About a month ago, My good friend and former roommate in Mexico, Liz and I were sitting at a bridal luncheon of our good friend Monica. It was after all the food had been served, our mani's and pedi's were done, and we were just chilling out playing some games. She looks over at me, looks out at the HUGE trampoloine and says to me "I really just want to go JUMP on that!" and to which I of course responded "well then lets go girl!" We both jumped up from our seats, ran through the sliding glass doors, kicked off our heels and before anyone could even process what had just happened we were jumping high in the air! I love this picture and the story behind it. You probably couldn't guess how significant this moment was unless you knew both Liz and I personally. To me this picture captures the beauty of our friendship and freedom. You see Liz and I are very oppisite in so many ways, there are many things we have had to work through, challenges we faced together, tears we have cried together, but through it all what I love the most is the laughter we share together and how we have learned to just love one another for who we are. It's a beautiful thing to have a friendship like ours, because we can constantly challenge each other in our stregnths and weaknesses.
Friday, October 23, 2009
"Let's Jump!"
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
a new adventure.
Life feels like such an adventure right now. Although, it's not the kind of adventure I would hope for and have always dreamed of. I'm may not be climbing mountains in my flip flops or trying my best to get down that yummy goat intestine soup. Instead I am sitting here in the USA, in a nice house, wal-mart within 5 minutes, and oh lets not forget those wonderful places where you go and get any type of coffee drink you can think up. I am truly blessed. I know this, yet my heart still yearns for Mexico- all of those things that seemed so strange at first are now what is comfortable to me now. Almost two years of living in Mexico, and it became my home. I am by NO means an expert on the culture, but I was learning. I feel like I had purpose there.
Isn't it funny, how when we start to get comfortable somewhere God takes us somewhere else? I am thankful for that, I don't always like it. Ok, the majority of the time I don't like it and some of the time I go fighting with God the whole way. Usually though, when God is that persistent in taking us somewhere or taking us out of somewhere, there is a purpose. We may not always see it, but there is. I have been here in Minnesota for 2 months. I still don't have a job. That has no doubt been a struggle, but let me tell you something...God is showing me so much. In this extra time I've had to focus, think and pray...there have been times where I have just been discouraged, but there have also been those times where God has just been weeding out things in my heart. Refining my heart again. Showing me more of His love, and teaching me to listen to HIS voice and not the voices of other people. THAT is why I'm saying this is an adventure, because it is an adventure of faith and wondering what God is going to do next. I want to live my life listening to God and going wherever HE leads me, not just in the big things, but in the little things too. of course my heart is still to go overseas, and I still believe I will go back to the mission feild, but when He says so. If there things He needs to do in me first, things I need to do here, freedom in Christ i still need to claim. Then for the first time ever, I can say I am ok with that. Today at least...I am sure tomorrow I will have to read this post and remind myself again.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Things I've learned since being in Minnesota..
(these don't necessarily have to do with Minnesota, just things I've learned since being here)
1.) I have had the urge to say "Uf-da" a lot. Even though I don't hear it on a regular basis, it's a fun word and I want to incorporate it into my vocabulary.
2.) Fishing although not the most exciting sport in the world, really is a skill and it's fun to learn from people who know what they're doing.
3.) Fish isn't bad when it's fresh, fried and smothered in lemon juice!
4.) Having children is an amazing ministry, and I am learning to appreciate mothers, and my own mother more everyday.
5.) The Mall of America is a cool place, but it's not the best part of Minnesota, No not even close.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Mattie is coming!
Mattie is coming home in 3 days. I am so excited, haven't seen this girl since Christmas! She is one of the best friends a girl could ask for...
Sunday, July 12, 2009
stateside-but for how long?
I feel like I haven't been able to truly express my feelings through words thus far, so maybe I will have better success through writing in my blog. We'll see. First, let me explain a little of what has been/ is going on with my life....
Early May, I decided to return to the states for a few reasons, but mostly to see people and tell more people about the ministry I believe God has called me to do in Mexico. However, once returning home, I became sick. It was one thing after another for several weeks. I felt as if not only my body was weary, but my soul as well. All of the joy was sucked out of me. I didn't have a desire to share the vision God had given me with anyone because well I just felt broken down. I still don't know the significance of all of that. And it's possible that I never will know anything other than It's caused me to re-evaluate everything in my life.
As a result of all of this I have accumulated quite a lot of medical bills. I feel like my plans are being radically changed. The question I keep getting asked is "So Tasha, what are you going to do now?" I haven't been able to answer anyone with a definite response, other than "I'm praying about it.." Because I have been praying about it, and seeking God, and am seeking others for wisdom. And the truth is, I am still not positive, but I am trusting that God will open and close doors. My current thought is that i will have to get a job here in the states for a few months to pay some stuff off.
I feel so completely torn in this matter, because my heart right now is in Oaxaca, Mexico. God is doing things there, He is moving in incredible ways. There are so many house churches on the verge of starting. There are young girls, who are finding hope and seeing purpose for there lives. THE UNREACHED ARE BEING REACHED! I believe that there is still purpose for me there. I have so many friends who I feel like are just a step away from knowing, falling in love with Jesus and finding FREEDOM!
How can you walk away from that? How can you leave that? Not that God can't use someone else, because Oh, He can!! He is so much bigger than me and my plans. But I just think about them and I love them so much. God calls us to not only baptize people in His name, but to disciple them after. First I just need to say, that when we think about someone who "disciples" someone, we think about someone, maybe a little older, very seasoned and experienced in their faith. Maybe someone who actually "has it together". Haha, we all know that I am not exactly those things. Yes, I have been following Jesus for a while, but I wouldn't exactly say I know what I am doing or I "have it all together" as a matter of fact I don't at all.
To disciple someone you just have to be one step ahead of them...and they follow you as you follow Christ...
I am still working through things, still finding freedom from things and to be honest with you most of the time I don't have a clue what I am doing most of the time. But as I have had the opportunity to disciple some young women this past year I have learned so much and come to discover that is actually a beautiful thing. A thing that perhaps they can relate to. When I am able to share my testimony,and how God really can use the most unexpected people. When you have faith, and God wants to use you, your circumstances don't really matter. It doesn't really matter how you grew up, what country you grew up in or if you were poor, because there is freedom from all of that. We always hear that God "uses the weak" it really is true. I see such potential in so many of these women that the world may view as "weak". Why? Because He can get so MUCH GLORY from it!!
This is why I feel torn, because I am so afraid of losing the relationships I have made. Afraid that it will take months to get back to having deep trust with them again. But you know what, I also know that God is faithful and if He calls me back to the states for a time period, then He will most definitely take care of all of that.Anything else is just my own self not trusting that He is in control.
I ask that you all would please continue to pray for not only me during this time, that God will show me where I need to go and when, but also continue to pray for the people of Oaxaca, continue to pray for revival there. God USES you and your prayers in such and amazing way, I have seen proof of it!
Thank you all for your love, prayers and support
