12/9/2017 6:38:34 AM

It's been a while since I have done an update. The holiday's have been busy but full of fun. Thanksgiving came and went in a flash. We hosted a Friendsgiving for family and friends from our church. Over 40+ pounds of turkey was consumed! Then came the Christmas season...the ministry I am blessed to be a part of is doing a video devotional series that has been an incredible experience to assist with. We are digging into the birth of Jesus and discussing how it connects to the Old Testament as well as what it means for us today, this side of resurrection.

Now to this crazy amazing mission trip. I have been receiving donations from so many wonderful people. The Lord is placing it on their hearts to sow into me and then they are randomly approaching me with cash and checks. It's insane! Currently I am only $2,112 away from being fully funded. Even my travel to and from the starting point is in place thanks to a generous gift from a family member. I've got my passport in and ready to go, started purchasing some gear, and getting myself into shape so that I can be the most effective vessel for God.

I was hoping to write a more detailed update, however, mom life calls. My prayer is that you are having a wonderful Christmas season. If I don't talk to y'all until after the holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See ya in 2018 :)

10/25/2017 4:48:26 PM

There is something so unique about the whole fundraising process. Once I got accepted to the team, I figured this part would be a breeze. People have been so generous so far and it absolutely floors me. The way others have given so freely to invest in my mission trip has me humbled. It was easy at first. Now, not so much. I've discovered how hard it is for me to share about my trip and to ask for help. In my adult life I've always been stubborn and self-sufficient. If that meant I went without or suffered, that was okay. Knowing that this is something God has called me to ought to be the reason I tell everyone about my trip. The thoughts of "I don't want to be that girl" or "I hope I'm not annoying" keep flooding my mind. If I share too much am I hounding people? If I share too little am I neglecting the process? It is hard. It is awkward. I'm almost halfway funded. God has showed off so vastly so far. Why would I question that He wouldn't do the same on the last half? The good thing from this journey is that I am noticing an area that I don't fully trust God in. That sounds terrible but it's not. Knowing helps me pursue resolve in the Lord. I want to trust Him with absolutely everything. I guess it comes down to me not feeling worthy. Sometimes I catch my mind thinking that nobody would want to invest in me, that they don't think I'm capable of doing this. That's silly. God has transformed my heart, mind, and soul. Jesus lives inside of me. That fact alone makes me capable. It's not about being cocky and it's not about degrading myself. It's about discovering more of who God is. It's about glorfiying Jesus Christ along the way. This update may seem jumbled. It is. I just wanted to leave this here and ask for your prayers. Please and thank you!

10/9/2017 12:26:44 PM

I'm not a crafty person by nature. My husband, on the other hand, is extremely gifted in this area. He's actually a graduate gemologist/bench jeweler and works alongside his family in their jewelry store. He literally makes diamond jewelry. It's gorgeous. He's talented. I'm spoiled. A couple of months back I found a pair of leather earrings on Etsy that I wanted so badly. I didn't buy them because they were pretty pricey and well momma's on a budget. I petitioned my jewelry designing husband to make me these for me even though they weren't as "fancy" as his normal jewelry. He lovingly did and I wore them proudly.

As I would wear these earrings, people would compliment me all the time and ask where I got them. When I told them that they were homemade they almost flipped. It seemed silly to me. Then fundraising for this mission trip happened. I knew I wanted to work for quite a bit of it but I had no clue how. One evening my hubby sat down and taught me how to make the earrings everyone loved. I sat there for nights on end after putting my son to bed, working into the wee hours making leather earrings. Once I had quite a few made then I posted them to Facebook. Immediately my sweet friend who is currently in Austin, TX attending the Heart of David worship school with Rick Pino, ordered a pair from me. Then another order, then another. So far I have only sold around 10 pairs but I am so hopeful that if I keep making them and set up a table at a few markets and craft shows that I just might be able to help make a dent in the remainder of funds left to raise.

God is walking me through my fear of pride and my fear of man in this process. I started so scared that if I kept sharing stuff or promoting this trip that it would seem prideful of me. I was worried that nobody would sow into me because they didn't think I was worth it. I didn't think that simply making leather earrings while listening to worship music would lead me through a healing of sorts. Jesus is so sweet to us. Whether these earrings help a lot or very little, they began the deliverance of strongholds and ungodly beliefs that I had no idea about. In that I will rejoice!!!

9/6/2017 4:00:11 PM

It's crazy what can happen over the course of a few days. A little over two weeks ago my family and I evacuated from Corpus Christi to Dallas due to Hurricane Harvey. We left our home, belongings, and everything we knew not knowing whether or not it would be there when we returned. Our truck was loaded up with keepsakes, photo albums, suitcases of clothing, and a few of our favorite things. Crammed tightly into the truck, we took off.

My husband, son, the family dog and I spent a few days in the DFW area waiting to see what was going to happen. As the hurricane began approaching the gulf coast it looked as if our beloved city was bound to get hit by catastrophe as the category kept going up. It was a 2, then a 3, then a 4. While in Dallas a handful of us from the Coastal Bend gathered together at Prayer Mountain for a time of intercession and worship. We prayed HARD. We praised HARD. We cried out to God for not only ourselves but the many who had stayed behind to "ride it out".

Fortunately for my family and I, the hurricane changed course at the last moment and completely spared our home and family business. Sadly though Hurricane Harvey did hit the communities around us. Corpus Christi is surrounded by devastated communities currently. It's an unusual thing to navigate. We will be sitting in our home with air conditioning, eating a home cooked meal, and watching a movie when feelings of hurt fall in my heart. Just thirty minutes away people are homeless, digging through the remnants of what was once their home, all while trying to make sense of what happened. It's a trying time for so many.

While this storm caused damages beyond comprehension it has also birthed a unity all across the Coastal Bend. Many different denominations, congregations, religions, and backgrounds are all working side by side to serve the affected areas. The day after we got back from Dallas my husband was in Port Aransas assisting in disaster relief and I was helping to serve meals to the residents and volunteers with our church. We are trying to serve however and whenever. Our day to day life is getting back into a somewhat normal routine. My son is back in school, my husband has been back at work for over a week, and I have resumed life as usual. We are praying to navigate this season in our area with grace abounding. There is so much destruction that has caused hopelessness. We are trying to reach out and serve in any way we can when our work and school schedules allow it.

As you can expect, fundraising is not even at the top of my priorities currently. I'm about 25% of the way to my total goal which is amazing. Praise Jesus for the provision! I know there is still 75% left to raise and honestly, I'm praying about how to go about it. How do you fundraise for something when there is something so damaging as a category 4 hurricane affecting the lives of so many around you? Heck, I even prayed if I should still even go on this mission trip. God has assured me that He still wants me to go. That brings me peace. For now, I will fundraise when it's appropriate and pray that the needs of the communities I love are met first. God's got plenty of favor and provision to go around.

Thank you all for your continued support. Please join me in prayer for the areas directly affected by Hurricane Harvey and let's also cover those in the path of Hurricane Irma. I'm believing for no more natural disasters to hit land. Let's stand in agreement and declare that everything the enemy has tried to kill, steal, or destroy would be reclaimed, rebuilt, and restored even better than it was prior!

8/3/2017 3:04:31 PM

For the last two weeks, I have been doing a t-shirt fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who purchased a shirt. Because of your support, I was able to raise $70 for my upcoming trip.

It is still surreal to think I''m in the midst of fundraising for something so BIG but that''s how God works. He doesn''t ask me to do the things I am comfortable with. He doesn''t tell me to stay in the safety of my little bubble. He is asking me to step out in faith that He will show off. He put this huge amount of money in front of me to raise. He asked the girl who is absolutely terrible at fundraising. I can get door prizes and donations like a champ but asking for financial donations is a whole different ball game.

Every time I find myself getting overwhelmed, fearful, or even skeptical that this is really happening, the Lord gently reminds me that this is for Him, not me. I am merely the willing vessel. I''m called to radical obedience. The whole fundraising process is more than just getting donations. It is stretching my faith to trust in God''s provision all while cultivating a deeper dependence on my heavenly Father.

This journey just started but I can already tell you it''s going to be one heck of an adventure!