HILLTOP EXPERIENCE

It’s been another wonderful week at Calvary School of Missions!

This week we were joined by a family that have been living in a predominantly Muslim country located in the 10/40 window, I was encouraged to hear firsthand how their family navigated a culture so different from what we know in the US. ” Missions is normal biblical Christianity in a different cultural context. It’s really nothing more than you and Jesus walking through your life and telling others about it.” The wisdom they shared, built through years of experience in the field was evident and helpful.

The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude.

IS OUR CUP EMPTY?

In addition to the variety of classes and personal testimonies we have enjoyed through the past weeks, one part of the curriculum I’ve really been enjoying is the assigned reading. 

In this week’s book, Absolute Surrender,  Andrew Murray compares an empty teacup to a believer living absolutely surrendered to God. He said, “Why is the tea poured into that cup? Because it is empty, and “given up” for the tea. But put ink or vinegar into the cup, will they pour the tea into the vessel?” God’s desire is for us to be emptied out so that He can completely pour into our lives, fill us up to be used for Him. With a humble heart I desire to surrender myself to him every day to be used by Him, walking through my life and being a living testimony for Him.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

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OUTREACH  ON THE HILL

Our outreach this week was at Calvary Tecolote, a church plant established 5 years ago in the hills of Tijuana. Similar to outreaches in the past weeks, we had events prepared for both the kids and their parents. While the parents were enjoying a time of worship, testimonies and a teaching from God’s word, the kid’s had a fun time of games, teaching, crafts and a skit prepared for them to enjoy.

This Saturday I joined the skit team to present the story of Adam and Eve. My part was to represent the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I enjoyed my vantage spot watching the kids faces as they responded to the different parts of the skit. It was fun to hear them warning Eve to “STOP, and DON’T LISTEN TO THE SERPENT” Not to take a bit of the fruit from the tree and then to yell out to Adam telling him “DON’T DO IT! DON’T TAKE A BITE” and moaning when he did. But gratefully our God had his redemption plan ready for us from the beginning!

Silly as it may sound, being in the skit made me think of the book I read earlier in the week and the need to be completely surrendered and obedient to God ‘s plan. Even this tree in garden had a planned purpose and needed to be surrendered to God. It too was designed to play a huge part of His redemption story.

LETTING HIS LIGHT SHINE

What a great time spent with new friends from the Tecolote community! lunch we gathered together with Pastor Peter, His wife Claudia and the church’s leadership team to learn more about the growth of the church over these past 5 years and to pray for it’s future. It was encouraging to hear how the Lord led them to start this church right in the neighborhood where Peter and Claudia have lived for the past 15 years. Their years of involvement in their neighborhood has grown into a thriving church family which continues to be multiplying. As we all prayed for the Lord to encourage and strengthen their leadership team I felt confident that the Lord has great plans for Calvary Tecolote as they continue to be “His Light” for all to see, placed on this hilltop in Tijuana.

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Thank you for taking this journey with me! Knowing that you are partnering with me in prayer is such a huge encouragement. I am constantly in awe of how the Lord is using this time to teach me and mold me into his tool to be used for His Kingdom.

PRAISE AND PRAYER

Praising the Lord for:

  • Continued healing of students dealing with colds.
  • Our CSOM team that continues to grow in unity.

Prayer requests:

  • For the hearts of those that attended the event at Calvary Tecolote. That their hearts desire to learn more about Jesus and join into the church community.
  • To daily surrender my willfulness to the Lord and be filled completely by the HS for God’s work
  • For a growing desire for the people living in countries in the 10/40 who have no one that can tell them about Jesus.

Please let me know how can I be praying for you?