My life is forever changed, not because it was a fancy trip or even that we had everything perfectly planned out. No, this missionary trip was different then any other trip I have ever been on. It was raw and real, vulnerable, humbling, not ours what so ever. A small group of passionate people who love Jesus came together and moved mountains! I honestly didn't know what to expect, I only knew three others on the trip. The first village we got to, I will never forget. There was when I truly began embracing the moment. Sharing the love and joy of Christ is my main mission in all I do and I know I fail at times, but in this village it was freeing. God took our willingness and began His work, planted His seeds and all we needed to so was be willing and obey His word. So with that in mind, second village here we come! Had to walk thirty minutes up, over and down a beautiful mountain to get there, but we arrived!! That night it was my turn to give my devotion of what God has been teaching me! This past year was a hard one for me, and God has been ever faithful to teach me about His strength in my weakness. When I don't wanna stand He gives me hope and sheds his light on me in my darkest hours! Not only did I share but I sang too, which is something I don't do, but I felt the need too. God wanted whomever was there to hear the words in the songs I sang, which were "I stand" by Hillsong and "More and More of You" by Worship Mob. Afterwards I felt overwhelmed by His presence and I wanted to cry, I didn't know what to do but leave the room and pray. I thought at first I was being overcome by emotions but I knew shortly after that God was doing something in the people around me and I needed to pray for them. That night I became very very ill with a fever over 100 degrees and blood pressure high. I just taught about God's strength in our weakness, and here I was again feeling very very weak, barely able to walk without feeling the need to throw up. God took my body and used me. He allowed Satin to get to me, because I am certain He knew I would always be forever will be faithful to Him, like Job and many others in the Bible. And how else are we as followers supposed to grasp the appreciation of health He has freely given us. That rest of the week, God continually took me on a journey humbling me and taking away my pride. Ultimately putting the focus on Him, the glory goes to Him! There were many moments I didn't know what to do and I was put to shame, all I had to do was look to God and He, through His people, carried me. I was in constant prayer and felt the Lord's discernment through me in a new and fresh way! I wasn't back to normal health till the day we arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia. God took my shattered clay and instead of molding it all back the way I thought and assumed He would, He completely brought me in awe and amazement of His wonderful and gloriously ways that are far better then the strange ones I conjure up!! The Lord brought me back to a place of constant prayer, not just for myself but everyone around me. My teammates, the villagers that I met, the bus driver and his family, and all the random people in between. Constant prayer and a wonderful perspective of the spiritual realm is what God instilled in my mind, heart and soul! And like I said at the beginning my life is forever changed through what God taught me in Potosi, Bolivia. I am so very thankful for everything that occurred on the trip!!! Thank you all for your prayers and support, because they were much appreciated and needed!!
Christen is from Cleveland. This was her 2nd trip to Bolivia and she looks forward to her quickly approaching Air Force career! Pray for her as she continues her journey.
