It's official...

Hey ya'll- so it's official, i extended my contract with the North American Mission Board as a M.O.S.T (missions on short term) missionary until December 31. Most likely, i'll get to go home for Christmas (i sure hope so- or i'll just spend Christmas with a Puerto Rican family here) we shall see what happens. I just trust in God in His perfect plan and all that He has in store for this CODA ministry in Puerto Rico. I am so blessed by it, by the little things that i have seen.

* i just want to encourage you all in something beautiful i saw today* Normally, every Wednesday, i stay with a family and go to Deaf church. They have one CODA daughter, who is just fantastic. I stay at their house, we eat dinner & then we drive to church. On the way to church, Sandra and I just have so much fun- playing any kind of game we can make up just to make the hour drive pass quickly to church through the "jungle" aka mountains. Then we arrive to the church and i help Sandra with the KODAs (kids of Deaf adults) and we like it so much better when we both teach the kids instead of one of us. Not only do we get to serve our fellow KODAs by teaching them the word of God, I would say spending time with Sandra is one of my favorite parts of ministry here- pouring into her, encouraging her to pursue her dreams that God has placed in her, and just getting to be a "big sister" to her. Usually, on a typical Thursday we have to wake up really really early because Sandra has school, her mom & I drive to the office "work" (1 1/2 drive)- so 5:30am came really early this morning. As, we do our routine- get ready for the day, i sat in the living room with Sandra. She put on Christian Spanish music and we were both just listening to it, then she just pulls out her Bible in her book bag and starts reading it. Now, for a 15 year old- to just pull out the Bible, at 5ish in the morning, WOW! I mean this was so beautiful to see her read the word of God before she went to school. Just for me to see, one of my CODA youth, really understand what it means to have a deep devotional relationship with God, excites me. Her life really encourages me, and i'm so honored to continue supporting her throughout her walk with God. God is using this girl and HE is going to use her for many things- i am so excited to see how God continues to work in her life. God thank You for showing me something beautiful and something encouraging.*

Pray for Sandra as God continues to work in her life.

I ask that you will pray for these specific things:

1.) Puerto Rico Deaf Ministries (as a whole) that God will give us a vision of what HE wants. Many of the Deaf here are still learning what it means to have a TRUE relationship with God. Pray for a desire and a passion for them to WANT to learn more about their Savior and fellowship with Christians.

2.) The CODA ministry under PRDM, that God will continue to allow me to build closer/new relationships with the CODAs in Puerto Rico.

3.) For money support for me to stay in Puerto Rico and continue to build this CODA awareness of how awesome they are and how GOD can USE THEM (and not for them to sit in the back of church).

4.) David and Marsha Mitchell- the missionaries of PRDM. David is STILL sick and not improving. He is still going to doctors to fight his infection- pray that God will bring healing and wisdom to the Mitchell's as they continue to heal so they can return to Puerto Rico.

5.) I want to have another CODA girl retreat, pray that God will bring wisdom and ideas for this event. Also, that CODAs will want to come :)

Dios es bueno! Thank you for taking the time to read this and really soak in what God is doing through a person like me- who has no value but in GOD i have value! I thank God for the opportunity to do this, to minister, to be used, and i ask that you all will pray for me to be strong in my time here, but even through the tough times, God shows me it's all worth it. :)

Love you all and Dios te bendiga!!!

oxox until next time!

Here is a video from a Deaf church in Ponce :)