I'm going Back to Hong Kong!!

So I was already planning on taking the semester off to work at Disney World, but its funny how the Lord works things out. Instead i am now going back to Hong Kong to be an intern at International Baptist Church. (the church I went to HK and Laos with earlier this summer) I am staying for the semester and maybe the year if my parents agree. But I'm excited to go, sad to leave my family and friends, but humbled to get to go. The opportunity is one that the Lord has called me to, and I am excited to be in the middle of His will. I have this blog that I will weekly write about my experiences to keep everyone updated. I love you all, and my next post will be once I arrive.

LOVE YOU!!!

Xalapa, Mexico baby!

So I got home thursday night at around 630ish and on Saturday morning at 4 a.m. left for Xalapa, Mexico. Now I know you're thinking I'm crazy, but you wont think that for long once I tell you about how great God is and how AMAZING this trip was!

I went with NEXT worldwide on the trip. We brought 14 from my home church Tcal ( The Community at Lakeridge.) and had people from Prosper church, and Harvest church come with us. All together there were around 40 of us who went. I was the only one who knew enough Spanish in the group to communicate and translate. Thankfully we all had translators and Eduardo to help us communicate.

As a group we worked with the mother church in Xalapa called Vida Plena. The church was located in a building that the church rented out. On Sunday morning we helped set up around 150 chairs along with sound equipment and a projector for the service. At around 11 a.m. people started coming into the church. As a group we were all sitting in the back, but as the people began to sit in and fill the rows of the small church building I noticed a young lady who looked about my age sitting alone. So before Sunday school began I went and introduced my self to the beautiful Diana. She is 21 years old, she studies English at her University, and helps with the children in her church. She also served as mine and Ross' translator for the week. The actual church service started around noon, and the place was packed! Carlos led an amazing worship service, and Paul Mints (Pastor of Tcal) brought an amazing message on the importance of not giving up. For the next three afternoons we evangalized and went through leadership training as well.

Diana & I Diana, Ross, & Me

So Sunday through tuesday afternoon we travelled to Cuatapec and evangalized in a park to the people in the community. Vida Plena is hoping to start a Bible study in the area and hope to eventually start a church in the Cuatapec. On Wednesday afternoon we went to Parke Natura in Xalapa where a group of us hiked for about two hours and then went to play soccer and volleyball with families in the area and from Vida Plena.

The entire trip was amazing and 188 people made a decision for christ while we were in Xalapa and Cuatapec. It was so amazing to see the Lord work and move in a totally different country just as He does here at my home church in Dallas. The Lord truly gave me the words to say when I had none and spoke for me many times. I know that the Lord is going to use the time we were there to bless the church and the community, and to encourage us a body of believers. I loved the people at Vida Plena and know that the Lord has brought us together for a reason. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gone and to have learned so much through not only my experience but through Next and their training. I have been given a new prospective on life and a missions lifestyle, and I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. The Lord never ceases to amaze me!!

Most of the Tcal Group Eduardo, Brenda, Me and Elena Me with two of the Translators.

LAOS!!

So after Camp Go--> we as a DBU staff along with IBC's staff took the campers on four different Mission trips.

Hong Kong-Luke Lauber & Hilary Darrow
Phillippines- Ben King & Carole Covey
India- Becky Dunn & Justin Smith
Laos-Myself & Jon Dooley

So Wednesday morning after our closing session, Myself, Jon, Nathan & Colette Loudin, along with two students (Jim & Stephen) flew out to Bangkok, Thailand. We spent the night in Bangkok and had quite an adventure to say the least and the morning of the 4th flew to Ubon, Thailand. From Ubon we took a bus to Pakse, Laos.

We checked into our hotel and headed out to the Watpu ruins. They are ruins from 4th century A.D. and are beautiful! We took the high hike to the top, and spent some time in prayer over the people in Lao.

Wat Pu Ruins

The next couple of days were spent out on the Farm. We worked with Boulin Farm company in Laos. Sam Say from Hong Kong started the company. The company is a bean farm company that takes in families from Laos, gives them a place to live on the farm, and teaches them how to properly plant coffee while living on and cultivating the farm the company owns. The families are living on the farm for two years and within that two years the company hopes to not only train the families, but share the love of Christ and show them how to have a relationship with Christ. After living on the farm for two years the family graduates from the program and the company buys them their own land to cultivate and hopefully takes in families and do the same.

So the purpose of the company is to bring Christ to a communist nation. The company also sells the coffee they grow to churches in the state. For $160 you can buy a year supply of coffee from the company. Not only will you recieve a great cup of coffee, but you will also send your money to support missions in Laos. If you would like more information on the company and how to buy coffee just let me know.

So we worked out on the farm for two days and one night with the families on the farm. We were able to plant and dig and do everything it takes to plant coffee. At night we were able to play with the children and teach them songs. It was the most humbling experience of my life. My eyes were opened to the truth of the Word when it says in "how can they call on the one they have not heard?" These people need the Lord and the country of Laos needs the Lord.

HONG KONG Camp Go -->

I was in HK for about a week (June 27-July3) putting on church camp for youth from International Baptist Church from HK, along with 7 other DBU students/staff, and these are some of the experiences from the camp.

the cabins...
They were different then american ones for sure...the beds were different, and the bathroom shared the same area as the shower. It was interesting but still fun for sure.

I shared a cabin with my co, Carole Covey, and with 5 other beautiful Jr. High age girls.
Joyce-14
Rachel-14
Catherine-14
Natalie-12
Akari-13

We had a fun cabin and a lot of nights when the girls would giggle and sleep in the same bed. :)

The NOOZ
We had a skit segment that I was in charge of called Hik-Nooz. I got the idea from another camp I was at the week before, but basically me, Ben and Luke dressed up as Hicks and gave the daily news. The news were pieces the kids wrote and posted on our wall. Along with the news we had couple of the day. The couple of the day would wear matching inflatable tire tubes, and hold barbie or ken to remind them of their love for eachother throughout the day.

The Service
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10: 14-15
The theme for the week was GO, and our theme verse came from Romans. We talked about the importance of not just having a relationship with Christ but sharing His love and life with people all over the world.
Jon Dooley brought the message every night to camp, and I can't even begin to tell you how great of a job he did. The Lord really worked in him and through him, in order to bring messages that not only tought me a lot, but convicted me and challanged my faith.

Breakdown
Everyday we had breakdown sessions where we as a staff would teach different segments to the kids. I tought Duct Tape Art the first day, where I just sat down with 8 of the campers and we made wallets out of duct tape. The next day I taught a segment on Purtiy and how purity is not a bunch of rules, but a lifestyle we are called to live. I also did some team building exercises one day for our mission teams. (Thanks TbarM!)

Overall
Camp was AMAZING. The food was interesting at times, but the Lord clearly worked and moved. It was a great experience to see how God is the same in Texas as He is in Hong Kong, and He is impacting lives the same way he is here. I was so encouraged by the Kids at camp and the way they believe and trust in the Lord. They had knowledge way beyond their years and a passion for Christ that was undeniable. The had a faith that they lived out and each of them at such a young age!! I was so impressed and encouraged and I can't wait to see what God does next in the lives of these amazing students!!!!!

For Family and Friends all over!

Hey guys!!!!

So since my life is rapidly changing and I am begining to experience many things, I wanted a way to keep all of you apart of it!! I recently got back from traveling the world, and will be leaving for Hong Kong in a couple of weeks to be the youth intern for International Baptist Church there. So I thought what better way to keep you involved then to Journal about my experience and give you the inside scoop to my life. I will be sharing about daily events, trips, and most of all what the Lord has been teaching me over the past months and days to come. I hope that This can keep us connected and keep you updated on my life. I miss you already!!, and appreciate you thought and prayers more than you will ever know!

ENJOY!