Through the Eyes of First-Timers

A few updates before I begin: Jonah and I are doing well and getting ready for our wedding in just two short months!

• I started back with the Girls' school this semester,: still three days a week: 12 voice students, English, choir, music theory, and a one on one literature/English class! I am currently raising funds for my salary to continue teaching and also ministry in Reynosa, Mexico!
• Jonah is still going to school once a week, but he started a full time job two weeks ago with Rainbow International. It is such a blessing for us to have some steady income. Jonah loves his new job and hopes to be able to work his way up in the company. God truly provides all of our needs!
• How you can pray for us: That we continue to seek God in every aspect of our ministry in these last two months of being an engaged couple, that we communicate well, and go to God as we prepare to begin our marriage. Also pray for more support so that I can continue teaching at the girls' school. I feel that God wants me to stay, and I know the funds will come. 

My first trip to Mexico was Summer of 2010. To some, this would seem like second, but for me it seems like a lifetime. While I remember it having a huge impact on my life, feeling many emotions, it's hard to remember the exact thoughts I had experiencing Mexico for the first time. This week I met a group from Illinois called the Carpenter's Crew (who was here on a building trip with Bruce and Paula Hepburn) and got to see Mexico through their eyes, and the eyes of the first-timers. Their testimonies brought back a flood of emotions: How they felt overwhelmed seeing extreme poverty for the first time, how they yearned for joy like the people of our colonia have, so much so that a woman from the group became our new sister in Christ! Many of them said similar things that I remembered thinking on my first trip like, "I came here to bless and left having been blessed!" It's so true. We always have the intention of helping them, and leave feeling like they helped us. That's the beauty of doing the Lord's work and something everyone should experience! He will bless you immensely for being obedient and working to spread the gospel.

This group also got to visit the girls school, some for the first time, and we performed for them and prayed for them individually. I was so proud of my girls for touching their hearts. Again, the group came to provide lunch and help them, but they left feeling like they had been blessed by the girls!

Because of the girls' impact, and the Lord's Will, the group was able to bring together $3000 for our Reynosa girls' sponsorships! Now we have $8,000/$12,500, only lacking $4,500 for the year! Click here to see how you can help complete the goal. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with joy!
Below are a few pictures from my day with The Carpenter's Crew at the house dedication.

As always, thank you for reading and for your support!