tears of joy...

Praising our Father through Sign Language.....

Have you ever cried tears of joy? You aren't crying because you are sad but you are just overwhelmed by the goodness and everlasting love of God? It happened to me last night, actually since i have been in Puerto Rico- it has happened 2 times. The other time was when i was in my room and i remember just feeling the LOVE of GOD immensely, while i was doing my journal and reading His word.

Yesterday i was so exhausted and so anxious because i was going up to Orocovis, PR which is really high up in the mountains in a community filled with Deaf people. If you have been reading my previous blogs, this is the community of Deaf who are poor that some do not even have beds to sleep on. I had the honor to go and actually teach these Deaf the word of God. Being in Puerto Rico this was my first "organized" event to where i would actually get to teach them. Most of these Deaf have their own sign language and low language skills that i was praying that God would just make HIS word clear to them that night. I was so blessed because an amazing amiga of mine came along to be my "backbone" my support, my encourager while i was driving a group of Deaf to the service. She was the perfect person to come along and help- she is an interpreter here in Puerto Rico (and my age) and an incredible woman of God.

Valerie carries the same passion i do with signing songs in sign language! It is so exciting to see someone else so passionate- for when we sign songs we aren't merely "putting on a show" but it is an intimate time with our Lord & Savior who adores us and He adores you. Everyone was amazed by the worship that took place that night- it was all for God!

I taught from Genesis 22:1-19 about Abraham and Isaac. Que es obediencia? "What is obedience? What does that look like in our lives? With these Deaf, i felt lead to do a drama from the story- so as you can see Valerie was Isaac and i was Abraham. After the teaching, everyones mouth dropped and said, "we understood everything so clearly, we GET IT." I was just so overwhelmed that these people got it- that when we obey God, He takes care of us, He never leaves us stranded, He provides, and all we have to do is follow and TRUST HIM. One man, was touched deeply by God that night, and decided to stop doing what he wants and to OBEY GOD because HIS way is the BEST way!!! I was so blessed by everyone's encouragement and the responses that were given to me during the lesson. God only YOU can make Your word clear, i am simply a messenger. I felt like Moses, my hands get tied up and i am not a good speaker but God could even use me to bring His message- what an honor! God did some big things last night up in those high mountains. It was pitch black that we had to use flashlights to find our way back to the vans, and you could see the stars. It was an incredible sight and these people are beautiful. It was such a blessing to be able to worship inside the house of the Deaf ( it made me sad because the couple only had a pack of frozen chicken in their freeze and nothing in their refrigerator). A group of Deaf are going to take up a collection of food to donate to them- it was such a blessing to see these people pull together for their brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for us as we continue to seek after CHRIST!

See your money, your singleness, marriage, talents, your time, they were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is divine, that’s why its Christ in my rhymes, that’s why its Christ all the time, see my whole world is built around Him, He’s the life in my lines......I refuse to waste my life...- Lecrae

Last weekend we had our CODA girl retreat- there was a total of 6 girls. We had such a blast! We focused on being obedient to God also. We focused on Queen Esther in the Bible. The girls really enjoyed it- we went to a nearby church the first night to attend a christian concert, we had a dance party in the huge red van, we gathered back to the office, focused on Esther, focused on what it means to be obedient to God. I had two new girls that i met for the first time and they were incredible. It is great to discover more CODAs that live in the same town as i do. We did many activities in regards of being obedient. These girls are solid and truly are seeking after God to honor Him with their lives. Praise be to God for being amazing and for touching their lives. Not only is God touching their life, they really touch me and they give me hope in knowing there are young teen girls who seek after God to honor Him with their lives.

God always brings along the right people... He knows what we need to hear at the right moments. I praise God for all these ladies.

1 John 5:2-3

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome

So when good things happen for God- we also get attacked. Last week my little brother was in the hospital (he is out now and is doing well, praise GOD), a man who went to church with us in the mountains come home late last night to discover his house was broken into- the robbers killed his dogs and stole his brother's motorcycle. There are those things that come at us but we are not going to let these things take away our Joy that the Lord has placed within us. pray for us.

"see the devil’s a liar, yeah he’s an accuser...he tells me I’m worthless, he says I’m a loser but now I refuse to let him lead me wrong... reading the Word in the morning got me feeling strong i found my worth in Christ and I’m pursuing truth a living testimony so you can do it too...."- Lecrae

(sorry i'm quoting so much of Lecrae.. his lyrics are awesome!)

Be encouraged today :) The Lord is good and He is doing many things around us!! You are all wonderful and thanks for your prayers, thoughts, and love that you all show me!! Until next time- oxox Dios les bendiga!