Ready Rocks

It begins this Sunday

2008-08-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

Come get Brown Like Coffee- Same time, Same place, Same people, but the people are not quite the same, hopefully. Let's rock it out kiddos!

THE NEW SEMESTER

2008-08-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

BOOKS ARE ON ORDER!!! SUNDAY NIGHT DATES AND TIMES COMING SOON!!! WHY IS THIS NOT GETTING MORE PRESS THAN OBAMA'S VEEP CHOICE?

impressions

2008-08-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

It's strange how all the places we have gone to have left thier impressions on us. I know for me it seems like every little thing reminds me of where I went. today it was simply the direction that the wind was blowing that took me back. However, it is always something, if not the wind, the color of the sky, or the mannerisms of the people at the post office. It's just strange, I expected the big part of culture shock, and was prepared for that. My heart went out to the people that I fell in love with while overseas.
Along with the people i was sent to, my heart often finds itself going out to my fellow interns that I lived with and learned how to be a better member of the body with. I miss them all the time, and father usually leads me to pr for them many times. I guess I miss them so much because everyone I knew was removed from me, and they became my family during the times when I needed a brother to fight for me, or the love of a sister.
I see this in some of you others too. when you talk about your expreiences something changes in your voice you become quieter and your mind is not in this country for a few minutes. The tenderness with which you tell a story about a person of peace you met makes me remember that i'm not the only one going through this type of thing. It's such an encouragement to know that you too have learned to walk in obediance to Father, and have learned to seek not only His hand, and what He will do, but to seek His face, and who He is. I'm so glad that your obedience, whether at home or overseas, has made Father more famous.
-Julia
p.s. see you all soon!

Please pray

2008-08-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Ted and Verna, our full-time missionaries in Peru who our team worked with this June, are in Lima because Ted has had horrible pains. He's in the hospital. They are looking at what it could be right now. Maybe kidney stones or a parasite. He is being treated for a urinary infection with antibiotics right now. Please say a prayer for them. They are amazing people... also please pray for the people in Chavin, their place of ministry... they are 10 hours away.

Thanks guys.
Rachel. <3

Culture Shock

2008-08-13T10:35:00.001-07:00

is harder coming back to the States then leaving...even though I have been back about a month I still am amazed that I cringe almost everyday over how we live our lives. It sometimes makes me feel sick about how we spend our money, time and effort. We are the richest people in the world, and yet the unhappiest as well.

While in China, I was able to share with one of my Chinese friends where my happiness is found. She asked me why I was always so happy. At this point I was able to share with her the name of Jesus and how happy takes on a completely new meaning when He is the center of your life.

It is worth more than anything to me getting to share with people the Good News of Jesus. Whatever cost, no matter what, He is worth more than anything! I am a vessel to be used for His glory alone.

I am going to continue to be in culture shock indefinitely because this is not my home....

(Oh, and I have some more pictures from China on my blog and will continue to add more soon...if you wanna look)

May He be Glorified!
Briana

Hello!

2008-08-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been awhile! Summer is rapidly drawing to a close but I am excited and ready for the fall!! I am missing China desperately and it has been very difficult to be back in the States. My heart is with the people and I long to be back!

Watching the Opening Ceremony the other night made me tear up seeing all of the people of not only China but people from all nations. So many people need to hear the name of Jesus.

I am looking forward to getting to see everyone so soon! So here is some of my favorite pictures from China!

May He be Glorifed!
Briana

2008-08-08T16:13:00.001-07:00

So I am going to Africa! Can't say exactly where since this is a "public place"...

This trip was my number one choice and I am so excited to update y'all when we get back. I just think it's too exciting to write on blog... :)

Love you so much!
Rachel.

2 weeks left of summer.

2008-08-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

Wow I miss you all so much and I can't wait until we get to meet again! :) Anyone know when our first night is?

I wanted to update y'all... about Africa, I have submitted my requests for projects and I think I should be getting appointed within the week. (!!!) Please please be in prayer for the appointment team (or it might just be one person?) who has to make these decisions for so many people.

My dad is also leaving the country. Tomorrow. To move to Australia. I'm a lot better than I thought I would be, but the next few days and weeks and months... are going to be difficult with transition. I would absolutely love your prayers. Y'all are amazing.

Thank you so much. I love you all.

Rachel.<3

Mwaramutse from Burundi

2008-08-02T03:08:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! just wanted to give you a quick update in case you hadn't gotten a chance to read my own blog.

I've been in Burundi for 2 1/2 weeks, I think...haha. Something like that. It's been great and the Lord is really teaching me alot. Alot of things that I didn't expect Him to, as He normally does.

I spent the first week with one family, that lives in the compound with 47 orphans. So I got to spend alot of time with those kids, and helping a team from Canada with the holiday club they put on for the kids.

The past week and a half has been with the family I was supposed to stay with. And last week I worked in the clinic, in the lab. Mostly observing, since I really don't know how to do anything and most of their patients aren't the best for learning on. I'll spend the next week in the clinic too, hopefully getting to learn some more stuff. And then on the 12th the parents of the family I'm staying with are going to china to minister to victims of the earthquake. So I'll most likely be moving in with another girl who's here from Canada for the month, and spending that last week and a half with the kids again.

So that is the very brief version of my past 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. God has been an incredible provider and is stretching me and growing me a ton. I've battled through alot of homesickness and dealing with new culture but Jesus is so good and I know He had divine purpose for me being here even if that looks different than I thought it would.

Love you guys, and can't wait to see you all in about 3 weeks :)

It begins

2008-07-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

Howdy Boys and Girls. Laura and I hope that yur summers have been and continue to be full of knowing and making much of Jesus. Monday I will start the missions pastor job; a lot of exciting things are going on there. We are looking forward to the next few weeks when you start heading back into town and we begin to meet for the Fall semester. Let us know how we can be praying!

Looking forward, Chase

home

2008-07-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

well, i'm home. i had some REAL mexican food and havev mostly recovered from jet lag.
that being said i miss my team like crazy. they have been my family for 5 weeks and life with out them feels like...well...wierd. but i'm sure i can get used to life without them i'm just not sure how long that will take.-JC

reverse culture shock

2008-07-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

it happens.
i've never been more afraid to go home in my life. not because i don't know what it will be like physically, that is easy, it is the spritual part that i'm afraid of. what awaits me at home? how can i make this experience count for more than just some cool stories? what attacks will the enemy make towards me? am i ready? will i continue in my walk of obedience at home as i did when i was away? it all bounces around like a ping pong ball at the mercy of a hyperactive kitten. basically, a lot of questions are floating around in my mind as to how coming home will affect me and how it can have an effect on my oikas (circle of influence). every act of obedience means something to father, and i want him to become more known because of my acts of obedience towards him. to help put an end of the famine that is not of food, but of of hearing his name, not in my own strength, but through his all sufficent strenghth.
these are the things that i'm pondering at 10:55 pm (that's 4:55 PM home time) in the beautiful
land that i was sent to.
-JC

more and more...

2008-07-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

ok so i got to talk to a woman from kuwait today. amazing how father totally led me to her in a way that only he could have. and through many ways i was able to show her things about what i believe about Father and she told me things that she believes about her god. it was a beautiful time for me to ge to sow seed. pr thet father would speak to her, and briong more people who follow him to speak to her while she is here on vacation. it was a great day. Father showed me that he is soverign, and faithful to his children.
much love,
JC

Transition

2008-07-14T06:40:00.001-07:00

Summer has been wonderful and wonderfully tiring. I have been awed by the Lord on several occasions as He has given life in the Son to many many students and given others understanding of what it means for them to be invited into his heart for the nations. I have watched roost of bitterness sprayed with the "roundup" of the Holy Spirit and they died. I have once again learned what generosity looks like through the body of Christ. I am so grateful that he has allowed me to watch Him work as he has.

As the season ends, Our family will be transitioning into watching Him work in new ways for us. While I will continue to travel and preach a little bit, in August I will begin serving as the missions pastor at our Church. The man who is retiring from the position is a giant of gentleness, wisdom, and love. I am privileged to come alongside him and those he has worked with, as well as with the staff of our Church. I am looking forward to this opportunity to encourage our field workers, to walk with the people of TBC as we grow in our understanding of why we must take the gospel to the nations and finish the task of the Great Commission, and to mobilize new long-term workers, senders, and prayers.

My camp last week was in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I took a short hike each day and a little longer one one day, just to talk with the Lord. In each of these journeys I found encouragement concerning the journey we have been on and the one we are beginning. I am looking forward to being amazed all over again.

Burundi take off

2008-07-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

I take off tomorrow for Burundi. I leave at 8:40pm(7:40 Texas time) I'll be on the plane for probably 12 hours or so, then I have a 14 hour layover over night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, then I'll be on my way to Burundi Wednesday morning. I'm scheduled to get to Bujumbura at 1:05pm, so...5am Texas time. Anyways, that's the itinerary. So if you think about it and could be praying for that time of sleeping and preparation. It still hasn't really hit me that I'm going, and I'm really hoping to spend alot of the time on the plane and in Ethiopia really seeking the Lord. I'm wanting to fully trust that He'll meet me in that place, and know that He's already with me.

I'll update on here every once and a while, but I'll probably write alot more on my other blog, so you can check there if you want more updates from Africa :)

Love y'all and incredibly thankful for y'all's support and prayers,

Mel

so much to say, so little time.

2008-07-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

ok so we had our team leader go home because of a death in the family.
big blow.
we miss her alot.

in other news:
i am a louie for 2 teams (i assist the capitan and such) plus working a bit of leadership in our team leader's abscence.
intense.
more responsibility.
Can i handle it?

we pr walked in a less nice part of town today. it was good to dig into the work father has for us again after all the mess with losing out TL.
He was present.
plowing.

we went to london for a day. it was a 3 hour bus ride, but i saw things that i will never get to see again.
awesome.
touristy.
busy.

I love Cardiff. i know i will be sad to leave, or for us to not get hit by reverse culture shock, so badly. and to continue in our walks of obediance to father.
-Julia Child

Hey Guys

2008-07-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

I have read the blogs of the last several weeks now. I have been with very limited service the last couple of weeks and think I will have none the next four days. We have seen many students come to faith in Jesus this summer and many surrender to go to the nations. Grateful for the work of God among us! Thankful for your labors and praying!

Chase

10 new fanily members!

2008-07-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

in one of our parks that another intern is in. he experienced some opposition fron the enemy. hardcore. now we know why. father was about to bring some more into the family. through the conversations of our one week team there they were able to share the story and they chose to be adopted!! amazing!!
Julia Child

Healed...

2008-07-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

hello friends,

wow! this is the first spare moment I have had in quite a while to actually just sit down and share with you all. Hope your summers are off to a great start and I am missing you all VERY much :)

When I got home after spending a month in Texas, I had my whole summer already planned out in my mind of what I was going to do and whatnot. I had planned on taking two summer classes, help plan my sister's wedding, and go on a mission trip to Denver, CO with my church youth group and a variety of other things. God had a different plan for me. The community college that I had planned on attending for classes, messed up and I was only able to take one class (online-government). I making it through but it is REALLY tough taking a class that you know no one in and all your other friends are goofing off while you have to study. Prayers would be greatly appreciated :)

For those of you who do not know, my sister is getting married in August to a wonderful guy. I was really excited to come home and help plan the wedding and doing that on top of school work... REALLY does keep me busy!

BUT... the biggest thing that I have seen this summer of how God has been working, is this mission trip. The youth minister at our church had asked me a while back to go on this mission trip and I didn't know if i was going to be able to go because of summer classes. When one of them backfired, I told him that i was available but he had already found someone else to go in my place. I really was okay with that, but I was really upset because I always got something BIG out of the mission trips that I had been on. I knew that this was part of God's plan for me, but I also felt like I wasn't going to get to experience that "BIG" thing... boy was i wrong! The week while my youth group was on the mission trip, I was asked to hang out with one of my friends in high school. We went to dinner and talked about a variety of different things. After dinner, I just assumed that I was going to take her home and then head home myself, but that isn't exactly what happened. I was driving down a main road that led to her house and I started to get this feeling that I should pull over into a church parking lot... so i did. As I parked the car, my friend starting crying. She began to tell me about all of these awful things that she had done this past year and how awful of a person she was. I began to just feel the presence of God with me and I started to quote scripture and pray. I talked to her about my mistakes that I had made in the past, and HOW much I had learned from them and she said "BUT... Rebecca, what I have done, is AWFUL". I sat there a moment and then said to my friend "It doesn't matter what you did, or how awful it was. A sin is a sin and God is going to forgive of you of that sin... period. You just have to ask him to". Tears started to fill my eyes because I realized right then that you don't have to go halfway across the world (although, there are many people that do need to that and i am sooooo very thankful for them :)) to share the Word of God with someone... it could be the person sitting right beside you and in my case, it was. My friend is starting to attend church and get her life turned back around, but I know that it is because she finally realized that she can't do anything without the help of God. If you could still pray that God continues to heal her in this process :).

My summer plans, didn't turn out the way I wanted them to... so what?? I am still taking a class, i am still helping my sister plan her wedding, and in a way, I still got my mission trip.

I love you guys and gals. :)
Rebecca

Waiting for the Lord... and the mission board.

2008-06-30T11:57:00.001-07:00

Apparently, the IMB does not know when they will receive the Africa projects. So at this point, all I can do is wait. However, the IMB has assured me they will let me know when the trips come in. But of course, I will probably check every day anyway.

Please pray for patience. This is disappointing. Thank you... I love you all.

-Rachel.

2008-06-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

everyone-please pr for the interpretation of a dream and a vision had by one of the guys on our team. ask for the fathers guidance in trying to figure out what it means and how it applies to our work. the ground is hard here, but father is going to do great things. we can already see that father is moving in crazy ways within the hearts of the people here.
also a young girl from my home ch is moving to tennesee because her parents are getting a divorce. I am very close to her older sister, and i feel like this is just so out of the blue. pr fo rher that she would still continue to have a relationship with her father who is staying in TX. pr mostly that her walk with father would be strengthened and she would be carried through this time by his grace, and that she would recognize that He is carrying her.

other than that, our first one week team comes in on tuesday. pr for them. they will be suffering from jet lag and just tiredness in general. pr that they would have strength and, hgpf(humility gentleness paitence forbearance)
much love,
Julia child

uk update

2008-06-28T04:39:00.000-07:00

pr for a guy on my team that he would not seek to cultivate a relationship with a mutual friend of ours who is on the japan team.
I'm doing well. we just moved into another place where we will stay until monday. it is the house of an m on furlough(sp?). then monday we will be in the uni housing (everyone over here says uni not university). all the cars here are really small and get super awesome gas mileage. however gas here is almost 12 pounds a liter. soooo it's whatev i guess. luckily, the busses here are nice, and we can take the train when we go to our m sites in newport (a town that is outside of cardiff by about 2 train stops from cardiff). Newport is highly ethnic, and by ethnic i mean muslim. we alsp will be working in bute park, roth park, and the cardiff bay area. everyone here has a hard city exterior, but the minute you are kind to them it falls down and they will talk to you for as long as you have to listen( for the most part). pr that i would meditate more on the word. and that i would be the first to encourage other team members when they need it.
Much love,
Julia Child

Waiting for Africa.

2008-06-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

It's three days before the end of June. Those mission trips are supposed to be up by July 1st.

They still aren't.

My heart sinks so much whenever I see that page with "0 results listed." But it sinks less every time because I'm so expectant of disappointment.

I don't have a problem being patient, but I do have a problem with not having enough time to pray over my decision. I have not bathed this situation in enough prayer, but regardless of that, I'd like to spend a few days thinking about my decision after I have seen my choices. This is pretty huge. And the IMB is supposed to start delegating projects starting July 1st. I don't know all the specifics, but it seems like this kind of puts me in a rush.

It's not that I don't think God can work on quick decisions, just that I'd like to be wise and really listen to Him. Let my own novelty die a little while I listen to His divine knowledge. When I've made impulse decisions in the past, they don't always turn out right. And I guess I'm kind of scared of that happening, of regret creeping upon me. And I don't know if that will be Satan or just myself. Or God with conviction.

Maybe God wants to go about this a different way. I really don't know.

But at the moment, the situation is beyond my control. There are a lot of unknowns. And I will continue to wait on the Lord and trust Him. He's brought me this far. Please pray for my patience and quiet attitude, and for me to be diligent in asking the Lord for discernment and wisdom and... just Him. Thank you. I love you all and miss you so very very much!

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8

-Rachel.

mold me.

2008-06-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

So I am now currently a certified mountaineering, rock-climbing, and class 1-4+ white water rafting guide in the state of Colorado. Very excited about where God has me in my walk and where He's preparing me to be.

Just yesterday a guy got in my boat with his son and started asking my opinions on many controversial Christian arguments. It was, so I hear, very uncommon for a customer to inquire and dig so deep into such conversations, but I loved it. The first thing he said after "where's the safest part of the boat" was, "brew, what do you think of liberal Christians in America? The ones who are pro-homosexuality, pro-abortion, and live in the world but confess that they are Christians?" I was taken back at first, and got my bearings and then answered what I believed. It was fun to see how much of a pedestal God has really put me in the eyes of these customers and where God has me in ministry. My cell group and I are going through 2 Corinthians together now and it is so cool to see how Christ has really transformed me into what I am today. So let no glory be unto me but simply reflected upon so that Christ is glorified.

random stuff, nothin deep. short and sweet for real.

holla

-B

i crossed the pond!

2008-06-25T04:22:00.000-07:00

ok, so since we have to pay for internet at the hotel i may not email as much as expected.

we landed in london and rode the but like 3and 1/2 hours to cardiff. then we haul all out stuff up to the hotel (which is more like a hostel). we jet lagged ourselves all round the main parts of the city and ended up eating fish and chips (which are quite fab!). then we pr walked a main park that is connected to cardiff castle (i have yet yo go there but i'm sure i will). the next day we went to the church that we will be working with . it is called tredeagerville baptist church. they have an african service, iranian service, regular service, a men's recreation group for immigrants and assylum seekers and a few other really cool ministries. the P is very welsh, and he has a really thick acent. then we went to another park and pr walked there it was great father really showed me that it's not my work, but his. today we had house church with 5 other company m's. they are really sweet people. tomorrow we will be checking out the bay area where there is a large concentration of M E people. it is also the cultural center of cardiff. i have to go eat now but i love you all
-Julia Child
p.s. send this on to those who you think want to know.

hasta luego Texas

2008-06-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

well, my plane leaves the ground today at 5:20 pm today. This is crazy to me how father has worked everything out for me to go in his name and for his glory. I love you all. thank you for all the support you have given me, and i will see you in august!!
-Julia Child

Africa Update

2008-06-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm still not sure where I'm going. The trips for Spring 2009 have not yet come in from the field, even though I was told they would be by June 1st when they originally called me. The missionaries are so busy with the projects for Fall 2008 that they haven't sent in 2009's yet.

But of course, South America and Asia have... ha.
God's timing just forces us to be patient, doesn't it?

I called them today to ask about when they would be up and if there was anything else I needed to do, like an interview or something, and she said no... at this point I have been approved. So the only thing that's left is to:

A. Wait. For the trips to be posted. Because I want to go to somewhere in East Africa, Erin said she would call the Central and East Africa department and ask for a round-about date when the projects will be turned in. She'll call and let me know so that atleast I can plan a bit and know when to check back. Of course I will probably check every day anyway, haha. She said atleast by July 1st.

B. Once the projects are posted, choose my top three (atleast) and send them to Erin or Chad. This will include letting my decision marinate for like a week, just because I think that's wise. More waiting.

C. Then the board will meet and assign projects. More waiting.

D. Get a call from the IMB and find out where they've placed me. Hopefully by the end of summer.

So. That means. That as long as everything continues to work out and no trips get canceled... I am definitely going to Africa -- somewhere in Africa -- in the spring. Ohhhhhh my gosh.

For some reason this still hasn't sunk in yet. Perhaps because I haven't sat down and straight-forwardly talked to my family about it (although I do believe they know the present situation), which I will when they are all here next week. Perhaps because I haven't prayed a ton about it. Perhaps because I have had so many other things on my mind that need more attention than this, including a mission trip I just returned from.

Perhaps because I'm absolutely terrified and I can't believe one of my biggest dreams is coming true. Africa.

I think it's just because I haven't received where I'm going yet and it's not all set in stone. So I'm just brushing off because it's not certain yet.

Prayer. Would. Uh. Be amazing. For patience until July. Discernment and patience with God and myself as I decide. More patience as the board decides. And peace and joy and dedication once I am assigned.

Oh. My gosh.

-Rachel.
www.hands-on-africa.com

Maybe.

2008-06-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's not about ignoring the rain.
Maybe it's about embracing it, crying, but making sure you don't forget the sun.
Maybe it's about being completely soaked but your heart still shines through.
Maybe it's about being patient with yourself.
Accept God's compassion.
Because He actually does have compassion on you.
Maybe it's in brokenness that God actually shines the brightest.

Maybe it's not maybe.

-Rachel.

Buenos dias.

2008-06-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

[I'm back from Peru! It was amazing and I learned so much! But I learn a lot every day, so... :) Here's bits from my prayer e-mails.]

Quick nutshell of what we did:

June 2: Travel to Lima by airplane. Spend the night in a hotel in Lima.
June 3: Travel to Chavin by bus. 10 hours.
June 4: Rest and visit to Chavin ruins. Wednesday night church at Martin's house.
June 5: First day of ministry. Prayer walking and inviting people to the Jesus film at night. Free time in the afternoon. Jesus film.
June 6: Same as above.
June 7: Same as above.
June 8: Sunday. Hiked up to the cross for worship. Walked to Migali's dad's house for corn.
June 9: Another Jesus film day.
June 10: Helped with construction of the Chavin church. Debrief.
June 11: Travel back to Lima by bus. Spent night in hotel.
June 12: Shopping and midnight airplane departure.
June 13: Arrive back to Houston early in the morning.

We'll start with answers to prayer.

1. I asked for a love for the Quechua people. This was certainly answered. May I share a story? We visited a village called Catayoc. The missionaries told us that it is a very dark place spiritually. We could certainly sense the increase in distractions during the film that night. But anyway, we were prayer walking and inviting people to the film that morning, and we visited an old lady that the medical team had helped the week before. She couldn't walk when they came, but she could a little now because of the medicine. She said she was in a lot of pain and she wanted more medicine. Through our interpreter, she said that a gargoyle would visit her every night and it really frightened her. I think it is highly possible that it's a demon. This woman said she just wanted to die because she was in so much pain. She was constantly sobbing and her voice was so sad. But she is also very afraid of death. Verna, the missionary wife, said we need to tell her about Christ. We tried asking her about what she knew. She said that she is Catholic. She didn't really respond to anything, and when we read her the tract and prayed with her, she was constantly talking or praying herself. At the end when we left, Verna suggested we all (there were about eight or so of us that visited her) give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek goodbye. I was one of the first, so I was able to watch everyone else doing it. I stood beside Verna and started to cry. "It's not fair..." She said, "No, it's not." God broke my heart for this woman. She is so afraid and does not have the peace of Christ, and Satan is tormenting her with frightening things at night. There was nothing we could do but love her. And that was so powerful to watch each person give her a hug and a kiss and see her so sorrowful. But our love made an impact, I know... it watered the seed. That is probably my favorite story of the whole trip. Other than that, the smiles of these people just make you fall in love with them. I had forgotten how happy Peruvians and Quechuans get when they see Gringos (that's white people). :) The children absolutely adored us, the people were so thankful for everything we did, and God whispered His love to me for these people through the words of others, the Bible, songs... and just His voice to my heart. Especially during the Jesus film when we would pray for them. LOVE is a big thing that God reminded me of this trip. We didn't lead anyone to Christ or have spiritual conversations. But we loved them. And that breaks down barriers. And that makes them wonder. It is a huge tool.

2. I asked for a right attitude. God definitely increased my humility. And one of my roommates, Liz, would go have her quiet time every morning or afternoon and it really held me accountable to do the same. I believe I spent time with the Lord every day this trip. :) The constant praying and relying on God helped me to realize that... ha, we really can do nothing. It is up to the Lord to work in these peoples' hearts. My roommates and I also prayed almost every night for eachother and for our team's work. Every day our team had people assigned to pray in the morning. Prayer was... enormous.

3. I asked for team unity. I cannot tell you how magnificently this prayer was answered. There was only one person I felt slightly uncomfortable around, and that was kind of my own personal problem. Our team came from all different areas. We had a group from a church in Corpus Christi, one boy from North Carolina through the IMB, and a group of us with Go Now Missions. Then of course, we had the wonderful missionaries, Ted and Verna, with their son, Kurt, and the two journeymen, Courtney and Lindsey. I heard a little bit of gossipping toward the end of the week, but it was very minimal. We all learned from eachother and worked well together. It was pretty amazing. I don't doubt at all that God kept us together. It was crazy how well we all got along and worked in unity. :) A story that comes to mind about this is the last night in Chavin when we debriefed with the missionaries and journeymen. Kurt led us in "O Praise Him" by the David Crowder Band at the end, and he said that when he sang it, he thinks of singing it to the nations. Here are the words:

Turn your earTo Heaven and hear
The noise inside
The sound of angels' awe
The sound of angels' songs
And all this for a King
We could join and sing
All to Christ the King

How constant
How divine
This song of ours will rise
Oh how constant
How divine
This song of ours will rise
Will rise

O praise Him
O praise Him
He is holy
He is holy

Turn your gaze
To Heaven and raise
A joyous noise
Oh the sound of salvation come
The sound of rescued ones
And all this for a king
Angels join to sing
All for Christ the King
How infinite and sweet
This love so rescuing
Oh how infinitely sweet
This great love that has redeemed
As one, we sing

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
He is holy
He is holy

Oh, La la la la la la...

Here's something I wrote in my journal: I could just feel the unity again... that everyone was giving glory to God. I could see in people's faces and just... feel... we were all admitting our inadequacy, our weakness, our impossibility without Him. I love this team.

4. I asked you to pray for my dad. The house still hasn't sold, the car still isn't certain, and Nate and Mom are arriving within about a week. Daddy is definitely still a little stressed, but when I hear him talk to other people about it, I can see his faith and trust in God. Keep praying?

5. We didn't end up doing that whole Garden of Gethsemane thing. But I read the story from all four gospels I believe. Or atleast two, I dunno. It was a while ago. :) But it was good to read them... it's amazing how Jesus prayed for us. Mm. Y'all should read them! ;)

6. Okay. Hands On Africa, that prayer on the side thing... the trips STILL aren't up. My heart sank soooo much when the results for Africa 2009 came up as zero. I will call the IMB again on Monday and see what's going on. Please pray for my perserverance and encouragement. I just like to be able to know these things far in advance... especially if it's, ha, 5 months long. That's a big chunk of time. I want to keep the right attitude of opennness, not frenzyness! :)

7. On some of my brochures I sent out, I asked for insight into my future as a missionary. This was definitely answered. I am slightly considering being a journeyman when I get out of college (this, of course, depends on the possibility of marriage and how soon I need to start working in a hospital), so I was able to see what that was like. And this is my first mission trip where there were actual full-time missionaries in the area, which is what I want to do with my life. :) It was so good to see Ted and Verna's amazing witness. They are amazing leaders and full of joy and... oh, they just love the Quechua people. God helped me realize, however, that missionary life is not as glorious as it's made out to be. It is very sacrificial. And difficult. That will take me a while, and probably more experience, to realize.

So a couple post-mission-trip requests:

1. Please continue to pray for my quiet time. I realize I did not ask you to commit to pray for me for the rest of my life, haha, but this does apply to my mission trip because I was able to set aside time for Him every day and I am already struggling with wanting to.

2. Pray for my team to remember all we have learned personally. And for us to not forget the Quechua people. That we would remain faithful in prayer for them and for Ted and Verna.

3. Speaking of Ted and Verna, they are having trouble deciding whether or not they will leave the field in October. I get feelings sometimes and I really have a feeling that they are supposed to stay, just because of th conversations I have overheard and the reasonings behind their possible leaving. Pray that they would really listen to the heart of God and follow His direction.

Okay, so some journal entries!

June 2
I am weak. On a mission trip. I am scared.
"When you are weak, child, I am strong. Let Me show Myself to you. Will
you be My broken pottery? People can see that I put you back together
again."
And what does that mean?
"You'll see. Restoration. Joy. Peace."
How?
...He just smiles. Knowingly.

June 3
God is flooding my heart with love and excitement. I dearly miss those in Carhuaz. Little Marggi.... dear Misrael... :( I am longing to see them.

June 4
[God told me to read Leviticus 1:27. It only goes to 17, so I read that. It says...] "He shall tear is open by the wings, not severing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord."
Wow. I read the context, and obviously it is about how to offer certain sacrifices to the Lord. But God, You've given me this verse... I am the dove or young pigeon. I've been torn, but not destoryed. The High Priest, Jesus Christ, is burning me... and... God, is it pleasing to You?
"Yes."

Tonight we went to church at San Martin's house. We sang some songs, in Spanish and English. The kids did too. :) One lady sang a song in Quechuan. It was so pretty... almost like a chant mixed with a song. Beautiful. Like that eerie beautiful. We met kids today. :) Betsi, Liset, Isabel... I love them already! San Martin had his eyes closed when Ted was talking about how much they appreciated us being here. So much emotion in those eyes.

June 5
Courtney and Lindsey were saying that they love having different teams come because we get so excited and it helps them remember and step out of the mundane.

We helped a lady stack bricks in the Quechua village earlier. She said she was going to rename her baby after one of us. ... Can you believe that? We just helped her move bricks and that much of an impact was left...

The Jesus Film had a GREAT turn-out! We think there were about 50 people. It was FREEZING, haha. I was pretty much either shivering or praying -- or both -- the whole time. Dogs barked, babies cried, moths flew in the lens... I petitioned and petitioned and God removed all these distractions. They slowly went away, the more I prayed. And I think every time I said the name of Jesus, they stopped -- maybe. But the point is... the prayers worked! :) Other people were praying too. The Quechua people seemed very grateful. :) Ted explained afterwards that we had come out of love.

June 6
So there are all these sounds around me... cars honking, children squealing, people talking... God, You love these people. Way up in the mountains that no one knows about. You care ab out their hearts and their live and You want to bring glory to Your Name through them. And... You... You've placed that desire in us. In me.

...Catie and Lauren and I [prayed] last night before everyone arrived -- it was cool; we prayed for more to come and a whole stream of people came around the corner. :)

June 7
Lindsey pointed out a man who she said had been really cold -- he would want to debate with them and such. I'm so glad he was there [Jesus Film]! Quite a few men were there actually, which is something my prayer team particularly prayed for this morning. :)

June 8
Satan's power is very real to these people...

I experienced so much this week but I think the main thing God impacted me with was love. That's really been His lesson to me since like... September. He's growing my mercy even more. :) He's also been teaching me about the importance of knowing truth and... all that stuff that the spiritual gift of prophecy entails. I really struggle with reading my Bible because I get confused with like every other verse. He's teaching me about diligence in really meditating over a verse and looking up footnotes and other verses to help me understand. It is a struggle and doesn't always clarify things but I am slowly getting better. Hm. Still very lazy though. Maybe you could pray about that too? :)

Cool story: I met a guy named Joe on the way from Houston to San Antonio. He actually talked to me first, which is usually not how it works, but it was so cool. We talked the entire time. I guess it was about an hour. We talked about life... I told him how I had been on a mission trip and how I want to be a missionary. He's in the Air Force and has a wife and child. He was returning from a week long's TDY. I could tell you a lot about him, but the important part is that I do not think he knows Christ. He told me he grew up with a Baptist father and a Catholic mother. He went to his father's fire and brimstone church growing up, and then tried a Catholic high school and decided that kind of stuff wasn't for him. What little doctrine he did express was correct, however. I told him he should go somewhere this Sunday, and he just had that "I dunno..." look. However, I didn't push it. Ha, I've learned that pushing things does NOT glorify God. So I simply talked to him about all kinds of things, wanting him to know that I was interested in more than just his spiritual state. That turns people off. I have to say that this conversation was probably my favorite out of all random conversations I've had on airplanes. I'm always really scared to talk to people, but I make myself do it, and it's rewarding. Anyway, he said he "would make it back to church someday." He said to me that he hadn't gotten to meet people on airplanes in a long time because he had just been going back and forth doing things for the military, and it was nice to be able to talk to someone. He said that "You don't meet people like you every day" or something like that. Point being: I made an impact on this guy. And get this: he wasn't even supposed to be on that flight. His other flight got COMPLETELY messed up and this was the ONLY flight from Houston to San Antonio today. Divine appointment much? Yeah. God is good. And this totally made my day.

I was talking to my dad about it on the way home and I told him how I've learned that some people plant, others water, and others reap. So I watered. His parents planted a really long time ago. Whatever happens, I feel blessed to have been used by God. :) I'm like really really excited, I can't even tell you. His Spirit is like, grinning within me. :) Dang I am so sorry guys, I am way too long-winded and unorganized.

But will you pray for him?

One more story. Our last Jesus film night we went to a very high village, about 11,500 feet or something. It was below freezing. A lot of people showed up, but a man came up afterwards and told us that a lot of people hadn't come because they were cold, but he wanted to let us know that the village could hear it and they liked it. :) Cool, yeah?

-Rachel.

Slacker

2008-06-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

So I have totally been a slacker when it comes to doing profiles f you guys. I am really sorry for this. A great way to fix this is for you to tell a little about yourselves and what you are passionate about. Laura, the kids, and I had a super trip to Latvia and it was a blessing to take part in the ministry that is going on there in the Church, in the university, in the prison, and at the sports school. Tomorrow begins a stretch of 5 camps for us. Please pray that we have all we need from the Father in this time, we believe we do through growing in knowing Him. As summer continues to be busy with His work and as the time of your trips goes on, take time to know the Father. In case I have not said it already- BE IN THE WORD! Seek the Lord, talk to Him, listen to Him! Fellowship with your God! Be taught. A good spot to check out for podcasts of teaching is Grand Parkway BC in Sugarland. In addition to personal time with the Lord, this teaching should provide fuel for the journey. You can also get sermon downloads from our Church for solid teaching. We continue to pray for you guys and look forward to hearing the stories as we are grateful to be taking part in His story. - Chase

super summer

2008-06-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

I leave for Super Summer TL training tomorrow. pr that father woud give me hgpf (humility gentleness paitence and forgearance)in dealing with younger people and with my own family these last few times that i see them. I feel that hgpf is something i'm severely lacking right now, and i know that's not really a good sign. also pr for the kids from my home ch that they would be changed by an encounter with father, that thier hearts would be softened so they can hear his voice, and thoer hands be made willing to serve him in whatever capacity Father has called them to.
-Julia Child

11 days

2008-06-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

ok so i just got back from base camp. for those of you who may not be familliar with that term it is a training time that i-go makes all thier students go through. it teaches a travellers worst case sceneario (sp?) along with teaching about the word and bonding time with your team. i love the bond i am forming with my teammates. we all bring something unique to the table. some pr requests are that my team would be in the word and listening to the HS, also that we would use the next 11 days to deepen our walk with Father (most teams leave right after base camp so this is a new challange), spritual warfare both home and overseas, not to mention travel mercies like jet lag, not losing luggage, safety, and culture shock both coming and going. all in all i feel very prepared to go and do ancihent work that is appointed by father.

also i will be leaving for a week between now and the UK to be a team leader at a leadership camp, and i would love pr for me my kids i will be leading and just that my energy levels would be up for the kids, and that i would be able to engage them, and meet them where they are.
Mostly that thec HS would move in thier hearts, that they would find the delight of thier hearts in Father not in the things of this would.

last thing, i have a lot of scripture to read as a part of a team accountability we are building. i have three books of the bible to read and 2 days this week, and the day before i fly out to the UK to do it in. so i guess just pr for the time to do it all , and digest it.

yeah, I'm a "Christian"

2008-06-07T17:29:00.001-07:00

whew, great week this week in BV, CO. God's really been blowin up my life and starting to rebuild it...haha, awkwardly, im loving it. Several sets of tears and many different conversations with the Lord have really had me reflecting on my life, my purpose, and my definition of a "Christian". Digging into Matthew and the teachings of Christ He's really taught me things I've never heard and never rooted in my faith. I have to go right now, but wanted to drop a note on what's going on up here in the mountains. I'll expand later on my thoughts and God's teachings. Love yall.

if you need a dolla holla:p

PR for a friend

2008-06-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

can y'all pray for a team mate of mine please? she is about $800 short of the price of our trip and we leave in 14 days. This is important because she is our intern leader. Ask that father would work in a mighty way and provide for her in this experience. Also that she would grow closer to Father, and place her trust in him, not just in this, but that through this she would trust more deeply in the fathers love.
much love,
Julia

Peru bound.

2008-06-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

Time has flown.
And now it's time for me to fly. :)

I'm leaving for Houston at 12:45.
We're leaving for Lima at 3:30.

This time tomorrow, I'm guessing we'll be waking up and driving to Chavin, our place of ministry!

Wow.

Brenda at Go Now reminded us in an e-mail this week that our witness starts at the airport. Pray that we will remember this. Anyone who has traveled knows how many crazy things can go on in airports. Pray also as we travel in Lima, check in at the hotel, and travel to Chavin that we would be encouraging to eachother despite our exhaustion, and really be looking for opportunities to touch the people.

I know we will be doing prayer walking on the trip, which is when you walk through the place and pray for things that come to mind when you see people and things around you. So... I wanted to give you guys an opportunity to. :) Look at the video below. It will probably look very similar this year, so it's almost like you're there with me! Pray for whatever comes to mind for you... this is your "prayer video" instead of prayer walk. :) It's about seven minutes long.

I'm kind of scared. I can't believe it's today. Ahhhh!

I don't know when we will be able to blog next. I don't know anything really solid about communication. But we'll see.

-Rachel.

From nineteen to two...

2008-05-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Orientation was last weekend in Dallas, and it was definitely an awesome time. I got to meet all of my team except one girl, Liz, who was taking the nursing exam (scaaaaary). I absolutely love them. One thing that was crazy was we had to pick out these slips of paper at dinner on Friday night and it was a silly question or a serious one. And the one I picked out first was, "The number one prayer request in my life is..." and my heart just sunk. I didn't know how comfortable I felt sharing that with these people, most of whom I had just met about five minutes before. I thought about choosing a different slip or choosing something else I was struggling with, but this was no doubt my biggest prayer request. And if God allowed me to pick that piece of paper... maybe... maybe He wanted me to be vulnerable. And honest. So I told them the basics of it, and... wow. My team... Susan Goodman, one of the supervisors, talked to me about it several times in the past couple days. She gave me a Bible verse that really comforted her when she was in a similar situation. One of the other team members, Randi, laid her hand on me when Ailey, the nurse practitioner, prayed for my prayer request with the group. Look at this community God has blessed our team with!! I loved getting to know each one of them in different ways, and I can't wait to see what 10 days will do. :)

I wanted to share a quote with you that I found in my Peru notebook from last year's mission trip:

"I'm at peace because God takes care of me." -Marggi, a little girl in Peru (shown below)

This quote has encouraged my heart so much. This little girl was about six-years-old and I remember this quote just being totally out of the blue and when Mercedes translated, I was amazed. I just had to write it down. The faith of a child is beautiful. I hope that it encourages you... every time I read it, it just completely picks my heart up.

-Rachel.

Hey ya'll!

2008-05-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have been here about a week and a half! The Father is moving and working! Please be lifting up our friendships and that we would have opportunities to share with our new friends!

Thinking of you all!

Above all, May He be Glorified!
Briana

new teachings

2008-05-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start off by saying what an incredible blessing it is to read through these blogs and see how God is working in each of our lives. It's so encouraging to know that He is being glorified across the world. Fun, awesome stuff no doubt.

I, personally, have been diving into the community of Christ. Here at Noah's Ark in BV,CO I find myself involved in the closest thing I've ever experienced to the church God has called us to be a part of. My first year guide class has fought through many struggles of both experience and fleshly desires, but we each fight for the same prize. Running together we fulfill the gifts God has gifted us with and equally fill the positions needed in our community. We suffer together and glorify His name together, with both compassion and the power of the Spirit we unite under God. He is continually blessing me with new experiences and new opportunities to learn the lifestyle that ultimately glorifies Him. It's cool to see that through God's grace and power my purpose in life is being fulfilled for Him alone this summer. It's been a rough couple of three weeks in the world, but nothing but growth in my spiritual realm of my life. It's fun to see how God breaks us down and rebuilds us onto His rock of a foundation. I feel humbled by His creation and often overpowered by His Spirit, there is no other way to come before Him but humbled and over pouring with Him. I love it here and I love the people God has allowed me to grow with so far, but most of all I feel not just a need for Him, but a love for God and His truth in my life... something new to my perspective and new to my walk. Thanks for your prayers and thanks for your support.

With Love,

-Brandon

bendy?

2008-05-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

hello my dears,
I would like to ask for pr. I am shipping out to base camp (basically a travellers/Ms worst case scenario) on the 8th and something that i-go stresses is being frexible. I have lived this year more organized than a poloticians day planner, and i know that i can't live like that overseas (or really in the states for that matter) if i want to live on the timing of my father. Also, I guess i'm naturally competetive and i an finding myself working really hard to not get my stuff stolen, stomach the food, and get through "customs" with my dignity intact. so, basically could y'all pr for my attitude to be much more flexible as base camp draws nearer and nearer.
-Julia

Grasping Grace

2008-05-28T23:28:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I have a very hard time being really resting in the Lord's grace.

He's so worthy. And I fall so incredibly short. It's hard to accept grace from a perfect king who deserves so much more than I can give.

I feel like a beggar in dirty torn rags, with smelly messy hair, and mud drenched skin, lying on a sparkling floor inside a gorgeous palace at the feet of a majestic, beautiful, and mighty king. Yet despite my mess, He scoops me into His arms and washes me clean, gives me new clothes, and feeds me. I'm so unworthy.

But somehow our savior loves to love us. We come to Him broken, He mends us. We come to Him grieving, He comforts us. Then after all He gives us we still find ourselves being continually disobedient, He forgives us. We sin, He dies for us.

I don't know what to do with love like that.

I certainly don't do near enough.

But yet again, my weaknesses and failures are trampled by His grace for me.

This overwhelms me.

Just some thoughts.

Mel

Latvia

2008-05-28T06:10:00.000-07:00

We cross the pond this afternoon. Pray for the trip.

The Grandparents

MY storyline

2008-05-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

Wow. Isn't God good? This summer has just begun and He has already blessed me with so much! I had the privledge of leading a Disciple Now at the beginning of May with Rae. I went into the weekend thinking of how much WE were going to bless these seven girls and how much WE were going to help them in their walk with Christ. While we may have done that, I came out of the weekend as a new person. These seven girls I think touched my life more than I touched theirs. The title of the weekend was "Storyline" and the message that we were supposed to get across to these girls was that WE ALL are part of God's story. So many of the girls were so open to how God was working in their lives and how much their lives had changed since they welcomed Him into their hearts. This was so moving to me, that girls who are 12, 13 or 14 are experiencing Christ for who he is like I am in MY life today. After this weekend, I left a changed person. I had a glimpse of what I honestly felt God was calling me to do. I started out this past school year as an education major because of the impact my English teacher made on me my senior year in high school. As the year went on, I started to pray and ask God if this was something that he REALLY wanted me to do. I have always loved kids and love being around them... BUT I just didn't know if I REALLY wanted to be around them 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. I kept praying and praying asking God to help me and became very frustrated that HE wasn't answering my prayer. I eventually learned that He was going to answer my prayer in HIS time, NOT MINE. In order for my "storyline" to be perfect, I had to hand over the pen and book to him so HE could be the author. Once I did that, God answered my prayer. That weekend, he told me that teaching is what his plan was for me. It felt so amazing that I knew exactly what HE had in store for me. I am just so grateful for His amazing love and the fact that He knows EXACTLY what HE wants for each one of us. One of my dearest friends and I read the ever so famous verse in Jeremiah 29: "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." I have read this verse soooooooo many times that I tend to just roll it off my tongue. When I read it about a month ago with my friend, she talked about the context behind it and it gave me a totally new perspective on the verse. She talked about how the exiles were in well, exile and how they had to put their complete trust in God in order for their "storyline" to be complete. It is sooooooo amazing to me how God just puts everything together at the perfect time. I feel so blessed to be called one of His children. I hope you have felt His blessing this summer as much as I have. I am praying for all of you! love you all!

Rebecca

Hello from China!

2008-05-25T05:48:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

I just have a minute but want you to know that I am here! Father is beginning to do many things!
My thoughts and PR's are at my blog: http://igoforlife.blogspot.com

I am PRing for you guys and know that He is doing amazing things!

Love you guys!

Above all, May He be Glorified!

Briana

family, friends, and those in between

2008-05-20T09:34:00.001-07:00

ok so i'm now offically comissioned by my ch. it was so awesome to be able to have my dad not have to do anything (being a pk i don't get to so a lot of "ch" type things with him so it was a huge treat just to get to sit in the same pew with him) but be my daddy that day. also the fact that my grandparents were there was so great. i'm not completely ready to go yet, i think there is so much more for father to teach me in the 33 days until i leave the country, 19 days until base camp, 26 days until i leave to be a TL (team leader) with a leadership camp that has been near and dear to my heart for 7 years now. all in all, during the month of june i am home a total of a week and 3 days. and i can't wait!! i am trying to be paitent and learn the daily lessons that father has for me to learn in the now, but at the same time i want so much to just shut down and coast through these last two-ish weeks.

Departure Is Approaching

2008-05-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hellooo! First of all I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!

I leave for Montana in 9 days! I'm super excited! But I'm finding out that with that feeling of excitement comes a bit of nervousness too. I'm glad for that though, because being nervous has made me really press into Him since I have been home. In result he has done some amazing things in the past few weeks and I just wanted to share what he has been doing in my life, and in the lives of my family. This is just one of the stories of what He has been doing so far this summer.

My family does not hold very strongly to Christian values and frankly gets nervous when someone mentions "God" in their presence. A couple weekends ago I was visiting my sister (who has two kids, a daughter who is 16 and a son who is 21) and while I was there a unique conversation came up in a unique way. Before I showed up I was praying that God would in some way show himself. Which turned out to be a very bold prayer to pray considering the events that followed. I showed up at her house and everyone was sitting in the living room watching a basketball game. A few seconds after I show up someone yells, "what the (cuss word here) is John 3:16". Ha, God works in awesome ways :) So, I kind of looked at him and was like "I can tell you" and what followed was basically me laying out the gospel to them. It was an awesome, strange, unique 30 minutes. Never has my family been anything remotely interested in hearing about our wonderful God, but that night was an awesome display of God's power.

Keep myself and my family in your prayers as I prepare to leave for Montana!

- Colton

Profile 2- Briana

2008-05-18T13:48:00.001-07:00

Briana is headed from east Texas to east Asia this summer with a wonderful group of people. She will be there to have conversations about Jesus. The nation she is going to will have many people travel there this summer and recent tragic events there should make folks very receptive to the gospel. Please pray for this to be so.
A couple of the things Laura and I appreciate about Briana are the compassionate heart God has given her and her excitement about the opportunity to share Christ with people. Pray for her team that they will make the most of their opportunities and that many will come to faith. Also ask that believers they connect with in this nation will be encouraged by their boldness. Be on the lookout for profiles of other readyrocks coming soon!

Good stuff

2008-05-16T11:19:00.001-07:00

Very encouraging words! The family ad I have twelve full-of-activity days until we cross the pond for Latvia. I can sense as I read that you guys are ready to roll. So encouraging; we are too. It will be exciting to learn what the Father does in us!

Chase

Two and a Half Hours

2008-05-15T14:44:00.001-07:00

Last night I was using my Google Reader to catch up on some blogs that I normally read and I came across in my suggestion blogs one that expressed extraordinary faith, determination, and ultimately have lead thousands to J*sus Todd and Angie Smith (Todd is a singer in the group Selah) have three beautiful little girls and were expecting their fourth daughter. They found out that their unborn daughter, Audrey Caroline, had two major problems: her heart was enlarged and lungs were not developing at all. They made the choice to keep their daughter and began to pray daily for God's healing. Angie started a blog and updated fellow friends about what was going on...the blog grew and weekly by the end of her pregnancy about 40,000 people were checking up on Audrey.(I encourage you to read their blog, it will give you a new prospective on life, read it from the beginning at http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/) As I read every word of their story, they thanked the thousands people that were praying for their little girl. The couple maintained hope for their little girl but countless times said that God would be the same no matter what happened.

On April 7th, Audrey was born and lived two and a half hours (they were told she might survive about two minutes)! Audrey only lived for this amount of time on Earth but her life has touched thousands. It got me to thinking that if she can do this, shouldn't I be reaching more for His name since I have experience about a thousand 2 and 1/2 hour time periods? J*sus has been glorified in this family's life and thousands have come to His name because of them!

Time is short, Life is precious, and J*sus is coming soon!

May He Be Glorified in all my Two and a Half Hours!!!
Briana

days like these

2008-05-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

hello y'all,
I want to ask y'all for some pr for me. ask the father that i would wait quietly on his time, and in the meantime to learn what he has for me here. My home family group is sending me out on sunday night, and i invited a close friend who isn't family (yet?) she is a good enough friend to want to be there for me, even though she doesn't understand my purpose in going, but i don't want anything to wierd her out during the sending out time either. hmmmm...
i have been asking the father to give us a hunger for his words, and a desire to be obedient to his voice.

I have a very busy sunday ahead with a party for my parents, and an hour later, a sending out event for me. pr for it to go smoothly please.
-Julia Child

Nineteen sleeps until Peru.

2008-05-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

It is so wonderful to read what all of you are learning and experiencing already this summer. I miss you dearly!

So I listened to the Piper message on Monday. It was so challenging. I'm taking a sociology course right now as well and today we talked about American culture. It's amazing to see how many things we think are just normal are really cultural. My teacher was lecturing and she suddenly mentioned an example that made me perk up. "For instance, grieving. How long should it take to get over something?" I have actually been thinking about this recently, because I am still struggling a little with something that happened almost six weeks ago. I was (am?) concerned because I didn't want people to think that I was wallowing or complaining. Societal norms may say I should be "over it", and I brought this before the Father and He simply asked me to wait on and trust in Him. I think we just get so impatient sometimes. The fire can take a while to purify the gold... and Piper's message about suffering comes to mind. I heard a song on the radio today... "How can I know morning unless I've known midnight?" It makes us realize how truly blessed we are, yes... but also, I have experienced the depth of the Father's care and love that I never knew a few years ago. Suffering grows our mercy so much. I could never look on the pain of another with as much love as I do these days, now that I have experienced pain of my own... suffering simply grows us. Like flowers that need sunshine AND rain. Hm.

I am starting to get excited about Peru. :) I believe God is answering prayers for love for these people! Our BSM director e-mailed me after I sent out my prayer requests, and she said that sometimes it's not about zeal, but about obedience. This really encouraged me, and I thought I would share because we are so human and I'm sure other people struggle with this. This trip was not really one that I got super excited about. Go Now said they urgently needed people to go, and this trip worked into my schedule. That's pretty much it. But God has demonstrated through that availability, everything going so smoothly, the opportunities, providing the funds... that He has opened this door. And goodness, He is humbling me with this. He's bringing the Quechuans to my mind more every day.

I still don't completely understand or know, and I don't need to... I just feel like God is going to teach me a lot through this mission trip... pray for an open heart and mind and spirit. That I would hear His voice and be His hands and feet.

I realize I am a rambler... :)

-Rachel.

stereotypical.

2008-05-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

Colorado is so beautiful, as is the Lord in his revelation in my life lately. I look into the mountains and step out on my front porch just gazing into His creation of beauty and think of how sovereign our God is.

Lately, I've been battling with the simple question: "what does a Christian man look like in the eyes of Christ?" I've been reading in Matthew and taking notes on the things that allow a man to 'enter into the kingdom' and things that Christ exclaims to be faithful and righteous. It amazes me how different this depiction is from what I've grown up to perceive, or even become, as a Christian man. I don't have much time to write but I challenge you to step into the scripture and see what Jesus has called us to become in our walks, and even where those walks will take us. Get away from the normal church-going, witness to two people a month, memorize one verse a week Christian...He has called us to be more, we were made to be more, we must be more to receive the joy God has. Worship with me and find that joy in Christ and in no other thing.

-B

p.s. I ask that you pray for me to be broken down this week, physically-mentally-spiritually, I need nothing more than to be rebuilt in Christ and to be restored by His grace and love alone. love yall.

Lots of Thoughts

2008-05-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

So, last night at my home family group I was commissioned for this summer. This was my final time to be there before I leave. It was an awesome feeling to know that hundreds of people will be PRing for me and my team. The "head man" over our family group PRed for me then I was able to talk to some of the family. Most people were excited that I am going but some made statements like..."that is kinda dangerous," "if you want to come back early you can," or "you need to be careful working with those people." Thank goodness I only had a couple of these, many were so encouraging and know that the Father is to do a powerful work.

All of this makes me miss like minded people (that's us) toward the nations. In this, last few days of preparation I am begging the Father to work in extraordinary ways and for me to be used for His will.

Above All May He Be Glorified!
Briana

Read a little

2008-05-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Hey boys and girls, check out these thoughts on John 5.

lions, and stars

2008-05-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about something Lewis wrote, he says "Safe...Who said anything about safe? 'course he isn't safe. But he is good."

This is the attiutude with which I want to live this summer with. Not with safety being my idol, but with my heart lost in the mystery of our one great love. Other friends of mine who are going to places that are more "dangerous" than the places that some of us are going to be this summer, they are the ones that i have in mind when i talk about this quote. we must cast down our all idols, and that includes ones that are cleverly disguised as normal, such as a preoccupation(sp?) with safety, love of money, etc. we must put to death these aspects of our american upbringing.

another thing that has been popping up a lot in my life is that we must shine like stars in our generation. (julia paraphrase) this phrase has been coming up in my life through song, scripture, friends and such all this week. I'm still working out what this means for me, besides the obvious instruction in that phrase, and trying to see what it will look like for me personally. PR for my walk of obedience, ask Father that he would strengthen my heart and hands for the plowing, sowing, reaping, and relationships that will be made.
I really miss you C &L on sunday nights when i feel the need to hop in my car and drive to your home. oh well, we will see each other soon.
Y'alls star,
Julia Child

Read the Bible People

2008-05-11T05:40:00.000-07:00

"Discipline and spontaneity. We need both in reading the Bible: discipline to move steadily through books of the Bible, and spontaneity to go to a part of the Bible that we sense will meet a particular need. Both can be powerful with encouragement for faith." - J.P.

pr-ing

2008-05-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

ok so i want to ask y'all for some pr in the matter of a rebellious friend who is visiting for a few days. she has had a great time living out the "typical" college experience, and has paid dearly for it in many ways that i will not go into here. please pr for me to have the right words and for her heart to be softened by our father.
Thanks so much,
Julia Child

an observation

2008-05-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have been listening to the John P cd that c and l gave us a whole lot lately, and i realized something today as i was hearing it play yet again. Mr P. was talking to our father about how he hoped that what he was speaking about would have a global impact he mentioned many places in the world that he hoped an impact would be made. one of these places has recently had a cyclone hit it and i believe that this is one of the ways that we now will be able to be used to answer the prayer of a righetous man through the relief and rebiulding of that country by a generation who seeks not thier own fame but that of their father.
just some more thoughts.
I miss you all,
Julia Child

A Whole New World

2008-05-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that in just a few weeks, I will be in Peru again. I am steadily becoming excited. :) I have Orientation the 23-24 and maybe I will meet some of my team!

Below is a picture from last year's trip of a Quechuan woman and child, probably very close to the people group that we will be working with. Here is a video that one of our team members shared. It'll give you a bit of an idea of the Quechuan language, haha: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vq423i54PA

It just hit me; "a whole new world"... even though I have been to Peru, I haven't worked with many Quechuans before! And may they be introduced to the whole new world that is the salvation of our Father...

Here are some prayer requests from my recent prayer e-mail:

1. My highest spiritual gift is mercy. All throughout my life, people have told me how loving and caring I am. Yet, I am having a difficult time focusing on this people group. My call to missions seems to be being tested by a lack of zeal. This summer is going to be extremely hard for me. My family is going to be here from Australia and my dad is moving over there. I believe this is absolutely the right step for my family, but I will be in America "by myself" and this concept is steadily sinking in as the time approaches. There are many distractions that Satan is putting in my way.

2. I still have quite a few Bible verses left to memorize before May 23rd. Please please pray for diligence and an ability to hide God's Word in my heart. I know it is important.

3. PRAISE GOD that I have received MORE than enough funding for my trip. :) If you haven't given and would like to, please don't hesitate! There are still a number of Go Now missionaries that do not have enough money. Send in your checks to:

Go Now Missions
P.O. Box 195439
Arlington, TX 76019

4. Pray for a right attitude. To be perfectly honest, I feel ashamed. I am NOT actively praying for this people group. I am NOT fully stepping out in faith in this. I am NOT waiting in expectation for God to do a mighty work among the Quechuan Indians. I am prideful because I have been to Peru before and know much of the culture and the process of doing things. I am humanly weak and have always struggled in being an active prayer warrior. I have also struggled this whole year in maintaining my quiet time with the Lord. Please pray for me to discipline myself, and for God to discipline me. I mustn't be lazy. I am convicted, yet somehow apathetic. "It's just another mission trip, I'm going on a mission trip, oooo look at me, Miss Future Foreign Missionary..." Yeah. I need to wait on the Lord. He is my identity and I am doing this all for HIM... not just going to Peru, but my whole LIFE. Oh I am asking you, Body of Christ, to pray for me. I want God to be glorified... but I am so weak...

5. Pray for my team. Please please PLEASE pray for unity! Any of you who have been on a mission trip or even a long trip with the same group of peope know how hard it is to remain sane and to not become annoyed with your other team members. I know that Satan uses drama to chip away at a team. Help us to remember that we are all working for the glory of God. May logistics fall together, may we be FLEXIBLE (ah, the "number one rule of missions"), and indeed may He be exalted! "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit -- just as you were called to one hope when you were called -- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:2-6

In Him,
-Rachel.

Leaving it All Behind...

2008-05-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

So last night I pulled up The Village Church and looked in the archive of sermons. I ran across one that was entitled "Leaving it All Behind" and decided that in my particular point of my summer this was probably a good idea to listen to. (If looking for this sermon, go to the year 2007 and it is one of the first ones in that year.) The Father used this to touch my heart! One of the pastors, Paul Matthies, was speaking and talking about his upcoming move to Asia. He tried to convey to the congregation that he was not sorrowful about leaving the Village but rejoicing because the Father was moving him on and leading him in ways that would make the Father famous for all of eternity. He praised the Father for what He had done during his time at that church but now wanted to be used in another way half way around the world.

I think that we should have this type of attitude. We are not here to set up a concrete house and make our residence permanent. We should have the mentality that we are to pitch a tent where ever we are and stay for as long as the Father leads. Then, we He has moved us on, we pick up that tent and proceed to follow where ever He leads. There is no mess, no strings, no ties, but to the Throne Above. He is our guide and He never has to ask for directions.

If we live our lives like this, we are not promised a pain free life, but we will experience more joy than we ever thought possible. I am ready to pitch a tent, for now! We follow our King to the end, because He is worth more than anything!

May He Be Glorified,

Briana

Out of the Norm.

2008-05-07T01:51:00.000-07:00

In the environment we've been raised up in, the atmosphere we breath in everyday, and even the traditions we've been taught, it's hard to sit and converse with God. Not just to read through a few chapters in the New Testament, pray for the fam, and just act like there's growth in Him. That's the temptation of a normal quiet time.

Trying to get over the frustration of such a concept I make this point... there is no normality in any relation to God. My God is the God. By definition, there is nothing normal about His revelation in the lives of His believers. Our world calls for routine, normality, and uniform, but God calls us to swim against the tide. Seeking the Kingdom, rather than seeking the pleasures and desires of the world. Finding true joy is the worship we are graciously offered by our King. It is but a stranger to the world and a candle in the cave, but our God is unwavering and firm in His promises. We are required to change because He is unchanging.

Just sharing a challenge I received recently.

Holler.

-B

A reminder of His power

2008-05-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

I was reading some psalms today. I write in my bible alot so pretty much every chapter that I've read has at least one underline or note out to the side. Today I stumbled across a Psalm that I'd never written anything on, so I read through it. And it was a wonderful challenging reminder for me of the depth our Lord's power, which I so easily forget, too often.

Psalm 93: 3&4

"the mighty oceans have roared, O Lord. The mighty oceans roar like thunder; the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore- the Lord is mightier than these!"

Thinking about the vastness and incredible powerful of the ocean, it's hard to imagine a force with greater strength. But the Lord is far fiercer and mightier than any ocean tide. If at any time this summer you find yourself doubting that the Father can conquer any trial that life has to offer, any fear, any situation, remember this. Our Jesus is infinitely mighty, and His power is far greater than my problems will ever be. Hopefully this encourages y'all, it certainly encouraged me. :)

-Mel

Profile 1

2008-05-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Julia Child is profile number one. Her face is hidden in the ficus due to the sensitive nature of her work. She will lead a team of high school students on a large island near Ireland. The will be working predominately with muslims, in an evangelistic ministry. JC is a PK, which tells some but not all of her story. She is full of joy in Jesus and eager to share His love with the world. Pray for Julia and her team this summer, and that God would open the eyes and ears of those to whom they go.

Anticipation

2008-05-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

I really can't believe that summer is already here! As I step into this 3 month season of my life, I am so excited about what the Lord has in store. I will be spending the next 3 weeks, before heading back to school for all of June, at home in Austin, with my family, working, resting, and preparing myself physically, emotionally and spiritually for what the Lord wants to do when I leave for Burundi on July 14th(I'll say more about this trip as it gets closer). Thinking about summer I cannot imagine what it's going to look like, who I will meet, and what I will be doing. But I am so ready for whatever God wants to throw my way, for I know that He is my provider, sustainer, and rock. As long as He's with me, I cannot be shaken, and will not be moved. Today as I prayed, I made a list of things I want the Father to teach me:

-To love people, in a radical way, not a pat on the back, occasional smile love. But deep heart-wrenching love. The kind that explodes in the heart of Jesus has when He looks down at His hurting and broken children.

-Wholehearted Obedience

-How to be a servant with complete abandon to my flesh and complete dependence on His strength and spirit.

-How to memorize scripture and truly be able to use His word as my sword

-To be a prayer warrior, for those around me, in all situations and for the nations, that I would remove restrictions on how and where to pray, but that I would follow His prompting and know what it means to be always prayerful.

-New passion for His truth and sharing it where ever I am with boldness and confidence.

These are just a few of the many and I'm ready for the Lord to completely rearrange my heart, deal with my junk, and transform my life this summer. I'm anticipating the journey and we'll see where He takes me.

By His Grace,

Mel

Let the Adventure Begin!

2008-05-03T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well, summer has begun! I still can't believe that it is here and it is already May! I leave in two weeks for East Asia. I am growing more excited by the day and my heart is longing to be there. It amazes me how the Father can give you a love for people of a completely different culture, living on a different continent, and care about different aspects of life. Tears whell up in my eyes as I PR for them. I am begging the Father that his name would be known to these people. It would be easy to to live a life here in America and not even think about the other hundreds of million people in the world. But, we are not called to live an easy life. We are called to spread the news of the Savior of the World. My heart and soul longs for the people to know....

We have the Answer, but who is going to go?

This summer I am going. Whether I see several come to know the Answer or I PR and plant seeds all over wherever I am. I am doing what the Father wants of me and that is more important than anything else. I know that He is there now, will be there with me, and will stay and be there upon my return, but also come back with me. He is the Constant, my Constant. And my Constant has supplied it all.

May He Be Glorified!

Briana

so many thoughts so litle time!

2008-05-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

three thoughts: suffering, apathy towards poverty, holiness.
I have been listening to the CD that C&L gave us. wow. It is an eye opener on what sufffering really is. I only hope that as we go this summer we suffer to join in with the sufferings of our friend J.
I have also been thinking about how western we are. i was moving out fo my dorm and sickened by all the sheer and complete junk that i have. Meanwhile, in Hati, there are poeple eating dirt "cookies". I begin to wonder how much i have wasted, and how the body as a whole will be held responsibile for our flagrant waste of all the things HE has given to us to bless others with and I am appalled to find out how little I actually think about, much less do anything for "the least of these".
Through a long process I have also come to yet another simple, but not easy truth in my life.
It is that our crerator does not want us to be happy, but holy. I know that sounds like something that you might hear at summer camp, (not that those are bad!) but if you think about what that means, it means that we ask our father to make us holy and through making us holy, he teaches us to be satisfied in him and his provision, then because we as his followers are satisfied in him, he is glorified, and as we are glorifying him we are a little bit holier, one small step closer to being more like the way our father desires us to be.
-Julia Child

summer suffer

2008-05-01T22:57:00.001-07:00

So in about 7 days I'll be getting on a plane to Colorado, and will be there till mid August. I wanted to write a short post just in an effort to lay down my thoughts and see where God guides me in doing so. I am very excited about the frontier God is throwing at me in Buena Vista, CO but also very nervous about the physical expectations waiting for me. I think of growth opportunities and I think of missions, but more than those, I think of suffering. John Piper, while giving a sermon to college students in College Station, TX says that, "...Every Christian's suffering is intended to bless someone." I can not help but think of how challenging this summer will be for me, but also how many opportunities await those long rafting trips down the Arkansas River. I have faith that God will use me this summer and I walk willingly in that shadow, but even in this I see my weaknesses. Paul tells us that in our weakness God is made strong; reflecting on Paul and his suffering, I think it's at least worth considering one or two of his points (sarcasm). My point is simply that even though there are no familiar faces in Colorado, even though there are no safety guarantees, and even though I have no idea what I'm getting myself into... God has intentions in my walk and I pray that I don't get in the way of those opportunities. I find great comfort in His promises, and more that comfort, I find His great strength.

thanks, holler.

-B

Can you hear us?

2008-04-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Ok so,
I thought I should test this thing out before I go out of the country. Right now I'm preparing to go to Wales this summer. I hope to get to meet and do life with college students in the area we are living in, or whoever Father sends us to. I hope that my team and I will be good stewards of the knowledge that we have blessed with. Pr for an attitude of HGPF (Humility, Gentleness, Paitence, and forebearance) for my team and within the younger groups that we will be leading. This area is one with many cousins, or so I have been told. I guess I will find out when i get there on June 23!
-Julia Child

Ready Rocks

2008-04-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

The vision that drives what Laura and I are about is one of a ready people. God's people, ready to spread His fame among all peoples, this is the beginning of what we long to see. We have been walking with a few college students who are embracing God's heart for the nations. This blog is separate from mine in that it will include more people, college type people who are bent on magnifying Jesus, to be exact. This will be the story of our summer. You can read the stories and hopefully be encouraged and moved to pray for us. This will be a great way to see some of the fruit of the last 9 months of this group that meets in our house. We, along with these students hope to be used of God in 5 continents, among several people groups, in different roles, with one goal- The fame of Jesus over all the earth. We will visit the rich and the poor, the healthy and the sick, widows and orphans, the young and the old. We will be in deserts and mountains, walk dirt roads and ride metros, traveling on our feet and in the air, we will traverse white water and the Black Hills. We invite you to join us and ask you to ask our God to work in us. Truly, in everything He is our only hope.