Reflections from Mexico

I wanted to share a few pictures of my trip to Mexico to visit Marnie. It really was such a blessing to get to visit and see a little bit of the life Marnie is living down there. God is so so so good!!! My time in Mexico was good for my soul in the deepest way possible. I had not laughed as hard as I did on this trip in a long time. It was so fun to see how much Marnie loves where she is at and the ministry she is doing. It was a reminder of how great God really is, and what ministry is supposed to be. It's meant to be something we enjoy and that brings us life and happiness. Sure it's not always a cake walk and life has it's ups and downs. But we really are meant to live life to the fullest and to enjoy it! When we seek God's will and follow where He leads we can walk in that to! It was so great to see a good friend living that life.

Rainy season in Mexico, lots of cool storms and fun suprise rainshowers:

One of my favorite quotes from Marnie was when we got caught walking home in a surprise flash flood like rain storm "we might as well have some fun in this cause otherwise we're just going to be miserable!"

Marnie, myself and Kate in front of one the Catholic cathedrals

Another brightly colored curch

 Bussin it

View of the city from the piramides in Cholula

Walking the circulo

Huge tacos with cactus and spaghetti

So so good!!

Our new little friend showing us a turtle

Just a little Lucha Libre Wrestling

The 4

Inside the worlds smallest active volcano

Volcano

In front of the volcano

Marnie's team getting ready to play some softball

Marnie and her killer arm

Marnie sharing at church about her trip to the London Olympics

The Girls (rooftop of Marnie and Yost's casa)

:)

This birdnest is just outside Marnie's window

Popo trying to clear up for us

Finally on our last full day in Puebla we had a clear view :)

View from Marnie's rooftop

Greetings from Puebla

 Hola Amigos!

 

A few months back my friends Kate, Tyler and I planned a trip to Puebla Mexico to visit my Friend Marnie Johnson who is down here doing ministry with AIA (Athletes in Action). I've been here a week so far and it has been such an amazing time. The Lord is just so good how He calls each of us in different ways to walk out our faith and live for Him. It's been really fun seeing Marnie in action down here. I'll work on posting some pictures when I get back to Walla Walla.

 

I have been sick since I got to Mexico with a really bad cough. I would love your prayers for healing and health! It's always a bummer to get sick on a trip and feel so worn out. I do think I'm on the up and up though, and still have another week down here :)

 

Just a quick update on my Mozambique funds: I received and email last night saying that I had received $450 :) Praise Him! It was such an encouragement to hear that. I had just been praying to the Lord, feeling really at a loss about still needing $1000 before Friday to pay for the tuition and outreaches for Harvest School. If you feel called to support me in getting to Mozambique, there is a paypal button to the right of this page. Or for tax-deductible purposed please see my last blog posting if you would like to send a check to Journey Church.

 

Thank you all for your prayers and support at this time! I do feel like I've been on a bit of a roller coaster, with many ups and downs since the Lord has called me to go to Harvest School. Its been a very humbling process and I am learning more and more each day to lean into the Lord and His goodness and not to try and rely on my own strength and will to get there because there is no way I could do it in my own strength, no matter how hard I try. His way is always the best way, and the only path I want to travel.

In need of a Miracle

Hello!

I figured with my upcoming adventure it was time to start blogging again... We will have to see if I can remember how this all works...

I wanted to share with you all about an exciting journey I am about to embark on. I have officially been accepted to Harvest School of Missions in Pemba, Mozambique. I wanted to let you all know, and to ask you to consider partnering with me on my mission, and praying for me as I prepare. I have been praying about this opportunity for awhile now, wanting to really take a season and just grow in the Lord and His love. My heart is for missions, and I am so excited to be receiving this specialized training through Iris, and maybe even to serve with them in a more long term bases in the future.

I will be leaving for Pemba, Mozambique at the end of September. While in Africa I will be taking courses and being taught by Iris staff, local pastors, missionaries and leaders form all around the world, as well as Heidi and Rolland Baker. I will get to go on some extended outreaches into the bush were we will do ministry. The mission base is on an orphanage so I will constantly be playing, loving on, and learning from the children who live at the base.

On the main page of the website for Harvest school it says: “There is a new breed of missionaries being released across the earth, transparent saints, with oversized hearts, beating in rhythm with the heart of their Bridegroom King Jesus, carrying His glory across the earth. Fearless, laid-down lovers that know a love that has no boundaries, and are ready to run into the darkest places of the earth and bring in the lost, the dying, the poor and the broken. Jesus came with ceaseless love for both the one and the masses. Now we must do the same: stop for the one, but believe for the multitudes.”

I am so excited that the Lord is calling me to Africa at this time. I am excited for the change and the work that will be done in my heart and mind while I am there. To read more about Iris and Harvest school you can visit their website at: www.irismin.org/missions/harvest

I am hoping that you will take some time to pray about possibly supporting me on my journey to Africa. With the school and travel costs, as well as extended outreaches (I will be adventuring on a 10 day bush outreach at the end of the school session as well as staying for the Christmas outreach at the Pemba base) I will need to raise about 5,000 all together. As of today I have raised about 1,100, it has been such a blessing to see that come in! I know that I am in need of a miracle. By August 25th I need to have the full 3,100 for tuition and the two outreaches. And hopefully the rest to purchase the plan ticket and get the visa to enter Mozambique soon after. This is very intimidating to me, as I have learned that there is no way, no matter how hard I try and work, that I can make this happen on my own, but I know that when the Lord calls us, He is always faithful to provide. I so appreciate your prayers at this time as I learn more and more to lean on the Lord and His amazing faithfulness. 

If you would like to support me financially you can send any tax-deductable funds to:
Journey Church
With a memo: Mindy Smith: Mission Fund
1491 W. Rose street
Walla Walla WA 99362, USA

For convince I have also set up a PayPal button, that you can find on the right side of this page. You can give toward my trip through that as well. Anything given through PayPal is not tax-deductable though. For tax-deduction please send a check to Journey Church with my name in the memo line.

Please feel free to email or call me with any other questions you might have! It would be a joy to even meet up with you and share more of my heart in this. Thank you so much in advance for your support and prayers!

With so much love!

Mindy Smith

Email: Mindysmith87@gmail.com                Phone: (509) 876-7414

Check out this beautiful video done by IRIS Ministries:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a71IY9WyjpU