A Date of a Lifetime

The Date of a Lifetime

Who plans a date three months in advance? From December, when he received my father's full approval, to March Jovanni has been planning this romantic, elaborate, and unforgettable proposal:

The Context

Knowing that I might suspect something, Jovanni's been creatively distracting me from the subject of marriage as it would naturally come up in our conversation. After celebrating our 5th monthiversary this March, Jovanni has been saying things like: "we're not ready for marriage" and "we need to wait longer--be patient". So, with those conversations in mind, I've been training myself to be patient. Yet I have still been praying with marriage in mind, while at the same time never thinking that a proposal would happen anytime soon.

However, over the past month, Jovanni's been hinting that he has a pilot friend that wants to offer him a helicopter ride over the city and maybe he could bring me. He told me Thursday that we were going to go on a fancy date on Saturday morning and then on Friday told me that Saturday was the day we were going to go up in the helicopter. I was elated that the opportunity had finally arrived and that I was invited to go! Again, not suspecting a thing!

That Morning


However when the morning of March 19th came to leave on our helicopter tour, Jovanni acted uncertain that he wanted to go. I urged him on saying, "We have to go! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

So we met up with Jovanni's pilot friend Ray at a local coffee shop and headed to the hangar together. It was fascinating to see all the helicopters and walk inside this tiny airport that I have driven by often and wondered about.

Our close friend, Luis, came along to narrate and film the journey, and his commentary added a lot of humor to the experience.




After more pictures and getting to know our pilot, Jovanni and I climbed into the back seats of the helicopter behind Captain Ray and Luis. We buckled in and strapped on our headphones/headsets, ready to take off. My excitement trumped any feelings of anxiety and I was grateful for this incredible privilege.

As we ascended into the air, the familiar sites and stores around me began to take on new perspective. Ray acted like our tour guide and pointed out Cerro Ancon, Albrook Mall, Casco Viejo, the Causeway, Panama Viejo, and Costa Del Este. I was intrigued and was trying to take as many pictures as I could. Jovanni helped me change headsets, so we could all communicate over the noise of the helicopter.



 It was a foggy day, but even so, we had the clearest bird's eye view of Panama City. I felt like we were effortlessly floating and gliding through the sky. I looked over at Jovanni and thought how full my heart was at that moment. I loved him, and I was overjoyed and deeply grateful to share this helicopter ride together. A trip we would never 
forget!






Emergency Landing?

I was relishing this peace and continuing to take in the view, when Ray the pilot, commented that one of the emergency lights in the helicopter had turned on and that we would have to find somewhere to land right away. I began to feel a bit nervous for our tiny crew. I started to pray that we would find a safe place to land and that everything would be alright. Everyone was strangely calm in the plane.

Jovanni, noticing my desire to pray, slipped his hand in mine, and, as we prayed, I felt peace again. I was with a talented pilot I could trust, I was with the person I loved the most, and most of all, I was reassured that God had us all in His hands and He was watching over us.

Meanwhile, I scanned the rooftops for  the helipad where I thought we would land. We were rounding the corner of Paitilla, near the Trump tower, and I imagined us being lowered by ropes onto one of the hotel roofs. Just like a spy movie!

The Question and the Answer

But I wasn't paying much attention to what was actually in front of us, and I almost missed it. Jovanni pointed towards the front window of the helicopter.  "Look! Something is happening over there."

I turned in the direction he was pointing and saw a huge pink sign with the words: "Will you marry me?" printed in bold letters. I looked at Jovanni with eyebrows raised, then turned back to read the sign again. I couldn't believe it.



"For me?" I asked, in shock.
Here I was thinking we had to make an emergency landing but instead Jovanni was proposing!
"Yes. Will you marry me?" Jovanni looked at me with so much love in his eyes.



I didn't have to think much for the answer I had been praying months over. But, in the surprise of it all, filled with all range of emotion, I couldn't get the words out. I smiled and nodded yes. We kissed as the helicopter descended to the ground where our closest friends were waiting. I looked back at Jovanni--thinking "This is real. He's going to be my husband." I was completely flabbergasted.

We landed, and I sat there a minute as I watched the moment unfold like a dream. Jovanni hopped calmly out of the plane and walked to the end of the giant sign. With a closer look, I realized that the people holding the sign were our close friends from church. I couldn't have been happier that they were there to witness this and celebrate with us!

I started to step out of the helicopter to join Jovanni, remembering at the last second to take my headset off. I waved and said thank you to our friends who had given up their Saturday morning to be there for us.

Then, all of a sudden, all I saw was Jovanni. He was kneeling on the pavement with an open box in hand. I walked toward him, feeling more confidence and peace with each step. He didn't have to ask the question again. His intention was clear and so was my answer. Bending down, I looked him in the eyes and kissed him. We helped each other stand to our feet, and he slipped the most gorgeous diamond ring on my finger. I told him "yes, a hundred times yes," and we embraced.

Our friends erupted in cheering, and we spent time recounting the story of it all and taking pictures, and I was handed a gorgeous bouquet of tulips-my favorite flower! Even in that moment, I was still shocked every time I looked down at my left hand or looked into the face of the one who would be my husband.

Jovanni is a master planner, and our friends had known the plan for weeks. The proposal was better than I could have ever dreamed; and he caught me completely by surprise!



But there was still the final part of our helicopter tour, so we hugged our friends and climbed back into the tiny, yet thankfully reliable aircraft. Jovanni and I sat side by side holding hands and smiling that his plan was a total success and looking forward to a future together. I began to pray again, a different kind of prayer than before. And I felt the deepest sense of peace and joy from the Lord.

The Prayer

I praised Him for His abundant goodness, His perfect timing and provision. He answered above and beyond my wildest dreams, teaching me what love really means, and He continues to work in unbelievable ways!

As I reflected, the Lord put in my heart one of the promises in Scripture He had given me in my years of waiting and trusting.


Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We must hold tight to this promise and not give up hope and not stop working to bring people to know His abundant love. That is our prayer and motive as Jovanni and I prepare for marriage. That we may do more for Christ than we could ever do alone; that we can honor Him through our our resources, our family and our faith in every situation.

We ask you to join us in prayer and may each day count for a lifetime.

December Update

Divine Design: Women's Retreat

From the sharing of testimonies on the car ride there to our fellowship on Sunday morning, every moment of the PAINT (Panama International Church) women's retreat was full of God's presence. Twenty-eight women put their weekend plans on hold and dedicated these two and a half days to worshiping the Lord and encouraging each other in the Spirit and in Truth. The Lord provided generously through the grandmother of a leader in PAINT church to lend us their spacious beach house in Coronado. Complete with several rooms of bunk beds, multiple bathrooms, two large living rooms, and a kitchen/patio area with hammocks and an incredible view, the beach house was the perfect space to meet together as women and commit anew to becoming God's Divine Design.


To go deeper into this topic of "Divine Design," we were led through four different sessions throughout the weekend. We began each session with worship through song and prayer and committing our time to the Lord. This allowed us to be in the right mindset to hear the messages each speaker would bring us. Each session's message was beautifully delivered and full of God's truths that uniquely spoke to each woman there. The speakers had not communicated with each other before the retreat on what exactly they would talk about, but God in His sovereignty tied each theme together like a well-chosen gift.

Clarice spoke first. Clarice and her husband do an outstanding job leading the Pursuit youth ministry at PAINT church, and I looked forward to what she had to say. She spoke on Proverbs 31 and gracefully showed us a perspective that is not often shared in church.

Clarice began by reminding us that we were precious (Proverbs 3:15) and that we were made in His image and He is our potter (Isaiah 64:8). She highlighted the spiritual beauty mentioned in Proverbs 31:30, and then had us look in depth at the story of Abigail in 1 Sam. 25:23-42. One of those stories that, as a church kid, I had heard, but had since forgotten about.:

To summarize, a beautiful, intelligent woman named Abigail was married to an ogre of a man, Nabal, and David (before he was king) sent his men to Nabal to ask for provisions for him and his men. Nabal, being the selfish, foolish man he was and sharing Saul's hatred of David, refused to offer David's servants anything. Shocked by the news that his request to Nabal had been denied, David, in turn, wanted to take vengeance and teach everyone a lesson by killing Nabal and all his household.

By God's grace, one of Nabal's servants overheard the plan and delivered the grim news to Abigail. When Abigail heard of Nabal's refusal and the approaching doom, she did not hesitate to act. She was wise and courageous and sent the largest care package the donkeys could carry and went ahead of the servants herself to meet David on the road and plead for the lives of her family. 

When Abigail met David, she dismounted her donkey and fell facedown before him. "Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you and hear what your servant has to say.." She came before him with a humble attitude and a rational plea to forgive the foolishness of her husband and not act out in anger, lest he be guilty of needless bloodshed. She affirmed David and prophesied over his future as King. David, appeased by the gifts and her wise and humble words, decided not to carry out with his plan and blessed her for her good judgment. Later, justice was served when Nabal had a heart attack and died, and David asked Abigail to be his wife. She named her firstborn son, Chileab, or Daniel, which means God is my judge.

In our study, Clarice expounded on five characteristics that Abigail's life demonstrated. 1) Intelligent, 2) Humble, 3) Responsible, 4) Servant-Minded, and 5) Had a Cheerful Heart. We looked at these characteristics in more detail through a word-association activity where we had to use these words/phrases to summarize what each of these characteristics really meant and how to apply them in our lives.

As women, we talked about these lessons late into the night, the next day and the next. We shared personal testimonies of God's faithfulness and redemption in our lives. And it was the greatest encouragement to know we're not alone in this journey with Christ. Saturday night, we joined hands and prayed together aloud in the power of Jesus' name to answer different requests, interceding on behalf of family, friends, the church body and our larger Panama City community.

Three more messages were shared during the retreat. Each one powerful and encouraging us to unite as women in prayer and to remind each other of our true identity in Christ.
Here are some memorable quotes from our time together:

Orar Conmigo

Mi oracion ya ha sido traduciendo en espanol! Gracias a Steve McCune de Crossroads Connections por la traduccion! 

Amado Jesús,

Hoy trazo un círculo alrededor de los estudiantes de la Academia Cristiana de Crossroads.

Te alabo, porque ya estás formando las vidas de los estudiantes de CCA para ser administradores misionales de Tu Palabra para que puedan ser testigos Tuyos por todas partes.

Señor, Te pido que cada estudiante que pase por las puertas de CCA se acerque más a Ti. Revélales La Buena Nueva y dales un corazón comprensivo para entender quien Tú Eres y cuánto los quieres. Te pido que esta relación contigo transforme todo lo que hagan y que sus familias lleguen a conocerte también.

Haz crecer estos jóvenes. Que sean fuertes exploradores que presenten La Verdad y vivan piadosamente. Enséñales a usar sus dones con la cosmovisión del Reino y a vivir con integridad y pureza. Ponga a fuertes hombres cristianos en sus vidas que puedan servir como hombres guías a través de su peregrinaje al mostrarles cómo arraigarse en Tu Palabra. Recuérdales que su identidad no hace en sus reputaciones ni en sus hazañas, sino en Él que sirven.

Y Señor, bendice a estas jóvenes con discernimiento, gentileza, y gracia. Enséñales a guardar sus corazones sin levantar muros y así establecer fronteras que no se cruzan sino solo por invitación. Anímalas a reflejarte a Ti y bendícelas con otras mujeres desarrolladas para alentarlas con La Verdad y estimularlas a buscar la belleza espiritual. Enséñales a estas jóvenes a someterse a Tu voluntad, para ver las oportunidades de inspirar y servir en palabras y en obras. Afírmales que su identidad no es la popularidad ni las apariencias, sino solo Tú. Que sean adoradoras Tuyas.

Te alabo Señor, sabiendo que de estos jóvenes hombres y mujeres Tú forjarás embajadores atrevidos que sirven. Ellos irán contra la marea por Ti, Señor, amando a sus enemigos, tomando el tiempo de amar a los que son difíciles de amar, dando generosamente, perseverando en oración con diligencia, y siendo responsables y respetuosos. Guarda sus palabras y sus acciones en las redes sociales y rodéalos con influencias Cristo-céntricas. Renueva sus mentes para que puedan someter cada pensamiento a la guía y la filtración protectora del Espíritu Santo. Enséñales las salidas de emergencia para huir de la tentación y guíalos en los caminos de Tu justicia para honrar Tu Nombre.

Vela por ellos. Protégelos. Enséñales cómo amarte y vivir cada día por Ti. Todos intercedemos por los estudiantes de CCA con divina anticipación por lo que Tú vas a hacer en ellos y por ellos.

En Tu Nombre Todopoderoso, Jesús. Amén.

Join Me

School Theme for the Year: Romans 12:2 "Upstream"

My school, Crossroads Christian Academy, just finished our first full week of school! It was full and good, and, at the same time exhausting, since we're all getting used to the school schedule again. I was praying this morning for the school and was reminded of all of the answers to prayer that the Crossfire team experienced in Ecuador. We prayed specifically for different situations and circumstances to line up, and God answered above and beyond for His glory!

So now, I'm inviting you to join me in a prayer I've been praying daily for the students at CCA:


Dear Jesus,
Today I draw a Circle around the students at Crossroads Christian Academy.
I praise You, because You are already shaping the students at CCA into mission-minded stewards of your Word so that they can be witnesses for You far and wide.

Lord, I pray for each and every one of the students who pass through the doors of CCA that you would draw them close to You. Give them a revelation of the Gospel and a heart to understand who You are and how much You love them. I pray that this relationship with You transforms everything they do and their families come to know You.

Grow these young men into strong, courageous adventurers who are not afraid to stand for the Truth and lead godly lives. Teach them how to use their gifts, how to work with a Kingdom mindset, and how to live lives of integrity and purity. Place strong Christian men in their lives who can serve as role models and mentors along the journey and root them deeply in your Word. Remind these young men that their identity is not found in their reputation or what they do, but rather in Whom they serve.

And Lord, bless these young women with discernment, gentleness, and grace. Teach them what it means to guard their heart but not put up walls, to set boundaries but also invite others in. Place in each of them a yearning to reflect you and bless them with godly older women to mentor them, speak refreshing truth into their lives and encourage them to seek after spiritual beauty. Teach these young women to be fully surrendered to your will, to see opportunities to serve and to be an encouragement through their words and actions. Assure them that their identity is not in their popularity or the way they look, rather in Who they look to. Give them a desire to worship.

I praise you, Lord, because You are going to mold both these young men and women into bold ambassadors and servant-minded young adults. They will be "non-conformists" for you, Lord--loving their enemies, taking time for those the world labels as "unlovable," giving generously, persevering with prayer and diligence, being responsible and respectful. Guard their words and actions on social media and surround them with Christ-like influences. Renew their minds so that they submit and filter their thoughts through the Holy Spirit's guidance. Show them the paths you provide to flee temptation and guide them in paths of righteousness for your name's sake.

Watch over them and protect them. Teach them what it means to love You and live for You daily.
We pray all this with holy anticipation for what you're going to do in and through the students of Crossroads Christan Academy.

In your all powerful name, Jesus,
Amen.

My original 7th graders, now in 10th grade!

Some of the CCA students on Field Day, 2015

View of Panama City from Ancon Hill

Ecuador Mission Trip: July 2015

I just got back from spending the week in Ecuador with the Crossfire youth group team! We spent July 21-28th partnering with Operation Mobilization and the local church of San Antonio de Encalado. We worked alongside the people of the Nanzag community digging a 1500 mts long ditch and putting in pipes that will eventually bring clean water to the village. 

The Nanzag community is incredibly dependent upon water-for their plants, animals and for their own survival. Nanzag life is primarily based around farming and agriculture. Most people are shepherds, cow-herders, or harvesters of the many crops like potatoes, quinoa, habas, choclo, wheat, and avena (oatmeal).

Normally, community members have to hike down the mountain to a little spring in order to get water and hike back up the mountain. If they don't use fresh water, they have a much higher risk of disease, early death and teeth degeneration. Without knowing it, we were helping to bring healing both spiritually and physically to this village.

In the afternoons, our team ran Vacation Bible School (VBS) activities for the local children. We started outside with songs and games to welcome the kids and make them feel comfortable and then went inside the little Catholic church to do crafts (manualidades) and a memory verse. Playing with the kids and getting to share Jesus with them was definitely a highlight of the trip for a lot of us.

There's something about the faith of an 8 year old that just inspires you. 

We were told that the kids would be quiet, shy and not very open to strangers, but (glory to God), by the end of the week, they were singing loudly, doing most of the motions, and even a few of them could say the Bible verse by memory. 

Our goals were to act as Christ to these people, so they could begin to understand who Jesus is. We were there to support and encourage the local church as they tried to reach this community with the gospel. It was a much larger project, physically and spiritually, than we ever realized.

And there were many many:Lessons I Don't Want to Forget

Ecuador: July 21-28, 2015

On our last day of debriefing as a team in Guayaquil, Ecuador, our leader, Jorge, challenged us to record all the lessons and memories we didn't want to forget. I started writing, flipping back and forth between journal pages, and I have to say that, in writing all these out, you realize God is so good and reveals Himself in the midst of difficulties!

I never want to forget:

Breathing

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD." Psalm 150:6

Taking five breaths as a devotional exercise at the beginning of the trip, we were challenged to remember God's gift of life-giving breath and give thanks.

This thanks turned into profound gratitude as I prayed fervently with Ana Gabriela as we walked up the hill at around 3000 mts altitude. We cupped our freezing hands together and alternated steps with scripture. Ana started singing, "This is the air I breathe."

Did I crave God the way I craved air in that moment?

Depending

The next day Paulina, Isabella, Jovanni and I worked side by side picking up shovelfuls of dirt and flinging them out of the ever-deepening ditch. The villagers watched in amusement at our feeble attempts. Yet, we found some patient teachers too, that instructed us in the correct way of using the pick or shovel. I leaned into the shovel to scoop more dirt. As I mustered the strength to repeat this motion of "stoop, scoop, fling," I repeated the scripture verse my friends and I were trying to memorize.

"Todos dependen de ti"
"Everyone depends on you" (from Psalm 104:27-28)

We had started this ditch with a simple line on the ground. The whole Nanzag community, decked in their traditional ponchos and hats, set to work and our team of 26 high school students and leaders joined in. The community demonstrated unrelenting strength and perseverance at its finest; our team, short of air, needed more breaks and encouragement. Unified together as a single community, digging in sync, we accomplished a lot. Just an hour later, the ditch was deep enough to stand in. A few hours later, the ditch was so deep, you had to jump into it and climb out.

All this so the community could install pipes that would carry clean water up the mountain to the village.

Thirsting

You never realize how critical water is until you try to accomplish everyday tasks without it.

How do you flush a toilet without water?
How do you wash a team's worth of dishes with just a trickle?
How do you keep on jumping around and giving energy to kids when you haven't had a drink of water for three hours?

Yet, God put it in my mind that there was a Water source more important than the fresh stream at the bottom of the mountain.

How would these people know about Jesus, the source of Living Water? 

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" John 4:13


Seeking

"Tu Amor es Grande" -Vacation Bible School Song

I kneeled next to Gladys, a shy 8 year old girl, and sang the VBS songs with her and the other village children. As we sang, I prayed that these children, as well as their parents would personally experience God's profound love for them. Soon after, God gave me a glimpse of His heart for these little ones and the opportunity to share with them.

Using a rubix cube puzzle that told the Gospel through pictures on each side, I shared about Jesus with Gladys and a small group of her friends. All of them prayed to accept Jesus!

Later, my friend Jovanni built trust and rapport with a large group of kids. Being a native Spanish speaker, he was able to clearly share the message of salvation and pray with the kids who understood and wanted Jesus to be their Savior!

God was bringing Living Water to this village!

Twice, God put a sign of his promise in the sky. He sent a rainbow arch over the mountains to remind us of his faithfulness. He would sustain us and watch over this community. Our team prayed persistent prayers for God to answer, and, later, interceded on our knees for spiritual protection in the midst of the amazing work the Holy Spirit was doing among those people and within our lives. We saw His answers the next day in very real and practical ways!

I distinctly remember praying with a widow named Maria. She has six kids, two cows, and large field on the side of the mountain where we were installing the water pipes. I had the privilege of praying with her on the mountainside as well as after the last evening church service, when most people had left. 

Somehow God gave me the words to pray for her, and, when I looked up from the prayer, Maria was crying. She confessed to me that she had so much fear. I held her hands in mine, looked into her eyes and reassured her with the confidence of God's promises and truth. Jesus will never leave you no matter what. He cares for you and loves you deeply. You are so precious in His eyes, and you are not alone. 

Eventually leaving Maria's side, I couldn't shake the conversation from my head. I stood, breathing the cold, mountain air outside the little Catholic church, and prayed with all my heart for the community. I looked up at the array of stars, so clearly seen from this pinnacle far removed from any city, and God reminded me of this verse:

Psalm 147: 4
"He determines the number of the stars 
and calls them by name."

God is so infinitely powerful and so immeasurably wise, yet so tremendously personal that He has named every star. How much moreso will He care for us, His special, set apart creation made in His image? This reminder overwhelmed me -- God would take care of Maria. He would take care of these people. He would take care of me.

Bonding

"Todos deben ser de un mismo parecer." 1 Peter 3:8a

God used this week to unify us, as a team, as a community, as a Church. We not only had to depend on each other and learn to work well as a group, but we also had to be unified in prayer and vision. It was beautiful seeing our memory verse lived out among the team members! Even while different team members suffered from headaches, lack of sleep, or muscle pain from the hard labor and the cold, they still persevered to show compassion, brotherly love, and a tender heart, all while maintaining an attitude of humility. 

Multiple times I witnessed a team member volunteer to hike down the hill to get water, to carry someone's backpack or tools, or take over the job of digging when one of us needed a break. During VBS, the team did the motions with enthusiasm and stooped down to wipe runny noses, throw a ball, or glue a popsicle stick frame. After meals, the team worked together to collect and wash dishes and to sweep and mop the dirt-smeared kitchen floor. The team overflowed with generosity, and God gave us eyes to see the needs around us.

Reflecting 

During the week, we had the privilege of working alongside Alfredo, Ma Fer, Andres and Cristian, engineers and members of the local Operation Mobilization team. They helped to give us insight into the Nanzag culture, teach us Quechua words and phrases, and remind us that God's work would not stop when we left. We were inspired by their selfless examples and commitment to serving God in these difficult places.

This work was bigger than any of us ever imagined. CODEINSE (Corporacion de Desarrollo Integral Socio Economico), which does work in community development in these rural mountain towns, has been supporting these clean water projects. I know, with their help and the funds we raised to aid the project, that the task will be completed and, Lord willing, this year the people of the Nanzag community will receive fresh, running water for the first time in history.

Praising

The last day, CODEINSE invited our team to a celebration BBQ at the park in Rio Bamba. We felt humbled to sit with this incredible group of people and enjoy an Ecuadorian specialty, grilled cuy (guinea pig). We reflected together on all the Lord had done in the Nanzag community and prayed about all the Lord was still doing in Ecuador.

Numbers 23:19
"God is not human, that he should lie, 
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?

Thank you for partnering with me through prayer and finances to go to San Antonio de Encalado, Ecuador and see firsthand what God is doing among the Nanzag community. We can stand together amazed. Because God's work is not finished. 

Habakkuk 1:5
"Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."