My Mission:

Engaging, Equipping, and connecting children and their families to their most strategic role in completing the Great Commission.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Doors wide open

It was an exciting day. I heard word that a church in Muerrita has invited me to come and speak about the US Center and Global Xpress to assist in my support raising. The pastor and elders just want to meet me in person first. In addition, I still have my up coming speaking opportunity at Packinghouse on June 6th at 6:30 pm.

God is doing what He does best. Opening doors no one else can shut and shutting doors no one else can open. I am all out of stops, all out of ideas and contacts. I am just waiting for Him to bring in that last 55%.

I was just working on a bible study for Global Xpress' June issue. We are starting our focus on David. I was reading through 1 Samuel 16 and the anointing of David. It touched my heart so much that David was the last one called. He didn't come from a palace but from the field with the sheep. He wasn't the oldest or finest choice...but He was God's choice. As the Lord said to Samuel several verses prior:

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (v7)

God saw something in David that no other human eye could see. I hope that whatever God saw in David, He sees in me too. I'm so humbled by what He's called me too, so fully aware that I am the LEAST qualified and equipped to do it. But here I am anyways. Oh Lord, you are so full of mercy and grace. Who is like You?

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Blessed by the unexpected


A few weeks ago, I told you about an amazing, crazy opportunity that had been placed before me and the Global Xpress. At the time, I didn't know what would happen with it, but I was willing to watch God do something I never imagined.

God very clearly asked me to step out in faith and obedience and pursue sending the very first Global Xpress team to India. It was completely illogical from a human perspective, but I knew I had to obey. So I did.

In the end, it didn't pan out exactly the way we were thinking. We're not able to send the team and some other issues surfaced. However, God sometimes has an unexpected and unseen purpose. Through obedience, I met a girl who was planning on going. She began talking to me through email, asking my opinion on her being the only girl on her team going to India and what things she should expect. I was vulnerable and honest about my own experiences and temptations, and tried to advise her on what to prepare for.

Those initial emails lead to a whole series of conversations about opportunities, motives, and listening to God's voice. I was able to speak to her from my own struggles, and failures, and life-lessons. In the end, she replied:

Carissa!
I really do not know what I would do without your advice. I thank you so much for all of your prayers and your wisdom. It has been good during all of this stress. If you don't mind, I'd like it if you played somewhat of a mentor role in my life. I think it would be cool if you were a mentor for me as far as mission stuff goes. I don't have one and I have been in need of one.Yet, I understand that it's another responsibility, and if you are too busy then that is okay, I really understand. I'll leave that up to you. Thanks sooo much again. - A


I don't know how to express how much this request meant to me, that God would use all that He has patiently taught me in the last three years to impact someone else. And that she would want me, of all people, to mentor her in life and missions!

Thank you Lord, for using the weak and foolish things of this world. May others be able to imitate me because only because I imitate Christ!