Renovation of my mind

I survived the second week of Gateway!!!! At some point there I really thought I wasn't going to make it! I know that God held me up this week because of your prayers and I want to thank you for it, all those requests I had in my last blog, were answered last week. What an awesome GOD we serve!! It was a full week, Alicia spoke on God's character, Dean Sherman spoke on Spiritual warfare, and Nancy shared about prayer. We finished our week at the Tyler State Park with a silent retreat, 4 hours of being quiet and listening to God speak to our hearts. I know some of you are wondering, and yes, being quiet for all that time was very hard for me.

Who would've thought that your life can actually change in two weeks? that after 17 years of knowing God in a personal level he could stil reveal so much of himself in one week?

what? really? so you mean I serve a never ending God that is full of mystery and our little human minds can not even fathom everything he is capable to do? no way!! I thought I had all this figured out already! Our God is GOOD! He is a kind, loving, forgiving God! To know we have his nature, and that we are also meant to be like Jesus, has been so challenging for me. I don't have to wait to get to heaven ibe likey Jesus, I have to start now, and love and give of myself to others just as he did when he was walking on this earth. I said to love... LOVE, wow what that word means just changed my heart this week, and I found out how hard it if for me to love those that don't love me back. I am sure this doesn't happen to any of y'all , because y'all are so loving! But it so happens that I am not very loving because I judge others based on my own understanding, and I let satan blind me and bring conflict and I fight my family, my friends, my brothers and sisters, thinking it is their fault and blaming them for being mean to me and for not doing things like I do, and I don't even realize what the real reason for these strifes is. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Ephesians 6.12. By nature I am a fighter and if I don't understand Satan is trying to bring conflict and create a division between me and those around me, I will start fighting THEM instead of fighting the one that causes this division. So what are we supposed to do? you might ask, "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6.13.

God is preparing me for this war, not only as I go to Africa, but in my daily walk on this earth. The greatest power He has given us to stop fighting each other and destroy satan's plan, is LOVE. "Love one another" " In this they will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another" "Love your neighbor as yourself" "Love is to lay down your life for your friends" "GOD IS LOVE". May we continue to pray against the forces that want to divide us, may we bring HIS Kingdom down to this earth, may we focus on what really matters to the Father's heart, may we LOVE.

La Renovación de mi mente

Sobrevivi la segunda semana de Gateway!!! Realmente por un momento que no lo lograba! Se que Dios me sostuvo esta semana por sus oraciones, y quiero agradecerles por ello, todas esas peticiones que expuse en mi ultimo blog, fueron contestadas. Que maravilloso es Dios! Fue una semana cargada, Alicia hablo sobre el caracter de Dios, Dean Sherman sobre guerra espiritual y Nancy compartió sobre la oración. Nuestra semana termino en el Parque de Tyler con un "Retiro Silencioso", 4 horas sin hablar para escuchar la voz de Dios en nuestros corazones. Se que alguno de ustedes se están preguntando, y SI, estar callada durante todo ese tiempo fue bien difícil para mi.

Quien iba a pensar que tu vida puede cambiar en 2 semanas? que después de 17 años de conocer a Dios de manera personal, EL todavía pueda revelar tanto de si mismo en una semana? que? en serio? entonces me están diciendo que sirvo un Dios que no tiene final, lleno de misterios y que nuestras pequeñas mentes humanas no pueden ni imaginar todo lo que El es capaz de hacer? NO! Pense que ya sabia todo lo que tenia que saber! Nuestro Dios es BUENO! Es gentil, amoroso, perdonador! Saber que tenemos su naturaleza, y que ademas debemos ser como Jesus, ha sido un reto para mi. No debo esperar llegar al cielo para ser como mi Jesus, debo empezar ahora y amar y entregarme a otros así como lo hizo Jesus cuando camino sobre esta tierra. Dije amar... AMAR, wow el significado de esa palabra cambió mi corazón esta semana, y me di cuenta de lo difícil que es para mi amar a aquellos que no me aman. Se que esto no les pasa a ninguna de ustedes, porque ustedes son un amor! Pero resulta que yo no soy muy amorosa porque juzgo a otros basada en mi propio entendimiento, y permito que Satanás me cegue y traiga conflicto en mi familia, con mis amigos, hermanos y hermanas, pensando que es su culpa y creyendo que me tratan mal y me molesta que no hagan las cosas como yo y ni siquiera presto atención a la verdadera razón de esta lucha. "Porque nuestra lucha no es contra seres humanos, sino contra poderes, contra autoridades, contra potestades que dominan este mundo de tinieblas, contra fuerzas espirituales malignas en las regiones celestiales" Efesios 6.12. Por naturaleza soy una luchadora, y si no comprendo que Satanás esta tratando de traer conflicto y crear división entre las personas que están a mi alrededor, atacare a estas personas en vez de luchar en contra de aquel que verdaderamente esta causando esta división. Entonces que debemos hacer? se preguntan, "Pónganse toda la armadura de Dios para que puedan hacer frente a las artimañas del diablo". Efesios 6.11

Dios me esta preparando para esta guerra, no solo para este viaje a Africa, pero en mi caminar en esta tierra. El poder mas grande que El nos ha dado para dejar de luchar los unos contra los otros y destruir el plan de Satanás, es el AMOR. "Amense los unos a los otros" " En esto conocerán que son mis discípulos, en que se aman los unos a los otros" "Amor es dar la vida por los amigos" "DIOS ES AMOR". Que podamos seguir orando en contra de esas fuerzas que quieren dividirnos, que traigamos su Reino a esta tierra, que podamos enfocarnos en lo que realmente le importa al corazón del Padre, que podamos dar AMOR.

First week of training

So my first week of training for Mercy Ships in Texas has finished. Oh how blessed and grateful I am!!!It was a learning time, very challenging in a lot of ways, and very rewarding as well. I can't believe how far God has brought me and it is really amazing to see how He works in so many different ways.


Of course leaving home was very hard, knowing that I won't be back for two years is something that stills breaks my heart, but I know My Father is in control of my family and He will keep my heart at peace as well. Somewhere in my head i thought doing all this "missionary" thing was going to be easy... I don't know how I came up with that one! It is harder than what I ever imagined! Everyting and everyone is new, and some of you that know me might say that I should have no problems with new things and new people, but it is not as easy to adapt and to get used to a life changing experience as the one God is taking through right now.


I am now trained to perform CPR, First aid, put out fires, and to survive if my ship ever sinks! but the training God is putting through it's so much harder than all this. He wants me to understand that it is all about HIM, that my pride is not gonna work, that it doesn't matter if I don't feel comfortable, that I shouldn't care if I feel alone, He actually wants me to die to myself so He can become my all in all. He's all I got!


This blog today is more a prayer request, so that I won't stand in the way of what God wants to do in my life and through me. For Him to give me strength and peace in everything that's going on around me, and that I never take my eyes off of my Lord, so he can use me to bring love and salvation to others. Be blessed!

Esta fue mi primer semana de entrenamiento con Mercy Ships en Texas. Cuan bendecida y agradecida estoy! Fue un tiempo de aprendizaje, de muchos retos, pero muy gratificante también. No puedo creer que Diso me haya traído tan lejos, es increible ver como el obra en maneras tan diferentes.

Por supuesto que dejar mi casa fue muy duro, saber que no voy a regresar en dos años todavía me rompe el corazón, pero se que mi Padre está en control de mi familia y El traerá paz a mi corazón también. En algún lugar de mi cabeza yo pensé que esto de ser "misionera" iva a ser fácil... No se como se me ocurrio esa! Es más difícil de lo que me pude haber imaginado jamás! Todo y todos es nuevo, y ustedes que me conocen podráan decir que yo no debería tener problemas con cosas y gente nuevas, pero no es tan fácil adaptarse y acostumbrarse a un cambio de vida tan radical como por la que Dios me está haciendo pasar en este momento.

Estoy capacitada para hacer Reanimación cardiopulmonar (RCP), Primeros auxilios, como apagar incendios, a sobrevivir si se hunde mi barco! pero el entrenamiento que Dios me esta dando es máas difícil que todo esto. El quiere que yo entienda que se trata de EL, que mi orgullo no le sirve, que no importa mi comodidad, que no me debe importar si me siento sola, en realidad El quiere que muera a mi misma para que El se convierta en mi TODO. El es todo lo que tengo!

Este blog hoy es más una petición de oración, para que yo no interfiera en lo que Dios quiere hacer en mi vida y a través de mi. Para que me de fortaleza y paz con respecto a todo lo que está pasando a mi alrededor, y que nunca quite la mirada de mi Señor, para que el me pueda usar para llevar amor y salvación a los demáas! Los bendigo!

The Cost of a Dream

When I first started this journey everyone, or let's say almost everyone, encouraged me to pursuit my dream and do what my heart desired. "Fight for it" some said, "Don't give up" other would tell me, and so I did. Ventured into the unknown with my heart wide open and my eyes closed, with all my faith in My Father and expecting to see great things from Him, and willing to do, or don't do, whatever He would guide me to do. And He hasn't let me down.

Nobody said anything about the cost though. I've always said that when you tell God "Here I am, do what you want in me", He takes it seriously, He ain't playing, so you better prepare yourself cuz He is gonna do wnat He wants to do, and the thing is, that we are completely clueless as of HOW He is going to do it, and that when things get tough.

The Bible says "You cannot become my disciple without giving up EVERYTHING you own". Easier said than done huh? NO! It is not even easy to say it! Jesus gave up all of his rights as the SON of GOD just out of obedience to the Father and His love for us. Sacrificing everything to serve Him, or at least be willing to loose it all, even my own life, is the least I can do for Him.

I cannot even begin telling you all the things I've had to sacrifice to obey His call, and I cannot even imagine the things I will have to give up once I set my foot on Africa. He has humbled me as He has taken away everything, and He has given me more of Himself, so if you ask me, I haven't lost anything at all, in loosing my life I have gained it. But I am willing to give up all my rights, if in return I can share God's love with the unloved.

What am I doing in Texas?/Que estoy haciendo en Texas?

About four years ago, I was at Drue's birthday party in a mexican restaurant in Dallas, TX. Meeting new people and getting to know my roomate Christina, whom I had met that same night. Drue was very excited to introduce me to his friend Anne, I had to meet her, he said, because she was a missionary in Honduras, my country, in case you didn't know, and i would like her very much. Anne was very interesting, a young doctor that was volunteering for an organization called Mercy Ships, that would go to Africa and poor countries like Honduras and provide health care, like orthopedic surgeries, cleff palad... "Operation Smile?"- I asked,"No- she replied-" is something different, we do it on a ship and it's free for anyone". That's how I came to know about Mercy Ships (www.mercyships.org), and since that January my heart and mind were restless thinking about this hospital ship that would go around Africa actively showing God's love to the poorest of the poor.

On March 2009, I finally sent an application to serve with Mercy Ships, in June they told me they wanted to meet me, in September my friend Bobby and some other friends from New River Fellowship in Weatherford, TX, flew me into the DFW airport from Tegucigalpa, where I left my friends, my sisters, my dad, my Hershey's(my daughter dog) and my beautiful mother, without really knowing when I would be back. Two days later after I arrived at the airport, my new adoptive father, "Lencho" Mims, drove me 4 hours to the Mercy Ships headquarters in East Texas, where after a week of training, asking a million questions to the MS staff and meeting some great people passionate about serving others, not only did I get a position to serve on the ship but God also confirmed the calling that He had given me to go to Africa and share his love with those that need Him.

I am leaving in February 2010 for two years, first stop, TOGO, where I will be joining the hospitality team at the Africa Mercy, later on in August I will become a part of the Human Resource Department. Until then I have a long road ahead of me, and a whole lot of trusting in God to do, to know that He will provide all that I need through my fund raising and that He will hold me up when I'm feeling like giving up, and that He will be my comfort when i miss my family and to never forget what He has called me to do. I do hope you can join me in my journey, I sure do need you. May y'all be greatly blessed!

Spanish

Alrededor de cuatro atras, estaba en la celebracion de cumpleanos de Drue en un restaurante mexicano en la ciudad de Dallas, TX. Con personas nuevas y conociendo a mi companera de casa, Christina, a quien habia visto por primera vez ese mismo dia. Drue queria que yo conociera a su amiga Anne, que estaba como misionera en Honduras, se que te va a caer bien, me dijo. Anne resulto ser una chica muy interesante, una joven doctora que trabajaba como voluntaria en una organizacion llamada Naves de Esperanza (Mercy Ships) la cual va a Africa y paises pobres como Honduras y proveen atencion medica, como ser cirugias ortopedicas, labio leporino..."Operacion Sonrisa?"-dije, "No"-ella contesto-"es algo diferente, nosotros lo hacemos en un barco y es gratis para cualquier persona". Asi fue como supe de Mercy Ships (http://www.nde.es/), y desde ese dia de Enero mi corazon y mi mente no dejaron de pensar en este hospital flotante que va alrededor de Africa mostrando activamente el amor de Dios a los mas pobres.

En Marzo del 2009, finalmente envie una aplicacion para servir en Mercy Ships, en Junio me enviaron una invitacion para poder conocerme, en Septiembre mi amigo Bobby y otras personas de New River Fellowship en Weatherford, TX, me trajeron hasta el aeropuerto de DFW desde Tegucigalpa, donde deje a mis amigos, mis hermanas, mi papa, mi Hershey's (mi perrita hija) y mi hermosa mama, sin realmente saber cuando volveria. Dos dias despues de mi llegada a Dallas, mi nuevo papa adoptivo, "Lencho" Mims, manejo cuatro horas hacia el este de Texas para dejarme en el campus de Mercy Ships, donde despues de una semana de entrenamiento, de hacer mil preguntas al staff de MS y de conocer a personas maravillosas igualmente apasionadas para servir a otros, no solamente se me fue dada una posicion para poder servir en el barco, sino que Dios confirmo el llamado que un dia me hizo para ir a Africa y compartir de su amor con aquellos que le necesitan.

En Febrero del 2010 me voy por dos anios, primera parada, TOGO, donde sere parte del equipo de Hospitalidad del "Africa Mercy" (nombre del barco), luego en Agosto me unire al Departamento de Recursos Humanos. Hasta entonces me espera un largo camino por delante, y a poner toda mi confianza en Dios, y saber que el proveera todo lo que necesito a traves de mi esfuerzo para recaudar fondos, que El me levantara cuando sienta que no pueda seguir, que me confortara cuando extrane a mi familia y nunca olvidar la razon por la cual El me llamo. Espero puedan acompanarme en mi aventura, realmente los necesito. Los bendigo grandemente!