COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEKEND

Zapotlan del Rey

This past weekend our Community Development Team had the opportunity to go to a small town, Zapotlan del Rey, and serve the community and the local church.  We spent time building relationships with the families, encouraging them, various service projects, etc..

Bonding Time while picking fruit from the trees

Working at the church

They asked us to run the church service on Sunday, so each one of us had a specific responsibility: sharing a message, testimonies, drama, children's teaching, etc..  I had the opportunity to share a message with the church, and I was honestly so nervous.

Sharing at Church

By Saturday morning I finally felt somewhat comfortable with the message that I had prepared, but even so I was not fully confident.  Saturday night around 8pm after all of our activities, I felt God telling me that I was no longer going to share the message I had prepared, but rather Psalm 31.  However the more I studied and tried to prepare something, the less I understood.  God told me that His Spirit was going to speak through me the following morning and that no matter how much I tried/studied, I would not be able to  prepare a teaching, because I wouldn't be the one speaking, but rather His Spirit. 

So the following morning I stood up in front of the church and shared with them what God had told me, we prayed for God's direction and went through Psalm 31.  I honestly don't know what I said, nor how long I talked.  All I remember is finishing by praying and that half of the church was crying, including the pastor.  Afterwards, the pastor's wife shared with me that that was the exact word that the church needed to hear.

Community Development Team with Pastor & Family

God has been teaching me a lot about the importance of listening to Him and following His guidance.  I can do a lot of things in my own strength, but in following Him and what He shows me, He can achieve so much more through me.  I only need to trust Him (Psalm 31- Declaration of Trust) and keep my heart open and attent to what He guides me to do.  This has been something He has been teaching me these past few weeks in our classes (Spiritual Warfare, Worldview, Inner Healing, Evangelism, Holy Spirit) and I was able to put it into practice this weekend.

Building Relationships

OUTREACH PLANS:
We leave for Outreach this weekend! 4 DAYS. We will be 25 students/staff and 3 kids in 2 vans driving through Mexico. We will first visit a couple coastal towns, an indigenous community and then drive more inland.  During the second half of Outreach our team splits into 2 (Community Development & the Upcoming Generation).  My team, Community Development, will be going through the "Circle of Silence" where there is only 2-3% Christian influence.

 
This Outreach is completely focused on hearing God's voice and to go where He guides us, so we are open and flexible to follow wherever He leads us even if this involves changing our tentative plans.  Different activities in Outreach will include: dramas, choreographies, kids teachings/activities, puppets, creative evangelism, other dynamic activities, etc..  We are very excited to see what God has in store for us!

HAPPENINGS THESE PAST FEW WEEKS...

Getting to know Priscilla in Zapotlan.

Boardwalk Ministry

Boardwalk Ministry

I had the opportunity to translate a YWAM couple's wedding.

DTS Group at the Wedding.

PRAYER:
-Outreach: Discernment and Wisdom in hearing God's guidance.
-Financial Provision for the rest of my team.  Praise God that He has provided my finances for Outreach.
-Visa Renewal:  In August I need to renew my visa from temporary resident to permanent resident.  Pray for all of the documents and letters I need to obtain/turn in before I leave for Outreach.
-Guidance and Direction: For all of us students as to where God is calling us after DTS.