By Colleen

I continue to laugh as I praise God when I think back on the past and where He has taken me…How can I have so much love for a country and its people when I once despised even hearing the name of the place? I am filled with joy when I think how God can use even me….He challenges me, He pushes me, He is always there…

A buddy Rhys Martell challenged me to think about my ideas and beliefs about Jesus and God in a sermon (https://soundcloud.com/accsermons/2014-07-06-rhys-martell ) “…You need some evidence in order to build faith and strengthen it, the only way to get evidence that is really going to mean anything to you is by doing what He asks you to do, and then seeing if He shows up. …If He shows up, Game Changer!”

I honestly don´t remember expecting God to show up in Panamá. I was controlled by money, and thought once we ran out of money we would have to leave and pack our bags (More or less because that´s what I wanted). Guess what? We did run out of money, but He did show up! Game Changer! It was the best thing that could have ever happened to our family…He showed up with food, and later on a job that provided income for our family, and later on training and eventually becoming official missionaries with MB Mission…It built up my confidence, my faith….He does want me here! And now, every day, when I think about all of the beautiful people that pray for us continually and provide financially it is a reminder of this, and to me, a miracle. Now as I said, I love the country and I love the people…at times I feel life is simpler there, and at other times harder…but it all feels right, and at the end of the day, easy or not, I can praise Jesus for His works. I challenge you to reflect on where and what God is calling you to. Invite God to lead you in your life.  Will you follow?

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. -John 14:21

Please pray for a new direction I feel God is calling me to that involves youth and music…I won´t say any more than that at this point…but I feel like God has poured fuel into my body and I am excited to trust Him and see where it leads!