Jesus Calling

Month 3 has already come to a close and time is starting to fly by.  I cannot even believe that back home my brothers and sisters are back in school, many of my friends are starting grad school or their new jobs, UGA’s football season is already undereway, and that I'm already feeling the pressure to think ahead to next year. 

In this whirlwind of adjustment to not having my family here anymore, to new relationships, to coming back to the heat of Escuintla after a relaxing 2 weeks in Guatemala City, to starting again at Maná, to applying for grad school… it’s been easy to lose track of what’s really important.

And then I hear the soft whisper of my Jesus calling me.

Even as I sat down to reflect on this past month and to update my blog, not knowing what to write, I opened the book by Sarah Young and read today’s entry.

          “ I continually call you to closeness with me. I know the depth and breadth of your need for me. I can read the emptiness of your thoughts when they wander away from Me. I offer rest for your soul as well as refreshment for your mind and body.”

My tendency is often to feel overwhelmed, as I’m being entrusted with new tasks, as my organization skills are being tested, and as every day something new comes into my path. Sometimes the only thing that keeps me from breaking down is reminding myself and telling Jesus that everything on my plate is really his. Maná de Vida is his, my relationships are His, my money is His, my possessions are His, my life is His. I cannot describe what a relief I feel and the new energy I have when I remember that ultimately He is in control, and He is the one who works in me to accomplish great things.

But today, Jesus helped me to realize something. I’m not alone as I talk to Him. I have a whole team of people who are dedicated to praying for me, and I’ve neglected to rely on them to intercede on my behalf. But I need you. I need my friends and supporters to be praying—we need your prayer here in Maná de Vida ministry, but also in Vida Real church in Escuintla.  I truly believe that God has called the Tzorin family (with whom I live) to bring light to the darkness of Escuintla. And this is a spiritual battle, and in many ways I have seen and felt the way the enemy is resisting the work God has called us to do:

So many of the children’s hearts in Maná de Vida have become hardened by life circumstances—physical and verbal abuse, neglect, poverty. We desperately need your prayer on their behalf, that their hearts would be opened again, their wounds healed, and their families changed.

There are a few kids with serious discipline issues that we need to make decisions about in terms of suspending them or even expelling them from our program. Please pray for wisdom and discernment in these decisions and that we would be able to reach the hearts of these children.

The church youth group, “conexión” has been growing incredibly and God has already changed the lives of many young people, but we are starting to become tired, and relationships within the church youth group leadership are being strained. Please pray for strength and wisdom for our leadership and for group cohesion with the youth.

In this next month, my hope is that many of my supporters and friends, in response to this blog post would send me an email or a message asking them what they can specifically pray for me or for Escuintla. I’ll give you the name of a child, or event, or area in my own personal life—whatever it may be so that you can be praying specific prayers on my journey.

Thank you!!

“Peace be to you all, and love with faith from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ”

Ephesians 6:23