Christmas in Rome

Time is flying by! I cannot believe I am two weeks into outreach. We have been in four different cities since I last blogged, my internet connection is extremely limited. But I  would love to share everything that has been happening! On December 24, we left Torino and stopped in Pisa and Florence on the way. I saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa and yes, it is literally leaning. It’s not just fake! It was hysterical to look around at the people all raising their hands to “push the tower over.” In Florence we parked and walked around; it was FREEZING. But we saw some beautiful statues and buildings, so it was worth it. Around 10:00 that night we arrived in Rome and got to the place we were staying. It was christmas eve, and I was really missing my family but I was so blessed to be able to be in Rome for christmas. The next day we got up early and went to the Vatican! It’s one of those things that you know and hear about, but when you get there you’re speechless. The power behind it blows my mind. The next stops included the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and a few others. I never thought I would spend my christmas day like that, I am so blessed! That night we had christmas dinner as a team in a tiny restaurant in Rome. Monday morning we left for Naples, and arrived around ten in the morning. Naples was not what I expected, it looked fairly similar to the poor parts in Mexico. They have an abundance of trash, so much so that it piles in the street and pretty much stays there. We worked with a church there doing services and evangelism. The services include testimonies, dramas, sermons, worship and prayer. After the service the church cooked lunch and then took us on a tour around the city. When I say “lunch” what I mean is sit around and talk while eating three courses for two and a half hours. That’s the italian way! Around midnight we arrived at the place we were staying and it was so cold. There is no heating in the buildings! So we pile on all our clothes to sleep. The next day we got picked up by the Pastor and he treated us to “real breakfast,” cappuccinos and pastries. That’s another italian thing, coffee 24/7. But not any coffee-italian coffee, which is just espresso. By the time I leave here my favorite drink will be espresso. Everywhere you go coffee is offered, I love it! We can’t take a trip in the car anywhere without stopping for coffee. After our breakfast we had a time of worship led by the Pastor, he has such a great heart for worship, it was beautiful. We then did ministry on this street, and we really stepped out! Some people went door to door (my group), some handed out flyers to cars, and some talked to passing people. It was the most fun outreach we’ve had! After that they once again treated us to lunch, this crazy huge meal that stuffed us so much that we had to take a nap! That evening we held another service, I gave my testimony and the quote the translator said was “Give me a scottish or an irish and I can translate, but give me a Texan and I can’t.” So his son, Riccardo translated. I don’t even have an accent, just a fast voice! After the service the church went out for pizza, Naples is known for their pizza so they wanted us to experience real pizza. And I did! It was so delicious. I got to know a few of the girls at the church, Martina and Naomi, they’re love for Jesus was contagious! When we had to say bye I was sad, but I had only met them two hours before, that is the power of God’s kingdom. It was such a fun night, once again the meal took us three hours to finish. The next day we got up early and left for Calabria! On the way we stopped for coffee and prayer with the man we will be staying with in a few weeks. He runs a prayer house in Catanzaro and has the IHOP prayer room on a television running 24/7. We then made our way to the place we are currently staying, it is literally in the middle of nowhere in the middle of southern Italy. We are at the top of a mountain and it is freezing! We have those outdoor heating lamps but they can’t stay on all night so we have to turn them off, so once again we sleep in all our clothes. But it is beautiful up here and we are having some wonderful times with God. This week is a preparation week for the youth camp next week! Please be in prayer as we get ready to host the youth, it is our big ministry and we can;t wait for it to actually happen! All in all my time in Italy so far has been amazing, I love talking with the people, there is an openness here that wasn’t present in Germany or Switzerland. The families and churches hosting us have been spoiling us as well. They give up so much to help us, and I just pray that we are just as much of a blessing to them as much as they were to us.

Throw Up and The Alps

The Alps

Well I am here in Torino, Italy! We arrived safely tuesday morning at 5:30 after leaving at 10:20 monday morning. We had to take a few buses and trains to retrieve our van, and a few adventures happened along the way. On the last bus, we were simply enjoying talking to each other when a girl behind me passes out onto the floor! Simon happened to be right there and was able to take care of her. Then, once that was over I’m just sitting there and this adorable bundled up little girl comes and sits next to me, and starts talking away in german. Then before I know it, she’s throwing up all over the place! On the seat, on the ground, and almost on me and Dan! Luckily her stop came up as that was happening, and as it turns out her mom was taking her to the doctor. I certainly know why! Then, Simon leaves us at the bus stop to get the van and as he is coming back to get us, a semi almost hits him! Now we fought and prayed hard for that van, so it was not about to get hit. That would’ve been devastating. But when we saw it we jumped for joy and thanked God, He is a provider! We then began our journey to Torino, stopping along the way to pick up Jayson in Zurich and to admire the Swiss Alps! Which are gorgeous by the way. We were there at one in the morning so we couldn’t see them too clearly, but what we could see was pretty! It blows my mind to see the massiveness of them, and to see the stars right above them and know that our God is much bigger. At home I can see orion’s belt from my roof but I was able to see it in Switzerland above the Alps, man it really touched my heart, it’s the same sky! I am so blessed! 

Once in Torino, Riccardo’s dad and our team leader came to take us to their house. One thing I noticed right away was the crazy driving haha the movies are right! Everyone drives very crazy here. At Riccardo’s breakfast was provided and our team was reunited. After breakfast we spilt up into the places where we are staying and went to sleep for five hours, driving all night is exhausting! Later we had a time of prayer and worship, followed by dinner and a prayer night held by the church.

The Italy/Greece Girls

Wednesday started off with breakfast, worship/prayer and our first outreach! We went to the city center to do whatever God led us to do. A few of the girls and I ended up speaking with these two university students, Julia and Laura. They were extremely friendly and invited us to hang out with tonight! I will inform yall what comes of that situation. Afterwards a few of the guys started talking with this homeless man and praise the Lord, he became saved! He has been coming to the same spot for 15 days, searching for more to life and on the 16th day we arrived! God answered that man’s cries. Afterwards we held a church service, where we did worship, a drama, a testimony and a sermon followed by a full meal. The girls got to know a girl named Sara, we got to pray that God heals her anxiety, which is dear to my heart because I used to have anxiety. She was so touched by our willingness to help her and she invited us to her house before we leave Torino. Amen!

Today has been amazing! It started off with a debrief of yesterday’s outreach, and it was discovered that God had something planned for each one of us yesterday, and it was only the first full day of outreach! What will take place during the next two months? We then drove up to the highest mountain in Torino, it was BREATHTAKING. We were surrounded by the Alps, looking over the city. There is a river that runs through it and it reminded me of God’s never ending love for this city. There is a church building up there so we did worship and prayer for the city, it was a very intimate but powerful time. I am just so excited to see what God has planned for the next few days!

Chaotic!

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Our attempt at resting for a few minutes 

This describes the last few days in a nutshell. We have been running at top speed since sunday evening and it is just now catching up to me! We have had lectures, meals, chores, outreaches and team meetings everyday and on top of everything we are leaving for outreach! So it is time to say goodbye to our fellow students for the next nine weeks. The goodbye saying is "see you in Amsterdam!" because that is where we are meeting up in February. It is so strange to me, I never thought I would be saying that to anyone! Thursday afternoon we left Zurich and got to Herrnhut at 3:00 friday morning. Then at 7 breakfast was served and at 8:20 we left to pick up our visa's. The rest of the day consisted of grocery shopping, unpacking/repacking, team meetings, meals and cleaning. The Italy/Greece girls are staying in the farmhouse with 13 other girls which is actually a relief, because the castle is too empty, the MOTA DTS already left for outreach so no one is there. The weather is freezing and yesterday it snowed! I'm pretty sure I was the only one excited. Most of my team leaves for outreach monday morning, half are already there. To rub it in their face, we took a picture showing how "relaxed" we are! haha It's funny because we forced ourself to relax just to take a picture.


I want to continue to share my notes form outreach with you guys! This week has really changed my life and perspective. Todd was the best speaker we had all lecture phase, and God really used him to "clear up the fog in our eyes." Stuff I have known for years just all of a sudden clicked in my head and so much of the christian walk makes more sense to me. I will never understand it, but the part God wants me to now has been revealed! Wednesday night we held another "know love" evening where Todd spoke and afterward he started healing people. Right in front of my eyes I watched this girl's leg grow, this guy's arm expand and then my own leg was prayed for and it grew! I asked them to not tell me which leg was being prayed for but as soon as they started praying I felt my right thigh stretch above my knee and I looked at my foot, and it was even to my left foot! For a quick second I freaked out because I thought it would be longer than my left, I said "stop!" Now, this is something I have never believed in. I didn't think it was possible for someone to be completely healed from a physical ailment. But having experienced it firsthand I am embarrassed for my lack of faith. My God is bigger than that!


So here are my notes from tuesday:
When you are a sinner, you are a professional-you sin without caring. But when you're saved by grace you are more than a sinner, you're a saint! If you call yourself a sinner you have the faith to sin because that's what sinners do. 1 Corinthians 3:17, you have liberty!   The gospel is about restoring who you were in the beginning.    Sword of truth- go to bed with it so your mind can rest and not worry.    Grace is the fuel that fills my engine.    The highest point of hell is beneath the lowest of us. Deny yourself.    Matthew 6:22-we can't see into people until we see ourself the way God does.    His light never stops shining and His fire never stops burning, this lives in me!    His Holy Spirit in me is enough to keep me running fast.    When I look in a mirror I am looking at the glory of God. I see the law fulfilled and Jesus staring back at me because He likes living in me!    "Justice-" justasifInevermessedup.    Romans 8.    Your past has the ability to separate you from God's love (that's why it is not mentioned in this chapter).    Redemption-when we say "I do," He says "You are." We enter into a real being with life and truthful meaning.    As soon as I step into sin, step out and thank God that's not who I am created to be.    If the Lord forgives and forgets why would He bring it up?    Satan tries to dethrone Christ in me since He can't get to heaven to do it himself.    THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS ENOUGH.    Jeremiah 24.    Your heart can take you places your brain can't.    The bible isn't meant for your mind but your heart.    Jesus not only died for you, He died AS YOU.


The most important lesson I have learned this week is my identity in Christ. The key to a relationship with Christ is finding our identity. Then it becomes so intimate and the way God wants it! I strongly encourage you guys-every time you look in a mirror tell yourself "I am a daughter/son of Christ, a princess/prince in God's kingdom and He loves me for me." You can even picture yourself in the most beautiful dress (guys, I don't know what you would picture yourself in :P) because that is how God sees you. BEAUTIFUL!

2 Corinthians 11:3

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." This is why Jesus said to have faith like a child, the brain is of this world, therefore it is corrupt and gets in the way of allowing Jesus to enter fully. "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” Luke 18:17. I love this topic, it has been a major eye opener to me. I don't want my mind transforming the gospel to make it fit, it fits already! God is enough. Now, our speaker this week is amazing, he lives and breathes only Jesus. He has an insane amount of passion but enough compassion to cry when explaining his heart to us. The first thing he said to us was "I am honored to be your last speaker before outreach because that means I get to pour gasoline all over you and God gets to light the match and ignite you guys!" In two sessions I have doubled the notes I took allll last week. Crazy! But the topic is all over the place so I am going to post my notes word for word, the way they are in my journal. Spare with me, it might be really random and confusing but I assure you, it is what God wants me to remember and share. Here it goes:

We are to be the Word.    A light.    When you're burning you don't care what people think- you're on fire!    The easiest way to stop receiving God's love is to look back.    Jesus said "It is finished," that means it is finished!    Your heart should be bigger than your mind, otherwise you will lead with your mind.    Jesus's bad day is enough to make your bad day a good day.    We're to become a child-it's simple!

   Psalm 138:2.    Any problem we don't accept God's word on, becomes elevated above God's name.    Don't let feelings determine how much faith I have.    It doesn't say I have to feel God's love, it says "know God's love."    In the world we have to "feel love" to be accepted and worthy.    When you're born again your DNA comes from the Heavenly Father, it means we are "re-fathered."    The bible says "submit to God and the devil will flee from you."    Submission is all it takes.    Ephesians 2:6-seated in Him in heavenly places.    In Him I live, I am my being.    We're seated ABOVE the spiritual realm.    Walk by faith not by sight-no more of "I cant see..."    God loves people-not numbers.    Hebrews 1:3-when you see Jesus you see love.    When you know Him you become love, when you become love it's not about yourself, it's about God's love for people.    People followed Jesus because He is love.    If we don't have true love, we don't have Jesus, and if Jesus is everything then we don't have anything.    That's how important it is!    We believe enough to get to heaven but not enough to let heaven in us.    When there is faith in a seed, it grows!    It doesn't matter if the person doesn't receive it.     2 Corinthians 11:3.    Our minds corrupt Christ's simplicity (childlike faith).    Satan tricks Eve by creating doubt in her mind, by making it complicated.    DOUBT.    God put satan on earth so we can step on him.    Satan can enter a place of peace but as long as my mind doesn't dwell on it my peace will remain.    God told Jesus "You're my Son." Satan then tempted Jesus for forty days asking Him "if you're God's Son prove it." Jesus quoted scripture by saying "By the word of my Father..." How cool!    Qualifications to becoming a son/daughter of Christ: BELIEVE.    You're required to be uncomfortable, how else can you receive The Comforter?    "I want to step out on a branch (in faith) so far that it is bending, about ready to snap and I'm uncomfortable.     Your past has no ability to influence your future, unless you look back.

Last Week

Christmas picture!

I am having very strange feelings about this being our last week in the lecture phase! I am a totally new person but sometimes I lay awake thinking "What have I gotten myself into, I haven't learned anything!" But in reality, I have learned so much that my "old ways" are no longer here. I love it! God is doing some really awesome things, and it's not even outreach yet. Some of us leave thursday for outreach, but some leave later. Hopefully I will be leaving at the beginning of next week.
I have a praise! My outreach team got the van we have been praying for! At first we had it, but last week we found there was a miscommunication and we lost it. But we prayed and fasted and last night at our christmas party Sebastian (our team leader) announced we got it! Praise the Lord!
Last night we had a christmas party and it was so much fun! Everyone (well mostly everyone) dressed up and we had a nice set up with candles and stars. We played some group games including musical chairs to christmas music and we finished the night of with a talent show! Andy and Patrick sang while Jackie stood on her head and Jason and Riccardo did a dance for us. It was such a joy filled night! Sadly it was our last group event until spring where we will be reunited in Amsterdam :( After the party the english speakers wanted more! So we hung out in the dining hall jamming out to country music and playing cards. It reminded me so much of being home! I was a little sad but God showed me how to look at my situation from a different perspective so it wasn't bad at all.
I got to talk with my family as well late last night and it was a funny skype session! I found out my sisters rodeo art piece made top 25 in San Antonio, I'm so proud of her! God has blessed her.
This week is going to look very different then the others. We have outreach meetings in the mornings instead of prayer/worship and lecture is shorter and in the afternoons. Outreach will be in the late evenings. We've been told to sleep as often as we can because we will be pushed hard this week. Our speaker is Todd White, an incredible man of God. I have not yet met him, but just type his name into youtube and you will have a taste of what we will be doing this week. Todd White Healing. God has gifted him with healing, and it is stuff I have always thought was fake. But no! It's real-God is real! So we will be hitting the streets with him and listening to God. I think that is the topic this week, how to do ministry while directly hearing from God. Just going and listening. How exciting!

This is my bible study group! Jessica, Danny, Andy, Chris, Jackie and me!

"The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph."

http://thebutterflycircus.com/short-film/
We watched this magnificent clip today called The Butterfly Circus, and I strongly suggest watching it. I posted the link! While it does not have a biblical background, many biblical truth's can be taken away from it. "The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph," is the major lesson and I was truly inspired by this. Think of how good it feels when we overcome something we thought was always going to be a stronghold. That strength to rise above it comes from God. It eventually allows us see more of who God sees us as instead of our distorted view of His creation. "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31
This week has definitely been tough. The lectures have been beyond my own brain. My beliefs have been challenged tremendously and I do not know what is happening! I am still processing the things I have seen, but I cannot deny they weren't real because I saw it. But above all, God is faithful and He will reveal any type of clarity that I need. 
As for outreach's, they have been very interesting. The first two days were based on Luke 10:1-12, we paired with a church planting team and went out to find "son's of peace." I was with Jonah the first day and we got lost but we kept praying "God this happened for a reason, Lord show us the fruit of this night" and as soon as we turned the corner we ran into a guy our age who "just happened" to be a christian and "just happened" to already be a part of small groups with his friends. It was such a God moment! So we gave him the group's information and hopefully he will help them out! We were the only people out of 50 to talk to a single person. It was amazing. The next day we did the same thing and invited people to a "know love night" that we are hosting saturday night. It will be a night of getting to know people, listening to great music and sharing testimonies! Last night we went into the main strip in Zurich and were told to just listen to what God wants us to. So we got the idea to go to this shop with extremely fancy dresses and suits (that look like they could be mens or women's) and it was a great conversation starter! So we argued about what they were and would ask people on the street to give their opinions, and we were able to talk to so many people! It went from talking about suits to talking about Jesus. Some people God wanted us just to laugh with them, so we did! But some we went further with. It was so much fun! After the ministry time a few of us went to sit on a wall over looking Zurich and we sang disney songs and christmas songs, it was such a cheerful time! I am so blessed to be here. I hope I never forget that, I am only here by the grace of God.

Reality

So this week we have this speaker...and he is my least favorite so far. But nonetheless God has given him a special calling and I respect that. I am having a really hard time listening to the stuff he is teaching so I day dream a lot during lecture.. But something I have found challenging is the question "how big is your God?" Because often times, my God is too small! I put Him into a box that I think He fits in, but God wasn't meant to fit in a box-He doesn't want to be held back by our lack of faith! But we don't believe in how big He really is. Here's a good analogy. If you were to hold up a needle to the night sky and look in the tiny little head, it looks like nothing right? But in reality there are thousands of galaxies! Not stars and planets. Galaxies. The same God who invented galaxies is bigger than them yet He lives in me. Is that how big your God is? I am praying for more faith so I get to that point!
Another topic I liked was our view of reality and how a few things filter out "real reality."

-what we experience

-what we analyze

-what we believe

These all shape how we view the world around us but we don't realize that they also filter a lot out. So when an idea or fact is said, we think of it through these things and when we make up our mind on it we have a lesser reality. I don't know if that makes sense,  it was hard for me to grasp. Our speaker was talking about shaping our reality to view it more in the spiritual realm because that is all that is important. But I do not really agree with him. However, I do think it is important to make sure our reality is God's reality, meaning we live in His presence daily and do what He did when He was on the earth. We shouldn't ignore the people around us because we have God's hope living in us, they need this hope too! God wants them to have it! We are to be witness's.

God's love goes on and on!

One Thing Remains
I just really feel the need to encourage tonight! I am really homesick and feeling overwhelmed so I decided to reflect on how much God loves me and I want to share it with you(: Did you know Jesus died to set you free? Because the freedom He offers surpasses anything any human can feel? Because that's how much He loves you? You are more precious to Him than His own life. You are His treasured child-your father is the King of the entire world! His love goes beyond our ability to love, He loves because He is love. Nothing can separate you from His love-you belong to Him forever. He rejoices everyday you choose to live for Him. You are a dream in the heart of God, He loves to watch you grow and fall more in love with Him. He longs for you to know Him more-He wants to give you the desires of your heart, all of them. You were created in the perfect overflow of love-the joy and love He felt in the trinity He wants to share with you, will you let Him? He has set you free from yourself, you are His. He will never let you go. When you are weak-He carries you. When you fall, He reaches out His loving hands to catch you! Please understand that. What other love will do that for you? He wants to show you His heart for the world, He wants to show you His love so You can offer hope to those who don't know it. He wants to show you His love because HE LOVES YOU. He loves you with a love that will never fail, a love that goes on and on, a love that doesn't depend on your situation, a love deeper than the oceans and higher than the mountains, a love that isn't selfish and a love that will follow you the rest of your life.