I've found it difficult to know where to begin with talking about my trip. And I think a main part of that is because I'm not sure exactly how much everyone cares. For some people, it is probably sufficient enough for me to say, "It was great, thanks!" But I'm SO happy to talk about it to those who seem to sincerely be interested. So do let me know if you would like to sit down with an in-depth discussion about how God moved, what I saw, who we ministered to, changes in my own life, etc. And just so you know... GOD MOVED! And I saw and experienced things I couldn't have ever dreamed of. The people we ministered to were some of the most beautiful and inspiring people I have ever met. And my life was changed by the people, by the city, and by my obedience to the direction God called me to.

I am more than happy to ATTEMPT to explain my adventures to anyone who sincerely wants to listen. But honestly, like I will have to tell everyone, if you truly want to know what it was like for me... you must go out for yourself. And as you can probably tell by now, I mostly use pictures as the best tool for me to share my experience in Mexico. That way you can put a photo with a story, name, and all that good stuff. Plus, that's the most exciting way for me to recall the many memories! Spending so much time in one place, without the pictures, I probably would have forgotten a lot!

Quick sidenote: In case I didn't tell you before I left, most of our training camp time was spent mostly in Baton Rouge dealing with the Hurricane Relief efforts (the original plan was to be in Gainesville, GA for the entire week). I fell in love with that ministry while we were there! We spent our time at the River Center in downtown Baton Rouge serving the people in a variety of ways including preparing boxed meals, caring for the sick, serving food, taking orders for clothing and essential items, playing with children, and witnessing about Jesus. I honestly was scared to go to Mexico because I couldn't imagine God blessing me with another ministry I enjoyed and fit with as well as the one in Baton Rouge. I did NOT want to leave Baton Rouge, and for the first little while in Mexico (during some rough spots), it was all I could do not to run back across the border straight to Louisiana! But God opened my heart to Mexico, and I fell into an even deeper love for the people there... funny how God knows what He's doing, right?! :) So now I am back to the real world, trying to sort out God's next big plan for my life. As for right now, I did fall into a part-time job for a company that knows that I can make no long-term commitment, so that is a blessing. But I'm trying to get with God on these other things, like trying to figure out what God really has for me--because it certainly isn't this job or some other random and meaningless job! I'm trying to use my freetime to seek out some different options. Maybe it is urban missions type stuff like Baton Rouge, or maybe it's foreign missions like Mexico or Africa. Maybe it's both, maybe it's neither! Maybe it's teaching or coaching or mentoring here in East Tennessee. Can you see how this could get complicated and overwhelming!? But God is not the author of confusion and I refuse to allow myself to get overwhelmed by life and all the options because God tells me He has only ONE perfect will for my life and it will be found when I quiet myself from everything else. So praise God I can have peace in that truth! So for now, I am keeping my eyes, ears, and heart open to God's leading as I wait on confirmation from God on all of this. I want to make sure my motives come from Him and not from myself. Because I've realized that even in the ministry environment, sometimes you can be out of that Perfect Will... you can do GOOD things, but are they the BEST things chosen for you by God Himself? That is what I expect Him to reveal to me each new day.

Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement for me while I was on this adventure. I will close this with one of the most significant lessons I learned while in Mexico, and I will word it so you can use it as a positive challenge for your own life...

Take time to reflect on how you spend and manage your time... Do the things you fill your time with have ETERNAL value?!

(This post was written by Stacy Ellis, but it tells a great story that I was also a part of, and I wanted to share it.)

Yesterday Robby, Katie, Hannah, and I went to our W.O.W. ministry colonia with plans to make dinner for a family that we visit often. However, when we arrived at their home, Rebekah, the grandmother of the family, told us that her daughter’s husband was in the hospital and that we wouldn’t be able to have dinner with them.

Our excitement faded as we trudged back to the van with all of our food. Then Katie said, “Hey guys, we should take some time to pray and see what God wants us to do with all of this,” so we spent some time praying and listening. Well, as Hannah noted, we’re probably the least ‘visionary’ group, and don’t usually get a lot of direct signs and visions for our ministry. However, when I was praying, I asked God to show us where to take the food, and in my mind I heard “rojo”, which means red, and the number six, and I felt that those things might be a description of a house where we were supposed to go.

“I’m not sure if this is actually God or not,” I began as I told them about the impressions I’d gotten, but we decided to drive around the colonia just to see what would happen. We turned down a few streets, and then on a corner I spotted it—a tiny red house, number sixteen.

“Hey guys…there’s a red house…with a six on it,” I said hesitantly. We didn’t stop right away but drove a little further down the road, where a woman walking seemed taken by us. She looked us in the eyes and smiled as we passed. Then Hannah stopped the van, because I think we all just felt like she wanted to talk to us. I, the one who speaks the least Spanish of the group, got out of the van as I wondered what I was going to say to her. I said hello, and thankfully Katie followed. I was secretly hoping that the woman (whose name is Lucy) resided in the red house, but when we asked she pointed to a white one. I felt compelled to question further, and Katie asked if she knew who lives in the red house. “Actually my mother does,” she replied in Spanish.

We then told her about the food, and she was very excited and instantly invited us to her mother’s house! As Hannah and I headed back to our leader’s house to cook the food (because their oven was broken), Katie and Robby spent time getting to know the family. When she and I returned, there was a house full of people-grandparents, aunts, uncles, kids-all eagerly awaiting the food. We were excited because we had plenty of food and were hoping for lots of people. We ate with them and had a great time talking, laughing, and praying together. They prayed for us, and we prayed for their sick daughter and for the husband who would soon be taking a trip to New Orleans.

Getting to know this family was really incredible! They even welcomed us to come and visit with them again next week. Even though several of them are already Christians, we know that we had a purpose for being there because of the way God so obviously answered our prayers. It was exciting to see how He had led our group to them! We all agreed that this was our favorite W.O.W. ministry experience so far. We are looking forward to spending more time with this wonderful family! I personally got a reminder of how important it is to listen for God’s direction in life, even if it’s just about what to do with a whole lot of food!