This letter brings a big Saludos a Todos! I hope you all are well and enjoying this time of Thanksgiving and harvest. May you be blessed with great harvests of friends, family, and love that God brings. I am continuing to learn and grow in character, and mainly really grasp what life is and what I myself am here for. While currently fighting off a cold/respiratory illness (that we are all struggling with and might be due to air pollutants from chemicals emitted from burning on the lot next to us - a point of prayer please), I am totally excited for the next few weeks/months to come. As many of you know, the schooling phase of YWAM is followed by an outreach time (we will be gone for about 6 weeks). This is essentially where we put into practice all we have learned during the schooling phase - because we are not here just to receive and be taught, but to give of ourselves and allow our lives and experiences to be used to better others.
Is everyone with me? Alright, y’all, now pull out the map! We are taking a look around Northern Mexico, where about a dozen of us students and staff will be ministering during our outreach time. Logistics are still being worked out, but here are some of the places and people we shall be visiting: the states of Durango, Chihuahua and Zacatecas. We will be working with at least a couple of tribes: the Mochis and the Tarahumaras. I know at least the Tarahumaras are an indigenous semi-nomadic tribe in the state of Chihuahua, and we shall do our best to be hands and feet for these people, bringing hope by farming, caring for children, building, or whatever it may be. As I am given more info, I look forward to passing it your way.
As you are looking at the map, you might notice the mountainous regions; it is very very cold in these parts of Mexico at this time. In these conditions we will need proper clothing and protection. Our team will be traveling a lot, often overnight on trains to be ready to work the following day. Safety and health are major concerns, but at the same time, we know God will not leave us alone or call us where we can’t go. Additionally, many living in these regions have strong spiritual strongholds - this is to say that life is not valued at its worth; many live their entire life in vain trying to please the gods and escape the wrath of evil spirits. Friends, this is not what life is intended to be - we are valuable beings, created in the image of the great Creator himself, and how sad it is that so many don’t even know this truth. We want - I want - to tell others of the purpose we have, the great hope that the Lord of the Universe offers us, that the one who created it all is still alive and working, and wants us to live alongside and in relationship with Him! And I want to do this, not with words, but with action. I believe that when we go and meet people where they are, do all we can to assist with their needs and live a life that seeks the highest well-being of another - well, this is love, and my purpose is to love.
Friends, I wish to share this with you all for a few reasons: I value you and wish to remain in relationship no matter where in the world we find ourselves; I wish for you to remain a part of my life. I (we) need your covering of prayers - now and especially for the outreach. As I mentioned, the climate will most likely be pretty brutal - probably colder than this valley girl has ever stayed in! We will be vulnerable to these conditions, and will not only need physical strength, but character and spiritual guidance throughout the journey. Along with these conditions come a couple of additional material needs: there are members of the group who do not have clothing for this weather, nor the finances to provide. We also will need finances to travel and purchase materials for aiding people we minister to along the way. I petition to you, my friends and family, for any assistance you might offer. We are all in a time of strategy to make this time of outreach happen, but also know God is not limited by finances, so we continue to seek wisdom in planning and ask for you to join. Would you please take this matter into prayer and consider how you might be able to support? I do appreciate your interest in what I am doing; moreover, what God is using me for. I look forward to seeing many of you in December and sharing more with you then. In the meantime, please have us in you prayers; if you would like to contribute to the needs of outreach, I would love to know ahead of time so as to factor in your giving. Please respond to meghandineen@yahoo.com
Below is a list of my teamates, along with the complete list of the rest of those going on outreach to Spain:
MEXICO: Ana Valadez Lopez; Carrie Mihalyov; Sarah Blakely; Meghan Dineen; Chastin Martin; Joel Hansen; Manola Bastida and Daniela (3yrs); Noemi Baltierra - leader; Martin Garcia - leader; Antonio Rojas - leader; Ljiljana Rodriguez and Barush (4yrs) - leader;
SPAIN: Leah Durst; Erika Casillas; Martha Berenice Rodriguez; Andrew Simmons; Tatiana Campso Alvarado; Dana Hess and DaVonte (4yrs) and Dominic (18mos); Tania Peniche; Yelitza Orozco ; Sharon Soto - leader; Hector Valencia - leader
Posted by Valerie at December 11, 2006 12:41 PM