"If I can do it for them, then can't I do it for you?"

Well, I sit here in amazement of God's faithfulness in Ft.Lauderdale Airport as I wait for my next flight.

We started our journey last night in Lima, Peru at 10:00pm Sunday as we said goodbye and loaded in the van for one last trip to the airport. We got inside and everything was very rushed as we were told our flight was already loading. The line was empty but of course going through immigration check-points took forever. I don't know that I've ever went through such a long process to get to my gate. We ran through everything only to find out they weren't actually loading yet. Finally, we get on the plane and are waiting thinking more people are going to load and to find out the plane literally had only 30 passengers including us. So that's right we got to all have our own rows and lay down a good percentage of the flight. (favor of he Lord!) The only downfall of the flight is while we were distending the pressure in the cabin was so bad that I was almost in tears with pain. (please pray as I am still in pain from it at this very moment at 2:51pm Monday).

So now being in the U.S., we knew that we'd have to go through re-entry and back to the ticket counter because we had to change airlines we got the surprise of signs notating that we'd have to pay for our baggage. Well, being the person who has handling all our money, I knew we didn't have it in our budget to eat and pay for those bags. So I did everything I could think of; called our travel agent (who only confirmed that every airline is different and we'd have to pay it), went to the ticket counter to see if there was any waiver they'd be willing to offer (only to be denied), and finally then called Michael our school leader to see if the base could do anything because we literally didn't have enough money. After some time, we got the thumbs up that the base could use the credit card to pay for our bags, but me knowing that we didn't have anymore money in the budget I was saddened.

Well, a little while later, Sahara (one of the co-leaders) and I were sitting and watching a show and I started remembering all the stories of friends who went to the airport knowing it's where God wanted them and just expected God to show up with the necessary funds to get them from A to B. I then heard a still quiet voice say... "if I can do it for them, then can't I do it for you?" I then had such a peace knowing that something miraculous was going to happen, that somehow we were not going to have to pay for our bags. Some time went by and I shared with Sahara's husband Ryan that I felt like the Lord was going to do something, like we weren't going to have to pay. A little while later the time has come for us to be able to check-in, and I communicate with the students if any of them have the money to pay that would be great because it'd be nice to take as much of the burden off the base as possible, and those of us who couldn't pay at the moment would raise the necessary funds to cover what the base had to cover. More the half of the team was able to cover themselves so we head for the ticket counter knowing 2 of us would be covered by the base, and the rest would be paying for their own bags. Next thing I know, a lady behind the counter looks directly at me and says "do you need some help?", and I explained that I knew I was going to have to pay for a couple bags and ... she cut me off, saying  "come let me help you." She takes the information and she looks up at me and says you don't have to pay for anything. She said "if you were to check-in on the kiosk you would have to pay but I was able to catch the charges," so we waived the rest of the team over and she handled all the ticketing. I couldn't believe it. The lady didn't say anything to anyone else ahead of us, but looked directly at me. I knew it was exactly the thing God mentioned to me earlier in the day. I was soo amazed! God is incredibly faithful. Then to top it off... it's time for us to go through security for one last time where I knew it was such a hassle and I just said I really don't have want to take my computer out again, and my shoes off, then some how I (along with a few others on the team) got moved to the quick line where I didn't have to take my computer out, didn't have to take my shoes off, and didn't have go through the full body scan. Thank you Jesus!

Needless to say, though this trip has been very long and we still have 6 hours before we are actually home, and I am still in pain I have seen the beauty of God's faithfulness, and favor!

Journey... thanks

Today has left me realizing how thankful I am for the life God has blessed me with!

I am writing right now from Lima, Peru! This is the 9th country I've gotten to travel to in my short 27 years of life. Though I do know more people that have travelled to many more than that in less year, I realize how much of an honor it is to get to share life, and culture with people from other nations. I am in the minority when it comes to things I've gotten to experience in my life. This time last year I was in amazement that I was again full-time in ministry and God was doing incredible things! Now, a year later, I am still in that place. I have gotten to travel to 3 nations in 1 year! I have gotten to see God heal people, Him transform peoples lives, and fall deeper in love with Jesus. I am so blessed! 

Tonight as we sat at the dinner table in Chili's in Lima, Peru. Our school leader Michael (who is visiting our team from the U.S.) explained how he's never been on a trip where his team was taken out to a nice dinner (like Chili's) but a local from the country he was serving in. His exact words,  "this is favor of the Lord." It really got me thinking... I have gotten to experience this in almost every country I've been to. I have been to restaurant/ hotels/ homes etc. far more lavish than I've ever seen in the U.S. while I've been in other countries. I am amazed! God has opened some incredible doors in my life and want to boast on how thankful I am to Him! I am most amazed that God has taken a young woman, who used to be so lost, and has put her on a path where she is now getting to pour into other young people's lives. Yes, I am talking about myself! 

5 years ago this time of the year, I was in my last month of college. I was looking at all my options... get my masters, work for a cruise line, get a job, and a about a month later the option go into YWAM popped up. I never would have thought in my last semester of college this is where my life would be. For those of you who do not know, I got my degree in Broadcasting/Media. Since graduating I've not used my degree at all, but while I've been here in Peru I actually got to be on air on a Peruvian radio station, and I got to sing. What? There goes that favor of the Lord again! No, I am not in full use of my degree, but I can say that since graduating college almost 5 years ago, I have gotten to use my voice. 

The majority of my years in college I was voiceless. Meaning, I didn't have authority to speak on anything. I didn't sing, I didn't teach, I didn't stand up for what I believe in and so on. Over the last few years I've found my voice. In fact, my voice is exactly what God has gifted me to use! I am worshiper, I am a singer, I am a teacher, I am a evangelist! I AM SUPPOSED TO SPEAK OUT! I am definitely not silent anymore. 

Since being here in Peru, as I write this I realize, I have been gifted in using my voice and I now am in every sense. A quick testimony... one afternoon we were doing ministry in this very busy shopping area called Gamarra, and after a skit where we normally give an explanation of the meaning of the drama, I just knew I was supposed to speak. It was like incredible knowledge/wisdom came upon me, I knew exactly what needed to be said, and as I spoke to like 30 people I could see through the testimony of my life, and the words of the father eyes were being opened to the goodness and grace of God. After my message, the ministry center had person after person coming in for prayer. I don't know the number, but I know God moved through me opening my mouth and sharing. 

I am thankful that God has been transforming me so that I am not a useful vessel for Him to use. I literally could go on forever with things I am thankful for, but instead of that allow me to express my thanks for my family and friends. It's because of many of their influences in my life that I am where I am now. I couldn't do anything God has destined me to do without them, they have played such a huge role in my life from financially supporting me to do this, or even giving room for me to grow/learn. No words can express my gratitude! I constantly hearing about the testimony of the lives of girls I've gotten to pour in to, but I know it's because of my family/friends that I was even to a point that I could even do that. So thank you to all who have played a huge piece in my life!

I love that my walk with the Lord is a journey, because along the way I get to see exactly how much he is at work. From giving me a blessing of a meal, to transforming my heart God is constantly at work in my life. It through each moment with Him that I can know for sure His promises will be fulfilled. And I can know for sure that I am able to dream big with him. I can't wait to see this time next year the stories, and transformation that I'll have. Thank you Lord for this journey you have me on!