Zona Norte Street Healings..............................

Ok so for those of you that have just joined viewing my Blog I want to fill you in.................

So Zona Norte is the area in Tijuana, Mexico right at the border of the USA, where the Deportees all sleep rough, there are families, women, children and men who are all living on the streets and who have nothing, and I mean nothing!! 

They don't have any government financial support or provision for food, clothes or medical provision, the only things they are given is food by the local churches and us.  

Ok lets get to the crazy stories.....................................

First my friend  who lives at the YWAM base with me, Raly, from Nigeria, last week she prayed for a man who is a deportee, he had really bad eyesight and couldn't see much at all. He would wear glasses and couldn't read, Raly offered to pray for his eye sight to be healed, to which he said "yes" too!! She prayed, nothing changed, she prayed again and nothing happened. During the week she continued to pray for his eyesight to return. So this Wednesday when we arrived at Zona Norte to feed to People, she saw the man, he didn't have his glasses on and Raly asked him how is your sight? He said that he can see 100% and that he can now read his bible and doesn't need to wear his glasses anymore, yeahhhhh God is good!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Next, a guy who has lived in Zona Norte for a couple of years, who I have known since last year, got his hand smashed up by a truck, the back of his whole hand was smashed up, skin broken, tendons broken, he went to hospital and had it stitched but it was a very bad job, he showed me his injury and it was so badly infected it was white, yellow, swollen and very bad, I felt very sick. 

As he is living on the streets he had no way of keeping it clean or his bandages clean either. So I asked if me and a friend could pray for him, he said "yes" so we did. Anyway we left and the next week  he came up to Raly, (as I couldn't go to Zona Norte that week), showed her his hand, it had scared up and the infection was gone. He was able to have movement in his fingers as he couldn't do before!!! 

God does  this stuff for real, its amazing!!

So I was leading the prayer walk in the red light district in Tijuana this week, there were 6 of us walking and praying for the women and Children who work in the red light area, also we pray for the men, the bouncers, doormen and the punters. 

We got to a street corner before we entered a street full of drug use and sex being sold, I felt like we needed to pray for Joy, that we would know the Joy of the lord with us and that we can take that pure, unselfish Joy into that place with us, we also prayed for people to be drawn to us for prayer and encouragement. As soon as we stopped praying we turned to cross the street and a man came up behind us with a guitar and was playing a really joyful song!! haa haa we laugh and continued walking and he followed us whilst he was playing and singing stills, so we walk this long street and we told him we didn't have any money but he didn't mind and just walked with us. 

We stopped walking and talked with him, he started to play a worship song in the middle of the street singing and playing, it was so funny many people were stopping to listen and look. It was so fun, we got to pray for him and prayed blessings on him, he was happy when he left!! God answers prays!!!

Its all about Identity and Intimacy....................

So just something I am wanting to share, you know when you learn something and you want everyone to know it too well this is one of them moments.............................

For the last few weeks in the DTS school the students have been learning about Intimacy with God, Fear of God and this week The Holy Spirit! We strive through life and have all these questions, doubts, fears, insecurities, questions and worries......... but you know what we don't need to have these attached to our lives we can live a life free of this and actually life in the freedom that God has promised us.

So your thinking "what the heck?" Well this is what its about............. God is in the trinity right and there is 3 in 1, God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit, so that is what Gods roles are, ok so the next step is to know our role and response to that. So our response to God the Father is to know our identity as a Son and Daughter of the creator of the earth, this is hugh and I know your probably thinking ... well that's quite a big thing to get your head around and yeah it is but ASK God and he will bring revelation to you of who He is and how he sees you as His Child, He adores you, cherishes you, delights in you and is so loving towards you. It says in the bible 

Matt 7 v 11, How much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to His children if we ask!! 

It's a challenge to us to step out and ask Him but believe me He does give incredible gifts, I was so scared of stepping out and asking for people to sponsor me as our culture is very much that we should be self sufficent, but I knew God called me into missions, so I stepped out came and he has provided the finance for me to do this, through others!!

Ok So our second response to God the Son is to know Jesus as a lover................ ok so some of you are freaking out right now and thinking that's a bit twisted hey?!! But it is about Intimacy on a emotional/spiritual level, closeness, really knowing someone on a personal level, longing to show that person everything you see in your day and sharing, spending time with and growing in a deep relationship. When we desire Jesus like this and long to spend time with Him and in His presence it brings freedom from fears, worries, insecurities and all that other rubbish stuff! This is where we start to understand our real true Identity that we were created for!! This is the most amazing, freeing revelation I have had and I know that this is who I am called to be as I have never felt this secure and content in my life ever!!

The 3rd response to the Holy Spirit is our ministry, this is our service and how we are to people around us, are we loving, caring, compassionate, serving and accepting to others. This is how we are called to be and it is through knowing God, Jesus and the holy spirit, having our Identity in Him and longing for intimacy with Him that we can live freely and loving towards everyone we meet!!

Mi Casa es tu casa.............

In Mexico they have a saying "Mi Casa es tu Casa" this means "My house is your house", this makes me so happy as this is meant in the most genuine way.

So I got to build a house with the Bible School students the other weekend, I was so excited to be able to help and build a house for a family!

                                                        Colonia style house, this is a nice one!
So it was a nice hot day haa haa which is good but when your labouring its a bit crazy but we had fun, the family were moving into a new neighbourhood, where we were building the new house, they had 3 children, one who is pregnant and the other two are in school. This family are precious, I had the privalidge to take them shopping to buy supplies for their new house. This bit is a surprise for them, we do a whip round and get some money from the building team and helpers and then we take the family to Wallmart, we raised about $300 for the family, it was so fun as the mum was like a child in a sweet shop for the first time she got things she had never tried before and got fun treats and meat and veg and cleaning products!!

For me this was the first time I have been shopping with the family and it was amazing to be there, I had to try and not cry in the store as I was thinking of being in the Mum's shoes and it must have been such an overwelming experience for her!! I was so thankful to God that I get to be a part of this ministry, that we get to share His love with others.

At the end of building the house we go round in a circle and say a prayer for the family or say something encouraging and then we give them the Keys, ususally the family go in the house at this point, but this family wanted to say something too, so the mum wanted to explain that she wanted to bring the women from her church round her house, but before she had been so embarrassed about her house she had never done this but now, she was crying as she was so happy she would be able to have people in her home and share her new house with everyone, also the teenage girl said the same thing that she can have her friends round and she will be happy and proud of her home, they little boy tried to say stuff but was very emotional and the dad  was just so thankful, he said that he was blown away by God's provision for him and his family, he cried which made me cry too!!

This house is not only for this family but we know this family will use it to share with their community, this was such a special house build for me. This house is one big room with a partition, it is about the size of a large double bedroom that we will have at home so it is very small but they are so greatful and willing to share everything that they have!!

This is a constant challenge to me in my life to share and bless others with what I have!!

What's important? what will last forever.............?

In 5 days I will start my journey to Mexico Via, Germany, Dominican Republic, Panama City, Mexico City and finally land in Tijuana on Tuesday 19th March in the evening ha haa haa!!

So i have been reminded and thinking of what is important to me and what will last forever...........

In the last 5 months God has been speaking to me about investing, this word has been on my mind over and over again!! He has been showing me what is important in life and what isn't. When I was in Mexico God started this for me and started to show me that I didn't really need to have much to completely feel content/ satisfied, but that all I needed was Him, family and friends. I didn't need all the boxes I had at home full of stuff that I didn't even remember I had haa haa haa!!

He used the Mexican culture to show me that relationships are what we are to invest in to love others excellently and to have time for people, to value them and to love them. I saw how relationships take priority in that culture over other things. God reminded me that we are to invest in Him, his word and to love like He has loved us!!

 "There are three things that will endure - faith, hope and love -  and the greatest of these is Love!!"

1 Corinthians 13 v 13

Now that it is so close to me leaving family and friends behind in Sunny (haa haa) England, It's so hard to leave as my heart is here so much, it will be so hard to leave but I know that God has prepared the way and has others for me to love, invest in and show them God!! This is so exciting for me and I am honoured I get to do this and it is now that I see how investing and loving wholeheartedly is what will keep my relationships real, deep and genuine, even though I maybe half the way round the world!

So saying all this I now get to spend the day with my Sister, Lilly and Benny to laugh, love and have so much fun, feeding the ducks and playing football!! 

 Love to you all, my next blog will be from Mexico eekkkkkkkk!!! 

Its that time.......................

Its time when we look back and reflect, time to think of all that has happened in the last year and think about what we want for this coming year, what we can change...............

Well i want to love excellently; make the most of every day; opportunity and to appreciate what i have!!

Why??? Well because during this last year i learnt how important life is, how precious it is and how it is worth more than anything money could ever buy. God has given me (and all of us) life and life to the full!!
As some of you know that Ben my nephew has been in and out of hospital on 3 different occasions since he was born in November 2012, this has been a real tough time for all of us, especially his mum and dad. When things like this happen, you realise what is important in life. I felt God carrying us, providing and giving peace in a horrible situation, God has been our strength, we have had a beautiful Christmas as family with two healthy muffins!! Thanks friends and family for loving, praying and helping us all xxxxx

I keep saying I will share stories from mexico too so here is one.......

We arrived to a very small town (Constitution Cuidad) in the middle of the desert after about an 8 hour drive in 39 degree heat, it was about 6pm we needed to eat, then do a church service at 6:30pm. So cutting it fine we ran to get some Tacos (got to be done we're in mexico, so yummy), got back to this tiny church of about 15 people and kids, it was a building with half a roof, half brick, wooden and plastic wall with a hole in the ground toilet, which some of us girls were so happy about hee hee!

We started the service, with testimonies, worship, Kids work, drama, a preach and then some prayer at the end. A little old frail lady went up the front for some prayer, my friend went to pray for her and he took another friend so he could translate. Anyway they realised she was deaf, they prayed and walked off, one of the guys felt God say to go and blow in her ear, He was like Really God??!! that's a little bit weird, anyway he did it, prayed God will heal her and left. We all got in the mini bus, exhausted but so excited as God had really blessed the church and the pastor, when one of the team asked, who blew in the little old ladies ear??, because she came up to me and said that someone had blown in her ear and she can now hear everything!!!!!!! Amazing if you ask me!!

Church in Constitution Cuidad, that's me hee hee!! 

I met a lady one night when we were giving out free hugs in Ensenada, she was on her own sitting on the wall looking out to the sea, i walked by her and showed her my free hug sign, she smiled and said "yes". We hugged and she needed a friendly hug, I said God Bless you and left as the others had carried on walking and my Spanish was very limited hee hee although I did try :)  I walked off to catch up with the others, but couldn't get Maria (the lady) out of my mind, I felt like I needed to go back and talk with her, so I got my friend who is Mexican, very helpful hee hee thanks sunshine!! We went back and she was there still!! She was ok with us joining her and talking, we spoke about life, she said she was in a bad place and had felt lost and lonely, I got to share some of my life with her and my story which she said she could relate to some of it, we got to pray with Maria and love her, she got emotional, so I asked what was wrong and she said that she used to walk along the beach all the time but she hadn't for many years as things in life had turned so bad. She said that tonight, she was in her house and for the first time in years she thought she would come out, she said " Tonight is significant for me, I used to know God but I was so full of guilt and shame that I didn't think I could go back to Him, but God wanted to speak to me tonight through you two". We were shocked that this was the first night she had been to the beach in years, It wasn't a coinsidence that we all met, it showed her how she is so important to God and that he loves her. When we left Maria you could see a lightness in her eyes and in her self, her face was full of happiness and peace.

So you know what, I loved this, I want to see more and more stories of God changing lives and I want to be able to show people God's love, I cant wait for this new year!!

                                                       Free Hugs!! Why Not!!?? Porque No!!

And last of all, I love that I can share my adventures with you all, I wish you all a real happy and fun new year :)

I'm running my race..............

Oh where to start..... that's a good question!!!

So I'm sitting on a plane somewhere between Sao Paulo, Brazil and Toronto Canada, just thinking about returning to the UK after my travels. I was just talking to God and said "so when i get home i need to find a job, get a guitar somewhere or somehow for free, (as i didn't have much money at all), some trainers for running as mine got wrecked, find a cheep TEFL course (Teaching English as a Foreign language), and start studying the bible and find someone to help me!! 

God says he is my provider, and within two weeks of being home, I found a job at Thorntons Chocolate Shop in the weekdays as i didn't really want to work weekends, there are benefits to working with chocolates and there are problems too haaa haaaaaaa haa ha means more running!!! Also my sister Katie had some trainers I could have, I found a TEFL course in Brighton for £175 instead of £350 which i have done half of and i am now studying on line. I felt that this was a good tool to have if i was to be going into different countries as it would be something i could offer to benefit other. 

I was given a guitar from a couple who were looking at giving there's away to someone who really wanted it and my old pastor has said he will help teach me the bible!! 

So I'm just saying God provides for our every need!!

Also I have become an auntie again to my snuggley nephew Ben, we call him Benny bear coz he is a chunky hugy baby!! He is very special and i love him very much, so now I have too little muffins that I adore and love to see and play with. Lilly is so fun right now and i am so lucky as we have a real precious little friendship  i'm so thankful for Skype when i was away as we talked twice a week on it so this helped so much!!

I'm loving being home in England, seeing friends and family, I missed you all lots when i was away but your support was so precious to me. 

I know that i have more adventures ahead of me and will travel to different countries, so I'm running my race, starting to live out my dreams and seeing where my next step is...................................!! 

Thanks for staying tuned in with me, it means a lot!!!!!!!!!

First photo is our accommodation at the YWAM Tijuana Base!! 

Evangelising in La Paz, Baja California Mexico, on our two months outreach, its like 10pm and still so so so hot!! We are offering free hugs and prayer and prophecy!!

 Haaa haa haa we are in Loretto which is another town on our outreach working with the youth from one of the churches...... How many can you fit in a van!!!!! The guys are all standing in the boot!! oh and a puppy we had in there too, so much fun

This is just the beginning.........

This is me finally starting a Blog, (some of you maybe laughing now), its taken me a while, as many of you know I'm really not gifted in the area of technology, I think living simply is the best way in life, but the up side is that I can keep in contact with friends and family around the world which makes me so happy!!

So I think that 5th April 2012 was the 'first day of the rest of my life' I started a Discipleship Training School with YWAM in Tijuana Mexico. This was an incredible 5 months in my life, where is met some amazing friends and adopted many families and friends from around the world and in Baja California!!

We started our DTS off with building a house for a family. This was an amazing and emotional experience as it was so fun and easy for us but something the family had maybe never dreamt would happen!! Going to bed the night that we had finished the house build, I thought of the family in their new beds and house, it made me so deeply happy and thankful to God that i had the privilege to help build that for them!!

In my 3 months in Tijuana, I learned so much more about God, the Bible, my relationship with Him and about following and pursuing my dreams which are His dreams too!! We then traveled for 2 months working with churches and communities in the Baja California, Mexico. We did sooo much driving through desert, saw many cactus, so much sun oh and ate lots of tacos, what an amazing time, i will share stories in my following entries.

This is why I say this was 'the first day of the rest of my life' (Greenday song quote but sure they don't mind I doubt they will read my Blog hee hee!!). I feel like i have a new love for Life, God, People and the World, I'm excited that i get to follow my dreams...........

So please stay plugged in and I will share my adventures and hopefully photos with you all.................................