The other day I was walking along Jaco Central to catch the bus back to San Jose, I looked over to my right where I saw 3 adolescents sleeping in boxes; one opened his eyes...I walked over to him and we began to converse. He said that they were from Guanacaste (the other side of CR) and that they were in Jaco looking for work. It was a 12 yr old boy and two15yr olds one girl and one boy. I asked if their parents knew they were there...he said no. It was such a heart breaking thing to see ...I could see the desperation in this child’s eyes asking for help. WHO WILL GO, WHO WILL GIVE, WHO WILL PRAY? This is not just a onetime case...unfortunately it didn’t surprise me to see what I saw or hear what I heard.
I want to share with you about how I experienced the love of God so deeply in my life tonight.
Today at church, I sat by one of the sweetest men on the face of the planet. He has a full head of white hair, glasses, wrinkles, a little tummy and a warm embrace!!!! I experienced the love of God in a very real way tonight; through this 80 something year old man. We made small talk; we worshiped together, listened together and smiled together. It just felt good to sit beside him. It was comforting. I found myself throughout the sermon, leaning his way...why? Because it just felt good to be next to him. As the pastor began to close the sermon, the response worship song began to be sung....I all of the sudden felt this arm around me...holding me close ....and he began to pray for me; he...was praying for ME. He held me close and I began to tear up...as I knew....I was being held by the Father. We stayed that way for the next 5 minutes or so....as the lights turned on and people began to leave...he looked in to my eyes and shared words of encouragement...he opened my Bible and gave me a specific verse to pray over my life. (One that I know was directly for the LORD!) ...we embraced a few more times before we parted ways. The last words he said to me were: Cuando tu oras, ora para mi, mi nombre es Manuel. :) When you pray; pray for me. My name is Manuel.
***Yes, Manuel...I will be praying...in fact I I have been....for some time now. :)
Thank you Lord for sharing your love with me tonight...in such a real deep way. After we parted ways, I headed straight for the ladies room ...and cried...not because I was sad, but because I am overwhelmed by the love that Christ shows to me ...His mercy--- on my life. I thought to myself while I was in that stall, crying and just marvelling at who this God is...; that my life would be spent like this man's..... That I could help other people experience the love of Christ in some way just like I did tonight.
Be encouraged brethren!!
xoxoxox Melissa JN 13:34-35
P.S Please be praying for the following: 1.) The staff of sunkist clothing in San Jose 2.) Please pray for my left foot and ankle....I had a fall....and am in a bit of pain; have been in bed with my foot up most of the last 3 days....just trying to get it better. Suppose to run a half marathon next week. :) 3.) My new friend, Manuel. 4.) God is doing something in C.R....something amazing...that we as believers in C.R would be faithful and work together. That the Holy Spirit would draw many hearts to know Him! That God would be glorified in this beautiful country!
oh...and you can be praying for these lil chicki nuggies too....their my english class that I teach....pray for their lil hearts. :)
Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."JN 4:13-14
I like the explanation that the NLT study bible says referring of vs.7-9.... No respectable Jewish man would talk to a woman under such circumstances. But Jesus did. The Good News is for every person, no matter what his or her race, social position, or past sins. We must be prepared to share this Good News at any time and in any place. Jesus crossed all barriers to share the Good News, and we who follow him must do no less.
Let's ask God to show us and lead us each day to impact people for Him...not seeing with our physical eyes the people that we encounter each day but seeing them through Christ's eyes....what He sees...His desire is that none should perish and ALL would have everlasting lives. (2 Pet 3:9)
My life.... 4 the Gospel. That I would live that way.
xoxoxoxo Melissa W
JN 13:34-35
Friday, October 28, 2011
Happy Friday! Feliz fin de semana! :)
May the LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you; Numbers 6:24
Let's look for opportunities to bless people this weekend.
...And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phil 2:8
In less than 2 months I will graduate from the Spanish language institute...:) I will be walking forward in the next step....God knows what that is....and He will connect the dots (...) from here until then. My responsibility is to be faithful with what He has given me today...:) to seek Him with all of my heart, to trust that He has me in His hands...and He will open the doors that need to be opened and shut the ones that need to be shut. I am excited!!!!
Yesterday I spent time with the ladies at the recovery home, I conversed with a young lady who arrived at the home a few weeks ago, she is 23 years old and GOD is doing a wonderful work...during the Bible Study she had some good insight and so I asked her about it afterwards and she mentioned that her mom is a wonderful Christian women, solid in the Word etc. The young lady just made a few bad decisions over the years that had lead her to a dark place. She told me that she is a whole new person in just 23 days it's as though she can see now. She is starting to get vision and has a hunger to know God. She shared with me just how humbling it was to be there and she shared how she felt like the Lord wanted her to help out the center by working (see note in bracket!) and also it would be a way for her to earn a little extra spending money. (the ladies if are well enough are asked to help support the center by selling little trinkets in the street or by asking for donations, technically since her mom pays she does not have to do this) She explained to me how she really didn't want to be in the street because she was embarrassed but felt like God had asked her to....so in the end she did go out and although it was hard at first ...as the time went on ...the Lord blessed her immensely with people who responded well and gave...she was so encouraged she went out the following 3 days and was planning on continuing as long as the Lord had desired her to do so. As I was thinking today of my conversation with her, I was reminded of the verses in Philippians 2 starting in 5...where it says....let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ....but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, ...He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross... ::::WAKE UP CALL::::: NEWS FLASH:::::I'm not on this earth to please people....but to PLEASE JESUS CHRIST.....to be obedient no matter how ridiculous it may seem to the world.....just like my friend at the recovery home, technically she didn’t have to work, she was scared of what people would think of her at first, but she did it anyway, even though she was scared...and as she walked out in faith..And did it anyway. She was obedient. God blessed her immensely...God showed up..!!!! And ...let this mind be in us...which was also in Christ Jesus.....
Quick update on a few of the other ladies: E the 19 year old that I had been meeting with the last few weeks is now back at her home and doing well, praise God! :), recently there are two other ladies that I am aware of that have also recovered well and are now doing well and both have jobs! :), there is one young lady, I believe she is 25 years old (just one year older than me!) she has been back and forth to the recovery home two times now, this last time that she came is when I met her....she had been homeless living under a bridge, really it's a miracle that she is still alive. She made a decision for Christ 3 weeks ago...she decided to leave....I heard she is back on the streets. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER....God we ask that you would protect her in the name of Jesus, God that you would open her eyes to see, Father that You would put people in her path that know You, that would love on her and influence her for You. We pray the blood of Jesus over her precious life, we know that You have specific plans for her life, oh how precious are Your thoughts towards her, if she would count them they would be more in number than the sand, You know every hair on her head....We pray that she would walk in truth....Father You have been drawing her heart as she had decided so boldly just 3 weeks ago that she wanted to live for You...remind her of that decision Father. Wrap your arms around her and we ask for a mighty miracle in her life Jesus. For your glory oh Father, may your perfect will be done in her life. Make her path straight oh Jesus!! Thank you ..... We love You......Amen.
Have a great week fellow labourers! And ...let this mind be in us...which was also in Christ Jesus.....
:)Love,
Melissa
Sumergeme! Submerge me with your Spirit oh Lord! Quiero honrar el Senor!
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Eph. 5:1-12
We can only be imitators of what we know. The definition of imitate is below.....
im·i·tate
1. To use or follow as a model.
2. a. To copy the actions, appearance, mannerisms, or speech of; mimic
b. To copy or use the style of.
3. To copy exactly; reproduce.
4. To appear like; resemble.
The only way to imitate somebody is by watching them, following what they do...we have to know their actions, speech in order to copy exactly or reproduce what they are doing. We have to know the person....we have to spend time around them...learn their ways.
It is so true the saying that you become who you hang around. ..So who are we hanging out with? Are we spending time with the One who made us? How can we imitate Him if we do not know His ways? The Word says that we are to be imitators of God as dear children. (vs.1) we are to walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (vs.2) ...are we loving as Christ has loved us? (Loving beyond faults, forgiving regardless of circumstance), are our lives an offering and sacrifice to God that is sweet-smelling? (Do we do things out of obligation, kicking and screaming...maybe not literally but God knows....He smells it.) God help us to be imitators of You....help us to walk in love as Christ has also loved us and given Himself for us and please help our lives to be a sweet-smelling aroma.
My English class that I volunteer teaching at a day care has an age range from 2-11 years old and it is literally different every day as to which children are there. As I was talking with the director this week she explained to me how most of the kids that come to the day care there come from not good home situations. Now this explains a lot of the behavioural issues that I tackle every time I teach. They are being imitators of what they see at home. She explained to me how that morning one mother literally pushed her kids into the daycare that morning and then left...and immediately the little 3 year old girls that were dropped off pushed a table that was in front of them....they were imitating the actions of their mother. Many times I think we imitate or somebody is imitating us without even realizing it....who are we hanging out with? Who are we imitating?
I was invited to an all day bible study up in the mountains last Saturday...I went with my good friend Nana, my friend's mom Ili and a new friend of mine Monica. We spent the day with other believers studying, encouraging, worshiping and fellowshipping together. It was really a beautiful day....a true blessing to be around people....people who imitate Christ.....it was really refreshing. I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to spend time with such people........ (I don't have a picture...but was tagged in facebook...if you'd like to see)
Well' that is all for now....Missing my family.....looking forward ....living in present....
Hebrews 12:2 , (NKJV)2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
FOR THE JOY ....
xoxo love,
Melissa W
JN 13:34-35
Saturday, September 10, 2011
I am so sorry that it has been (over) a month!!! As you know I have been updating the blog weekly and will continue to do so. This past month has been so full....I left to visit my family in Canada for 10 days the second week of August.I didn’t think I was going to get to see my family until Christmas which would be 1 full year of not being at home...what a surprise that was to go and see them! It was refreshing ....and such a blessing. :) I LOVE my family!
When I came back I jumped right into my 3rd (and last) trimester at the Institute...almost there :)
As you know ...outside of learning spanish in the school..... I have been a volunteer English teacher.. :) it is definitely fun...it’s also a growing experience! (I have no experience in teaching and there is such a wide range of kids...sometimes there is a range from 2yrs to 11yrs) ...so just needing wisdom on how to lesson plan for such a wide age gap. I want all of the kids to benefit ...from this time. I want to be a godly influence, teach with excellence and take advantage of the time that I have been given responsibility of!
After missing 2 weeks of seeing the kids from *** because of being in Canada...it was SUCH A JOY to see their faces again! I love them! I love that I get to be a part of their lives...it is so cool to see the way trust has been built over time and wow.....getting to see the KING work in their little hearts! :) He is doing a work in this community....and that is for sure... so evident! :) Sometimes we don't always see with our eyes what the Lord is doing ...and sometimes we do. :)
We wanted to play soccer up the road after the Bible study but need to ask permission from the moms first :)
One of the coolest things is seeing this lil guy on the right participating in the Bible Study (on the armour of God)...he has been known to be a lil trouble maker....but that is NOT who he is....God has big plans for his life...and He is working.... the enemy we know the he lives to steal, kill and destroy..but our God..he is victourious over all.
“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo.
Also, a little update on la Casa de Mujeres...this is recovery home (drugs, alcohol, prostitution, etc) for women of all ages. The enemy is fighting to take these women down...please pray! One of the women was put in the hospital this past Thursday morning she had only been there for a week....one of the leaders told me that because the hospital knows that she has been consuming so they are less likely to help (I forget all of the politics of it all...but it was surprising to hear) Also, there is a 19 year old girl she is the youngest there right now....has been there for 2 months and wants to go home....so just pray for strength and drive to finish the program. She originally came very depressed, drug addicted and with cuts (now scars) up her arm. She is a new person now, she has been clean for 2 months and.....she HAS JESUS in her heart :) Also, there was a lady that got kicked out when I was there this past Thursday...:( she consumed :( ...but...there is hope...so please pray for her. Drugs are really cheap in CR :( A lot of these ladies have been living like this for a long time, many on the streets....the enemy has run their lives for a long time....it is obviously a physical battle but really what more it is a VERY SPIRITUAL battle. **Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Well' just a small update for you....please let me know if you have any questions or if there are things that I can be praying for you about! In the mean time....Lets look to the Maker of Heaven and earth..And trust Him with every aspect of our lives...I declare that I trust YOU LORD....with my past, present and future
.
Help me to honour YOU.....
....By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him", for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Heb 11:5
:) Have a wonderful week!!!!!! Melissa
Monday, August 8, 2011
Happy Monday!! I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend!! My weekend was so fun! On Friday evening after school I went to a young adults special service at my church, it started at 8pm and ended at midnight. It was a time of worship, prayer and teaching! I am so glad I went! On Saturday morning I went to the "comeador" (soup kitchen) just like normal however AFTERWARDS about 10 kids and I went on an adventure up the mountain next to the little town that they all live in. Of course, I had them all run home to ask whoever they live with if they could come and then off we went on our adventure! It was a big responsibility having 10 little ones, the Lord protected everyone and I think they had a blast!! The only thing that went wrong was a missing sandal...:) The Lord is doing so much in this town and I am so thankful to be a part of His work there...what a blessing to get to be part of these kids’ lives and their families. :) Here are a few pictures from the climb!! :)
love them!
Please pray for these ones. Most of them have not so pretty living conditions both physically and emotionally!
This little one is who lost her sandel in a water hole; so I had to carry her the rest of the way :)
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalms 30:11-12
Have a great week!
In His mercy,
:)Melissa W
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hope speaks of the future. When hope abounds in us, than we live differently. To have hope abound in us is to have an abounding assurance or confidence about our future. - Mike Bickle, IHOP
Here are some pictures from some recent end avers here in CR:
I ran a 20km race called the "Irazu Challenge" and boy was it a challenge. We climbed 11km UPHILL in total and 9km down. It was amazing, and so beautiful!! Irazu is the name of a Volanoe ...we started at 9000ft and went up to the actual crater which is at 11000 feet and returned back to where we started!
I joined the typical Costa Rican dance team at school and these are some of the pictures from the recent performances that we had!
So fun!
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. Please let me know how I can be praying for you.
Have you ever felt like you have become the "left overs" in your relationship with a loved one in your life? Whether it is a friend, family member, etc. Where there is a feast of time and energy with other people or things and you kind of get the "left overs." Maybe a better way to explain is if your mom cooks a really delicious dinner but there is some left over so she puts the left overs in the fridge....you kind of feel like the left overs in the fridge for somebody to take out at their convenience and pleasure in whatever moment. I know that this may seem a little strong but I have been thinking and realizing that this gives us only a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father feels. He loves us more than we could possibly understand and longs to spend time with us and so often we fill our lives with other things, people and maybe even ministry... and then at the end of the day we give God the "left overs" (If there are any) of what we have. Isn't the Saviour of the universe worth more than that?
Lord, please forgive me for giving you the "left overs" of my life and thank you for allowing me to feel a glimpse of how You feel.
Blessings. And remember to feast on HIM.
:)Melissa
Jer 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all of your heart.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Hello!! How is everyone doing? I am so excited to share a bit of this past weekend with you! I was able to return to **** this weekend and stayed with a lady that I had met there a while ago. She lives in a humble home in one of the poorer neighbourhoods of ****. I have stayed there once before so I knew what to expect. She is a woman who does not yet know the Lord and is so hungry for love and attention. I feel honoured that the Lord has connected us, I pray that I would be faithful with this relationship.....I really feel immersed when I stay with her as it is a very unusual sight to see a foreigner in this neighborhood :) and that is exactly what I am trying to do- immerse. Live life with people here. I feel so happy to do so...to LIVE LIFE WITH PEOPLE.....here.
:)
I had the opportunity to attend the "Kids Club" that one of the local churches puts on every Saturday. I love Kids Club!! ***Here are a few pics (that the kids took of course!):
*Smiles
*Sweet girls
*Each child receives a ziplock bag of beans and rice to take home to their family.
Also, you may remember me posting about the lady and her daughter from Nicaragua that I met while waiting for the bus in SJ to go to ****, I had mentioned that they were new to **** anyways, I met up with the mother and her daughter for ice cream and to play at the park, it was such a blessed time! They will be moving back to Nicaragua next week....and I plan to visit them for my next visa trip! :) Here is a picture from our time at the park together:
1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
Have a great week.
:)Melissa W
Saturday, June 25, 2011
He is Faithful to the End
How faithful am I? Jesus says at the end of vs.10 in Revelation 2 “Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.” Oh Lord, would you please give me the desire, heart, passion, courage and strength to be faithful until the end? Father, please open up my eyes to see You in a new way- You who is coming for your bride- pure and spotless... oh that I would live my life pure and spotless.Church, what is He saying to us?God gives us the book of Revelation so that we can know what to expect in the days to come- so we can be ready for when judgement day comes.You see, right now Christ is sitting on the mercy seat- lovingly granting mercy for all of our repented transgressions...hallelujah! Praise Jesus for that!However, soon He will no longer be on the mercy seat but rather He will be on the judgement Seat and we will all individually give account for the way that we lived our lives. I want to be ready for this day!Let’s see what the Lord says to the 7 churches in Revelation- I feel it’s truly an eye opener to really look at my life and see today what it reflects in similarity to some of the churches and what sin may be lurking in my life that I need to repent from.
Rev 2. Starting in vs. 1 – To the Church of Ephesus:
Jesus says: I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say that they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary.Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent...
WOW! I think sometimes it’s easy to let “small” things slide under the rug- missing quiet times, not praying as much, etc....but eventually those “small” things can turn into losing our first love. When I first started reading the way He was describing the church in Ephesus – to me I thought “wow, these are people who they lived their lives for Christ.” And while that is true, when we read the latter – Christ is saying that they do good works and from the outside the church looks as though it truly is an example for what church should look like and then we read in vs.4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
Vs.8 to the Church in Smyrna:
Jesus says: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation tend days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
Oh that we would be overcomers....
Vs.12 to the Church in Pergamos
Jesus says: I know your works, and where you dwell, where satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and do not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before he children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword in My mouth.
Compromise- keep it from our lives
Vs.18 to the church of Thyatira
Jesus says: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who oevercomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.
Chapter 3 vs.1 to the Church in Sardis:
Jesus says:I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name form the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Let’s be sure that we do not just have a reputation that we are “alive” in Christ but truly we are “dead” .....
Vs.7 to the Church of Philadelphia
Jesus says: I know your works.See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it: for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie-indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.Behold I am comingquickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him a new name.
I want to be in this group! J
Vs.14 to the Church of Laodicean
Jesus says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Help me Lord, to live like You, for you here on this earth. God- may MANY more people come to know Your truth each and every day...and may we LIVE for you here on this earth...until You come or call us home! May we be ready and truly faithful until the end!
THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR WORD that you have given us so that we can seek to know You and know how to live like You on this earth.
Well, it's time to leave the country again! I have to leave every 3 months for 72 hours so I will be heading to Nicaragua again this Friday...I was supposed to go with some local friends that I made however plans fell through with that trip today; thank God that the school still had room to add me in on the student trip! It was going to be about $100 cheaper to go with friends but I have no other option at this point...and I know that God is sovereign in all areas of my life so I am believing there is purpose in this trip specifically (more than just the mandate to leave.) as although we have had this trip planned for around a month, I felt like the Lord kind of dropped in my heart at the end of last week that I would be returning to the same spot that I had gone for my last visa trip and put excitement in my heart to see the kids again... I am looking forward to seeing the children that I met in the street the last time and I believe for holy moments this weekend. My heart is craving living water.
Prayer Request:
Please pray for God's protection and provision...
Psalms 31:5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Psalms 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, o my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, o my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, and who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
**Sorry I am late! :( , This past weekend (almost a week ago) was one of the most FUN times that I had with the kids! It's always fun but the atmosphere was a bit different. We had a little less kids than we do normally but that gave me (us) a time to connect with some of them more than we would get to on a regular basis individually since there are so many of them and not so many of us! :) Here are a few pictures ..not from this past weekend but of the kiddos in **** They are so special! :) Also...one really cool thing that happened this weekend was that I had my friend from school come, he is from Korea, he is also a Christian but this is his first time really to ever kind of be involved in helping ministry (he is here to study for work) anyways, it was such a beautiful view to see the way the boys took to him so well. This place is in need of some strong godly men to love on the kids!! Praise God for an opportunity not only to love on these kids but to encourage my friend also. :) He always knows just what we need!....speaking of which, this past Tuesday it turns out that I was the only student in BOTH language and grammar class to show up! Which means I had 2 hours of one on one time with each teacher! That was a beatiful gift from the Lord. Like I said, He always knows just what we need! :)
We had a jump rope contest!
Lunch time! The kids come Mon-Sat for lunch! :)
Elian 8yrs old, Michelle 3yrs
Tried doing a relay but it didnt really work out! We had fun anyways! :)
Jorge and Michelle (brother and sister.) One Saturday when I came, Jorge came running to give me a hug. I honestly did not remember seeing him before but I gladly accepted the hug. From that time on, he and his sister have kind of "stuck" to me...as you can see in the photo above! :)
Blessings on your week. :) Love Melissa
Saturday, May 21, 2011
I had a wonderful day with the kids in *****, what a great way to spend a day in a little town and to have the kids smile, run and give you a hug! I am so blessed!!!! There is one little guy that has an infection of some sort in one of his ears, it is practically double the size of the other one and looks very sore however he says it doesn’t hurt that much. He hasn’t been to the doctor.....pray he gets better please! :)
The kids just long for attention so much, I want to make them all feel so special and love them well and most importantly I want them to KNOW and LIVE God's love....Holy Spirit please protect these little ones from the schemes of the enemy and draw their hearts to the Father.
For me, sometimes I struggle with serving the person right next to me ...living side by side me and thriving towards the same goals as I......but Jesus says for us to serve one another........love one another as I have loved you...He says that by this, all men will know that we are His disciples (Jn 13:34-35) and in the verses below we learn from Jesus's example.....
JN 13:12-17 NLT
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor the messengers more important than the one who sends them. You know these things- now do them! That is the path of blessing.
This past weekend, I went to ***** I stayed the night with a lady that I met and her family. It is really a grand opportunity as she is not a Christian nor her adult kids yet (no husband) and the Lord has really blessed our relationship. I am excited to see what He does in their lives! We were supposed to go to church but at the last minute she decided she did not want to but would come another time,:) I believe her. I also met a lady and her 6 year old daughter from Nicaragua while waiting for the bus...they just moved to **** to find work, she has not been able to find anything yet. They haven't really met anyone yet and don't really know their way around. I will be glad to show them. :) P, the mother painted my fingernails while waiting for the bus (after seeing mine needed a little grooming.. haha!) and the little girl sat with me until the person who was assigned to sit next to me arrived. I would say we hit if off! Thank you Lord for new relationships...may your perfect will be DONE! ....I need Jesus. I need Him to make me like Him. I need humility in my life. Rid the pride. Somehow. Realize who I am...and who He is...and who I am in Him. Psalms 39:4-5 Prayer of David (and me) Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Vs.8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
I wanted to share this song...it’s in Spanish but I have been listening to it over and over again- the words are so simple and so powerful. I wish somebody would re-make it in English to be used in North America. I translated the words of the song below....listen ...you can feel the passion...it’s true. He is here. You are here Lord!!
Tu estas aqui - You are here
Although my eyes cannot see You, I can feel that You are here.
Although my hands cannot touch, Your face Lord , I can feel that You are here.
My heart can feel Your presence. You are here. You are here.
I can feel your majesty. You are here. You are here.
My heart can watch your beauty. You are here. You are here.
I can feel Your great love. You are here. You are here.
The link above is for a song that is ministering to me right now...I hope you enjoy it.
How can we be happy in this life? Prov 3:13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; vs.18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retian her.
I am reading through Romans right now and am so encouraged with Abraham's faith. God spoke to him and Abraham believed what God said and did not doubt. He trusted in God's Word and knew that He would do what He said He would do. Rom 3:18-22 When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God also said, "Your descendants will be numerous as the stars," even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible! And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children. Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. And because of Abraham's faith God declared him to be righteous. **Lord, please help me to have faith like Abraham. Please help me to be absolutely convinced that You will do anything you say even when circumstances and obstacles arise please help my faith not to weaken! Amen! You see, I do know that God is able...but sometimes when you look at your own life and see the obstacles it is easy to let those circumstances speak. But I am choosing to not allow them to speak any longer. You see God called me to this school to learn Spanish, which means He will help me to learn this language and He will provide for all of my needs and He is going to show me exactly who and where to be working with afterwards and HE will provide the funds and avenues then too. Why? Because He said, He is God! He is able!
Tomorrow marks my very last day in my first trimester at school! Wow, it feels like it has been super short yet long at the same time if that makes any sense! I am thankful for my time here and feel content with my progression so far however a desire and drive to learn so much more. We have just about 2 weeks before we begin our second trimester...and right now just about everything is shut down here because its "holy week." All the kids are out of school and many offices and businesses are closed even though the only real official statutory holidays are Thursday and Friday here. I will be heading up to ****where the kids soup kitchen is to play with some kids...there is no actual lunch being served this week or organized ministry happening due to the week long festivities. This past weekend we had a "clothes sale" from donations that were made through a church youth group that was just here on a mission trip and some others to raise funds for the soup kitchen. Here are a few pictures from this past weekend (trying to get better at taking more pictures to share.)
On the last note, I am so excited to share that my step sister, Ashley will be here on Saturday. She will be here with me for 1 week and I can hardly wait! :) I can’t wait to spend time and have fun with her! GRACIAS A DIOS! :)Melissa
Today is April 12th, somebody once recommended to me to read a Proverb and Psalm a day (kind of like the old saying "eating an apple a day will keep the doctor away.”) Anyways, reading through this I felt deeply encouraged by the words in Psalm 12 and wanted to share with you.
(Using the NLT and the description is from the commentary in the NLT Study Bible.)
Vs.1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Living for God in a deceitful world can be a difficult and lonely battle. At one time the great prophet Elijah felt so lonely he wanted to die. But God told him that there were 7,000 other faithful servants (1Kings 19:4, 14, 18). We are never alone in our battle against evil. When you feel alone, seek out other believers for strength and support.
Vs.2 Neighbours lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts. Vs.3 May the Lord bring their flattery to an end and silence their proud tongues. Vs.4 they say, "We will lie to our hearts' content. Our lips are our own-who can stop us?" We may be tempted to believe that lies are relatively harmless, even useful at times. But God does not overlook lies, flattery, deception, or boasting. Each of these sins originates from a bad attitude that is eventually expressed in our speech. The tongue can be our greatest enemy because, though small, it can do great damage (James 3:5,6). Be careful how you use yours.
Vs.5 the Lord replies, "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do." God cares for the weak and the needy. Here He promises to protect the downtrodden and confront their oppressors. We should identify with God's attitude. His work is not done until we care for the needs of the poor.
Vs.6 the Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Sincerityand truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare. Many people are deceivers, liars, flatters; they think they will get what they want by deception. As a king, David certainly faced his share of such people, who hoped to win his favour and gain advancement through flattery. When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope- the word of God. God's words are as flawless as refined silver. So listen carefully when He speaks.
Vs.7 Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, Vs.8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
