July Update

Well, July is half-way over, and I'm more than half-way through my summer at home; my plane tickets arrived today, and I leave on August 22 for Guadalajara. I can't believe how quickly time has flown by! It has been a busy but very enjoyable couple of months, and I'm so glad that the Lord made it possible for me to be here with so much time available to spend with people.

This has been a VERY busy month! July began with a road trip to Colorado! On my way to Colorado, I stopped in St. Louis and Nebraska to visit with friends. In the end I stayed about four days in Boulder, CO with my youngest sister and was able to attend the wedding of an old friend in Denver. If you'd like to see pictures from my trip, just click on the link to the right that says "!!My Photo Album!!". When not traveling across the country, I've been living with my parents in Richmond, VA, and on weekends I stay in the Fredericksburg area in order to be involved with my church and my small group on weekends. That has been wonderful as well, as staying up there has allowed me the time to get together with people to visit and catch up on life and all that the Lord has been up to!

In the midst of all this, my father retired and turns 59 on July 21, my sister graduated college (just befor I returned) and turned 25 in June, and my grandmother turned 90 on July 7! So, there have been parties and social gatherings galore! My aunta nd youngest cousin are also here right now from Minnesota, so that has been a wonderful opportunity to spend time with before I leave the country for a while. And we have recently found out that my brother and sister-in-law are expecting their third child! It has truly been a blessing of a month!

In the meantime, there has been a development regarding the time I will spend at Harvest Language Center in Guadalajara. It turns out that after completely all the placement tests, I will only need to complete one session there instead of two as I had originally planned. I have tested into the fourth and final level of their program, which means that I will be in Guad for 7 weeks rather than 4 months! Though I don't often like to deal with change, I'm praising the Lord for this change in plans because it means that I will be able to return to Cofradia and get back involved with the ministry and the young ladies in October rather than December. I am very excited about this!

I am continuing to try and raise support for my return to Mexico. The Lord has been faithful in providing the funds I need this summer to pay bills and cover travel costs, and He is brinign people along side me as monthly supporters! So far, I've raised about 32% of my monthly budget and about 44% of the lump-sum I need for my time at language school in Guad. This is such a blessing, but there is still a ways to go. My goal is to raise $1300/month and a lump-sum of $2200 for my return travel costs and language school. Some of you have already begun to help me meet these needs, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. However, there is still need for more financial partners. Please prayerfully consider joining me as a financial partner on a monthly basis at $25, $50, or $100 per month. If you would like to contribute financially but aren't able to do so monthly, then please know there is a place for your gift as well! One-time gifts are a wonderful way to mee that lump-sum need, which covers school costs and the extra expenses that come each month from living in a big city. If you are at all interested in partnering with me financially, please let me know; I would love to talk further with you and send/give you more information about what I will be doing in Cofradia.

As for ministry updates, while here in Virginia, I've been singing with the worship team at my church, which has been so great; I desperately missed this while I was in Mexico. I've also been looking into Bible study options for when I return to Cofradia. So far, I've been considering books by Beth Moore and John Eldredge. Please pray that the Lord will make clear exactly what materials He wants us to study and that He would be preparing the hearts of each girl He has planned for that groupl. We have lots of great ideas for youth ministry in the upcoming year: home group, Bible study, one-on-one relationships, etc. I'm excited to get back and jump in!

This week, 12 of the youth and our youth leader, Steve (one of the staff missioanries) are on a retreat in Mazatlan. Please pray that the Lord will do mighty things, that each of the kids on the retreat will be responsive to His move and work, and that they will come back ready to impact their worlds even more for Christ.

One final note/update: The new church construction is progressing beautifully, as you can see from the pictures below which were taken by Steve Silberman. For those who do not know, we are in the process of building a central church building in Cofradia that will be the location of all Sunday services and will provide classrooms and resources for ministry activities! It is a large undertaking, but the Lord has been providing in overwhelming ways. I'm shocked and amazed at how much work has been accomplished since I last saw the building just before my return to the states. Please continue to pray that the Lord's faithfulness will be evident in every way concerning this project and that things will continue to progress as beautifully as they have so far.

Well, folks, that is all the update I have for now. Again, I ask that you would please keep my finances, preparation, and future travel in your prayers, and that you would seriously consider partnering with me in this journey. The Lord has amazing things in store, and I'm excited to be a part of this. I would truly love to take all of you along with me in whatever way I can. I'm thankful for your love and support and prayer in all of this, and I pray with joy every time I remember you! Thank you!!

My New Favorite Movie!

Ok, so I just got back from MY NEW FAVORITE MOVIE! No, that's not the title. It's actually called The Lake House; it's the new Sandra Bullock/Keaneu Reeves flick, and IT'S AMAZING!!! I left the theatre with that sigh of wonder and contentment that you always hope to have when you read a book or watch a movie but which often remains ellusive. No, this was perfect. The story was perfect, the ending was perfect, and I had lots of discussion points rattling around in my brain wanting to get out! Oh it was SOOOOOOOO GOOD!! I HIGHLY recommend it. I absolutely plan to buy it when it comes out on DVD, and I'm praying now that it will come with a SPANISH language track in addition to anything else, because I desperately want to show it to the girls in Mexico and have some good discussion about it and God!

But regardless, you just NEED to see this movie. I think it's on its way out of theatres right now, so go quickly if you haven't already. If you miss it, then plan to rent it. I promise you won't be sorry!

RSS Feed

Hey everyone. So, I have been informed that you can use an RSS reader to receive alerts about my blogs. If that interests you, then you can get the feed for my blog at amberinmexico.blogspot.com/rss.xml. Just thought I'd let you know!

Something really cool happened today! I went to get my oil changed! Let me explain...

The Lord saw fit several years ago to bless me with a wonderful mechanic at our local Firestone; his name is Carson. He was so good to me and my roommate throughout all our car woes. Then he got a promotion and moved to a store farther north. When I moved north, I was able to start taking my car to his new store, which became an even larger blessing because I discovered that another one of the mechanics, Mike, from that earlier store had moved up with him also! All of this right as I started having major car troubles..and right before going to Mexico! Anyway, the result was that I spent many a hours there waiting on my car and was able to get to know the two of them a little better as well as the receptionist, Barbara, who is just a dear sweet woman! Mike and Carson are Christians; don't know about Barbara, but she listened enthralled to all my stories from my Christmas Mexico trip.

So, I have been looking forward to seeing them all again after returning from Mexico and letting them know how things went and what's up next, etc. Today's oil change was just that opportunity! I went in early because this store doesn't take appointments. Mike and Barbara were there, and Mike got my car right in. The first blessing was that I got to share with Mike and Barbara about going back to Mexico and what the plan is for that; I also got to catch up a little on what has been going on with their lives the last few months. The second was that it only took 45 minutes, which is the shortest oil change I've ever gotten! And then I went up to pay and ask Mike if he needed my card (because sometimes they just look it up in the system), and he told me no because it was on him! That's right, folks...I got a free oil change!

I know that doesn't sound like much, but I don't have a job and I'm walking in serious faith this summer concerning my finances. Bill due dates are looming right now and my checking account is low and I'm nowhere near my budget goal, nor have monthly gifts really begun to come in regularaly yet. I don't say that to illicit pity but rather to illustrate that whereas normally $25 doesn't seem like much, it's a whole lot for me right now! I've been spending many a night praying for peace and increased faith over the last couple of weeks, especially after the lights go out at night and the anxiety starts to try and creep in. But every time something has come up so far, the money has arrived just in time. I've had to depend on God for my finances before, but this is a whole new level of that and the Lord continues to show Himself faithful. And not only that but it was through the most unlikely of places; I certainly wasn't fretting about how to pay for the oil change, but God used that anyway, not just to bless me but to bless Mike too, I'm sure! This turned out to be an opportunity for him to bless someone else, and he took God up on that opportunity; I'm excited for him because I know that the Lord will bless him mightily for it! How cool to be able to be there to witness a moment like that! What an awesome God we serve!!!

Anyway, it was a wonderful way to greet my day and my week. I drove home with the biggest smile on my face because I was reminded of just how much God deeply, passionately, and joyfully loves me and wants to include me in His works and will move heaven and earth to do so! All that from a little ole' oil change! Thank you Lord!

All in all, my drive home from Colorado was an enjoyable one; if you click on the link for My PhotoSite on the main blog page, you can view a photo album of pics taken during my trip. I left on Monday and arrived hom Tuesday night at 11:30 pm. I got to see the great state of Kansas. Everyone told me that Kansas was REALLY boring and that it was a drive that just never ended. Yah, it was pretty flat, but I didn't mind that so much because it's new scenery to me, and I love nature. So, I can enjoy even Kansas at least once. Thankfully, I only drove through Kansas once. My problem driving through Kansas was that I was not feeling well at all, so sitting in my car was extremely uncomfortable. But the feeling of illness subsided as I headed into Missouri.

I had a great surprise right as I was passing through Kansas City...Faith called me! She and her husband, Jay, are on staff in Cofradia, and she and I have grown rather close over the months. They are on vacation in Washington state, so she called me just to chat for a few minutes. What a joy it was to hear her voice! I have missed talking with her and our regular Alias nights and the iced lattes that she makes, etc. We have a good time, and I'm looking forward to more good times when I return to Mexico!

Monday night I stayed with Becky and Andy again. This time Bec and I really got to chat it up and catch up on life, love, and other mysteries. We looked at pictures and videos from Mexico as well as pictures from their honeymoon, and then we hung out in my room just talking. We didn't get to do much of that on my way west because she had to be at work the next morning. But this time, she had off Tuesday because of the holiday so we could afford to stay up a little later and finally chat it up! Then Tuesday morning we had coffee together before I left. That was very nice!

I had another surprise on Tuesday....the girls from Mexico called me!!!!!!!! I had tried to call them on Monday while driving through Missouri, but there were so many signal problems that we really couldn't hear each other, and then their phone ran out of money and hung up on me. (The phone system in Mexico requires them to pre-pay their phone if they want to be able to use it, and then they are charged when they make calls and when they recieve calls. So, if there's no money on the phone, then they have no phone services.) So, they bought a phone card for the public phone and called me on Tuesday morning. It was quite a surprise to answer my phone, which indicated an unavailable number on the caller ID, and hear my name in Spanish! It took a minute to register, but we had a good, though short, chat, and it was such a joy to hear their voices. We have not talked in three weeks, so it was quite a special thing! I really miss them and just cannot WAIT to get back and see them again!

Most of my drive through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia was uneventful. It got dark as I was driving through western Virginia, and I was able to see some fireworks going off as I was driving up I-81. That was a treat! I also had a good time listening to Derek Webb's album I See Things Upside Down. I really love his music, and I had some good perspecitve and attitude checks as well as some worship time, believe it or not, just thanking the Lord for all that He did and continues to do for me.

Now, I'm in Fredericksburg hanging out with some friends and catching up on relationships that I have not been able to enjoy yet since arriving home. And on that note, I'm going to go enjoy one particular friendship with the beautiful Suzi McElvy! Scrapbook shopping is on the horizon...woo hoo!!!

Yea for blessings and joys and mercies that are new every morning!

So, I was reading the other day in John 9 about when Jesus healed a man born blind. The manner of healing this time was that Jesus spit in some mud, put it on the man's eyes, and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, and the man was healed! There are so many words in the Bible that don't translate. They are mostly names of places or people, and I always find myself wondering what they mean. Siloam is one of those words. Turns out it means "sent" or perhaps even "one who has been sent".

This word has stuck with me over the last few days, and I have ended up adding it to the title of this blog (just in case you hadn't noticed yet) because that's exactly what the Lord has done with my life...He has sent me! But I was really struck by the possible deeper meaning of the connection between being sent and being healed. First of all, this man was sent in order to be healed--he had to go to the pool and wash in it. And then immediately after his healing, he ends up having to basically testify about what happened to him and about who Jesus was because of the pharisees' investigation into his healing!

But for me personally, there has definitely been a connection between being sent and being healed--that is that the more I am healed, the more He sends me; and the more I walk in that calling, the more I see the proof of that healing and growth. Jesus said that he who has been forgiven much, loves much, and also that he who is responsible with a little will be given more. It seems to me that the more He heals us, the more He asks of us, and even if we don't understand what or why He is asking of us, we must obey. For me, as I have sought to obey, I find that He is putting together large pices of a huge puzzle. These are pieces that never really fit together, and I just could not figure out what picture they would make, what explanation could possibly come from their existance. Now, I'm here in this place in my life, and in the process of obeying the call, all of these pieces have supernaturally moved into place, and I find myself seeing the evidence of healing and growth and maturity, and I'm overwhelmed by the great work of God in my life!

He healed me of my blindness, and continues to clear my vision more and more. Now He is sending me, and I find more and more healing, restoration, and wholness as I walk where He sends me. I pray that my testimony of the work of God in my life will only ever echo this man's testimony:

"One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" ~John 9:25

Last night I drove down to the Denver area for the wedding of a very dear friend of mine. Six years ago, she and I were in LIFT together, a semester-long discipleship program at Camp of the Woods (COTW) in beautiful Speculator, NY (about 2 hours north of Albany in the Adirondack Mountains). We've been in touch off and on over the years, and it was such a priviledge from above to be able to be at her wedding. I had a good time catching up with old friends: others from our group as well as other groups were there. It was also really cool to meet her friends from college that I had heard about but obviously had never met. The wedding was beautiful. She was beautiful. God is just so good!

Lisa and her Dad walking down the aisle

Talk about an amazing backdrop for your wedding!

Lisa, Marc, and his three children

It was special for me for other reasons than those associated with seeing a good friend get married, which is special enough in its own right. But this was part of something larger that the Lord has been doing. Over the last few months the Lord has begun to redeem certain things from my past and restore them to my present. Last night as I stood under the moon and stars on the veranda of the place where they got married , looking out at the lights of Denver in the distant east, I realized that this was just such another gift from the Lord.

The friendship I had with Lisa six years ago was a caliber of friendship that I had rarely experienced up to that point in my life. We kept in touch for a while, but as life got busy on both ends, our communication tapered off. Most of the folks in my group don't really keep in touch, and that has always grieved me; after all that we experienced together, it is sad that we are not closer than we are. So, that made my friendship with Lisa even more special to me, and yet we too lost touch, for the most part, over the years. But our friendship has always held a very special place in my heart, kind of like pictures of a distant but joyous childhood that you display on the wall, always causing you to tell stories to those seeing the pictures. Those stories usually start off with, "Oh, this was taken when..." or "I remember when this happened...what a day!" or something like that. But you're a different person when you're telling those stories than when you lived them, and there's not going back to those places, though the memories bring you joy. Well, that is the kind of effect that memories of that friendship have had on me.

Well, last night I realized that God had not only preserved Lisa's place in my heart, but He seemed to have preserved my place in hers as well, and that just humbled me to tears and filled my heart with an incredible joy and gratefulness that I just can't describe. It was wonderful to not only see her for the first time in six years, but it was a precious gift to witness her marriage, and not only that but the beginning of her family, as the man she married has three beautiful young children! I was like a dream come true. I hope the Lord will provide ways for us to reconnect and get to know each other again, but it is precious to know that the friendship we had will always be there because it was found in Christ. How amazing it is to be members of that one Body and to experience that kind of one-ness and love!

It was also amazing to be able to catch up with these other friends from that time in my life. To talk with them and see how they have changed and hear what the Lord has been doing in their lives as well as to share with them how I've changed and what the Lord has been doing in my life. It's amazing to remember where we were and to see to where He has brought us! Wow!

So, all in all, that was definitely the highlight of my cross-country road trip. I'm overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness and unfathomable grace poured out on me over and over again. Thank you doesn't even begin to express the depth of gratitude in my heart, but they are the only words I can muster. So...

Thank you, Jesus!

I leave Colorado tomorrow morning at the colon of dawn. It's been a good few days here hanging out with my sister. Yesterday we went up to Estes Part and did a 2-hour trail ride...yup! We rode horses!!! It was so amazing! The trail through the Rocky Mountain National Park was beautiful. Amazing views! It was a little exciting for me because the Rocky Mountains are part of the same mountain range as the those that tower over Cofradia! So, there was a special connection for me in that!

Check out these pics! I'll soon be uploading more pictures from my trip to photo site; use the link to the right if you'd like to see them!

Me on Rasta and Elizabeth on Jasper. The picture was taken by our wrangler, Jed.


Later on, we went through the river instead of over it!


The beautiful forrest!


Apparantly, John Wayne died under this rock in one of his movies. I think it's called Cowboys.


The trail


You can swim in the lakes in the National Park!


More scenery...breathtaking!


Yup...it's BIG!

Well, I'm in Boulder, CO, and my sister (Elizabeth...or E for short) and I have been having lots of good conversation and time spent together. I left for my cross-country road trip on Tuesday. I first drove all day to St. Louis, where I stayed with my friend Becky and her new husband-of-three-weeks, Andy (he's so great for her!). Then yesterday I drove up to Omaha, NE and stayed with friends of a friend--they are Navigators staff, so that was a neat thing for me. I enjoyed talking with the wife of that family and getting some insight into mentoring and discipleship, etc...especially since that's some of what I'll be doing in Mexico. Then today, I stopped in Lincoln, NE to see an friend from college and then continued on here to Boulder. It's been three long days of driving, but the scenery has been beautiful and the time in the car has been welcomed. I'm enjoying my Lord of the Rings dramatized on CD by the BBC...very enjoyable. And there's lots of time for thinking and praying and soaking it all in.

A funny thing happened today in the town of York, NE. It's in the middle of nowhere about an hour or so west of Lincoln. I stopped there to get a latte from Starbuck's (there was a billboard advertising that they had a Starbuck's and I wanted a good cup of coffee). I pulled into the parking lot of this Starbuck's, which just happened to be right up next to a corn-field, and my car was THE ONLY ONE THERE...zero customers except me. So, the staff, being bored, were sitting around trying to figure out my license plate, which I discovered when the first thing I heard upon entering the store was, "Please explain to us what your license plate means! We just can't figure it out!" Since it means God's Girl, I had the chance to tell them that God's name in the Bible is I Am.

I left that store thinking that my answer was such a deflation to the potential that my license plate holds (just for the record, my license plate says "IAMS GRL"). I always walk away from those interactions wondering if I could have or should have said more, shared more, etc. This time I was challenged to intentionally make my license plate a witnessing tool. Hopefully I can glorify the Lord even in that, plant seeds even with something as simple as that. I know that I have wasted opportunities in the past that have presented the chance to share the gospel with someone, and I am becoming more acutely aware of the the truth that every time someone asks, the Lord can touch them, as well as of the urgency of the need for Him to touch them. I don't want to get in the way of that by being timid and afraid. Christ was so bold in how he touched this world, and it made the world sit up and pay attention. I want to walk in those footsteps. What if the only time someone heard about God was because they asked about my license plate? Am I willing to simply say, "it means God's Girl because I Am is the name of God in the Bible." and leave it at that? Or am I willing to make that opportunity count for the kingdom?

So, to the staff of that little Starbuck's in York, Nebraska...thank you! Thank you for letting the Lord challenge me through you..whether you knew it or not!

The last couple of weeks have not been extremely eventful, but they have been enjoyable. I already posted about my aunts visiting. I've also been home A LOT, since that's where I'm living, so I'm getting lots of quality time with my sisters, parents, grandmother, and my youngst nephew who also lives here. On top of that, I've been back in Fredericksburg several times for church and for worship team practice. I'm REALLY enjoying being able to sing again! That is something I missed very much while I was in Mexico. So, another incredible blessing there!

This past weekend, one of my other grandmothers had a yard sale. My mom went to her house to help out, and my sister Heather and I headed over there as well, since she's only about 25 miles west of us. That was really great. It was the first time I'd seen both my mom and grandma since I arrived back here in the states! We had a good time, and I even came home with some loot!

After the yardsale, I headed north again to a HOE DOWN that my church put on. What fun! There were games and food and an auction and real square dancing and hay rides and lots of familiar faces, as well as some unfamiliar faces. We did this for the first time back in October when we were fund-raising for our short-term Christmas trip to Cofradia (the same place where I'm now on staff full-time). After that, everyone at church had so much fun that they insisted that the church do it again just for the fun of it! And so, this weekend's event was the result. It was a good time.

I spent the night with a friend and went to church, and then immediately headed back to Richmond for TWO..yes, two...surprise parties: one was a surprise baby shower for a friend I haven't seen since her wedding, and the other was a surprise retirement party for my dad. It was neat to see Christy pregnant and catch up with her a little. I was also able to catch up with another friend from elementary school who is also working in missions in Latin America. She was in Colombia for three years and is about to head to seminary two get 2 masters degrees in three years, and then she hopes to head back to the mission field working with indigenous groups. Very exciting stuff!

And today is my sister Heather's 25th birthday! WAHOO!! Happy 1st Quarter of a Century, sis!

Tomorrow morning at the colon of dawn I head out on a road-trip! I'm very excited cuz I haven't been on a road trip in years! My end destination is Colorado to spend time with my youngest sister, Elizabeth, before she and her husband move to ANTARCTICA for a year (yes, you read that right...Antarctica!), and also to go to the wedding of my friend Lisa in Denver. On the way, however, I'll be stopping with friends and getting some much-needed catch-up time! First I'll be in St. Louis with Becky, who just got married 3 weeks ago, and we're going to paint her bathroom! YEA! I love painting! Then it's on to Nebraska to stay with friends of a friend, and also to see my friend Duncan, who has been a pastor at a church in Lincoln. Then it's on to Colorado. On my way home I'll stop in St. Louis again with Becky and her husband Andy, and then home on the 4th of July! Just in time for worship practice and lunch with the pastor the next day! It will be a busy week, but very fun and exciting! Hopefully I'll have pics to post soon!

In the meantime, fundraising is still the goal. One-time gifts are beginning to come in, but please pray that the Lord would raise up monthly supporters. That is my biggest long and short-term need right now, but it's amazing to see how the Lord is providing for me financially in the meantime.

What an awesome God we serve!

Well, my prayer cards have arrived!...yup, REAL prayer cards! The place I ordered them from did a fabulous job! Check it out!


This weekend two of my aunts flew in and surprised everyone! One of them lives in Florida and the other in Chicago. I haven't seen either of them in years, but they are both very special aunts, and God has done some really amazing things in their lives over the years. So, it has been so GREAT to get to spend grown-up time with them and really just TALK...deep talking, like with good friends, out on the deck with coffee and good company. What a blessing that time has been this weekend! Rhonda, Nancy, if you read this...THANK YOU!

Anyway, they flew in on Friday, and surprised everyone by showing up to my cousin Bryce's graduation party. Then Saturday, my step-mom and I met Nancy and Rhonda and another aunt, Sharon (these are all sisters of my step-mom), at the pool in the afternoon before I headed over to a friend's for dinner and girl-time.

Nancy, me, and Rhonda at my cousin's graduation party!

Nancy and me at the pool!

Then. after church on Sunday, we took my dad out for Father's Day. We had lunch at Picadilly Cafe. There was more food there than I'd seen in one place in my entire life! But we had a good time, and that's what counts!

My sister Heather, Bamba, Daddy, and Me at Picadilly!

After lunch with my dad, I headed over to Sharon's for a cook-out and basically spent the rest of the day with them...we watched In Her Shoes that night, and my step-mom joined us as well. Then we talked into the wee hours out on the deck afterward. (By the way...STELLER movie!) Then this morning I got to spend some quality time with the two of them over coffee before they headed off for the activities left in their last couple of days here. I'm so blessed to have them as aunts AND as friends. I love how God knows exactly the right people to put in our lives...wow!

Well, I'm back in the states, and part of me really can't believe it's not just a dream! It's such a weird way to exist when where you are feels like a dream and where you WERE also feels like a dream...it's like there's no place that feels more real than any other place. That is so strange for me! I'm not sure why, but it just is.

I have changed my cell plan so that I can call between the U.S. and Mexico, so I was able to call the girls today and let them know that I have arrived safely and find out how they are. My plan is to call them each week to keep up with how they are and to try and continue to encourage them to grow and step out in faith over this summer. On the phone today, Sandy shared with me that Jay has spoken with her father about the possibility of her (on the right in the pic) and Lupe (on the left in the pic) attending YWAM's DTS school in Mazatlan either in July or January. It's a six-month discipleship training program where the first three months are classes and the second three months are outreach, either in Mexico or abroad. The girls are very excited about the idea, and they had both already expressed that they desire to be missionaries one day; however, they have to raise support for this since it will cost at least $2500 for each of them, possibly more if they end up going on an oversees outreach (which is decided after the start of each semester's program). Since they don't really have the resources to do this, the missionaries will be seeking to help by finding folks in the states who would like to help support the girls through this program.

Just before I left, I really felt led to encourage Sandy to really step out and seek out opportunities to be the leader that she has in her to be. I had received a quote in an email devotion that I shared with her: "We never become truly spiritual by sitting down and wishing to become so. You must undertake something so great that you cannot accomplish it unaided" (Phillips Brooks). When I shared this quote with her and explained what it meant, she seemed to understand, but I got the feeling she had no idea yet what she could do that was that big in their little town where life's pretty "boring" and everyone knows everyone. But as she was telling me about the developments for the possibility of attending this DTS, she shared that all this has kept on her mind and heart that quote that I gave her and the explanation of it--that this is something SO BIG that she could never accomplish it on her own. She said, "we just have to pray for the Lord to help us."

How awesome to see this girl who seemed to have her hope fading when I first met her to be tightening her grip again and letting herself dream and walk toward what seems absolutely impossible for man knowing that nothing is impossible for God.

If you are interested in helping Sandy and Lupe, please email me and I'll put you in touch with the right person. Regardless, please pray that the Lord would make clear His will for these two girls regarding DTS, either by providing the money to attend or by making it clear that He has other things in mind instead of DTS. And please pray that no matter what the Lord's answer that these two girls would "go out in joy and be led forth in peace" (Is. 55:12) and that they would have the joy of the Lord as their strength no matter what the result. Pray that they would BELIEVE that God can do all things and that whatever the answer, He has only His BEST in store for them!

I will be back in the states in 9 DAYS!!!! I almost can't believe that the time has finally come to head home again. The prospect of fund-raising is very overwhelming right now, but I know the Lord will work that out as well. Please pray for guidance in putting that together as well as safe travels and an encouraging yet wonderful time of growth and preparation while I'm home!

The girls and I have continued to have a good time getting to know each other. Recently, we took it to the next level with intentionality! A couple of weeks ago, a group from the church in Tepic came and hosted a mini-revival sort of thing on a Friday night and Saturday. There was great worship with their worship band on Friday night along with a message from their pastor, Dwight, who is the brother to Linea Hackett (her and her husband Tom founded A.M.). Then Saturday morning, Dwight had a message for the leaders in the churches, and Saturday afternoon the worship leader, Pocho, spent some time with the youth from both bands teaching them a new song and encouraging them as musicians but as faith-walkers more importantly. Then Saturday night there was another all-church meeting with worship and another message. I had the privelage of being at all the meetings and was tremendouly encouraged by everything that was shared, both in worship and in teaching!

What was especially neat for me was the opportunity to worship and learn WITH the girls. Normally they are up front worshiping becuase they are all in the band in Arrayanes. But this time they too were in the congregation receiving and partaking with the rest of us, and it was so neat to get to interact with that part of them on a more personal level. I really sensed the Lord saying that it was time to be more intentional about interacting with them in that way on a regular basis in the time we spend together during the week. So, I spoke to them about beginning to meet once a week for the purpose of sharing what we are reading in Scripture or what the Lord is teaching us as well as praying together.

We began last week. It has been incredibly neat to hear how they are learning and growing and being challenged and encouraged in the word and to pray together. What a precious thing we truly have as members of that ONE body! Three of the girls have expressed a desire to be missionaries, and all of them have family members who are not Christians. So, it has been challenging and a priveledge to encourage them that they are already missionaries because they are members of Christ's body and have the Holy Spirit, the Great Missionary, living inside of them; they have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control; that they have been comissioned to go into all the world preaching the gospel and making disciples and that that commission starts at home and THEN works its way outward (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the utter parts of the world--Acts 1); that they do not need to worry about what to say but that they will know when the time comes because it will be the Spirit speaking through them--they need only obey and open their mouths and speak; that we must first nourish ourselves in Christ by getting alone with him to rest and be filled and strengthened and encouraged in his presence, and that then it is our responsibility AND our priveledge to go out and share that with others, but that joy of it is that Jesus calls us to get away alone with HIM.

The last month and a half of spending time with these girls has been such a blessing for me! I've enjoyed building these friendships and getting to know them. It certainly fills a need in my own life for fellowship, but more than anything it has been such an unbelievable priveledge to see how the Lord has encouraged them through our time together specifically. There is something different in their eyes today that was fading when I first met them. How awesome the Lord truly is and amazing are his mercies which are new every morning!

Youth Worship Leadership

We took the youth to a youth event hosted by the church in Rosa Morada last weekend. They had asked our worship band to lead worship for the event. So, the Cofradia band led worship and Mili , who is the worship leader in Arrayanes, sang as well with Chupa, who leads the band in Cofradia. They did SUCH a stellar job.

The coolest thing took place at the end of the event, the speaker was "brining it home" and asked if someone could come up and play guitar just softly in the background, etc. So, Julio (guitarist in Cofradia) went up. You could see in his face that he wasn't really sure what to do, but he started playing one of the songs we had sung during worship and it was great. Well as the speaker was finishing her "bringing it home" and beginning the altar call/prayer time, Chupa led the rest of the band up there to join in with Julio. They played really well in the background, with Chupa singing softly, for 30-45 minutes. It was so neat to see that. They were just following the Spirit's leading and it was awesome!

This is something that the missionaries here have been working really hard on with these youth. The worship bands for both churches are comprised almost entirely of youth ranging in age from 14-18! The only adults are gringos who either play drums or guitar! They have been working hard to teach these youth about LEADING in worship and not just playing in a music band. Well the Lord has been working even harder, and the work that HE has done came out quite obviously last weekend. What a blessing to be there to witness it!

L-R: Mili (vocals), Diego (drums), Golliot (bass), Chupa (lead vocals), Julio (guitar), Ruben (keys)

Sunday in the Arrayanes church, Horacio preached on fear. His main text was Matthew 8:23-26 where Jesus calms the storm. Before he does so, however, he rebukes His disciples saying, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" He also referenced 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."

These verses really struck me hard, because I find myself being attacked by fear daily--fear that maybe I am hearing God wrong, fear that I really don't have much to offer, fear that I'm going to mess things up or undermine progress already made here, etc. But today as I was meditating some more on these two verses, I came across a passage in Matthew 10 where Jesus sends his 12 disciples out to minister and heal and preach. He warned them that they would suffer for Him, but He encourages them by saying, "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (v. 18-20). I was really encouraged by this in light of the other scriptures on fear because whether or not I am ever arrested, etc., the truth is still true for me that it is never my effort that makes the difference but the effort made by the Spirit THROUGH me. I am the vessel, but HE is the living water, the bread of life, etc.

Gollo had talked in the Cofradia church about how doubt is the absence of faith. Well, according to that passage in Matthew 8, so is fear. But the truth is that I have nothing to fear because it should never be me speaking or acting or attempting to change anything. It should always be the Spirit of my Father speaking and acting and moving through me to produce HIS change in this world. I need only to believe, to have faith in HIM, to focus on HIM. I have nothing to fear when it is only me and HIM. If anything depended on me, well we'd be in trouble, but it doesn't. And because of that I can be bold; I can walk forward in power, in love, in self-discipline, in faith. I can speak without fear because I know the Son and the Son knows the Father and reveals Him (also in Matthew).

All that to say I have been really encouraged this weekend. We had a group here Friday and Saturday from La Fuente Church in Tepic. They led us in worship, and Dwight (their pastor and brother to Linea Hacket, co-founder of Alternative Missions) preached, and Pocho (the worship leader of La Fuente and a very gifted musician) even spent some time with the youth on the two worship bands on Saturday, teaching and encouraging them. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and corporate worship and learning, etc. And then two wonderful sermons on Sunday that spoke directly to where my heart is right now. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by such an incredible family--the Body of Christ--and to be encouraged by the one who knows and loves me best! Thank you Lord!!

Faith and I took some of the youth to the beach on Saturday (this past one, that is). It was a good time. Mili, Sandy, and Lupe went, as well as 5 of the youth guys. The beach wasn't the nicest in the world, but it was the closest, which is why we chose to go there. At first, folks were just kind of sitting around talking, but after a little bit, everyone started taking advantage of the local and went in the water and buried each other in the sand and all that fun beach stuff. I got nicely burned on my ears and the back of my neck, but other than that I had a fine time with everyone! Here are some pics. Enjoy!

Jose Luis (aka Fursio) buried in the sand by Gollo's sons Julio (left) and Gollito (right)--Gollo is our pastor in Cofradia

Mili, Elizabeth, Lupe, and Isaiah burying their legs in the sand. We had a good time crafting feet for them out of the sand! Miguel Angel helped--he is the younger brother of Favi and Brenda. Elizabeth and Isaiah are Faith's kids

May Update

Hello everyone!

Well, May has begun, and I'm beginning to realize how little the time is that I have left here in Mexico! Just over three weeks from now I'll be at home in Virginia with family and friends once again; I'm so excited to see everyone and to catch up on all that these three months have held, both for all of you as well as for me!

The last month has been simultaneously busy and not busy. I know that seems contradictory, but it's true! April began with a short-term team from Washington consisting of about 30 youth. They did construction work on our new church in the mornings, and in the afternoons they hosted a VBS Kids Club for 125 kids! None of us even knew there were that many kids in this area--they just seemed to come out of the woodwork. It was quite enjoyable to watch the Americans getting to know the Mexicans and the love that was poured out during that time! I have also continued to help Dave Elias, our base director, with administrative tasks, and I continue to learn more about what goes on here on a regular/daily basis.

The most significant development for me this month has been the opportunity to spend time with several girls from Arrayanes. They range in age from 16 to 23. Some are married and some are single; however, all of them love the Lord and desire to grow closer to Him and deeper in their faith-walk. I've had a wonderful time hanging out with them as a group as well as getting to spend time with each of them one-on-one. We have had two pajama parties, and lots of girl talk. Last weekend, Faith and I took a group of the youth to the beach; the girls went as well, and we enjoyed lots of fun and laughs and good talks on the beach all day.

The Lord has used the time spent with these girls to begin unveiling a vision in my heart for a ministry here in Cofradia. Therefore, the decision has been made for me to return to Mexico in August, first to Guadalajara to attend Harvest Language Center for 4 months, a language school designed specifically for missionaries to Mexico. and then back to Cofradia for at least 1 1/2 to 2 years. My goal for returning is to minister to the young ladies in this area. At this time there is no ministry geared specifically towards the young women. They have the opportunity to learn and be discipled in corporate settings (meaning co-ed youth group or family groups), but there is nothing specifically just for them, no one here with a vision to minister in ways that are specific to a woman's heart. As I've grown to know the girls in Arrayanes and seen the lack of teen female presence in the Cofradia church, this has become a desire that has grown in my heart--to return here and to minister in this way through corporate Bible study as well as individual discipleship and mentoring. The staff here have agreed that this fits well into the overall vision of our ministry base, which is to spread the gospel and make disciples, training up leaders who can then turn around and do the same in order to build and strengthen the body of Christ in this area and to spread the gospel into other towns and people groups. I'm simultaneously petrified and excited, but the Lord keeps bringing me back to Jeremiah 1:5, 7-8:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you...Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you..."

I know that the Lord will strengthen me for the work He wants me to do, and therefore I have nothing to fear.

Since my time at home this summer will be time set aside primarily for fund-raising, I need to begin now raising support for my summer at home. I will be in the U.S. from June 3 until the end of August; language school begins Aug 28, so I will have around 2.5 months to make necessary arrangements and to raise support for my months at language school as well as for my time on staff in Cofradia. I would like to ask each of you to prayerfully consider either continuing in your financial support or partnering with me financially for the first time. I am still working on my budget for the months at language school and my time in Cofradia; however, for my time home this summer I need to raise $1700/month. My biggest need right now is for monthly supporters--those willing to support me on a monthly basis with contributions of at least $25, $50, or $100 each month. Please prayerfully consider committing to partner with me and investing in the Kingdom of God in Mexico in this way.

If you are interested in financially supporting me, whether monthly or with a one-time gift, there is a safe, secure and trouble free way of donating via automatic Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This is a giving option where funds can be transferred from your checking, savings, or credit card electronically, and you can even set it up to deduct your contribution on a monthly basis automatically if you decide to become a monthly partner. You can also mail checks made out to "Alternative Missions, Inc." to:

Alternative Missions, Inc

P.O. Box 5835
Goodyear, AZ 85338

Should you decide to write a check, DO NOT write anything on your check concerning how you want the money designated; this information needs to be written on a separate piece of paper and included in the envelope with the check. Regardless of which method you may choose to use, your donations are tax-deductible, and once the head office receives your donation, a receipt will be mailed to you. I do ask, should you decide to partner with me in this way, that you please simply email me and let me know so that I may keep track of that and be sure to thank you appropriately and keep you updated on all that you are helping to do here.

Your continued prayer support is invaluable to me. I covet your prayers daily, and I'm trusting that the Lord is continuing to bless each and every one of you. I have enjoyed hearing stories from some of you about how life is going in the states and how your families are doing and growing. What a joy to be able to continue to share in your lives even from such a great distance! How truly amazing it is to be part of the Family of God, knit together at the heart! Please keep checking my blog to find out more details about what is going on in my life and with our ministry here in Cofradia and the surrounding area. There are also pictures posted in the blog entries, and there are links to more pictures as well as to other staff who keep a blog, etc.

Thank you all once again, and I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you all soon!!!

FACE TO FEET
ams :)

PS: In case the links to Harvest Language Center, the Electronic Funds Transfer, and my blog are not functioning, their web addresses are:

http://www.harvestlanguagecenter.org/
https://www.egivingsystems.org/support/42705/
http://amberinmexico.blogspot.com

This week has been one of reminders.

reminders to be careful with my mouth, not only because of the effect that careless words can have, but also because of the responsibility that is inherent in my presence here

reminders that my justification is not man-made, not a justification that simply hides my sins, but is God-granted and actually washes my sins completly away so that I'm clothed in RIGHTEOUSNESS rather than just fig leaves

reminders that I'm to live out of an unceasing fountain of Life that is Christ and not out of the cracked and broken cisterns that I have a tendency to build for myself

reminders of the grace that He has lavishly poured out on me and how undeserving yet how unquenchably loved I truly am.

Thank you Lord for your unceasing faithfulness to keep me growing, to keep me teachable, to keep me deeper.

The Girls...

From L-R: Me, Favi, Mili, Sandy, Lupe

Soooooo...I am long overdue for an update on here! Well, the Pijamada (Pajama Party) went well last weekend! I picked up Sandy, Mili, and Lupe on Friday night and brought them back to my appartment here at the base/church. We had all kinds of fun doing girly things and having girly talk. We started off with doing our nails--always a must at a girly party! We watched movies and had dinner and watched more movies and talked about boys and dreams and all that female bonding kind of stuff. Oh, and we played truth or dare--a game I never enjoyed as a kid. Now, I know why! HAH! I had to eat a huge spoonful of chile sauce and one of mustard. Then I had to chug a full glass of coke without taking a breath, and finally I had to eat a heaping spoonful of peanut butter. The last was a favor for me really because I like peanut butter and have no problem just eating it. Mexicans however, have a REALLY hard time eating it because of the texture and stickiness. Peanut butter to them is like eating that chile sauce for me! So, be assured I retaliated with large spoonfuls of PB! I had a stomach ache for two days, but it was worth it. We had a good time! We went to sleep REALLY late, even for me--3 am--and we got up really late--11 am! Lots of fun! I took them back home to Arrayanes around 3 pm on Saturday. Sandy sat in the cab of the truck with me while the other two sat in the back with all the stuff. On our drive back to Arrayanes, Sandy told me that she now has a best friend--ME! She has told me several times before, as have the other girls, that people here just aren't the kind of friend that they seem to have found in me--someone they can trust completely and who is faithful and honest and real with them. But Sandy has also told me before that she has NEVER had a real friend outside her sister and cousins and certainly never a best friend. So, when she told me that she now had a best friend and that it was me, I felt this rush of humility and honor and blessing and responsibility all at the same time. All of them are truly precious, and I'm so blessed and honored to know them and to be brought into their inner circle the way I have been, and so immediately too!

My mind and heart have been reeling ever since that conversation with Sandy. There is such an incredible void here when it comes to women's ministry. There are resources for kids (regular sunday school classes, STM outreaches, etc), for families (family groups), for the church as a whole (navigator's 2:7 class for adults and for youth, but it's co-ed, sunday school, etc.), for the youth in general (youth group, STM outreaches, 2:7 class, etc), and for the men specifically (discipleship, men's ministry, etc.), but there is nothing just for the young women around here. There is no ministry or discipleship outreach actively seeking out these young girls. There isn't even a formal friendship outreach with them....Until I showed up....And I can't seem to get enough of them. This week I have gone to Arrayanes 3 days in a row (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), and they will all be spending the night here on Saturday again--including Favi this time too! I have had a chance to spend some time just with Sandy this week, digging in to some of the stuff she's dealing with right now and getting to know her much better, and I'm hoping to do the same with each of them.

Please keep these girls in your fervent prayers, and me as well. I need wisdom as it's coming up on decision time about whether or not to return, and how to proceed depending on what's decided. I need wisdom in how to navigate these relationships, how to make sure that each one of them knows that I am here for them individually and equally and not just for one or two or just for the group. When you're that hungry for that kind of relationship, it's so easy to get jealous, and I've already started to see a little of that. Please pray that the Lord would protect against that kind of attack, and that I would have the wisdom to know how to proceed with each one and with them all as a group. Please pray for these girls that they would know that the Lord hears their cries--each of them individually--that he hears them and answers in tangible ways, not JUST abstract ways. They are all Christians, so pray for hope and growth and maturity and a deepened love between them and their Heavenly Husband. And please pray for their families, especially the dad of Mili and Sandy--His name is Benito, and he is not a Christian (their mother is). Please pray!

And now for some pictures from another nail painting experience this week:

The girls had a good time doing my nails--a french manicure where 9 of the tips are the Mexican flag and one is the American flag. This was Sandy's idea after she had Lupe do hers with 9 American flags and 1 Mexican.

The result. You can barely see the American flag, but it's on my thumb, and underneat it says "MEX".

Mili and her nails painted by Lupe on Monday--little flowers with a couple of stripes. Lupe is really quite an artist!