Smile = A Universal Language

Well, I’m back in the good ole midwest after a week of serving with Casas Por Cristo building a house for a family. I’m happy to be back and see some loved ones however i’m not happy that i had …

Real countdown begins…

Knowing in going To be building within these mountains in a few days just overwhelms my heart with joy! I know I was made for this!

A Filled and Broken Heart…

This last week I had yet another incredible opportunity to serve with Casas Por Cristo In Acuña, Mexico. I want  to share a little bit about my adventure day by day while I was serving there. So, bare with me 🙂

Day Uno

Today was the day where the things that could go wrong went wrong. Since this trip was last minute for me I built with a groups of people I barely even knew. It was a church group that wasn’t my home one. But did this stop Gods plan and purpose for this trip?? Yah NO! Turns out I grew extremely close to them. I have built 4 houses in the past with casas and the group i was in built for the first time. We had a lot of problems don’t get me wrong, from wrong wall frames to barely enough cement for the foundation of the house to even girls passing out, puking, and being dehydrated.. I honesty could not be more proud of who I got to build with though. I love each and every one of them and not to mention our Casas representative was my best friend. They persevered through the 109 degree weather. The day ended with praying at the site and getting electrolytes and Mexican coke.

Day dòs

If you don’t know how Hot Mexico is i’ll tell ya. IT’S HOT! Today the walls went up and black board around the house. 2 people needed crossed over the border to get IV’s. Building a house is mentally and physically exhausting. You have to put yourself in a position where you need to be positive And have an encouraging outlook on everything You do. Glorifying God even through thee most frustrating times. I Even had times where I wanted to swear at a nail because it wasn’t going in. Haha Im human guys, it happens. These trips will make you be a better person No doubt! You will come out of it a stronger person.

Day trés

We did siesta schedule again today which is basically waking up at 5:30and leaving around 6a.m to get to our site. We would be done around 12:30 and go back to the church we stayed at and ate lunch and slept. We would later return to the site around 4 to build until 9. With this schedule it was so nice due to the HOT weather. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is super hard sometimes but soo soo worth it. Building a house and a relationship with a family you just met that doesn’t speak your language is something you can’t just put into words. Words are honestly overrated sometimes. the power of presence can meen so much! Today we did insulation, chicken wire, roofing,  and stucco.  We worked hard today!

Day quatro

This morning half our group went over and finished sheet rock and electrical. It was also dedicating day. This is usually thee most emotional day of the week. It was so moving. Seeing the father of the household break down and cry when we hand

Baby and me, family and neighbors with team and house and lastly me showing jóse my favorite bible verse.

him the keys to his house. Tears everywhere. I had some pretty macho football playing guys on my team And to see them cry was touching. The pastor’s son of a local church built with us and even sang worship songs at the dedication(but in Spanish). The neighbor kids even came over:) not like they wouldn’t. They love us as much as we live them. This just shows no matter where you come from, what language you speak, or your yearly income We share the same Heavenly Father. Today, lets just say was the day of many many tears as we packed up and left to cross the border. Definetly not ready to head back to the U.S where we barely have to depend on God. Where most of us have everything we truly need and more.

Some last thoughts

” working when your tired, listening when you have other plans, or not giving up when you rather would means understanding that on your own, you can not help or listen or serve or work or accomplish anything of value If it’s not done without God’s strength. His strength endures the endurable and spills over into joy. My heart breaks  each time I leave and fills to the point of happy tears.”

Grumbling vs. Gratitude

Recently, I have been in the mopes about not returning to Mexico this summer. Well God being God changed that. I got a call a week ago that asked if I could fill a spot of this pastors  Mexico team. I was thrilled!!!!!! Except one thing was standing in my way—-work. I emailed my boss and told her everything. I told her how my heart is in missions and in Mexico and that I felt called to go again. I also mentioned the trip was in 2 weeks(short notice I know) but The Lord provided. Within a day I got word back from her and she told me to go and she would support me. immediently I just cried. I’m not much of a crier but WOW does Mexico just hit me in the spot. One of my favorite books “kisses from katie” has this in it. Not to mention its my favorite quote out of many. —we can let fear of something that is really small compared to the greatness of God cripple us. Or we can take a risk, do something to help someone else, make a person smile, change someone’s world. life to the fullest exists. It’s Available. All we have to do is decide to get up and embrace it!—-  she is soo right! I’m so tired of  going through the motions or waiting for the next big thing. Why not take that opportunity and run with it. I am extremely foolish to think work was standing in my way to go serve God and His people. Don’t get me wrong i respect my employer and wouldn’t just up and leave, but thinking that God wouldn’t make this happen because of work was Dumb. In my mind I needed to work. I needed the money. The last few months I have come to conclusions that everyone needs money and that I need to just ask and trust God “give us this day our daily bread” I need to stop worrying about tomorrow and trust God in the today.

My lil taste of home today!

If you have ever been into a third world country or out of the country in fact you notice a lot more things when you get back home. Today I was riding my bike and 2 little girls sitting on their front steps smiled and waved. I couldn’t help but notice they were Hispanic too and immediately I craved my Mexico family!!! I don’t know if that sounds bad at all I just notice in America that kid’s first reaction to strangers is to NOT smile or wave. I miss being smothered in dirty hands and kisses. I miss being offered the sketchiest food and knowing what food they had was scarce. I miss barely understanding what they tell me due to the fact I know Little languages besides English HA. I miss the smell of the rotten sewer system. I know a lot of people won’t understand this but I miss my home 😦

addicted? maybe

I don’t know about you guys, but i am just in love with Caribou coffee. First off coffee makes me so hyped up and just out of control. I’m not talking just about a little jittery. I get like crazy, giggly, and shaky. ITS BAD!! one of my favorite drinks is the turtle mocha. It has like snicker pieces in it and Mmmmm sooo good! Caribou has thee most encouraging and inspirational stuff on their cups too. Heres a few of them

• Have a favorite charity
• Be the first to enter and the last to leave the dance floor
• Dream BIG, ACT BIGGER
• Enter a pie eating contest
• Step 1: rake leaves
• Step 2: JUMP!!
• DARE TO ADVENTURE
• run your feet, not your mouth
• Make time 🙂 for silly
• do NOT wait for New Years to make a resolution
• and my favorite Dance to your own rhythm!

So take a little time out of your day and go get some Caribou. It’ll be worth it PROMISE.

my fav: turtle mocha