Spacious Places

Let Me Introduce You To........ Part I

2012-02-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

I am beyond amazed at all God has brought us through over the years and so humbled to write this particular post. I would like to introduce the team of LightForce staff to you.

Amy Boatman (Administration in the USA)

"I started volunteering with LightForce in January 2010 when there was a need for someone to handle the account and other administrative tasks in Lexington, KY. I knew I at least had the willingness to try and was able to take on this task. I never thought I would still be working with LightForce today, but am blessed everyday by the people involved and their heart for God and others. I have even tried to quit when I felt overwhelmed, but God keeps bringing me back. He keeps showing me that it is not my ability to do this, but His grace that is enough. I know I do not feel qualified, but can see that quality in everyone who steps into this organization. I have learned it is not about being qualified. It is about being called. Our God is so good to supply all of our needs and this is no exception. I am called to be a part of LightForce and that is why I am here.
My goal for this organization is to see the heart of God released in each person we encounter. I know my role is here in the United States and I am a support for everyone involved. I get to love and encourage the people who are out on the mission field. I want to create a refuge for those who need to come and rest. Whether through a phone call or with a visit to Lexington, know that there is always a home for LightForce here. It does not matter what your zip code is because you can always call Lexington a home. I can’t wait to see what God has planned next and what favor we will encounter throughout this world. God never ceases to amaze me with his ability to move mountains and create ways we never thought were possible. "

Laura Gassaway (Administration in the USA)

"When I met Anna, in the summer of 2009 in Nicaragua, her passion for the victims of Human Trafficking was contagious. As my knowledge of this type of Trafficking grew, the realization that these victims are all orphans in one way or another dwelled further and further within my heart.
"The summer of 2010, Anna and I took the idea of hosting a 'girls seminar' over love, sex, and purity, and ran with it. We held 4 seminars that summer. The Conferences were called 'Passion and Purity'.
"From working with LightForce in this project, came my desire to be involved with what LightForce is doing in Central America. It is my heart to join them in sharing the Love of Jesus as healer and sustainer to women and children around the country."

Amelia Quinn (Atlanta Chapter)
"I am 23 and in the last few months I quit my job working with the youth group at First Baptist Church LaGrange, packed up my stuff, and moved to the beautiful city of Atlanta to serve with LightForce. I come from a broken family with a bit of a dysfuntional childhood but I know firsthand the healing and restoring power of Jesus! It is my desire to share that power and love of Jesus with those who are hurting and trapped in darkness.
This past year, I traveled to Costa Rica to work with LightForce. As I saw the relationships the staff had with those hurting on the streets of Costa Rica, I knew I wanted to be involved with the ministry. One of my favorite things is seeing disciples of Christ get outside the church to serve and love those around them and that is exactly what the girls in Costa Rica were doing. The Lord quickly began to partner my heart with the vision of LightForce and for some crazy reason they decided to let me on the team.
My prayer for Atlanta is that God will shine His light in the darkest areas of this city and that He will use me in the process to glorify His name. "

Chelsea Herring( Atlanta Chapter)
"I just recently graduated from LaGrange College with a major in Early Childhood Education. I also took counseling classes through the Exchanged Life Ministries Association. About a year and a half ago I was spending time with the Lord, when I felt Him speak to my Spirit, 'I want you to pray for prostitutes and porn stars.' Honestly I was confused, but it was one of those times I knew the Lord had laid something on my heart. I began to reflect on the lives of the girls trapped in this lifestyle. As sad as it is to admit, I knew absolutely nothing about the widespread issue of human-trafficking. After research, I learned of the severe human-trafficking issue in my own backyard, Atlanta, Georgia. Shortly after graduating, the Lord completely opened the door for me to move and get involved with Light Force International. I have a burning passion to see these women and children delivered and set free by the overwhelming, gracious love of our Heavenly Father. I want each of them to know Jesus Christ stands with open, welcoming arms and is more than able to restore every area of brokenness in their lives. He has been faithful to do so in my own life, and I want to be used by the Lord for the restoration of others. The prayer of my heart is that I would be used to, “bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” (Isaiah 61:1)

Einas Haddad (Costa Rica Chapter)
"I'm originally from Jordan but I've lived in upstate New York for the past 5 years. I have a bachelors degree in Computer Engineering with a year of experience in my field. After experiencing the 9-5 type of job, I realized that there was so much more to life than a decent paycheck. I was sickened by the way I was spending half my life staring at a computer screen. After much prayer and reflection, I made the decision to go on a short term missions trip! So here I am in Costa Rica, I've been here for about 6 months now, I've been working with LightForce in the street outreach as well as teaching Math & Computer Skills at a nearby slum in San Jose called La Carpio.

I initially came to Costa Rica with the intention of working with victims of sexual exploitation with Christ for the City International. God has created such a passion in my heart to help people that have been sexually exploited, especially through human trafficking. However, when I got here I was told that in order to work in this field with them I would need a minimum of one year commitment and they prefer if I had some sort of experience in this field. This saddened me but they needed a computer & math teacher, so I knew my skills would be utilized for the glory of God. I met Laura and Karlie out in La Carpio in August and they told me more about what they did and I felt an enormous urge in my heart to ask to tag along! After working more with the girls of LightForce, I wanted to be able to serve even closer so I asked to become a fulltime volunteer with them so here I am.

Sarah McQueen(Costa Rica Chapter)

"I had begun to learn about the issues surrounding sexual exploitation during a college internship in 2008. I was beginning to understand many of the numbers and statistics, making the problem seem so huge that I was unsure of what I could do to aid in the fight. Upon graduating from college, I enrolled in graduate school for nonprofit management, knowing that I wanted to work in an organization that directly worked in humanitarian aid issues. During this time, I continued to stay in touch with a friend and Asbury University classmate, Laura Perry. After Asbury, Laura had joined Lightforce International as the Assistant Director. By keeping in touch with her, I was able to see how individuals and organizations were taking practical steps to help men, women and children affected by sexual exploitation. I inquired about volunteer opportunities with the organization because I knew I would have time to serve during the summer after graduation. I was accepted for the internship, during which I was made aware of more of the complexities of exploitation and the sex industry. Yet, the Lord coupled these realizations with the assurance that He is sufficient for the needs of His people and He desires to see redemption and restoration.

As the summer drew to a close, I was presented with the opportunity to work with Lightforce full time. I was, and continue to be, excited about getting the chance to serve in this way. I consider myself blessed to be working in a capacity that allows me to use aspects of my academic degree and take part in practical and intentional ministry at the same time. My prayer is that men, women and children affected by prostitution and exploitation might realize their full potential, allowing Jesus Christ to bring healing and wholeness."

Morgan Sanders (Dallas Chapter)

"And we know that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
My testimony in regards to my involvement with LightForce is epitomized by Romans 8:28. When I first arrived as a short-term missionary in San Jose, Costa Rica, I was working with another organization with a desire to do great things for The Kingdom. I knew that God had called me to go to Costa Rica and, more specifically, that He had given me a heart for the women and children there. I was in Costa Rica for a total of six months, by the grace of God, I was introduced to LightForce. As I came to know the women who were running this ministry and began to fully understand the powerful work that LightForce was, and is, doing in San Jose...I began to realize that THIS is what my heart longed for. THIS is why I was supposed to go to Costa Rica. I began to feel God moving in my heart and in my life like never before. Through my work with LightForce, I am able to utilize the gifts and desires that God has given me and put them to use in the lives of women, men and children who need to hear about the love and healing power of Jesus Christ. I got to spend 4 months of amazing and powerful time with LightForce in San Jose, and now I am back in my hometown of Dallas, TX to begin establishing a LightForce chapter here! God is ready to move in Dallas, and His redemptive power is ready to break loose over the chains and bonds of the shadow over Dallas that is prostitution and human trafficking. God is faithful. Amen!

Stay tuned to meet the rest of the staff in Part II!

That which costs nothing is not worth anything.

2011-11-09T23:04:00.000-08:00

We love what we do in LightForce. We count it an awesome privilege to see the daily working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people from the streets. Whether they’re learning English, exercising with us, crying on our shoulders, learning how to make jewelry, sew a scarf or simply sit and laugh with us; we see Him working. Always working, fighting on their behalf through us. However there are countless days that everyone of us on the team fights the question, “Is it worth it?”

This question most often arises in our minds, no doubt in tough times. I spent the month of October on the road in the States, speaking and raising money for our work in Costa Rica. At one point during that month, Sarah (my new assistant), looked at me, with a weariness in her eyes and said, “Do you realize we have been in five different places in the last 6 days?” I had honestly not even noticed. I had become so accustomed to much travel these past two years. I looked at her and smiled an understanding smile. Later, alone with my thoughts, I wondered, “Is it worth it?”

I am extremely close to my family. My sister, Rachel, is pregnant, the first one of us to go through pregnancy. Words cannot describe how hard it is to miss so many sweet moments as she prepares for her little girl to join our world. Although, I have Facebook and Skype, they are never quite the same. The question echoes in my mind, “Is it worth it?”

All of us girls on the team make do with the clothes we have and the food we can afford. Don’t get me wrong, we do not go hungry at ALL! We love the challenge of figuring out how to stretch or invent recipes! There is just fleeting moments when we are all tempted to go home and just find a job. Sometimes we say it aloud, other times, we silently ponder.

When a girl we have worked so hard to love and invest in her change, returns to a life on the streets. The question dances in our minds, mocking us, “Is it worth it?”

There are days when the question screams out at me and I feel too tired to ignore it or fight it and I ponder it longer than usual. Today was such a day. Round and round in my head like a broken record. I felt burdened and then guilty for thinking on it so long. As I played with five year old Daniella tonight at the Agape House, while her mother was in our English class. The realization hit me, this little girl’s fate of a life in prostitution may have been changed by the fact that we are all here. It is in this moment Daniella is shrieking with laughter as I tickle her, I know, “It is worth it?”

For just one little life, it will Always be worth it…….

How Far We've Come

2011-08-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked why I thought that had God placed me in this position for the past two years. I smiled because for a change, I knew the answer to that question! I replied that I have come to realize that part of my personality in God is that I love the challenge of seeing Him make the impossible become possible, especially with people. In the beginning of moving to Costa Rica, I asked God that very question hundreds of times. I have learned a lot of things about myself in these last few years and although the answer came swiftly to my mouth in reply to the person's question that day, it was a quite a journey for my heart to come to the revelation.

I am not a competitive person in games or anything of that nature, I usually don't play to win, I just love being with people. My closest friends will tell you it's true! However, when it comes to people who feel lost, discouraged, lonely or forgotten, something rises up in me that becomes determined to show them that Jesus can change that feeling or circumstance in their life. I become fiercely competitive with the enemy. I remember Laura and I laughing at this realization one day of how I was not competitive or stubborn in anything, except this ministry.

The safety fair went great and I am so thankful for everyone's prayers and letters of encouragement! Thank you to all of you that gave financially to the event. I want to say a very special thank you to the amazing ladies, Paula and Julie, who selflessly and tirelessly gave that whole week. As well as my awesome team of staff and translators! The pastors and the community of Tres Rios were so blessed! Because of this event, we have a stronger voice in the community.

As I look back, I am amazed at all God has done with us in Costa Rica. I can't believe I have been here and called this place home for the last two years. We have seen mountain tops and valleys a lot in that time and especially these past few months but we have stood firm in knowing that God is faithful. He has never left us and we have never been alone.

There is so much I could say but it would take too long! We are seeing doors open in new ways of fighting sexual exploitation here in Costa Rica. Some of the dreams and prayers of my heart these last couple of years are starting to come about and I am THRILLED! God is moving is such fascinating ways and I look forward to sharing about it when I come to the States for the month of October!

I am ending with the lyrics to that song that has ministered to some of the LightForce team and I hope it ministers to you. The lyrics to the song, best describe my heart as I reflect on our time working in Central America.

Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we've come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You've done

Knowing every victory

Is Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

A Tragic Loss and A Prayer Request! Please Read and Pass Along!

2011-08-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

"To believe in a child is to believe in the future. Through their aspirations they will save the world. With their combined knowledge the turbulent seas of hate and injustice will be calmed. They will champion the causes of life's underdogs, forging a society without class discrimination. They will supply humanity with music and beauty as it has never known. They will endure."

This past Wednesday, I posted a request for prayer on Facebook, and the response was incredible. I am beyond grateful for the prayers that went up for us around the world. At the time of the request, I was unable to be specific as to the circumstances and all that was going on with our work in Costa Rica. I can now tell everyone the story of this past week and our desperate need for prayer then and now.

On the day of my prayer request post, a little boy from the community in which we have our "Children at Risk" program was raped. Two days later, he died. This little boy was only six years old. On top of fighting some intense spirituals battles, daily obstacles, and this tragic loss, our hearts were broken. By Saturday evening, I couldn't even think anymore. My heart ached so bad at the loss of his little life. The community of Tres Rios was rocked by this horrible event.

Deep down, I knew then, even as I know now, that God can use this whole sad situation for good. We sat down with some of the girls in the community to talk about their grief and fear. The community is saddened but also inspired to take action against injustice in their country. The wonderful pastors we work with in Tres Rios, Jose and Flor Huertas, approached us about doing a safety fair in the community this week to raise awareness. Pastor Jose said, "Anna, we have to sound the alarm and speak up for the children in this nation." My heart fully agrees with this statement!

This two-day event (Safety Fair) will be a small fair full of games, prizes, crafts, face painting, and, of course, a teaching on safety. Please pray for this community and its leaders and well as for their pastors.

We have a small window of time to plan and prepare for this event that will take place on Thursday, August 11th, and Friday, August 12. Fortunately, two amazing women from Kingsway Community Church in California have come just in time to help us with this big task. To have them here in such a tough time is a huge blessing. We were weary, emotional, and resourceless. These lovely women of God showed up with hugs, prayers, and five suitcases of supplies! After we unpacked the suitcases, I cried at God's faithfulness. He always knows just what we need, when that need arrives!

We are still short on finances and supplies, as we were not anticipating the Safety Fair this week. Please pray for the provision of resources and for our team as we prepare for this event. Our heart is to draw as many children from the community to the Safety Fair in order to prevent more tragedies of this nature. "Children at Risk" programs such as ours and Pastor Jose's are such a vital part of combating sexual exploitation!

Thank you again to all of you who have prayed for us this week. We are encouraged by the family of God.

Here are some photos of the community of Tres Rios, people with whom we've been working for the past four years:

Children At Risk-The Biggest Little Mission Field

2011-08-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

After an extensive trip of traveling in the U.S.A, I returned to Costa Rica at the end of June and in true fashion, hit the ground running! We were blessed to have several girls from the States join us for the month of July. It has been a great, busy and challenging month for us. We have also experienced a favor that has been unbelievable and has opened doors for us we were not expecting! We have also experienced a new level of spiritual battles and attacks. I am going to tell you a little bit more of our updates through photos!

We launched A Children/Youth At Risk Program this month! We are so excited for the doors God is opening through this program. In working with Children At Risk, it is our hope to break the cycle of prostitution and hopelessness that trickles through their families.

God has blessed us with materials to help a pastor here that is reaching out to an "At Risk" community. He and his family have faithfully served in a very poor community by loving them, feeding them and working hard to keep youth off the streets and away from drugs. He asked us to partner with him and help keep young girls out of prostitution. We wholeheartedly accepted the opportunity to work with him and his wife and train the young girls in this community in the Passion For Purity material. This coming Saturday will be our first event where we will work with the young girls in this community every week. Please pray for us and the young girls who have committed to fight for their own generation in this country and reach out to the girls in their city!

There is more to come and I promise to be better about updating! Thank you to all of you who pray for us and support us! You help make this all possible.

A Beautiful Disaster

2011-05-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Pray for these sweet faces.

I want to just be raw and real before everyone who reads this blog.
It is has been a great time and also a very difficult time for our ministry. We are being stretched and challenged in our hearts to trust God. I have never been so desperate before God in prayer as I have in this past week. There is much that I am not allowed to share but what I can tell you; our team needs prayer. Today was the first time in a very long time that I wanted to give up. I have been so discouraged but have had to put on a brave face for my team and those around me. I buckled today under that pressure and began to just cry out to the Lord. I was Iso broken over some of our obstacles, set backs, failures and the lack of resources to help some girls we knew were trafficked and sitting in a brothel waiting for help. I felt as if everything was crumbling around me and I was at a loss as to how I should even pray. No words would even form. I sat so still and silent and glanced down at my bible and it just happened to be turned to Romans 8. This is what I my eyes found:

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

I can't tell you how my soul needed to read that passage. There was my answer! I love me some Romans 8!
I think sometimes I forget how God sees my prayer. I know the truth that I can come to him broken and hurting but many times I think opposite and try to put a brave front on for Him. Yet, my tears and broken state I think He sees as beautiful. I feel like a disaster and I know He sees that disaster but He sees it as a beautiful disaster. I am the least qualified person for this job, but He uses me. I make mistakes but He continues to give me responsibility. I am scattered and forgetful but He smiles and organizes my mess. He brings beauty to the table and I bring disaster and somehow it comes out looking so much better than I could have dreamed.

Two years ago when I purposed in my heart to fight against sexual exploitation in this generation, God wrecked my life beautifully. It has been crazy, difficult, exhilarating, challenging, rewarding, teaching and just plain fun. Even the times that I have wanted to quit, I have never regretted that decision. However, I always come back to the same decision. I will fight, I won't give up.
Faith is not ignorant of it's reality but chooses to defy that reality.

Fighting Losing Battles

2011-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

The intense heat and lack of water for the third day in a row has tested my flexibility! Throw in financial strains, heart breaking moments with the children and the inconsistency in attendance from the women on red street all taking place in a week's time and you've got an intense battling of the flesh! Everyone on the team has been such good sports though and I am grateful. Simply put, it's not easy.

I have been studying a battle story in Judges 20 for months. The tribes of Israel are about to fight their fellow tribes of Benjamin because of sin and crimes committed by the men in Gibeah and Benjamin's refusal to address the crimes. I have learned so much from this passage and taken comfort in the lesson's the Holy Spirit has revealed. Here is that passage:

Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle. ¹⁸ The Israelites went up to Bethel^[b] and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?”
   The LORD replied, “Judah shall go first.”
¹⁹ The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. ²⁰ The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah. ²¹ The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day. ²² But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. ²³ The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and they inquired of the LORD. They said, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?”
   The LORD answered, “Go up against them.”
²⁴ Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. ²⁵ This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD. ²⁷ And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, ²⁸ with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”
   The LORD responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”
²⁹ Then Israel set an ambush around Gibeah.

This type of ministry is hard, very hard. One day you are making progress, the type of progress you didn't dream possible and then, the next day, you are starting back at square one. I was hurting and angry over the situations that I was unable to stop and the injustice all around me. In frustration and desperation, I texted my Dad the following:

"Pray for Olga today, I think someone beat her and she looks a little rough and so I just feel so angry...."

Dad: " This is something you will continue to see, not trying to be insensitive, guard your heart always. Love you honey."

Me: "No, I understand so maybe it's me who needs the prayer today. Love you too.

Dad: "Well I don't know that we ever get use to it but in your ministry it's going to come at you so what I meant was, learn from God on how to channel the anger the way He would want you to."

I sat for a long time in prayer, reflecting on what my Dad had said. I was so angry over the injustice I was seeing and my inability to do anything about it in that moment. His reply was so needed but hard to swallow. You see, Olga had started smiling and hugging and laughing. Progress! Then she retreated and wasn't reporting to me or Ana with her homework. We were winning a battle and now it felt like losing. Could God ask me to fight losing battles at times to teach me how to win the war? That question pounded away in my brain. After all, my prayer everyday for the last few months has been, "Lord, teach me how to fight sexual exploitation your way."

I have learned so far in fighting losing battles, that every defeat is temporary; every victory is permanent. Discouragement will cloud our ability to hear God. While engaged in battle, our focus is refined and something profound happens to God's people when their focus is refined.

For example, Olga may have Appendicitis, Meybi is pregnant and we just found out she might loose the baby, Barbarita has a serious heart condition and she is only 8 years old, and the list goes on.......

We don't have a ton of money and many days I am saddened and overwhelmed by the reports of problems we face. These women and children have enough in the fact that they have been exploited, abused, starved, beat and then add the medical. When no one is looking I cry. Jesus, help please. Then I am reminded he loves these precious people around me more than I ever could. My focus get's refined and I know that only Jesus can save and restore, not me. What I can do though is love, and pray and tackle the problems one at time. Whether we win or lose a battle, I know we will win the war here and it is through that confidence in God that I am learning not to fear losing sometimes.

Our Little House of Love, The Lighthouse.

2011-02-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

When someone has only known prostitution and sexual exploitation their whole life, basic needs suffer. Reading, writing, and essential life skills are just a few of the areas that victim’s of exploitation need in order to find the confidence to walk in freedom.
LightForce’s Lighthouses are a place of hope and resource. At these houses, victims of sexual exploitation, women and men, have the opportunity to learn how to read and write while learning necessary life skills to further their pursuit of freedom, hope and future dreams. Two to three days a week tutors and volunteers teach basic reading and writing, while one day is set aside for cooking and other trade classes.
In addition to teaching, Lighthouses function as a safe place for children to come and receive a good meal, get necessary tutoring, play and just be a kid for one day a week. In many rural, impoverished areas, young children are at risk of forced prostitution. Our vision is to give children the opportunity to receive the love they may be missing out on.

We have been so so blessed to begin this project with our house in Nicaragua. This house is the first of many that we hope to open. We are slowly getting some furniture and we hope to be able to purchase the table and chairs next week for the children to sit at during tutoring.

My heart melts at all the little faces that fill this house. At times it can be so loud and chaotic but somehow this chaos is beautiful. Many of the women and children have stories that break your heart and often I will choose not to share their stories with you. I can tell you though that this house has become a sweet place for many children to come and play inside. If the walls could speak, they would tell you about all of the laughter, hugs, games and even at times tears that transpire here in, Lighthouse.

Friday is our grand opening to a particular community where there is extreme poverty and many children at risk. One of our kids we work with, Olga, is from this community. Up until now, we have been selective in allowing people from this community into the program. However, Anita has worked hard to screen and decide how many other people we will allow to come and learn. Many times I wish I had all the money in the world to let every kid in, however, we have narrowed it down to 30 something children to feed and work with one on one. We are trusting God.

Olga was our trial and I hope to one day share her entire story. I will say that Olga needs your prayers. Sexual exploitation is a degrading weapon used to rob children of a childhood. She is twelve years old but only in the second grade. When we first met Olga, she never smiled and was not even attending school. Her eyes haunted me, more so than any other little girl I have ever met. I remember not sleeping well after I first met her and Anita took me first thing the next morning to see Olga. I asked her if she was interested in going to school and what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her reply was an emphatic yes and that she wanted to be a lawyer. She smiled. Finally, a smile!
We placed her in a good school and she reports to us everyday before and after school. It is my favorite time of the day, helping her with her homework and loving on her. We all do. Olga is part of our family and on Saturday, we will add many others like her to our home.

Please continue to pray for our safety, the women and children, and our ability to sustain the Saturday feeding programs.

Olga, ready for school with her new supplies!

Olga.

Laura, helping Olga with her homework.

United We Stand......

2011-02-17T15:40:00.000-08:00

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Phil. 2:1-4

There is a unique beauty to unity in the body of Christ. Unity is also a very powerful weapon. It is amazing all the you can accomplish when you put the above passages to action. Working together, we can more effectively love on people.

All of us here in LightForce have really come to love and appreciate the importance of team work and partnerships with other organizations. While I was working and partnering alongside Jesus Said Love-Dallas and Village Church, our Costa Rica team was working with A Street Named Freedom and Rahab Foundation. We have met, prayed and served with so many amazing people this year and it's only February!

I have returned to Costa Rica just this week after much travel and it feels amazing to be "home"!

I will tell our updates through photos!

Lori Warren and I survived the planning of the outreaches in Dallas, leading up to the Superbowl. I spent a total of three weeks there and it was great! I made a lot of new friends. I feel beyond blessed to have been there and look forward to going back.

Unfortunately we are unable to post any of the Dallas photos! However, our Costa Rican team had a very successful outreach for Valentine's Day and here are the photos of the preparation that went into the event!

A Bucket Full of Hope

Flowers were given to all the women who work the streets at night in prostitution along with a verse.

Laura writing out verses

The guys taking a break to eat!

Some of our awesome outreach team members hard at work!

We are gearing up for a big weekend of outreach and then heading to Nicaragua for our grand opening of the Rivas House followed by our launching of a feeding program for children at risk. I am so excited at all God has made possible. We will keep you updated! Please keep our team in your prayers these coming weeks.

REUNITED!!!

Faith and Sacrifice

2011-01-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

Although I have been tremendously blessed by all the amazing people God has brought across my path this past week in Texas, I am homesick for my Latin home and the team that have become my family. The season has shifted for me and I find that I will travel more this year to raise awareness of trafficking and to raise funds. My heart hurts a little at the thought of being separated from my team, the women and children there and missing out on some of the amazing things God is doing in Central America. David says in Psalms, "teach me your way, Lord that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart...." This passage brought so much comfort, I need an undivided heart as I focus on the tasks ahead rather than what I am missing. Faith and sacrifice are the anthems for a life lived poured out for Jesus and the evidence of both should be seen in our lives daily. I have to continually challenge my heart to check that I am willing to do the hard things God asks of me even when I don't understand the reasons. He is so faithful, my God never fails me. 1 John 4:16 tells us we know and rely on the love God has for us. Do I do truly know and believe this truth? I find today as I pray and spend time with Jesus that this principle John was laying out was optionless. I have but only to know and rely on His love. This is how I survive weeks of unknown. Thank you to all of you who pray for us.

I wanted to update everyone on our teams that are scattered. I am posting a few paragraphs I received from two of our short-term team members who are currently serving in Costa Rica. Here are their thoughts:

"As I entered Costa Rica, I felt a familiar presence—much like an old friend. I have been to Costa Rica twice before and I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a while. And God must have been too because His grace definitely comes down here with us. The pace of life here is much slower compared to normal life in the States, but it is a good change. It gives us the time needed to reexamine greater things and priorities, but also allows for us to further press into the Kingdom of God through prayer, fasting, and intercession—something that is much needed on the mission field. Since I arrived one week ago, I have gone on several events put on by YWAM that outreach to the local prostitute population, and I have been rocked by seeing the love in the eyes of my fellow Christians in YWAM and the need of love in the eyes of those in bondage on the streets—God is doing big things down here with these people and with Lightforce. This is the greatest time of our lives, and how could it not be?"

-Matt

"One week? I feel as though I have been in Costa Rica for twice if not three times as long, which in this case is a great thing. I am here to soak up every aspect that Lightforce is involved in as well as the beauty of Costa Rica. The first week has included busy time as well as time to just sit back and think; which as an American I can say doesn’t happen very often. I have really enjoyed immersing myself in the Latin American culture and their ability to enjoy the day for every minute given to them. Twice this week as a group in addition to YWAM(youth with a mission) we have gone into downtown San Jose and ministered to the prostitutes and transvestites. Feeling the darkness in the streets and realizing that the light inside of us is greater than that darkness has been the driving force behind my compassion for these people. God is greater than the darkness here. Ultimately I have enjoyed learning about God, Costa Rica, and myself but know there is much more to learn."

-Chris

For updates from Laura go here and find out what God is doing on the streets of Costa Rica!

Driven by Love

2011-01-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

I recently had the incredible, challenging privilege to educate a couple of classes at a local high school on human trafficking and its effect on the Superbowl. I loved every second of the day! They asked such great questions and had a desire to help find solutions. As we discussed real problems and possible solutions, I could tell they were all still trying to process the hard truth about what goes on during famous events such as the Superbowl. For many, the Superbowl will never look the same.

LightForce is teaming up with the Dallas chapter of Jesus Said Love run by Lori Warren to raise awareness of the sexual exploitation that will take place around the Superbowl. I have the sweet honor of representing LightForce at a big event this coming weekend.

I am looking forward to all God has in store and I will keep everyone posted as the next few weeks progress.

Laura is heading up our side of ministry and outreach on the streets of San Jose's red light districts in my absence. There are many exciting plans in the works for the opening of a coffee house. We are praying for God's direction and provision.

Anita is back and getting the newly owned house called, "Lighthouse" in Nicaragua ready for our grand opening.

I sit in a hotel typing this and catching up on much needed rest and prayer in preparation for the next few weeks in Dallas. One of my friends teased me that she would like to switch places because my life was so much more fascinating than hers. I looked around my hotel room and thought of how things must look through her perspective. While she thinks her life is too boring and quiet, I at times envy that life. I think how crazy I must seem to the average person I meet.

Bayard Taylor wrote, "The bravest are the most tender; the loving are the daring."

I think people often think I am really brave and live my life as Tomb Raider's, Laura Croft. I smile at the thought of how in a very tiny way, there are similarities to Laura Croft's missions and mine. However the similarities may be, one thing for sure is not, my life and look is definitely nothing close to as glamorous as Croft's!

Bayard Taylor's statement rang so true to my heart.
I have watched the pattern in my own life; as I derive my bravery from loving God, my heart becomes more tender. As my heart becomes more tender, I feel my compassion for others increase. As the cycle spins over and over the choices we dare to make become seemingly "crazy".

The world's standard would tell me my life is abnormal, adventurous, extreme and cutting edge. Jesus takes me to the foot of the cross where the stage was set for life lived by abnormal, adventurous, extreme and cutting edge. Jesus was and always has been CUTTING EDGE. What the world calls abnormal, God calls normal. My life and what I do in LightForce is totally and completely normal! Yep, life is like a movie when Jesus is Lord. Read enough stories of life for the disciples through the scope of normality and you will agree.

Made Aware

2011-01-01T21:47:00.000-08:00

27 Million, a number that haunts me. 27 million, a number that has become a passion of mine to change.

In September of 2009, I was made aware of the number 27 million.

To some of you reading this post, 27 million might seem random or insignificant. However, it is important you be made aware of the significance of the number, 27 million.

It is estimated that there are 27 million people enslaved in trafficking rings worldwide. Out of this 27 million, 80 percent are women and children and out of all female victims, 70 percent are trafficked for the commercial sex industry. The largest portion of victims trafficked in the world are trafficked for sex.

Slavery? Trafficking? Victims? Children?

Yes, is the answer to all of these above questions. Yes, it does happen. You and I live in the largest slavery movement in all of history.

LightForce International Ministries along with many other organizations, exists to fight against eslavement and exploitation of women and children in the commercial sex industry.

Perhaps you are feeling like I first did upon learning of the devestating business of sex trafficking. Shocked. Horrified. Sad. Helpless. Imagine how much more devestating it would feel to meet one of 27 million face to face and learn she was only seven years old when she was sold to a brothel. Hard to believe but I met her and hugged her tiny, scared little body.

If you were to google or research 27 million, statistics would hit you from everywhere. The fact is, 27 million is a number of a statistic in the studies done of trafficking victims. To many people 27 million is just a statistic. To others, perhaps it is still just a random number. However, to me, 27 million is so much more.

27 million has a face, name, age and a dream.

What Can I do?

1.) Educate yourself, become aware. Research and learn. There a few good resources out there such as: humantrafficking.org
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/faqs.html
childtrafficking.com
There are so many but these will at least help you get started.

2.) Spread the word. Once you become educated, pass the information along to others who are not aware. Traffickers have built their horrible empires and bank on the foundation of ignorance to the problem world wide. The average person knows very little or nothing of Human Trafficking.

3.) Get involved!
All of us have different roles in fighting against modern day slavery. Pray and ask God what role he would have you step into.
Help us out! Use your voice!
Fundraisers or Signing up to host a "MADE AWARE-27 million isn't just a number" Campaign in your local area is a great help!
By helping us spread the word and educate people, you personally assist in the rescue process of victims world wide.
You can:
-Plan an event to raise awareness or fundraise for LightForce or another existing organization in your city.
(Many organizations are underfunded and helping them fundraise is a huge help!)
-Create media that answers common questions about trafficking
-Volunteer for an organization that works to prevent trafficking
Whatever role you step into is of great importance.

If you would like information on how to help LightForce out, please contact us here and let us know how you are specifically interested.

LightForce had an amazing and productive year in 2010 of fighting against sexual exploitation of women and children. We received an incredible batch of interns this year! LightForce was also blessed to partner with some amazing organizations as well.

Our staff thanks all of you who prayed, supported and served alongside us this year. We are humbled and blessed by our amazing partners.

Happy New Year!

More Than Enough-Fiesta Update

2010-12-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

Out of any event I have ever done, out of any outreach and out of any of the dangerous places I have been, this past weekend was the first time I have never felt any kind of fear.

I had an amazing team with me this week. A huge THANK YOU goes out to my staff; Laura, Anita and Viviana! You girls rock and are simply amazing. It is a beautiful privilege to serve with you. Secondly, two awesome girls from our home church, Brittany and Erin! Thank you girls, I was blessed by how you jumped in and did not let the language barrier discourage you. Thirdly, Michele (who drove) and Elizabeth (who filmed) joined us on our journey up to the border. You ladies were such a huge help and sincere source of encouragement. It was a privilege to know you and work with you this past weekend, I look forward to more adventures. Lastly, a thank you to Helen and Xiomara from New Image in Managua, Nicaragua. These girls joined us for the whole weekend and completed the LightForce team. I am so grateful!

The fiesta was amazing and I am so thrilled at how easy God made the whole thing feel. Saturday, I felt an incredible amount of peace. We committed the day to God and so whatever happened our hearts trusted. Between the women, children, our team and a local pastor with his youth group there were SO MANY PEOPLE at our event. However we somehow had food left over! I was amazed. The games were a hit, of course the pinata and the dramas performed by the youth group were some of the best I have ever seen. Everything that encompassed the night was above and beyond my expectations. One women told us that she never had a childhood and so that was the most fun she had ever had in her whole life. You see it is our belief and heart that you go out for the one. It is not about numbers that mark a success rate. It is easy to feel that pressure but yet I refuse to feel that expectation. Jesus said He leaves the 99 for the one and so that is the example set before us. Although, we do get a lot of women and young girls at our events sometimes, it never matters. One heart that changes is always enough. In a year and a half of this ministry I have never encountered the amount of favor as we did this weekend. God is the God of above and beyond. Every single facet held so much favor, joy and peace and yet we were in some of the most dangerous areas. Only God can make the scariest, darkest place be a place of fun and light. I know these principles about His kingdom and yet I am always so amazed when He does it.

Tomorrow Brittany, Laura and I will head out on the bus, once again, to Nicaragua. Thursday is our fiesta for the children near the brothel areas and whose mothers are drug addicts and often they are left all alone at home all day. Many of these children do not go to school. These are the little ones who are at great risk for tragic situations if they are not already in one. So we will have games, candy and a pinata! The most exciting thing about this day is that the event will be held in our new house we are now proud to have close to a rural area. A person pledged to pay the rent for our house, the lawyer waived the fees when we signed for the house and women from the border are already calling to sign up for classes. God is amazing!

Friday we will host our final fiesta in Managua. This is our biggest one for children, so far we have 225 of some of the poorest kids signed up and I have to admit anything with kids is my favorite! Whew, it will be wild for sure! LightForce is hosting the events and paying for the food but a wonderful family in the States personally paid for all the toys and gifts! These are some children that are at risk for prostitution, so please pray that God will give us wisdom and that they will know that God loves them.

We are all a little weary so pray God strengthens us for the final events!

There are still so many stories and situations that for security purposes I am unable to blog about. However, please continue to pray for us here in Central America. God has been opening up such amazing opportunities. The danger has increased some but also favor and protection has as well. People like you who read this and pray, make it all possible. I saw the evidence of your prayers for us this past week. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Check back soon for more updates from this week's events!

God of the nations, God of the peoples and God of the Fiesta

2010-12-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

One of my prayers everyday for the last eights months has been that Jesus would be Lord of my day, Lord of my moments and Lord of my choices. One thing I have learned in the last year and a half was to depend on God for absolutely everything. Everything is His and everything He holds in his hands. His is God. I wish I had learned this prinicple before I was sent to work in such dark areas. However God has used this ministry and situations we encounter to teach me utter and total dependance on Him.

Thursday night a team of us went out into the red light districts of San Jose passing out coffee and cookies. The night was unusually chilly for Costa Rica and so the hot coffee was a welcomed treat by many of the women out working. We were such dangerous places and yet somehow I felt at home talking with the women, hugging them, praying for them and just being with them. Strange how I could be comfortable I know but yet it's true.

Friday morning six of us loaded up in Michele's van and headed out onto the open road to the border. The weather everyday for the last two weeks has been unusually cool and rainy but not this day. We had and have had amazing clear skies and warm weather. It has been beautiful. We arrived in time to freshen up, check into a hotel and then head back out to the border. We all met up with Anita who brought a small team to help. We stood inside the area where the fiesta was to be held and prayed. I can't tell you the depth my heart was blessed by the sound of 9 women praying and worshiping in the dark. Darkness all around us spiritually and physically and yet we were full of joy and anticipation. We then divided into two teams and passed out invitations all around the border.
We were given incredible amount of favor with all the police and government officials. Several of the women and children remembered us from last year and were looking forward to the Fiesta. God is so good. We came back to our hotel that night tired, dusty, sweating and so elated and what God had done with just 9 women inside a border.

Today is the big day and one I have been looking forward to all year. Today is our annual Fiesta! We have been wrapping gifts and preparing for this event all afternoon. So much work goes into this fiesta and I could not have done it without the amazing team of people God has placed around me for the event. Thank you to all of you who continue to lift us up in prayer.

Please pray, pray, pray for tonight's event. It is dangerous and we ask for protection and continued favor. We know our light will shine as it already has thus far.

God Bless,
Anna

Adventures of LightForce's Angels

2010-12-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

"Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee."

Saint Augustine

When I do not center my heart on Jesus, often the wickedness that takes place all around me can be so loud that I can feel as if I am drowning by the noise. The noise lashes out at me testing my faith and yet my heart still clings to the fact that God alone can rescue, God alone can save and God is good. I have come to learn that my heart is not quiet until it rests on the knowledge of God. There is a difference between a silent heart and a quiet heart. Knowing that difference has kept me steadfast in fighting even when I have not seen results.

I was only living in Costa Rica for a few months when I discovered that God wanted to share with me the stories of thousands of sexually exploited women and children. These children are hidden by older prostitutes and work primarily at night. We began inviting the women and children to our rescue fiestas, and – against tradition – they come.

As I sit here writing, tears come to my eyes on the thought of how a year ago I set out to work in an area no one wanted. I was scared and nervous and had no clue what I was doing, in many ways I still don't know what I am doing! Only by God's amazing grace could I continue. I often wondered when I began this ministry over a year ago if I would truly stick it out. However, my fear of God and my desire to honor Him as Lord of my life was greater than my fear of failure. I am so grateful for a God who not only fights for these women and children but that He fights for me too.

This coming weekend marks one year of LightForce International's outreaches to women and children who are sexually exploited. I am going to do my best to keep a little log on here of our weekend.

Tonight we will go out into the streets and red light districts to give coffee and cookies to women who work in prostitution. These outreaches are designed to be a source of light in a very dark and oppressive industry. We take opportunities to talk to the women, sharing the gospel and offering a chance for hope and change.

On Saturday December 4, we will hold our annual Christmas Fiesta. The outreach is held four hours away from the city. So on Friday our little team out of San Jose will load up into a van and head out on the highway! Road trip!

Friday night we will head out into the area our fiesta is to be held and pass out fliers inviting women, young girls and children to come. This is often an intense and instrumental part of our outreaches so we ask for all of those reading to please be in prayer for us.

To help our staff at LightForce pull off this event, is an amazing host of volunteers! Yesterday, we picked up Erin and Brittany from the airport. These girls are some of our church family and they came all the way to down to help and serve. Accompanying us on our four hour road trip will be our friends who are missionaries here in Costa Rica, Michele and Elizabeth.

Saturday is the big event and our biggest outreach of the year. We ask for prayers!!! Lots of them!!!

Here is how you can partner with us in prayer:

Pray for our safety spiritually and physically.

Pray that women would come.

Pray that on Saturday night December 4th, 2010 that the night would shine like the day just as Pslams 139 proclaims.

Please help us out by re-posting our prayer requests and updates. Help LightForce get the word out and get as many saints around to be praying on behalf of these women who God loves and desires to rescue. Together we can make a difference and it starts by prayer.

Graduation Day

2010-11-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

A few days ago we studied the story of David and Goliath in Spanish Class. At the end of class we had a discussion and our teacher asked us, "What is the 'Goliath' in your life right now?" I sat there pondering on how to answer, especially in Spanish! Picture upon picture began to flash in my eyes of different girls we have ministered to or are currently ministering to in LightForce. The heartbreak and the anger I felt in that moment was overwhelming. I looked at my teacher and replied, "My Goliath is the beast of sexual immorality."
This "Goliath" is a beast so hideous with characteristics so evil. His demand for sex is so outrageous it causes a girl to loose her virginity at 5 years old so that the supply can always meet the demand.
Or a girl I work with who was raped by 6 different men by the time she was ten coming to a total of 10 men by the time she was 16 therefore causing her to decide she was worthless and began to sell her body for money living hungry, dirty and broken as a prostitute.

I know God is bigger than any Goliath but there are days, even weeks when I struggle to stand upon that truth.

Yet days like today, my heart is overflowing and thankful to serve a mighty, mighty God. Today was graduation day for the men and women in Rivas. Sadly not all the participants of the project could attend the party.

I cried with Meybi when she received her certificate. You see we met Meybi on the side of the road one day. We gave her rice and beans, prayed for her and asked her to come to our Jewelry Project Seminar. Surprisingly she came, quiet and holding a look of uncertainty in her eyes. However two months after attending the workshops and hearing about Jesus, Meybi made a whole hearted decision to follow Jesus Christ. Instantly, she left a long life of prostitution. Today, Meybi attends church with her daughter is making her living as a seamstress. Next weekend we will attend Meybi's Wedding! Even now as I type, my eyes fill with tears and I am so humbled to have witnessed this change.

When Walter received his certificate, he could not stop smiling. Then he suprised us all by giving a little speech and challenging everyone in the room to remember that I said God had bigger plans for all of them. Walter said he now knows and believes God wants more for him. He thanked us and God before a whole room of people. Annita and I were shocked and blessed. Walter hardly ever talks!

I wish I could type every detail but sadly I am out of time. Thank you to all the many supporters and intercessors for LightForce International, you help us continue to shine light into darkness!

Broken Has A Face

2010-10-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Broken-

reduced to fragments; fragmented.ruptured; torn; fractured.infringed or violated

Laura and I arrived to the USA September 1st and throughout most of that month traveled and spoke in several US States and Cities. It was on one of my many road trips that I heard a song that really struck me. It had been one of those weeks while traveling that my faith felt challenged. Every now and then, there are times I get discouraged and tired and wonder if I am fighting in vain. Of course I know we are not but there are times even I need reminding we are not fighting a losing battle. The song came on right in the middle of a mental battle of discouraging thoughts. Here are a few of the lyrics:

"Something here is wrong
There are children without homes
But we just move along to take care of our own
There's so much suffering just outside our door
A cry so deafening
We just can't ignore

To all the people who are fighting for the broken
All the people who keep holding on to love
All the people who are reaching for the lonely
Keep changing the world"

Broken is an interesting word. What do you think of when you read or hear that word? When I was a little girl when I thought of the word broken, I thought of toys. When my toys or accessories were broken, I took them to my father and usually he was able to fix or mend them. When I was a teenager, broken was a bone in my body or my car. I would call my father and he would come to my rescue. When I entered into the medical field and worked for General/Vascular Surgeons, broken was usually a Gallbladder, Appendix or Vein. This time, I did not call my father because I was the one to learn how to help fix what was broken. Finally when I left and moved to Central America, the word broken took on a whole new meaning. Broken no longer was a toy or accessory; a bone or a car; a gallbladder or appendix. Broken had a face. Broken was men and women, boys and girls all hungry and hurting for more than just food. I called my heavenly father to help me with the broken in Central America. Then one day, I learned of broken little girls and forgotten older women. Broken now meant women and children living and working in prostitution. Once again, I called my heavenly father to help and He reminded me that His son Jesus died on the cross so that whatever was broken could be fixed

Now and always, Broken has a face to me. Broken has a name and a dream. Broken cries on my shoulder. Broken smiles at me when the making of an earring has been accomplished. Broken has become my family.

I have loved living among the broken and hungry. I have been humbled and privileged to partner with Jesus to fill hungry bellies, mend wounded knees and love on hurting hearts.

To any of you that think you could not change a hurting, ugly world. I have good news, because of Jesus and now through Jesus we can!

Mathew 25:35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37

A Lesson in Beauty

2010-08-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

Laura and I arrived, met up with Annita and the three of us hit the ground running! Many of the women we are outreaching to had some basic needs that needed attending. After a quick lunch and a few much needed cups of coffee we grabbed a bicycle taxi and headed to a brothel area. We were quite a sight as we were crammed into this taxi driving down a road that people go to for one reason! Yet, we were smiling and waving to many of the women standing outside. Our taxi driver/cycler(I am not sure even what these things are called??!) graciously and valiantly agreed to be our body guard. We were on a mad hunt for Carmen who had an open, gaping wound that needed my attention! We finally located Carmen at the local bar/brothel and she came outside and there on the side of the street (with quite an audience) we got her fixed and bandaged up! I never caught the full story but someone beat her up and sliced her knee with a broken, glass bottle. Unless we tood care of it and got her on anitbiotics there was no other option for her. Nice to have my nursing training come in handy on the streets of Nicaragua!

That night we were joined by Ashley and Delia! We grabbed some Salvadorian food and then all crashed! The next day we headed to a famous tourist area were there is a lot of prostitution and trafficking. We had planned to go undercover and talk to some of the women, we were all set until we found out that the danger was at a higher risk than we had anticipated. Don't get me wrong these types of scoutings are always dangerous but for reasons I am unable to explain, we had to make a call and cancel the outing! We found out that if a guy had been with us, we could have gone!! Okay guys...if you are reading this....WE NEED YOU! We did however get some of the main information we needed and we are set to go again next month and we have a guy this time!

Finally, the day for the jewelry workshop.
I am so blessed and so grateful for all the prayers and donations for this past event! We held the jewelry workshop in a new area and I was unsure how it would turn out. The day exceeded my expectations! Out of all the workshops we have ever conducted, this one by far was the best. The peace and joy that filled the atmosphere was so amazing.

All throughout the summer God has sent us so many amazing girls from the USA to help out at all the right times. We were privileged to have Ashley and Delia join us these past few days. The girls are students from Fuller Seminary and were finishing up their practicum here in Costa Rica. Here below is Ashley's words of the Mariposa event:

"I’ve been in Nicaragua for the past couple of days, shadowing and helping a ministry called LightForce that works with girls and women who are either prostituting themselves or have been trafficked. Today, we held a jewelry workshop for the women, and I wanted to share my thoughts from the experience.....

Her eyes surveyed the beads, deciding which color to string next onto her hoop earring. Black bead, sparkly crystal bead, brown bead. When she completed her earring, she held the sets in her hand and smiled contently. These earrings were her creation- her unique creation. I smiled as I witnessed her joy.
I bet God does the same thing when He creates each one of us. He deliberates on every aspect of our personality, body part, and, especially, our spirit. After creating us, I can imagine God sitting back and smiling contently at His creation.
He smiles contently at this woman making the earrings, who sells her body for money on the side streets of Nicaragua, just like He smiles contently at the missionaries who began this ministry. They may be different nationalities, have different pasts, and be immersed in different circumstances, but they have the same Creator.
While the intent is for the earrings to help the women create a small business, which would enable them to stop prostituting their bodies, the main goal of the ministry is to help them understand the realization I just described: they are a unique and beautiful creation, God’s creation.
After making several pairs of earrings, the women clutched their creations and headed back to the streets to make money. My heart ached. Regardless of their profession, they are still God’s creation in whom He delights. Regardless of my profession, I am still God’s creation in whom He delights."

Ashley so sweetly described the events of the day in way many of us thought but could not explain. Watching these women discover their ability to create things of beauty is like Christmas morning for me every single time. I so love their looks of delight and wonder, almost child like. As Ashley said, it gives me a tiny glimpse of God's delight in us.

Thank you for helping LightForce sparks smiles and best of all, HOPE!

Sponsor A Smile This Weekend and Help Us Shed Light In The Dark!!"

2010-08-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

"You are my lamp, Lord. My God illuminates the darkness around me." Psalms 18

I am gearing up for a long/late bus ride tonight again. I have always loved traveling but this past year has seriously challenged that love! This weekend we are heading to an area of Nicaragua to hold a jewelry workshop through our program, "The Mariposa Project". This will be the first time we have held a workshop in this particular area. I received word yesterday that already many women from a brothel area have signed up for the workshop. My cup runneth over, Jesus! Annita, our field director in Nicaragua could hardly contain her joy and desperation to help these women. She had just returned from meeting these women and sharing with them about the Mariposa Project. I was in a constant state of prayer as I waited to hear from her. These areas are dark and physically dangerous that Annita was visiting. The suspense and waiting was almost my undoing! So you can imagine my joy to receive a message on skype from her! Here is how our conversation went,

Annita: "Anna!!!!"
Me: "Hi!!!"
Annita: 7 more of them will go on Monday..they really are so excited
I saw their smiles.....
Me: "yay!!!"
Annita: ..."my heart was broken today with the prostitutes...they need a lot help dude"
Me: "well we are going to help them!!....tell me about it?"
Annita: "yes...for example one of them got a infection in her leg...and it look horrible"
Me: "okay we will try and get her help"
Annita: "okay and another girl was vomitting because she don't have any food today and her stomach was empty :( so I went and buy some bread for them."
Me: Okay, I will figure some things out when I get there and I will look at the one girl's wound.
My heart is breaking too....."
Annita:"but they are so excited about Monday!"

We made a few plans and said our goodbyes. I sat staring at the computer screen feeling such a mix of emotions. My heart breaking for these young girls and yet also so full of hope. Jesus is hope and I cannot wait for them to know him like I know him and I know His heart breaks more for these girls than mine does. He has an answer for them. I felt so humbled and such anticipation to get to these women, to hug them and love on them.

Psalms 9:18 says,"for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed."

In this program we will teach the women a new trade, minister to and love on them; feed them and attend to their basic medical needs. Many are sick or malnourished and simply in need of a hug!

I feel so blessed that so many people have been asking how they can help! Wow, how amazing the body of Christ can be. There are two ways people can help with the event this coming weekend:

1.) PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! We need safety and protection as we head into new and unknown territory. Divine provision and in general the message of love to be conveyed to all who come through the door.

2.) You can purchase a jewelry starter kit for just $8.00 and sponsor a smile! This kit contains enough for a woman to make herself a couple pairs of earrings, allow her to learn the "how to" in the workshop and receive a full meal.

How To Donate!

New Beginnings

2010-08-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

With a culture saturated in sex and distorted ideas of how women and men should look, act or love; young people everywhere have to fight for the purity that their maker has entrusted them with. But there is a change in the wind; God is raising up a generation willing to fight for what the enemy has taken away.

LightForce International Ministries is committed to the fight. In addition to reaching out to exploited women and children, it is our heart to help young women restore the standard of purity in their hearts and lives.

From July 19th-23rd, LightForce had the privilege to partner with Village Ministries International and Young Life Nicaragua, where we held four one-day conferences in three different Nicaraguan cities. These conferences, themed Passion and Purity, were specifically designed to target young women ages 13-21 and restore the hope of innocence. Passion and Purity was sponsored through our program entitled, The Mariposa Project.

Our team consisting of myself, Laura P., Laura G., Breanne, Jacob and Ana A., Rusti and Octavia took turns sharing from a biblical perspective and answering questions on the issues of Love, Sex, Dating and Marriage.

Our seminar each day was broken into three main parts:

Love and Passion

Holiness and Purity

Redemption and Restoration

In the middle of the sessions and at the end of every day, we set aside time to answer question the women had written down. We gave them little sheets of paper to write their question anonymously and every single young girl took that option! Here are just a few examples of the questions we received:

I want to obey God. How can I do that?

How can I avoid someone lying to me in a relationship and know that they really love me?

I know that God can do something more in my life. What is the way that I can go for His purpose? Because I really want an experience…something new and wonderful.

What do you look for in a guy?

Why are there guys in church that break your heart, but that say they know the love of God?

Do men and women have the same feelings?

After I was raped I thought boys would not like me anymore. How come it did not happen? They do like me.

Nowadays the phrase love and passion means having sex. In courtship men ask for the test of love (sex)…why do they think that?

How long do I have to wait to be healed from sexual abuse?

Is virginity spiritual, psychological, or physical?

After I have been raped by my partner what can I do to feel like a new virgin?

These are just some of more than a hundred questions in total we had received at the end of the week. I would estimate that 1 in 3 girls had either been raped or sexually abused. When we polled girls in the States, we received similar questions.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to deliver the truth and answer the questions and cries of this generation. It is a battle for purity, a tough one. Many of the questions we were faced with were good and difficult. They contained graphic topics on issues of sexuality in today's society.

In addition to speaking to the women on love, sex, dating, and marriage, we also engaged them through drama, crafts, and serving them a meal. In conducting these seminars and educating young women, it is our goal to use this as a preventative measure for those at high risk for sexual exploitation.

The response from young women all over exceeded my expectations. At each seminar my heart melted as I looked into their eyes and saw the longing for hope, love and redemption. The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news and that is exactly what they needed to hear! The team from VMI was incredible, and I could not have asked for a better group to launch this project with.

The preparations for the seminar was a joint effort from our team, Mark, Rusti, Jacob Bottom and Laura Gassaway. I want to say a special thank you to them for their tireless efforts and contributions to the curriculum for Passion and Purity.

The week following the seminars our team had the wonderful opportunity to assist VMI with vacation bible school in a very poor area of Esteli, Nicaragua. This week was fun and yet very challenging as we worked to teach the children the gospel as well as proper behavior. In an area where manners are not a priority, our entire team was challenged in gaining their respect and attention. Daily there were obstacles and calamities and yet so much joy.

My favorite part of each day was worship time. We taught the children three songs including hand motions, and they caught on so quickly. This moment seemed to be the one time we managed to have all the children in one room where they were all attentive and engaged! Rusti did an incredible job of organizing the entire program and running the show!

I was encouraged and blessed for our ministry team to have the opportunity to work and serve with VMI this summer. The unity among the team and ministries was remarkable. Mark and Rusti Griffin are such amazing hosts with real hearts to love and serve people everywhere.

Breanne wrote something on her blog I wish to quote,"This summer, we've gone from being blessed to play with children in the slums of Costa Rica and Nicaragua to being blessed to stay and rest on a beautiful island or beach. We've had days of sitting in an apartment giggling and studying the Bible together. We've also had days of sitting down and hashing out misunderstandings between us. We've been healthy and gone running at a nearby park, and we've been at the clinic or hospital with parasites and intestinal infections."

It is not easy for any of us to sum up the last two months in Central America. In the ups and downs on the mission field you learn "to count it all joy" as Paul stated in the bible.

Thank you to so many of you who made these last several projects possible for us! By your prayers and support you are a part of these seminars and change.

One last news piece! We have a new addition to the team at Lightforce, Ana A.

She serves as field director in Nicaragua for Lightforce as well as an incredible translator, prayer partner and co ordinator!

more to come soon!

Where Do I Start!!

2010-08-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

It is difficult for me to know where to begin in explaining the events of this summer so far here with Lightforce International. Words fail me to truly articulate my heart at this moment. I feel honored and humbled to have been apart of God's work here in Central America these last few months and even more honored to have served alongside so many amazing people.

Many of you who follow my blog know that Susannah has been my partner in "fighting crime" from the beginning and this summer she has since returned to the United States. I could never have done any of the starting of our organization without her and I will miss her greatly. Susannah was also an incredible friend and a great adventurer. Memories of tears, laughter, heat, bugs, long bus rides, times of desperate prayer, intense obstacles, flat tires, flashing fuel lights and brainstorming over chickys and peanut butter were the days of small beginnings in Lightforce International and Susannah's part. Love you Sus!

I am thrilled to share that I now have a new partner, Laura Perry, here with me. Laura prayerfully made the decision to join Lightforce International and move to Costa Rica. She will be the director of communications for Lightforce as well as my constant traveling companion. Laura has done so much in helping as emails from all over the world pour in and important decisions have to be made speedily. We have been sick together, cried together, laughed together and learned together. Ministry among the exploited, abused and prostituted can be extremely difficult and heavy at times. Yet, God's faithfulness shines through and we stand in awe as He works.

We also have our counterpart for Costa Rica, Vivianna. I am so blessed and excited as God's forms our tiny team of fighters.

We started June off with a press release, launched our new Tshirt design, hosted our very own booth at a music festival, made it through a series of radio interviews, painted a mural for Rahab Foundation, established an internship program and wrote the curriculum for the Passion and Purity seminars. So many of my friends and church family lost sleep and consumed lots of coffee to help me pull off the above list. Thank you to all of you who volunteered at Lightforce's booth and bought a Tshirt! A special shout out goes to Susan Trout of Hands On Originals, she worked hard with me to pull off the new Tshirts. Not only is she an incredible sales rep but also an incredible friend.

We held VBS in a rural area of Costa Rica in Pastor Jose's church. To help with this project, my friends 'Opposite Youth' came to help. This was a wonderful and tough experience for all of us. The children were blessed and many tears were spilled at the end of that amazing week. The children of this area still call me from Pastor Jose's phone asking in such sweet little voices when I am coming to see them again. AH, melt my heart!
The following week my amazing group of interns worked hard to paint a mural for my good friend and adopted Mom here, Mariliana. Mariliana is the founder and director of Rahab Foundation. These girls were amazing servants and never complained. Just when we settled into a wonderful routine, it was time for me to put half of them back on the plane!

At the end of June I headed up to Nicaragua with Breanne and Laura to join up with my friends from Village Ministry International to conduct a series of Passion and Purity seminars and VBS. (the rest to be continued in next blog!)

In the mean time, check out one of our interns and our photographer for this summer Breanne's Blog.
http://faithleaps-hoperises.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

Upcoming Event with Lightforce!

2010-07-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

Passion and Purity: Are You Willing to Fight?

With a culture saturated in sex and distorted ideas of how women and men should look or act, young people everywhere have to fight for the purity that their maker has entrusted them with. But there is a change in the wind; God is raising up a generation willing to fight for what the enemy has taken away.

LightForce International Ministries is committed to the fight. In addition to reaching out to exploited women and children, it is our heart to help women restore the standard of purity in their hearts and lives. From July 19th-23rd, LightForce has the privilege to partner with Village Ministries International and Young Life Nicaragua and hold five one-day conferences in five different Nicaraguan cities. These conferences, themed Passion and Purity, are specifically designed to target young women ages 13-21 and restore the hope of innocence.

In addition to speaking to the women on love, sex, dating, and marriage, we are also engaging them through drama, crafts, and serving them a meal. This creates a unique opportunity for our partners to fight with us.

We ask that you please pray for open hearts and minds in order that the Gospel of Jesus and the message of purity would be solidified in this generation of young women. We can do nothing except through Him who gives us strength, and we covet your prayers intensely.

This is also a chance to partner with us financially as well. As we are expecting 50-100 women at each conference, which is 250-500 for the whole week, we need the help of our partners now more than ever. Right now LightForce needs $700 for food alone for the week. If 25 people gave $28 each, we could feed and bless these young people!

We ask that you give whatever the Lord lays on your heart. You can go to www.lightforceintl.com and click ‘Donate.’ Or send checks written to ‘Cornerstone Church of Lexington’ with ‘LightForce International’ in the memo to the following address:

LightForce International

C/O Cornerstone Church of Lexington

P.O. Box 21821

Lexington, KY 40522

Thank you so much for your prayers and support thus far! It is only when we partner with the Body of Christ as a whole that we can reach a generation looking for hope!

In Him,

LightForce International Ministries

Press Release

2010-06-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

God is doing some amazing things in and with LightForce International Ministries this year. Our very first press release was launched just this past week and I wanted to share it with everyone! I promise to update everyone soon with a more detailed account. Hugs and Blessings!

LIGHTFORCE INTERNATIONAL SHOWS POWER OF ONE IN FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Kentucky Woman a Force to be Reckoned With in Battle against Costa Rican, Nicaraguan Sex Trade;

Mariposa Micro-Finance Project Helps Women, Children Learn Jewelry Trade for Alternative Income

LEXINGTON, Kentucky and SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (June 8, 2010) – One woman from Lexington, Kentucky is on a mission to help sexually exploited women and children in Costa Rica and Nicaragua experience a new way of life. Love, support and teaching a new trade – jewelry-making – are the tools this missionary uses as she brings hope and aid to hungry, abandoned and exploited children in the two Central American countries that the U.S. State Department calls “source and transit” points for forced prostitution.

Anna Carroll, founder of LightForce International Ministries, works in cooperation with Costa Rican and Nicaraguan church leaders who guide and support her efforts, especially in the border areas. LightForce International’s anchor program is called “The Mariposa Project,” an outreach that supplies food, basic medicines, and workshops for learning jewelry-making. Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish. Carroll, the daughter of Pastor Kim Carroll of the Cornerstone Church of Lexington, which sponsors the mission. has dedicated this project to the transformation and redemption of exploited women and children involved in prostitution.

“We want every victim to have the opportunity to experience the love, beauty, freedom and hope found in relationship with Jesus. It is through The Mariposa Project that we have begun to reach the women and children in Central America by holding fiestas and trade workshops. Out of these outreach events we are slowly gaining their confidence and trust,” said Carroll. “This project is dedicated to my grandmother, Betty Bell, whose initials "BB" make the wings of the butterfly. She was the first supporter of the jewelry project.”

“The transformation from brokenness to wholeness is a metamorphosis that begins by loving people where they are and as they are,” explains Carroll. “The jewelry workshops allow women to see there is another way to support themselves. We ask the ladies to make three pairs of earrings, one of which we resale to support the ministry.”

This summer, LightForce International will partner with Village Ministries International to host a series of seminars on abstinence, health risks and purity in the northern mountains of Nicaragua, a region where young girls are at high risk for prostitution and trafficking. Carroll is currently visiting Kentucky as she prepares for the upcoming Ichthus Music Festival, June 16-19, where LightForce will have a booth to distribute information and sell tee-shirts and jewelry in order to raise funds to support this summer’s outreach programs. For supporters unable to attend the Ichthus festival (www.ichthusfestival.org), donations can be made through the ministry website at www.lightforceintl.com.

While other cultural or religious leaders may be debating social justice, Carroll’s mission demonstrates a growing awareness and commitment among American evangelicals to fighting modern slavery. "Human Trafficking" has been selected as the Evangelical Press Association's "Cause of the Year" for 2010. EPA will present a special "Higher Goals" award next year for the best article on this general theme published during the 2010 calendar year. This special award is designed to encourage EPA publications to write about this pressing human rights issue.

"The ongoing tragedy of human trafficking is an offense to God, who values humans so highly that He sent His own Son to die for them," said Doug Trouten, EPA executive director, in an announcement about the 2010 Cause of the Year. "Those who treat people as commodities to be bought and sold are sinning against their brothers and sisters, and against God who created people in His image."

Human trafficking involves luring, tricking, coercing or forcing people to work in exploitative conditions for little or no pay. Although human trafficking often involves the forced shipping of people from one location to another, it sometimes happens within a nation. Some claim that human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, with annual revenues exceeding $40 billion. The United Nations estimates that nearly 2.5 million people from more than 100 nations are victims of human trafficking.

"Human trafficking is a large enough topic to include slavery, indentured servitude, debt bondage, forced marriage, prostitution and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation, the sale of infants for adoption, organized begging, and forced military conscription including child soldiers," said Trouten. "The issue also connects with questions of how we treat refugees and runaways." After drug-smuggling and gun-running, human trafficking is estimated to be the world’s most profitable criminal activity.

More of Anna’s Story, in Her Words:

While pursuing a medical career in Lexington, Ky., and working with several ministries through my local church, I felt a tug. It was time to go.

I’d gone on several short-term mission trips, but thought that someday, God would call me to mission work full time. When he called me to work with children in Costa Rica, I closed down my American life, and said, “God, take me where you will. I want to be your hands and feet. Write my story, your version, your way.”

Once I arrived in Costa Rica, I realized that it wasn’t my story that would be the focus. He wanted to share with me the stories of thousands of hungry, abandoned and exploited children. One image stands out in particular. In Costa Rica, I saw a bright pink backpack bobbing up and down on the back of one of the cutest little girls I have ever seen. The 10-year-old bounded up to me, wrapped her arms around me and introduced herself. She had just returned from school. As she ran off to play, a woman told me her story. As is often the case with child prostitutes, her impoverished family sold her at a very young age to a hotel to be used as a prostitute. They sold her for $7. She was later rescued and placed in a Christian shelter, where she now lives. Perhaps, like me, this story brings tears to your eyes and has you call out to our Father, who alone can rescue and heal these children.

Right now, I’m working with churches in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. One Costa Rican congregation in particular has a huge burden (but few resources) to reach sexually exploited youth in the area. These children are hidden by older prostitutes and work primarily at night. They are smuggled between the two countries by truck drivers. The congregation had been praying for God to send a missionary who could look past the darkness and bear God’s light. I’m honored to be an answer to that prayer. Praise the Lord, I get to see the look of hope in eyes that once looked hopeless. We invite women and children from both countries to our rescue fiestas, and – against tradition – they are coming. High officials are taking notice and offering their help. No door remains closed to us, because the way is paved by the prayers of his people.

Costa Rica and Nicaragua are just the beginning. Christ longs to crush human trafficking, and I pray He uses LightForce to stamp it out from every nation. We desire to equip local churches with the necessary resources to combat this issue, all the while preaching the gospel, our message of hope.

God reigns, and He is good.

Additional Information
More than 3,000 girls and young women work in San José’s 300 brothels. Now rivaling Thailand and the Philippines as the world’s leading sex tourism destination, Costa Rica is credited with having the region’s largest child prostitution problem and has been flagged by INTERPOL, as the country is fast becoming the hemispheric capital of sex tourism.

LightForce’s Plan in Central America:
• To feed the women and children.
• To teach other trades as means for income.
• To raise awareness and to educate the world about the problem of exploitation & prostitution.
• To preach the Gospel – a message of hope.
• To love the women and children.
• To connect them with the local community of believers (local churches).

Nicaragua is principally a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Women and children are trafficked within the country and to neighboring countries, most often to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States, for commercial sexual exploitation. The most prevalent form of internal trafficking is the exploitation of children, both boys and girls, in prostitution. NGOs identify Managua, Granada, Esteli, and San Juan del Sur as destinations for foreign child sex tourists. NGOs report instances of forced child marriages between young girls and older foreign men, particularly in San Juan del Sur. Children are trafficked within the country for forced labor in construction, agriculture, the fishing industry, and for domestic servitude. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2009

Factors that Contribute to the Trafficking Infrastructure
Throughout the Central American region, “machismo” attitudes are prevalent, and women are often viewed as sexual objects. Interfamily violence, the breakdown of families, and poverty push young people to leave their homes and communities to search for better lives. The pull factor of the United States also causes many young people to migrate northward. To a lesser extent, pull factors entice young people toward more prosperous neighboring countries, for example, from Nicaragua south to Costa Rica. (Nicaragua has the second lowest per capita income in the western hemisphere.) At border crossings, children are especially vulnerable to the whims of corrupt immigration officials or traffickers who help them cross the border.—The Protection Project, Johns Hopkins University

For more information about LightForce International Ministries, visit lightforceintl.com and letgodwrite.blogspot.com. LightForce International Ministries can also be found on Facebook and YouTube. Anna Carroll tweets at @AnnaMCarroll.

This Little Light of Mine......

2010-04-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

One of the first songs I learned to sing as a child was called, "This Little Light of Mine." For those of you who may not be familiar with this particular song, it went something like this,
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine

There were many verses for this song as well as hand motions and I remember them all to this day. Lately, there is one particular verse that has stuck out in my mind and well describes life for me in recent months.
Don't let Satan blow it out
I'm gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine
Many days, I feel as if my light is so little and insignificant; I fight though with a relentless determination to NOT LET SATAN BLOW MY LIGHT OUT! I have learned the importance of being decided. In the Bible Paul speaks of the fact that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. I have never felt I truly understood or personally witnessed this verse in my own life until now. At times, the realms of darkness I have seen and fought against that surrounded the lives of women and little children have made me want to run. Yet, there is something greater and more powerful to sustain my heart; the knowledge that the voice that calms the seas, spoke the world into motion, who conquered death and can make the night shine like the day, lives in me. There is nothing more powerful or greater than my God and because He lives in me, I have power over darkness. I get so excited and re fueled when I begin to think of these things!

Susannah and I spent four days in Nicaragua last week visiting various ministries that were similar to LightForce. I asked as many questions as I could desiring to learn as much as possible. Certain stories were hard to take and absolutely heartbreaking but for security purposes I have decided not to share them on this blog. I also heard beautiful and powerful stories of redemption. God is good. We learned to navigate the sections of Nicaragua that were new to us pretty well and the favor that seem to ensue at times was amazing. Towards the end of our trip we were blessed to stay with Mark and Rusti! They are an amazing couple who are laying their lives down as missionaries to Nicaragua. I had the wonderful privilege of staying up very late one night talking with them and hearing their wisdom and insight into situations I had encountered. Praise God for His people around the world. Their home, fellowship and hospitality was the perfect ending to an emotionally draining week.

This week, I have been beyond blessed to have Amber as my roommate and she will be here for two whole weeks. Just in the few days I have come to know her, I have felt so encouraged by her heart and life. Amber showed up with a heart ready to serve and love on me as well as gifts and an array of talent and wisdom to add. At one point she gently told me I was going to have to let her love on me a little bit and learn how to receive. Ha ha, she was right as I have proven to be a slow learner in this department ;)

Today, my Mom and Karen flew in from the States with more gifts, love and hugs. I feel overwhelmed in a good way! Tears cloud my vision as I try to type and I cannot even seem to really find the words to describe the depth of gratitude I feel to have these women here with me. This past month has been the hardest month I have ever experienced since moving to Central America. This past month has also been full of sweet surprises. On one of my lowest days, I received a package in the mail from two of the most incredibly thoughtful people. The package contained my favorite snacks and an assortment of things every girl loves to get and it made me feel normal and not so far from home. I am so truly humbled.

Below, I have included several pictures taken by Alumbra Photography of the recent children's fiesta and just highlights in general of a trip to a border area. May God bless all of you who read this blog and pray for us here in Central America. Thank you so much for supporting LightForce International Ministries. I pray for those of you Christians reading this that you would remain decided to let your "little light shine", what difference one "little light" can make in the world.

* NOTE Click on the pictures to see in full.

It Is Well With My Soul because I'd Rather Have Jesus

2010-04-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

In 2 Samuel David makes a statement that he can't give to God that which cost him nothing. Although I had been walking with the Lord for sometime, it wasn't until the summer of 2006 that I truly surrendered my heart, dreams and ideas over to Him and made Him Lord of everything. I told Him, down any road at any cost, I would follow and I truly meant those words. Since that day, there have been seasons that have led me down a path ending at the foot of the cross. Upon arriving at this place, I have had to lay my preferences or desires there and walk away. Knowing that to truly know God and to live for Him, I had to lay it all down; surrender everything. A friend once told me that God will take us to altar moments, just as He did Abraham with Isaac. In those altar moments, it will not be enough to simply build the altar; it will not be enough to simply lay that "thing" on that altar; but He will require us to raise the dagger and be willing to put to death that very "thing" which appears more important than Him.

In following Christ, it is supposed to cost you and me. We all should live with the mindset as David lived. My altar moments have called for me to move to another country and lay the dream of house, marriage and family in the USA down. I am asked often by strangers who are simply curious about my life and choices if I just did not want to get married or have children or live in the USA. I often reply that I believe I will one day have a marriage, family and home, preferably on the mission field. However, at present this is what God has for me and is doing in me. I have to trust in God, I cannot afford any other option.

Maybe for those of you reading this, your altar moments have looked nothing like mine. However, the point is not if yours are similar to mine but rather do you even have them. Does your life lived before Jesus allow for Him to call you to the foot of the cross and lay down that which is held more dear than Him? God cares more about your willingness to lay something down for His name sake than the actual something you laid down.

On March 26th, 2010 my grandmother, (known to many of us as "Nanny") closed her eyes for the final time and passed away. I received the phone call from my father early that morning informing me of her peaceful death. I wanted so much to be there with her, to hug her one more time and say goodbye. When the choice came to fly home, I turned it down. God gave me the option but in my heart I knew I needed to stay. As painful as the decision was and still is, I do not regret it for one second. Upon hearing of her death it took me many days to gather my thoughts and challenge myself of the decision to live here and of the cost.

Thank you to so many of you who sent emails, cards and messages containing your condolences and prayers. I am one very blessed girl!

There is much on the agenda this month for Light Force and I am excited!

On the week of the 19th, I will have three awesome women coming to help us conduct the next outreach beyond the border! Amber, from Georgia, will be here for several weeks with me. Karen, from Kentucky and my home church, will be here a week. I have known Karen my whole life and it is truly a precious privilege to have her come and to be able to serve alongside her here! Last but not least, my Mama is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She will be here for a week and I am so so excited. Here I am missing my family but choosing to stay and God rewards that by sending family to me. The most beautiful part is that He doesn't have to but He chooses to and that concept makes me cry all over again.

I am leaving the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns, which was the last song I sang with my grandmother.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

Nothing But Jesus' Love Can Make A Way

2010-03-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

"To believe in a child is to believe in the future. Through their
aspirations they will save the world. With their combined knowledge the
turbulent seas of hate & injustice will be changed. They will
supply humanity with music & beauty it has never known. They will
endure. To these ends I pledge my life's work."
-Henry James

I have sat here for the last few minutes watching the cursor flash in and out waiting for me to type something profound to articulate the events of the weekend. I was stalling, racking my brain for that perfect adjective to describe my thoughts and feelings.
Friday, was the fiesta for children inside a community of Nicaragua. We were told there were around 70 children anxiously awaiting our arrival. I was so excited, I love children! I love spending time with them, singing with them and learning from them. We could not get across the border fast enough to get to these children for my satisfaction. When we arrived we discovered there was well over 70 children and the final count came to 200 children. While my Dad and Pastor Rudy filled the pinata, Catherine, Susannah and Matt helped entertain the children with games while I set up music for worship.
Worship turned out to be a hit with all of the kids. They learned the motions quickly and joined in whole heatedly. We were having a blast. It was hot and I was dripping with sweat from all the jumping and singing. However, the look of excitement on the faces of those kids kept me going and I soon forgot the heat, dirt and the malnutrition surrounding me. After worship it was pinata time! However, this was the hardest part of the day with so many children and one pinata. I will leave you to your imagination as to what that particular event was like!
We wrapped up the fiesta with a lesson on how Jesus is our friend and then we passed out cookies and Koolaid. It was not until I was in my hotel room that I allowed what I saw to settle into my heart and think of all the hunger I saw. Hunger for love, attention and food. Have you ever seen a malnourished child? I am not talking about the advertisements you see on TV. I am talking about real life, in person? If you have then you know the absolute heart break I felt that night as I tried to sleep. Some of my little friends in that community, their hair is falling out, they have worms, distended bellies, dirty feet, deformities and do not go to school. For two hours they laughed, played, sang and hugged my neck as if there was not a problem in the world. When they say my name, my heart melts. They are not statistics, a project or a cause they are people with hopes and dreams and feelings. They are becoming part of my life and the reason I stay and fight.
Saturday, one of final fiestas inside the border went better than I could have ever asked! LightForce partnered with World Vision to host a talk on HIV awareness and to answer question the women may have on medical problems. Due to time restraints, we were unable to have the doctors there for the exams but next time we plan to host a medical event with doctors. World Vision has agreed to do this for me and I am so grateful as I do not have those resources yet. Between thirty and thirty-five women showed up for the event and it amazed the people from World Vision. The head representative told us that it was incredible the women come to us and have a re pore with Susannah and I. He told us that we must be doing something right to have a turnout such as that and if we ever needed anything not to hesitate in asking him! Many of the women are learning our names and slowly we are beginning to earn their trust, slowly. Many of them I had not seen since the last fiesta and it was fun to catch up. I sat with one who is considered the ring leader and the biggest trouble maker. The "big trouble maker" calls me friend and sat there teaching me Spanish words I had not learned. I love how God is not bound by language.
When it all ended, they asked us when they could see us again and made sure we knew how to get in touch with them. My heart was overflowing. True contact and connection, finally.
Susannah, Catherine and I ended the night in our hotel laughing and sharing Root Beer Floats. A long, successful and fun weekend was coming to a close.
The next morning we went to Pastor Alberto's Church where Dad preached. It was an awesome sermon about Jesus and our place in history. To say I was proud, would be an understatement.
Dad and Matt left this morning and as always, I fought tears when I hugged my Dad's neck goodbye. Sometimes, the little girl in me doesn't want to stay. Instead she wants to climb in his suitcase, or beg him to take me with him. I don't though, instead I smile and we say see you soon and I watch him walk away.

2010-03-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

I have been extremely blessed to have Catherine here with me in Costa Rica. She has braved the ups and downs of life here without so much as a flinch. Catherine has taken everything in stride with me as we laugh at changes in schedules, bad bus drivers, weird foods, bugs, heat, dangerous places, long services, language barriers and being far from home. She has had a first hand look at my life here on a daily basis and God has used that through her encouragement when things go wrong. No amount of words can truly describe the depth of gratitude I have felt for not being alone for a change. So, in honor of her perseverance, we played tourists over the weekend instead of missionaries!

We hiked around the base of the Arenal Volcano and went swimming at the bottom of a huge, beautiful waterfall in La Fortuna. However, we had not worn swimsuits or brought towels but that still did not stop us from jumping in clothes and all! Abdi was our amazing tour guide who wanted to practice his English. One of the questions he asked us was this: "Why in English do I say 'get off the bus' 'get on the bus' but when I am talking about a car I have to say, 'get out of the car', 'get in the car'? This does not makes sense to me, can you explain please?"
Oh man all I could do was laugh because he was right no one would ever say get off the car in that context! The more Catherine and I thought about how to answer, the harder we laughed. We had no clue what to say but, "well, umm, hmmm, you just don't say that Abdi." I am sure those of you reading might have a much better answer, I am curious to know it myself!

In the past few days, Catherine and I have been planning for the arrival of my Dad and Matt C and the trip to the border once again. This particular weekend is a big one for us and already obstacles have begun to swing in from all sides but that just makes it all the more exciting. I refuse to cave or give up just because something does not go according to plan. For every door that shuts, there are always three that remain open. God has a path carved out and daily I am seeking to stay on His path and not mine.

To spend a few days being lighthearted has been a great anecdote for me heart. The last week has been tough not being home with my family. My grandmother has been sick with Pancreatic Cancer for the last 9 months and she is now coming to the end of this battle with Cancer. Hospice has been called in and my Mom tells me my grandmother is peaceful and not in pain. The majority of my family and her grandchildren live in Kentucky. There have been many family gatherings, story telling and laughter that I have missed out on. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am close to my family and to miss all of this is absolutely breaking my heart. The Bible says that God is near to the broken hearted and I have had such a great amount of peace and trust in my heart with everything. There is a small possibility I may get to go home to say goodbye to my grandmother but whether it works out or not, I am okay.

My Dad arrives tomorrow and I am thrilled to have that piece of home here with me. Please keep us in prayer this weekend as we journey again into a tough, dark area.

"To choose

what is difficult

all one's days

as if it were easy

that is faith."

W.H. Auden

When love comes to town......

2010-03-10T17:46:00.000-08:00

A friend recently asked me to give a description of a typical, normal day or week in my life here. Upon reading that, I laughed softly to myself because there was no such a thing as a "typical" or "normal" day or week for me here in Central America.
Living in Costa Rica, working in Nicaragua, friendships with high ranking officials, Spanish tutor that does not speak English, helping fellow missionary friends open a coffee shop, earthquakes, coconuts straight off the tree, mango off the tree, and 90 degree weather in February. Surprisingly these things are all ironically now very normal and typical for me. Each day here is truly adventurous and each trip to the border or Nicaragua is always full of surprises and obstacles. Sometimes I feel like life for me is fascinatingly chaotic.
This past weekend the trip to Nicaragua was above all I could have expected! Often I have no clue what will transpire or how successful a workshop will go but I always put my hope in God. Always, always, always, God comes through in powerful and unexpected ways for me.
Last Friday we all went to bed as early as possible because we would be catching a 4am bus to Nicaragua. However, our sleep was interrupted by a 4.4 earthquake here in Costa Rica. Although it was certainly not quite on the level of Haiti or Chile it was still a hard one. During the shaking, I felt so helpless and my mind was racing as to what to do in that moment. However, I couldn't move from the shaking and that was the most helpless feeling. Needless to say, I never really fell back to sleep! Catherine, myself and Valeria loaded up on the bus and it turned out to be literally the worst bus ride I have ever encountered. It was the worst Valeria had ever experienced and she is Costa Rican! Our bus driver almost wrecked twice and in one of those moments we almost toppled off the side of a mountain.
I was never so glad to finally get off that bus and head for the immigration lines! We entered into Nicaragua and Pastor Rudy was there to greet us at the border. We headed to the Church to rest and catch up with Pastor Rudy. We sat in the shade and he shared his powerful testimony. He also shared with us that there is much persecution for him and his family in this small town from several practicing witches there. He said it was a stronghold in the community and many try to cast spells on his house. Rudy smiled and said he knew God was stronger and he had no fear or worry. Then he looked at me and reminded me how important it was for me to stay prayed up. However, there was such a sense of peace that settled on me as I listened to this man share his heart. I have a deep trust in God since living here and also an understanding that depending on God is not optional.
Little by little, women and children began to trickle into the Church with looks of excitement and hope in their eyes. My heart melted and I thought to myself, "man I love my life!!!" I divided my time between the jewelry making with the women and worship with the children. Despite no sleep and extreme heat in Nicaragua, I was having an absolute blast! At the end I shared a portion of my testimony with the women and told them I was proof God can change anyone's life if they are willing. The vulnerable expressions that met my eyes were so heart wrenching that I was filled with even more compassion and determination to help them. It was the first time in months of going there that I felt a bond beginning to form. God is so amazing.
We wrapped up the long day at a special Church service on the beach. We stayed at a house in the campo which is the country. No running water, outhouses and bugs of ridiculous size! Every single minute was full of adventure and not to mention the fact that we all three had to share a bed, thank goodness it was a queen size ;)
The next day we had breakfast with Rudy and his family. We also had, my personal favorite, coconut milk!!!
He and I discussed the plans for the next event on March 19th at the church for all the children in the community which will be about 75-80 and I am so pumped. I also have a meeting with a lady who heard about the ministry and is a director of an orphanage there in Nicaragua. For those that know me, this is my heart and to say I was excited to hear this news would be an understatement.
I love Nicaragua and it has begun to occupy a special place in my heart. I simply never tire of going there and seeing the people I have come to love.

Thank you so much to all of you that donated and helped to make this past weekend possible. When I logged on to see my account, I cried at the amount of donations.
Isaiah 58:10 says, "and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

Thank you for being a light with me in such a dark place.

Sponsor A Smile This Weekend!!!

2010-03-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

" And this is where love comes in - when it is demanding, and yet we can give it with joy."

-Mother Teresa

This weekend Catherine, myself and Valeria will head to Nicaragua to hold another jewelry workshop. We plan to love, feed, and hug all who attend as well as teach the jewelry technique. I am excited and prayerful of this weekend. I have no idea what to expect since this will be the first time I will have taught or really worked in this community inside Nicaragua. This event is bigger than the events in the past and therefore will quite possibly double if not triple the amount of women and children to feed and help. I was telling my sister, Rachel, that I was concerned about being able to afford to feed all the people who come this weekend. Her reply was not what I expected and yet much needed! Rachel replied, "Well good thing you are not the one responsible to feed them!" At first I was confused and then realized what she meant. My sister was refering to the fact that Jesus is the one who will feed them and not me. Of course me and the girls with me will be the vessels but ultimately the responsibility is on Him. All we must do is go, serve and obey.

I am curious to see all God has up His sleeve because this coming event has had the most obstacles, set backs and I have had to fight worrying more this time around!! We also lost most of our help in running and setting up the event. However, Pastor Rudy, (who is the Nicaraguan pastor I work with) came to my rescue! How I could have jumped through the phone to hug him!! He opened the church and so we will outreach to the community. The church there is helping me with food, a place to stay and etc..!! Man, God is so good that many times I could cry. I have so much love for these people, they have become family to me and they take such good care of me. This helps greatly when I feel so far from family and church family.

I am blessed that so many have written me they are praying and many have asked how they can help! Wow, how amazing the body of Christ can be. There are two ways people can help with the event this coming weekend:

1.) PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! We need safety and protection as we head into new and unknown territory. Divine provision and in general the message of love to be conveyed to all who come through the door.

2.) You can purchase a jewelry starter kit for just $5.00 and sponsor a smile! This kit contains enough for a woman to make herself a pair of earrings and allow her to learn the "how to" in the workshop.

How To Donate!

All In A Week's Time

2010-02-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

Grocery Shopping

Arroz con Pollo, the food we served at the workshop

Making Jewelry!

Organized Chaos ;)

A child's heart but a grown-up's head

(me taking a break from being la directora!)

Every now and then you just gotta stop for some fresh coconut milk

My favorite coffee shop

Embarking on adventures in downtown San Jose

I have traveled so much in the last three months and my body was beginning to rebel! So after having come back from the border this last time, Catherine and I took it easy. I have not set my alarm once this whole week. Resting, reading, running, shopping, cooking Latin Cuisine, baking cookies and seeing movies! Ha ha, right doesn't sound like we have rested?? Surprisingly these sorts of things are relaxing and lighthearted for me. I often need that living here and working in the areas that I do. I learned how to Zumba this week! I have had so much fun.

Proverbs 31 describes a godly woman is one who can "laugh at the days to come" and that is what I do when obstacles and trials come. We have a choice in the attitudes we take on when hard or difficult situations arise. I choose joy!

The Weight of the World is Not Mine to Carry

2010-02-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance....will arise from another....And who knows but that you have come for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

This passage came across my path yesterday during a time where I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. "FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!" echoed over and over in my head. I began to think on the story of Esther, a story I have memorized all too well. I cannot begin to imagine the weight Esther must have felt on her shoulders and in her heart. An entire nation in some ways depended on her speaking up and facing down the enemy. I wondered in that moment what was going through Esther's mind. Did she have supernatural peace, was she worrying and laying awake at night tossing and turning, or did she spend hours and hours upon her knees crying out? Perhaps to paint a clearer picture of my current frame of mind; I will go back to the beginning of my adventure to the border last week.

Catherine, Susannah, Josue and myself loaded up in the car and headed off to the border for the very first workshop. This workshop, as I have mentioned before, consisted of jewelry making. So many wonderful people contributed to buying beads and helping me prepare for this event while I was in the States last month. Our trip was a breeze up to the border and oh how I wish that would have set the tone for the rest of the day, however that was not to be the case! We arrived earlier than planned, so we checked into our hotel, freshened up and grabbed some breakfast. Within the first hour of arriving, things quickly began to spiral down hill. Soon after breakfast Susannah and Josue were not feeling well, then we discovered the car had a flat tire and then right after that I sprained my ankle. All of this transpiring within a forty minute time span and down to the wire of the workshop beginning! I limped back into my hotel room and called my parents to pray. I do not believe in coincidences and I knew we were under attack. Despite all that was going on around me, my heart was still at so much peace. God is good. After meeting all the wonderful friends and partners in this mission at the church we headed off to the border. Food=check! Water=check! Jewelry=check! Paperwork=check! All was in order and we were ahead of schedule. I was feeling relief by our organization in spite of my throbbing and now swelling ankle.

Upon arriving with everything in tote at the border checkpoint. We were denied access. This was unusual and frustrating. Finally they only allowed Susannah and I through so we could go to immigration and solve the confusion and restricted access. Susannah and I quickly discover the man we need to speak with is off that day but the head guy in charge was in the office! This was an instant answer to prayer as he is a wonderful, helpful man that we have quickly grown to love. He is a christian and our biggest supporter. It is unusual to find him at this office but thankfully that day he was in and just who we needed to see!

He greeted us warmly, fixed the issue of denied access and then sadly informed us we could no longer work inside the border or hold events there anymore. I was caught off guard and at this point discouraged. Everything felt as if it was unraveling and crashing down around my feet. He said we would have to go into Nicaragua and hold events and workshops inside the country. Security was tightening and if they allowed any girls into the border for our events it would open a crack in the sealing of security. I understood and wanted what was best for our safety and the safety of children as there had been issues in regards to kidnappings and so on. I could tell he was discouraged to give us the news but as I looked back up, he smiled. He encouraged us that God was bigger and he would make a way. I knew in my heart he was right but at that moment I could help but feel defeated. As we left his office to head back to the workshop, a girl flagged Susannah and I down. She recognized us and told us she was counting down the time until the workshop started! What a comfort after everything else! All the set back and obstacles were worth even just that one girl being saved. I love how God will smile on us with situations such as that.

The workshop started and seemed to be a huge success to all who attended. Catherine told me later that while I was teaching them how to make the loops, there seemed to be hope in one woman's eyes. Another woman looked like a child in her face as she marveled at the pair of earrings she had just made. Once again worth it all! We passed out food and cookies to all who came. We cleaned up, packed up, and headed back to the cars.

I was tired, dirty, sweaty, limping and yet full of hope. Paul says, hope that is seen is not hope at all. I have no idea how the workshop will come together that we had already planned for March 6th but isn't that what faith is for? So now we pray and plan for our next event inside Nicaragua at Pastor Rudy's church.

Later that night, the World Vision representative told me she was surprised the women and young girls come to our events because they know we are Christians and usually they do not respond well to those types of ministries. She said, "You have an 'in' with these girls" and that it was amazing.

I find myself flipping between the stories of Esther and Nehemiah in my bible. Both sought the Lord and kept in mind only He can save. Jesus carried the weight of the world on His shoulders to the cross. For this reason, I have every answer in Him. The weight is not mine to carry and never was. If my eyes are fixed on Him, God will see all endeavors through to completion.

To anyone who is reading this today and feels as if they have the weight of the world upon them, remember that Jesus said to seek Him first and He will take care of the rest. He is always the answer. Search the Bible, for in it lies all the answers you are looking for. God doesn't hide things from us, He hides things for us.

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."
Mother Teresa

A Long Journey, Bad Sunburn and Joyfully I Type......

2010-02-17T18:50:00.000-08:00

I arrived back to San Jose from the border this afternoon hot, tired, sun burnt and yet full of joy. Susannah and I passed out invitations, along with the help of our friends from Shekinah Church, to girls in prostitution at the border. Most of the reactions we were met with were smiles and acceptance to our invite. Several girls told us they were hoping we would come back. I fought tears when one girl recognized us and was full of excitement to see us yesterday.

While at the border word came to me that World Vision had heard of our project and wanted to help. To say I was overwhelmed and humbled is an understatement! I was able to meet the representative in the nearby area and she was wanting help out in any way she could. I found out she could help me with the medical attention these girls so desperately need. Once again another prayer answered beyond anything I imagined! God is so good. He never ceases to amaze me in the creativity of how He works.

God also continues to poor out His favor with us and the government officials. They always welcome us with open arms and do everything they can to help and support. The greatest part about it all is the sincerity they display in helping us. All of the government officials we come into contact with exert a genuine desire to be apart. Only God could affect this behavior! The bible says that He moves the hearts of kings.

The sweetest moment for me was when I saw the park they had built for the children we work with inside the border area. Oh you better believe, the big kid that I am, I hopped on the swing and began to glide back and forth. I don't have the right words to describe the feeling inside my heart at that time.

Although the trip back was rough and I was exhausted, my heart was still brimming with excitement and anticipation as I watch God weave and lay a path before me. Many times this path is full of unexpected turns and unfamiliar ground. As long as I keep my heart and eyes fixed, the path becomes a fun challenge and a place where I grow closer and closer with God.

I made it back to San Jose just in time to greet Catherine at the airport. God had layed it on her heart to come and help me here in Costa Rica. I am blessed by her courage to come and to serve. I know only too well how hard it is to leave behind your family and familiarity. Catherine will be my roommate for the next month! I look forward to the adventures God has in store for the two of us.

Thank you once again for all the prayers!! God is awesome! I cannot wait until this weekend as we return to love, feed and fellowship with the women and children.

Updates and prayer needs

2010-02-15T18:14:00.000-08:00

I surprised myself in the fact I did not cry when leaving my hometown last week. My dad walked me to the airport security checkpoint and watched me get all the way through to the other side before leaving. I waited for that ever familiar lump to come as I turned to wave him one last goodbye and it did not come. Instead what came was an overwhelming amount of peace. I arrived later that day to the sweet, smiling face of Susannah as she was waiting for me just outside the airport! Not only was her greeting uplifting, so was the beautiful weather!

I spent the next few days unpacking and settling in, as well as trying to catch up on some much needed rest. It is summer here now in Costa Rica and what a drastic change for me from when I left the winter storm in Lexington!

This past Saturday night, I went with a wonderful group of people to feed the homeless in some of the worst sections in all of Costa Rica. So many thanked us over and over with such grateful, hungry expressions. However, I felt grateful to them for the opportunity to serve them. To me it was not a duty but a privilege to feed the homeless that night. I can't think of a more wonderful Valentine weekend then loving and serving the forgotten in the streets.

Tonight or early morning,(depending on how you look at it)Susannah and I will take the 3:30 a.m. bus to our usual north adventure spot. There we will meet with the government officials on both sides of the border and then later pass out invitations to our first outreach of the year! This outreach will be more of a workshop in which I will teach the jewelry making techniques I learned in the States. I am excited and nervous! I feel as if I barely know what I am doing, let alone teaching others how. Once again, it is a privilege that God allows me to go and to do.

Please pray for continued favor, protection and that God would move on the hearts of women and children as we pass out the invitations.

I am beyond thrilled as this will be my first return to all of them in months!!!

2010-02-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

I have only five days left in the US. Today, I counted; counted the days left here, counted the months until I return and above all counted the cost. I know that over these next months I will miss weddings, birthdays, funerals, celebrations and holidays. All of these events in the lives of people I love and know. My heart was filled with grief when I learned that a dear friend, who has been sick for quite some time, will pass away while I am gone. The hardest part, I won't get the chance to say goodbye or sing at her funeral like I had always promised I would. Tears filled my eyes and then a gentle whisper from the Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage in the bible I have known by heart since I was four years old:
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [a] I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Comfort flooded me instantly and I was reminded of the the story in Luke 9 where the man comes to Jesus and says, " I will follow you wherever you go." and Jesus replied by letting the man know He had no where to lay His head. Then Jesus looks at another man and says, "follow me" but the man's reply is to ask for permission to bury his father first. Jesus' responds to him by telling him to let the "dead bury their own dead and you go proclaim the kingdom!" Yet another man comes and says he wants to follow Jesus but first wants to bury his mother and father. The final reply of Jesus continues to echo in my mind today. He replies with, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God"
Maybe some who read this would find Jesus terribly insensitive, however I somehow find it beautiful. Jesus issued a call to my life then and now. When Jesus bids us come, He expects us to trust Him.
I realized today that the Lord knows and understands what hurts and He is always with me to comfort me. He knew the day He asked me to go to Costa Rica all that it would cost me personally. Now He lovingly challenges as I pack up what is left of my life here, "Do you trust me Anna?" The answer, "Yes Lord, I really do trust you."

The night will shine like the day and all will see that our God reigns

2010-01-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and headed to the bank to open our own account. I fought so much fear and doubt as I signed the dotted line. The rounds of what if and worry of failing began to plague my heart and mind. However, in faith my heart screamed to keep going, Jesus has you!! He loves these girls.

When I arrived home, I was able to speak with Susannah and I can hardly express the joy bubbling and spilling out all around me! Susannah and Josue had a fantastic trip to the border this past weekend. The plans are set into motion and on February 20th we will hold our very first workshop/outreach to the women and children at the border. I only recently have been learning how to make jewelry and so I will be the one teaching our workshop next month. Oh my this will be interesting to say for sure ;)

After the fiesta in December a few girls came to the officials we work with at immigration and told them they no longer wanted to be in prostitution. They were given some jobs around the area but the officials told Susannah that they needed our assistance to give the girls spiritual and mental help!!! HA! How amazing is God Almighty! Can you tell how elated I am?! After hanging up with Susannah and hearing that precious report, I could not stop smiling. I literally jumped up and down pumping my arms and thinking, ha ha, take that Satan!

I am in a perpetual state of awe and wonder as I watch God continually make a way where there is no way. Oh how I long to be these girls friends and hug them and show them just how much Jesus loves them. Please continue to pray for us as God weaves a beautiful path and makes the way for us to go. Pray for continued protection and favor. Please also be in prayer for our outreach in February.

We believe we will see the night shine like the day as we walk hand and hand into the darkness that is the world at the border.

I praise God for His love, His mercy, His heart to move and shake mountains. I praise God that with Him all things are possible. It is our belief that we are called to strategically do all that we can in order to, not only rescue the victimized, but also train them in becoming victorious planet shakers who abound in ability to change the world. We know that God shows no favoritism and that in Christ all things are Yes and there is nothing that is impossible. He WILL use the weak, the poor, and the foolish.

2010-01-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

My time here in the USA is flying by. As I type this, Susannah is at the border on behalf of the both of us. We are in the middle of planning our first big workshop for the kids to learn a trade. At the moment she is there traveling and sharing of our work and I am here in the USA doing the same. I look forward to heading back and going to see all my new friends at the border.

I just returned from a very successful trip to Dallas, Texas. Although there were many meeting and business to attend to, I was able to relax more than I have since returning to the States for Christmas. I was blessed to meet many amazing people who work hard to combat Human Trafficking. It was a bit overwhelming all the information I came back with from this trip. Driving thirteen hours straight didn't help either. So needless to say, I am officially exhausted.

I am constantly thanking God for the opportunity to serve Him in this capacity. Truly, I feel so awed and humbled. I feel completely inadequate and incapable of running an organization. I don't know where I would be without Jesus walking out the process with me. It is intimidating at times speaking at so many places and meeting so many faces and trying to keep it all straight. Many nights, I sit with Jesus and He comforts me. He is all I am after. So in being after Him and His heart, I find that I am after ministering and saving children from the hands of wickedness to bring hope.

So often I am tempted to walk down the trail of worry. How can I do it God? How am I going to feed all of them next month or every month for the rest of the year? Many days I worry that there is not enough of me to go around. It is then that I remember it is not about me, my capabilities. I just need to obey the voice of God. This is His organization and His children. To Him all credit and glory is due. When I remain in that mind frame, it is then I know. All will succeed according to His will. I cannot tell you how precious and comforting this thought truly is to my heart.

LightForce International is blessed to have Christine with Epiphany Media as our amazing PR representative. I had the wonderful privilege to sit at Borders Bookstore and share my heart with her over coffee in Dallas this past week. She was amazing full of ideas and holy passion for God's call.

Some days, my mind is reeling that all this is not true and I will wake up to find it was all just a dream. It feels so surreal to be a founder/director of a non-profit organization that works with children and women in prostitution. I am learning about how to handle attention and publicity and think business. Slowly but surely and as always, God has a hold of my hand.

"Blessed are the poor in Spirit" Matthew 5

2010-01-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

To know the heart of God, you must reach out to the poor. To see the face of God, you must look into the face of the poor. It is in the working, helping and loving the poor that I find I am the one truly helped. To defend the rights of the poor and needy. To help the least of these as Jesus so wonderfully put it, you do it to Him. The part that sticks out most to me in passages such as these in the bible is the fact that they are not suggestions. These passages are commandments. In John 14:15 Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

The above picture of the little legs dangling on the bench, the heart of God knows every one of their names. He knows every thought, fear, desire and dream. They are real human beings to Him and He loves them with a precious passion you and I can only hope to aspire to. Many times I am moved to weep as I see the way God loves on the forgotten, the ugly, the broken. I cannot begin to express to people the importance of how precious and simple it truly is to be love in action.

To be home has been like a dream. Every moment I have had to sit and be with my family is priceless. I am treasuring every minute in these last few weeks I have left in the USA. However, it is getting a bit easier each time I leave to go back to those little legs above because the vision inside of me consumes my heart. I am determined. I am decided.

In the last month I have been in the USA, I have traveled and shared. We are now launching a non-profit to be able to bring more resources to help the women and children we work with. I am constantly amazed and awed by the way God continues to move and pave the way for our ministry. More than that, I am humbled.

We are now officially LightForce International and just recently I had the unique privilege of learning how websites work and how you go about setting them up. Of course all of this is done through a Godly, amazing company called Teknoasis. Getting help in fundraisers and tshirt designs from the wonderful people at Hands On Originals and more importantly my "go to" girl there, Susan Trout! She is fabulous. The amazing team of people at Cornerstone Church of Lexington are the reason I am where I am! We are blessed to be covered in prayer from around the world but especially from the passionate, on fire people at New Horizons Church.

All of those people and many of you who support me financially and spiritually help to make it possible to stand up and fight for the rights of those who cannot fight for themselves. God Bless you in this new year.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2009-12-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

I spent the entire day at the beach yesterday. Being in the ocean or just sitting on the shore watching the waves is one of the most comforting places for me. Whenever I look at the ocean, I am instantly in awe of God and His majesty. Just looking at Creation all around us simply shouts of God's fame and His personality. Different things in nature show so many aspects and sides to God. The ocean, I believe, is His beautiful way of reminding us that He is in control and a tangible example of how vast His love and faithfulness is for you and me. I love how there is so much of the ocean that has yet to be discovered even though men have tried. In the same way, there is still so much of knowing God for me to discover and I will never reach the end of Him.

In a few days, I will be home in Kentucky for Christmas. I am excited to be able to spend the next month and a half with my family, friends and church! After the holidays, I will spend a good portion of time raising funds for the work God has now paved a way to with the children and young girls in the Sex Trade. As I look ahead to next year, my heart beats a little faster with excitement and anticipation as to what God has in store. I am still amazed and awed by what He has done thus far. I know I have said that several times already but I can't help saying it again!

On October 2, 2009 I wrote the following journal entry:
" God, the statistics say that in San Jose alone are 3,000 (or over) little girls in the Sex Trade out at night prostituting themselves. I look out my window and ask where are you precious and possibly scared little girl? Susannah is going to team up with me and travel to Guanacaste. Lord, I pray right now you pave the way. Go before us but also go with us. Give us favor and answers."
When I wrote that, I had no idea what was going to transpire and I definitely never dreamed the progress we would make would be so fast. This entry came before we ever met one government official, community leader and child. I thought that after working and serving the community we would eventually stumble on the area of girls working. God did above and beyond all I could have imagined just like Ephesians 3:20 says. Leaving home and losing what was life to me was the best decision I ever made. For when you lose yourself you find it is only really then that you find yourself. I am grateful for the beautiful privilege of ministering to these girls here the power of what a life lived in Jesus does.

There is a comment box at the end of every entry. I would love to know who is reading and your thoughts. I would also love to know your prayer requests. I always post mine but I would like to know those requests of all who take the time to pray and read about our life here in Costa Rica. God Bless!

Making History(part two)

2009-12-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like watching the slow, shy smile on a child's face begin as the tiny corners of that smile broaden from being loved on and accepted. That to me is the best way to describe the scene this past Friday night as our team went into Zapoa, Nicaragua to pass out Christmas presents. We had been traveling all day to get to La Cruz on Costa Rica's border. We checked into the hotel and then quickly set out to make it across the border and into Nicaragua. Already late, tired and sweaty we arrived to the extremely long line at immigration in Costa Rica. My heart sank as I looked at the discouraging line and thinking about how all those children were waiting on us and now we were an hour and a half late in getting to them. Susannah and I decided to see if our good friend, who happens to be the head of immigration for Costa Rica, was in her office. It just so happened, that she was! (This was unusual for her to be there that late in the day). I handed her the sugar cookies we made for her and she sweetly stamped our passports. I watched as the line of North Americans and Europeans glared us down for being those able to bypass the line! At once we set out quickly to cross the country line and enter Nicaragua. We headed to the next office where our buddy, who is also head of immigration, was waiting for us to personally stamp our passports. Once again, we bypassed the long line! He was so excited to see us and know we were going all the way into the country past the border to have a smaller fiesta for the younger children (and it might have been because we made him cookies too!) After he stamped us in, he ordered a patrol car to take us to the church in Zapoa from the border! Although this was not my first time in Nicaragua, it was my first time to enter in a government vehicle with flashing lights and a siren! We pulled up just in time to organize the gifts and pass them out to the anxiously awaiting children. It was by far one of the best nights of my life and truly a moment I will never forget. Pastor Rudy asked Susannah and I to sing for the church and Brian to preach. It was awesome!

The next day (also morning of the BIG fiesta) I woke up with my head pounding and the feeling of a fever coming on. I rolled over to see Susannah feeling about the same. Here was one of the biggest days of our lives and we felt awful and missing home in a big way. I called my Mom and in her sweet and encouraging way she said, "Sweetheart, get up because you have a job to do and then you get to come home!" My mom was right and I mustered the strength to get up, get ready and face the task ahead. We finished up the last minute errands and headed to the church to meet the youth and women who helped prepare the food. We gathered in a giant circle, all of us sporting our fabulous T shirts, to pray one last time. Then time to load up and head to border! My heart did a little leap of excitement as I glanced back to see the caravan of cars, all the while marveling that this day had finally come.

Since the Costa Rican police have come to know Susannah and I, they allowed us to park at the patrol office inside the border where our cars would be safe. Of course I took the Captain cookies too ;)! Next stop customs check, where Susannah and I flashed our sweetest smiles, showed our badges and they waved our entire group through and did not need to check one single person. Brian, however told them he would bring them a T shirt, which they were very excited to own. The Kentucky gang and the Costa Rican gang joined forces to clean things up around the area the fiesta was to be held. Soon to join in the cleaning and setting up would be the Nicaraguan gang. While all the preparations were going down inside the border on the side of Nicaragua, Susannah and I set out to speak with immigration for Nicaragua. The government welcomed us again with open arms and now we have become familiar faces to them! They stationed armed guards around the entire perimeter of the fiesta and ensured the border guards let the young girls into our party.

The favor God has given us has been tremendous. I am so in awe and humbled that He would choose me to be apart of something so amazing. Our ministry Fuerza de Luz, is living up to it's name on the border! I cannot wait to see all that God has in store for 2010.

Making History

2009-12-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

My heart is so full right now that I don't even know where to start in describing the fiesta and the events that transpired. I woke up this morning reliving every single moment of last night and reeling at how this is my life now. Jesus said He came that we would know life and have it in abundance. If ever there was a time I felt in my life that I truly related to abundant life that time is now.

For months my heart was burdened for the children and youth I had yet to meet involved in the sex trade. I would dream about that moment when I would finally see them. I have never known such joy as I did in meeting the faces of young girls and guys in the sex trade and giving them food and Christmas presents. A sea of faces before me with timid, vulnerable expressions causing my heart to melt. I thought for sure they would arrive cynical or hardened but instead what greeted me were eyes that were teary and thankful.

During one part of the night, a friend of mine who had come out to help, called me over to a group of kids I had not met yet. She introduced me to them as the director of the ministry and it felt so surreal because I looked and sounded important but if they only knew just how I am another daughter of the King. One of the youth smiled shyly up at me and said, “you are my friend”.

The head of immigration for Nicaragua thanked Susannah and I over and over. He said nothing like this had ever happened inside the border and we could count on his continual help and protection. The young girls hugged us, thanked us and asked when we were coming back!

God is so awesome. There was nothing special about us except when God asked us to go, we did. He made things so easy as if it was the most normal thing for two Kentucky girls to march into government offices and say, “Hi we are interested in these kids and we would like to have a party for them!”

Often Susannah and I marvel at out easy and simple God made things for us and the supernatural favor that encompassed it all.

I could not have survived this weekend without the prayers of everyone and the awesome team of North Americans, Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans God put together.

The Costa Rican church put together a powerful drama of God's redemptive power and I saw several of the girls watching wipe tears from their eyes. How powerful and mighty God's power was displayed on December 5th, 2009 on the border. Light was brought into a dark place. I know the young girls and guys will never be the same, the government officials were struck by all they witnessed and I know I will never be the same.

I always wanted to know what it would be like to mark history and last night we did just that! My story and Susannah's story is one where we turned the pen over to God and said, “Lord, you write whatever you desire in and with our lives.” We know this is just the beginning and now the real work with all the youth and children begin.

I pray for all those reading that you will desire to be a history maker and stand up for what is right in your generation. Be a voice for those who cannot speak as Proverbs declares.

2009-12-04T00:24:00.000-08:00

"You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out."

Deut. 28:6

Truly, my cup runs over. I am so blessed and if I had a thousand tongues I would shout thanksgivings at the top of my lungs to God with every one of them!!!! Yesterday was a powerful and successful day at the border. Susannah, Nina and I arrived safely to La Cruz with just enough time to unload our backpacks, check-in to the hotel and hit the road again to meet everyone at the church.

A total of seventeen of us went to the border and divided into two teams. One team would pass out invitations and talk with the girls while the other team stayed at the park in the middle to pray. The group that was to pass out invitations was split into three groups with Susannah, Nina and I in each little team. We started with Nicaragua's border and covered as much territory as possible. In prayer, Susannah felt that all seventeen of us should wear white shirts to stand out and be able to find each other.

At one point as I was walking around with my little team, I looked over my shoulder and saw such a powerful image that is still etched into my mind even now. I saw the image of white floating around the dirt paths in the absolute dark and at such a distance it looked as if little lights were floating everywhere. I turned around and looked out into the distance ahead of me and saw a white circle encompassing the entire outer ring of the park. Those tiny floating lights were young women of God setting out on a journey to tell of their Redeeming God. The white circle at the park was a beautiful circle of older women in the faith who were interceding warriors fighting for those who cannot fight.

We repeated the very same thing on the Costa Rican border and then when all was said and done; hands and hearts joined in a prayer of thanking and praising God for His might and protection.

Our return journey to San Jose was full of laughter and light heart-ed calamities as we drove the winding road down the mountain. At one point we almost ran out of gas but even that did not stress or discourage us because we knew God was with us, instead we laughed at our foolishness!

Today, Brian and Jake arrived with the Tshirts that were designed, made and donated to our team and project the day of the fiesta. Also with them were toys purchased for 28 Nicaraguan children whose ages range from one year to ten years old and who come from very poor or broken homes. Some of the children (but not all) are believed to be exploited at the border but the only way to reach the littler children is to go into the community and meet them. On Friday our team of five North American's will cross the border and pass out presents to these kids. My heart is bursting with excitement for this moment.

I have finally finished baking all the Christmas sugar cookies for the different government officials! There is much joy and anticipation for the weekend ahead. We will load up all the food, candy and gifts and hit the road at 9 a.m. Special thank yous go out to: Cornerstone Church for the children's gifts, The Monday night group for the T shirts, Rachel Profitt for finalizing the ID Badges, Drew Van Camp for his awesome design of the T shirt, Susan Trout for coordinating the T shirt order and adding special touches for the team and finally to all of you who pray!

I apologize for the lack of eloquence but it is 2am and I am tired. I promise to be better about updating this weekend!!

To read a much more entertaining version of the past few days with pictures go to
www.ninamphotographyblog.com

All Will See Our God

2009-11-30T10:36:00.000-08:00

I am humbled and blessed to the point of tears by all the notes pouring in of people praying for me, Susannah and the team this week. There are even people I do not know praying for us.

I woke up today with the weight of the world on my shoulders. So much dancing around in my head and heart and so many details needing my attention. Instead of spending time with God, I got right to work and the weight and emotion became heavier and heavier. I found myself sad and scared at all that lay ahead and feeling completely inadequate. Something my sister Rachel told me this summer before I left came to mind; "Anna times of discouragement will come but if you will lift up your head, God will lift up your heart." How thankful I am for that reminder. I dropped all I was doing and just began to worship out loud here in my apartment. Over and over I sang,
"How great is our God
Sing with Me
How great is our God
All will see how great, how great is our God."
and then I sang
"Then sings my soul, my Savior, God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art"
I promise no matter where you are at this moment if you are reading this, take one minute and sing these words softly to yourself or out loud. The feeling of His peace that surpasses all understanding will flow through your heart and you will know exactly how I felt at that moment.

God has not brought Susannah and I this far to leave us or fail us. He never will and I know my God is bigger than darkness. My God is bigger than government officials. My God is bigger than time restraints. My God is bigger than financial obstacles and this week all will see How Great is Our God!

On Tuesday December 1st we are going into the darkness for the first time, literally and spiritually. We will go out around Tuesday evening at 7pm to meet and witness to the kids and invite them to the event on Saturday. We are told that many of them come out at night dressed in black to sneak into the border and prostitute themselves. The government at the border has chosen to not arrest one child so that we can talk with them and that they will trust us! How awesome is God! However they will be close by for our safety and protection.
Please pray for myself, Susannah and Nina as we go out into the dark. We are going to be stepping on many toes of people who profit from these kids. However, I will not back down in fear because the love of God has compelled Susannah and I to reach these kids. He will protect us and guide us. Thank you to all of you that pray and partner with us. This is the only note I will post of facebook the rest will all be on the blog!

Love and Hugs to all of you!
www.letGodwrite.blogspot.com

2009-11-26T21:32:00.000-08:00

Susannah and I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support!

This past Tuesday morning we woke up at 3:00am to catch the 4:00am bus to La Cruz, Guanacaste. We needed to finalize plans for the Fiesta being held December 5th. For those that do not know, this project/fiesta is for the children and young girls in prostitution at the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

The fiesta will be held on Nicaraguan ground technically inside the border because the spot of land we want to hold it at is on their turf. Their cooperation was just as crucial if not more than Costa Rica's. I had this gut feeling that we did not have Nicaragua's permission for the fiesta. We had been told by Nicaragua originally that it was no problem, however I could not shake the thought. Everyone kept telling me that was not true but still in my heart I knew we needed to go talk with them again. Turns out, God had been leading my heart because when we got there, they denied having any knowledge of talking with us. At first the border police would not even let us through into Nicaragua because of a lack of proper documentation. Pastor Rudy, a friend and Nicaraguan swooped in and saved the day right as they were giving Susannah and I a hard time. All I could do was pray as Susannah and the pastor reasoned with them. God moved and the next thing I knew, we somehow managed to bypass several hoops and twenty minutes later, we were sitting in the office with the man with all the power. We had tried several times before to meet with him and always got the second in command, who was the one denying he knew of the fiesta! However, the head of all of Immigration was so accepting of our project! He was a sweet man and so easy to talk to. We shared our heart and our project and it took him all of five minutes to agree. When he did the second guy in command looked shocked! ha ha! (He must have felt bad for giving us the run around because later he acted like our best friend.) The head of Immigration told Susannah and I that on behalf of the government he welcomed us with open arms and we were free to work with the young girls and he would do everything in his power to assure us security and help. In front of us, he ordered the men under him to see to it that every time we were on their side, we were taken care of! I could have jumped across the desk and hugged that man! How easy he made it and how easy it seemed that Susannah and I marched into his office as if it was the most normal thing to do.

By the end of the day, we managed to have security clearance for the fiesta from both countries and special passes by the head of Immigration for both nations. Despite the heat and exhaustion, Susannah and I could not stop smiling. Through God, we obtained victory.

Later that night we met with a group of people from surrouding local churches on both sides of the border to finalize our plans. The youth has prepared a drama, in which they are so excited about and the women are all chipping in to help us cook all the food for that day to feed the kids. I am blessed by all the different churches helping and the unity we all feel. As Susannah and I walked back to our hotel, we reflected on the power of God's goodness in all we had witnessed that day.

On this coming Tuesday, we will once again head to the border to go and personally invite as many kids as we can. A group of women from the church will come with us to speak with the young girls, who only really come out at night to solicit their bodies, while a second group of women will remain at the church to pray and intercede while we are at the border. Then later that week we will return again with our small North American team consisting of Susannah, myself, Nina, Brian and Jake. Those three are flying in to help us and Susannah and I could not be more grateful!

Next week, will no doubt be awesome. However, please keep us in your prayers for safety, provision, wisdom and that every heart would be moved by the love of God. I am believing for God's glory to manifest in mighty ways all next week at the border.

2009-11-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

My beautiful family :)

My time in the US was bittersweet. I was loved on, pampered and spoiled by my friends and family. It was wonderful to drive my car (as simple as that little pleasure seems), eat at all my favorite places and curl up on the couch with my parents watching movies. For the first few days I pretended that I lived there again. I went running in my favorite park and it was so nice to not worry or look over my shoulder every five minutes! However, reality would come crashing in when I would talk about my life here in Costa Rica and the children Susannah and I will be working with at the border. As memories of my life here in sunny Costa Rica would come back, I would begin to miss being here and with my friends here. After all, life was in Costa Rica now right? I was not a Kentucky girl anymore, however I was not truly a Tica either. I had never felt so torn between two worlds.

One day I went for a run in the park near my parent's house. This park has been there for twenty years and I had been going there since I was a little girl to swing and play. That day, I wanted to be a little girl again who could swing and play without a care in the world. The park was empty and the weather was beautiful. I sat on the swing, closed my eyes and began to just simply swing. I began to sing softly and just worship. In that moment such peace flooded my heart and I was home. Then it hit me, I am not supposed to belong anywhere in this world. In John 15 Jesus said, " ....you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." I realized the only thing that was comforting to me was Kingdom culture. I don't belong to Costa Rica or Kentucky or Cornerstone Church. I belong to Jesus and in His culture. This was the first time I truly understood and related to that verse.
After this revelation, visiting my old life in Kentucky was so much easier. My sister Erica's wedding was beautiful. Being apart of her and John's special day was a privilege. I was so blessed that God worked it out for me to be there for everything!
The morning of my flight back to Costa Rica, I kissed each one of my little sisters' cheeks goodbye as they were all still sound asleep. (Three of them still live at home.) I hugged Mom and Dad goodbye at the airport and waited for my flight. I felt tears begin to build up in my eyes and the ever familiar question ring in my heart, "Why?"
Why leave again? Why go alone? Why have to say goodbye? Why me? The reassuring answer always replies with Luke 12:48, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." I have been given so much and God has entrusted me with much. That is Why I must go.

2009-11-01T17:32:00.000-08:00

If my heart has grown cold
There Your love will unfold
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
When I’m blind to my way
There Your Spirit will pray
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

Oceans will part nations come
At the whisper of Your call
Hope will rise glory shine
In my life Your will be done

Present suffering may pass
Lord Your mercy will last
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
And my heart will find praise
I’ll delight in Your way
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand

Many years ago I prayed that God would truly open my eyes and allow me to see the world through His eyes. I never dreamed that my life would take on the wildest adventure of touching His heart through various places and faces. I am now able to say, I have seen the hand of God at work daily in mighty ways.

I am so blessed by everyone who has prayed, served and sowed into my life and the lives of the children here. The song above describes my heart. God can call a nation by a mere whisper. I am so in awe of God and His majesty. Today, nothing special necessarily happened. Today, there were no mountains moved, no miracles to tell. Today was just a simple day I spent with Jesus and I love Him so much that my heart could burst. Those are the moments with God I enjoy the most, when He and I can just BE. The fact that He loves me, that He never leaves me and that He died so that I might have life in abundance is enough to stand up and shout His fame. Today, I needed no other reasons than those to be so awestruck.

Four months ago, a scared and nervous girl boarded a plane to a country and life that was unknown. In two days, that same and yet now very different girl will board a plane for a country and a life she used to know and live. How that contrast of living has changed my life in just four months. God has done so much and I know many will want to talk with me and want to know all I have learned. I often think, how would I ever begin to explain?!

One thing I know, I have learned and seen over and over here: God is Good.

I will be in Kentucky for two weeks and I look forward to seeing as many faces as I possibly can and hugging as many of you as I can. I also want to say a special thanks to Brea Kaiser who does all of the work and picture posting on this blog/website for the ministry!!

2009-10-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been a quiet time with the Lord. A time to reflect on all I have seen and experienced thus far. A time to be so deeply thankful for having lived a blessed life in Kentucky. A time to ask myself and challenge myself to count the cost of what lies ahead. Am I truly ready? Am I willing to do the hard things God asks of me? I find that while in my heart I may never feel truly ready; I feel more than willing. I find myself in Peter's shoes, so curious and willing to get out of the boat and then finding I have and becoming scared. I don't know what was going through Peter's head that famous moment that drove him to climb out but I know in my mind I was and am driven by a vision. A vision that desires to be Jesus with skin on, a holy anger to fight for those that cannot fight. In the past few weeks, I have met strangers and heard their powerful stories of redemption. With each face and each story, I see the love of Jesus and I am compelled to keep running after the vision.

Here is one account of how I came across a few strangers with powerful stories.

"I was in prison and you visited me" Matt 25:36

The most powerful lesson of God's redemption I have ever personally witnessed was when I had the privilege to attend a woman's bible study in the prison of Costa Rica last week. My friend leads an English bible study every week, where five different nations are represented. All of these women have been saved and with smiles on their faces are serving out the rest of their sentences with deep joy. My heart was so moved by the testimony I saw that day to the point it is hard for me to even explain. Central American prisons are rough places and it was a wild experience for me to go that day. However, in the midst of the chaos of visitors everywhere, shouting and some of the scariest women I have personally ever come in to contact with, there was light. I smiled to myself at just how mighty God displays His Kingdom!

I came home the next day to my apartment so deeply challenged in my faith. I had been battling fear and doubt since returning from the border. Fear that I would fail the children there, fear that it was all so overwhelming and difficult. So many "what ifs" floating around in my head. Yet God, rich in patience and mercy displayed before me, the power of salvation. Women who were once hardened criminals became soft, virtuous and God-fearing. Then I am once again reminded that nothing it too hard for the Lord. Nothing.

In my renewed passion, I prayed and wept for the hurting children who haunt my dreams and yet most I have still to meet. I prayed so passionately for the project of the fiesta at the border and continued favor. I will go again at the end of this month to solidify plans. Please, if you are reading this, pray with me.

It is my prayer also that after you read the following passage I came across, you too will lay your heart before God and challenge yourself to say, "Am I willing to do the hard things God asks of me"? Are you someone God will find as He looks on the earth for the fully committed? Will you live a life that dares to be different? Will you too get out of the boat?

"What is, therefore, our task today? Shall I answer: “Faith, hope, and love”? that sounds beautiful. But I would say – courage. No, even that is not challenging enough to be the whole truth. Our task today is recklessness. For what we Christians lack is not psychology or literature… we lack a holy rage – the recklessness which comes from the knowledge of God and humanity. The ability to rage when justice lies prostrate on the streets, and when the lie rages across the face of the earth … a holy anger about the things that are wrong in the world. To rage against the ravaging of God’s earth, and the destruction of God’s world. To rage when little children must die of hunger, when the tables of the rich are sagging with food. To rage at the senseless killing of so many, and against the madness of militaries. To rage at the lie that calls the treat of death and the strategy of destruction peace. To rage against complacency. To restlessly seek that recklessness that will challenge and seek to change human history until it conforms to the norms of the Kingdom of God. And remember the signs of the Christian Church have been the Lion, the Lamb, the Dove, and the Fish … but never the chameleon." Pastor Kaj Munk (martyr)

The Mountains Melt Like Wax When the Lord is Near....

2009-10-09T22:42:00.000-07:00

I woke up this past Thursday morning still reeling at the last two days in La Cruz and thought, "This is my life." I felt somewhat overwhelmed and intimidated at all that lay in front of me now. The Lord reminded me of Psalms 97 and how mountains melt like wax before Him. I smiled to myself, that's right after all, I saw government officials hearts melt like wax. Susannah and I headed out Tuesday morning on the 4am bus to La Cruz, Guanacaste. It was the roughest bus ride, packed out to standing room only, thankfully we had seats together. There was very little space for our legs, let alone our backpacks. The bus was not direct, so we knew we were in for a long, rough ride. However, our hearts were so full of God and anticipation as to what possibilities were in store for us, we just laughed.

We spent the ride praying and sharing what each of us had felt the day before in prayer. We read scripture to encourage us and keep us focused. We arrived into the humble and friendly little town of La Cruz and my friend Jackie was there to pick us up. We then hit the ground at what felt like lighting speed to meet with the pastor and help where needed. The pastor didn't need us yet so we decided to go with Jackie to the border and she would show us around and we could see where the kids are and what a typical day at the border is like. The Costa Rica/Nicaraguan border was not a new experience for me but it was for Susannah. I enjoyed watching her eyes widen in shock/surprise at the chaos because I know I had that exact same expression in July when I traveled across!

Jackie had many connections and we followed her around trying our best to keep up. First stop was a friend of hers who happens to be the head of all of immigration for Costa Rica. She introduced us to this kind lady and explained why she was showing us around. The lady raised her eyebrows, told us we were very brave girls. She then proceeded to give us information and tips. We thanked her and as we were turning to leave, she stopped us and gave her phone number. She said that no one ever cared to work with the children at the border in the way we did and that if we ever needed anything or ran into trouble to call her; we had her full support. We were surprised and very grateful. This was just the tip of favor that was ahead of us that day.

It just so happen that on this particular morning, everyone who was anyone was there at the border. By the end of the day we had met the Chief of Police, the House Minister, the head of Customs and the head of the community who was also a doctor. Each one had the same reaction and response as the lady over immigration. All saying thank you for wanting to help, no one ever wants to work with these kids, it is dangerous but they would give us police protection and full rights to roam the border and work with the children. Jackie looked at us at one point and said, "Girls, this is amazing, these people are never available to talk!" she also said it was amazing we had such support from them and favor.

Next stop, walk across the border and talk with Nicaragua. We marched right across and were waved on because we had been with such important people, they did not need to see our passports. I was barely able to take this all in and all Susannah and I could do was laugh in amazement at our day thus far! We were able to get the same responses from them and their advice and information.

We were asked by the House Minister and also by the head of Customs to attend a meeting the following morning where all the important country officials would be gathering to discuss issues on the borders of Costa Rica. Susannah and I agreed but were a little freaked out and overwhelmed. However neither of us were backing down. We returned to the church in La Cruz where fourteen pastors in the surrounding regions of Nicaragua and Costa Rica were meeting. We told them all we had learned and the permission granted us. You can imagine their excitement and amazement.

We gathered that evening with members from the the church in La Cruz and planned a Fiesta for the children at the border. We would feed them and just befriend them and have the church youth do a drama. To join us in helping to feed would be the church in Rivas, Nicaragua. We will have games and my personal favorite, a pinata!

The next morning Susannah and I were asked to speak at the meeting to share our hearts. We told them we honestly had no experience and did not feel we knew more then they did but we had a heart and burden for these children who are exploited and who sell their services at such young ages. The hearts of the officials were moved and we were granted permission from both countries to hold the fiesta inside the borders between both nations!

So on December 5, our project "Amor en Acción" ( Love in Action) will outreach to the children at the border. Everyone we have told has been shocked we were granted such favor and opportunities. I am not anymore because God says, "The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness,and all the peoples see his glory."

2009-10-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16

I was going to wait to post anything until after I returned from Guanacaste. However, so many of you have been praying over these past few days that I wanted you to know that after three days of mini hurdles and obstacles in the path, today breakthrough finally came. We were succcesful in reaching the pastor in La Cruz to let him know we were coming. He was excited and asked us to help tomorrow morning to feed the local community he is outreaching to. A friend graciously opened her home to us so we don't have to stay in a hotel! Where God leads, He always provides.

I set out right after I heard the news to purchase our bus tickets. Three hours, seven wrong bus stations, 100 wrong turns, in the rain(more like a monsoon!) later, I finally found the right station only to be turned away because they only sale the tickets thirty minutes prior to departure. I was so wet and soggy and frustrated that I just stood in the pouring rain not even caring because at this point, what was a little more water!! My umbrella could no longer offer protection. To add to the chaos, my friend who was picking me up at the station, could not get to me because a car stopped in the middle of the road, which blocked a bus. The bus driver began to blare his horn, the station office began to use a megaphone to shout at the driver to move, all this commotion set off all the nearby car alarms. I stood there getting soaked by the minute just laughing and the more I pondered the past few hours the harder I laughed. The bible says,"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Well all the calamities and frustrating situations were not going to crush my spirit.

In order to help the pastor feed people, we must get there very early. So Susannah and I will head out on the first bus which departs at 4:00 am! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers!!
God is so good.

2009-10-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Can it really be three months ago that I sold almost everything, quit my job and moved to Costa Rica simply because God moved on my heart to do so. I wanted to be obedient but I was baffled that God chose here to launch me out into the mission field. For the past two years all I had talked about was the middle east and I even trained this summer with an organization that goes into places like Pakistan. I studied Islam and the persecuted church and areas where persecution was very prevalent. I was determined to find and go to any and all areas where no one is allowed or wanted. Strange I know but for those closest to me, they will tell you, that was and still is my heart.

Like most girls, I grew up with stories such as Cinderella but I also grew up with stories like David and Goliath, Moses parting the Red Sea and missionaries such as Jim Eliott. At a young age I was ruined for this world. Many of us aspire to make a difference, our culture speaks of reaching for the stars, becoming anything you want as long as you believe in yourself. We flock to the theaters to see good triump evil, rags rise to riches and success defy defeat. Why? Because the one who designed us, who spoke us into existence, in whose nature we were created; defined those heroic tales. God triumphed evil with His son Jesus and everyday He triumphs when you step out and be His hands and feet. Everyday success defies defeat when you allow Him to shine through your weaknesses so He can shame foolishness. For every counterfeit there is a genuine. The bible is not fiction or fantasy. It is God telling stories through the lives of everyday men and women who allowed God to use them. The day I made Jesus Lord of my life, that became my culture. My heart began to beat with thoughts of how big God was, how all things are possible and hurt and broken the world really was. I knew I too wanted to let God take the pen and write His story, His version, His way.

As I look back on my life the past three years and up to this point, I see that everything God did and every where He placed me was training for my life on the field. I used to talk about how someday I would go and then one day, my "someday" came. Every test, every trial, every mountain top and valley has taught me something and pushed me to grow in God.

While I don't believe I am to be in Costa Rica for twenty years, I do believe I am here for a time and for training. In my childlike faith, I wanted (and honestly still do) to just pick a spot in the middle of the world, set up a home and then just house, feed and love every single orphaned, abandoned, hungry child on the globe. God is big enough to do so and I refuse to limit Him otherwise, however that is not what He has in mind for me right now. So, I told Him okay and when He sent me here, I told him I would just take all the little ones in Central America! Do you think I am kidding? If you know me, then you know I am not! So it is not surprising that it did not take me long to discover an unreached, untouched area that was full of hungry, abandoned children. I sat listening to a pastor share all he had discovered in this town and how desperate in need these children were, my heart broke. I have heard stories similar and people asking for help. Trust me when I say, there is need EVERYWHERE. This time though was different, this time I felt God tug at my heart. Although I told the pastor I would pray and would not commit to anything. Deep down I knew I would be back.

I came home and prayed. It was not long before I knew that I knew I was to go back and see how I could help and where. I also knew then that I was not going home. I called my mom one night on skype crying from what all I had learned of these children and crying because I knew I would not be moving home in December. She cried with me but we were both smiling through our tears because we knew this was God.

Just a few weeks later my friend and now partner, Susannah, came to me and said after much prayer she wanted to join me and help. Both our hearts are tugged and moved and both our hearts know this is God calling us. This area is four hours away by bus. Plans are in the works for us to travel there next week and see what answers we can find and where to start. Please everyone pray for our saftey and for favor. I promise to update everyone as soon as we come back.

2009-10-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

The more I pray for the children in Cartago and the more I pray for the children in Guanacaste, the more I know I am to stay. The children in Guanacaste are alone, no one works with them. They are forgotten. They are contaminated by diseases. They are mentally unstable. They are God's heart, He knows everyone of their names. They are the ones I want. They are the ones I think about and I have never met them. They are why I won't throw in the the towel. Why I refuse to give up.

I had originally committed to stay on just to December. God had other ideas. I do not know how long I will be here, possibly just through next year. I do know that my heart won't let me leave.

Last month was full of adventures and was extremely busy. Many people to meet, many territories to travel to, many lessons to plan and many sleepless nights. So, I am tired. I took this week off.

It is just a season. I often repeat this to myself. Please pray that I would not grow weary. I love my life and I am so blessed. However there are moments to myself of sitting there and of thinking and in times where there is a lot of sitting and thinking the enemy reminds me of what I miss. I miss my mom. If you know her, then you understand. I miss my Dad and his constant encouragement. I miss my sisters and the times my whole family gets together and it is loud and crazy! I miss Cornerstone Church, being spiritually fed every week and having constant community and fellowship. I miss my friends. I miss going to the gym. I miss living in a busy but fun house with my amazing roomies despite its chaotic moments. All of those thoughts and people I miss, can cause me to feel alone here.

I know I am right where I am supposed to be, where I was meant to be. I know this is God's heart for me right now and I know I am never alone. He holds me and takes care of me. He is faithful. I know it is just the season. Thank you for all of you who pray. Many ask how they can be specifically praying. This is one area.

2009-09-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

"You will keep in perfect peace
the girl whose mind is steadfast,
because she trusts in you." Is. 26:3

The Holy Spirit comforted me with this verse today as I hugged my Dad goodbye at the airport and drove away. I was blessed to have him visit me here in San Jose. My good friend Jake, who is also from our church, accompanied Dad on this trip. I had the refreshing privilege to hear them each speak at different churches a few times this week. They brought me supplies from the States for the children I teach English to in Cartago. My kids were thrilled to receive their very own pencil cases and notebooks.
The encouragement and time with my Dad was like water in a desert. Although God has taken amazing care of me here as well as the people, a hug from my Dad did wonders for my heart.

Goodbyes are never easy for me but I know so deep down I am here for a season by God's appointing. His heart is home and I am content. For that reason I was able to walk away from my Dad and be at peace. God is always in control, He has never lost control and He never will; this my soul knows very well.

Isaiah 43

2009-09-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

"But now, this is what the LORD says—
       he who created you, he who formed you:
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
       I will be with you;
       and when you pass through the rivers,
       they will not sweep over you.
       When you walk through the fire,
       you will not be burned;
       the flames will not set you ablaze.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
       and because I love you,
       I will give men in exchange for you,
       and people in exchange for your life. ⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
       I will bring your children from the east
       and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
       and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
       Bring my sons from afar
       and my daughters from the ends of the earth-
everyone who is called by my name,
       whom I created for my glory,
       whom I formed and made."
Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
       who have ears but are deaf."

This passage has been a comfort to me in the last week. I have been asked to pray and consider starting a work from scratch that feeds and houses the children being exploited at the borders. No one is working with these children. Many of them are sick emotionally and physically. As I sat hearing of the desperate need for someone to go and be willing to work with these children, my heart began to pound with that familiar beat, GO ANNA.    I am told it is hard. I am told it can be dangerous. In my mind I feel myself shrink back and a soft voice reminds me, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Now I see it, many tiny, hungry, broken, hurting faces. Tears roll down my cheeks. No, nothing is ever too hard for God. I look back into the past and remember all the times I have seen His faithfulness and His power to make what seems impossible, possible.

God has never failed me. So once again, I pray," Lord, If you say Go, I will go."

2009-09-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

This week feels like one big blur, full of challenges and yet so so fun! We did a program for the children of St Augustins community. The kids responded so enthusiastically that the director asked if we would be a regular part of their work next year. We did puppets, worship, dramas, face painting and bubble games. The team that I am pleased to be apart of is Manuel, Claudia, their kids and a friend German. We are one big happy missionary family over here.

I found a place on Thursday to run near Manuel and Claudia's home that is safe and that has been a great place to just release, pray and think. Thursdays are the days I teach English in Cartago. So it was nice to run and pray in preparation for teaching that day. I find that I have to gear up spiritually everytime I go to minister in Cartago. Cartago is one of the hardest cities in all of Costa Rica to work. The spiritual environment is tough and very oppressive. I have not met very many missionaries who even go there and even many Costa Ricans I meet do not like going to Cartago. However, that is one of the places God has me going and I love it! I have been bonding with the women and children there and the best sound in the world is when the kids shout "Anna!" or "Annita!" and practically knock me over with hugs and kisses.

I am so blessed.

2009-09-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am sick today. I am still running a fever, it is hot and I must teach the kids in Cartago. I think, "Come on Anna, you can do this!" and then I hear that ever familiar, still, small voice whisper encouragement to my heart. Yes, because of Jesus I can do this.

I arrive to find the kids and mothers have walked and are in a huge line outside the church waiting for me. I am humbled. Miraculously I am feeling great and able to teach for the next hour and not even think about how sick I have felt. God is so good.

I hug everyone goodbye and sigh that by God's grace I was able to stand the whole time and no one but Manuel knew how sick I was.

We drop off clothes to a young Mother and one of my students, Andrea. Her baby was not due until November but he decided to arrive today. She has nothing for the child. She is apart of one family out of four that live in a small house. I can't imagine. Manuel, Claudia and I arrive with clothes, blankets and diapers. The family is grateful, they literally had nothing for the baby. My heart breaks. I am near tears and I don't know if it is from exhaustion, the heat or the site I had just left; maybe it is all one combination to keep me humble and so thankful. I begin to feel sick again and right before sleep claims me for the hour drive home, I think, I am blessed.

I was a nurse in the States who came to be a teacher in the projects of Costa Rica

2009-08-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

I miss everyone very much and have been beyond blessed to continually receive packages, letters, emails and etc! It never ceases to humble and amaze me. I grew up reading about and studying the life of missionaries and missions. I have it so easy in comparison. What trials I face are nothing and especially compared to the heartbreaking things I encounter on a daily basis.

I will do my best to describe all that I have been up to as many have been asking me on here..."What are you doing?" "How can I pray" Do you like it there?" and so on! Please keep in mind I am not taking great care in my grammar as I type this today!

I live in San Jose, as I have mentioned before and I am convinced it IS the city that never sleeps. The sun rises here usually between 5:30am-6:00 am and sets around 6pm. It took awhile to adjust to that and so sometimes at 8:30pm I would feel as if it was time to go to bed! I live in a five bedroom apartment that occasionally hosts teams from the States. However, most of the time I have the apartment to myself. The weather is overcast with occasional sunshine and we are in the rainy season right now. Even in the rainy season it is still so nice and warm. Today I sat in the court yard of the National Museum and read, it was sunny and hot the whole time!

I am learning the city and culture more and more. I have something in common with a majority of people living here that I never would have thought, they are foreigners too! If you come to Costa Rica you will encounter much of Central and South America too. I have learned customs and dishes from so many countries. God knows how much I love to travel and learn of other nations. He certainly placed me in a spot where I could live in one country and yet touch so many.

I have an amazing host family who are missionaries to Costa Rica from Guatemala. The Garcias; Manuel, Claudia, Michelle, Paul and Jonny have taken me in and made me apart of their family. They have been my Spanish teachers and the biggest blessing. I usually spend several days in a row at there house and love every moment. I think my favorite times with them are when we are sitting around the table laughing and joking! They eat every meal at the table together as a family. Claudia is an amazing cook and has taught me a lot.

We travel several times a week to a city called Cartago. For me the trip is only 30mintues but for them an hour. There in Cartago we started a program teaching Jesus, English and for the older women and mothers; how to read and write. We rent space in a church building, which has personality and will need some fixing up! However, I love the challenge. The church is not far from the Project area and the children are able and willing to walk to us there. Having this location so close allows us to have even more children the we have had preciously.

Right now, I teach English to multiple ages of children which is very challenging and entertaining. The kids have all learned my name quickly and I am hooked! I love it here. There are times I get discouraged or lonely or tired and even sometimes overwhelmed. I know that is part of it, but I am blessed that those feelings never last long. God takes such sweet care of me and I am closer to Him than I have ever been.

I am being stretched in many ways and always mainly in my weaknesses. God uses circumstances to remind me that I am not capable of things but in Him I become capable. He uses the foolish things to shame the wise and I learn that firsthand in my own life. I was walking back from a coffee shop I found and have fallen in love with and the thought came to me that God did not call me here because I am qualified.....i.e...... being fluent in Spanish, having a good sense of direction or knowing how to do exactly what I am doing at all times. No that would have made too much sense to us the common man! God doesn't makes sense though according to my thoughts, He does all things well according to His thoughts and ways. He chose me. It is not about what I can and can't do, it is about what He can do when one prays, "Here I am Lord, send me!"

That is the only qualification He was looking for from me.

Costa Rica-What I have learned after one month.

2009-08-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, someone I respect and admire very much sent me the following verse and definition.

“You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” Psalms 31:8
“I think God puts us in physical and spiritual spacious places. When I picture freedom I picture open spaces or spacious places. If through Jesus our heart can become a spacious place, who knows how much he will pour out on us.”

As I was walking home from the store the other day, this verse and description came to my mind again. It is a scary thing in some ways, to pack up your life as you know it, leave it behind and head off for the unknown. There is so much freedom in making that change that in can be overwhelming but it also forces me to be so dependent on God. I want to be wise with that freedom God has entrusted to me. I became aware of the fact that since being here, I have had grace to do things when the situation would normally have been uncomfortable or potentially dangerous. I have seen God's hand in all the little things in my life here that perhaps other people would not necessarily notice but I notice. In recalling all those instances after being here a month, it was then I realized, God placed my feet in a spacious place.

Everything that encompasses living in the city of San Jose stretches me. It is a challenge to live in a city that is bigger than what I am used to and wonder if I will ever get used to the sound of car alarms!! Spiritually I am pushed beyond anything I have ever experienced and I know this is just the beginning.

Webster's Dictionary defines the word home as; “one's place of residence ; a familiar or usual setting; in harmony with the surroundings; on familiar ground.”

While those are correct definitions/descriptions of the word, God defines it much sweeter to me. Being here I have come to understand this word to be defined as I worship God among other believers no matter the denomination, background, culture or language. Other times the reality and understanding of this word is brought to mind when I play or feed the children in Cartago. As I look at the faces across this nation, I see the heart of Jesus. In all of these instances, I am on familiar ground.

I remember praying on a plane last summer that God would show me His heart. I wanted more than anything else to know beyond the scope of what I had already known of His heart. I learn it every single day here in some form or fashion. The more I see and learn, the more I am so at home. It is not the country, even though they have done an amazing job of welcoming me! It is not having my things sitting around the apartment or the fact that I can purchase certain items at the store that are from the USA. Being on the path of God's will for my life and in the process touching His heart through the many faces of children brings me home. Only God could do that, only He could take a country you are not from, a language you barely know and a culture that is unfamiliar and make it somehow home. I don't think it gets more spacious than that :).

So to answer so many that have asked, no, I am not homesick. There are little things I miss and I miss my family in a big way!! I think the feeling of being homesick hits when I am not seeking the heart of God and His presence. David says in Psalms 27:4 “...this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life....” So like David, I too want the “One Thing” with all my heart and as long as I have that; God can drop me in whatever country and culture He chooses and I will be home.