It's finally come!

Hey everyone!

So the day started at 1:30am, we had to meet at Heartland! We were prayed over by Pastor Wade and the parents! It was a really cool experience and really cool to know that SO many people are back at home praying for us! 

So at 2:15 we loaded the yellow school bus with all our suitcases! Wow it was nice to not have to drive as a team to Calgary before we flew out! 

We arrived at the airport at 3am! We went through security and customs very smoothly! 

And now we are sitting in USA territory waiting to board the plane! However at the current moment we are waiting till the weather passes! There is a sever weather storm, with lots of rain n lightning! 

So we have a group of kids playing Dutch Blitz! And groups just sitting a chatting! Everyone is in good spirits! 

12:42 and we are in Houston! I personally didn't make it to takeoff! I was fast asleep before we took off! 

This is half the team everyone else is taking washroom breaks! 

Our role call is doing so well! We are actually getting fast at saying our numbers, much better then the last times team! 

Now to wait til 5:30 when we leave! Praise The Lord we made it this far! 

Commissioning weekend!

Wow what a great weekend! Heartland commissioned the team in all 3 services and after we sold Dogs for Donations...no not real dogs lol balloon animal dogs and hotdogs! 

A really cool story I wanna share with you all is, on Saturday night, pastor Barry was praying over the team (commissioning us) and while he was praying there were HUGE claps of thunder. And God gave me a vision of God and Jesus and the angels cheering as Loud as they could, stomping their feet in agreement to what Pastor Barry was saying! It was soooo cool!!! 

After and during the weekend I was truly amazed and honoured as I watched and saw how much support our team, we know that we have a huge group of people that love us, support us and that are praying for us! And I know that we could not do this missions experience without everyone of them all! 

I can't believe that this is the last week!!! I've been counting down from like January lol even b4 that! Feels like SO long ago! And now this time next week we will be in the Houston airport waiting for our connecting flight to Quito!!! 

This week is going to go super fast for me I know! So much to do so little time lol! I suppose I should start packing too hey!?! 

Here is a picture of our team getting commissioned, see if u can spot me out! Lol I don't blend in that well lol! 

Thank you all for your prayers n support! Please continue to pray for our health, for our team unity, for safe travels and please pray against spiritual attacks! 

My word is Rest!

Good morning! As the team was preparing for Ecuador Danielle asked us to all come up with a word that we want to see God teach us about or areas where we need to grow! 

My can't remember my original word but I have adopted the word REST! I have chosen that word cuz for me it's very hard for me to stop and rest and really do nothing! Every time I've got a spare moment I'm always finding stuff to do! I find that resting is boring lol! I feel like I have to go, go, go! I'm betting a lot of you can relate! 

So my prayer is that I will learn how to REST! Not to feel guilty or bored or just fall asleep (and I see that as waisted time...I could do be doing instead of sleeping!) when I do take time for myself! I'm the last few weeks I've started spending more time with God, and also learning to REST in Him and REST in the Promises He has for me! 

In Ps 46:10 it says 'Be Still and know they I am God' and that's what I'm learning! Just to be still and rest in Him! And honestly there is no other place I'd rather be, I realize that when I'm there, but I'm not gonna lie getting to just be still and rest in Him is hard for me sometimes to get to! My prayer and desire is for it to become natural for me to rest n be still in God! And for disciple to get myself there! Without feeling guilt that are other things I need to do! When those things can wait! 

Another thing I hope to learn is how to enjoy mornings...as most of you know...I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON! Lol I'm not sure if that can change but its worth a try right! Just to clarify I am not mean in the morning, I just don't say anything! I've been told in the past that I am not a joy to be around in the morning lol, I know I'm not my outgoing bubblie self in the morning! Lol It's my goal to work on that to be more of a morning person! Lol that will take some work cuz I've ALWAYS been like this...have ALWAYS hated mornings! Lol I've said that I think mornings are a result of the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden lol 

Please pray for me as I learn how to rest and be still in God as well as learn how to become a morning person! Lol hopely the last request isn't a lost cause...me becoming a morning person lol I know NOTHING is impossible with God!!! 

Well I better go! I get to go swimming n play outside again today! Can I just say that I LOVE my job!!! 

Only two weeks minus one day!

Hello everyone one! Wow it's been a long time since I have written...almost a year! Crazy how fast time goes when you are older! I remember as a kid time seemed to stand still! Lol

In this blog post I will let you all know that has happened in the last year or so! What I can honestly say is that I am not where I thought I would have been that's for sure, however over this past year I have definitely learned that God does have a plan and He knows better!

Over the past year God has helped me work on quite a few issues that I didn't realize that I had to work on to become emotionally healthy! One major one came out in October of last year. As most of you all know that I had to say Good-bye (what I thought was forever) to a precious little 16 month old that I had gotten really close to...she was a foster daughter to my very close friend and I had developed a strong bond with her. When I found out that she was going back to her birth mom, my heart felt broken...I honestly didn't think it would effect me as bad as it did, I was very shocked how much I cried... I remember saying that there must be something wrong with me cuz the tear wouldn't stop! I was reassured that this was normal and they would stop when they needed to. This whole opened up feels that I didn't know I had, as well as made me realize that my fear of saying Good-bye was very strong as well as questions like why didn't my birth parents want me. God really opened up my eyes on how much He loves me, and wants me and has a plan for me.

And the happened ending to this story is I am still in contact with her!!! I get the privilege of taking her to church every Sunday! As well as God is totally using me to speak to her mom and mom's boyfriend! God is an amazing God, there has been a lot of times where He has given me the exact words to say in different conversations! I am with God's help planting the seed!

Currently for work I am a nanny thru Robinhood to a 2 yr old and a 5 yr old...keeps me busy and out in the sun, which has two things I absolutely love kids and sunshine!

And in my free time...I am highly involved at my home church Heartland Alliance in the youth program there!! I am a small group leader to some pretty awesome young women of God, this passed June I had the honor of baptizing one of them!!! As well I am involved in planning and assisting in leading you events! I love it!

So by now I'm betting that you are wondering why I called this post "Only two weeks minus one day" we'll lemme tell you!!! In two weeks minus a day I will be in Ecuador! I've joined the leadership team in helping lead a group of 26 youth and young adults. We are leaving July 22! The team will be returning on Aug 2 and I getting the privilege of staying till August 15!!! While I am with the team with will be working along side of Youth World again! Visiting and working along side La Roca, Argalia Alta, and Casa G the three places we were at in 2011! 

And after the team leaves I will be staying in Quito at Jose Luis's (aka Jo) family's house! I stayed there when I was in Quito in April 2012! I am not sure exactly what I will be doing while I'm at Jo's house but I will keep you all updated! I'm guessing more crazy bus rides! Lol

Well I guess I had better turn in for the night, but I will be back tomorrow! Good night all! 

Waiting on God is Hard sometimes

Hello everyone! It's been a long time, I must apologize for that! From the last time that I wrote not to much new has been happening in my life.

The last time I had a decision to make, school here or to pursue Ecuador. With a lot of praying and talking to others and looking deep inside, I realized that my passion was in missions and not so much in school. So I chose to pursue Ecuador.

Silly me I thought it was just a matter of saying yes and going...lol boy was I mistaken.

I have no answers for you all on when I'll be going back. As of right now International Teams is talking to Youth World the organization in Quito Ecuador that Heartland partners. They are talking about an internship for me...I have no idea what that involves or how long it will be or when.

So as of right now I am trying to give it all to God. The song Jesus All for Jesus has been the song that has been playing in my head, the line where is says "all of my ambitions, hope, and plans I surrender these into your hands."Sometimes that is easier said then done if you know what I mean!

So where am I at right now, I am not sure. I am feeling pretty lost...I am not sure if God has officially closed that door to Ecuador or if is just testing my faith in Him.

So in the meantime I have jumped back into being involved at Heartland! Tomorrow I start my jr. high girls small group. As well as I am leading worship in the Grade 1-4 Sunday school class! And youth has started full force!

My job at Robinhood has slowed right down again, as it normally does in the fall, so I am currently (with God's direction) trying to figure out what my next step should be job wise. The hardest thing is I don't know what I wanna do. It's discouraging sometimes. I feel like in the movies..I'm standing still and everything around me is going CRAZY fast and is blurry around me.

Lately I have been under spiritual attack, thought have been flooding my mind and thought...saying things like 'Carla you have failed and let everyone down(in regards to not being in Ecuador yet)' or 'Carla what you thought God was say about you going to Ecuador was wrong' and so on...

I am asking you all to help me pray against these negative thought, for protection so I won't start believing them...which there have already been times when and where I have believed these thoughts. That's when I need God and His truth the most.

Please pray for direction...like do I get an other job while I wait, and if so what kind, do I check out what the requirements are for becoming a foster parent, or do I go to school and if so to take.

All I know is that my ambitions, hopes and dreams are My to be a mother and or be a missionary.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate you all and all your prayers and support more then words can express!

Praying, seeking and ANSWER!!!

Hello everyone! It's been awhile! I know you all have been wondering what has been going on in my life! Well, lemme tell you all what's been happening!

As you read in my last post my time at CdF went very well but it just wasn't a good match for me. After the Skype meeting Wade and I had with ACCI, I had options.

ACCI wanted me to pursue WYAM in South America, however after talking to Wade about it, and other people I trust and of course God! I came up with the conclusion that WYAM was not the right answer for me. A few reasons being that I have already gone to Caprenwray in 2001 and I didn't feel like it would be beneficial for me to go, when majority of the the students are just outside of highschool. And I have been out of highschool for like over 12 years now! Wow that's a long time lol!

So I met with Wade after the Skype meeting. And we talked about options. He then talked to Cameron from Youth World in Ecuador...(for those of you are wondering who or what Youth World is, it's the organization that Heartland Alliance Church partners with).

So here were the options that I was given: Option A. Was to go to Ecuador in the fall and take an Intensive Spanish 8 week course in Quito, Ecuador. While I would be in this program I would be living with an Ecuadorian family, to help me out with the learning process! Then after the 8 week program I would work in one of the places that the Heartland Alliance church (aka HAC!) works with call Argelia Alta or MISION REMANSO DE AMOR COMUNITY CHURCH. That is the place where we went last summer at the end of our Ecuador experience, it's that organization that helps single mom and children. It does a lot of other things too! I encourage you to look at their website! www.remansodeamor.org. With this plan I'd stay there in Ecuador until August when the HAC youth and young adults team comes in July of 2013! I would return to Canada with them in August. And then pursue a diploma program at Grant McEwan here in Edmonton called the youth and Child Care Worker, it's a two year program or four four the bachelor program. And with that education I could either go back to Ecuador or pursue being a foster care mom.

Or option B: would be going to Grant McEwan this fall and then pursuing Ecuador after I am finished my education.

I prayed about this over and over and I had most of you all praying too. And I came up with no direct answer except my excitement for going to Ecuador kept growing, it was like I was a little girl just before Christmas morning getting more and more excited!

I was still really confused I knew what my excitement wanted, but I kept second guessing it, I was not sure if it was my will or the Lord's will. I knew what I wanted but I didn't know if that was what God wanted! And I had to give Wade my answer by Sunday which was yesterday!

At like 9 I still didn't know a 100% what my answer was... I was praying that God would help me make my decision easier and He did! Here's the cool God story to that!

So it was after work, and while I was at work my flip flop broke. I was shoeless and after work I went Walmart to get new flip flops and in the parking lot I met Jen O'Coin. We started talking and she said one phrase that I have heard for a million times.... "FOLLOW YOUR HEART" I know it's should a cliche and even Jen said that, and she also said that she NEVER says that. But those words were in my head, I heard them over and over and over again " FOLLOW YOUR HEART" I knew right then where my heart was! It was in option A. Going to Ecuador in the fall.

So I texted Wade and told him that I feel God is calling me to Ecuador! I can't believe I have officially said that I am going to Ecuador in the fall! It's now REAL!!!

So what is the next step lol I am not sure! But I'll keep you all posted! Thanks for all your love, support and prayers!!!!

Mucho Gracias.

When God closes one door he opens another

Hello everyone! It's been awhile since I've written on my blog. I thought I'd give you guys all an update. So here I go!

On Friday of last week I received an email ACCI missions. In this email they began to tell me that they had a Skype meeting with Casa de Fe and have decided that that was not a good fit for me. Lemme just tell you that was extremely hard for me to read. I was actually working at the time and I was in the 'new' library in Sherwood Park. So I went to the washroom and the years came. I instantly felt like I had failed you all, myself and God, and a lot so confused and rejected. Because of my confusion I instantly started doubting whether I had actually heard God. It was VERY hard to handle to say the least.

I didn't know what to do so I messages Wade the youth pastor at my home church and he gave me some words of encouragement, and I also talked to Bev Otto and my parents. Everyone that I talked to told me that I hadn't failed anyone. I listened their words but really honestly didn't believe them. I was pretty upset.

I also messaged my parents and mom and dad every so supportive! My dad even sent me a verse found in Ps 40:1 for encouragement!

And then a really cool God story happened that I feel like I need to share! Ok so as I said before I had been texting with Wade. And he told me stuff like God has other plans, and tried to use humour to help me feel better. And then a little while later I had received a picture message from Wade. I opened it up and it was super cute picture of Gracie his one year old daughter which as most of you know me of course it made me smile!!!! So I texted Wade back and said thanks Wade I defiantly needed that to smile! And he was like I am not sure what you are talking about and then he looked and told me that Logan his other one year old had actually texted me that, not him. And then I heard a voice saying 'you are welcome my daughter!' it was a little gift from God! God never ceases to amaze me!

Then Wade suggested I email Argailia Alta one of the minister that the youth and young adults team served last summer. So I did and to my shock they emailed me back in like 20 mins wanting to talk to me more! It just blew me away cuz normally it takes awhile to hear back from people. And if this isn't the path I am suppose to be the door I'm to go thru, I'll see it as a little glimpse of hope that God has my back!

However even after all of this I still felt like I had failed and felt VERY rejected, it sucked to say the least. I then went on with the rest of my 48 hr shift at Robinhood and then church and youth. Church and youth were a good way to distract me and make me forget about the way I was feeling.

But... After youth I was challenged to go back to my feelings instead of pushing them deep inside which I am VERY use to doing. I had a deep God conversation with Joanne one of my best friends! And she challenged me to bring back those feelings and to deal with them. We talked for along time like 3 or 4 hours, which made it 2:30-2:45 till we were done!

Joanne just has a way of helping me process things and asks me questions that I wouldn't have thought to ask or think about. Thru our conversation she asked me 'Carla where did you see God and His Power the most, where did you have to rely on God the most?' The answer to that question is when I was with Jo in Quito with his youth and joining him in his ministries there. Not so much at CDF. CDF was a very comfortable place where I knew what I was doing, and as a result I didn't have to rely on God as much or ever some times I felt like I didn't need Him as much. I was in constant communication with God is Quito. And I heard Him and felt His presence.

And now that I look back at it was almost like CDF was a job and what I did in Quito was the minister. And I know that God wants me in a place where I am in constant contact with Him and constant reliance on Him. To grow stronger in our relationship.

Another thing that was really cool was since being back in Canada I still have been able to minister to the youth in Quito thru Facebook! And the language barrier was not a factor!

I know with out a shadow of a doubt that God is in control of it all. And it is His desire for me to be closer to Him and to fully rely on Him in EVERYTHING! And I am not super excited to see what the next door He has for me to walk thru! Even if it's not Argailia Alta I know God has a plan for me!

So I am asking you to please partner with me in prayer that I would continue to live in God confidence and know that His plan is ultimately better then mine!

I just wanna thank you all in advance for partnering with me in this journey! It's a long journey and not the easiest, but God never said the a relationship with Him would be easy, but He did say that He will never ever leave me or forsake me!

Excitedly waiting for God
Carlita