so it's been a week of outreach...

Wow, how is it possible to sum up seven days of intensity and God showing up? It isn't.
But here's an idea.
the YWAM Tyler KK-DTS (aka us) arrived at First United Methodist Church in Abilene last Thursday at about 4. I got to be part of a group that visited the inmates at a prison, and it was an amazing start to the cool things God did. I got to talk to a woman that was really hungry for God, and I prayed for God to show up to her personally. The only thing I really remember that I told her is that we have to get to the end of our ropes before we can hold onto what God has to give. And in tears, she told me that she thought she was there. It was really cool to see God show up in that room, full of women who had made the wrong choices but were being offered the same grace and chance that all of us have.
And that was just Thursday. Friday we went to the mall for a "treasure hunt" which was where we prayed for God to give us specific locations, appearances, etc and then we were to look for them and be open to talking to people ("friendship evangelism"). The things on my list didn't pan out, but God took me into a shoe store where I saw a poster that absolutely broke me. There was a picture of a girl that couldn't have been more than 10. She was in full grown-up makeup and posed with a pout on her girlish lips, and God just broke my heart over the sexualization of young girls. If you read this, please say a quick prayer of protection over these young ones that are being shaped by the media and society.
Saturday I worked at the Palm Street House (knocking out ancient stucco from the bottom of the house), which is a 125 year old house that the church we are working with have been trying to get up and running for 5 years--a place to reach out to community...and we have made so much progress! Sunday we did both services with our drama "The Clincher" (about the Gospel, really) and then...we had a youth time that night that we just hung out with the kids... :)
Monday, work day at the Palm House, which meant hours of painting. Tuesday we cleaned the sanctuary. Wednesday (was that really yesterday?) was another block of hours painting, and then the youth group that night, which we ran.
Today...the Brazil clown team (including me) entertained preschoolers with skits, games, and songs for 45 minutes. It was exhausting, but fun. Okay, mostly ;) I scared myself when I first looked in the mirror at my clown makeup ;).
So I guess that pretty much catches up the week. Wow...and we have a day off tomorrow, which is good :) That'll be awesome. I love YWAM. This has been a great journey.

Breaking, beauty, and bubbles

God is so good. I am so glad He doesn't hesitate to make me uncomfortable to do what He wants to do in my life, even if it does absolutely feel impossible to go through. I would probably never grow. I am so glad that He is breaking me. It is the best thing that could possibly happen.

I'm starting to learn that real beauty is so not from the outside, but shines from what Jesus does on the inside. For beauty to be real, it has to be deeper than looks. I'm so glad. I'd much rather have a beautiful heart anyway.

As for bubbles, I am asking God to pop mine--all the things that I put up as excuses or defenses. I have definitely drawn those around myself in permanence, so it will be a process for them to all be demolished.

So that's just a snapshot of what's going on...God bless and may He do amazing things in your lives as well!

back to simplicity

God is taking me back to the basic truths, back to simplicity, because I've learned them with my head but not my heart...
They seem so elementary that at times I want to discount them as something I'm learning. It's really more like re-learning.
some of them are:
1. I will fail when I do things in my own strength.
2. I don't have to perform.
3. Sometimes all I have to do is be.

These are some of the hardest things to admit or believe for me. God is working in a huge way. Please be praying that as I listen to him and believe what he says about me, there will be a radical change in my heart and life. I want to love him with all of my heart, soul, mind, strength, and life, but I need him to root in my heart TRUTH. These three are just a few examples.

As for the DTS program itself, it's been amazing, painful, and again...exhilarating. Last week was ministry prep week, which meant working on dramas and clown skits, talking about messages and testimonies, bruises and bonding. It was intense. God taught me so much about strength in weakness. He was so strong in my weakness last week, and when I thought that I couldn't go on, he gave me that extra energy and endurance I needed. It builds my faith when he does that, but it also gives me tons of joy. I know that we'll be reaching people's hearts in Brazil, not just their minds, because I have had that experience, and I know that God will show me how to share that in a way that makes sense. Please be praying for wisdom as I prepare my testimony and message for outreach. Thanks!

love in Christ,
Camila

a week of turmoil, finally concluded

Hey all,
this week was definitely pretty ground-shaking. It rocked me to the core of everything I am and made me question if I am even close to qualified for furthering God's Kingdom. Now I know that the answer is no, and if I had answered yes that I would be in a very dangerous place. I am begging God to break me of my pride, and I can tell that he is delighted with my prayer, because he's doing it! I am so grateful. I'm so sick of what I've become, so full of selfishness and self-consciousness. I am so looking forward to what he's going to bring forth as I love him and receive his love. He is so good!
I just found out the costs for Brazil are $2, 200. I would ask you to think and pray about giving towards this outreach (any amount helps) , but even if that's out of the realm of possibility I would appreciate you praying for the time now and the place that God is preparing. He is already doing so much; I can't wait to see what he does next!

just going to give you my address here in case God leads you to give:

YWAM DTS-KK

P.O. Box 3000

Garden Valley, TX 75571-3000

Love in Him,
Camila