13 days...American Bible Challenge WHAT?!

We leave in 13 days!!!!!!!!!


Today I got this email...


Hi Kristin, 

My name is Lindsay Cole and I'm a casting producer in Los Angeles. I'm currently working on the show "The American Bible Challenge". I saw your amazing story online about your trip to Ethiopia and thought you'd be a perfect person to speak to about our show. We are looking for people that are passionate about their faith and knowledge on the bible but that are also passionate about a great cause. 

We need teams of 3 people that are playing to win money for a charity. We aren't filming until July so we wouldn't be able to get you the funds in time for Ethiopia but it might be a great chance to help out other people from your church that want to go on these mission retreats. 

If you could email me or call me that would be great. I'd love to speak with you directly about our show and getting the word out to other people that might be interested in our show as well. My email is lacole87@gmail.com and my number is 818-599-5309. 

Also here is a link to our show on GSN.com:

http://tv.gsn.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/casting/

Thanks!

Lindsay Cole

So I talked to Lindsay today and she's super nice. I called Andre immediately and told him he's doing it with me. I'm also voting Jaime and Erin in but they dont know it yet. Sean said he would coach us!  GO TEAM!




<3 Kristin

15 days!

AHHHHH what! We are leaving for Ethiopia in 15 days! 15!!!! I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little panicked! I was feeling so prepared until I realized we leave in 15 days. I mean I don't even have all of my immunizations! I still have to pack and buy supplies! AHHH!

Alright...now that I've got that out....

A MILLION THANK YOU'S to those of you that have supported this journey. There are not enough words or hugs to thank you. None of us could go on this trip without your prayers and donations.

With that being said...we still need your help! We are going to be working with children in Ethiopia. I'm working with a non profit organization  called Jerseys & Cleats for Kids to take jerseys and soccer balls to the kids. In addition I would love to take crayons, coloring books, paper, pencils, school supplies etc. Since school is winding down, if any of you have items you haven't used or are gently used and would like to donate, I will gladly accept them :) If you have any questions about donating, you can always email me as well.

I'm so excited to share this crazy wonderful journey that God has put me on. Stay tuned for more shenanigans coming soon :)

Check out Jerseys & Cleats for Kids: http://www.jc4k.org/

Love,
Kristin
knperez86@gmail.com

Wanna donate? You can donate online, cash, or check!

Go to http://www.lakesidechurch.com/on-mission/

Click "Give online" under Support a Lakeside on Mission Team Member Link

This will take you to a log in screen where you enter your email address and password. (If you dont have an account, there will be a "create account" link that you can follow. This process is very quick!)

Once you log into your account, select your name and it will give you will have access to the screen where you enter your contribution information. 

There will be a select form drop down box. Scroll to L O M- Ethiopia (May 2012) 

Donation form-you are able to choose your support amount and any additional support through prayer.

Pioneer

As I prepare for this trip and realize that I have no idea what I am doing. That I am forging into waters not traveled previously by anyone in my family. It takes me back to my childhood.
                                                           
I was 9 years old when my mom stepped into the rooms of recovery. Completely changing the trajectory of our family. I remember being totally resentful. I mean, while we were completely dysfunctional, it was also completely normal to us. To our family. My dad, my brother and I gave her such a hard time for it. But she just kept going. Kept seeking out truth, pursuing something she unknown because she knew that there had to be more to life than that what we were doing. She was a pioneer. She was walking over mountains and through deep valleys following after a calling from God. A whisper of Hope.

 Over the past 24 years I have become very grateful she did. Despite how hard her family was on her, or how lonely the journey was, or how messy it was or is. Because she choose to obey, and walk forward, even by herself, I knew where to go for help in my darkest hour of despair. She allowed God to open doors for our family that would take us from surviving in life, to thriving in life.

Today, as I start a journey for my family and having literally no idea what I am doing, I find myself far beyond gratitude for her journey. I haven't been “on mission" before. I'm not educated in these things. I have no "experience". I am going forward blind, over mountains and through valleys. Sometimes alone, sometimes afraid, but I keep pressing on, pressing into God, because I know that I am following after God and his desire for our lives.

One of my many prayers for this trip is for my daughters. My prayer is that the legacy I create goes far beyond them.  That they would live in a way that brings life to others and that it would be imbedded in who they are, and not just what they do.  That their hearts would break for the things that break Gods heart and that they would be global game changers because of it.

Luke 24

This weekend was an incredible weekend to be at Lakeside Church. What a wonderful teaching from Hosanna & Brad. I've been thinking a lot about it this week and here's what I've got...


We studied Luke 24 JESUS HAS RISEN! I don't want to quote it word for word, the truth is if you're really interested you'll pick up your Bible or Google it. I promise you wont be disappointed :) Brad focused on verses 13-35, the road to Emmaus. Verse 25 just slapped me in the face! “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” You're probably wondering what the heck I'm talking about. If you've been following this blog, you know that I've hit a few road blocks with my immunizations. All day I've been thinking about how I'm going to be able to pay for these shots. I leave in 6 weeks and I have to fork out a few hundred dollars for them and I'm still raising money for me to be able to go on this trip. Seriously Satan....you're a tool! Haha ok back on track...A dear friend of mine who has been encouraging of this trip from the beginning reached out to me today to talk me through it. I sometimes don't feel worthy of this persons friendship. Remember all of this and skip forward a few hours to Engage College Young Adult group tonight....


While listening to Sean's message about Engaging with God, I come across this quote from Mother Teresa: "Each person you meet is Jesus in disguise." 


If you're like me, you're probably wondering what the heck Mother Teresa meant when she said this. I mean really...in every person you meet? Sounds kind of silly. So this friend of mine approaches me after our group meeting to check in on me. There is so much peace, comfort, and wisdom in his words. I go to leave and he shakes my hand...I look down and there's money....in my hands...money for my shots...in my hands. Are you getting it now?!?!


I am a fool! I have been slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! He has a plan for me, plans to prosper and not harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. My dear friend...you were Jesus in disguise for me tonight. I had doubts and you came to me like Jesus came to the men on the road. Who am I to doubt God? As Andre has told me, I put God in a box. I put limits on who he was and what he could do when umm duh God created the box. There are no limits!!!! So I have a question for those who are skeptics...How can you not believe?!


God thank you for your never ending blessings, thank you for challenging me, thank you for my difficult moments, thank you for your love <3 


THE END! PS. I'M GOING TO ETHIOPIA AHHHHHHHHHH


Kristin

Learning to TRUST God...

The last few weeks have been such a roller coaster. I've experienced some of the biggest highs and what felt like the lowest of lows. When we began this journey, a major concern for some was finances. That was the least of my worries because I knew God would provide for me. I have never been more confident in anything in my life but this I knew. I was right, God has completely 100% provided for me. Although I haven't reached the $2900 mark yet, friends and family have been reaching out to support through donations, prayer, and items for our garage sale. I couldn't be luckier to have such amazing people in my life.


This trip couldn't be a walk in the park though. That would be too easy! Although God is SO good. There is an evil that has tried to take this trip from me. He's tried to get into my heart and make me believe that this trip wont be possible for me. If you know me, you know that when I've reached what I think is my limit, I just cry. So that's what I've done...CRIED! Like a baby. My parents work full time and have great jobs and great insurance, so my immunizations should totally be covered right?! I go to my DR at UC Davis (I love UC Davis but right now you're killing me...seriously!) and she pretty much hands me the handout I already have with all of my immunizations that I need and says that she's going to refer me to a travel clinic. This may sound normal except 2 other people in my group go to UC Davis as well and were able to get their shots through their Primary Care Doctors! Makes no sense! In the meantime I get some blood work done and schedule another appointment to get my shots. THEN my mom sends me a a text saying our Insurance doesn't cover my immunizations for International travel!!!! I am now back at square 1 and I leave in less than 7 weeks. So what did I do?! I cried! 


Like clockwork, my best friend, who is probably one of the top 3 most amazing people on this planet, calls me. I think she senses when I'm about to make bad decisions (like call off this trip because I'm so frustrated!) because she always comes to my rescue. She has this incredibly comforting way about her where I literally just want to live in her pocket because I know she's safe. She tells me that I have to go because she just donated $100 to my trip. I CRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Erin McMackin, you are my sister! I love you! Then I go to check the mail and I have something from Julie & Rocky Armstrong (They are family friends and their son used to play soccer with my brother Brandon) and it's a check for $100! I CRY AGAIN! 


I still haven't gotten this immunization thing figured out and I'm pretty sure I have a few more crying episodes in my near future but God always provides and he showed me that today. I have an amazing travel group who always pick me up when I feel like I have nothing left. I have the worlds best best friend, the most thoughtful, caring, encouraging friends,  and a family that supports me 100%. However, I have to trust him and put all of my faith in him. This is so hard for me to do because I'm a control freak but I have to do it. I found a few good reminders on Pinterest. Maybe they will help you the way they're helping me. 


<3 Kristin

CATCH ME!

Trust is an interesting thing.  When my kids were young, I would throw them up in the air and watch the excitement (and fear) on their faces as they flew away from me, with their little tummies spinning!  For one brief but intense moment, they would sit in the air and appear to not move at all.  Then, their arms would open wide and an intense, but smiling face, would rocket toward me.  Finally, lots of laughing and hugging would ensue!

Probably every dad has experienced this (often with a concerned mom standing by).  It’s sort of a “right of passage” for dads and kids.  We throw them up and they love it!  It’s a bonding experience.  My kids (older now) can tell you stories of their “flights.”  Those memories are precious to me.  I wouldn’t give them up for anything!  But they were only made possible with trust.  Trust:  The reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, and surety of a person or thing; confidence. 

As we prepare to head to Ethiopia, I am reminded how much we need trust to be a central part of our journey.  We are trusting that God is calling us, imperfect and limited people to go.  We are trusting that he will provide the means to get us to our destination.  We are trusting that our experience overseas will be according to his plan.  We are trusting that he will work to transform us through the process.  And, we are trusting that he will work through us to bless others.  We are trusting.

The opposite of trust is doubt.  James says that doubt makes us unstable, “blown and tossed by the wind.”  Therefore, if our journey is to be strong we need trust!  As someone who is watching this team go through the process of going “into all the world” I am amazed at the trust that I see.  I am excited about how God will meet us in the midst of our trust and give us joy, peace and hope along the way.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit – Romans 15:13.