the process of job searching

I should have no fear, no worries about how I will have enough to take care of myself. But the reality is that I do fear. Much more than having the vision of where I want to be, I know that there's much work to be done in order to get there. 

Schools in the States should be competitive because the best should teach. Never having had taught as an actual teacher in the States, I feel like I'm at a disadvantage, and in a way I am, but that shouldn't scare my stiff. I started searching for work and have sent my resume to a few schools. Please say a prayer for me. It's strange how this process makes me feel like I am no longer a young adult. I am a woman with responsibilities and with much to offer. What is it that I compare myself too? What is this fear that hinders me from stepping forth in glory? 

In the next few weeks I'll hopefully have flooded the system with my application for a teaching job. Send your support this way with words of encouragement, but more importantly, your prayers. God bless.

a little faith

A little faith is what I need. I wrote and sent out a newsletter with updates from Mexico and one part asking for prayer and financial support. I know that the support is not in my hands, that it is the Holy Spirit of God who will make generous and thoughtful the people I've reached out to. But I need faith. I have this feeling over me that if people do send financial support, it won't be enough and I won't know what to do with the money. I also have this feeling over me that I won't even be able to raise 10% of what I need (which is just $200). I feel bad feeling this way because it shows how little my faith is in the God who makes all things possible, and in the people who make up the church. (Lord, increase my faith.)

I didn't want to write the newsletter in first place because of these feelings that stem from doubt. But I wrote it and sent it out and, still, I struggle with doubt. I prefer to be independent, being able to do things on my own. (So Lord help me and humble me.) I have this idea, this belief that things will always work out whether they are planned or not. That even if I am unable to take the course while here in Mexico through the support of others, I will be able to in the future to support myself and get certified to teach ESL.

I need a little faith that God can do the impossible even in such a short time.

the kingdom

In thinking about the Kingdom of God and what that is, here are a few thoughts.

A kingdom is made up of people, people who serve their king, honor him, and adore him. The people of God are scattered across the world, some who've already entered into service to the King and those still wait to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, in whom they will receive citizenship. This here and now is not the Kingdom of God, though we are the people who belong to it. I believe that we are to build a fort around the cities, protecting the weak and equipping the soldiers to fight the battle that is "not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). 

A kingdom cannot, before the return of Christ, exist in peace. There is another kingdom, one of darkness that trains and equips soldiers to infiltrate the people of God, who make up the Kingdom of God. So many people have fallen and continue to fall because they pay little or no mind to their duty as servants of Christ. So many of us get so caught up in living normal lives that we take for granted our positions as sons and daughters of God, and we even act like it's safe to go about our business without the armor of God. Some people wanna say that it's not good to be too spiritual, nor is it good to not be spiritual enough. That's nonsense. We are spiritual beings in bodies that enable us to work out our salvation, to work out what God has put in us (Philippians 2:12). It's like a veil that over our eyes, covering us from seeing our way to God. Only the Word of God, the word of our Lord and King can teach us truth, help us to see it and recognize it. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."


Many people don't want to talk about the deeper things that cause them to do what they do - whether it's acting out on faith or acting in sin. There's always a reason, some excuse to vindicate themselves for doing or for not doing a, b, c. I know that no one is perfect, especially Christians. But this isn't an excuse to continue living in defeat or living as one who has not received redemption through Christ. Yes, each of us were born in sin and each of us have been hit and battered with lies by those who've been used as instruments of Satan, our accuser. Yes, we will know pain, but let's not let it take control of our lives. The Apostle Paul says that there is power in purity. He writes to Timothy in book 2:


"Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2:22-25).


Paul instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-24 (www.biblegateway.com)  

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all;hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil. ²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

I pray that we will each have the courage, wisdom, and strength to fight for our freedom in Christ. We are no longer slaves, but bondservants of Christ, and we can serve him with peace and joy, knowing that He was and is and is to come. He will reign and my prayer is that we will also reign with Him. Glory to God. Amen.

in the days to come

Last weekend I went with friends to Mazatlan to celebrate another friend's birthday. It was quite lovely out there. The city isn't very big, but the malecón stretches over 10 miles. I didn't walk the whole way, of course, but enjoyed it at different points. People say that Mexico is dangerous, particularly Sinaloa because it is a harbor for narcotics. I don't know how much truth there is to all that people say, but it seems like people carry on with normal, every day lilfe. Even here in Guadalajara. I'm not under-estimating the level of violence and crime that exists in Mexico. Having lived here a little over seven months, most days life is normal. There have been mass killings, bus bombings, and crimes of similar nature. With the presidential election taking place this Sunday, July 1st, who knows what will happen. Some speak of revolutions, some speak of uncertainty. God knows. I ask people I know if they are going to vote. Some say yes and some say no. And for those who don't vote, someone else can take their vote. There's talk that a certain party is known to give out money to those who will lend them their credentials so they can vote with it. Kind of crazy.

Aside from what's currently going on, like I've said, people carry on with every day life. So now to the every day. I have a couple of friends visiting next month and I am preparing to be their "tour guide." I want them to experience some of the rich culture here in and around Guadalajara, to see Puerto Vallarta, meet and know my friends. I'm excited and feel blessed.

Teaching has been fine. There are students who come through and decide for various reasons that they cannot continue. So the dynamics of the classroom is hardly constant. Students like class because they feel that they are learning, they enjoy their classmates, or the way the teacher teaches. So, as I continue to learn how to be a teacher, I find ways to effectively teach different grammar points, to lead fun games for practice of knowledge, and how to incorporate extra knowledge that will help students be independent learners (for example, teaching cognates).

Me and Fugie found a way to talk for 15 minutes at $1.25. It's been such a blessing to be able to have our long conversations. I'm looking forward to going home, to being closer to him. In the meantime, I'm making the most of my time here with friends, in teaching

midpoint

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

By His grace I have made it to the halfway mark. Now it seems like the months are counted down rather than up. The first six months have been filled with much reflection on who I am in Christ, His purpose for bringing me back to Mexico, and what His desires are for me. God has really stretched me, challenging me to grow in His love and grace, and teaching me how to trust in Him. In this process He has given me amazing people to mutually encourage me – family and friends back home who have stayed involved, friends here who have shared in faith as brothers and sisters in Christ, and authors (such as Oswald, Piper, and so on) who provide insight and exhortation. It’s been a delightful first half.

In recent weeks I have been challenged in my commitment to the Camino community. It’s been frustrating not understanding the morning service messages. So, I stopped attending service two weeks ago and it’s been bittersweet. I use Sunday mornings to listen to sermons online so that I’m fed, but I miss the fellowship with the church. But beyond this, I realized that there is a deeper issue at hand. You see, I have had a pattern of complacency in my life and relationships. And as I prayed and reflected more on what was really going on underneath the frustration, I quickly saw as God revealed to me through His Word and Intercessor that my natural self was deflecting back to its comfortable ways. And I know through experience that this is what backsliding looks like. And I refuse to backslide. I don’t want to be a builder who has started and quits halfway. I want to keep building because I know that it is for God’s glory, not my own which will fade.

The building of ICLS is a continuing process. As we discern God’s vision for the school and work to carry out the mission, we pray for the team’s growth in quality, in numbers, and in finances. Everything we do and need we depend on faith in our Father God who provides. Though we lack in some areas, God has been gracious in teaching us how to work together, to go beyond ourselves in meeting the needs of students, and in growing our faith.

In thinking particularly about the next six months, my personal goals are to persevere through trials (which are so trivial in comparison to so many others), to grow in faith, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-5), as well as an instructor of language. It’s been such an exciting journey walking with Christ, in knowing Him more, and in discerning His will for my life (Romans 12:2). As I continue to trust Him, I am filled with joy and peace, so that I may overflow with hope by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). My prayer is the same for you, too. Amen.

the grace of God

Yesterday while waiting for friends to pick me up, I went across the street to the corner store for a bag of Hot Cheetos. Instead of enjoying my chips back at Camino, I sat on the white-painted metal benches in front of the store. These benches are always there and I have probably only sat on them once while waiting for a friend to buy something. As I was eating the delicious, taste-bud, satisfying cheetos, the man who was sitting on the other bench woke up from his nap and started talking to me. The first thing he said, of which I understood, was the word "lastima" which means shame. He stated in a question that the sight of him, an old man with a scarred up face sleeping there was shameful. In my limited Spanish I just told him no - as in no it isn't lastima. He started to tell me that his parents had passed and he had no one. He started crying. And when he pointed to the scars on his face, making comment on them, he cried even more. I didn't understand everything that he was saying, nor was it necessary. All I knew was that he was hurting and lonely. I told him, Tiene usted Dios (you have God). But he just stared at me in silence and more tears welled up from his eyes. I don't think those words really soaked in the first time. He spoke more and I listened while looking into his eyes so he knew that he had my attention. I told him again Tiene Dios. Usted es un hijo de Dios (you are a child of God). And then I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to ask him to come with me across the street to Camino. The Alpha team had an event and I knew I would find someone there to minister to him. Well, while he was crying I got up and told him, Ven, ven conmigo. Vamos a la iglesia cruza la calle alla. And he stared at me, confused. First he slightly refused and then said, but "I have been crying." That didn't matter to me. I called him hermano (brother) and told him again come with me, and I reached out my hand to him. He got up and we crossed the street where I found Rhona and explained to her the situation. While she went to get another man who would talk with him and counsel him, I went over to the man, his name is Polito, and told him my name. I stretched out my hand to shake his and he called me hermana. I started crying with him as he said I have a sister now. And I assured him, tiene una hermana, soy su hermana.

mission work and funds

In the first four books of the New Testament, we see that Jesus Christ shared about the Kingdom of God to his own people, other nations, in his own town and beyond. He disciple men and taught women the Way of life. Jesus said, “My will is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). After his resurrection, he appeared to his followers before being taken up to heaven. The Holy Spirit was given as a gift from that point on to us, who believe in him, in the name of Jesus to teach us all things and to remind us of everything Christ has said (John 14:25).

In the book of Acts we see his disciples Peter and John and others do what Jesus did: heal the sick, deliver the demon possessed, and preach the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also see that Jesus appeared to Saul, who then became the Apostle Paul when he was chosen by Christ to be an “instrument to carry [his] name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” Jesus said of Paul, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16).

Paul and the other apostles travelled from city to city preaching Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). As they preached and people accepted the gospel of peace and salvation through Jesus Christ, the number of believers grew. Therefore, churches were planted as people gathered to worship God and fellowship in His name. “The numbers of disciples were increasing” among many nations, which brought forth dispute about practices. So, the 12 original disciples (including the one that replaced Judas Iscariot) chose seven men among them who were known to be “full of the Spirit and wisdom” to take responsibility of this matter (Acts 6:1-7). When the church in Jerusalem received report of people, particularly Gentiles, converting to Christianity and receiving the Holy Spirit, they would send disciples to these various places to check for “evidence of the grace of God” (Acts 11).

The apostles and disciples committed to the Great Commission (Mark 15:15-16) encouraged each other by the work they were doing for and in the Lord. They shared the vision and work of Jesus Christ and, therefore, carried each other’s burdens in that way (1 Corinthians 7:5-7). There was a married couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who were missionaries preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. They welcomed into their home and encouraged others who were also spreading the gospel (Acts 18:18-28).    

Nowadays, many young people in the modern church fundraise for support to go on mission trips. Is this biblical? some may ask. As for Paul, a son of a Pharisee and an ex-Pharisee himself, says in Acts 20:34-35, “You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.”

Even though Paul did all he could to not be a burden to the church, he considered his “being a burden” a blessing to them (2 Corinthians 12:13). In 2 Corinthians 8 Paul encourages the church, which is the people of God, to be generous. He tells them, “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (verse 7). Paul says, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” The gifts and donations given by the people of God to support missions is a service to God.

And “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:6-15).