly blessed these past three month to be encouraged and lifted up by a vast group of brothers and sisters in Christ as the Lord prepares me to leave for Peru. Many of these people have supported me financially, many have eagerly asked for updates, and many have responded to this calling by offering prayers on my behalf. I am humbled by the commitment and dedication and PRAISE GOD for using these men, women, and children to provide for me. WOW! If you are reading this, you are likely one of those people....so THANK YOU for your support.

Last Wednesday I was especially blessed as a group of these loved ones took time to come to my parents' home to pray over me before leaving the country. Each one shared verses from Scripture and other words of encouragement that are still running through my heart and mind as the Holy Spirit prepares me in ways I could not have even imagined. They then prayed over me, confidently asking for the Lord's protection and guidance. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

What a gift it is that God invites us to come together in prayer to Him! It reminds me of the early church in Acts 2 when it says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." (Acts 2:42-43). I have been deeply supported by the fellowship that God has surrounded me with these past few months and the prayers so many of you have offered to God. May we be filled with awe together as the Lord works in us and through us not only in Peru, but in all the places that he has brought us to.

My house in Lunahuana, Peru!!!

Fear is a Lie

"Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid; just believe." Mark 5:36

Mark chapters 4-6 portray a strong tension between between being afraid and having faith. Chapter 3 begins with Jesus telling the Parable of the Sower in which he explains different ways in which his Word is sown in the hearts of men...Sometimes it is stripped away by the worries and desires of this world. Other times it produces results a hundred times more than what was originally sown! At the end of this chapter we see Jesus displaying his power and authority over the wind and the waves as he calms the storm despite the lack of faith in his disciples. He says to them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you sill have no faith?" Mark 4:40. Fear. Faith. It seems to be a difficult tension.

As the chapters continue, we see Jesus healing a demon-possessed man, a sick woman, and a dead girl. We see him feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. We see him walking on water amidst gusts of wind that have caused the disciples to strain at the oars of their boat. Miracle after miracle showing Christ's control over each situation yet time and time again the disciples and other followers weakly succumb to the fear so prevalent within. Fear....resulted from trust put into something or someone other than the One who has the control...control that had been displayed right in front of their eyes. "And [Jesus] was amazed at their lack of faith." Mark 6:6

It is interesting to me how fear and faith seem to have this tension when there really should not be any tension at all. We are assured by Christ throughout Scripture that He does hold authority and power over EVERYTHING! In John 16:33 he says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Friends, fear is a lie! We have nothing to be afraid of when our faith is in Jesus Christ because he has complete control. So what is it that is causing you to be fearful? To worry? To stress? I encourage you to bring it to Jesus in prayer.

Even when we are faithless, Christ is faithful (II Timothy 2:13)....how is he showing you his faithfulness?

A New Call

"So we are always

of good courage. We

know that while we

are at home in the body

we are away from the

Lord, for we walk by faith,

not by sight."

II Corinthians 5:6-7

Part of the Peru team!

Greetings, loved ones! As a new chapter in my life begins to unfold, I've decided to

change the blog along with it. I hope you enjoy the new pictures and updates along

with the new stories and adventures!

As most of you know, the Lord has called me to Peru next year! This is a

tremendous change, but I am very excited for this new journey. Philadelphia was a

great experience and I miss my friends and students there, but I am looking forward

to what Peru will have in store this upcoming year. Some of you are aware of the

path that the Lord took me on that has lead to this decision, but for those of you who

do not know how this came about, I would like to take a moment to share

it with you...

For the past six years of my life I have been praying about doing mission work in

Latin America. Many of these prayers were prompted and encouraged by short term

trips I took to places like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. It was especially in

those moments that I felt the Holy Spirit tugging on my heart to stay for an extended

period of time and serve the people in this region. In college I was blessed to be

able to study Spanish and missions which continued to encourage my desire to do

mission work somewhere in Central or South America.

Throughout college it was my intent to serve overseas after I graduated. I

believe that our God prepares us in many different ways for the future ways that He

is going to call us to serve Him and at the time I saw my time at Concordia

University as a preparation for the mission field. During my senior year I contacted

multiple mission organizations that worked in Latin America, however, all the

positions that were offered to me never seemed like the right opportunity. I prayed

over each one and talked to many different mentors about some of those positions,

but the Lord never extended His calling. Instead, the assurance came with an

opportunity to go to Philly and teach at an elementary school while beginning my

Master's degree in education. I was placed in a school that was vastly Hispanic

and thought that perhaps the love I had for working in this culture was for my time in

Philadelphia. It was, but I later found out that it was also for much more that lies

ahead.

Though thankful for the experience I was having in Philadelphia, I did continue to

take a look at some websites for mission organizations thinking that in the future I

may still desire to go overseas. One day while I was skimming some opportunities,

I came across a position in Peru that seemed ideal for me. It was a position as a

relationship builder through teaching English as a foreign language with LCMS

World Mission. I e-mailed the coordinator to find out more about the position. After

about a four month application process, much mentorship, and prayer I ended up

taking the position.

I am extremely excited to be serving in Peru and am blessed to have a wonderful

team to be serving with. I was able to meet many of them at missionary orientation

in Chicago a few weeks ago. LCMS World Mission has been doing work in Peru

for about two and a half years now. The original response was disaster relief due

to an earthquake that hit a portion of the country. Since working there, many

relationships have been built and more opportunities to serve have developed.

One of these areas of service is teaching English which is where my role comes in.

I will teach youth and adults at a community center in an area about two and a half

hours southeast of Lima.

What a blessing it is for all of us to serve in whatever capacity the Lord calls us to!!

As we walk by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, may we remember to keep

our eyes fixed upon Him who loves us and praise him for the countless ways He

pours His grace out upon us!

Circle

In light of Easter, here are some powerful lyrics to listen to and meditate on...

Flyleaf - Circle Lyrics

Circle encircles the earth
Chance and choice break his heart
His innocent arm moves
To save me and I am spared

His beautiful arm is bloody and cut off
His heart ripped out to show me he loved me
But I would'nt believe him
He did all that he could, I still would not believe him

I left his arms empty and tied
Outstretched for me until he died
I left his arms empty and tied
Outstretched for me until he died

No man shows greater love
Than when a man lays down his life for his beloved

I left his arms empty and tied
Outstretched for me until he died
I left his arms empty and tied
Outstretched for me until he died

And here I'm alive
And I don't have the right
He gave me the right costing him his life
New mercy's in the morning

I believe, what if I believe you now?
Could it ever change this?
Forgive me, don't leave me
And please come back to life

I believe, what if I believe you now?
Could it ever change this?
Forgive me, don't leave me
And please come back to life
Come back to my life

I believe, what if I believe you now?
Forgive me, relieve me
Please come back life

To listen to the song....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHblSrbgxmI