Hallelujah!

This is one of my all-time favorite songs; it's one that gives me chills every time I hear/sing it. I love how it was sung spontaneously by a flash mob in the middle of a shopping mall food court :) Enjoy!

The Coveted 4-Letter Word: PASS

Praise Jesus for His faithfulness and provision of a passing grade! I have been in study mode for the past few weeks in an effort to prepare for another CPCU exam. It has really been difficult for me to stay focused...which is somewhat of an oddity if you knew me in college. It seemed as though "focused" was my middle name- it was a bit obsessive, I have to admit. In college, anything lower than an A was unacceptable to me...and now, I just look for that coveted 4-letter word: PASS. Haha- funny how the Lord rearranges our priorities and helps us focus on things that actually matter :) Anyway, the Lord helped me plow through my prep materials and graciously helped me pass my exam this morning! I am so thankful to have the exam behind me and am looking forward to taking a break from studying for awhile...at least for the rest of 2010!

Of course, every passed exam should be celebrated with a victory cupcake. It's like an unwritten rule :)

That Good Old Baylor Line

This weekend I headed down to Waco with a group of sweet friends to visit my alma mater. It has been awhile since I have been back to Baylor, and it was fun to go to a football game. While the 2nd half is not something I like to talk about, it was still fun to be at the game and support our bears!

Every time I am back on the Baylor campus, I can't help but reminisce the time I had there. I am always overwhelmed by what an incredible blessing it was for me to attend such an amazing university. I am so grateful for the time the Lord gave me at Baylor, and I can't help but just smile as I think back on that sweet time. I was given such an amazing opportunity to study there, and I praise God for the experiences He allowed me to have. We may not win many football games, but I will always be proud of my bears!

Sic 'em Bears!

Sweet friends- Courtney, Laura, Dara

Go Bears!

Prayers for Nica

Many of you know that this past June, I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua. I think about that trip often and find myself missing Nica- I feel so blessed to have been able to partner with One by One and House of Hope. I was there for only a week, but the trip changed me in so many ways; Nica will forever be on my heart. I keep pictures from the trip around my apartment and at work, so that I am constantly reminded of the things God taught me while I was there and to keep Nica in my prayers. I do my best to keep up with the ongoing ministries- through newsletters, blogs, and emails, and even through my friend Laura who went back to Nicaragua with the women's ministry this past October and will be going back again in December.

I wanted to share some of the current things that are going on with the varying ministries, and I would like to ask that you join me in prayer over the work that God is doing in Nica and over the urgent needs that have come up:

Chase and Julie
They are moving into a new apartment soon, so please pray that the process is enjoyable and not too complicated or draining. Also, please pray that God would give them wisdom in some difficult situations they have faced recently. They experience both great encouragements and discouragements in ministry, so pray that God is their refuge and strength, their joy and peace.

The Refuge Project
The newest ministry for One by One is the Refuge Project, a ministry to rescue children from abuse and slavery. The Lord has provided an incredible opportunity for them to buy the house directly next door to their current church building to use as the home for the Refuge Project. In order to do so, they need to raise $30,000 by January. Please pray that God provides in abundance for this project and that they would be able to have the home ready for children to move in this February. If you are interested you can make a donation here.

Alma

Alma is an 11-year old girl who lived at House of Hope, and one of the girls I was able to meet when we were in Nicaragua. She was the girl who was found chained up because she had refused to comply with customers. House of Hope found her and rescued her, and the Lord had begun the long process of healing in this precious little girl. We just learned from one of the staff interns that she was taken from House of Hope by her father and grandmother, supposedly to be brought to the U.S. for a better life. The scary reality is that she was probably only told that so that she would go with them willingly. Please pray that either she is actually safe with her family or that House of Hope hears of her whereabouts quickly so that they can rescue her again. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done at this point, except to wait and pray. My heart breaks for this little girl, and I cry out to God for His protection and mercy on her life. I know He is in control and can wrap His loving arms around her, wherever she is.

Happy Veterans Day!

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve in the armed forces to protect our freedoms. Thank you for your service to our country! Special personal thank yous to the following family and friends:

Walter Mazur

Vidal Carvajal

Vidal Garza

Christian Ortiz

Ryan Ott

Brandon Elms

Jon Newton 

I praise my Heavenly Father for the blessing of living in a country where I have the freedoms that I do...the freedom from oppression and war, the freedom to worship freely without fear of persecution or censorship. I pray for the soldiers who are currently fighting to protect our freedoms and the freedoms of others- that they are blessed for the sacrifices they make on behalf of others and that they would ulitmately find their true victory and freedom in Christ.