Glimpses of Faithfulness

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with 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 purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." -Philippians 2:1-4

I haven't written in awhile, life seems to be going so fast. In the last month I have decided that I will be leaving my mission here in Tijuana and heading my way back to Burkina Faso, Africa this coming December. I have such amazing peace in my heart to know that I am on my way to help more people in need. It wasn't an easy decision, I still find myself crying in not being with the kids here in Tijuana but I know that God has a plan for me in Africa that I can't even imagine or see.

God has been so faithful in every little thing lately in life, and for that I am constantly grateful. My friend Jesus is doing so much better! He is going to be 25 years old next week, he is such a miracle of God. I just count everyday more with him a blessing. Thank you Lord, for your constant love towards my friend and I know you have a deep purpose for him! He is still very sick and his kidneys don't work at all.. but he has such strength in his spirit and he comes to the orphanage now all the time.

At City of Angels a lot of our kids are off with family for vacation so we are down to around 15 children. It has been nice rest for the staff but I am so ready to see all the kids again! Last weekend some groups came down to take the kids to the beach in Ensenada for 4 days. Sleeping was not very much fun for me, for I shared my sleeping bag with two little boys who are 4 and 2 year old.. and had the feet of 5 little girls basically on top of me in the tent. But in the end it was all worth it, I would wake up early in the morning to the smile of little 4 year old Josue, telling me that he was ready to go outside and that he loved me.

Some of our children were baptized that weekend in the ocean. It was such a beautiful time of them showing their faith. 13 year old Luis is the one who got my heart the most, for I knew deep down that he knew exactly what he was doing and he is going to be an amazing soldier for the Lord. The whole weekend was a great time of fellowship with other believers and just enjoying the kids laugh and have fun in God's creation. We would literally have to drag the kids out of the water to eat and to sleep. They just enjoy it all so much.

That sunday we got back to the orphanage exhausted and sun-burned. I was so ready for a shower and a bed! After a nap, I woke up to check my emails and saw that there had been a horrible car accident in Africa with the older kids from the orphanage that I worked in. Tears filled my eyes and my heart literally stopped as I was trying to get all the information that I could to see who was hurt and what was even going on. After a little bit I found out that two young men, who I worked with and are actually two of my best friends, were severely injured and in the hospital. Edouard, who is 19, had a skull fracture and Barthelemy, who is 21, had a severe concussion... that night I kept waking up through the night crying and praying for the boys.

That next morning I got all the information about everyone in the wreck and that everyone else was either back in the orphanage or back in their villages except these two boys. I decided to call of my friend in Africa to see how he was. He just happened to be at the hospital with the boys and I was able to speak to Barthelemy for a little bit. It was such a relief to hear his voice! He said that he was in a lot of pain and he thanked me for all the prayers... we talked a little longer but he was so out of it. I got off the phone and just bawled... To be so far away is so difficult for me! But I knew that I needed to get everyone to start praying and that both of the boys were going to be okay!

Over this last week, the boys have improved tremendously... little by little they are getting their strength back. Edouard has a broken nose, can't see out of right eye, and the other eye is still blurry. His head is healing but is still in bad shape. Barthelemy can't hear out of his left ear, can't see out of his right eye, and is still very weak. He was sitting outside today and talking to different people. They are both eating some and moving around a little. Yesterday afternoon I was able to talk to them both on the phone... their love for the Lord shined through each word. They both said that God is so good and that they are waiting for me to come back. I love them so much!

It is literally only by the grace of God that it wasn't worse! Please continue to pray for boys and ministry in Africa. For the Lord to heal the boys completely and to have relief of the pain that they are in. They are both such lights to this dark world, and I know that they are touching lives in the hospital.


Thank you all for your support and prayers. We are excited here in Tijuana for this coming school year, we are still needing help with the cost of school uniforms this year. We know that God will provide! He has us all in His hands!