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Grateful, Thankful and Blessed

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

Last year I posted my Grateful, Thankful and Blessed list after the Mexico Mission trip. I have thought a lot about that this year, so I thought I would do it again.

I have seen this a lot last month, here is what it means to me.

Grateful – This year I am Grateful for my friends who helped me so much to help the people in Mexico. Whether it was supplies for the backpacks, scarves/hats/afghans or money to buy yarn for these, or all of the sweet, sweet prays said for me and our team…I am so Grateful God put you in my life. Your love has been felt 1,500 miles away. I am Grateful for those who believe in our Mission, and help to support us by giving, giving so we can help others in our community, our state and our world. I am Grateful for our Church and the Pastors who teach us and guide us.

Thankful – This year I am Thankful for my Salvation. I am Thankful the Lord Jesus chose me to be his, Thankful of his Unending Love, Thankful that he paid a price for my sins (and yours) that I could never pay. Thankful to be able to worship freely the birth of my Lord and Savior, and Thankful to have people in my life who will pray for and with me.

Blessed – I am Blessed by so much! Blessed to have my husband and son, my family, my friends. Blessed to have work that I love, that helps provide the things my family needs, blessed to have an abundance to be able to give to those who need it. I am blessed by the work that God had given me to do, at home in our community, Mexico and Haiti. I am Blessed this year by the new people I have met on this trip, the people I have been able to serve, and the people I have served with. I am Blessed by the women in my life who walk this journey with me and those who help guide and teach me. 

Psalm 28:7 – “The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

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Thank You!

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

Last year when I got home from the Mexico Mission trip, I asked all my friends who knew how to crochet or knit if they would want to help me with a project….I wanted to have 100 handmade scarves to bring with me this year.

I’m sure some of you may have thought I was crazy….asking for winter scarves for Mexico…..but, Yes, it does get cold in Mexico. Even though the temperatures may be in the 70’s or 80’s during the day, at night it drops down to the 40’s. The people in this area that we serve have no heat in their homes….whatever the temperature is outside is what it is inside. And there are times that the highs for the day are in the 40’s. So I wanted to do something special for the ladies.

My goal was 100….and you wonderful people helped me surpass that!! We had 109 scarves, 23 hats and 2 Afghans!!!!! You guys rock!!!!!

These were all handed out, some were sent to 2 churches we were not able to visit but do help support.

1Peter, 4:10 says “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve others.” Each of you used your talent on being able to crochet or knit to make scarves. Some who did not know how to knit or crochet used your treasures (money) to buy yarn for others to use.  All of you used your spiritual gift of Kindness to serve the people here.

Thank you for Serving God by Helping Others!

The ladies were all so excited and thrilled to receive these! I tried to get pictures, but there was one night I forgot….I’m so sorry 😞

Luke 3:11, 1Peter 4:10

#myheartmissions, #blessed

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Serving God By Helping Others

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

Well I barely know where to start….today has been jam packed! We started the day by unpacking the trailer, taking inventory of what remained and making sure we had everything together for the rest of the day and re-packing the trailer…..the trailer will be empty after today’s activities. 

First stop was the grocery store where we got food to make up food bags for the families in the village at Briwn Mountain. 

After that we visited with one of our Pastors, Pastor Chiloe. He makes concrete blocks for a living. Each block he makes costs him 8 pesos for the materials, he sells them for around 9-9.5 pesos. So his profit is only around 1 to 1.5 peso per block. He can make 100 per day. So his income would be 100 – 150 peso per each day that he is able to work. To put that in US dollars, that is approximately $5.50 -$8 per day at the current exchange rate. He was gracious enough to give us a demonstration today of how to make blocks….even letting some in our group give it a try 😎 

After that it was off to the feeding program at Pastor Alma’s. Her and her sister cook and feed over 20 kids 3 times a week out of her home…..she is also Pastor of the big church we partner with. Her husband died suddenly a couple of years ago, so she is now also a single parent to 3 kids. She can use your prayers! At the feeding program we helped with lunch, played a little with the kids….and of course handed out toys and candy 🙂

Then we were off to 2 villages in the desert at Brown Mountain. Here we worshiped with them, singing and praising and received a great message from Pastor Eddie. We had the privilege of praying for 3 of the people. We were able to give each family 2 bags of food….chicken, beans, rice, oil, jalapeño’s, potatoes, tomatoes, avocado’s, limes, onions and hot fresh tortillas. Along with backpacks for all the kids, gifts for the men and women including handmade scarves. More on this in a second post as this one is already long 🙂

To say Thank you doesn’t seem like enough, but to those who donated supplies and money to buy supplies and to those who have prayed for us and those we came to serve, I say Thank You, Thank You for Setving God by Helping Others. ❤️

#Luke 3:11, #blessed, #myheartmissions

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Connecting with Others

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

Oh my goodness….what a Wonderful day!!! This morning I was able to be up to watch the sun come up. It was so beautiful. As I sat there I wondered what God had in store for today.

Tonight we were able to visit the big church we partner with. And WOW! There were tons of children!! We had gifts for all the children, the women and the men. It was  a great service. As I stood there (it was standing room only) I was looking around at the kids, and I saw a woman I had met before….you have also met her. Her name is Alejandra, her son was Miguel. We met her in 2016 when she came to ask people she didn’t know, people she couldn’t communicate with, for help. Her son Miguel had been in an accident and she was taking care of him at home but needed help with supplies, like diapers and a few food items….you see he was paralyzed and had  a brain injury. We as a group were able to help a little while we were here, but she touched my heart in a way that is hard to explain. Her son passed away before I could come back here the next year. I have been able to meet with her each year and with the help of Pastor Juan who is our translator offer what few words I could, but mire than anything I just hug her and let her know that I love her. Each year she is so sad and devastated….I know this feeling. But this year, while there is still sadness (and always will be) we shared and exchanged hugs, love and SMILES. This! This for me is like winning the lottery!! I love this woman, I pray for this woman. I thank God that He brought me here to this woman. She will forever be in my life and heart.

Luke 3:11 says “John replied, If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Connecting with those around us can have a great impact on them and us. Don’t be afraid to help someone….you never know how your life can change.

After talking with Alejandra an older lady came to me and ask me to pray for her. With the help of Pastor Juan I was blessed to be able to pray for this sweet woman.

Today was so very special. I do not know why God had chosen me for this work, but I Thank Him everyday that that he did. I go to bed tonight with a full heart and an overflowing cup ❤️ #myheartmissions, #blessed, #missions

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Grateful, Thankful, Blessed

Posted on by Andrew Smith

All last month, I have seen this phrase a lot. Here is what it means to me.

 

Today, even though I am a little sad because I never want to leave them, I am Grateful. Grateful for the experience God has given me, Grateful for the love God has shown to me and given me for others.

Today, even though there is discomfort in the traveling, I am Thankful for this journey for without it I would not understand what it means to sacrifice physical comfort for a stranger.

 

Today….and every day, I am Blessed. I am Blessed with My Salvation, I am Blessed with the work God has called me to, a work that is a Blessing to others.

 

Jesus gave His all, His everything for me and for you so that we may have eternal life with Him! One day there will be no hunger, no sickness, no poor! Until that day though, we are called to help others….not just other Christians, but OTHERS!! I love this work.

God. IS. Good. ❤️

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Serving and Giving

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

People ask me all the time, why do you work so many hours? I tell them so that I may give to those I have met who do not have, and those I have yet to meet. 

Every year I come to Mexico I connect with some I have met before and some I have never met. Some….well most of them….God puts in my heart. Jesus commanded us to Love others as we Love ourselves. For me this means working long hours to have money to help buy things like blankets, crayons, coloring books, toothbrushes, potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, peppers, onions, tortillas, rice, beans, and the most luxurious of all….chicken. Yes, chicken. For the people we visited yesterday chicken…or any meat…is a luxury. One of our Pastors heard a little boy exclaim with delight when he saw the chicken that was given to his family. So for these people I work to give.

Last year after I got home from the trip, God put on my heart to make shawls and give them to some of the ladies, these ladies work so hard for the children here. I did this with the help of a very dear friend, Vicki. Together we made 10 shawls that I was able to hand out this week. Everyone was so happy to be given this gift. One of the women said said she had been wanting one and God had provided. Serving means doing what God directs you to do, whether it is making shawls, loving people as Jesus loved us or giving to your local mission, or international mission. 
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Words cannot express how much this week has meant to me. It has been hard, fun, heart breaking and joy filled….sometimes all at once. But I love these people and the work God has put in front of me. My heart is a little bruised but overflowing with love.

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Hearts and Little Girls

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

Today we visited the feeding program at one of the churches. This is the same church we will be at tonight but the feeding program is in done out of the Pastors home. Pastor Alma and her sister cook for the children lunch a few days a week and serve them outside their home. We were able to help in a very small way today to feed them, even sharing the food with them….which by the way is so delicious! After lunch we were able to split up and play with the kids. There was one little girl who was there from last year. Now last year she was so shy…didn’t want to smile or even look at us. But we were able to start playing ball with her and she opened up! Even gave me and Jessica a hug before we left. I have thought of her and prayed for her often in the past year and wondered how she was. Today I saw her again and what a difference! She was all smiles for everyone and had a great time playing. 

This year there were 2 little girls we met who came with me to play ball…they couldn’t catch the ball but when I caught it for them and handed it to them they would look up at me and smile the biggest smile! My heart melted each time ❤️ we even drew hearts in the dust of a car parked where we were playing. 

Missions is more than giving money or stuff….it is engaging with the people, looking them in the eye and communicating with them….you don’t have to know the language….a smile, or a heart drawn in the dust, can say a lot.

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Travel

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

We have reached our destination. It is a long way to here with many challenges along the way. Some of these challenges are language, some of these challenges are comfort and some are physical limitations. For me I will face all of these during this trip, but I know that God will provide and will see me through. 

Normally we have one gentleman who stays with us to translate, but this year we are blessed with 3 people! They are patient with us, kind and understanding. God has provided for us a way to communicate and share the love of Christ with those we meet.

It is hard to ride for 12 -14 hours and not be able to move much….the only relief comes from when you are able to get out every so often when you stop for gas…it is really hard to do it 2 days in a row. God has given us the stamina to get through so we can share His love and blessings with others. 

I am excited to see what God has in store for us this week. 

God. Is. Good.

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The Journey Begins

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

Today we headed out from Missouri on the first leg of our trip to Cuatro Cienegas Mexico where we will share the love of Christ and deliver over 600 backpacks to children for Christmas. The journey for me began yesterday as I drove from my home to Missouri. Yesterday was also the anniversary of my oldest sons death, he passed away 17 years ago. As I drove yesterday I thought of him with only a little sadness…there were a few tears, but I didn’t dwell on what happened those many years ago as I have in the past. I had the radio on, K-Love because I love to sing praise songs, and the songs that kept playing talked about how good and faithful God is….and one song in particular played a lot…It is Well with my Soul. I realized that it truly is well with my soul. God has healed me over the years, taken away the excruciating pain of losing him and by his Grace given me the ability to forgive and find joy in children. 

God IS Good! 

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Weather…..Part 2

Posted on by myheartmissions_wbk4ay

Know that you’re blessed and use your blessings to help others.

 

Well today we awoke to colder temps and rain. And at times the rain is mixed with ice and it has snowed. It hasn’t snowed here in 34 years!

It hardly ever rains in Cuatro Ciénegas. There are no drainage systems in place….so the water builds up quickly. So today there is water everywhere and mud. Some people are fortunate enough to have concrete floors and windows so most of the water stays out, but there is no heat beyond what they get from their cooking stove. Others however are not so fortunate.

We visited a neighborhood the other day where people have erected houses using whatever they could find, wood pallets, pieces of tin, tarps and cardboard. They have dirt floors. Today we were delivering supplies to the pastor who lives in this neighborhood and my heart broke for these people. It is cold, the wind I can imagine is blowing straight through the houses…you can see the gaps in the walls. The rain is probably coming in as well. The floor next to the walls is probably mud on the inside. And we saw no smoke coming from anything to indicate there may be a fire inside.

One of our team members sent a picture of one if the houses to her daughter who I believe is 10 to show her how other people live. Her daughter replied that she felt bad because she does not have to live this way. Her mom replied back “Do not feel bad. Just know that you are blessed and help others who are not”. What a wonderful way to explain it!

Today we are cold and wet….but we are blessed! Pray the rain ends soon and the temps warm up for those who are not as fortunate as we are.