First Update From SPEAR 2008:
SPEAR: A leadership program that stands for Servant-Leadership, Perspective, Equipping, Application, Responsibility.
The Team: Justin Evans, Darlene Rodriguez, Rich Aguilar, Jacob Clampitt, Mark Thompson, Jen O'Leary, and myself.
As our last day in the Mexican city of Tijuana draws to an end, I reflect and know there is much to share and much to testify of. I desire to share with you so much more than I know will be possible tonight because of time, but I Iook forward to sending out another soon. We leave for the state of Sinaloa tomorrow morning by plane, to find our home in a small coastal town. I done believe we will have internet service so this is 'hello and goodbye' until we return north. BUT now I will type and share briefly of what great things God has done…
In Leadership-
I had the opportunity to lead with Jacob Clampitt for the first week of SPEARs leadership outreach. I experienced my Gods strength to carry my burdens in such a powerful way during that week, and although I entered that appointed time in my own strength, which was absent, He gave me His strength in return for my weakness. Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Praise my Abba Father for helping me to walk in the Power of His might. I learned to trust Him in a deeper way. I experienced the power of prayer personally within leadership unity and the teams motivation as Jacob and I learned practically how our attitudes set the tone for the whole team. I began to experience the joy of shepherding as the Lord answered prayers for discernment, joy, strength, faith, guidance, and love. In reflection now of the week I see how the Lord revealed strengths I would have never expected, and deepened my understanding of my weakness and what they will mean for my team if I don't allow Him to do a work. Having the opportunity to actually lead in this environment that the Lord has prepared has been beyond beneficial, it has been utterly essential to growing into the woman God has made me. I will probably share more stories combined with the new stories and testimonies after leading for a second week in Sinaloa and returning to Nothern Mexico again in two weeks.
To His ambitious disciples Jesus announced a new standard of greatness: 'You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all' (Mark10:42-44)
Ministry Outlook-
Ministry and daily outreach looks so much different here in Mexico than what I have become familiar with in Morocco. Knowing how differently the Lord is leading us to reach out to the people of this nation reminds me how humble and loving He is, that He would meet every nation face to face within there own cultures, traditions, AND each persons own agendas to speak to them. The Lord had lead us to pray and intercede individually and as a team with a passion that only could flow from a heart that knows this peoples pain and suffering and knows there chains and hopelessness. Being on this team and in this nation I walk in the midst of the heart beat of God, and from His heart is flowing His passion, not ours. The Lord has led us to walk through many avenues of outreach, as we seek His face and draw near to Him. He has lead us into the streets at night to declare through a drama His unfailing Love, and then we get to talk and pray with people as He compels them unto Himself. During the afternoons we spent quite a few days at an orphanage called the Purple Palace right down the road from our hotel. We were given some very practical ways we could serve them such as painting and cleaning, as well as spend time with the Kids when they weren't in school. We also had the opportunity to hand out a giant stack of tracks inviting people to the Calvary Chapel Church in town that we got to attend last Sunday. Bringing the fragrance of the Knowledge of Jesus into this city has been an adventure, a gift, and an honor. God is speaking every day, and His voice is majestic.
Job 37:1-5
"At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God's voice thunders in marvelous ways.
he does great things beyond our understanding."
One Personal Highlight: There is a giant silver arch bearing the 'Welcome to Tijuana' sign at the entrance to down town TJ. One night last week we (myself, Rich, and Mark) were walking and asking the Lord where He was leading us to do an outreach later that same night. After walking through different areas of town all filled with vendors, loud music, bright colors, shops, bars, and restaurants that were keeping our attention within a few feet ahead of us, we found ourselves under that giant arch. As we stood below it and my eyes fallowed the huge steel plated arch to its peek, I found myself gazing up at the sky above me, forgetting the arch and remembering my Great God. In that moment the Lord brought this song to my heart and I sang it out:
"Turn your gaze toward heaven and raise, a joyous noise!! The Sound of salvation rings, the sound of those redeemed..and all this for our King, Jesus Christ the King!" (by David Crowder)
…we returned that night with guitars and drums to sing songs to the Lord of Heaven and Earth before the people of this city. Praying that just like the giant arch that draws faces toward heaven, that the people would turn their gaze toward heaven and remember and turn back to God.
……man, there are so many more I want to share but were leaving the computers soon!!
Prayer Request:
- That the Lord would prepare me to lead
in response to His love
sacrificially
humbly
powerfully
effectively
- Sound mind
- A passion to share His gospel
- Greater Intimacy with the Lord
-More effective times of team and personal prayer
-Financial provision for our team to stay in Mexico the full 6 weeks.
-A great work to be done in and through our team in Sinaloa
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