"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps..." (Prov 16:9)

By the grace, mercy and direction of God we made it home safely last night! :)
It was an interesting time for as easy as it was to get to Mexico it was equivalently hard to get back to Kansas City. And although we have some clarity we are still not sure of all the reasons why.

First we got horridly lost in Mexico City and I finally had to pay a taxi 90 pesos to lead us out of the city and to the road we needed. And although it was frustrating to be lost everyone we met was so incredibly kind! The gas station workers were opening maps for us to figure out how to get to the road, customers were giving us directions, and the taxi driver was so very helpful. It was almost worth being lost to be so loved on, helped and encouraged. The Hand of Jesus just HAD to be in it...

Then we drove until 4am and were finally so tired that we just had to stop and ended up stopping in the only city nearby...San Luis Potosi...the same city mentioned in a previous blog. We never would have chosen for me to have to spend the night in THAT city but God obvioulsy had other plans. I had no problems, no fears, no nothing...and slept like a baby! Jesus surely proved to me that my healing on the drive down had been REAL!!

Moving along we made it as far as Austin Texas before the car broke down. We stopped, called my awesome amazing husband on the cell phone who walked me through getting the battery re-connected and we ended up staying the night in Austin. Still aren't totally sure why, but I expect the Lord has His reasons even if we won't know what they are until eternity!

We thought we were in the clear when suddenly the car broke down AGAIN on the outskirts of Dallas. We got it sort of started again and Lo and Behold the exit we made it off at had a little mechanic shop. They changed my battery and then stripped the positive battery cable so it would fit properly (which seemed to be the problem) and we were off again, honestly beleiving that God had us stop there to pray for that town.

Well, about 10 minutes later the car went out again. This time on a very busy section of interstate in Dallas. We barely edged off the road and finally I realized this was critical. Kelsey (the MK we were bringing home) and Kristen got under an overpass in the shade while I called Larry, tried to figure out if I had towing service etc. Nothing. Larry called his parents (who live in Dallas) but his Dad wasn't home. We sat there at least 45 minutes if not more. Finally, in spite of our proximity to traffic I decided to try and look at the car. As I walked over I prayed God would send help and then immediately 2 men stopped who were a bit rough looking but SUPER nice. They ended up getting the car started and off at an exit and left us there to go get new battery cables and ended up fixing the car at no charge whatsoever. HAD to be God.

But why couldn't we get out of Texas? We observed that God could just as easily keep the car running as have us break down in convenient places with free help. Kristen, Kelsey & I were praying and came to 2 conclusions. One, God was trying to show HIs nearness and protection. If the car had never broken we would never have "seen" His Hand moving on our behalf. And second, He told us all that we had reconciliation responsibilities. So, Larry & I finally got in touch with his parents and I asked to come by just to say hi and chat. Unfortunately they are in a rough time right now with health so I was not able to go by but I did reach out to do so and was released before God. Then we agreed to stop at Kristen's Grandparents in Oklahoma. (which we did do, for the night) and we were released. We had no more car trouble.
Very very interesting the ways of this amazing God of ours, eh??

SO!!! We are home safely. Glad to be with friends we missed but having the typical re-entry shock and hard moments of readjustment. BUT! We follow the Lamb wherever He goes and right now this is where He would have us and I am excited to get back into the swing of things with the IHOP here. I trust that He will continue to have as much for me here in KCMO as there in CNAVCA!!!

It was such a wonderful trip! Thanks so much for your prayers. And financial support. I could not have done it without you.

And a special thanks and recognition to my wonderful husband Larry who is the only man I have ever known who legitmately loves his wife as Christ loves the church and lays down his life for her.....

"This is the way, walk in it...." (Isa 30:21)

Mission trip emails are one of those odd paradoxes in the Christian walk. When stories come up I struggle between "not letting my left hand know what my right hand is doing" and filling prayer partners and supporters in on what transpires. But, at the risk of losing my reward :) I want to go ahead and tell you one fun story and then fill you in on a not so fun one and an interesting one which will be no risk to my crown.

Kristen and I went downtown to the central plaza today on a quest to find street children to support and had an interesting thing happen. The main cathedral is usually a hotspot so we went there and ran into a little boy of about 7 years. He was begging and so we gave him some money, as we did other people in the area. Afterwards we went and sat on the cathedral steps and I was just in a discouraged mood. Wanting to do more somehow but not sure if this was really on the Lord's Heart or if there was somethng else too. So I was praying and afraid of my own possible hardness of heart when suddenly this small fireball of white hot light about the size of my fist fell and disappeared before it hit the ground really close to the above mentioned little boy. And I could feel the presence of Jesus. But, taken aback and unsure of myself and thinking maybe it was a flower (off of which of the 10 trees that weren't flowering I have no idea...but still) I wandered over and saw no flowers or anything else. The boy came over and again asked for pesos so I started chatting with him, asking why he wanted them, if he were hungry. He said yes, he wanted a coke and chicken at which point he was joined by a young girl and then a mother of two small children. So, we decided to buy lunch for everyone. And proceeded to do so, really feeling that we had the kiss of God in this. I was able to find a nearby restaurant with chicken and bought chicken meals and coke all around. He was so thrilled. We were so thrilled as well. I have no doubt that we not only fed little ones in Jesus Name but also fed Jesus...for when you do something for one of the least of these you have done it unto Him. I do so love such things.

This morning I had a shining example of the love of Jesus. We were to lead a devo set and before we got on stage I had the feeling that I was supposed to play a certain song. I, however, declined to do so thinking that everyone would be very tired of that song. So I picked others and proceeded into this horrible set with no anointing nor even a reasonable facsimile. I slogged through this mud for about 40 minutes before I turned to the Spirit and asked what the problem was (I not only was playing terribly but lost my voice and etc) at which point I was reminded that I was supposed to be playing other songs. I leaned over the Kristen and got her to pull out those songs (after I repented) and suddenly what I was playing got better and the sweet presence of Jesus was there. (Kristen commented in our "de-briefing" that she did not know what was going on but could feel the difference too). I was so delighted that He was there and that He loved me enough to so clearly prompt me and also discipline me that I was stifling a joyful laughter and had to leave the stage right after those songs and let Kristen take over. It was so great to have moments like that with Him again. My life suddenly is so incredibly NORMAL (for me anyway). Either all of this is about Jesus or it isn't. And if it really is then if He wants me to sit there and play the same song for 2 hrs...so be it. If I want to be fully owned by Him, if my life truly is not my own, then the love in my heart needs to well up into HIS desires, not mine! I love it....

My other "hemming in" lesson of the week went much better. Kristen and I were going to play "tourist" this one day and go to the indigenous tourist market in a town called Taxco which is about 1 hr from here. So off we went and about 20 minutes into the drive I started getting irritable and wierd and crabby which really is unusual for me. I didn't clue in at first (haven't been in that dark of a spiritual climate in years) but then abut 10 minutes later I said (out loud) "Wait! This is familiar, it's spiritual". So we started praying and I asked the Lord if we shoud not be going to this town. (It's one thing to go into a dark place on the Lord's command it's totally another to go to play "tourist"...this is a deadly game of warfare and well I know it after 15+ years in such nations...you can literally get yourself killed pulling stunts like that). I asked the Lord to make it really clear if we were to leave. About that time I started being suffocated, for real, and we started literally seeing things. Enough said. I made a "U Turn" right in the middle of the highway and drove back to Cuernavaca. As we drove home we went through a good ole repentance and de-sliming and all was well. Praises to Him for guiding us through His Holy Spirit!!

On Sunday morning the Pastor (who I think so highly of!!!) pulled on of those "Now Hermana Lia is going to share with us about her journey in the House of Prayer". It was great fun. Not much time to prepare but just trusted that the Lord would give the words...and He did. I ended up sharing out of II Chron 20:21-22 and Luke 18:1-7, then really exhorting them to maintain their places in the House of Prayer and in this spiritual war. I also was blessed to preach on Saturday on Song of Songs Ch 3, Ch 5 & Union with Jesus.

Anyway, there are many other things that have happened this week...feeding people, prayer walks, the Guidance of the Lord and times with Jesus. But I don't want to keep you all day so I thought I'd just give you a wee snack. :)

Be assured that all is very very well...that we are seeing God's Hand in a variety of ways that are awakening BOTH of us to our own hearts and to the Heart of Jesus for us. We are both walking in places that we have not walked in a long time and encountering Jesus in old ways and new. It's been a good trip!!

THANK YOU for your continued prayers. We will be driving home this weekend. Leaving Cuernavaca at midnight Friday night and arriving home sometime on Sunday.

Love to you all....

When I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood... (Ezek 15:6)

Guau. For real I have no idea how to begin. There is so much boiling around in my heart and as usual I have so little expressive vocabulary. Well...let me grab a thought....well..no...ok...hm...

What I want to share is the core of my heart....not just the externals...my heart is actually beating again. And I just want to cry. It's unbelievable. And odd things (at least to me) have awakened it. Like playing another devo set yesterday. For about 20 minutes I was in this flow with Jesus using a song from IHOP and one I wrote combined and BAM! there Jesus was. It has been so long since I have worship led (YWAM? Grandview Christian Church?) and even longer since Jesus showed up when I did that I started tearing up at the sense of nearness and almost couldn't play. Then suddenly it wasn't even "me" playing anymore. And I looked into the room and I wasn't the only one feeling Him. And my heart was suddenly breathing. I can still feel Him, even writing about it. I don't know what to do or think. I just feel...well..gosh....lovesick!!

And once my heart came alive it really took off into "scary" places that I never wanted to see again. Leonard and Pastor Ivan took us to see this porperty they are trying to get that Campus Crusade owns/owned that was built for the purpose of (as the wall says...) "Day and Night Prayer to the Praise of Jesus and the Evangelization of the World until He Returns". Sound familiar? And what they want to do with it is just that. And train young missionaries. And there my heart leapt to life in old dreams. As I sat there praying in the "tower", which is an exact replica, for real, of the Tabernacle of David (Ark of the ovenant and all!)I could see dreams from the past again......

I didn't say anything at first as dreaming is still hard for me. Last summer Shelley told me in an email to dream again. I had a fit (estad seguro, que en realidad, te quiero Shelley!! Me has caido muy muy bien!!) as dreaming again for me was not simple, not like "gee I hope I can do well in school" but throwbacks to 1999 in Argentina and 1990 in Colombia...things like "I want to see 24/7 prayer places in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. I even want to buy a ship to put one on. I want my citizenship from an Hispanic country so I can take short term teams to the Middle East, especially Hispanic teams, and I am less likely to arouse suspicion. I want to teach missions, to help people know how to reach other people for Jesus. To teach them how to worship & pray and take that to other countries. I want to teach people to export Jesus, not forms. I want to hear God again and be in radical obedience. I WANT MY LIFE IN JESUS BACK. I want people to be startled again because everything everything everything is about Jesus to me, as I see Him in scripture and I want to be like Him in everything. I want to start to look like Him and smell like Him and I want other people to want that too...." Ah! An alive heart....

But then when Leonard asked "did anyone get anything" I finally said (explaining that this was not "the Word of the Lord" but my own heart) that I could see this place being a place of non-stop worship & prayer where young missionaries were sent out steeped in Jesus. And how I would love to take out short term teams of them one day to the Middle East. (Just like I would love to take short term teams out from the IHOP-KC to Latin America!! We train them the Latins, they go to the Middle East etc etc. Takes years, but, so? Maybe it'll never happen? So? It's a dream that's worth dreaming....FOR REAL....and it's on the Heart of God...)

Anyway. So. Point being my heart is alive. And do I still plan to stay on Full Time staff at the IHOP-KC? Oh yes!! And do I still want to teach (or whatever) in the Apostolic Missions Institute there? Oh yes!!! (If they let me!)

But now, my heart is dreaming again too. Not dreams for next week maybe. Maybe I'll never get my dual Mexican & American citizenship (although I can!!! Remember when I almost got my Colombian citizenship?). Maybe I'll never go to the Middle East. Maybe I'll never raise the dead. Maybe I'll never even heal the sick again. But!!!! I loved Him totally and completely even in the pain & loss while I "lay there in a pool of my own blood" and at times when I thought I was going to be eternally separated from Him. When I was sexually abused in San Luis Potosi Mexico in 1988 on my first missions trip as a young teenager (even though I never told anyone until 1996) and this trip when I got to go back to that city for the first time since and let it all go. When at times people hurt me and I hurt them. When I thought I had missed His Voice and didn't know which way to go.

I will love Him totally now too, in the midst of my dreams. I will live and I will hear His Heart beat again...and I will DANCE to it as I once did...

I LOVE HIM. Always.

Of Sickness, Slums and Sets

I haven´t wriiten in a bit because I have been striken with a rough case of Montezuma´s Revenge for about 36 hrs now. I could not keep anything in my system and this morning, thinking it might be at least in part spiritual I just got out my guitar and spent 3 hrs worshipping. Since, I have actaully kept an entire Coke in me and I am happy. Leonard was threatening to give me a shot to soothe my insides but maybe now that won´t be necessary! :) PLEASE PRAY that we will have no more probelms with sickness.

As for happier news...

I was so blessed and excited to get to play a devo set at the IHOP here yesterday morning. I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun. I have now discovered that I LOVE doing devo sets. As a result I will be playing several next week...and depending on my stomach...maybe one tomorrow morning. It was a really precious and sweet time!!

We also had the opportunity to go into La Estacion this week...which is indeed a serious slum. While some of the group washed and cut hair Kristen and I got to do face painting on the kids while we just hung out and chatted with them. We also got to do a little prayer walking when we could sneak away from the men who were blessedly and lovingly protective of us. We will be going back on Saturday and taking our guitars to spend some time just worshipping and inviting the presence of Jesus into the area. There is SO MUCH that can be done in that area. One of the things I am looking into is coming down periodically and doing a clinic. Apparently, and not surprisingly, there are serious health needs in the area. Even a good de-worming in the name of Jesus would be a plus!!

That´s about it at the moment. Sorry to be brief but I am still rally weak and we have to go to an internet cafe to email. Be assured of the nearness of Jesus with us!! I felt Him so close in La Estacion, at the Devo Set and even this morning while I was worshipping away in the midst of my stomach ickiness. He is indeed ever present.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I will email again when I get a chance.

...and the Lord set ambushes... (II Chron 20:22)

We arrived safely in Cuernavaca last night much to everyone's relief!! :)

Already I am fascinated and relieved to see how the Lord is going before us....for in spite of the fact that we had all of the paperwork on hand that, according to the Embassy was all we needed, we were lacking appropriate documentation for the car. As opposed to a "notarized copy of the title" I was supposed to have the original. Then they wanted to see my tag registration, of which I had the wrong one (it said my tags expired in 2005!) So, they bounced me from line to line telling me I could not enter. Finally I ended up in the "Aduana" (Customs Officials) line which was my last shot at being allowed to go in. Kristen was praying and I also put the trip before the Lord, AGAIN. I told Him that I wasn't going to try and get in through on my own effort but if this was Him then He would make it work. If this man said "no" I was just going home. Interestingly enough, Mr Aduana pulled all sorts of wierd strings as I was sitting there praying and let us in. GO GOD! Our hosts, Leonard & Lesly, were quite surprised that we were allowed through, as were we, but apparently we have a huge "kiss of the the Lord" upon is.

So. Here we are and here is the basic plan for week 1 (PLEASE PRAY!!!):
(note: during "IHOP" hrs, Kristen & I will be playng some sets)

Tues: IHOP 8a - 2p Street Kids 2p - ??
Wed: IHOP 8a - 2p Fast & Pray for Thurs trip
Thurs: IHOP 8a - 2p Leigh to go w/ Leonard to a "witch town" called Tepotzlan to pray & worship
Fri: IHOP 8a - 2p Leigh teach on Song of Songs 5p
Sat: Kristen Teach (End TImes?) 3:30p - 5p Leigh& Kristen Teach Prophecy/Healing

Our drive down, although really long, went well. We met some of the nicest people I have talked to in a long time. And it was good to be in Latin America again!!

So!! Pray for us for covering and that the kiss of Jesus would stay with us.