Unbelievable Summer

If you receive the newsletter you will have the full scope (or as much as you can get) of what took place this summer! If you don't/didn’t receive the newsletter and are already on the mailing list, I left you out on purpose because I want to discuss something with you. ;) If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, please email me.

Lessons I learned this summer through all that took place:

= Trust God with myself

= Trust God with those He puts around me

= Trust those God puts around me with those He puts around me. =) K, thank you for that lesson!

= Abide in Jesus…always…with ALL things

= It is not my place to defend myself. Jesus never defended Himself.

= It is my job to defend my brothers and sisters as they will not defend themselves.

= It’s not just what comes out that matters, it’s what’s in the heart and mind.

= A physical consequence helps mature the heart and mind.

= I cannot do life alone. (And now I don’t want to! Thanks Team!)

= I should always look to the interests of others rather than only my own.

= When it is time for me to speak up, I should!

= Surprises are not a bad thing!

= Planning is wise. Being flexible is good. Being fluid is best!

= Time with Jesus is a lifestyle.

= Abiding in Jesus is possible.

= Don’t be afraid to love anyone God puts in my path. Don’t hold back.

= When God speaks, by all means, Listen Sandra!

= Allow other people to look after me!

= Be open! Transparency is not what America makes it out to be. I want people to know the real me. Scary, I know! =)

= God has blessed me with an INCREDIBLE family who loves me although I sooo don’t deserve it!

= The Lord surely answers prayers, guiding and directing.

= The most important phrase in any language is, “Jesus loves you.”

= No one gets left behind.

= This 27 year old body can handle wayyyyy more than I thought possible.

= Northerners are cool people too! =)

= We are each uniquely designed in a fashion that suits our calling best! God is good!

= Adventures are now something I can look forward to rather than be hesitant or afraid!

= Whom have I in heaven but You, Lord!?

= No assumptions, no pre-conceived notions. Be patient and watch. Wait on the Lord who will reveal all.

= Be a good steward but rely on God for all things

= If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!

And for my IMPACT team…I learned:

= Never attempt the Cinnamon Challenge

= How to defend myself from a bear

= Don’t look at M. when a speaker goes off track

= Watch out for river rocks…dangerous suckers!

= Don’t attempt a Martial Arts match with N. (silly me)

= D.’s concoctions do work

= our stories tell a lot about us, it’s important to share

= “Slow and steady wins the race” whether it’s a horse or a bridge

= It’s important to dream

= Anyone can play the guitar

= A Romanian train is NOTHING like a Texas train

…okay, I’ll stop for now =)

Sport and Jesus!

During my summer internship I was sent with a team of five interns to do outreach in Romania. As we traveled to Romania and worked there, our leader introduced us in the following manner, “They are here because of two reasons: they love sport and they love Jesus!”

Sport is everywhere! In every nation, in every people group one will find some kind of sport. In January 2011 I felt the Lord calling this ministry to reach and disciple through sport, especially football. In May I left for an intense summer training/internship in Italy. Upon its completion, I was excited (and somewhat nervous) to return to Ghana and see what the Lord will do here.

I arrived and met with a man who has been through the same program. I have seen the work that the Lord is already doing in Ghana and excitement runs through my veins!

I spent this summer with sixteen other people who are passionate about sports and Jesus. I arrived in Ghana and am working with young people who know sports and know Jesus but the passion has not yet arrived for either.

Sunday begins a brief training similar to what I experienced this summer. Godson will attend. This training will be a precursor to the next level training available in September.

I ask for your prayers regarding Godson. From early in his faith he was placed in a position of leadership that I believe has hindered his growth in Jesus. He is busy tending to others and his own faith becomes neglected at times. Often he is seeking the Word to prepare a sermon and it doesn’t reach his own heart. This training will be unlike anything he has EVER experienced. Please pray that our Father in heaven would give Godson eyes to see what He is doing and ears to hear what He wants.

Please also pray for other leaders to join. I have a few days to “recruit” and other than one young man, I am not aware of any in this area who have chosen to follow Jesus outside the church doors. I know there are some, but I haven’t yet met them. We need disciples who want to grow, who want to love and who are willing to set themselves aside for the sake of Jesus, for the sake of those who don’t know Him! I asked a female friend about any young women and she said she doesn't know of any who are passionate about Jesus.

I plead for your prayers throughout the upcoming week!

Loving the Unloved

Please hear a portion of my story…

“But then I will win her back once again.

I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.

I will return her vineyards to her

And transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.

She will give herself to me there,

As she did long ago when she was young,

When I freed her from captivity…

“When that day comes,” says the LORD,

“you will call Me ‘my Husband’ instead of ‘my Master.’

I will make you my wife forever,

Showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.

I will be faithful to you and make you mine,

And you will finally know me as LORD.

I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’

And to those I called ‘Not My people,’

I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’

And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”

The above is from Hosea, prophesying about God’s people, but is very much how God has moved within my own life. Because of a past experience, Hosea speaks to the depths of my soul.

There definitely was a time that I was held captive to things as a result of my decision to choose life without God. He did lead me into the desert and He did speak tenderly. Even upon my refusal, He continued to speak. And finally in the Valley of Trouble and Pain and Despair, I heard. And He gave me hope! So much Hope that in that moment, I gave all of myself to Him, to be as I was when I was young, before my captivity. That day, upon choosing Him, I was able to call Him my Friend and my Husband rather than only my Master, someone I only feared. I am forever His, aware of His righteousness, His justice, His unfailing, NEVER-ENDING LOVE, and His compassion. He has been nothing but faithful, (even when I have not been), and I am His. He is my Lord and He loves me. He is MY God!

And because He is my God, the filth, the destruction and the lies have been exposed and wiped away. Isaiah 61:10 describes my heart, “I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.”

Because I have been in the Valley of Trouble and have experienced dark times, I feel that I understand the place of one who is “unloved.” I understand hopelessness. I understand why people fight the One who wants to love them most. And because the Lord has brought me through the Valley and proven His love for me…because He has made me His, it is now my turn to share Him with those who are unloved, who don’t know True Love.

How can I give you up…?

How can I let you go…?

How can I destroy you…?

My heart is torn within me, and My compassion overflows.

No, I will not unleash My fierce anger.

I will not completely destroy…for I am God and not a mere mortal.

I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.

For someday the people will follow me.

Do you hear this?!? For someday the people will follow me. I have hope that the unloved, once they experience True Love, will follow Him. I feel that it is the job of those who have chosen to follow and who know Love Himself, to go to the poor, needy, oppressed, widow and orphans, the prostitutes, and all who are looked down upon.

Please pray for the Lord’s direction within my life and this ministry on how we can better love the unloved. My heart is very heavily burdened these days.

The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness;

My love will know no bounds”

Akpe Yesu!