A mailbox surprise!

Over a year ago, I decided to sponsor a little girl through Compassion International. In March of 2012, I was able to meet Karen, and spend the day with her in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I randomly will receive letters from her. Yesterday's mail contained my favorite letter. I wanted to share it, because it brought so much joy to my heart. It has been translated, so the English is a little bit rough.

"Dear: Michelle
Hello Michelle, I greet you with our Lord's peace. Karen is taking care well of her Princesa and she gives it a bath and plays a lot. Karen's dog is well and Karen gives her dog a bath and takes care of it a lot. Karen remembers a lot of all the things that you and her had together and also Karen remembers well how you played in the park together and remembers that you swing together and how she slide with her princess. I dismiss with a strong hug of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Jesus takes care of you a lot wherever you go and find, with love.
Karen's sister"

A girl on a different continent remembers that I played on the slide and swing set with her one day almost a year ago? And she still has the doll I gave her? My heart is full. Is there anything better than investing in people?

I am so blessed. What a sweet surprise in my mailbox!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love, M

What a night!

Tonight I went to a fundraiser event for an awesome organization, key of hope. Twenty something women from my church are going to South Africa in July to love people, and be Jesus in a broken land. I enjoyed going and hearing of what God is doing there now though His obedient people. My heart leapt for joy as I learned more of the adventure ahead for these women.

I hadn't planned on going tonight. Originally, I didn't really want to. I have a few days off of work, and I wanted to relax, and spend time alone. But I felt a tugging on my heart to go, and so I went.
I was so blessed beyond words.

Five separate people came up to me, and shared that they read my blog. I laughed. They read this? This string of jumbled words from a nobody of a girl? Well that didn't make sense. Apparently, not only did they read it, but they knew my stories.

They prayed for baby Nestor, they read of God's faithfulness, they watched the Healer fix this girl's broken heart. It blew me away.

A little while later, a woman came up to me and encouraged me about being single. She was in my small group. I had recently spoke out about the pressure in the church world to be married young, and how it feels like we are inadequate to serve in ministry without a husband. Being content while being 25 and single is hard sometimes. She encouraged me to wait on His timing and find joy in Christ alone. She also thought my hair was cute, which made me laugh because it was so dirty!

I was also blessed to spend most of the evening cuddling and sneaking desserts to my niece. She is my best friend's daughter, and one of the few absolute loves of my life. I prayed for her years before she was here, and tonight she said my name for the first time. (She just calls me "M".)

Big tears welled up in my eyes, as I reflected on how faithful God really is.

There was a silent auction, and a life auction tonight. I bid on a cute, homemade, yellow quilt, and my bid won! I love knowing my money is going to share the name of Jesus, and I got a cozy quilt to cuddle up with.

A few times tonight I shared stories of how amazing this year has been. (Check back soon for 'M's top 12 moments of 2012')  And I became so excited thinking of stories that I can't tell quite yet, because they have not come to frutation yet, but believing they will. Things are happening, big things! My heart was reminded of how I want to go and serve, but for now we wait and serve.

I had a conversation with a dear friend tonight. We both want to be in other countries serving there. We don't want to be here. But God has us in the places we are for a reason, and we trust He is faithful, and ALL things work together for good for them that love Him, and are called according to His purposes.

God knew I needed a sweet night, full of refreshment. What a perfect way to start vacation week! :)

If you would like to support any of the women going to South Africa, please let me know. $2,500 is due by the middle of January, with more to raise in the following months. If you cannot give, please be in prayer for peace for these girls as they raise money, and for God to move mountains on their behalf.

Our God doesn't change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same God that used five loaves of bread, and two fish to feed 5,000+ people is still doing miracles today. I cannot wait to hear the stories of God doing big things. :)
\
Have a great day!

Love, M :)

email me at : michelletobolivia@gmail.com

Day Two

Today is day two of the "November Be Thankful Challenge". Who joined me yesterday in actively being grateful?
When I got home last night, I was exhausted. I could tell I was cranky, so I went straight to my room. I put pajamas on, and looked for a notebook to start my 'thankful for' list. As I sat down to write, my crankiness began to dissolve. That was a benefit I had no anticipated. It's really hard to be cranky and thankful in the same moment. So, in that moment, I chose to be thankful.
I thought on my day, and realized what a very blessed girl I am. I had planned on writing five things a day, but yesterday I wrote six.
I don't plan on sharing my list every day, but I will today.
Day One.
1. Great dinner prepared by sister.
2. 7th Heaven reruns on demand.
3. Quiet and easy day at work.
4. Dinner invitation to family dinner.
5. Friend's surgery went well.
6. Great friend to vent to.
There ya have it, see how easy it is?
This morning I am so grateful for being in bed by 8:30 last night, and a good night's rest. :)
I would love to hear what you were thankful for yesterday.
Be active in being grateful today. Focus on how you're blessed, and don't forget to let others know how thankful you are of them!
I will be doing a contest coming up. So, check back for that! :)
Happy Friday!
Love, M

He is faithful.

Tonight I was driving home. I was tired, frustrated, and exhausted. I was praying to a real God, who at the moment didn't feel very real. I was telling Him, "I know you are faithful. It just doesn't feel like it. I feels like You forgot about me. I know You love me, but I don't feel it."

And then, I saw it.

The prettiest rainbow in the world. It was a full, across the road, double rainbow. The clearest and largest rainbow I have ever seen. Ever.

At the exact second I needed to be reminded of His faithfulness. He showed Himself to be faithful.

The rainbow in the Bible represents God's faithfulness, His love, and His promises.

Genesis 9:8-17 (amplified version)
8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,
9 Behold, I establish My covenant or pledge with you and with your descendants after you
10 And with every living creature that is with you —whether the birds, the livestock, or the wild beasts of the earth along with you, as many as came out of the ark—every animal of the earth.
11 I will establish My covenant or pledge with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood; neither shall there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth and make it corrupt.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant (solemn pledge) which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:
13 I set My bow [rainbow] in the cloud, and it shall be a token or sign of a covenant or solemn pledge between Me and the earth.
14 And it shall be that when I bring clouds over the earth and the bow [rainbow] is seen in the clouds,
15 I will [earnestly] remember My covenant or solemn pledge which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy and make all flesh corrupt.
16 When the bow [rainbow] is in the clouds and I look upon it, I will [earnestly] remember the everlasting covenant or pledge between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
17 And God said to Noah, This [rainbow] is the token or sign of the covenant or solemn pledge which I have established between Me and all flesh
That was my rainbow. It was for me. God reminded me right in my exact moment of need to show up.

He is faithful.

He is love.

He is truth.

He is real.

He is overwhelmingly everything I don't understand or ever could.

He cares about me.

He is faithful. So faithful.

I pulled over in a parking lot to take pictures. I stood, crying, worshiping a real God.

He is worthy.

He thinks of me dearly.

Great is thy faithfulness.

His thoughts toward me are precious and many.

Psalms 139:17-18a How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

Blessed. Loved. Daughter of the King.

Love, M

I wish I could spend hours with everyone I have ever met, just sharing stories. I would laugh, cry, and remember.

I would share what I have seen, what I have felt, what broke my heart, the real people who need a real Jesus, my passion, my heart, and my hopes and dreams for now, and the future.

I have started and restarted so many blogs. There are so many things to share. How do I even begin?

My heart is very much still in Bolivia. I only left a week ago. I have been home for only a few days. It is so strange to have two lives and so quickly be thrown from one to the other. Since being home, I have spoken in Spanish and wondered why people have strange looks on their faces. I have brushed my teeth with filtered water, and not flushed toilet paper. I was completely overwhelmed by the drive thru and the grocery store. I have been shocked when realizing the price of a soda could buy dinner for a family in Bolivia. I have kissed so many cheeks awkwardly while people hugged me. I have cried and cried wishing my arms could hold an orphan, my words could sooth a broken heart of a girl on the street, my hands could hand food to the homeless.

I have had so many confirmations that this girl was meant to be a missionary for longer than six weeks. I want to go for a year or longer. I want to do it.

I know with so much conviction that I am supposed to be home for this season. I keep asking to be a voice for the broken. And He keeps opening doors. Day after day. He is faithful to give me opportunities to share. I have a heart and a passion for Detroit, for freedom, for Jesus, and for girls. I really think the door is opening for BIG things to happen with all of those passions. He keeps giving me a dream, a vision, a heart, and a passion. It has been amazing how many people are already encouraging me and praying for me in this next chapter. I have no clue what I am doing. None. I am just trying to trust moment by moment, and be obedient. I want to be a voice, I want to bring love, justice, and freedom in Jesus' name.

I am looking forward to sharing more as life unfolds. I have other big stories that are still in the process of coming together. Life is exciting, scary, unknown, and adventurous. My Jesus is overwhelming in His love, provider, and full of favor.

BIG THINGS IN THE WORKS!

Love, M