when life hands you lemons.

"The spiritual disciplines are time tested activities that are an essential means of receiving life transforming grace." -Jeff Pratt

Last week our topic was on spiritual disciplines.  I missed the first day of this week because I was visiting home.  It was a good week that had a good bit of revelation for me.  I'm not going to talk too much about it because I have more important things to ramble about.  One thing we did that was really awesome was we spent 4 hours alone with God in silence.  We were not allowed to talk to anyone else, just God.  We went to this beautiful spot in Mexico right by the ocean.  I was in awe of how beautiful God created the ocean.  I  loved watching the waves crash against the rocks. It was beautiful.

Mexico

I leave for outreach tomorrow. It's a scary thought because the people here have become my family and having to split from half of them is going to be extremely hard for me.  I'm the official kids director, which is a very exciting and challenging task for me.  Exciting because working with kids is my passion, challenging because it's in a whole other language than I'm used to teaching in, spanish.  I've been practicing songs and learning as much spanish as I can in preparation.  There are 15 of us on my outreach to Mexico City and Southern Mexico.  I love every single person on my team and cannot wait to spend two more months with them. It's just going to be hard because I'm close with the people on the other outreach as well.  I will not have much computer access so I'll update this when I am given a chance.  

My best friend & twin Kara

I have two amazing experiences to share now.  They both have to deal with the faithfulness of God.  One, when I first came here to YWAM I brought with me my camera, needless to say it got ruined the first night we were here.  So, not wanting to be without a camera I ordered another one.  This time a nicer one with more features and better zoom.  It was dropped about the 7th week here.  The lens broke but luckily one of my friends here was able to fix it.  And it worked well till this past sunday.  The motor for the lens is completely shot and it won't work unless I send it in to Canon.  Which obviously won't be happening since I leave for outreach tomorrow.  I was trying to keep a positive attitude about it and know that God had a plan in it breaking.  I knew that I did not want to be camera less for outreach though since I love to take pictures.  But guess what? We serve a faithful God.  I got a comment on my facebook status that someone was sending me theirs.  Upon hearing that I couldn't help but yell out in praise. I was completely humbled and in awe of how faithful the God I serve really is.  I was struggling with doubts for awhile before that but all of that was smashed.  God is GOOD.

Two, my outreach team has ALL the money needed and MORE. Thank you so much for your support, financially and by prayer.  It means the world to me. 

Jumping Rope.

Mikey, my brother Adam, and me. :D

Fabiola and I at local outreach, Circulo Andante.

Alex and I.

Ensenada at night.

Well, that's all I have for right now.  I hope you enjoy the pictures of some of life here in Ensenda. :D

We can't control the situations we find ourselves in, or the struggles.  What we can control is our attitude on the situation. We have the power to speak life or death.  Choosing to be positive and realize that God is GOOD we are able to overcome the struggles and move on to a place or joyfulness that only God can give us.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.