OH TASTE AND SEE...

As most of you know, I current live in Conway, AR and will move back home in May. Being here has been an adventure in itself, but I believe the Lord has me here for a reason. He has taken me out of my comfort zone to know Him more, to be challenged deeper in my walk, to be better equipped for what His purposes for my life, and to be able to hear Him when He whispers. He has made it apparent that He is the reason I live and who I have been captivated by!  

This past weekend I was able to go home for the first time since I moved and it was completely refreshing to see my precious family and friends still at Baylor. I was encouraged so much my both of my parents, but especially my mom. Just being in the presence of her, builds me up in so many ways. She is woman of wisdom, that comes flowing from the Lord. 

While I was home, I went to the first Camp Life meeting to begin preparing for this summer. It was so exciting to be around so many people with the same heart and passion for loving precious children in a 3rd world country. Greer Kendall, the executive director of Family Legacy Missions, was sharing with us a few "new things" we were going to do at Camp Life. These things may seem simple, but will be such a thrill for the kids...the kids will get a brand new pair of shoes, a camp life t-shirt, a bandana, a plastic cup (to represent that their cup overflows), 2 canvas bags, and the best of all....a fleece jacket!! I almost start crying every time I think about them getting jackets. The children only have the clothing on their back, so having jackets to keep them warm is the biggest blessing! They are going to be sooo excited!!! I can't wait to put jackets on each one of my kids!!

When Greer told us about the jackets, he also told us that there is not a budget for 12,000 fleeces. Anyways, we are short 4,000 shoes for the kids! So please pray for the Lord to move in mighty ways to provide the finances for the jackets, but also for all the shoes still needed to be collected!! 

I wanted to share with y'all a song that has been on my heart the past few days.

 "Oh Taste and See" by Misty Edwards

(Psalms 34:8)

Oh Taste and See that the Lord is good 

Oh Taste and See that the Lord is good to me.

Cuz you've turned my mourning into dancing

put off my rags and clothed me with gladness.

And I will rise and I will praise You.

I'll sing and not be silent!

Oh Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Oh Lord, my God, I will give thanks to You!

For You are good

Yes, You are good

Lord, You are good!

I love this song because it always reminds me that if I will get to the point of just tasting the sweetness of the Lord, I will realize of how good He has been! He is sweeter than honey and better than anything in this world! We must live not of this world, but ask the Lord to help us live in this world until He calls us home! 

I hope you are having a great week!

Live a life that is full of boldness and radically abandoned for Christ!

Keep Pressing On....

I am filled with joy because of Him!

Hey Y'all...

Well it's been a little crazy and hard the past 12 days, but good! All I can say is that God is good and He is the one helping me through each day. I am going to try to give you an update on what the Lord has been teaching me...

First of all, the Lord has been opening my eyes up to view things from His perspective and look to find His purposes on earth. God desires for His people to bring Worship to His name! Missions is not the desire of God's heart...Worship is! Our Heavenly Father yearns for His people and children to bring praise and worship to Him. That should be our hearts desire...to worship our King and Savior with all that we are. Knowing that concept should be our reason for missions!

As Paul describes in Philippians that he finds joy in where he is, even if that is in prison. He states that he is a servant of God...he is saying that he is a bondservant! A bondservant is someone who gives up their rights to humbly follow another completely. Just as servants in the Old Testament were marked by their master and gave up their rights, God marks us to show the world that we are His! It is our joy to be marked by Him!

Ok so now for the update on Camp Life stuff...well we have our first team meeting coming up this Sunday (Feb. 24) in Dallas at Watermark! I am so excited about finally getting to fellowship with those who are joining together to go love the precious children in Zambia. The first meetings are always a bit crazy, but so fun! I have been trying to touch base with the group I am overseeing as we get closer to doing camp. I love hearing everyone's enthusiasm and joy in their voice. I have also been getting notified weekly on the support that has been coming in. I want to stop and thank you all for either supporting me so far and/or praying for the entirety of the trip! I have seen the Lord begin providing and it overwhelms me of just how good He has been!

Keep praying my prayer warriors for God to continue providing what is needed for all those called to go! Pray for confidence, peace, trust, boldness, fear to be taken away, safety and for the kids we will get to interact with! Pray for hearts to begin softening and receptive to God's word! Just to let you know...there are about 500+ Americans going throughout the summer to Zambia, which means about 10,000 orphans will get to come to camp!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!

"I will be filled with joy because of You. I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High!" 

Ps. 9:2

YOU ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST!

I'll be talking to you all soon!! Know that I'm thankful for you!

joyfully marked by Him,

Joy

Here's a picture of 3 of my precious children that I got to love on last summer! I will get to see them in 5 short months and it certainly can't get here soon enough!

Their names are (left to right): Edinah, Mary, and Violet

150 days until Zambia...

I am believing that God is taking me on a journey to partner with Him by loving His children the way He has desired to do so for long. He has placed a calling on my life to step out of my comfort zone and place myself in full dependency on Him. 

I have taken His invitation on joining Him with what His purpose is for my life...to go love the unloved and be voice for the voiceless!

I leave for Lusaka, Zambia, Africa on July 8 and will return on August 3. I will be with Family Legacy Missions International which is an organization based out of Irving, Texas. Their vision is to connect the American Church and Family to the very heart of God by actively engaging them in the relief of the suffering and pain of the African AIDS Orphan.

I want to personally invite you on my journey as I prepare to go on a short-term mission trip to Africa. I will do my best to give you updates with each phase of this project; such as financial support, collecting items to take over there for the kids, and myself personally in preparing for this exciting opportunity. If you want to help support me then contact me and I will give you the steps to do so. 

May the Lord bless and reward you all for standing beside me as I follow where He leads me!

Love y'all!