Habitat House

Yesterday, I went down to the Habitat House my Mom's church is building. I have never been to Day 1 of a Habitat build. I helped put up the house frame, helped place the trusses on the roof, and I helped measure where the trusses would be going up today. This gives me the opportunity to both meet new people, and learn something about home building/repair.

DEX Report

DEX stands for Discipleship Experience. It is a mission trip for University students, to join a team of young adults, venture all over the world for cross-cultural experiences, with the purpose of spreading the gospel, and stretching their understanding of the world. Countless lives have been touched by the love and faithfulness of Christ.

When these students sign up for the trip, they do not know where they are going to be going or what they will be doing. The young adults simply sign up for an eight week (two month) mission trip, trusting all will work out, both financially and in the place chosen for them. Our church supported five people going to India.

During tonight's presentation I was reminded of some great times I had in Indonesia and East Timor. I had forgotten about some of the healings and the miracles God worked in and through the people. I laughed when the young men talked about always eating with their right hand (I know you clean yourself after using the squatty potty using your left hand!) My heart went out for a girl that was so passionately nicknamed "Devil girl." She was prayed over, demon's left, God entered, and she became "Angel girl!"

I was not surprised, rather joyful, when one of the students shared a story about an older man who had kept his distance for days, but right before the group left, he opened up a little, allowing one of the young men to pray for him, and his shoulder was later healed. This was an eye opening experience for both the student and the older man. The student was scared to pray for healing--what if it doesn't work, what could happen to me, is this really God calling me to pray for healing?...the questions go on... This young man chose obedience to Jesus Christ, showing a true faith, rooted in love, to Godhead--God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The older man experienced God's healing power. In the book of Mark, after a healing, people would tell of the great things God has done. I expect nothing less out of this man!

These University aged students are forever changed, not only in their view of world cultures, but in relationships, and God's power and might! Amen! :)

Loaves and Fishes

For the past couple weeks I have heard the pastor talk about Loaves and Fishes. Loaves and Fishes is a program our church sponsors, where once a month, the homeless come into the church, and are fed a fresh, warm, meal. The food is provided by members of the church, and then it is served.



I had also read about serving at Loaves and Fishes in the bulletin. I've gone before. I knew I wanted to go, but I was making no action or thoughts towards actually participating in Loaves and Fishes this month. After church, my friend asked me to join her in serving! Spur of the moment decision, "Yes, I would like to do that!" I invited another friend to come, and she came too! So there were three of us girls from Soulhouse! Clearly, God had been working on me for a couple weeks at that point. (Soulhouse is the young adults group at my church.)

I spent most of my time serving water and lemonade to the guests. The people are very kind and appreciative--please, thank you, we appreciate you serving us, etc. And I was glad to be a part of this outreach! I have also noticed that I am now seeing some of these people in contemporary worship!



While at Loaves and Fishes, I noticed two younger people, that looked to be about my age. In talking with them, I found at that they were new to San Antonio and have been coming to the church for a couple weeks. And they are already serving in such a fashion! Awesome!

We had a young adults fajita party, right after Loaves and Fishes, so I invited them to come, and would you know, they came and joined us! God is bringing new people into our young adults group, and we love it! Yay for Jesus!

Jesus Christ is Lord

As I was driving down the road, facing the I-10, I looked up onto the interstate and noticed a semi that read,

It took me a full 45-60 seconds before I understood what was being said. Those were never words used at my house. It is sad that a statement like that has to be made! When I finally "got it," my reaction was to laugh; laugh out of ignorance to societies ways, and I was busting!

Yodalis Florentino

For almost 10 years now I have been praying off and on about sponsoring a child in another country. My parents sponsor a couple different people through World Vision, but each time I went online to look at the commitment, it just did not seem to be the right thing to do at that time.

I have been reading in the Church bulletin, and in the weekly mailer that sponsors were needed for children in the Dominican Republic (DR), through Food for the Hungry. The sponsorship had been paid, all you need to do is write them back and forth. This had been pegging away at my heart for a good three weeks.

Today, Phyllis came to Sunday school and made an announcement about these kids in the DR that needed sponsors, to be pen pals. Financial obligations were taken care of! Don't you love it when God speaks to you, and then since you fail to do anything about it, he places the opportunity right in front of you, so then and there, you can make a decision!

I am now the writing sponsor of Yodalis Florentino. His birthday is the 13 October 1995 and he loves mathematics! :)

Top 2 Prayer Requests

So...I have two prayer requests right now

1. I need a job for the fall! I would like to continue to teach HS Math.
2. I am training for the SA Half Marathon and I have been experiencing quite a bit of pain in my hip. I am running 28-30 miles per week.

Yo habla un pequito Espanol!

As I entered LAX (airport in Los Angeles, CA) I noticed an older Mexican gentleman that looked quite lost and confused. He spoke a few words to me, and I immediately responded, "Yo habla un pequito Espanol!" This brought a huge smile to his face! He gave me all his paperwork so that I could get his boarding pass, luggage, and anything else needed. I was able to do this for him and as it turns out, I had the joy of sitting next to him on my flight home. Wahoo!

You did what?

Towards the end of the academia year, I started helping a student with his UIL forms so that he could play basketball as a fifth year senior. At the end of the year he was told that his request was denied. My advise, fight for it! I told him to appeal the decision and he chose to do so after seeking the advise of others as well.

For the past couple months I have been praying for my student, the decision that is to be made, and for his heart and "sole" (he is a basketball player! =) We would text back and forth a little bit, he shared with me that he was scared, and really was looking forward to playing Varsity Basketball once again.

The night before his court date I was able to call him and pray with him. I cannot say he won his case, nor that everything went perfectly, but this young man knows that God is good, and that he is loved, most dearly by T. Yes, he calls me T. =) So to any teacher out there, it's not impossible to pray for a student, and you may have the opportunity to pray with a student someday!

Blessings in Dating

I went out on a fantastic date this past Thursday! The young man picked me up at the airport and took me out to a restaurant. I only ate 1/2 of the sandwich, and it was conveniently cut in half. When we were ready to leave, the server asked me if I wanted a to-go box, hesitantly I said, "Yes, please." When asked why I hesitated, my answer was simple, "I doubt I will actually eat this other half." I took the sandwich to-go. As we walked back to the car, I saw a woman that I was able to give the sandwich to. So, my sandwich was able to bless another person! I didn't even say God Bless You or something like that, I simply said I want you to have this. The woman was very gracious.

God in the Salon

I'm vacationing with my family in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada, visiting the extended family. This past week I had time to go have a manicure. As I sat down, with my IPOD and Dad's book, "What's so Great about Christianity" by Dinesh D'Souza, the girl asked me to place my hands in the water and then said, "Oh, are you Christain!?" I replied, "Yes." She had noticed my two rings and the book that I was reading.

This spurred further conversation. Shelby, my estetician, had come home from a Christian Camp the previous weekend. She asked me about faith, and readily told me about the experiences and what she had learned at the camp. Through further conversation I learned that she wanted a teen study bible, but was not able to find one in the city.

I was able to go to bn.com and order her a NIV Teen Study Bible and the Revolve Magazine Bible. I am honoured to share the gift of Gods word with Shelby! I also learned that she is the only believer in the family. My prayer for Shelby is that she is a light in her family, and they come to know Jesus Christ through Shelby's example. God is good!

Need Food

As I was driving home from an appointment with my esthetician, I noticed a man holding a "Need Food" sign. I was immediately compelled to do something. I thought--I don't have money to give him, nor do I want to give him money. And then it donned on me. I still had my lunch in my lunch box, which I had not ate. (We had a x-mas party at work and I ate other food.) I became quite excited! Opening my lunch bag, I grabbed a Kids clif bar--Z bar, chocolate, my favourite flavour.

Thank God the red light was long, I was able to roll down my window, give the man the clif bar, and converse with him for a short time. He ate the bar immediately and seemed most thankful for the food. His response was different than I expected. As I offered him the clif bar and he accepted, the man said, "Thank you, baby, you're a real sweetheart." Almost like I was a little child. I was glad that I could do something.

Satisfaction

After being back from Africa for a good couple of months, I'm really starting to process more and more. I am truly amazed at how satisfied I was while overseas. I find myself to be just as content here, as I was over there, but when I was there, I did not have all the "stuff" that I have here. I lived out of two carry on sized suitcases. The one thing I missed while I was gone would be my family, although here in the big S.A. my family is around all the time. My Mom is in Guatemala right now, I'm really excited for her, and what God is going to do in and through her. I hope to be the woman my mother is someday. We serve such an amazing God! I am now a member of First Presbyterian Church, and I am happy to serve on their global missions committee, as my heart is in world missions.

One week down...

One week down. God has truly blessed me through this position. I have had an amazing group of students given to me this year! I have also had great support from the different teachers at the high school, as they are quite excited to have me teaching at Jay. I'm telling you, God is good.