oh...the cold

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Hope the season is treating you well and you're experiencing the bliss of this special time. I just love Christmas, the hustle and bustle, warm cozy, eggnog, hot chocolate (coffee for me), family, old friends and everything else. I'm in love!!

This past Sunday, the message was about the influences that we're under constantly, the continual attack of what advertisement is going to gnaw away at our conscience to do what they want us to do. I was thinking, being grateful for some of the influences that don't make an impact when we're in Belize. The "keeping up with the Jones" mentality isn't as rich in Belize but some others are around us in abundance. The other part of the message, combating these influences is the question, "Are you grateful?" Am I grateful for what I have, the talents I possess, the people around me, the situation I'm in, how God has equipped me to handle it?

As I look upon this season, I keep asking myself- am I grateful? As we live in this season, trying to keep it before us all year round, am I grateful for the King being born? Am I grateful for the people that surround me?

Hope this challenges you as much as it has for me!!

love to you all!!

Its now almost 3 weeks post DTS and life is so much different. I'm finally uploading pictures so you too can be impressed by this wonderful group of young people. We've had lots of things happen over these past weeks but this special day of graduation is not forgotten...it could be due to the amazing African clothes that were displayed by Dupe, Lili and Santi (our director). Or it could be the stories of the students and how they shared what God had done in their lives over these past 5 months...most assuredly I can see the hand of God in each of their lives. As we shared that night about each student, how we have seen them defy the odds and overcome their fears, my heart was so proud. I have seen the significance why God had brought them here in this time. I can see God's love abundantly when I look at their lives and their faithfulness to Him in these months.

Here are a couple thoughts from the students...

"I think what I've taken from DTS that has helped me now is that life is a choice... The end result greatly depends on what we choose to do. Camela has greatly instilled in me to be responsible even when I don't feel like it...LOL.
But my relationship with God has come to such a level that I can't give it up. People can live on a high coming off a personal time with God. But shortly after or sometimes even rite before they stumble and fall far and hard. Get to know God and the purpose He has for your life and falling will become harder and harder!!" (Florence, Canada/Belize).

"Also DTS helped me to see my purpose and destiny more clearer, Also on out reach I learnt many ways how I can reach out to people right in the environment where they are cause 99 percent of unbelievers wont go into a church and listen to a message so when you go out and reach them its shows the Love and care and they are drawn to it. Yeah DTS was awesome for me !!" (Daniel, Belize).

Thank you!!

Thank you to all our family, friends and everyone who has prayed, supported and encouraged along the way, you are partners in this adventure. We've had a great journey...proud of every student and how they stepped to the challenge of meeting God in uncomfortable situations and different places. We've seen God do miracles in their lives, healing and passing on that blessing to others!!

DTS graduation is this Friday evening at YWAM. Continue to pray for the students (Carilyns, Daniel, Florence, Dupe, Kevan, Camela) that they would be passionate about living the truths they've received in this time.

love to you all!!

Home, home, beautiful home...

Yes, that's right, we're in Belize...we stepped foot on Belizean soil Thursday morning. It was a bit of a shock to hear "hello and thank you" in English...a homecoming in of itself. Spanish is beautiful but there's nothing like Creole to brighten your mawning!!

Tomorrow we will begin our last week of class and the students will graduate on Friday evening. Its been a challenging journey filled with nuggets of God's grace and the powerful words from Him that will forever change our lives.

I just want to share a bit more about our experience in Panama. The last week we had the divine opportunity to work with a church in the community of San Vicente, a village not far from the YWAM base. One day we visited people in the community, with the intention of sharing the message of salvation. A radical man of the church, Felix, led our small team. We shared the message that Jesus came for you to have a relationship with God; what's holding you back? Give up your ways of doing it yourself and depend on God, this is how He designed it. It was a powerful time, three people gave their hearts to Christ and one woman re-dedicated her life to serve God.

This radical follower taught me a lot. Most times I think I have to present Jesus "at an angle." I should take it from this approach and "work God into it." We read fairy tales over and over but why do we shy away from sharing God over and over. Seeing what God did this day inspired me to share God...I don't have to pretty Him up or put a fuzzy coat on Him. The whole TRUTH and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!! JESUS IS ENOUGH!!

God is moving...

There was an anonymous vote of wanting to stay longer in Errebache (the indigenous village we visited for 3 days). Upon arrival by boat, in a flooded river, to this small community nestled aside the jungle mountain, are the most amazing of people. My two favorites were a little girl, Elizabeth, 8 years old and Lisette, 20, sisters with amazing hearts. Elizabeth had a special gentleness about her, while the other children pushed their way around or her younger sibling nudged assertively, she quietly waited for my attention. Her compassion was overflowing and her laugh, you couldn't help but join her.

Lisette, the eldest of 5 children, expressing her sometime annoyance with being the oldest, talked about her daily life. She was shy about her future plans as she stated her contented heart with her life in the village. Lisette later expressed her dreams next year to attend a DTS with YWAM, possibly in Costa Rica.

You see, this village has dreams and visions of God's hand. A year ago, one family from this village came to YWAM Panama to do their DTS...now with 4 children, they broke the mold of their community and culture. Tulio is his name, in line for the chief after his dad, has a vision for the Embera people (and all indigenous tribes) to be a light to their nation and beyond. They have a house in their village, the beginnings of a YWAM base. The vision gives way to a training school for the Embera people and all indigenous people to come and build a firm foundation for their Christian walk. Tulio expressed his revelation that the devil has had a hold on indigenous people, sometimes using their culture as barriers. Tulio (the first Christian family of two in their village) has a vision to begin a tourist attraction, letting foreigners observe and learn about their culture, while sharing the gospel and God's love with these tourists. God is using the ones who are sometimes overlooked to bring Him glory. The tourist village will bring income to the Embera people while also giving them a chance to be a light to the ones that least expect it.

God's big picture is grand...He's doing this all over the world; He's using the ones who, in the past were a cause for missions, to be the missionaries now. We see it globally, God is working! Can you hear worship springing forth from the earth!! He's calling ones to Him!!

We rejoice in what God is doing in and through the Embera people...please pray that God would continue to reveal His plans for them. That they would be receptive to what He's speaking personally to each one.

**the picture is Tulio- pray for God's wisdom in putting feet to God's word