The April Project

For a while now I have talking about announcing a new ministry here in Cuenca! Well today is the day! This ministry is called the April Project! It was named after my mother who died April 22nd of last year. She was an alcoholic for as long as I can remember. . After a lifetime of addiction and pain she gave her heart to Jesus, was completely healed, and went to meet her savior! I miss her every single day but it is because of her life and the battles that she fought, that I continue to do what I do! Satan does not win. Even when all hope seems lost! God is able! With God NOTHING is Impossible!! I will continue to give my life to tell the world that!!!! Oh how I love Him!!!!!!!! And above all... Oh how He loves us!!  This project was inspired by my mother's battle with alcoholism and by a desperate need that plagues the city Cuneca!!

Please clink the link to watch the video below.  Leave comments and please share this video with others!!!!

https://vimeo.com/64704466







To give to the April Project: Please Click here

Sometimes

Sometimes we meet people that leave an imprint. They have a story that we can't forget and just because of their testimony we feel encouraged, we think if they can do it, so can I. As a missionary I have the privilege of meeting awesome people like this all the time. Their stories keep me going and remind me that God is continually at work all around the world!  Tammy Ogden, a missionary to El Salvador and also a cancer survivor has one of these stories! She wrote the following blog and recently published a new book!  I hope that many who read this will be blessed, consider purchasing her new book, and pray about supporting this amazing ministry in El Salvador.

For more information about Tammy Ogden and to read her super awesome blog click here....

WHEN ON HOUSE ARREST, WRITE A BOOK

No, we have not been arrested.

No, we have not been raided.

I am referring to my little run-in last summer with no white blood cells 
courtesy of the big C (chemo). 

My doctor strongly recommended I stay away from people for a week.  So I locked 
myself in the house and wrote a book to pass the time away.

My hand was forced.  My life shut down.  I had no further excuses so I picked up the 
computer and finished what I had started over and over again.  Only this time with 
the encouragement of my friend, Jackie, I actually finished it.  She was so funny, 
honestly, I couldn't write fast enough.  She ate it up and begged for more. 
That will motivate the most unmotivated!  Thank you, Jackie.

The inspiration for the book came from my nephew's wedding several Septembers before.  
Joel and Keri's wedding came at a very low time in my life.  I was truly struggling with 
whether or not God loved me.  Things had not gone the way I had expected and to be flat 
out frank I felt thrown away.  But as the minister began to share the greatest love story ever 
written tears flooded my face.  The healing power of the Holy Spirit transcended my lowly 
state and I knew I was loved.  Then he said something that became an "ah ha!" moment for me. 
The dots connected.  I contemplated the truth, everything declares his glory.  The message 
of love and redemption is all around us.  It is even hidden in our fairy tales.  From that 
inspiration came my book "The Princess, The Gardener and The Visitor.  I hope you see an 
old story in a new light and you also have an "ah ha!" moment.  Fairy tales are real.


The purchase of this book will help fund the work in El Salvador.  Thank you ahead of time for your purchase!

Update 2013

I know! I know! I am really terrible at updating my blog!! However I can promise that exciting things are happening and even greater things are coming!! Please forgive me for my lack of blogging and add me on Facebook to see more updates!  You can also e-mail at diaz.leah@gmail.com with any questions or just to keep in touch! I love hearing from each of you personally! This month I will be announcing a new ministry starting here in Cuenca!! God has placed a huge burden on my heart and the details are coming together! I ask for your prayers as everything comes together. I also ask that you consider partnering with me financially. As I approach the 2 year mark out of the country, I am working on raising my budget a bit so I can extend my work here in ecuador. If interested in making a one time donation or becoming a monthly sponsor, please click HERE.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support. I am beyond grateful for each of you! So, until I can announce the ministry God has placed in my heart, please read Unsion Ministries latest newsletter below!! What an awesome month we have had!! Also e-mail me if you would like to be a part of Unsion's mailing list!! What a privilege it is to serve such a great ministry!

At the end of February, a medical team from the United States accompanied us on a seven-hour trek on horseback into the Cajas villages of the Andes mountains to visit a small community called Patul.  This journey was most interesting and physically challenging (even for those of us who managed not to fall off our horses!)  Yet the response we received from the villagers more than made up for the arduous travel we endured along the way.   During the few hours we spent in this rural, mountainous village, we had the opportunity to provide basic community health - corrective lenses, health and dietary information, hand-washing and water-purifying techniques, and basic Enjoying some time with the people of Patul first-aid - to a community with little-to-no access to healthcare.  As we tended to their physical needs the best we could with the little resources we had, we were able to share the Gospel with them as well.  The people received the good news of Christ with great joy, and they asked us to come back as soon as possible!  We look forward to returning at the end of this month to celebrate the very first Christian service in the village of Patul!  We have prayed tirelessly for opportunities to share the Gospel with the many communities outside of Cuenca, and God is faithfully opening the doors for us.  In addition to celebrations and discipleship training, we will continue to provide medical attention and counseling to the people of Patul. We look forward to discipling this community and training them to be "fishers of men" for their friends and families in surrounding communities.  I am still amazed to watch God at work as individuals find a relationship with Him through His word and as the Holy Spirit empowers them to be disciples and disciple-makers.  I realize now more than ever that we are merely instruments of His grace, love, and power.   To update you on our ministry in Cuenca, hundreds of individuals are contacting Unsión's counseling center, Un Buen Consejo, every month.  The testimonies we receive each week are a constant source of encouragement.  One young lady by the name of Lucia recently wrote to us, saying, "I have come to understand what God's word is saying, and because of this I am seeing so many changes in my life. Thank you for bringing us the word of God!" We are humbled by such testimonies!!  Blessings, Bill McDonald and Unsion Team A glimpse of our ride into Patul Our new friend in Patul, excited for his new glasses and improved eyesigh

Licor del Cielo

Love this City! 

Team Praying over Cuenca

Cuenca

My Mother

This past weekend I learned something new about the city of Ecuador that I live in. For those who don't know, the city I live in is Cuenca. It is a city made up of about 500,000 people. Two and a half years ago when I first came to Cuenca I had no doubt that God was calling me here. And after this weekend the Lord showed me another reason as to why he has brought me here. This past week we had the privilege of having a district team here from GA. It was a great week and a lot was accomplished for the Kingdom of God. On the last day right before the team left we drove to a lookout point over the city to have prayer. One of the national leaders asked if I would translate for him. He wanted to share some prayer needs that the team could pray for. He shared that the name Cuenca in Azuay means Licor del Cielo or Liquor from Heaven. I had never heard of this. He said that Cuenca has a huge stronghold of alcoholism. The roots of alcoholism go back for hundreds of years. This stronghold is destroying lives, homes, and future generations. Right then and there, I just felt the Holy Spirit confirm to me that I was right where I should be. Most of you who know me, know my story. And as terrible as this may sound, since my mom has passed away I feel more comfortable sharing this publicly. For as long as I can remember my mom was an alcoholic. When I was a little girl my brother and I would pray to a God we didn't even believe in that He would quit making alcohol, so my mom couldn't buy it anymore. Thinking about it now it is really interesting that even though we had never been taught about God, we still knew that there was something bigger than this addiction. We believed that there was someone who was with us, someone good that could win over evil! Well years later God did win. The day my mother died this year, I had the opportunity of leading her to the Lord. It was amazing and something I'll always cherish! I got back in one moment, all that the enemy had stolen!  After she died, I was so angry with Satan for the years he took from my family, and for destroying the purpose God had created my mother for. I vowed to always fight against this addiction, to fight for people like my mom. And wow, look where He has brought me! A battle ground. I am so excited to share my story here and I just want to ask you pray! Pray for doors to open, pray for Cuenca, pray against alcoholism, pray for lives and homes to be restored, pray for people like my mom, and pray for a generation that will rise up against this addiction!

love,

Leah

Fuerte

For as long as I can remember,  people have always described me as someone who is strong. Someone with an incredible boldness, a determination, and strong willed. I have even been called a lioness before. haha.  But here lately, I am just not feeling it. Anybody else ever just not feel it? I love this blog, because it is a place where I can be transparent and hope that it blesses someone else. So here it goes!

I have been in Ecuador for four months now and I love it. I really really love it.  However, sometimes I just don't feel cut out for it.  In a moment of weakness last week, I threw myself a pity party. I invited doubt, fear, and worry to attend. haha There were probably a few others there too! Somehow I had convinced myself that God had brought me to Ecuador at the wrong time. I mean why would he have put me here now, especially when I am just not feeling it!  Why only two weeks after my mom passed away? Why would I get robbed? Why would I be here when loved ones at home are sick, or when I myself keep getting sick?  Why would I be here all by myself? Why am I still single?  Why does everyone think am I so strong when I really feel so weak? The list could go on....

But, just as He always does, the Lord sweetly spoke to me through His word and reminded me that I was right, well kind of. Don't you love being right? haha. I love the verse below. It seems to come up at the perfect time. It spoke to me last week, last year, last month, a minute ago, and just about every time I read it. haha. I hope it speaks to you too. 


2 Corinthians 12:9-10
 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The truth is I am weak. That was the part I got right. But, because of Christ who lives in me, I am strong. Somehow it can be easy to forget where our strength comes from. Sometimes I want to credit myself for being strong because I made it this far, because somehow I always seem to get through it, and because I never give up.  But, it was never me that made it this far. It wasn't me that got through it all, or never gave up. It was God. It has never been my strength, it has always been His. Every good, strong, and dertemined thing about me comes from Him. So with that being said, if His power really works best in weakness, then God is surely at work right now. Not only is he at work, He is doing His best work in me and through me. I am choosing to boast about it. I believe God will use it. I have already seen him use it. I just needed a reminder. So I want to encourage anyone that may feel weak, tired, and ready to give up. Remember that your God is stronger. He is at work and He is doing His best work. Boast about your weaknesses and watch what He will do.

The word strong in Spanish is fuerte, but it is also used to mean wow, intense, loud, and bold! If that doesn't describe God I don't know what does. He always wows me, His presence is intense, His voice is loud, and His holy Spirit helps me to be bold!! Just thought that was awesome.

Other updates:

• Unsion Ministries has new website. Check it out!  www.unsion.org

• In August I had the opportunity to attend a discipleship conference in Texas. It was incredible! From the training at the conference we have launched a Church Planting Movement here in Cuenca. The idea is to GO and MAKE disciples. Instead of just inviting people to church where space is limited, we are bringing the church to them. We are seeing a multiplication like never before!! 

• We just broke ground this summer on a new building for 608, the Chruch Plant at Unsion TV.  Right now 608 Chruch has 4 weekly services! God is packing out the place and we couldn't be happier! This new building will just allow us to reach and disciple even more people! 

• Sunday nights we are now offering a bilingual service at the 608 Cafe. Cuenca has a growing number of expats and this service is reaching out to the English speaking community. It is also drawing Ecuadorians that have a desire to learn a new language! Love seeing two cultures come together and worship together!

• I have the privilege of co-leading 3 women's small groups each week. God has been moving and we have seen many come to know the Lord, grow in their faith, open up, and share what God is doing with others.  Below is a picture of Josefina!! Amazing story. She heard about a discipleship group at my house through Unsion TV. She has been a Mormon for 26 years but Unsion is her favorite channel. She would just skip over the preaching programs. She is a quiet woman who lives all alone and also suffers from tunnel vision and many other severe health problems. She started attending the discipleship group. One night we had a discussion on healing. She knew so much about the Bible that I assumed she was a Christian. This was before I knew her story. However through anger, tears, and frustration from her physical sickness she blurted out that she was not a Christian and did know if God could heal her.  That night everything changed! We prayed for her, lead her to the Lord, believed for her healing, and last weak baptized her! She has never felt physically better and she is telling others about what God has done in her life!! 

Josefina pictured above

• Including Josefina, we baptized 37 people this last Sunday!! This is huge for Cuenca!! So exciting! 

• Unsion TV recently received funding for a Satellite signal that will reach from Canada to the Southern tip of Argentina! More people will hear the gospel through the awesome gift of technology. We plan to launch in November!

• My first intern will be arriving Nov. 2nd. I am working on processing others. I will also be headed to the World Missions Summit in December to continue recruiting. We need the help so come intern with me :) 

• I have also recently taken on a project at Unsion TV that covers the Christian Programming. Unsion is a Christian Channel but we offer news, shows, and family programming aside from the specific Christian programming. We have a huge audience because of this. With the new Satellite  launch are working on bringing in other projects and Christian speakers that can be broadcasted to reach a variety of audiences. Please pray that people will be excited to partner with us and use their creativity to reach millions!

• My home church from Griffin, GA came to Cuenca for a Medical Fair in July. They were able to  see hundreds of people and provide counseling, prayer, crucial healthcare treatment, and advice that saved many lives. It was a great week! 

• In a month I will also be heading back to the Jungle to help with a Medical outreach! Please be praying for safety and divine healing for the people there. Also keep the missionaries that live there in your prayers. I am amazed at the lives they live every single day. 

• The AG has a new giving link. It makes supporting missionaries so much easier. Truly a great update. You can Click Here to go directly to my new giving profile. I need to maintain %80 of my monthly budget to continue the work in Ecuador. Thank you to all who have given. If you would like to give, you can also sign up by going to this new giving profile.

• I also had some issues with my mailing list. Please sign up here to receive prayer requests and quarterly newsletters. 

Thank you again for all of your love, support, and prayers! I would not be able to do any of this without you! 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or words of encouragement. I would love to hear from you. My e-mail is diaz.leah@gmail.com 

Dios Les Bendiga,

Leah

Esperar lo Inesperado

Esperar lo inesperado......Expect the Unexpected

I have been in Ecuador a little over a month!! Time is flying by. I am truly overwhelmed with excitement to be here. This is what I have been praying for and a dream that each of you have been part of through your love, support, prayers, and giving. Thank you!!!

I would like to take time in this blog to give you an update and share a few things on my heart. Just a couple of months ago I said goodbye to an amazing 8 months in Costa Rica! Language School was more than I could have imagined! I learned so much about culture, missions, and I got to put into action exactly what God has called me to do! I had the opportunity to preach in Spanish....I was terrified. Haha but it boosted my confidence to whole new level and reminded that God can use us even when we least expect it! Also in Costa Rica I had the opportunity to meet some incredible missionaries and life long friends who are impacting the world for Jesus! I am really blessed to know them!

Keep reading below.

Preaching in Spanish

Great Friends from CR!

Graduation Day

Proof :)

My Beautiful Mother

My graduation from language school was April 20th. Just 4 days prior to graduation I received devastating news that my mom had cancer. Since I was scheduled to arrive home that weekend, my family told me to wait, graduate, and then come home. These were also my moms wishes. I  arrived home that Saturday after graduation. My mom was in the hospital. She had went in suddenly the night before. Walking into the room to see my mom I was hit with the unexpected. My mom looked so sick and weak, something I will never forget. I have always thought of my mom to be so strong. Stubborn at times. haha, but she just had incredible strength. Even in her weakest moments, she was always a fighter. Her strength and determination is something I am so proud to say that I get from her. That Saturday I got to spend some of the sweetest moments with her. I told her about Heaven and what she had to look forward to. I prayed and the presence of God came into that room. I walked in that day not knowing what to expect, but I left so thankful that God had prepared me for the unexpected. I have realized that I live my life for unexpected moments. Good and bad. I believe in a God that can overcome anything.  I believe that God gave me that day with my mom, because He knew that I would fight for her. I didn't even know that. But when I was feeling weak and helpless, the strength of God kicked and reminded me of why I do what I do! Why I believe what I believe. Hell was trying to fight against my mom that day, but Heaven prevailed. I know that with complete confidence. I believe in miracles and saw God do a miracle in my mother's life that day.

Expect the Unexpected. After being hit with the news of my mom as I was preparing a speech for graduation. God gave me these three words. Expect the Unexpected. I didn't know that my mom would pass away so suddenly. I spent one day with her and then she was gone. Nothing could have prepared me for that, but somehow I am ok. Somehow despite everything that has happened. I managed to get on a plane, come to Ecuador, have my things get stolen, and still have a smile on my face. So now that I'm here, now what? Well I am continuing to fight against Hell. I am ready for whatever comes my way. Sometimes Satan tries to convince me that I am all alone, that I left everything I know for nothing. But that is not true. Every day that I am here is proof that God has a plan and that I am right in the middle of it. I want to say thank you! I want you to know that I am expecting the unexpected. I am expecting for great things to happen here!! This is just the beginning. Thank you for your prayers during the loss of my mom and thank you for believing in what I am doing here. Your prayers are felt, I am truly happy, and I would not be here without you!

So far things are going great. I have jumped right into ministry and working here at Unsion. You can click here to read more about Unsion Ministries. This will help you understand why I love it here and believe in what we are doing so much. My official role here at Unsion is Intern Program Director. Through the intern program I am starting, we will see the vision of Unsion expanded all over the world. International and National students will have the opportunity to develop their gifts and talents as well as be discipled to share the gospel with others. After only a month of recruiting I have already accepted my first intern that will start this fall. Please be praying for the official launch that will take place in January 2013. My roommate and I have also started a women's discipleship group at our house every Thursday night. This group provides a safe place for women to be ministered to and we are seeing awesome results. Also, because of limited resources and building space here in Cuenca, Unsion has started a Church Planting Movement. Through the Church Planting Movement we have begun planting discipleship home groups throughout the city.  These groups are multiplying and people are truly grasping the heart of the Great Commission (to be disciples that make disciples). In a really strict religious society more and more people are responding and experiencing religious freedom because of the atmosphere that these groups create. The CPM is part of the Unsion 608 Church which also holds 4 weekly services. This past week a team from Chicago came in to help us start constructing the new location for 608 that will reach even more people. And last but not least, Unsion TV just received the funding for a satellite signal that stretches from Canada to the Southern tip of Argentina! As of now unison reaches 400,000 viewers daily. With this new satellite signal, that number changes to millions! God is good!!

Below are some photos of the past month:

Moe made it to Ecuador. haha

Guinea Pig.... A very common meal here! 

Working on the new 608 Church Building

Water Baptism at 608

Unsion Medical Clinic (Vision Outreach)

Women's Discipleship Group at my House

Local School Outreach

Lovely view of the city from my room

To make a donation or support me while I am in Ecuador please click here.

Let Go!

God has a way of letting you know and hear exactly what you need at exactly the perfect time. This little word could not have been more perfect for me today! It is from the devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young! I am posting it as a reminder to me of exactly where God has called me and exactly what I need to do with my life! Let go and give it to Him!! I love this!! I hope it blesses you as much as it did me! It just describes where I am in life so perfectly and I thought a little blog would be a good reminder!


March 24
THIS IS A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU MUST LEARN TO LET GO: of loved ones, of possessions, of control. In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete. Take time to bask in the Light of My Love. As you relax more and more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possession into My care. You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence. The One who never leaves you is the same One who never changes: I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. As you release more and more things into My Care, remember that I never let go of your hand. Herein lies your security, WHICH NO ONE AND NO CIRCUMSTANCE CAN TAKE FROM YOU!!!

Psalm 132:15
Isaiah 41:13