Into the Fire

Into the Fire

Hello friends and family!

We have arrived safely in Mexico and are settled in at our Calvary School of Missions housing.

On Saturday, this exciting journey began at orientation, where we met the other students and our leaders. Though I came into CSOM knowing only one student, it was amazing to find out how many connections I had with others, whether through overlap in the people we know from the Calvary Chapels we attend or through having gone to the same university. When meeting other members of the Body of Christ, it is a small world!

We spent time in prayer, fellowship, and worship together, with many family members joining us, which was sweet and refreshing as we prepared to depart for Mexico the next day.

On Sunday, we attended service at Calvary Chapel Saving Grace in Yorba Linda, where we were sent out by the church. We then departed for Mexico, and the trip was uneventful until one of our team vehicles was sideswiped! Thankfully, it didn’t make too much of a dent.

On Sunday evening, we had an intentional time of prayer in worship in which we wrote down our vision for what we are hoping for in our time at CSOM, where the Lord seems to be leading us in our lives/what path He wants us to take, and similar ideas and desires.

I wrote something to the effect of “here’s what I think the Lord is leading me toward, but I really don’t know, I am praying that He would make my role in the Great Commission clearer as a result of this.” We were told to go take the piece of paper with our vision for CSOM on it and put it in the fire.

This was challenging for a minute, even though the Lord has done so much shifting in my heart to be more open-handed about my future and my role in God’s global mission. I thought, “Lord, I just wrote out that I want what You want for me, and I am waiting on You to lead me wherever You want, and now You want me to burn it?"

Though I felt I had surrendered my future to God, the challenge of throwing this paper into the fire exposed the remaining ash that needed to be cleaned out of the fire pit. This reminded me that I need to continue to surrender myself, my future, heart, and desires to the Lord. This is not a once-in-a-while thing; we are called to die to ourselves daily.

This pushed me to further surrender the ways I seek control in my life, such as the hopeful expectation that He will use this time to show me the next faithful step in God’s global mission.

On Monday, we had our first full day in Mexico. We learned about the Church's purpose regarding missions. It was the first class covering missiology, the theology of missions. We will continue to have missiology classes for the next week and a half. One particular phrase that stood out to me was this:

“Don’t limit God based on your limitations.”

Without Jesus, I can do nothing (John 15 - yes, this chapter is making another appearance in my newsletter, go read this chapter!). Though I know I am inadequate without God, it can be far too easy to swing the other direction, forgetting that my limitations do not limit God. I am to serve Him and be obedient; He takes care of the rest. He fills in the gaps. Don’t dismiss how God can use you!

The rest of this week will consist of more classes, missionary testimonies, worship, and intercession for the nations, and some local outreach at a park.

I have not yet been in Mexico for 24 hours, but He has already taught me and reminded me of so much! I can’t wait to see what He will do in my time here!

Thank you for your prayers for our team and me. Please pray for continued unity, health, and most importantly, for the Lord to continue to lead and guide each one of us as we draw closer to Him.

I also have a praise report! I have raised $2,355 of the $2,700 I need to raise by August. Thank you so much to those who have supported me financially so I could be part of the Calvary School of Missions this summer, and thank you all so very much for your prayers.

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