Oh deer!

Tonight, I had a babysitting job. I got ready, and left the house. It is only three roads to this family's home, nice and close. I was driving and reflecting on a lot.
Driving is the time Jesus and I talk the most. I often have people with me in every aspect of life, but for some reason, its almost always just me driving. So I pray a lot. I hash things out with God. It works.
Tonight was no different. I was driving, when all the sudden I felt the need to slow down and be alert. Every sense in my body perked up. I heard His voice, "Trust Me."
And then, out of no where, a deer appeared. I had never seen a deer on this road. She was huge, but without antlers. She walked up to my car, in the middle of the road, as I was driving, inches away from me. It was one of the most bizarre moments. I hit my brakes, grateful no one was directly behind me. I couldn't believe she was that close, and I didn't hit her.
And then she was gone.
I got to the house and babysat for the night. I went to leave six and a half hours later. I got to my car, and began praising Jesus for keeping me safe driving there.
I got to the same spot in the road, while driving home, and I felt the Holy Spirit say, "look over to the right." So I did, and the deer was standing off a bit, on the side of the road, just staring at me. Once I drove by, she began to run. It was like she was waiting for me. It was bizarre all over again.
Who sees the same deer in the exact same spot, over six hours later? It was weird.
What a reminder that He is in control. I am so thankful I listened to the Spirit, and was aware as I was driving. So thankful that He kept me safe, once again.
Okay. I really need sleep.
If you could be praying for me, I am starting to get sick, and really need to be healthy. No cough, no headache, no stuffyness.
Also, I have a 5k race in the morning, so pray the rain holds off!
Goodnight!
Love, M.

Oh coffee.

The month of December I have decided to be more focused on listening to the Holy Spirit, and obeying.
This week I have been doing strange things. Tonight was no an exception.
I took my freshmen girls out for coffee today. It was a riot. Seven freshmen girls anywhere leaves trails of giggles. I love it. I love spending time with my girls. I was so excited knowing I wasn't working today, so we could make early plans.
My girls all lined up and ordered their coffee. I was in the back of the line, waiting to pay for all their drinks. I was praying silently, thanking God for letting me have sweet time with them, when I heard Him. That quiet whisper in my heart was getting louder the more intently I have been listening.
He told me I needed to buy the lady's coffee behind me. My first reaction was not obedience. I thought, I am already buying eight drinks, really Lord, you want me to buy another?  Then my second reaction was, it would be weird, all of my girls would see me, it might be awkward.
And then I obeyed.
The barista asked me if that was all, and I quickly blurted out I was buying the lady's drink behind me too. I began praying it was a lady behind me. I hadn't even looked to check. Shaking, I turned around, and there she was. Oh praise Jesus. I didn't just insult a man.
The woman told me I didn't have to, but I insisted. By now everyone is watching the awkwardness unfold. Why can't I be cool, calm, and collected in social settings?? She ordered, and I paid. She looked and me curiously and told me normal people don't buy stranger's coffee. Why would I do such a thing... Oh goodness, I have to talk, I wasn't in the mood, and I suddenly felt myself get nervous.
I turned to her, with the whole store listening to the loud thump of my embarrassed heartbeat, and told her the truth. "I was just praying, and God told me to buy your coffee. I just wanted to bless you." The cashier was slightly baffled. She said one time a girl came in and paid for someone's coffee, trying to pay it forward, but it was a rare occurrence. I then looked to both of them and explained, "I'm not paying it forward. I'm just being obedient. I just want to follow Jesus."
Oh the looks that followed...
Yup, I'm crazy. It's official. I buy stranger's coffee, and pray in line, and then talk about Jesus to everyone, while having brought two cars full of giggling high school girls.
I don't tell this story for any one to think I've got this down. I don't. I'm just really trying to obey Jesus. I'm a mess most of the time.
I was thinking about it later. None of my girls, and no one in the store would've known if I would've ignored the Holy Spirit. But only because I obeyed, did it open the door to share Jesus. I think I also was an example to my girls. It certainly sparked some conversation once we sat down.
I want them to know how to have a genuine faith. I want them to know how to have more than Sunday morning church time. It can be the most amazing thing of their lives. So, I attempt daily obedience, praying they see a real God through this simple, slightly crazed girl.
Goodnight!
Love, M. :)

Where He leads, I will follow.

There a few things I know for certain.
1. Everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
2. God values obedience. He says to obey is better than sacrifice. (1Samuel 15:22)
3. The more you listen, the easier it is to hear someone's voice.
It is easy to ignore the Holy Spirit's voice in your life. He doesn't scream or flash lights, at least for me. His voice is a quiet whisper in my heart. It tells me what is right and wrong, it reminds me of verses from God's Word, and it prompts me to do things. The more I am in tune with His voice, the easier it is to say yes, and obey. The more often I obey, the clearer His voice becomes, and the easier it becomes.
So, let me share my personal challenge to myself this month.
I decided to say practice saying "yes" this month. This December, I want to follow where He leads. When He tells me to do something, however uncomfortable, awkward, or strange it is, I want to say yes. I do not want to think it out, tell God maybe, or ignore it. I want to be obedient.
So, I started this challenge to myself a couple days ago. I have done some strange things since then. At midnight, He woke me up, and told me to start praying for someone. So I did. He told me to encourage someone else. So I did. He told me to stop by the store and grab vitamins for a sick friend. So I did.
Know what's crazy? Those people that God put on my heart to pray for, encourage, or serve needed that, in that exact moment. Nothing I could've ever set up or planned. God is meeting needs through His obedient children. It boggles my mind when someone tells me they were praying for something so specific, and next thing they know it is in their hands. They ask, how could you know? I didnt, but God did, and He is good. I just want to be obedient.
And the coolest thing is that when we are obedient, it just points back to Jesus. Isn't that how we should strive to live our lives anyway?
So, if you're with me, here's the challenge. Say yes. Be open for God to use you. Get out of your comfort zone. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in all that you do.
It's going to be a great month.
Love, M :)

Love.

Love is something I thought I was good at. I love everyone. Nothing really upsets my love. Hmmm. I was wrong. The past few days the Holy Spirit and the Bible have been teaching me truths about love, and where I am falling short.
Here in 1 Corinthians 13 is a snap shot of what it really means to love. People think this a beautiful scripture for weddings, but the truth is that its good for everyday, for everyone, and for everywhere.
(I am using the message version today, because it helped me a lot this week.)
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first",
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.
The one I have really been focused on is, love doesn't keep score...
Wow. That's been a game changed to really remember that.
Which one sticks out to you? Why?
Have a great Sunday. Stay safe on the wintry roads!
Love, M

Monday Morning

Good morning! It is Monday, a fresh new week.

It is also carnival here. Carnival is a huge holiday here. Kids have Monday and Tuesday off of school. There are parades, confetti, spray foam, water balloons, masks, special food, and a lot of drinking. I have spent the morning relaxing at the house, not exactly what is in store for today. Bolivians love a good party, so I plan on laying low today.

Laying low is good plan because i haven't been feeling the greatest since yesterday afternoon. I took a four hour nap, and was up for two hours, and then slept for another eleven hours. If you know me, you would know I normally run on five hours of sleep a day, so this is not normal. I also had body aches. So being a good girl, i took motrin, airborne, drank a lot of water, ate some dinner, and went to bed early. I woke up feeling better, but now my belly and I are fighting. I could be dealing with not drinking enough water or the change in altitude. I am not sure. I am feeling better in the past hour or so, but would still appreciate any prayers. :)

Also, speaking of prayers, I would like to ask for you to pray for someone I love dearly today. No details necessary, just be praying for her especially today, and the weeks to come.

My close friend has not had her baby yet! AH! Hopefully soon!!!!!!!!! Be praying for her and a smooth delivery.

Yesterday I went to church for the first time in Bolivia. I attended Cochabamba International Church. We sang in Spanish and English. Some songs were just Spanish, and other songs the verses alternated languages. We sang a song about the Holy Spirit in Spanish, and I know some Spanish, so I understood it. But in that moment, it was so cool. I wasn't singing in my native tongue, but I was singing about how real our God is. I was singing along side other people who i have never met, but knew my Jesus to be true in their lives, as He is in mine. It was one of my favorite moments so far. The pastor who normally preaches was away with 20 couples on a couples retreat. So we had a guest speaker. He was a missionary to Bolivia years ago, and has since been in Paraguay doing full time missions. His message was encouraging and thought provoking. Just simple reminders to stop, look, and listen to what God is saying. And a reminder that we all have a call to be the hands and feet of Jesus, even if it isn't over seas.

I then went over to Danee's house for lunch, with her husband, and two girls. We had a yummy lunch, and awesome conversation. I love sharing the journey of getting here, and all my cool stories of how real my Savior is. We have knit hearts from having the same passions. It was lovely.

Then Danee took me to IC Norte, the grocery store. I picked up fresh baked Bolivian bread, Bolivian cheese, Ramen noodles, and a few other things. I spent 75 B's which is a little bit more than 10 USD. I was told if I cook Bolivian style, I won't spend a lot of money, but if I cook American, it will get expensive quick. For example, in the states I love to cook alfredo. So i looked at a jar of Alfredo sauce, it would have been equal to 7 USD, and thats the $1 stuff at home! But bread was less than a USD, and produce is cheap too. So, I am going to try my way at Bolivian cooking, lots of potatoes, rice, bread, and produce!

Love you! M

PS-It is my mom's birthday this week. I can't be there, but if you see her, will you treat her like a princess, and let her know she is loved?

the journey

February 15

I sat in the Miami airport at my gate sobbing. The reality of what i was about to embark on was staring me straight in my face. I wasn't scared. I just hated saying goodbye. My phone was dying, and once I boarded that plane, no more phone calls, text messages, facebook checks, or emails at my fingertips. The next time I talk to my loved ones was unknown.

So, I cried over that.

And then one of my closest friend's mom called for a quick last goodbye. She said her 39 week pregnant daughter (my friend), went to the doctor, and was having contractions. That was when the full on sobbing began. I wanted to meet that baby, brand new and just born. I know there are countless hours of baby time once I get back in April, but I wanted to hold him before I left. I hate knowing that I missed it. I know its not a big deal, but to me, in that moment, it was everything.

Sobbing in the airport, I began to pray. I needed the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to come in a tangible way.

i cried standing in line to board, I cried boarding the plane, and putting my carryon away, I cried sitting down and buckling up. Everyone on that plane must've had some interesting opinions of the sobbing, snotting American. I continued to pray for comfort.

Almost everyone on that plane spoke Spanish, so I started praying for someone to speak English. The plane was still boarding, and I still had big, fat tears rolling down my cheeks, when a girl with a Mickey Mouse shirt on came up to me. She stopped at my seat, put her hand on mine, and said something in Spanish. I being ever so graceful, blurted out, "Any chance you know English?!?" She responded in gorgeous English, "Yes, I do. I am actually fluent in 5 languages. I am a translator." I was then able to share why I was upset. You know how sometimes you just need to say it to someone listening, and then it is over? Well that was the case. I said it outloud that I was sad about missing my friend's son being born, but how excited i was to know I was going to where God had me to be. She reminded me of some truth, and rubbed my arm, and sat down. That was all I needed. Just the comfort of knowing someone cared, and being reminded that He's got me in the palm of His hand. No more tears after that. :)

More airplane stories...

Just had lunch. I think. Or an early dinner at 3:30. I had a hot, cheesy, turkey sandwich, a small salad, a coca cola, and 2 oreos. It hit the spot. I didn't even realize i was hungry. The man next to me doesn't speak any English, but he and his wife have kind eyes. I know everyone eats oreos differently, but i have never seen them eaten quite like this before. The man next to me opened his cookies, and scraped every bit of cream out of it, and then ate them. Better not get him double stuff oreos! Haha!

On the radio in the plane all of the verses of "I've been working on the railroad" are playing in English. So random.

I opened up my journal to write these tales down, and a piece of paper fluttered onto my lap. It was a verse from a friend. Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." True that! Such a great reminder that wherever I go, He is with me, no need to fear!

The overwhelming theme of the past few hours has been God is not American. He doesnt just speak English. He truly is universal. Every man, woman, boy, and girl need Him in a very real way, if if they don't think they do. Religion or English may not translate, but a very real Savior does. I knew that before, but now with every part in me, I know that to be true. The power and love of Jesus can break barriers. I am so excited to share His love with some heartbroken and hurting people. Since He does not only speak English, and He lives inside of me, I believe He can, and will break barriers of language, culture, religion, and my awkwardness to share His love.

Love, M