Las Botijas

This last Saturday the CPT was able to spend the afternoon harvesting botijas. A man in the village of Yucunama taught us how to dig into the dirt and find tons of these little creatures hanging from the walls of the tunnels they live in. The process was very exciting, but the best part of the day was sharing these delightful little snacks with the rest of the gringos (white folks) on the base. Ok, I know that you are dieing to know what a botija is, a botija is an ant, but a very special kind of ant. These ants spend their lives collecting nectar for all the other ants to drink. This nectar is collected in their behinds. So, a botija, is an ant with a large hinnie filled with juice. In order to eat these ants, you simply suck the juice out of their booties and enjoy the delicious flavor. Some of you may be feeling a little nauseous at this point. But I want to tell you with an honest heart that I enjoy them, it kind of tastes like fermented grape/apple juice.

This ant spends its life giving to others. I have thought about how blessed we are to have such a colony around us. The first church mentioned in Acts is painted much like a colony of believers: giving to those who had need. Let us remember to live in loving and generous giving as we learn to be the body together.
" And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. " ~Acts 2:44-47

Ezra; A True History Maker

This past week I have been reading the book of Ezra, it has greatly impacted by the testimony of this mighty man of God. He saw the unfaithfulness of the Isrealites and was broken over it. Ezra wept and threw himself down before the house of God over the sin of His people, seeing the heart of God and pleading for his people over their disobedience He saught change. While he was mourning over this , a large crowd of Israelite men, women and children gathered around him and began to weep along with Ezra. Through a heart for righteousness of this priest of God, Israel began to purge themselves of this sin.
As I have thought about this I have been convicted by the heart of this man. Do I weep over the sin of my people and the judgement that will one day come on them from a Just God? The answer is no. I pray for this type of spirit for purity, the kind that abhors sin like God does, but also loves the sinner more than life itself.
I have also been challenged to pray for such a man to be raised up among the people of this colorful town. Only through true repentance will Tlaxiaco see transformation and recognize it's purpose the King of kings has for it. I pray that the Lord would take His rightful thrown over this place. However, I know, just like Ezra, that it must start in my life.

Just a Splash of Color on my 20th

The small, humble room with chairs and mirrors looked inviting from the Oaxacan streets. It was my 20th birthday and I was ready to do something I had never done before, a whole new look to accompany the end of my teenage years. My friend and I walked into this small hair salon ready to celebrate completing another year with a little change. After talking to the middle aged woman about what I envisioned for my new look, I sat down in the revolving chair waiting for the transformation process to begin. CHOP! " Well that is definitely higher than my shoulders," I thought to myself, simultaneously convincing my racing thoughts that this is exactly what I wanted. The short cute layers were definitely a change, but I decided that I liked it, and after all, hair always grows.

Then the dye came. The thin, subtle red streaks that I had timidly requested revealed themselves to be large thick stripes of red; six to be exact, three on each side. Then I laughed, okay, well first I cried due to the shock of my new punk rocker look, and then I laughed. It was just so funny.

You live and learn, and then you never choose to take a new risk with your hair in a small whole in the wall salon in the middle of Mexico. We bought another box of dye and made the stripes much more subtle. My friend's perm that ended up leaving her hair looking similar in likeness to a wet poodle came out when she washed it. And I now have a neat hat that I used to cover my red streaked head walking away from the salon to remember the excitement of the day. It was worth it, and I am so glad that I can add this to the memories I have in this incredible country. I am excited to grow and become more of the woman God desires me to be, and that is a transformation worth waiting for. But most of all, I am learning to see myself through Christ's eyes. And when you find your beauty in Christ, red streaks or not, it takes your breath away.

Living alone these last few days has been a very new experience for me. I feel the Holy Spirit very near to me when feelings of loneliness begin to creep in. It has been truly amazing. This view of the market town of Tlaxiaco was taken from the side of my apartment. The passion and desire to pray has begun to grow in me as I see Tlaxiaco every morning from my window. Prayer is so powerful, my desire is to grow in going to my knees in prayer before the Lord. I truly believe that it is only by prayer that the battles will be won in Oaxaca. Please keep praying for Tlaxiaco and all the Lord is doing here; for open minds, hearts, and freed lives. Freedom for Tlaxiaco, to walk in the life which Christ gave us through His resurrection.

Truth will set you free!

I was sent some more verses about truth that I wanted to share with all of you, they encouraged me so much that I knew I could not keep them to myself:


"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." ~John 8:31-32


"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." ~ Philippians 4:8

I am moving into a small apartment tomorrow in the center of town. It will be the first time in my life that I have lived alone. Truth be told I am a little nervous as I think about it tonight. In this I will need to cling to God and His truth, please keep me accountable in this. I pray that my time in this small cuartito will be one of incredible opportunities to shine as a bright light (phil. 2:15) and serve my neighbors in love. Pictures of my new room coming soon.

Philippians 4:13

Phi 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

The monotonous words "I can't do this" seemed to run through my mind continually, until finally I heard my own voice speak them with resounding resignation. The lies the enemy had planted in my head had been accepted for so long in my heart that they had become accepted by me as fact. The more I believed Satan's lies the more I felt I had come to a point of complete burn out and failure. The joy of the life I was living, a life of excitement in seeing people meet with the Lord face to face and begin to follow Him, disappeared and instead I began to feel great discouragement and dissapointment in myself as a church planter. This is the bondage in walking in the lies of the enemy. I truly believe that too many Christians today are falling into the trap of accepting these lies and fighting to minister while believing them. At first we try to ignore them, and by our own strength attempt to drown them out. But I have learned in the last months that the great deceiver will only be quieted when truth becomes our weapon of defense. Ephesians 6:14 tells us to "stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth" and to take the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Truth will set you free from any chains of doubt and discouragement.

It was only when I began to speak the simple truth found in Philippians 4:13 against the lie of my inability was I able to find freedom from the heavy yoke it placed on my life and ministry. I believe that too many Christians are walking in slavery because they have allowed shackles to be placed around their hands and feet as they open their ears and hearts to the lies of the enemy. We need to learn to slam all doors shut to tactics of deceit and walk with the authority the Lord has given us. In the desert Jesus stood firm against the temptations of the devil by fighting with the truth of the Living God. Let us also write God's word on our hearts and dress ourselves in the armor we have been given to go into battle. If we are not free ourselves, how are we to bring freedom to others who are walking in captivity. I challenge you my brothers to;

Gal 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

I want to walk in truth. As I walk in truth I have found that the people I disciple are beginning to find freedom from truth as well. God has not set us on His path to watch us fail, but to use us to let His kingdom come and exalt His name from every nation. I am here because I have a big Daddy who cherishes me, delights in me, and strengthens me to do His work. I have all I need to make disciples of all nations because I have His Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bienvenidos

I want to personally invite each and every one of you to be a part of my adventures in Oaxaca, Mexico and wherever the Lord may take me. This is a place to rejoice together, share concerns, struggles, laughter, prayers, and wrestle with the task of how to complete the Great Commission we have all been called to be a part of. I pray that through this site you will all gain a passion for the people who have never heard about the transforming love of Jesus Christ. I am so excited to start this, and ready to lay down my own pride to share myself and this work with you vulnerably. As we all strive to run this race to completion, let us encourage one another to the finish line. On your mark, get set, GO!