Photo Journal: Peru 2012

Urgency...

It's the main word that comes to my mind when I think of our purpose in sharing the gospel. We aren't promised tomorrow. I'd hate to think that someone I had an encounter with could of heard THE good news - if I had only opened up my heart and shared what God has done for me! I'm blessed to have had friends open up to me about their salvation and share their personal testimonies. God used those special relationships to lead me to the cross.

When God tells you to move... you move. When I was asked to go on this mission trip to Peru, I doubted my purpose in going. I remember telling myself, "you aren't ready for this kind of mission work." I've done volunteer work in the past that had me physically help people, like build houses, give meals for the homeless, played games with children. Never have I shared bible stories with someone translating, prayed for people aloud and been lead by the Holy spirit to just share God's love with strangers in a foreign country. God disagreed with my personal doubts and after praying about it, it was clear He wanted me to go.

So I went.

All the money was raised and I was so grateful for everyone who prayed and contributed to get the funds together in such a short period of time! To me, raising the money was a confirmation that God wanted me to go.

Then all of a sudden I felt like I was under Satan's attack. Everything that could of went wrong with me personally before leaving to Peru, happened. I was trying my best to not get discouraged. I was so overwhelmed for not being "as prepared" as I would of liked to have been leaving the country.

I remember feeling so uncomfortable and was so upset - which is not me at all!!

I love to travel, especially to other countries. I love being around people. I love adventure. The only difference was that I felt like I was not prepared, and I didn't want to let my team down. All the CRAZY personal events that occurred up until we arrived to Peru were simply out of my control and I was letting it effect me negatively... Up until I finally listened to the Holy Spirit say to me,

"let go."

With the power of prayer from my team and being obedient, God used me. Guys, He is so powerful! God met me where I was and used me for His purpose. All I can do is smile when I think about it.

We may not have control over anything that is going on around us, but God is ALWAYS in control. So, "Let Go." There is so much peace in knowing that He is with us! If we can just learn to let go, we can see things how He wants us to see them, and He carries us through all the good and bad.

God carried me through on this trip and I learned so much. There are no words to describe the amazing feeling of serving people and sharing God's love. His Word is truth and transcends through any culture/ language barrier, and to have witnessed that experience firsthand, was life changing.

There is someone EVERYDAY that needs to hear about Jesus, and if we can just let God take control of our lives and be urgent, more and more people will see The Light...

2 Timothy 1:7 " For the Spirit that God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Mark 16:15 "And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."