Gospel Ambassadors
Hi Friends and Family,
What a week it has been! The Lord has been so faithful and I am filled with gratitude as I sit down to write to you all that He has been doing. It was a full week with classes and some amazing outreaches!
Class with Pastor Rob is always a highlight for those who have gone through the school before us, and it was no different for me and my classmates. He is an excellent communicator with years of experience serving in both South Sudan and Sri Lanka. He shared staggering statistics about unreached people groups around the world, but one of the biggest encouragements was hearing about the impact of smaller sending churches like Calvary Chapel Saving Grace.
I have often wondered how such a small church can have such a significant impact through church planting in several countries. Pastor Rob explained that when smaller churches send missionaries, they know them personally and they are family. The numbers are no longer just statistics but the missions becomes an extension of the church family. God's commission must become our ambition. Ultimately, our goal is to show the world who Jesus is and make His Name known. As missionaries, they must be able to communicate God's Word in a way people can understand, and that often requires patience, dependence on the Lord, and trusting Him to open doors. In places like Nepal and India, Hinduism permeates every part of life, and many people spend their lives searching for truth in other religions. Salvation is found in Christ alone, but teaching that truth takes time and cultural knowledge in cultures that have glorified and deified things like cows or self. Throughout the week we studied the importance of becoming all things to all people by truly understanding the culture we enter. Culture shapes how we see the world, much like a pair of glasses. To understand another culture, we have to put on a different set of lenses with humility. One question we discussed was, "Where does your culture come from?" For many people, it begins with whoever raised them. For me, much of my culture comes from my mother. Our families shape our worldview and teach us why we do things the way we do. Scripture, however, reveals God's culture and His character. When we enter another culture, we recognize that someone else's family shaped their worldview. If their customs do not contradict Scripture, they are not inherently wrong—they are simply different. We must be willing to adapt, learn, and love people well. God often chooses the weakest and most unlikely people to be His ambassadors so that He alone receives the glory.
I could share all the numbers, facts, and statistics, but the greatest lesson continually impressed upon me is the need for people to actually go! Pastor Rob spent time teaching us ways to discern God's calling. Through his testimony, he showed us how the Lord confirms His direction. I simply need to respond to whatever God calls me to. While not everyone on our team will serve long-term among unreached people groups, that does not excuse us from participating in the Great Commission. It is not the Great Suggestion—it has often become the Great Omission. Right now, we can begin by praying to the Lord of the harvest that those who have never heard the gospel would hear it for the very first time, and that people would be willing to leave their own cultural context to bring Christ to the nations. God has not made another plan; He simply calls us to obey the one He has given. Through it all, we are called to abide in Christ.
We read The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, which beautifully describes what it looks like to pursue God wholeheartedly. It challenged me not to settle for a surface-level relationship with Him. The more you know Him, the more you realize you need to know Him even more. If God calls you, He continues to confirm it and faithfully opens doors. More importantly, the fire that is stirred up in your heart does not go away. Ultimately, what sustains you on the mission field is your relationship with the Lord. This week challenged me to continue growing in intimacy with Him as I surrender my life more fully. All of this is to be obedient to Him and to love Him more and more.
The Lord continues to give us endurance as the days are full but He faithfully sustains us. Our first outing at a park near Calvary La Mina, we arrived to and it was empty. We spent time inviting families and practicing my Spanish, and returned to find it full of kids and adults eager to hear God's Word. Having attended this church the Sunday before, it was a joy to come back and serve alongside them. On Friday we did a beach outreach in Rosarito where families stopped by our table and teams went out and shared the gospel. The beach culture was different from what I am used to. There were vendors, families, and people drinking openly with their families. It pushed me outside my comfort zone. Several people shared that they were Catholic and believed good works were necessary for salvation, giving us the opportunity to share that we are saved by grace through faith and there is assurance of Salvation in Christ.
Our final outreach was at Calvary Santa Cruz. We once again walked through the neighborhood inviting families to the event. One thing I've learned is that saying “there will be free food,” works almost anywhere—from high school students in America to families here in Mexico! The events are intentionally designed around what this culture values: family. There were games, balloons, face painting, food, Bible teaching, and messages for both children and adults. We packed nearly thirty kids into a small upstairs room while the adults gathered downstairs for testimonies and a Bible message. It was my turn to participate in the skit, which taught the Romans Road. The Lord helped us creatively present the gospel in a way the children could understand. They listened so attentively as they heard the complete gospel in Spanish. It is incredibly special to teach children about God's love at such a young age. We were able to revisit the church the next day to serve at church! I got to have some wonderful conversations and pray with some women and fellowship at lunch.
As I have shared before, some of my favorite moments are hearing from believers and missionaries serving in unreached regions. This week we heard from a missionary family serving in the Middle East. They shared their testimony, God's calling on their lives, and what it truly means to count the cost of following Christ. Missions is not easy, but it is a worthy calling. They emphasized finding our sufficiency in Christ, walking closely with Him, and remembering that our battle is not against flesh and blood. We must combat the enemy with the truth of God's Word. Once again, the greatest lesson was the importance of knowing the Lord deeply.
We heard from one of the national Pastor’s in South Asia who lives in a country that is 97% Muslim. He spoke so casually about the persecution his family faces because he has the strength and joy of the Lord. He asked us to pray for his country and reminded us that nothing is impossible for God. There are so many people who are hungry to hear the gospel. He shared about planting a church among those trapped in forced labor in brick kilns. Through partnership with a church in America, several people were freed from slavery. It was incredibly impactful to hear how deeply he rests in the peace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
I am now heading into my last week in Rosarito. After this we will fly to Mazatlán, where we will spend a week serving alongside a local Calvary Chapel. From there we will take a long bus ride to a small unreached tribe that previous teams have been visiting with a local pastor. We will continue watering the seeds that have already been planted before returning to California.
Thank you all for such encouraging responses to my emails and for supporting me so sweetly! Thank you for praying for me as I continue taking steps of faith. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.The Lord has already worked so much and it will be exciting to get to end our time serving in Mexico there before we prepare to come back to California.
I am still trying to raise $1,100 to finish covering the cost of this trip. The Lord has already blessed me so much through you so I am so thankful! If you feel led to give, the link is below. Thank you for coming alongside me and reading these updates and please keep me in your prayers! It truly means a lot to me!
Prayer Requests:
Continued health as we prepare to travel by plane and adjust to new food.
Energy and good sleep.
The ministry with the families we are serving and the churches we are partnering alongside.
Hearing God's voice clearly during this season.
Provision for the remaining $1,100 in support.
Safe travels as we head to Mazatlán and then to the unreached village.
Blessings,
Ella
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