People, Places, & Heels

This week has been unforgettable. I wish that each of you could be here to meet the Missionaries and to hear their stories. I have been so impacted by just being surrounded by people who have such tenacious courage and passion for the calling God has placed in their lives.Hearing testimony after testimony I cannot help but be reminded of when God first broke my heart for Missions. Ever since I was a little girl I have had the opportunity to travel the world. To date I have traveled to 23 countries. I have seen some of the most beautiful places, eaten the best and weirdest foods, and taken every tour humanly possible.  Most of my childhood memories consist of my grandparents dragging me from one museum to the next, one palace to another. In my short 25 years I have experienced more than some people have experienced in a lifetime.  

At 19 years old my papi (dad) died. It was the very brokenness of losing my father that led me to finding my place in God’s story.  I finally answered His call and found myself in Bible College. I remember that one of the things that I was excited about the most was the opportunity to travel during school. Note that I said travel. I had not quite grasped the concept of Missions. Little did I know, God knew exactly what He was doing in my life. So, into my first year the time came for me to go on my very first mission’s trip. And let me tell you, I had NO fear. I took pride in the fact that  “I”, was a world traveler. My passport already had stamps, and “I” was ready to take on anything. Funny.

Today a missionary asked a group of missionaries, including myself how we felt when we first stepped onto the Mission Field. There were stories of brokenness, readiness, and faith throughout the room. I did not raise my hand, because honestly I remember stepping off the plane in Nicaragua thinking, “this is going to be so much fun, I wonder what sights we will see”.  Now don’t get me wrong, traveling can be fun. There are places in this world that I still want to see.  But here I was in one of the poorest countries in the world, completely clueless.  Nothing could have prepared me for what came next. To make a long story short, I bathed in buckets and had no AC. Forget 4 Star hotels and Room Service. Whats funny is I think I even brought heels on that trip. Haha. I know, what was I thinking? Well during that week God began to break my heart for people. The commercials that we see “save a child’s life for a dollar a day”. Well they became a reality. We ministered to thousands of people. We saw miracles, deaf ears literally opened. I remember going to a landfill in which people built their homes out of garbage, the children were so diseased that we were asked not to touch them. People were so hungry and lost. I had never seen anything like this before.I will never forget that a classmate of mine was carrying a bag of rice that broke and people came running and crawling on the ground for just a few grains.

Needless to say, by the end of that trip I was a changed person with a new heart.  I understood that it really is possible to be called to people and not just be in awe of a new place. I caught a glimpse of the heart of God. Sometimes people say to me “ you are living a dream”. I would agree with this, only because its God’s dream. Others say,  “You are so lucky “to have seen so much. Maybe so, but I count myself blessed because I have been able to serve people and see their lives changed. Anyone can do it as long as they are willing. The truth is that there are needs everywhere, because there are people everywhere. Even in the U.S. there is still so much to be done. A little saying that has stuck with me from Bible College simply says, “I GET TO DO THIS”. It’s not a job, it’s not a trip, it’s a calling, I just get to do this for people, and especially for God. 

Confession: I am bringing heels to Ecuador. Pray for me.

Eddie and the Mecca

So this week I have the privilege of being in Springfield, MO for Missionary Training and orientation. Words can’t even truly describe all that God is instilling in me and it is only day 2.  I am bursting with excitement and humility and I just wanted to share a few things with you that have really impacted me so far.

First of all, within the Assemblies of God Springfield is known as the Mecca. It’s a little funny but to help those who may not understand that lingo, its kind of like visiting the White House. At first, I was a little intimidated because I felt like the President was going to walk out at any moment and I would have no idea what to do. Haha ok maybe that’s a little extreme, but I am at the very place where some of the greatest Heroes and Heroines of Faith have been established. It is amazing.  

On Sunday, I visited this church here called Central Assembly, and I just want to give props to the Pastor because he is a Pastor to Pastors! That has to be tough. The church is filled with men and women who have given their life to the Gospel and its unbelievable to see how they are still reaching this city for Christ. I almost just want to tell them to REST; you have done your work. But the truth is they promised to give their entire lives and it isn’t over yet. God is not finished. In that service I met a man named Eddie, now Eddie is an elderly man, he was not the best dressed, his coat had holes, it was a little dirty, but he had on a bright red tie, perfectly tied. In worship I could not help but notice his passion, his shaky hands, and how his heart loved to worship.  And then to go beyond that during the message I caught a glimpse his BIBLE. I know what you are thinking. Pay attention to the message Leah. Oh and I apologize for the picture. So wrong, I know. Haha. I can get distracted, but there was something about this man that brought tears to my eyes. His bible was old, worn, marked, and the pages were barely readable. His love for God was so evident in his smile. It just got me thinking. Here I am in a church that still does things a little bit traditional. They did not have the most creative media, they were still wearing suits and ties, and dresses, maybe they weren’t trendy enough, but they knew how to pray, they LOVED God’s word, and they knew how to worship.  I thought to myself. I want to be like Eddie, when I get old. I don’t know if he was a Pastor or a just a simple man that loved God. All I know is that I want God to look at me and smile through me because I have loved him, respected Him, and reverenced in His presence.  I want to wear symbols of sacrifice that show my work unto the Lord, not just titles. Now please understand, I’m not saying that we can’t be creative, or draw people in as this world and creativity is constantly changing. Those things are good. I just want the young person to understand and I speak to myself when I say that there is something to be said about those who have paved the way. It is an honor to know them. It is beautiful to hear their stories and to learn from who they are and to carry their legacies and testimonies to others.  

On another note and I realize this may be long winded. But my mind is bursting! So bear with me.  Coming into this whole Missionary thing, I thought I knew more than what I actually do. I work at one the greatest Mission’s Churches in the Nation. I am constantly surrounded with the greatest people, teachers, and Pastors, but I still have a lot to learn. I have realized that God is doing something in my life that is unlike what he is doing in your life! He has a unique purpose for each of us, but that just it. It is His purpose not mine. It can be exciting but really scary. However, I want to make a promise to each of you that support me, and when I say support, that can be a multitude of things. For one, you cannot put a price tag on prayer. So I THANK YOU!. At first I thought asking for money would be a horrifying experience. God quickly reminded me. “You are not asking for yourself Leah, you are asking for someone else, and most of all you are asking for me”. So my promise to each of you is, that I by the Grace of God, everything that I do in the Nation of Ecuador and for the rest of my life will be because God purposed it. He owns it all. It is His nation, His money, and His people I am just blessed enough to be a part of it! Thank you again for reading this and most importantly thank you for your prayers and support! (oh and can I just say I met the president of the AG, and he is really cool, human just like the rest of us) haha.

-Leah

Never Say Never

Looking at this little girl its hard to imagine that she could one day be grown up enough to pack her bags and travel to the other side of the world all by herself.  Well I’m sure you know but in case you don’t, that little girl is me, and that one day is here.  This March by faith, I will be packing my bags to serve in the beautiful country of Ecuador.  This is the first of many more thoughts and updates to come as God uses me to do what I never thought possible. 

Over the last few months, the phrase “Never say Never” has really hit home. For instance, I never thought the day would come that I would be 25. Yes 25, for some reason that number is just ugly to me. Now if you are 25 or older please don’t be offended. It’s not that I see 25 as old, although I have found a few gray hairs here and there. lol. It's just that I never thought life would have gotten here so fast. At least once a day I find myself saying, “where did time go”?  Not only where has time gone but what have I done with the time that I have had. There is a scripture in Habbakkuk 1:5 that has become a theme verse to me for this moment in my life. It says, "Look at the nations and watch, and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." This is my prayer for Ecuador, really it is my prayer for this generation. I am so tired of the same ol' same ol'.... In the past year I have heard stories of at least 16 people that once loved the Lord and proclaimed to be radical Christians completely give up and walk away. In the news lately, Pastors have gotten the spotlight for adultery, lying, greed and more. You hear stories like this and say I would "never" do something like that. We use that word so lightly, but can I just say that it is only by the Grace of God that we have not done something like that. The only thing that separates us from sin is knowing God, truly knowing Him. So, why are the elite of God walking away, the called? Christians today seem to know it all, and not know Him. We have heard everything there is to hear, we know all the right things to say and do, and then every week becomes a routine and not a relationship. Just like other relationships, the butterflies fade and the honeymoon is over, and then what? It seems like we are too smart for our own good sometimes.Going back to the scripture. It says “I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."  Today more than ever there needs to be an urgency to see God move in a new way! We have to fight for it! This scripture promises us that we are going to be a part of something that we could not imagine, something we have “never” been told. Did you know that the word “never” is completely opposite in the Kingdom of God? It is replaced with words such as always, constantly, continuously, endlessly, ever, forever, perpetually. There will always be more of God, He is constantly working on our behalf, and He will forever be a God of the impossible. I am ready to pursue God for something unbelievable, something I don’t know, because trust me when I say, I don’t know it all. As I take a step of faith into this exciting chapter of my life, gray hair and all I am not wasting any more time! I am believing for God to do something crazy and new… in my life, in Ecuador, and in this Generation. What are you believing for?