Johanna's Birthday!

A couple of weeks ago my youth group and I went to the nursing home just to visit. We split up into groups of about 3 or 4 people. I was with my best friends, Carlee, Eva and this one girl named Reagan. Our group leader was Karen, who is having a baby! We visited two lovely ladies! One we met was from Germany and her name was Johanna. She was so sweet and she told us that her birthday was coming up soon. She told us December 1st she would be 90 years old and here in the U.S. for 60 years!!! One thing I remember her saying was, "Go when you have the chance because you may never have that chance again." She was so right on! She has been quite a few places mostly because of where she lived, she could go country to country in hours time.

She went around our circle of girls asking us each where we would like to go, when she came to Carlee she hadn't yet made up her mind and Johanna said, "Well, you can dream!" in the sweetest most loving voice of all. We decided that night after we left we were going to go and see her on her birthday. So last night Carlee, Karen & I met up at Starbucks, went and got her some flowers, and visited with her for about an hour. The smile and happiness in her face when she saw the flowers we got her was priceless. She just kept saying Thank You to us.

We talked all about her suprise birthday party, and her cake, the gifts she got, and how her sons and grandsons were popping balloons! She got a new purse and it was in her hands the whole time we were talking! I feel so blessed to be able to know someone like her. Each time before we leave we ask if she needs prayer for anything and she says "You can always pray. ALWAYS!" I prayed for us all before we left last night. Words cannot even begin to describe how awesome it is to know her and the people at my church who are willing to go and visit people often. Last night Johanna was asking how we met and we said through church, her face just gained a smile. A soft, sweet smile of a wise woman.

Please as you go throughout you day, pray for her. Pray she will continue to be comforted by God and feel so loved. Please pray we continue to grow in our friendship with her.
(:  Did I mention that her favorite color is blue and her favorite flowers are pink roses? Next time we know what to buy!

My heart December!

Today at school a guy named Jake held worship and prayer time in our schools choir room. Quite a few people showed up and by the end of it all a couple of people were crying. It was a really amazing! We sang 3 or 4 songs and Michael & Chris were walking around praying for people. Here is the amazing thing I just had to log on and write about.... While we were all joined hand in hand, praying. Michael come over and laid his hand on my back. He started praying for me. First, he prayed for my life in Christ and my walk, living out my faith and everything else in the spirit. Then he prayed for my knee. I had prayed for my knee earlier in the day but I wasn't exactly serious about it. When he prays, he only prays with his heart. He is truly called to pray for people. Anyway, when I stood up I didn't even notice that I wasn't in pain. I started walking and there was no pain. My leg was still turned sideways but I could walk, pain free!

I am so thankful for that because I was in so much pain today. I kept on crying because it hurt so bad. I could barely even get in the truck this morning.

A longing worth waiting for!

Last night at our home group bible study we split up into prayer groups with all the adults. I got put into the wonderful Michael Hinson's group! I absolutely love that man and his family! As he asked us each what we needed prayer for I thought twice about saying me getting to Africa because I could feel the tears filling my eyes before I spoke... I went ahead and said it, with a shaky voice and pounding heart. Michael is one of the few who understands my heart. My friend Justin Myers gets me pretty well but not like Michael does. As Michael prayed he prayed for all of the other prayer request and somehow I was close to the end. As if I wasn't already crying enough, he brought more tears when he began to speak that powerful prayer to God over me.

I don't believe I have ever cried such big tears! I had spots on my jacket and sweats from crying so much! I wonder why God hasn't already put me there then I remember I need lots of training in prayer, and sharing my faith. Each time I speak about Africa I cry, but that only shows how much I am in love with a place I have never encountered in reality. In my dreams, I have been there many times! At this moment I am holding back tears because my parents are in the other room... haha, I don't like crying in front of them if you can't tell. You will never know the feeling of a missionaries heart if you are not meant to be one. That is why it is so hard for me at school. I know my friend Sarah gets me and see's how much I love that place, but it just isn't the same... When I speak with Michael he understands the pain I am suffering because he is going through the same thing. He wants to be out in the world serving God with himself. When I talk to Justin, it is just something new. He is a lot like me in my faith. God has called him to the mission field and he has such joy and excitement inside for his first one. See, I have been a missionary ever since I was 8 years old. I have been all throughout Wise County, New Mexico twice, and at this moment here in my hometown. I am ready for much bigger.

I love you, Afrika. You are my homeland. I long to be there loving on each of you people.

"You know your in love with a country if all day long you are relating everything you see, hear, and do to it. When you are in the middle of class and want to start crying because you miss a place you have only seen while you were sleeping. You know because you seem to understand the passion a Zambian song writer has in each of his songs. You know when pictures of the people there keep racing through your mind and fill you with JOY. You know because it is your calling."

SHOUT OUT to COACH SMITH, my favorite teacher. She is my speech teacher and I know I am her favorite student. ;) Love you so much Coach Smith. <3

AFRICA!

I haven't written in what seems like forever. Mostly because I have been out of school and school is usually where I write. I can think! I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving! I sure did! We had lots of good food and some delicious desserts made by my wonderful Granny! Over my break I have been staying up late every night just thinking and looking at the beautiful children of Africa's faces. I have slowly fallen in love with this place. I remember when I was 8 and I said to my self, "I'm going to Africa." Ever since that day my heart has been slowly but surely falling deep in love. I can't even talk about Africa without crying a river anymore. I can't help that God has set my hair on fire for that wonderful place!

Each time I get on my laptop and look at the pictures of the children in Africa, my heart starts screaming out so loud that it is impossible to ignore! I AM IN LOVE. With a passion so deep for a country in need, I don't know how much longer I can hold back... I need to be there. I just wish each day that I was in school, I was with the children hugging each of them. Laughing with such joy of the simple things in life. I see my self one day there, but at this point I see my self there very very soon. I don't believe with any part of my soul God would give me such love for such a place with such great passion at this moment for no reason. Yes, knowing that is most likely not going to happen this summer, makes my love for this place grow deeper and deeper with the days. But such a place so full of beauty and words can't even describe.... I feel so close to this place I have never been to... How can this be?

God, the day I was born he knew what I was going to be. He set my heart in the hands of Africa. He gave me a heart of compassion, love, kindness, hope, labor... He gave me the heart of a missionary. No heart is the same in any way or sort but each  missionary has the same few gifts. They are made to serve. Made to give. Made to live in places unlivable. I am a Missionary. I will not stop when I grow weary, I have the strength of the Lord inside me. I will not stop when I am put down. I have such a great power overcoming in my soul that nothing will defeat me. I will not stop at the point of death. I will go farther than the grave. Sacrifice is what it takes to be a missionary. You give up everything and your risk your whole life going into places against the word of God.

We cannot be afraid if we are called. We must know that we have a great God with a great plan for our lives. He will give us the strength we need to overcome evil. We will have the victory!!!! HE LOVES YOU!

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit." Matthew 28:19<3 The Great Commision.

This Week!

So, my week has had quite a bit of craziness going on in it. The beginning of the week, from what I remember, was great! I went to church on Sunday, heard some missionaries talk, went to eat with my friends... The usually Sunday! After I got home I slept... I remember having an amazing dream! I went all around the world as a missionary... It was like my life in about 4 hours. In this dream I visited places that I never have ever thought about going, like China! I have never once thought about going to China! Anyway, so Monday came and I guess it was an ok day. I was happy because my weekend was so great but that was about it. Tuesday rolled around and I just felt like completely giving up. I don't know why, I have no idea where it came from, but I was just done. Throughout the day I was thinking about not going to church, stop being such a socializer, just be done! With everything. I wasn't going to kill my self, even though I was wishing that I would die and thinking about ways I could... But it was just a day of depression. I felt I had no worth, not point in even being apart of this world anymore, or even God's family either. My friend Kat kept telling me to read my bible and I just kept refusing. I WAS DONE!
 
Later that day, my friend Carlee asked my to come home with her along with my Best Friend, Audry, so I did. We laughed and had a really great time... What happens at her house shouldn't ever be mentioned to other people! Haha, but we had a wonderful time... I got home about 6:30pm and I was talking with a youth pastor in my community, Michael Hinson, and he just makes me realize things I wouldn't on my own! He also said some great things about Africa. He would take a couple of us over there for a mission trip because he has a great passion for the people as do I. Then I found out my close friend who has been to Africa twice is going back this summer instead of going to India! That opens up even more doors for me to be able to go.

God works in mysterious ways, but they are great!

Use me Lord!

Tonight I have just felt so called. Through my boredom I found that calling. I was sitting in my room listening to Lecrae! I just soon realized that there are so many people right here in our nation, our cities, our small communities that don't know Christ! Just look around your town... On Sunday's there are people out partying and getting ready for football rather than worshipping Christ. I believe it is crazy... The youth in these places are probably the worst. Satan draws each person into believing that the world is crazy fun, and making Christianity seem as if you can't have any fun whatsoever! That is so far off from the truth! The world and it's ways are evil. They will lead you down a road with a dead end! Eventually you will die. You will no longer have life. Wouldn't you rather have eternal life with Christ rather than death? I can say, I would! I know I am going to!

Think. Is God calling you to reach out to your nation? Pray long and hard about it. He will reveal it to you in full if you do. God will call you to a certain place and he wants you to obey and stay there.
I am fully in for missions. I would even risk my life, but my parents won't allow me to! I would be so willing to go to a country completely against christianity! Imagine, saying I got killed speaking the word of Christ would be so amazing! My friends would be able to tell that story forever.

That is all I have for now. If you have questions feel free to email me at flipper1182@yahoo.com!

Thinking About You!

  Each day my mind is filled with the thoughts of those who are in different parts of the world winning souls to Christ. My heart nearly melts because I feel that power of God come inside of me. My life has a crazy twist to it and I'm not 100% why. I have always dreamed of being a missionary. I'm being serious! Ever since I met a guy named Job I knew that is what I wanted to do. The experience of it all is so overwelming. You eyes see things that are unbelievable and your heart is changed forever. I know that each day is a new journey and that I can be a missionary in my own school, but I just choose to hold the journey back. My life is filled with homework, a special routine and I don't seem to make enough time to do his will. I anger my self at points because I put it all off.
   God's will for me is extravagent and I cannot wait to see it all play out well in the future! Right now I need to focus on my school and community. That seems to be the biggest thing on my heart right now.
I will pray for all the missionaries out there until I can pray no more. Safety for you and that what your eyes see will forever change you. I also will thank God for you everytime I speak your name! You are doing such great things! Be the person God wants you to be until your called home!

For God is the maker of your body, heart, soul and mind. Follow his will for your life and you will be extremely blessed.

(short, I know. I am in class and just needed to post my heart)