Sacrifice and subMISSION

Around last February I began the application process with a mission organization. One of the many things they required was a self-reference in which I had to list three strengths and weaknesses. One of the weaknesses I wrote was not submitting to leadership. The director who I was in contact with talked with me on the phone about the importance of submission on the mission field and challenged me to have a bible study about it. While going through some verses, journaling, and praying, I had a few realizations. The most impacting was that submission is really all about sacrifice. Romans 12:1 tells us to "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God". I've always had such a negative view of submission. To look at it as something I'm volunteering, something I'm choosing to give to God, really puts a positive spin on it.

God eventually closed the door on the opportunity with that specific organization, but I'm thankful for the spiritual growth I experienced through the application process. As you all know, God kept the door open with Youth for Christ. After being accepted, right before I began fund-raising, I had the chance to be a counselor with YMCA resident camp for a week. I was really excited to go since I've grown up going to Y-camp and hadn't been a leader for 5 years. Also, I knew I was ready to receive my gold rag through the Raggers Program. For those not familiar, the Raggers Program is an opportunity to make a personal challenge for yourself and be counseled by someone who's already received that certain color rag (there's seven). I knew that my challenge was going to be about submission and sacrifice, specifically for my time with YFC in Mexico. I was counseled by an awesome brother in Christ who greatly encouraged me in my challenge. (Random God moment: before I told him what my challenge was and what verses I had been meditating on, [one of which was 1 Peter 2:17] he opened my bible to share a verse with me, 1 Peter 2:16!!Craziness!)

All this to say, I've been spiritually preparing myself to be open to sacrifice my will in order to submit to the leaders here for the benefit of my ministry. Last week my director talked with me about an upcoming meeting we had with a group of pastors in another city and told me that because I was speaking, I needed to have normal hair. It is only because Jesus has been teaching my heart how to live for him that I didn't argue or cry or get angry. Alright, I'll admit that right before I painted on that first glob of black dye over my awesome pink bangs, I really felt like crying. Hopefully one day I can have pink hair without it conflicting with my ministry.

This is a lesson that I'm learning and probably will be processing for some time. Thank you for being with me on this journey. Your prayers and encouragement mean so much to me. Also, the meeting with the pastors went really well. I spoke for 10 minutes about my call to missions and my experience with YFC so far. I had my speech written out so there were some parts were I was kind of reading, but I had it mostly memorized.

Tomorrow I'll be traveling to El Salvador for a week-long conference and then spend three weeks in Guatemala with part of the team. Please pray for safe travel and a time to recharge spiritually.

Muchas Gracias!!!

Speaking at the meeting with the Pastors. I was super nervous!


All the pastors we were meeting with plus our team from Monterrey.


Joventud Para Cristo Monterrey Team. Left to right: Pancho, the director of the futbol league, Kandy, missionary extrodnaire, Jose Carlos, national director, Gris, head of sexual education, Giezi, director of the drama team and volunteer training, and Cilia, the newly appointed Director of JPC Valle Hermoso (a city in a nearby state). We were visiting to introduce JPC to the pastors in that city in order to gain their acceptance and support.

The Beginning of Something Wonderful

"Kandy, va a venir al entrenamiento Lunes?"

which means,

"Kandy, are you coming to our practice on Monday?"

These were the words I heard from Oscar, an eleven year old on one of the ‘futbol’ teams I help coach. I've only been to a handful of practices, but I know most of their names now and am getting used to the swing of things. Being an assistant coach is the main thing I do here in Monterrey, Mexico. Each night I go to a practice held in a different area of Monterrey, and on Saturdays we have a tournament with all the teams in the league. The goal of Youth for Christ is to minister to at-risk adolescents, which means that most of these neighborhoods are not in good areas. Being on a team gives these kids a sense of community, which prevents them from feeling the need to join one of the many gangs around.

I've been here exactly two weeks, and I'm already falling in love with the city. Praise God! Everyone I've meet as been so welcoming, friendly, and eager to offer me food! The city is surrounded by awesome mountains (I've already done some climbing!), and at any point during the day the sky looks incredible with huge rolling clouds. I've had more than my fair share of awkward moments, but I guess that’s to be expected during the beginning of any ministry. I've been getting along really well with Taly, who's only a couple years older than I am and speaks perfect English. I live with Taly and her mother, Celia, who's never satisfied with how much I eat.

Now that I'm here and now what to expect for the upcoming months, I'm even more excited for this next big chapter of my life. My Spanish efficiency is actually better than I thought, and I'm improving every day. I've run a practice on my own, and had a great time encouraging and challenging the boys, who I already feel are "my kids".

To answer Oscar’s question, “Si, por su puesto!”

which means, “Yes, of course!"

I’ll be here for awhile.

Love in Christ,

Kandy (my new nickname)

Prayer Requests:

-That I would continue to get along great with the students and members of the ministry team

-Continued health

-More language efficiency

-Patience through this adjustment period

Taly and I after church, eating 'doritos'

My First Call

So to start off my missions blog, I'd thought I would give a glimpse into the past. Welcome to the story of how I was first called to be a missionary.

I've always loved working with children, even when I was a child. When I was in fifth grade, I would ditch my Sunday school class to help the babies in the crib room. I started babysitting when I was barely a middle schooler. It's no surprise that God used my compassion for children to first call me to the mission field.

I was in seventh grade, in history class, learning about current events. My teacher was telling us about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and how it had caused countless children to be orphaned. I can still remember my gut reaction, "Somebody should help!". Then after a moment of reflection, "I can be one of those people!" It was pretty much as simple as that.

As I got older, I was able to experience a few mission trips to Mexico with the youth group. Through those trips, my calling has expanded from Africa to include many other areas of the world. My next destination will be Monterrey, Mexico, but only God knows what other places I'll travel to during my adventures with him!!