I am now beginning my second year serving the Lord as a full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission in Lausanne, Switzerland. I feel the theme for 2013 is "Run The Race" like it states in Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"
Thank you for following me on each GOD-adventure!
Hello!!! I know it's been months since I've posted. There's so much to tell since my DTS Outreach team left for Thailand and Papua New Guinea. So many stories and testimonies about God's goodness and protection; and the miraculous ways God leads and moves. I will take the time to update you soon but here's a video to give you a glimpse of what YWAM Medical Ships does in Papua New Guinea. Our team had the privilege of serving with the YWAM Medical Ships for a week. =)
We have now come to the end of our 12-week lecture phase for Discipleship Training School! It's been amazing to see the heart and lives of our students change. There were two special students whose change was so dramatic that just 3 weeks ago, they went from 'I don't want to be here' to 'yes, I want to see how God can use me on outreach' God has held true to our theme of "Behold, all things have become new!" Yes, we have all been changed this quarter...but it's not over!
Our students are now going to put all that they learned about the heart of God by fulfilling the Great Commandment (Matt. 28:19-20) in the nations of Brazil, Europe (Belguim, UK, Switzerland) and my team to Thailand and Papua New Guinea. Yes, my friend Hansol and I will be leading a team (10 students from 3 nations) to Thailand and Papua New Guinea. We will have the opportunity to do campus ministries, church ministries, children's ministries, open air and street evangelism in Thailand. After 3 weeks, we'll be traveling to Papua New Guinea to partner with YWAM Medical Ship to help in their medical clinic and do children's ministry. We also have the privilege to partner with my friend, Paeope's (my Papua New Guinean roommate from last year who's now serving at YWAM Baguio) church to minister in Port Morseby, where we'll have opportunities to work in children's homes, feeding the poor, ministering in the city's main hospital, and of course church ministry. We then spend 10 days with YWAM Medical Ship form Townsville, Australia to provide medical and dental care to villages along PNG's coastline. The final 8 days of ministry will be in a remote village. There we will do house-to-house evangelism, friendship ministries while fishing, farming, cooking or doing other things for the villagers. We will also have opportunities to organize evening worship services for the villagers. Our team is full of excitement for the many doors the Lord has opened for ministry!! Our theme for our team is GOD'S HEARTBEAT. OUR MISSION. Our mission is to share, serve and love with God's heart for the people of these nations! Our team verses are found in Colossians 3:15-19 "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness your hearts to God.And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Would you please pray for our team? Here are our prayer points...
1) Pray that we would function with God's heart!
2) Pray for unity in the Spirit, heart and mind.
3) Pray for safety and health.
4) Pray for open mouths (ours) to speak the truth in boldness and love!
5) Pray for many hearts to come to know Jesus' love and salvation.
Please pray for me and my leadership. Pray that I would fully rely on God for the next 7 weeks. Pray that God would fill me with wisdom and understanding for what He is doing in our ministries, in the lives of those we meet and in the lives of students on my team so that I can be effective. Pray that I would lead and guide the students in love and gentleness. Pray that I would serve with a heart of a lamb but work like the heart of a lion. Pray for strength and endurance. And of course, pray what God would lead you to pray. =)
Also, if you have any encouragement or prayers you'd like to send my way, please do by email. I will have access at least once a week...hopefully! =) I would really appreciate it!
Thank you so much!! I'll give you a report back when I get back to Switzerland on August 2012. I'll try to post pics on FB along the way... PLUS, I got some exciting news to share about what God has next for me after this Discipleship Training School.
Below is a video newsletter of the last 2 months and what we've been doing in our school! Enjoy it!
Easter is almost ending for me in Switzerland but I know most of you are just beginning your day of Celebration! It truly is a day to celebrate for only through Christ we have LIFE...beautiful and abundant! Praise HIM!
Please find attached my Easter newsletter...Thank you so much for your love and prayers over the last 2 months as I transitioned back to Switzerland to serve the Lord as a missionary. He has proven himself faithful to continue the work He began in me...I'm so excited to share this adventure with you!
We started our week in prayer and fasting for our base, our city and the world! The morning began with praying for the specific needs of the base....land, finances, and vision for growth. We stepped outside in the cold (about 32 degrees Fahrenheit) in groups to cover every corner of the school's property. Then we came together to pray over a gigantic world map. I made the mistake of not wearing boots that morning and found myself barefooted in the freezing cold! Not good but it was still such a powerful time as we prayed over the nations. Here are a few pictures...
After we returned indoors to thaw out a bit, we divided into a couple groups to pray for the city of Lausanne and the upcoming Olympic outreach in England. I was privileged to climb almost 300 steps up the city's cathedral tower to pray over the beautiful city of Lausanne. We prayed for those who still don't know Christ, the homosexual movement that's happening in the city, and the children and educational system. Here are a couple pictures from the tower of the city, Lake Geneva and the French Alps across the lake.
We returned home to close our day of prayer by praying for each other. It was a lovely day, knowing that our all-powerful Father in Heaven, hears and answers our prayers!
For leadership staff preparation for Discipleship Training School, we spent the rest of the week getting to know one another and getting to know the history and roots of Youth With A Mission. I love the team God put together. We are a small group of 6 staff; 4 from Korea, 1 from Hong Kong and myself, plus our school leader. On Tuesday night we spent quality time together celebrating a birthday with ICE CREAM at Movenpick....the best ice cream in the world! Tete-a-Tete (head to head): 8 scoops of delicious ice cream over chunks of fruit, topped with pecans, whip cream and pieces of peanut brittle!! Yup!
The end of the week just got better as I woke up one morning to snow!!! I put on my hiking boots, grabbed my coat and went for a walk through the forest. Sadly, the snow melted by the afternoon...
That night we had our weekly community night...our speaker was Jim Stier, the first president of YWAM after Loren Cunningham (founder). Jim shared a powerful message on the WORD: Jesus, the Bible and ourselves. He challenged us to live and abide in the WORD and to let the Word LIVE!
I'm lovin' it here!! Each day is a new adventure with God!! I realize more and more how important it is for me to spend time with God and with myself. DTS starts in 2 1/2 weeks and I know we'll be getting busier and busier. Please pray for strength and energy!
2 Timothy 3:16&17 " All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
It's late and I dont' have much energy to really write a blog but I wanted to thank all of you for your prayers as my family and I did our mission in the Philippines. I will share more later about the amazing things the Lord did there.
Thank you also for your prayers for safe travels back to Switzerland! I made it and I am enjoying every minute. Yesterday, I passed my driving test and was able to drive to the market today. Fun yet a little difficult since they have totally different road signs and driving rules. =)
We began our leadership training yesterday but we are still waiting for the full leadership team to arrive. I am super stoked for what is ahead for each one of us this year. I know it's gonna be tough and challenging but I also know that there will be depth and growth in our relationship with Christ! I love it! We will be spending the next month in training and preparation before the students arrive in April. Please keep us and the students in prayer!
My family and I are now back in Manila resting before the other members of our Medical team fly in tonight.
I have been so blessed tremendously over the last week as I had a chance to minister in my family's home church in Dadap, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. I had never thought I would have received such an opportunity. I was able to share the message on Sunday. Then, I held a two-day mini-seminar on evangelism...it was amazing and totally the Lord! I could feel the prayers of my dear family and friends as the Spirit lead me in leading the seminar. I never dreamed of doing this but through the experience the Lord has opened my heart to continue being used in such a way. I'm excited for what doors may open in the future! Praise His Name!!!
My sister, Leilani assisted me in doing a journal workshop to help the body of Christ in Dadap to grow in a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through His Word! I know God is going to take this small church of only 30 members into deep, strong and loving Christians. I pray that the Lord will be bring me back soon to see the growth He has already began. Their Pastor is hungry to grow, disciple and reach out to the community so I know this hunger will be contagious among the church body. Yay God!!
Please continue to pray for my family's health as my sister has fallen ill and feeling very tired and weak. Pray for healing and restoration. Our medical clinics in Talaan will begin tomorrow. Pray also for the Badjao tribe that we are ministering to will sense God's love and come to His saving grace through the medical clinic. My sis and I will be conducting the children's ministry program so we ask for prayers for creativity and ENERGY!! =)
Thank you all! I'll check in next time when I'm back in Manila on the 21st. Much love and gratefulness!!
My family and I are now in Solano, Philippines where I was born. It's been six years since I've been here and not much has changed but it's always a delight to be with family. My family is doing well and my nieces, Azure (7) and Codie (6) are having a blast living the simple farm life here. On the first day, my niece said, "this is better than Hawaii!" Hmmm...in some ways, but for me, there is no place like Hawaii. =) In the first two days they were able to feed the goats, pump water from a well, walk through the rice fields and even ride a tricycle, which they love. We only have another week in the province before the mission starts...I look forward to the other great things we'll be doing! Please continue to pray for us!
Now at McDonalds or "McDo" as they call it here. This is one place that was not here 6 years ago AND the one place with free WIFI...woohoo!!!
Attached is my Jan/Feb Newsletter...read and enjoy!
I woke up this morning at my sister, Emelyn's house in Wahiawa. Wahiawa is home to one of Hononlulu's botanical gardens, which is only a mile down the hill. My sister's house is surrounded by over a thousand different kinds of tropical trees and plants growing wild in this cool and wet environment. Soon after I finished reading my Bible I saw several birds flying near by. I knew that God was using them to illustrate the word I read this morning...
Matthew6:25-34 25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[g]28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
As I answer God's call to serve Him as a missionary my faith is challenged. I am learning to put my whole trust in a God who loves me and will provide for my every need. I smile knowing that He has already proven himself faithful in my life and He will continue to do so as I seek and remain obedient to His will. Thank you, my Lord, for your love for me!!
"Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so." Sing this song with me...
P.S. Happy Birthday to my sister, Emelyn!! I love you, sis! Seek God first and He will provide for your every need!
Early tomorrow morning I board a jet plane to Hawaii. It's been a wonderful 7 weeks in Las Vegas with family. I look forward to going home, even if it's only for a couple weeks before leaving the country again. My heart is content and excited for what God has ahead of me...
This brings me back to a revelation God gave me just last Sunday when I was waiting to get off my plane from Colorado Springs. I had noticed how different the atmosphere and attitude of the passengers were from when I had left Las Vegas a few days before. The plane from Las Vegas was depressing and tense. There were hardly any smiles and almost everyone seemed to be in a sour mood. This plane was full of excited people ready to party up in Vegas. They were people expecting to leave their cares behind and experience the bliss of the city...BUT as proven by the passengers leaving Vegas, those fun times leave you empty and unsatisfied. It reminds me of what I heard a lot as a teenager, "the tempoary things of this world only satisfies temporarily." Isaiah 55:2 "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare."
It is only the things of God that give you true joy and contentment. His never failing love brings peace and strength to live and face whatever challenges we may have. Psalm 90:14 "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."
I thank God for the hope I have in Him! The hope that I was able to share with Kelly, the passenger who sat next to me on the way to Colorado Springs. The hope she can cling to even after a divorce and the child custody battle she's going through. Kelly was able to leave the plane with joy knowing that Jesus loves her...that's the love and joy which fills and satisfies, forever!!
I thought this title would get your attention. =) Tebow is the hot topic in recent football circles, especially for his outstanding performance yesterday against the Pittsburg, Steelers. But I’m sure the name Tebow has also been mentioned in many Christian circles around the US and the world. I must be honest I didn’t know or care much about this Denver Broncos quarter back, until recently…I’ve been living in Vegas with my sister, Darlene and her husband, Travis, who’s a huge Kansas City Chiefs football fan. Travis is such a huge fan that they named their adorable son, Keoni Charles, so that he would have the initials K.C. I know there are other reasons but I’m sure you can already imagine what a big fan Travis is of the KC Chiefs and how cheering for any Broncos player would be taboo in this house. Thankfully for me, Travis was out of town yesterday, so I could cheer with no restrictions. Heehee!!
What is it about Tebow that is fascinating so many people around the world? Well, the way I see it, He’s a man of God who ‘walks his talk.’ God has placed him in this position and as a Christian, he is grabbing hold of the opportunity to show God’s love and influence many fans around him. He’s unashamed about His love for God…he sings, he praises, he worships, he thanks God, his creator, openly everyday for the world to see. Who wouldn’t admire that? As a single Christian woman…that’s exactly what I look for and admire in a man!
After yesterday’s game against the Steelers, I caught Oprah’s new show on OWN where she enters celebrity homes for interviews. Surprisingly, the show featured the widely-known author and pastor, Joel Olsteen. Though there may be some who do not agree with the way he chooses to present the Gospel, throughout the interview, Joel Olsteen stood firm on the Biblical truth that God wants a relationship with everyone and that we are all created for a purpose. As a pastor of 60 thousand members, his goal is to continue to influence others and give them hope in a God who loves them and created them.
Bringing this home…
The other night I sat in bed catching up with a friend over the phone. She shared the joy and privilege she felt when her sister asked her for prayer and having been bold enough to do so. Since becoming a Christian over 10 years ago, she’s been longing for her Buddhist family to come to know Jesus Christ. My friend is fulfilling her purpose by influencing the people around her towards Jesus.
In Youth With A Mission’s Discipleship Training School, we got to know God, know who we are in God and how to make God known to those around us. Only a hand full of us are directly involved in world missions… many of the 50 students in my school returned home to finish school or go back to work. They are now equipped to reach out to those God placed around them, so that they can come to know Jesus Christ. We all can be like Tebow or Pastor Joel Olsteen. We may not be able to influence thousands or millions like they do, but you can influence those God placed around you.
All of Tebow’s fans urge us to BELIEVE…yes, believe in the God who loves you. Believe in the God who created you. Believe in Jesus Christ. If you do, then believe that you have the love and power within you to fulfill God’s purpose to influence those around you towards Jesus!
This is a common question among my friends and family. It's great to know that I can keep everyone guessing...nah, actually if your my friend on FB you would know exactly where I'm at. =)
So, I'm livin in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA... at the moment. My nephew, Keoni Charles (first child of my younger sister, Darlene), was needing a babysitter. Since I was kinda available before my next rhodadventure (heehee), why not. I've been here for the past 5 weeks and was blessed to be able to spend Christmas with my sister and relatives in Corona, California. I had a jolly good time with my cousins and their children. I was even able to visit with an old college friend, Patrick. We then moved the party back to Las Vegas for New Years. We had loads of food, fun and laughter...Aguilar style!! lol!
Next week, I'm taking a short trip to visit relatives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Then, back to Vegas for my last week before heading home to Hawaii.
Don't you worry...I'll be in touch and I'll also post more great videos from DTS. You'll love it!! =)
okay, so i figured out how to post the youtube video directly on the link...woohoo for me!! BUT i can't seem to figure out how to delete this post. So, it's gonna stay! =)
Gonna take you back to June of 2011...We were just finishing off our 12 weeks of lectures in Discipleship Training School and was preparing for our 7 week outreach. Here's a video with me and my Brazil teammate, Daniel, as we share about 4 people receiving Christ during our outreach simulation.
Can you believe I finally made it back on here??!!! I am amazed myself. I had so many plans for this blog last year...man, I'm sure I disappointed many of you. My sincere apologies. It's a new year and a new me...and this new me wants to blog.
I had lots of concerns last year about making sure I make my entries meaningful and full of information and I felt pressured. To the point where I had anxieties about what to write and how often and...ugh!! Okay, i"m exaggerating a little but still...blogging was definitely not something I looked forward to. Well, this year, I've decided to just to take on a new attitude about having a blog and just have fun with it!
I'll try to catch you all up on the happenings from last year...mostly, by posting videos that are already on youtube...if i can figure that out. (LISA: HELP!!) Lisa's my good friend from Missouri who put up this blog spot for me. Then, I tell you about where I'll be heading for 2012...
