Cusco Video.

I had the best time this past week and wkd -- finally meeting my precious niece, Lily-Kate, in San Diego and spending the week there with Laura and Trevor! What a beautiful and fun city to live in... 70s in January... can't beat that! Lily is at such a fun age, always smiling and we have a special bond :) I love being an aunt -- I think my name will be "Tia" for her and Grayson!! I spent the wkd on the way out there in San Antonio visiting great friends and my supporters. I spoke at my church there, Redeemer, and gave a quick update and showed the slideshow video I made at a get together we had at my friend Ashley's house. It was so fun being back there and I felt so at home! I have such a special group of friends there -- and am so thankful for them!

So, now that I've showed the video to most of my supporters I will add it here!

PASSION 2010 - Give me one pure and holy ambition.

Passion 2010 was this past weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. I hadn't been since 2007 when it was in Atlanta and '06 when it was in Nashville. They have been doing a Passion World Tour the past few years. God was definitely at work these past few days and it was such an awesome time of worshiping and learning. I still feel like I am trying to process all the information from the Godly leaders and teachers who were there. What an opportunity to hear these amazing servants of God.... Louis Giglio, John Piper, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley....etc. It is hard to put in to words what it was like to worship with 22,000 other believers -- I do believe that real happiness and joy comes when we are praising and glorifying God! The picture below is worshiping with Hillsong United.

I don't even know where to start on what I learned these past 4 days... I think one of the main things I have realized is that the reason God put us on this earth is to bring him Glory, No matter what we are doing. We are most satisfied in life when we realize how insignificant we really are and are able to see God's greatness. Life is not about becoming someone.... but knowing someone.

Beth Moore talked about how God does have a will for each of our lives and he is equipping us for our will by preparing us, adjusting us, repairing us, and filling us. I can see this in my own life and how God had prepared me for Peru by multiple mission trips to Spanish speaking countries in high school, college, and when I was even in Texas going over to the Mexico side with the CMDA mission trips. God will always be adjusting us and we will always be changing b/c God's will is to conform us to his image. She said, "Until you are in a position around people who bring out the worst in you, you are not ready for God to bring out the best in you." wow! We are in constant need of repairing and we will never have it all together. And finally, God fills us with his Holy Spirit.

Something that really jumped out to me in Andy Stanley's talk was that it is ALWAYS a mistake to decide what you want to do, before you decide who you want to be. Who you are on the inside will determine all of your relationships and what you will do and it is important to be a person that people respect and to have genuine character.

In John Piper's break out session on missions he titled it, "A Sacred Ambition for the glory of Christ where he is not yet named." I didn't realize how many un-reached nations there still are out there and how many people still do not know the truth. He talked a lot about Paul and his reason for going out in doing missions in Romans 15:18-24. God gave Paul a sacred ambition to be a missionary and it had a need to be met. If the people never hear about Jesus, they are lost... and this is the point of missions. Even if men never hear the gospel, they will still stand in front of God for the Judgement. There is still the need for missions.

2010: I think this is going to be the best year yet.....

It is so hard to believe that 2009 is already over!!! It was such a great year -- spending the first couple months in San Antonio, TX then most of the remainder of the year in Cusco, Peru and traveling around South America. I am SO thankful for this past year, the things I've learned, the experiences, the relationships I've formed, and continuing to learn how much Jesus loves us and his grace for us. I am really amazed the more I realize the love Jesus has for us and how horrible we are in return and am very humbled this new year. I want to live a life of humility yet confidence in Christ. There are some goals that I have for this new year in my relationship with the Lord and living for Him.

Andy Lewis mentioned a quote this past Christmas Eve service, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." -C.S. Lewis It is our American culture to think of our own needs first and how we can look good on the outside. It is our natural sinful nature.... I struggle with it, we all do! But, I really do want to put others above myself and show them love through not only words, but also my actions. I want to change the focus of myself on to focusing on Jesus and his love for us. I know that only God only can satisfy me, and He is enough! :) He is more than enough... He is the best there is!

Going in to this New Year I really want to change the focus off of what I want for my life.... away from what I think is best for me and where I want to be and really TRUST God for what He has for my life. It is so comforting to know that God wants what is best for us. He sees the whole picture.... He sees our lives from beginning to end and we only get a little glimpse of our life and only know what is happening in the present. Because of this I know that I can really trust God b/c He sees what lies ahead. That is SO exciting to me!!!

I am so excited what is yet to come this year! I will be heading out to Passion in ATL tomorrow and am really excited about worshiping God for 4 days straight!! I will then head out to San Antonio, TX the following wkd to visit great friends and supporters and update Redeemer Church on my time in Peru, then FINALLY fly out to San Diego to spend a week with my sweet niece, Lily Kate and sister Laura and Trevor, bro in law! I have decided to head back to Peru in early February! I have a cello that was donated that I am bringing over for Gabi, the girl in the orphanage who I taught cello lessons to and was asked to join the Meeting Place ministry in Cusco -- This is the English Church ministry that meets in downtown Cusco and is geared towards reaching the unreached and spiritual searching tourists that are coming through Cusco! It is also a cafe/coffee shop and hostel so I will be working in the cafe, organizing/leading the worship for the church service, continuing to be involved in the music scene of Cusco, building relationships...etc. I am only going for about 5-6 weeks and then after this time will re-evaluate how the Lord is leading and decide if I will commit to another year working alongside this ministry in Cusco!

I'm so excited about how the Lord is leading and what He has for me next!!! 2010 is going to be an exciting year! I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Day!!