Diana

Putting myself at your service, I‘m Diana. I‘m 26 years old. I live in the city of Morelia, Michoacán and I come from a Christian family. At 12 years old I accepted Christ as my savior; attending church with my parents. At 17 years old I dedicated my life to God at a Word of Life Christian camp. Afterwards, I entered the university to study medicine for 7 years as a career and graduated July of 2016.

Since I was 17 I assisted the Word of Life camp in Mexico which is an international Christian camp that sees more than 1500 young people each camp season. There I began as a camper enjoying the activities and after a while I went to help serve in different areas during camp. This year (2016) I had the opportunity to serve as a camp doctor for three weeks, having the opportunity to share about Jesus in the health center and see the need of each person to know about Christ in the new generation of young people that are lost.

God has put in my heart the desire to prepare me with His Word in a Bible Institute to serve Him in a better way, seeing the demand in this world of lives with the need to know that there is a hope, an eternal life with God after death. In September of this year my plan is to go to the Bible Institute of Word of Life to study a year of basic theology, with the end of sharing the Gospel with diverse tools and for many to know about Christ.

The Word of Life Bible Institute in Mexico offers a program of studies in Theology during 3 years, working in 3 areas in each student.

1-      Study: focusing on the teaching and academics based on the Bible.

2-      Life: working in the areas of students' lives that are weak and strengthening those that are stable through a counselor (missionary) that accompanies the student during the year with the Word of God.

3-      Ministry: focusing on a ministry that is realized during the year, leaving each weekend to specific places to share the Gospel and develop gifts and talents for God‘s glory. They also realize 2 trips a year, 15 days each one, in another area of Mexico and an international missionary trip.

I invite you to be a part of this brave decision with me. You can help me in different ways:

a)      Praying for me and sharing with others.

b)      Helping financially, with offerings, the amount doesn‘t matter. The monthly due as a student is $250.

Thank you for being a part of this. May God renown you with blessings.

Help Diana*

*Mexico BI Scholarships Project (03034C), Please specify in Summary Notes "Dianni Garcia (Diana)" so that your gift is properly designated.

Francisco

          My name is Francisco Jimenez. I was born in a Catholic home where I learned the traditions of Catholicism. You could say my life was normal, but lived in the vanity of this world. When I was younger, a normal environment included alcoholism and parties. But inside I felt a void in my heart that made me feel alone, despite all the friends I had. In June of 2008, my uncle invited me to a youth meeting where I was surprised by how the youth amused themselves without the need to drink, make two-way jokes, or cuss. This impacted my life and at the end of the meeting I was presented the gospel and made a decision for Christ. I was invited to a Word of Life Mexico camp. I went and there God spoke to my life and I decided to devote my life to Him.

          Then I began to congregate in the church and to learn more about the Bible, and began serving it. In 2012 a group of students from the Bible Institute of Word of Life in Argentina came to my church. I was surprised and shocked to see their preparation, their courage, and their dedication in serving God. I wanted to develop that in my own life and began to pray and save to go the Bible Institute in Mexico. It became a conviction and I wanted to know more about God and His will.

          In 2015 God allowed me to have my first year here in Mexico’s Word of Life Bible Institute; with only the economic promise of $500 MEX ($27 USD) per month, and with the prayers of my church. During that year I could see God's provision, I could cover up to 80% of my student bill, including the offerings of believers I don’t even know and a work program with the Bible Institute. I thank God because I never missed anything for my personal hygiene supplies, clothes, shoes, or shelter. It was amazing to see the hand of God and His provision during my first year of study here.

          I trust that God will sustain me again. I have the conviction that He wants me to continue to prepare myself and I want to be a useful tool in the work of God.
 Glory be to God.

Help Francisco*

*Mexico BI Scholarships Project (03034C), Please specify in Summary Notes "Francisco Jimenez" so that your gift is properly designated. 

 

Eduardo

          I’m Eduardo Alonso, I’m 30 years old, and I’m originally from Mexico City. I grew up in a dysfunctional home, like many others, in a well-known and dangerous neighborhood in the city. My parents separated when I was 9 years old and that was the beginning of many bad decisions in my life and the denial of the existence of God. At age 11 I started to get involved in the world of neighborhood gangs and I was involved in them for the next 15 years, where I got lost in drugs, alcohol, and violence. So many times I was in danger of death by constant conflicts in that environment. In 2005 I had a very serious car accident with great consequences needing emergency intervention since my liver had been split in half. This was something that greatly marked my life. God was actually talking to me, but I kept in my foolishness. May of 2013 was when God began this extraordinary work in my life through a very difficult health situation due to the excesses of alcohol and drugs. During that situation God used the life of my mother to share the gospel with me again and, for the first time, I cried out to God and thanks to my mother for no longer tolerating my sinful decisions. It was then that I asked God's forgiveness for my sins. I recognized my condition and need before Him- that night, May 11, 2013, I accepted Christ as my only and sufficient savior.

          Since that moment God began an amazing work in my life, He completely renewed my whole being, and from that day forward I didn’t want to know more about the things of the world; I became involved in church and after a few months God had put in my heart a new and very big challenge- to prepare myself to serve Him full time. And so I began a great process in my life in which God gave me a great lesson on His will. I spent a little more than a year praying for God's guidance and that, if it was His will for me to prepare myself in a Bible Institute, He would open the doors and provide the financial means necessary to study at Word of Life.

           And that was the beginning of a new challenge. The first challenge was to know God more, He has grown my faith, and I know that now my life belongs to Him and that He will make of me what He wills. It has been a year of many trials, but above all of a lot of blessings, and total dependence since shortly after reaching the Institute I was left without financial support. Only my church helped me, but not enough to financially cover my expenses and Bible school. But God has given me a great lesson in depending completely on Him and allowed me to serve in a beautiful ministry called "Born Again to a Living Hope" and Bible Clubs. He’s allowed me to grow a lot as through the classes and has spoken so much into my life.

           Now I'm about to take my second year of Bible school and every day God keeps surprising me because up through today He has continued to provide for me.

          This has been a year in which I give many thanks to God for the great blessings that He keeps giving me and today I have it more than clear that my life is in full service to God and that God will use me to according His will.

Help Eduardo*

*Mexico BI Scholarships Project (03034C), Please specify in Summary Notes "Gustavo Alonso Martinez (Eduardo)" so that your gift is properly designated.  

I Knew Passion

 

 

 

Passion was once an intellect.

He sought truth and glorified knowledge.

He explained history and expounded wisdom. 

I knew Passion the day he taught.

 

Passion was once a physician.

He studied faithfully and endured sleepless nights.

He nurtured the sick and served the down.

I knew Passion the day he healed.

 

Passion was once a musician.

He tirelessly articulated his essence and perfected his song.

He soothed torn hearts and animated the audience.

I knew Passion the day he performed.

 

 Passion was once a warrior.

He relentlessly trained for victory and numbed his body to pain.

He was dangerous for evil and protected his own.

 I knew Passion the day he fought.

 

Passion was once a lover.

He pursued her heart with conviction and grace.

 He won his wife every day and consistently built her up.

I knew Passion the day he loved.

  

But Passion was mortal.

He encountered misuse, betrayal, denial, and loss.

His object of affection was set out of reach and, in the unexplained, he quietly faded.

I knew Passion the day he died.

 

      Why do passions come and go? On one hand, I think our passions can be attributed to genetics, conditioning by our unique experiences, and refining by our talents, gifts, and opportunities. I think God gives us passions and will use them for His glory. Passion is a beautiful thing when its drive is for good. We typically praise the passionate. But passion is mortal and, as long as it’s based on temporary things, always has the potential of changed, diminish, and death. The point is that we will always be set up for disappointment unless our greatest passion is immortal- a passion based on the eternal.

     There is no greater passion than passion for Christ, Himself. (Where do I even begin with His worthiness?) His unsearchable richness, splendor, and wisdom as God- His humility, dedication, and sacrifice of love demonstrated in His life on earth- and the cross! His greatness as God the Creator and Sustainer of the universe blows my mind and His intimacy as my Father, Friend, and Redeemer win my heart. I long for my own heart's cry to be like the Psalmist’s:

God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.

My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.
So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.
You satisfy me as with rich food;
my mouth will praise You with joyful lips

 (Psalm 63:1-5, HCSB)

     One of the most sorrowful things to see is people loose their passions and become hard or apathetic. Everyone goes through rough times. It can be instrumental in increasing an immortal passion for God if we trust Him and let them draw us closer to Him. But not everyone comes out of them the better. I mourn in my heart when I see it happen to those I care for and my prayer is that God reignites within them an everlasting passion- a living passion for God; for His person, His truth, and promises. And I hope they will do the same for me if they see me struggle or question.

Oh, God-ignite within us true lasting passion!

Be the Intellect’s Light-
The Physician’s Remedy-
The Musician’s Muse-
The Warrior’s Allegiance-
The lover’s first Love….
 

 

There is an everlasting Passion.

He tasted the Lord and found Him good.

He worshiped God and illuminated Him to the world.

May this be the Passion I know today.

Totally Dominated

Thoughts from my devos today....

Proverbs 25:28
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

Someone who doesn't have self-control is like an invaded city and without walls.

The idea of self-control:
English: Control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will.
Spanish: Able to dominate your spirit/ self.

Verse insinuates that lack thereof makes you vulnerable...
- to be taken advantage of by others
- w/o strength or protection
- unable to grow/ be successful

This characteristic is fruit of God in our lives... abiding, walking with Him. (Gal. 5:22,23)

Controlling myself.
Normally bears the idea of not being one to loose your temper in my mind... I think because the lack thereof is most evident in those moments. But just as pride goes extroverted and inverted, I think self-control does too. Self-control is not just a "defense". I think to look at it as a quality, we must look at it as a whole- being able to control yourself emotionally and physically, not just from anger, but also disappointment, laziness, enjoying the wrong kinds of things, etc. This is the quality of one who moves themselves to not only that soft answer, but also to discipline, looking away, hope, speak what needs to be heard, serve though no one is watching, etc. Perhaps this is how we will weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

It's not easy, it's self-control.
In it's most pure and perfect form, it reflects God's presence in our lives. It's learned abiding and walking with Him.

I am selfish, but there is self-control.
I am manipulative, but there is self-control.
I am hurtful words, but there is self-control.
I am lazy, but there is self-control.
I am afraid, but  there is self-control.
I am anxious, but there is self-control.
I am judgmental, but there is self-control.
I am numb, but there is self-control.
I am captivated, but there is self-control.
I am hurt, but there is self-control.
I am proud, but there is self-control.
I am annoyed, but there is self-control.
I am wicked, but there is self-control.

Seems too hard.

I am Camden, but there is God.

It's a gift, it's a tool, it's beautiful.

Lord, teach me to have control over my emotions, desires, and actions so that I am dominating my spirit and myself in a godly way. I pray that I will choose what I know is right and good. That I will be obedient to Your Spirit because I truly believe that You are GOOD and Your way of life is the best way of life. Thank You for Your grace to save me eternally and change me now. I love You and I pray that You will enable me to reflect You in my life. Thank You for self-control and I pray that the good works done through it will cause others to praise Your name because You truly deserve it!

It's a Brand New Day

    
I like remembering when I get up in the morning that -today- is a brand new day! The outcome of today does not depend on yesterday's failures or successes. That's pretty refreshing and challenging! As I start my day, I want to remember that:


1) Today the Lord loves me and shows me grace just as much as He ever has!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

2) Today is part of God's plan for me - whatever it may bring!

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:16

This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

3) Today I must make the decision to follow Christ!

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23

Inwardly:

• Seeking the Lord and trusting that He alone meets my needs. (Mt. 6:11/ Lk. 11:3)
• Meditating on God's Word. (Ps. 1:2)
• Praying. (Lk. 2:37)

Outwardly:

• Sharing God's good news of salvation and grace. (Acts 5:42)
• Being an encouragement to those around me. (Heb. 3:13)
• Being available to meet the needs of others. (Acts 6:1/ Jm. 2:15-17)

Extra "Daily" Verses:
1 Cor. 15:31
Acts 17:11
Ps. 30:5
Ps. 23:6

Changed Lives

I've gotten a couple testimonies of campers in Mexico! Even though I was not able to physically be there, I am encouraged by what God is doing in lives as I pursue returning.

Bryan Garduño

"I heard about camp through my Uncle Luis. Before coming to camp my life was different. I said bad words, talked back to my parents, and was around people who were bad influences. I accepted Christ as my Savior July 9th, 2013 during a time of reflection in the evening. Jesus has made many changes in my heart. I want to be well behaved and follow Christ, who cleansed me from all sin. My challenge when I go home is to continue changing, to stop talking back to my parents, make good friendships, and read the Bible."

Gisela Rendendiz

"I found out about camp through the Manriquez family. Before coming to camp, I did not have Christ in my heart and I felt lonely. On Monday, during the week I attended camp, I accepted Christ. I have learned a lot but mostly that I am free from my sin. I was also taught to listen to His Word. Two challenges that I want to take home are: To talk with my family about how we are doing wrong because we do not have Christ and to do my quiet time."






Praise the Lord that young people are coming to trust Christ as their Savior and make decisions to live their lives for Him!

I've spent the last couple weeks in upstate New York sharing the ministry that the Lord has built in Mexico and the part He's letting me play in it. So far I've been able to sit down with 24 individuals or couples here and I'm praying for more opportunities as my time here draws to a close. God has shown me grace using the hands of His believers through their encouragement, prayers, and acts of kindness. I've been meditating in my heart part of Col. 1:16,

 "...all things were created by Him, and for Him"

 It's what I really desire and pray for this season of my life right now. Having been created by the Lord, may it all truly be for Him and His glory.

My Calling

This morning I found Paul before a king, queen, governor, all the military tribunes, and all the prominent men of the city he was in. Having been given permission to speak freely his defense, he begins with his story, his testimony, of how it happened that God saved him and how he’d been called to serve Him. It’s really quite beautiful what Jesus said to him that day:

“…I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:17c-18)

My conversion was just a little different (I was a child in junior church) and so was my calling (I was 14 at camp praying what my God wanted for my life after being extremely challenged by an elderly missionary) also my time period and circumstances. But I am called to the same cause –to people who are living in darkness and bound by Satan’s power… to open their eyes so that they might see it and turn to the light and to God: So that they may receive forgiveness of their sins and an inheritance among the others that have been sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ! Wow! That’s amazing! What a privilege I have! What privilege every believer has to be a part of someone coming to Christ and growing in Him!

I am excited to be returning to Mexico to continue serving the Lord there! I want young people to have the same opportunity I was given –to have their eyes opened and live in the light of the gospel, to know their God, His forgiveness, and sanctification.

Right now I am traveling some to meet and share with people, to invite them to partner with me, then I intend to head back to VA to continue doing the same thing. If God has called me to go, will He not call others to send me? This season of my life God has been calling me to another side of simple faith and boldness in Him. For anyone who knows me, “aggressive” would not be a part of my description. But I need prayer to aggressively pursue what God’s called me to, which boils down to pursuing faithful prayer warriors and being fully-funded. May I be a faithful traveler in the journey that He’s set out for me.

A little more about me and what I get to do in Mexico can me read here.

Eutychus

     I’ve been having my devotions in Acts. Today in particularly, I read Acts 20:1-12. It tells about Paul’s missionary travels. He stops in Troas with his missions buddies for a week. On his last night, when all the disciples had gathered together in the upper chamber, he preached to them on past midnight (a very long sermon.) One of the guys there, Eutychus, was sitting in the window and fell into a deep sleep. High, open window ledges and deep sleeping people are horrible combinations, and as you can imagine, he fell to his death. Paul basically goes down, embraces him, and brings him back to life. Then everyone goes back up, eats, talks until day break when it was time for Paul and his team to go.

     This reminds me so much of the missions trip I took to southern Mexico early May. (No, no one died.) We were about 7 people and we visited several towns, churches, and fellow believers in their homes doing various ministry activities for two weeks. Really that wasn’t enough time because even though we split up, we could only stay one night in some places. Needless to say, we were often up very late talking to people who really wanted to take advantage of every moment of these missionaries with them, and missionaries who wanted to take advantage of every moment they had to help and encourage these believers. As I remember this and try to relate to the Biblical account, I think about the passionate Paul and his courageous companions, of the enthusiastic disciples, then there’s Eutychus. And like a good missionary, I find myself relating to –Eutychus, for I personally found myself physically unable to keep myself awake sometimes. I think to myself… you know, this is not very encouraging. My Eutychus heart cries out, “You have no idea the schedule I’ve had this past week.”, “It’s so hot and humid.”, “I don’t feel well.”, “They fed me turkey!”, “I am making an effort –I’m here!”, “I do want to learn more!”, “I do love these people!”, or “I’m just human!” Some may say to Eutychus’ defense, we don’t know that he was the only one to fall asleep; he was just the only one to fall out the window. True. However, it doesn’t actually matter. It’s easy to justify or condemn yourself based on how other people live their lives, but it can lead to a false sense of righteousness or guilt. I know, because it’s my constant battle. A much better measuring standard is Jesus Christ. What is that you say? You can never live up to Christ you say? Yeah, I know. And I suppose that’s my point. We do things we wished we didn’t. Eutychus fell asleep in a window and died. But, Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, raised him from the dead. He didn’t have to, he graciously did so. (This is where identifying with Eutychus gets much better.) God shows me grace too –daily. He embraces me, picks me up, brings me back to the abundant life, provides for me, and speaks to my heart. When I try to prove myself, I fight grace. When I accept who I am in Christ, I rest in grace. So, today I identify with Eutychus, and it’s not so bad after all.

Just a few pictures of our trip down south. :)

We saw the beach for the first time from the interstate and just had to pull over!

"Maestra!..."

I started going through some of the things that I’ve accumulated while I’ve been here and I came across a list of things my students said to me last year. They were 7-8 years old. They seemed to always say the funniest things out of the blue! Here are some of them:

 

§  Student tells me, “Tomorrow you’re going to get married!” Another chimes in, “We’re going to find you a husband!”

 

§  Student: “What are you doing?”

Me: “Sweeping.”

Student: “Why?”

Me: “Because the floor’s dirty.”

Student: (with sincere disappointment) “Awww, man! I liked the floor dirty!”

 

§   “You don’t look like a teacher without your glasses.”

 

§  (Defiantly) “I’m not afraid of you!... (rethinking) But I am afraid of my dad….”

 

§  Student 1: “Camden, I don’t want you to die!”

Student 2: “But she’s going to die!”

Student3: “Everyone’s going to die!”

 

§  “You sing pretty. You should stop talking and sing all the time!”

 

§  “Tomorrow put on make-up. You look like the woman of the dead!”

 

Yep. They were a blast!

 

            There’s a lot going on around here as we’re getting ready to finish the school year. Also, Word of Life Mexico just celebrated 30 years of ministry! I finished my online university, so I’ve been able to head out on the weekends a little. Recently I went to Jilotepec, Mexico and helped a little with their Compassion center and Bible Club. It was great to meet other believers in another area of Mexico, but I was super excited to share Christ with a little girl and then two teenage girls and have them trust Him as their Savior! Praise Him!

Resplendent Beauty

Yesterday I read in Ezekiel about his vision of the temple and the glory of God. He said, “…the glory of the LORD filled the house.” (Ez. 43:5) I really got caught up thinking on that. First of all, when something is filled, it’s full. There’s no room for anything else. If you were to add something to a full glass of water it would begin to run over. Second, imagine God’s glory. My good friend, Dictionary.com, says that glory in the Bible usually means “brightness, splendor, magnificence, majesty”. A modern definition I think fits is “resplendent beauty or magnificence.” God is beautiful! His person and character are like no other –He is holy. The most beautiful people I know are those who remind me of Him. His beauty and His splendor filled the place!

Now… here’s what really got me. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says to those who have trusted Christ, “…your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you” and 2 Corinthians 6:16, “…ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God….” I have the very Spirit of the living God within me (something which, alone, blows my mind)! He has chosen my body to be His dwelling place. I am His temple. Here is what tugs at my heart: Does His beauty fill me? Does the glory of His presence fill me like it did the temple Ezekiel saw? I want it to. I want to radiate Him… His love, His goodness, His purity, His justice, etc. It is my prayer that God will continue conforming me to the image of His Son, that He would be lifted up through my life. Oh, that there would not be room for anything else….

 

 

 

 

Picture Perfect Puertas

      Today we had the day off, so we took our long anticipated adventure into town to photo shoot their unique puertas (doors). Dawnell and I had two girls from the school with us, Carmen and Alejandra. Because it's a holiday, there were a lot of intimidating tourists in town, so we took the opportunity to share the gospel and pass out tracks with the girls. No one made a decision, but street evangelism was something new for these girls who happen to be extremely shy. They took steps today to share about Christ with other people when it was hard for them, and that really excites me! I loved spending time with them today!

 

 

 

As a little group of American girls, we've been studying James with Beth Moore. It's been good. Recently I've been reflecting a lot on James 1:27.

 

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

 

I've been thinking about my religion... the way I live my life for God. I was challenged not to "coast" and hope to arrive one day at all that I hoped to be and all that I wanted to live for the Lord. I don't think we live coasting decidedly, but we unconsciously do when we don't live on purpose. I'm not satisfied with who I am... I wanna be so much more. I want to be free for God to use whenever and however He wants. Living up to that takes "serious discipline and determination.... courage and deep conviction.... the Holy Ghost." Here's the quote from Beth that keeps playing in my mind and my heart:

 

You don't live this kind of life accidentally. You make up your mind who you want to be and die daily to the rest.

 

Simply summed. I make hundreds of decisions every day. Many are opportunities to change who I am and grow into Who I want to be. Because of Christ's victory over sin and death, I can choose to die to the hindering and choose to walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, 24-25 says

 

...Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

... they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

My prayer for myself is that I will daily choose to die to the things that quench who God's calling me to be... -who I want to be, and choose the best a hundred times every day.