World Race Esther Schultz - Journey the World with Purpose

You CAN laugh and cry simultaneously!

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Today I watched a video that I could not help but pass along. Maybe it will encourage you too! This morning I was praying "When will 2008 be over?"...oddly, the hardest year I've known so far. Then I watched this video (below). When Ate Vina started talking, my emotions just let loose. I burst out laughing and crying at the same time!! PRAISE GOD!!! He does amazing work!

Remember the Bible Study that God burdened Elizabeth & I to start in the Philippines? (Click here to read my Women in the Word blog.) On one of the last nights of Bible Study in January, we prayed for each lady individually. I pulled Ate Vina aside, prayed with her, and she burst into tears and started talking to me in Tagolog. I had no clue what she was saying, but I knew God had set something free in her life and was in the middle of changing her! She gave a testimony that night to the group, but it was broken English-Tagolog and challenging to follow...But I remember walking away from that night praising God for the work He was doing in those dear ladies' lives. And you (my friends throughout the world) all continued to pray for these ladies with me. And now you are witnessing the fruit! How amazing.

This report leaves only one response: "I will extol You my God and King, and bless Your Name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and praise Your Name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable." Ps. 145:1-3.

Thanks so much to Allison (my dear, former June '07 WR teammate, who is now leading the Oct '08 WR team) for putting together this video and (most importantly) for continuing to minister to these precious, dear ladies in the Cuatro community of Manila!! See how God is working through Allison's Familiar Faces II blog. Oh how I love and miss these ladies.

A Little Too Smooth?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The trip to the Middle East went really well! It was so smooth and peaceful it was almost scary. :) Planes were on time, luggage arrived safely, only one little bumper accident in a taxi, no food-stomach concerns. I spent about half of the time working on construction with the men (painting rooms, sanding shutters, rescreening windows, etc). We were able to help them accomplish much more than they anticipated -- answer to one of the prayers yal have been praying, to bless the long-term workers there. The other half of the time I spent making connections with a Christian family there. Their heritage is Christian and (more importantly) they have a relationship with Jesus. The kids were amazing, and I loved spending time with them. They were learning English, so hanging around us was important to their father. In addition to working hard, I was able to take a few trips to the sea, saw amazing sunsets (you know they're my favorite!), and get my hair done at least once a day by my sweet friend. (Talented for an 11 year old, isn't she?)

Honestly, the smoothness initially made me wonder if we were fighting the spiritual struggle hard enough, especially together as a group. (I knew my strong teammates love the Lord deeply & individually). I thank God for the smoothness though. 1) I know He was answering a lot of prayers; 2) He revealed to me that the smoothness was not for my sake, but the sake of my teammates. See, I was the youngest there, and yet many of them had limited experience on mission trips, and none in the M.E. or 10-40 window. We were all excited to be there, knowing the Lord called us for this purpose at this time. So the fact that we went to a more seculded area, worked largely with only one Christian (in background & faith) family, and did construction most of the time... all this was good, because it gave my teammates a love for the M.E. and a heart to go back and pray for the unreached there. And it gave me a perspective of the M.E. that I had never had before -- one filled with calmness. So was it "A little too smooth"?... No. Thank God for His unmerrited grace! I pray that soon all the M.E. will know the Real Joy that brings True Peace... Christ, The Prince of Peace. Thanks so much for your prayers!!

Currently, I'm seeking God's wisdom on "What next"... Job? School? Where? What? How? With Whom? Some paths I've attempted have been a bit discouraging. Most seem overwhelming. Thanks for your continued prayers for wisdom, strength, perseverance, patience, and a clear direction. Waiting on God's timing is tough! Also I'm praying for deep, edifying relationships here in East TN. I want to be that "iron" that sharpens and is sharpened by other iron. Love & God's blessings, dear friends.

Heading to the Middle East

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hey Everyone!

Things have been happening so fast since I've gotten back to the US that you may or may not know this: I'm headed to the Middle East this Thursday!! (Yes, again...but this time for an organized m'trip to the ME.) When I got home from my world travels, my church in East TN already planned a m'trip. They asked me and my parents to come give them some advice since we'd been there... and well... the Lord worked it out so that I could go along with the 7 others on the team from church, and that the trip is fully funded, thanks to the generosity of my amazing teammates & church members.

What I would love & really need from you is PRAYER! You've been so amazing at this in the past. May I ask for your prayers again? Thank you :) We are leaving Thursday September 4 and returning late on Saturday September 13. Our focus will largely be to encourage the long-term m's in the Middle East. The country is "closed" so I'm not going to disclose the location.

Ways we will do this: 1) Paint (and more paint), light construction, and massive cleaning of a "beach house" (a house in the desert used to host short-term teams.) 2) Be a light to the community around the house and in the area. 3) Pray! (If anyone doubts the power of praying on site, ask me about China and how God literally has shaken up the country from prayers, just months after we were there). 4) Bring little treats / needed items to the long-term'ers.

Things that you can pray for our team: 1) Safety of the team (physically, emotionally, spiritually) 2) Unity of the team & our ME contacts 3) Smoothness in getting necessities 4) That we'd be encouraging to the long-term'ers. 5) Encouragement for us when things don't go as we planned (yes, I said "when"... remember, I lived overseas for a year...but note, I also said "as we planned"... God's better plan often differs)

Please, please also pray for the people in the ME: It's Ramadan beginning this week. In case you haven't heard of it, I'm attaching some great links down below. Check them out if you have time. But basically, it's a month that Muslims fast--no eating or drinking during the day. At night, Muslims often excessively gorge to make up for the lack of food/water during the day, which means they don't get enough sleep at night, making for some grumpy people walking around during the day and loud partiers at night.

Pray for the Muslims that: 1) Hearts will be softened. 2) They'll see The Light in us. 3) satan's powers will be bound (it's a dark time) 4) God's power revealed. There are some really cool stories about God revealing Himself to Muslims. They pray for Allah to reveal himself to them on the 26th day of the fast. There are many documented true stories about Jesus revealing Himself through visions and dreams directly to the Muslims. Remember, most Muslims never know who Jesus truly is. It's our privilege to pray for them to know the Truth.

Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers. Yal are my warriors. You know from previous stories that God works amazingly through your prayers. I know He will continue to work through yal. So thank you. Love & blessings -

--
Esther

Ramadan prayer guide 2008

Info on Ramadan "night of power"

One more thing...Health

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

One more thing: Would yal also pray for my physical health? Yesterday I caught a head / chest cold, which will make flying challenging. Thanks for praying for quick, total healing; for the flight to go smoothly & without pain; and for all of us to remain healthy throughout the time overseas. Thanks!

Portraits of My Year (Slideshow)

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can I sum up my year into words? That?s what this final debrief has been about, challenging us to continue to press into God and to re-enter America with grace (to and from yal). Like I said, there is a lot to process. So rather than trying to sum up my year into words, I thought a slideshow would be more appropriate, quite interesting, and much shorter.

The plan: We leave Guatemala Wednesday, taking a bus at 6 a.m. to Guatemala City, boarding a plane to Ft. Lauderdale at noon, and then I will take 2 more planes and a car ride, arriving at home shortly after midnight, Lord willing. Please pray for safety and timely connections, etc. I believe I am the only WRer flying out of Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow night, so getting through customs and saying goodbyes will be important.

Thanks so much (again) for your love, prayers, and support. I definitely could not have persevered through the year without yal walking alongside me. Yal have blessed me! You will hear more from me in this blogsite, about what God?s doing in my life, how the Middle East and my niece are, what the next step is, etc. But for now, I wanted yal to have a picture of what it is like on the World Race. My pictures are pretty much ordered by date and country, so you can journey along with me through my year in just a few minutes.

Meet my Coaches

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I wanted to introduce yal to my friends and mentors who have been supporting us during the entire race. These wonderful friends have been to many of our debriefs every few months (Thailand, Philippines, Nicaragua, Guatemala), and pray for us daily. They have been a God-send, and without them I am sure many of us would have shut down emotionally, etc. Plus they always know when you need hugs and kisses.

Scott and Carol Pitts. Scott knows when you need a hug. He is a tall, broad man, and his hugs are even bigger. He is not afaid to be real with us, sharing his heart and funny stories. Mama Carol--Just the name tells you how I feel about her. She tells me the truth in love, listens to me with sincere interest, kisses me on the cheek, and prays for me daily. She is a mom-away-from-Mom.

Chuck and Selena Day. Chuck brings us together in worship, leading in songs and prayers. He tells it like it is encouraging us to press on and gives me big hugs. Selena is full of life. When we get together, we laugh and chat. She is truly interested in my life, how I am doing, and even what I am wearing to the big final banquet. The Days also shared their three wonderful young-adult daughters with us, Jessica, Hannah, and Morgan.

Gary and Lisa Black. Although Lisa and Gary are not our official squad coaches, they have made a huge impact in my life. We served along side them in Swaziland, where they debriefed us, and also flew out to Hong Kong for debrief. When I first met Gary I was a little intimidated by his boldness, booming voice, and intense smile. Then I got to know him. He called out the holy rebellionin me, along with some spiritual gifts. He reminds me to listen to Gods voice. Lisa is a bold, tenderhearted friend who speaks the truth boldly and equally in love. She reminded me to lay down the burdens of others at Gods feet, not taking them on as my own, no matter how much I cared for my teammates or the people I ministered to. And I loved hanging out with and ministering alongside their God-fearing kids in Swaziland.

While words never seem to be quite enough, I have something to say to my mentors--THANK YOU!!!!! Thank you for your prayers, your love, your truth, your kindness. May the Lord bless you, as you have blessed us. And may you see much fruit in and through us (your spiritual children) for the glory of God.

An Insiders Perspective of Me

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My family and I have been Reading the Psalms, counting down the final days on the World Race (see Itinerary blog). My dear friend and squad leader, Allison Johnston, has been counting down by blogging about each of her teammates, one per day until the final day of the race. Yesterday Allis blog featured me. In sincere humility, I share her kind words with you to give yal an insiders perpective of my year.

From my Day 11 countdown, I share this verse. Psalm 11:7 For the LORD is righteaous, He loves righteous deds, the upright shall behold His face.

11 Days!! Esther Schultz

Posted by Allison Johnston on 4/20/2008

I really don't know where to begin with this precious friend. Esther has been just about everything to me this year: running buddy extraordinaire, confidant, friend, ministry partner, the one who challenges me, my sanity, and sooo much more.

From the very beginning (conference calls at home!) I had a feeling that Esther and I were going to be close. We have similar backgrounds (both accountants), both sold houses and cars to come on the Race, both were "older", etc...but I had no idea she would become a 'forever friend" and impact my life so much this year. Esther was the first person I cried in front of and admitted I wanted to go home. She was the first person I went running with, the first person that challenged me, and the first person to encourage me to seek the Lord.

When I think of Esther I think devotion. She is probably the only one of us that faithfully did quiet time EVERY morning, no matter what. I remember freezing in Africa and Esther would be wrapped up in her sleeping bag reading her Bible early in the morning. We have shared MANY a living space, bunk beds, car seats, etc...and Esther was always there reading.

We have had some amazing runs--in just about every country. The Lord gifted us by the fact that we run the same pace and were usually in similar shape. We have spend hours and miles traversing Africa, Asia, and Central America in our running shoes. We have had some hilarious moments and breath-taking God moments. Esther has heard things from me on those runs that no one else ever would. We prayed as we ran, admitted our fears, shared struggles, and encouraged as we logged the miles. When I was at the end of myself Esther always led me to the foot of the cross and I am better because of it.

We are pretty much polar opposites: liberal/conservative, loud/quiet, impulsive/pensive, reckless/thoughtful, but I have been so blessed by her friendship. She has talked me down off MANY a ledge and knocked a whole lot of sense into me when I needed it. She always let me vent and then would quietly re-direct.

Esther: Thank you for loving me. Thank you for seeing the real Allison and loving her anyways. Thank you for always being ready for a run, always encouraging, and always speaking truth (even when I didn't want to hear it!). It has been quite the year and I could never write about it all--but know you are so respected and loved.

Vision for Clinic in San Pablo

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As you recall from my Flees and Suicide blog, we have been working alongside a local church here in San Pablo, Guatemala. Pastor Efrain Alva and Bette (his wife and a trained nurse) have a burden to reach out to the people of San Pablo who, for a variety of reasons, do not go to the clinic or the hospital. Pastor and Bettes desire is to convert the first floor of their home into a birthing room and a room where people who are ill can be cared for. The local clinic has two male nurses. In this gender-conscious culture, who most of the women do not want a man delivering the baby, which I can totatly understand. Bette has delivered several babies for the women in San Pablo at their homes.

Bruce Ahlberg (head of YWAM Antigua-Guatemala, a friend of the WRers who stayed in Guatemala this past month) helped Pastor Efrain and Bette already raise about three thousand dollars for the clinic. Their is still a need of another $4,000 to pour the roof of the second floor. Bruce tells me 100 % of the money donated will go to the project as no one in YWAM receives any money for administration of finances. This clinic is not a YWAM project. The money will be then given to Pastor Efrain for the clinic. Bruce also mentioned that donations are tax deductible, the the fullest extent that the U.S. law allows, as will be noted on a donors receipt. If gifts are sent, the check or money order should be made payable to YWAM Antigua accompanied with a note stating that it is for the medical clinic project in San Pablo. (YWAM Chico in the U.S. administers YWAM Antiguas finances right now, so the checks payable toand the mailing address are different YWAM names.) Checks should be sent to the following U.S. address: YWAM Chico, 15850 Richardson Springs Road, Chico, CA 95973. If you feel encouraged by the Lord to help this familys vision, I know they would be grateful. And all of you can join me in prayers for the clinic.

On a separate note, I have deeper burden for the community -- that they would be able to have the Word of God translated in their own languages, and that the people would be able to read it. Currently there is a Bible in the Tzutujil language, but not many people know how to read. Also there are several other local tribal languages in Guatemala that do not have a Bible in their native tongue. Thanks for praying for this need to read and understand the Word. Over the course of this year, I have seen many needs and try to help when I can. But what I feel most passionately about is having the Word of God available and readable. I have not heard of any specific projects for this part of Guatemala, although I know our friends at Wycliffe have a this burden world-wide, so it wouldnt surprise me if there was a project underway.

Flees and Suicide

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On Monday morning, I opened my eyes, and saw red dots everywhere on my body. I had the chicken pox when I was little, so I was confused. They itched, looking like bad acne on my face. It was embarrassing, uncomfortable, and perplexing. In addition, there was several other little confusing or unplanned hitches on Monday morning (like where we going--San Pablo, not San Pedro, it turns out). So on my boat ride across the lake, I felt attacked by the devil. We only had 9 days of ministry left before debrief. I would be so easy to coast, just letting time pass along.

But I didnt want that. God doesnt want that of me. It would be like starting a marathon and then quitting at mile 25 just because youre tired. Right there in the boat crossing to San Pablo, I fought the devil, quoting Scripture, singing quietly, praying and asking God to give me strength, motivation, His armor to finish strong. By the end, I had peace. I was still physically uncomfortable from the bumps, but my attitude had changed. Upon disembarking, I gathered team Concrete, praying fervently that God would strengthen us as a whole and give us serving attitudes, allowing us to bless the pastor and his family.

Team Concrete we headed across the lake to San Pablo on Monday morning to work alongside Pastor Efraim and his family. Pastor and his wife (Betty) welcomed us with opened arms, cooking for us, letting us sleep in their house on the couches. The kids and Betty speak 2 languages (their local dialect and Spanish). Pastor also speaks 2 additional local tribal languages. But no English. Were the only foreigners in town. So Im back to using the tiny bit of Spanish I know, along with the Spanish-English dictionary of course. They are very patient with me, and eager to learn English words.

When we first arrived, the pastor said we could help wash windows in the church building. Well, its day 3 and we havent touched the windows yet. Window washing would be fine. But right now, God has a different plan. Instead the pastor took us to visit families in the community, praying for the sick, needy, etc. A 15-year old unmarried girl due with her first baby any day. A little 3-year old girl with a severely burnt hand. A family whose 18-year old girl was just admitted to the hospital for cancer. A family of an 18-year old boy with cancer who is coming home today, receiving no more medical treatments after a 5-year battle against cancer. And many others.

And then there was the family whose 18-year old boy committed suicide just 10 minutes after we left their next-door-neighbors house on Monday night. We heard about it early Tuesday morning. The pastor immediately took us to the viewing. There were at least 60 of us crammed into a house the size of a small bedroom. The casket had a clear window. We could see the boy, and the rope he used was hanging above the casket. People unashamedly wept, using their aprons and sleeves to wipe their tears. I stood there praying for his family and friends, that God would ease there pain. And even boldly prayed for his return to life, as I felt God call me to do. He was buried later that day, with practically the whole town stopping to pay respects. The boy was greatly loved.

Oh, and by the way, on Tuesday before we went on house visitations, I went to the clinic. Apparently my bed in Panajachael (where we spent 3 nights before San Pablo) had flees. Yes thats right. I had flee bites everywhere. No wonder I was uncomfortable! After a huge shot of medicine, and starting on and anti-itch cream, Im doing a lot better. I was just glad it wasnt catching for other people or some weird disease that would send me home early or prevent me from going to the Middle East next month.

My lessons this week: 1) Dont quit the race of life early, fight in the Spirit at all times, even when you dont feel like it, ask God, He will give you strength. 2) God is Sovereign, over cancer, pregnancies, suicides, flees...over everything. He works in the good and bad for His glory.

Walking on Lava

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

While in Antigua, Guatemala, I took a day off, spent a little personal time and money, and hiked Pacaya Volcano. It was amazing. I trekked up steep trails at a high altitude. But I truly enjoyed the challenge. When I reached the top, I was amazed. Smoke exhaled from the top. Small amounts of red lava flowed around the volcano. A picture does not fully capture the experience. The eerie atmosphere reminded me of Mordor in Lord of the Rings.

I had an option-- stay at the top of the mountain and view the volcano, or climb down a 90 degree drop to walk hardened lava. Of course I chose the latter! Immediately I felt a temperature difference, heat rising from my feet to my head. The guide told me that the lava I was walking on was only 3-days old. And then I saw red-hot lava moving underneath the hardened lava, just a few inches under my shoes. In fact, Tamaras shoe soles burnt off. Crazy! The lava was hard, but it crunched and often cracked under my feet, moving slightly. It reminded me of Mount Saint Helens in Washington State. Studies of the eruption just a couple decades ago revealed that such natural disasters made its surroundings appear older than they truly were, and yet also brought lush green environment to nearby areas, enriching the soil. The Pacaya Volcano proclaimed Gods intelligent design, mighty power, and creative beauty.

Just a few feet from the pouring red-orange lava, I roasted marshmallows on a long stick. Wow was it HOT! I could only stay near the lava for seconds at a time. Even poising for a picture was challenging. But the marshmallows were yummy, and the experience was incredible!

Itinerary: Final Country

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We made it to Guatemala, our final WR country! Time remaining on the WR is so short! I'm in Antigua and have rejoined the other June WR'ers. Each of our "original" small teams will minister in Guatemala for a week or two. During the final week or so of the WR, the squad will reunite to debrief together. After the WR, I will return to the Middle East (with my mom this time!) to see my new little niece, Anna Grace (born April 6!)

Here's a rough itinerary for the next couple of months:

April 10 - Team Concrete's ministry time
April 23 - June Squad's Final Debrief
April 30 - Arrive in Ft. Lauderdale at 5pm, immediately flying to East TN
May 9 - Leave for the Middle East
May 27 - Return to East TN (parent's house)

I have an invitation for you! In my immediate family, we have a tradition of reading the Psalms as a countdown to the day a person's returning. It dates back to my dad's long military deployments. For example, on April 8, 2008, my family and I read Psalm 23, noting that there's 23 days until I arrive home. April 30^th, we'll read Psalm 1. If you want to (no pressure), you're welcomed to join us.

Thanks SO MUCH for your prayers!!! Here are some specific ways you join me through prayer these next couple of months.

Prayer requests:

Concrete's team ministry time will be filled with joy, unity, balance in personalities, eagerness to serve God, focus, sweet time of closure and fellowship. My teammates still on the field: Sarah D, Mark S, Katey B. Also pray for teammate Lauren in U.S.
Final Debrief will be uplifting, not lonely or stressful, restful, filled with sweetness, glorifying to God, uplifting to my soul.
For April 30, pray that buses and planes and luggage and customs and whatever else will be protected, safe, on time, smooth, etc. That I will have time to say goodbyes to my teammates, that I will have joy-filled closure with these friends. Also please pray that I'm able to get through customs quickly, making my 7:10 pm plane, and the next connection too. That it will be a sweet reunion with my parents that midnight.
Pray for protection during the time with my mother, brother, and sister-in-law in the Middle East. Safety - physically, spiritually, emotionally. Good fellowship, continued peace and unity in our family. That we'll be helpful, not a burden. Pray for other friends coming to work out-of-town with my brother during that time, and for my brother and sister-in-law's time being apart (it will be their longest ever, which will be especially hard with a newborn).
There are several logistical things due soon (education for CPA license, reviewing tax filings, insurance decisions, etc). Please pray for wisdom with time and discernment with decisions.

Hey there, Stranger, Return to God!

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

God wanted us in Santa Ana, El Salvador. We just didn't immediately know why. In my blog Made it to El Salvador, we stumbled upon a church, asking their leaders if we could be any service to them, such as painting or teaching, telling them that we were only in town a few days. The next day I had a funny, nervous-like feeling on the way to visit the church influencers. I asked God to make clear the path, whether or not it involved serving.

When I arrived at the house/church that evening, the leaders handed me a typed list of five things they needed, a few involving finances that were way above my budget. (During the ATL - Ask the Lord - month, I've been living off 80% of the normal, already-slim WR budget.) Other items were out of my expertise (such as medical and dental services) or involved long-term commitments (such as teaching someone how to play the keyboard, constructing a new ceiling with no materials readily accessible or financed, etc). Yet I knew if God wanted us to serve in that way, He would provide the means and finances. That part didn't worry me.

My hesitation came from a small voice telling me, "Pray for them. Just pray, Esther." The challenge: How do I pray for the 6-member church without injuring relationships. The people needed to know prayer was God's best plan for them, not a cop-out answer. I was invited to see inside the church building. I asked if I could pray inside the small, newly remodeled church room. For about an hour, I walked slowly, praying over each inch of the church room. I prayed for the leaders who stood inside the building. And deep in my gut I knew God was saddened. The Holy Spirit whispered to me what the church really needed: Return to God in repentance, starting with the leaders that were standing there, and then, and only then, would Christ's glory fill His Church there in Santa Ana.

How do you tell strangers, "Return to God"? I had only known these men an hour over two days combined. As you may know, I'm not good at fluff or watering down the truth. So I humbly and clearly told them the brief message. It reminded me of the passage I had been reading that morning in Isaiah 4-5, of God beckoning His people to return, eagerly desiring them to produce spiritual fruit. In that same moment, one church leader asks, "Do you want to go see my fruit farm tomorrow?"

As we walked through the fruit farm the next day, the guide was telling us how the farm produced so much more fruit two decades ago. The trees are still large and beautiful. But the farm seemed somewhat forgotten. Overgrown. Brown in some spots. Watering-wells stopped-up. Fallen fruit spoiled before being harvested. What once was a financially-strong business now became a hobby-farm, yielding much smaller quantities of fruit. The guide blamed it largely on the upkeep of the farm. Three things came to mind: 1) How much our lives look barren, not living up to our full "fruit potential," when we fail to daily spend time with the Lord in His Word and just being in His Presence. Like working the farm, it's not always easy, but it's definitely rewarding. 2) God is the one who planted us and takes care of us. My duty and delight is to spend time with Him, trust Him, and let the fruit grow as He wills. He's the one who waters and prunes me, planning my highest potential. I think I have the easier end of the deal. 3) These orange chile peppers are VERY HOT! (Yes, I tried one. Our guide laughed as he handed it to me to eat, not eating any for himself.)

How about you? Are you yielding fruit at your highest potential? Or are you a little dry? God beckons you in Psalm 27:8, "Seek My Face."

A Taste of Home

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I experienced a taste of home last week in Honduras. Surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Living in a comfortable, spacious high-rise condo with a kitchen, wash machine, and dryer, sleeping in my own bedroom with private bathroom. City lights gleaming in the night. Feeling comfortably at home, being trusted and welcomed by our contacts and new friends. And what would that taste of home be like without working long days as a CPA.

Many hours during the day and into wee-morning hours, I invested energy into understanding and critiquing the accounting techniques for Point of Impact (POI) Ministry and Impacto Church in Tegucigalpa. My goal was to help these organizations improve their accounting systems for the three projects of POI and three church-plants of Impacto. This goal was similar to ones I had for my clients at my former employer HLB Tautges Redpath, Ltd in MN. Basically, it was my way of helping not-for-profits who diligently and morally serve their communities.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with POI Ministry and the Impacto church-plants in Tegucigalpa. And I felt uncannily tied to them. These ministries work alongside my former church in Memphis, TN (Bellevue). The main goal is to enable families in the barrios (impoverished neighborhoods). POI has a child sponsorship program; these children receive help in their education with pre/post school tutoring, a nutritious meal and snack, school uniforms (I hear some were donated from my former elementary school, ECS), etc. Parents also are enabled through savings and lending programs, assisting tortilla and shoe-repair businesses. And that's just the surface of what POI does. I would highly encourage you to check out their website.

Life in Tegucigalpa reminded me of my pre-World Race life more than anywhere else in the world that I have been. And admittedly, it was fun helping the organizations in ways I could, giving them feedback and recommendations, providing more effective spreadsheets, encouraging them in their achievements.

I think I'm still processing that week in Honduras. I loved it there. But I also loved the filthy streets of Cambodia, the women in the squatter-camps in the Philippines, the kids and construction guys in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Perhaps I loved Tegucigalpa because it was familiar. (Is it bad to have a washer and dryer while serving the Lord?) Or because I felt needed and could utilize the skills with which God equipped me. With time on the WR drawing to a close, I'm continuing in my prayers of "What Now, Lord?"

Made it to El Salvador

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Just wanted to let yal know that we made it safely to Santa Ana, El Salvador. We are currently settled in a hostel, in small rooms for a reduced rate. So God is already beginning to answer our prayers to protect our finances.

We also met the pastor of a local church body here in town yesterday. We were headed to find an internet place and Tamara spotted a church and wanted to go in. So we walked in... it was also a house, common practice here in Central America. Anyway, since I speak the most Spanish, I found myself trying to explain what in the world we were doing on the doorsteps of the church to non-English speakers. Let me tell you, its hard enough to explain to people who speak my own language. After a few mintues of trying to communicate that we wanted to help them, we were at a dead end. So we thought. So we left. A few minutes later, the little boy in the house came running after us to retrieve us back in order to speak with his oldest brother again. As they were communicating that their father wasnt going to be home for another half hour, the father pulled up. Several minutes later, we found ourselves with a translator (the fathers same-aged nephew), telling the church leaders our story, travels, and that we wanted to help them. We will see them again tonight to see if there is a place we can plug in. Another prayer request in the works of being answered.

Thanks for your continued prayers!! Each of you are key to this ministry, and I appreciate you.

On the Road Again - Prayer Requests

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone! I wanted to ask for your prayers as we head into El Salvador this morning. We are heading to the bus station at 5 a.m. and plan to arrive in El Salvador by early afternoon. Please pray for God's favor in the following areas:

An inexpensive, no-hassles, direct bus (or other transportation) route to El Salvador this morning
Safety in traveling to and during our time in El Salvador
Specific direction for a location in El Salvador and a free/inexpensive place to stay
Open doors and clear discernment for ministry opportunities in El Salvador

Thanks for your prayers!

PS- My teammate Lauren went home this week due to illness. Please pray for her quick recovery.

Tegucigalpa at a glance

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I'm just wrapping up a week in Tegucigalpa. It's been amazing here. I really enjoy this city. My contact here has been very kind and eager for my assistance. I've even been able to utilize my CPA experience in Teguc. And yes, you'll hear more about my international business experience later after I process my thoughts....It was interesting having so many similarities to home right at my finger tips, especially this late in the WR journey....But first I wanted to introduce you to Teguc as we first knew it.

Arriving in Tegucigalpa last Saturday afternoon, we were unloaded off the 'chicken bus' in the middle of the street of who-knows-where. Fortunately, some friendly locals helped us communicate our location, and we promptly being picked up by our kind-hearted contact friend here in Teguc.

I celebrated Easter with our new friends at Impacto Church. Actually, I went to two churches one of their three smaller branches first, and then the main (mother) branch. I was so glad to be in church on Easter (and today too)! God answered our prayers from earlier this month. The people welcomed us. Yet the day itself was different from any other Easter Ive experienced. In the U.S., churches seem to emphasize Easter Sunday. Here in Central America, the whole culture focuses on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the death of Jesus. Businesses shut down for those two days and then open back up for Easter. So after the previous month of parades and bands in the street which ended on Good Friday, Easter seemed quiet and a bit anti-climatic.

Back at the condo after church, the Lord humbly reminded me of Easter's true meaning--Jesus' death and resurrection. Actually, He used the gorgeous mountains and beautiful sunsets, revealing to me His majestic power and new life in Him. My own little church service. It is true, His mercies are new every morning. (Thank God! I need His new mercies daily!) Great is His faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23. Praying you all had a wonderful Easter week!

Holy Week in Honduras

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We made it to Honduras! We're in Choluteca the 4^th largest city about an hour or two over the boarder from Nicaragua. As we arrived in the city, we saw a church (The Great Commission Church) from our bus windows. After being dropped off at the bus station, we headed there to ask if they knew of an inexpensive safe place to sleep for the next few days.

On our way to the church, a random man on a bicycle saw me with all my gear, pointed to a street I was walking by, and shouted "Pacifico!" Since Choluteca is about an hour or less from the Pacific Ocean, I assumed he was saying that I should go that way to the beach.

We trekked along with our packs, arrived at the church, and met the pastor and several other men and youth. Fortunately, some of the youth spoke a little English, so in broken Spanish-English, the kind guys at the church helped us find a relatively inexpensive place to reside: The Pacificothe only hostel in town.

Almost everything in Central America shuts down for Holy Week (from Palm Sunday to Easter). Kids are out of school and many people go to their hometowns to celebrate. Religious statutes and bands parade in the streets, especially in Leon, Nicaragua, the city we just left. The day we departed Leon, I felt a very heavy evil spirit surrounding that city. Please pray for all of Central and North America: That the Spirit of Life will reign during this Holy Week, that the week would not be filled with idol worship or drunkenness, and that people will truly know Jesus as their glorified and risen Savior.

These next couple of days in Choluteca will most likely be days of rest, seeking God's face, spending quality time with Him in His Word. Please pray this time will be refreshing and strengthening. By Saturday, we'll arrive in Tegucigalpa, working next week with the contact I have there.

And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus.saying, "The Lord has risen indeed!" Luke 24:31, 34.

Hungry for Truth

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I was settled in Leon with contacts (See Trekking around Leon). Now what? Well, first we painted the large bedroom at JCM. As you can see in the picture clip at the end of Marks blog, the walls had water stains on top of pea green colored walls. A couple coats of the dark blue and green paints created a fresh new look to the room.

Tamara, Mark, and I took a needed break on Wednesday, heading to the Pacific coastline 1/2 hour away. Giant waves crashed over a beautiful rocky coastline. We had the beach all to ourselves. Literally. We bodysurfed the waves and then enjoyed a nice Fresca at the local stand. A whole lot of fun for a day costing less than a couple bucks.

On Thursday and Friday, we taught English at the university. (See Trekking around Leon for background info). The students were amazing: Intelligent, attentive, inquisitive, excited to practice listening and speaking English, hungry for knowing more about the Lord. One of the students I talked with caught my attention. He grew up religious but said he not walking with God. I encouraged him that a relationship with Jesus is what his heart really longs for. It's not about religion. Following Christ does not mean an easy life. Instead, Jesus promises a life of deep meaning, rich-tasting, and overflowing joy. He agreed with my words, yet he said that he was following the crowd down the wide-road rather than taking the harder but more rewarding narrow road. I told him I'd pray for him each day I'm in Nicaragua. He also promised to pray every day, asking God to give him desire for the Truth. I know that the Lord is not finished with this young man yet, and that God will work mightily through him once he accepts Christ's invitation for a relationship.

Let me tell you another story about some new friends seeking Truth. My last night at the hostel before moving into JCM, I met a couple guys from Israel. We chatted about the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, discussing if Jesus is the Messiah. They were inquisitive and hungry for Truth. I encouraged them to read Isaiah 53 along with the book of John. God gave me so much joy in our conversation. I know He's not with them either. I encouraged them to seek God with all their hearts and to pray as I do each day, that God would unveil my eyes, revealing more of His Truth today.

Please pray for the university students and the guys from Israel, that God will clearly reveal the Truth to them (just like He did to the men on the Road to EmmausLuke 24:13-35) that they would have a deep relationship with Him and impact the world for Christ. After all, God promised that He would reveal Himself to those who seek Him: If you seek Me, you will find Me. When you seek Me with all of your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:13-14

Team Concrete Video

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Trekking around Leon

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pulling into Leon, Nicaragua on a mini-bus, we knew the Lord wanted us here. But why? Teaching English was laid on our hearts in Granada (see One Step at a Time). How? God put all the little "puzzle piece" details together for His glory. I'll share with you His blessings in the unknown.

When we disembarked the bus that brought us to Leon, I asked a few people (including the bus driver) our location on the skeleton city map I had. Unbeknown to us, the locals told me the wrong location. No wonder we never could seem to find the hostel. Mark, Tamara, and I walked about an hour around town, looking for the hostel, weighted down with our backpacks, day-bags, and other belongings. Every street looks the same. Every building a similar coloring and structure. Street signs were rare and in Spanish. During our journey around town, we passed by a building with lettering painted in English reading "Jesus Centered Ministries." Immediately I felt drawn to this building. Hot and sweaty, we decided to come back to this building the next day. After all, it was Saturday afternoon. We finally found a hostel, thanks to a tourist from England whom God dropped in our path.

On Sunday, we prayed God would guide us to a church. We passed a few, some had already started, one church was scheduled to start in an hour. So we searched for "that Jesus building we passed" in the meantime. The search ended up being a time of prayer-walking. Later we found out this area we walked is bound by work-based religious tradition, the most needed area for prayer-walking in the whole town. A lady ushered us into her store (opening just for us), serving us papya juice. I chatted (in broken Spanish) with her and a couple other locals who stopped in for juice, telling them about our worldwide journeys and work last month in Puerto. Upon leaving, the lady insisted that we turn right, where we had come from. On our way back, we found a evangelical church who welcomed us.

We stuck out at church, the only foreigners there. The message (in Spanish) focused on Jesus being our Passover Lamb (Exodus 12). After the service, Carlos, a brave kindhearted English major, introduced himself. Something you should know about me: I hate asking for things. My quick prayer: "God, let Carlos invite us to the university if this is where you want us." But God gently reminded me: "How will they know your heart if you don't tell them?" So I told Carlos my desire for teaching English and sharing Jesus at a local university. He excitedly introduced me to his professor, the head of the English department at his university, who also attends that church. Once again, God prompted me to share my heart. In response, Professor Francisco invited us to his office that next day to discuss teaching opportunities. God led us to this church for more than just the message. He wanted us to meet Carlos and Professor Francisco.

Talking with Professor Francisco on Monday, I quickly discovered his passion for the Lord. After setting up dates for teaching, Tamara, Mark and I finally found the Jesus Centered Ministries. Guess what? The juice place on Sunday was literally 150 feet or less from JCM, if we had only turned left. But God's timing is best; they were in Managua that weekend. I knocked on the door, and found Cheryl and Brooke from Knoxville, Tennessee, just a couple hours from where my parents live. Cheryl has been living in Nicaragua for four years, running JCM to help kids who need medical attention get the proper tests and surgeries they need, whether here in Nicaragua or in the United States. Cheryl also fosters five children; the JCM building is actually their house.

I knew God led us to this building to help. When we offered, they excitedly asked us to paint a large room. They showed us this huge room filled with beds, and another room just like it, which they use to house short-term teams. My heart started pounding. I began praying, "God, is this the Christian woman?" You see, in Granada God told me to ask Him for a Christian woman to house us. I told Mark and Tamara about it while we were still in Granada. Monday morning before we met Cheryl, God told me to make my prayer more bold, asking that this Christian woman also feed us. Standing at JCM, my prayer: "God, may you have Cheryl offer the place to us?" God's response: "Esther, why don't you just ask her?" When I asked, Cheryl welcomed us with open arms. She offered beds, food, wireless internet access, a place to call home for our stay in Leon. (We will give them a financial love offering as a thank you.) Who could have imagined what God has provided? Thank God for His timing, His way, His provision. And thank you for your continued prayers for Him to guide and use us for His glory.

Hammers & Nails

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ah, Construction! It's the reason why I went to Puerto Cabezas during February. Why? I don't know exactly. It's not like I have a long resume in constructing things, unless you include the things I fixed around my house in Minnesota or the many construction projects that I've done on the World Race. I guess I just was really looking forward to seeing physical progress. But once again, God knew the real reason why He called me to this key ministry: Relationships.

During our first week in Puerto, men from Arizona came down to help build houses in Bertanna, a nearby town that was totally wiped out from Hurricane Felix in the fall of 2007, a category 5 storm for which the locals had no warning (no TV's, etc). These skilled American and Nicaraguan men were very kind and patient, teaching me new skills, treating me with respect, not looking down on me because I'm a girl. I cut lumber and nailed up siding for a couple houses. While waiting for their houses, the local Miskito people had make-shift houses, scavenging lumber and metal from after the storm. Almost all the temporary houses had USAid tarps as their roofs. I've been told that the USA is the only country helping this remote area in Nicaragua. (The house with the tarp pictured on the right is a "nice" make-shift house. The one pictured on the left is the house we built [in progress] to replace that make-shift house. The group of men pictured are the construction guys I worked with. It was the day we left, thus I was wearing a skirt. The kids below will be living in these new houses.)

I loved my time in that town! My favorite part was meeting the families affected by the hurricanes. They were all very grateful for our help. Although they only spoke Miskito, I was able to pray with many of the people, asking for God's blessing on their families and their houses. I could tell they really appreciated the prayers. I loved playing with the kids! They thrived on the attention. I loved singing songs to them. Yes, I took "play" breaks. Hey, ministry is not solely about pounding nails; it's about God working in people's hearts. In one family, five kids were watching us work. All morning they looked. They were particularly excited to see me working and smiling at them. And I loved watching them show off their sliding skills. They used their roof (the USAid tarp) as a slide. After all, it was only about 6 feet tall, very enticing to a kid in need of entertainment. I'd run over and give them Hi-5's every once in a while. In the afternoon, I sat with them and tried to communicate with them via charades. It's amazing what you can communicate without words. After I while, as the kids were talking, I bent over the littlest one and began to pray for her and her family. All of a sudden, I noticed how quiet the "roof" had gotten. As I finished up, saying Amen, I looked up and saw five little heads bent over folded hands, and heard five little voices echo my "Amen!" God's language of love is not limited to words.

The next couple of weeks, after the American men left, we worked on the pastor's campus. I spent most of my time making/mixing cement, laying cinder blocks, filling in cement, making and tying metal structures, etc. We were laying the foundation to a new guest house on the campus. The Nicaraguan men are amazing. Most are Miskito. All spoke Spanish. Only a few spoke English. So these men began to teach me Miskito. Each day I would learn a few new words. I found out that Miskito and English have a few common or similar words. Most importantly, I had deep conversations with many of these men. We talked about their pasts, their often broken and hurting families, their lives now, their goals in life, etc. I encouraged them to seek the Lord, reading His Word daily, talking and listening to Him always. The relationships I made during construction work was more important than any house that was built or foundation that was laid. God's planting seeds in these men's lives. I pray these seeds are deeply rooted and grow mightily for Him.

I consider the sincere, deep love that God has given me, for the kids at the orphanage and schools, the men working construction, the Miskito families in the village. And then I remember the deep love that God has given me for other people: families in the Philippines, neighborhood kids in Cambodia, Alabanza residents in South Africa, and so many others. His love never runs out. Each country I ask Him for more. Each country He gives me more. As I wonder about this, seeing how much love God has poured into me, just so that I can pour His love into other people, I think "Wow, God has a bunch of love to go around!" Then it hits me. I am beginning to understand just a taste of the love of God. After all, God loves everyone. Everyone! And not just a little bit. He loves each person so much that He sent His only Son to die for each person individually. Now that's sincere, deep love. That makes me understand how He can continue to fill me up with such a deep love for so many people. He's giving me a glimpse of what His True Love looks like.

Many times this month during my time with God, I have sung the sweet hymn, "How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He would give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure." Thanks God for Your deep, undeserved love!

Recess Time!

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In Puerto Cabezas, we were asked to teach at two schools--one campus on the property we stayed, one at a nearby airport school. Out of obligation, I volunteered for the on-campus school for Thursdays and Fridays during the month of February. That way I only have to go 4 times, so I thought. I really wanted to do construction. Even though I'd only spent one evening with the kids, I already was beginning to love them (see Nightly Hugs & Kisses blog), so I thought the on-campus school wouldn't be that bad.

There's good news and bad news. Bad news: For the days I volunteered, we didn't have a translator at my school. Did I mention that my only Spanish training was 16 years ago? Yeah. So, obviously I couldn't teach the kids who speak Miskito and are learning Spanish. It gets worse. The Nicaraguan friends who came with us to Granada only spoke Spanish. About 4 or 5 Nicaraguans also signed up to teach with me (good), but I couldn't communicate with them for preparation or teaching (bad). Fortunately, my Nica friends joyfully taught the kids. I just participated the best I could. Later in the week, I found out that as an American, I gave my Nica friends credibility in the eyes of the students.

The good news: Recess! I thought only kids loved recess. I was wrong. It was my favorite time of the day. The kids didn't care that I spoke basic, broken Spanish. They just wanted hugs and chatting with them, sometimes singing Bible songs with them. They loved kisses on their head and hugs. One little girl bought a lollipop for me each recess. It was pure sugar cane on a toothpick. I shared it.

Amazing things happened at the other (airport) school. Let me share with you one day, as told to me by my friends who taught there. The last day, they visited all the classes, just to say goodbye. One class was filled with rebellious juniors, who had given my friends a hard time in the past. After saying goodbye, one of our Nicaraguan friends began speaking on Luke 20 the parable of the vineyard owner.

A little background, Luke 20:1-20 is the passage that the Lord laid on my heart earlier that week to teach. The church holds mid-week services on Thursday evenings; I was asked to preach one evening. After praying about it, God confirmed that calling and gave me two points: 1. Speak the truth in love aiming for peace when God sends you as a messenger, even when it hurts. I asked the people how they are speaking the truth in love in words and deeds. 2. Each person has a choiceto reject the Son Jesus Christ like in the parable, or to accept Jesus whom the Father sent to gather "fruit." I challenged the audience whether they have accepted Christ, and if so how they are the bearing fruit.

At the airport school later that week, our Nicaraguan friend used that message to challenge the students whether they had accepted or rejected Christ, like in the parable. One student, the biggest trouble maker of that challenging class, stood up and said that he wanted a changed life. He wanted to accept Jesus in his life. That young man began to follow Christ that day. After class, 9 more students began to follow Jesus. Praise God!

God used the Thursday message to plant a seed, which was then spread to the students, which then resulted in youth accepting Christ, glorifying God. I know God will also use the seeds planted at the other school. God only knows what seeds He planted during recess!

One Step at a Time

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During this next month of ministry, our squad has been given the opportunity to ask the Lord where He wants us to serve and to form groups accordingly. As I have been praying, God laid it on my heart to allow Him to stretch me, to depend on Him each day, one step at a time. We call it ATL--Asking the Lord. Our small team will be Tamara Reif, Mark Shrauger, and I. Our goal is to work with one or two contacts throughout the month, seeking God's direction daily as to which contacts to work alongside, when to partner with them, and what other ways God wants us to obey Him along the way. We have two solid contacts with whom we may work alongside in Honduras, so we currently intend to head up there during this month. But along the way, we'll be seeking God's face on a daily basis. The key is flexibility and listening to the Lord. He wants me to trust Him ad not to fear. He will provide and protect.

Several teams share a similar heart with a different twist. One team plans to go without contacts, possibly throughout a few countries. Another team will lead in worship songs around Nicaragua. Another team wants to work with kids in Nicaragua. And another group will be in Antigua, Guatemala for the month.

Mark, Tamara, and I lovingly called our team No Espanol since we are not Spanish speakers. We bought a Spanish-English dictionary and are trusting God to cross any language barriers. Our intention was to go to an orphanage nearby as our launching point; however, God shut that door for now. Yesterday morning, God provided a free ride to Granada, Nicaragua, a large touristy area where seven of my squadmates (including Tamara) worked last month. This city will be a good launching point; there's a lot of transportation out of Granada. We also were given a safe place in Granda to sleep for free--a barn with dirt floors, rats, bats, and a longdrop outhouse out back. A few men watch over the place 24-hours a day. Yes, this place is a blessing from God!

Tomorrow we plan to head to Leon, the third largest touristy city in the country. I hear there are about five universities in the city. What God currently laid on our hearts is to teach English or host English corners for local university students. Or perhaps become students ourselves, learning Spanish and building relationships. Or maybe even working with the street children. Whatever God leads us to do, all three of us are super excited about this next city toward which He has directed us!

Thanks for your prayers and love during this next month as I get pulled out of my comfort zone through trusting God for my daily needs and guidance. Please pray specifically for team unity, protection, discernment from the Spirit, guidance from God, daily needs met, joy in serving, daily encouragement from people and the Word. For me personally, please pray that I will feel love from the Body of Christ and know His love even deeper, knowning I am never alone.

Nightly Hugs & Kisses

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I went to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua wanting to do construction. We lived on a campus with several buildings: A few missionary and guest houses, the Pastor's house, a church building, a school, and a couple orphanage buildings. I had invested so much into kids and women in the Philippines (and everywhere else in the world) that I felt I needed a break from the kids. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The first few days in Puerto were really hard. There were lots of squad and team meetings, things that we needed to work through. And our friends Brooke and Silas went home, which made us all sad. And the cultural atmosphere in Puerto was "heavy"; I hear there's a lot of witchcraft mixed in with Christian religious-acts. A religion of works and superstition, rather than a faith based on Christ. Kind of similar to America, being a "Christian nation" full of any religion of your choice, yet very few choose to truly follow Christ as Lord and Savior.

So my heart was heavy. The first night I stayed after dinner to help clean the plates, etc. When I emerged from the kitchen, little kids surrounded me, hugging on me, over and over and over again. One little boy even climbed up on the wooden benches to give me hugs and kisses. These kids didn't even know me. They didn't know my name, where I was from, what I like to do. They didn't know that my heart was heavy or that I REALLY NEEDED those hugs and kisses. They didn't know anything about me...But I could tell that the Lord was inside these kids. His love radiated through them.

These hugs and kisses happened every night, before and after dinner. I began chatting with "my kids," getting to know them a little in my broken Spanish. Wow, freshman year of high school was a long time ago! But some of the words came back to me as I spoke, thank the Lord. The kids speak Miskito as their first language, and they are learning Spanish at school. Soon I found myself hanging around the orphanage/kitchen a little longer after lunch, waiting for them to get home from school. I started going to the orphanage immediately after construction ended for the day so I could play, sing, and talk with the kids for a couple hours before dinner. I brought my mp3 player, letting the kids share the two ear buds. The girls and I painted nails together. The boys and I kicked soccer balls. And we all tried gymnastics and singing. They loved it! Spending time with them, I saw even more of their love, writing me little notes in Spanish, giving me their beautiful sewing projects, etc.

One night I was telling a couple of my friends about the kids love when it hit me: They loved me first. Just like Jesus. Unconditionally. I did not ask for their love, just like I didn't ask to be love by Christ. The kids showed me over and over again how much they loved me, even though I didn't even know their names! Same with Jesus! He DIED for me before I was even born. He knew me before I was made (Psalm 139). When I spend time with Him, He loves it! I get to see even more of His love. He reveals to me more about Himself. He teaches me. He even just has fun with me and brings me joy.

About 5 or 6 of the kids asked me, "Why don't your friends spend time with us, playing with us, etc?" I told them that they were busy, at the hospital, in the schools, etc., which is totally understandable since we each had different ministries in Puerto. Yet their innocent question made me think. I bet God asks that about us a lot. "Why don't you and your friends spend more time with Me? I have so much to offer! So much more love to give to you if you'll take it."

How about you? Are you letting the Lord love on you? Are you spending time with Him so He can show you more and more love? Or are you "too busy" with life? Remember, He loved you first. Love Him back!

"We loved Him because He first loved us" I John 4:19

Travel Log (part 2): Flying from Puerto

Sat, 1 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For your amusement, I wanted to share excerpts from my travel log. (See Travel Log: Traveling to Puerto). Yes, the bus ride was an adventure. So we thought we'd take the "easy way" back. Flying. Or was it so easy??

FROM PUERTO CABEZAS:
I got up early. I wanted to say one last goodbye to the kids at the orphanage. I had some little gifts for them (some shorts I've barely worn, some nail polish, bookmark, etc... little gifts I collect in other countries). Their school started at 7 a.m. And how could I forget to say goodbye again to the construction guys? They gather for morning prayer at 7:30 a.m. I said my goodbyes (The kids and guys are so sweet! I will miss them TONS!), packed the remaining things, spent some time with the Lord. We were supposed to leave at 9:15 a.m.

About an hour later than planned, we began loading the bus. That's about par for Nicaragua. Actually... that's on-time for Nicaragua, or perhaps even 'early'! Our plane was supposed to "arrive at noon." Yes that's right. They base their times not off departure time, but based on when the airplane is scheduled to arrive from Managua. Their's a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd flight that goes out of this tiny airport each day. We were on the 2nd flight.

We arrived at the airport with plenty of time. We unloaded on the main road. The airport was surrounded by a little gate with a few security guards. I think a couple were armed. We walked about 50 feet to the terminal, dumping our bags on the ground. We were handed very used, often bent plastic signs that said "To Managua" on them. These were our tickets and boarding passes. The airlines weighed our checked luggage, two at a time on each needle-metered scale. Next it was time to weigh our carry-ons...and us! Yes, that's right: "Bring your purses and carry-on baggage and step on the scale." We each took our turns, laughing. That's the first time they've weighed ME at the airport. So much for my trick to meet the checked baggage weight limits. You know the tricks--wearing the heaviest shoes and clothes, packing all the heavy books in your carry-on, etc.

We walked about 10 feet to the metal detector, handing our carry-ons through a window that had an x-ray machine. (We were 'taking bets' on whether there would be equipment at all.) We found out bottled juices and water-filled nalgines were OK to carry-on; aerosol bug spray was not. We boarded our extremely tiny airplane, simultaneously laughing and praying as we boarded. The ride was quite bumpy (common with small planes) but otherwise uneventful, thank the Lord! We landed in Managua, loading a some-times-working bus for the hour ride to Granada. We only stopped once to cool the engine with water. Just another day of adventure on the World Race.

Thank God for His protection during our journeys and throughout the race!! Thanks to yal for your prayers!

Travel Log: Heading to Puerto

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I'm back in Granada, Nicaragua (less than an hour from Managua). We just got here last night in time to participate in (aka, lead) a worship service for the local church, singing with them and telling them about how God worked in Puerto Cabezas. Tomorrow morning we leave for...wherever... Some remote area in Nicaragua where we will debrief. I thought yal would enjoy my travel log to/from Puerto (told in 2 blogs):

TO PUERTO CABEZAS:
It was Tuesday. Everyone got up at 3 a.m. We had spent the night in the church in Granada on the floor. Some people went to bed after midnight, still packing for the journey. I woke up early, about 2 a.m. God called me to pray for our protection, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, during the trip and during our time in Puerto. We left at 4 a.m., expecting to arrive "somewhere between 8 and 17 hours later" was what were were told. Over the next two days, we spent 24 hours on an old, yellow school bus. Huge potholes, unpaved roads, dodging speeding buses and trucks, sitting in the back of the bus with minimal suspension shocks. Several times I was hurled out of my seat, bumping my head on the seat or window. The window next to me didn't close. Actually there was no glass in half of my window. So when it rained (and wow, did it rain!), my seat would get drenched. I hung a rain jacket to shield some of the rain, and scooted into the aisle as much as possible.

About 7:45 p.m., we realized we would not make the "ferry" which closes at 8 p.m. and was still at least 2 1/2 hour drive away. And we had another couple hours to drive after the ferry. So we began to look for a place to sleep in the nearest/largest town. We prayed for God's guidance. Hotels/guest houses were full. Except for one, which tried to rip us off since we were foreigners. Then Charles (our AIM contact) spotted a church or something and told the bus to stop. But the bus stopped short, pulling up in front of a clinic. They invited us to sleep on their floor. Free of charge. (We gave them a love offering.) 8 hours sleeping at a random medical clinic, a gift from God. The next day we left at 6 a.m., arriving in Puerto about 1 or 2 p.m. Oh, and the "ferry" was actually a pull bridge. A very short one at that. And I ate some type of meat and plantain chips on there. Some people say it was chicken. Others have told me it's a scavenger bird. I'm going with chicken.

Needless to say, the trip to Puerto Cabezas was pretty rough. But we had good attitudes the whole time! Cheerful, joking, sleeping, talking, trying to escape the rain. God protected us. Thanks for your prayers! Oh, and good news: We get to fly back!

Click here to see Mark's video. These are clips of our long journey from his perspective.

Adventurous 30's

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here in Puerto Cabezas, my American and Nicaraguan friends helped me celebrate my 30^th Birthday!! The day was filled with smiles and joy. I was told to be ready at 10 a.m. We were going to the Beach! Our first sight of water since we had arrived in this Atlantic coastal area. Excitedly, I prepared, putting on my swimsuit, grabbing my sarong, sunglasses, and a good book. But a trip to the beach was just the beginning of my adventurous birthday.

We all piled into a yellow school bus owned by the local church. Before I knew it, we were 4-wheeling (uhm, I mean 6-wheeling) in the yellow school bus, rapidly dodging potholes, rolling over mounds of dirt road, with nothing but dirt and shrubbery in sight. Finally the bus stopped. We were ushered off the bus. Good thing too, because I was getting a bit queasy from the jostling. I looked up. There was no beach in sight. I strained my eyes. Oh yes, I see a little bit of water WwwwAaaaYyyyy over there. We start heading toward the mirage-looking water.

After a little hike, we made it to the water. Issue: Its water alright, but its more like a river. In order to get to the beach, we have to cross two rivers, with a plateau of sand in between the rivers. Fortunately, we had our swimsuits on, so we took off our outer clothing, held our belongings up high, and started crossing the river. The second river was deeper. I had to stand on my tiptoes and hold my plastic bag filled with my sarong, etc, above my head. (I'm the second one from the front in the photo to the left, with my plastic white bag over my head.)

Once we arrived, we celebrated in victory--wed made it to the beach! We jumped into the water, threw around a football, body surfed. Then we ate our picnic lunch and bathed in the sun. Somehow, one of the Nicaraguan boys borrowed a canoe, so I was able to go canoeing around the inlet of the Atlantic Ocean.

When we got home later that afternoon, my teammates Lauren, Mark, and Sarah exclaimed Happy Birthday (were not a singing bunch), giving me a small pre-dinner vanilla ice cream (one of my favorites, since cheesecake and strawberries were nowhere in sight). Then they and Katey (who had prepared in advance, since shes in Granada) gave me cards and little gifts, wrapped in a bag left with us by Cricket. As a tradition in my family, I prayed for the 4 of my teammates before opening the bag, which reminded me of my dear family. Oh, and throughout the day, several of my squadmates gave me random letters that Lauren made out of popsicle sticks. I was slightly confused what it spelled, until about two days later when the last letter was given to me. It spelled "Esther rox" (rocks)!

Dinner was amazing. Our Nicaraguan friend Horracio cooked a special meal: a curry type dish, filled with chicken, potatoes, and LOTS of veggies. Rice was involved too, but no beans. A special treat! (Beans and Rice are staples here in Nicaragua.)

Who knew that a simple trip to the beach would be filled with off-roading, hiking, rivers, canoeing, followed by fun team time filled with treats and a special dinner. Cant quite say that Ive done that in America. Then again, I am on the World Race. Why wouldnt I expect such a 30^th birthday adventure??

Thanks to my family and friends for praying for such a special day! And thanks to my WR friends for making it a day to remember!

Made it to Nicaragua

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hey yal, I wanted to let you know that we made it to Nicaragua with no hitches! I can tell that yal were praying. Thank you! The church here is amazing. I can already tell I'm going to love them. They were fasting and praying for our safe arrival. We're the first missionaries they've ever hosted. How exciting and humbling for us! They have such servants hearts.

18 of us WR'ers will be traveling up to Puerto Cabezas, an 18 hour bus ride. We leave very early tomorrow morning. The other 7 WR'ers will stay here working with AIM staff and the local church. Several youth and the pastor of the church will be headed up to Puerto C. with us, where we will assist with hurricane relief work, helping rebuild houses and sharing the love of Christ with people as we work. The tribe we will be working with is called the Moskito Tribe, an autonomous people group in northeast Nicaragua. Please pray for our safety, boldness in Christ, skillful hands, and loving hearts. Thanks!

ps- reminder, we will not have internet connection up there. In case of emergency, contact my mom and/or AIM office.

Next Stop: Nicaragua

Sat, 2 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Greetings from America! Yes, that's right, I'm in LA right now for a brief layover. Actually, it turned into almost a 48 hour layover. We landed early yesterday morning. Since then we did errands, getting a few necessities from Target. And then early to bed! I was exhausted after the long travels, so the 9 1/2 hours of sleep last night were much needed. We have been welcomed by a wonderful couple, Bonnie and Ken, here in LA. They have opened up their home, welcoming us with open arms in the Name of Jesus.

Tomorrow early morning we will head to Nicaragua (via a brief hour or two layover in Miami). The good news is that I will be back on central time (CST)! Yeah! The unfortunate news is that I most likely will not have any internet connection during the next month, perhaps even longer. Thank you in advance for your faithful, fervent prayers, even when I cannot blog or email!

In Nicaragua, I will be helping the hurricane victims through relief work. We will be there throughout February.

The plans for March and April have yet to be solidified. Here's the general plan. During at least 3 or 4 weeks of this time, we will be (and have been) seeking God's face, asking Him to individually and as small groups to guide us to where He is already working and how we can participate in His work. (We call that ATL--Ask the Lord). I'm really excited about this time! Please be praying with me that the Lord will guide and direct my/our steps. Another challenge: For safety reasons, AIM wants a guy to go with us. We only have 4 men on our squad. Honestly, this makes me a bit nervous, but after prayer, God reminded me that I can trust these guys to seek out His face, and most importantly above any person I can trust God and His perfect ways, timing, plan. So be praying that the Lord gives us one heartbeat and mind, and joy in selflessness. The final two weeks of the race in April we will debrief together as a squad in Guatemala.

I love yal, miss yal, and thank God for you. God's blessings to you!!

Marathon Pics

Sat, 2 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Subic Half Marathon was so much fun! I took a long weekend (Friday-Sunday) the other week, traveling to Subic Bay, a few hours from Manila.

Subic Bay Marathon was like no other one in which I've participated in the States. When I arrived, I couldn't help laughing. Brigades of Filipino men, wearing standardized black shorts and the race promo singlet, were already lined up for the run. Even in the darkness of 4 a.m., I stood out as quite the "unique" runner.

About 90% of the runners were Filipino males, approximately the ages of 22-35, part of the Filipino police force and/or academy. Another 5-7% were females who fell under the same categories. Just a handful of us were foreigners, and the majority of that handful were elite runners, like the two from Kenya who won.

Unfortunately, they did not let spectators past the first kilometer, a huge disappointment to my friends who came to watch. And my mp3 player broke the day before. That made the long distance challenging, as spectators (and music) bring motivation and encouragement to the race. Also water stops were scarce, making me a little dehydrated during the run. Oh, and the 21k half marathon ended up actually measuring about 24k!

My favorite part of the race was the other runners. As we ran, other racers would say, "Good morning, Ma'am." Greeting them back, I return "good morning" more times than I've ever have while running. Several of the men even asked, "Permission to pass, ma'am?" I couldn't help but smile. Some runners even acted as my own personal spectator, cheering me on, chanting as a brigade, even taking pictures as they ran. They were my encouragers! Thank God for the other runners! About 13k into the race, a couple men saw me after I had rounded the loop for the out-and-back race. They were about 2k behind me. Immediately when they saw me, they stopped in their tracks, whipped out their small pocket camera, and took multiple pictures of me running. I gave them a wave and a smile. My own personal paparazzi!

Enjoy these pictures that my friends took at the finish line. (No, I didn't get any photos from my personal paparzzi. haha.) Also here are some other beautiful Subic Bay pictures to enjoy, including the pre-race dinner / evening out pictures.