Walking the Streets

Thursday Adventures.
This morning I woke up early, and met a few girls in downtown Pontiac. We loaded up our baskets, and began wandering the streets. It was still dark, the air was crisp, and flurries were beginning to fall.
We set out with purpose in our minds, love in our hearts, and gloves, hand warmers, muffins, and juice boxes in our baskets.
Every Thursday morning, a few wonderful women who just want to share the love of Jesus, bundle up, and walk the streets of downtown Pontiac. They search for the homeless, the broken, the weary, the hopeless, and the lonely. They hand out breakfast and gloves. When asked why they do what they do, its always the same response. They just want to share the real love of Christ.
There is no glamour to be found here. There is no award for being good people. The simple joy is found in the quiet "thank you's", the silent smiles, the hastening of gloves over frozen fingers, the shouts of excitement as these girls appear in alleys, and in knowing they are being the hands and feet of Jesus.
I had the pleasure of serving with them today. It was my first time. It was delightful. My heart hasn't smiled like that in a while. There is something so unique to this type of ministry that is intoxicating. It is such a joy to be apart of something that is really showing Jesus' love, not in theory, but in reality.
On my way, driving this morning, I began to pray a few things.
-I prayed my basket would be emptied. It was. I gave out 9 pairs of gloves to 9 men this morning. That's more than normal.
-I prayed I would be warm, even though it was below freezing. I was. By the end of the hour, I was sweating. As soon as I got to the car, I was taking off layers.
-I prayed I would remember why I was there. I did. Verses flooded my heart as I saw cold, lonely men who needed to be loved by a real Savior.
(Psalm 140:12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Matthew 25:37b-40 Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.')
-I prayed for safety. We had it. Never once did I feel frightened, in danger, or even nervous. I knew Who had us. More verses filled my mind with reminders of my God.
(Psalm 28:7a The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped... Psalm 7:10a My shield is God Most High... Psalm 119:114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 59:9-10a O my strength, I watch for you; you, o God, are my fortress, my loving God. God will go before me. Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do nor be afraid; do not be discouraged. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.)
-I prayed for Him to speak to me. He did. And as always, it was the right thing, for the right time.
(2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.")
-I prayed for people to hear about Jesus. They heard. Not only in our actions and words, but in every bag that was handed out was a piece of paper that explained why these girls do what they do, and had verses pointing them to a real Savior.
So, I challenge you to pray, and watch God show up. Wait, expecting big things. And then, take action.
Remember, we are not always called the same way to serve. If I had a husband and babies, I wouldn't be able to just leave and do what I do. So, I once again praise Him for my season of singleness. I am not telling you to leave your kids to go to Pontiac at six am and wander in alley ways. We are all in different seasons, all with different talents and different abilities. Pray about it, ask God to show you were you can love people now, and share a real Jesus. You may not have to even leave your couch. People are needed to pray, to give, to encourage, to do, and to go.How can you love people and bring them to Jesus this week?
Please be praying for the homeless all over the world on these bitter cold, winter nights. And remember to be thankful for your warm pjs, bed, and home tonight. You are blessed, don't forget.
What a perfectly lovely day.
Love, M.

snap shot of the past six weeks

Good morning world!

Here it is. My last day. Ready or not, it snuck up, and is here.

I gave Bolivia my heart, and it gave me the best, most fulfilling 6 weeks of my life.

I have wept, prayed, laughed, danced, ate, held, comforted, observed, fed, cuddled, played, ran, fell, shopped, soothed, researched, worshiped, listened, read, slept, brushed, painted, smiled, and fell head over heels in love. I have lived life to the fullest, and served in Jesus' name.

I will miss so many things here.

My roommate, Kathryn. She can make me laugh in an instant. We both sleep talk in the night, and normally one of us remembers parts of the conversation. (me: I thought there were wood forest animals here.....) She has been the sounding board to my breaking heart. She has prayed for me numerous times and is always encouraging me to "take it to the Lord." She is the first person I see when I wake up, and the last before I go to sleep, normally because she runs into my bed and says without fail, "who moved this bed here?"

My housemates Jonathan and Devon. Two of the sweetest people I have ever met. When I was really sick, Jonathan brought me yellow gatorade all the time. He is young, so the three of us girls have adopted him as our little brother. He is full of life, and is always thinking about adventure. Our last night together, he blew up balloons and brought home ice cream. Devon is my soul sister. We have much in common. Except height. She is 12 inches taller than me. And she doesn't like coffee. She is always trying to spend a little but more time with her Jesus, and I just love that about her.

I will also miss not driving. Hopping into a taxi or trufi and paying pennies to go wherever you want. No more "Voy a bajar a la esquina por favor."

I will miss my street kids. So much. Friday afternoons I will be wishing I was at Plaza San Sebastian feeding, giving medical care, listening, and praying for them.

I will miss the warm South American sunshine! Perfect for awkward tan lines, making me smile, and drying clothes in the backyard.

I will miss the orphanage, and the most delightful kids ever!

I will miss the other missionaries down here, serving. I love their encouragement and love.

I will miss staying up late laughing.

I will miss trying new foods.

I will miss praying over the babies at the Nutrition Center, and telling them God has big plans for them.

Some of my favorite moments:

Being called mom by a beautiful orphan girl.

Meeting my Compassion International girl, Karen.

Getting lost looking for the church.

Finally feeling better!

Falling in love with glue sniffers.



Fresh fruit.


There aren't too many things about Bolivia I didn't like; being sick, no flushing toilet paper, and how time doesn't really matter to anyone, having to turn the water on outside before taking a shower, and dogs everywhere.

There are a few things I am really looking forward to once I arrive home; giving my daddy a huge hug, baking without altitude issues, eating olive garden, visiting with friends, holding babies, sharing what Jesus did, sleeping in my big bed, flushing toilet paper, warm water, using my phone, Target, seeing my grandmother, going to my church, praying with my girls, etc.

God is good! My flight is supposed to leave at 840 tonight. It has changed 3 times already....BAH! I arrive in Detroit tomorrow night, with a lot of layovers and flights in between. Please be praying for safety, smoothness, and God's favor. I brought 100 lbs of luggage. Used/gave away/etc about 55. But then I went shopping, and am bringing 45 lbs of stuff purchased here. Oh boy. Need God's favor for baggage fees for certain!

Love you all! M

I plan on blogging when I get home. Kinda a follow up on what He is doing, where He is taking me, and how I am serving. :)

10 days left

This passage of scripture has been floating around in my brain the past few days.

When I serve a street kid a plate of food, a cup of juice, give a shot, hold a hand, pray over them, listen when they share, I am actually doing it to my Jesus. WOW!

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" Matthew 25:35-40

I have been reading "When Invisible Children Sing: A true story of five street children, an idealistic young doctor, and their dangerous hope" by Dr. Chi Huang. Oh my word! I highly suggest getting it, and reading it. It is about street kids in La Paz, Bolivia. It gives a very accurate look into the life of street kids. I sob while reading it. It reminds me so much of the kids who have stolen my heart here in Cochabamba.

Claudia, a girl who lives on the streets and is always high from sniffing glue is 8 months pregnant. Andrea is a girl who is always high from glue. She runs up to me the second I walk into the plaza. She wants me to print off pictures and bring them to her.

I have such a fire in my heart for these girls on the streets.

When I left home, I thought I would fall in love with sweet, innocent, brown babies. I thought I would want to take them home by the bushel. I had no idea I would instead fall in love with unkept, rough, druggie kids who live on the street and have done things and seen things that would make me vomit to know about. Kids no one wants to acknowledge or even want at all. But I love them and have such a heart and passion growing for them.

Lord, what do You have for me next??????????!!!!!!!!??????????????/

I only have 10 days left in the city of eternal spring. Be praying for so many opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Be praying that the people will know His love. Be praying for me as I prepare to leave, I think it will be the hardest thing to leave.

Be praying for the cities of Detroit and Cochabamba for God to pour out His power.

Also be praying for members of my family, as we celebrate one of us going home to be with Jesus.

So excited for this upcoming week. I have a feeling BIG things are on the way.

Love, M