A wintery mix

So I've been in Colorado for about a week and God's already showing me how pieces of my life in the past have all been for a purpose.

Firstly, thanks for all the birthday wishes! I'm officially 22 and have been moping about being so old. One of the girls here, Ashley says that I might as well be put in a nursing home since I complain so much. Turning older is definately a good thing but it also challenges me to walk even closer to my Father. I usually make lists of things I want to do in my "new year" and have unfortunately not done that yet. I have yet to pray about what God is challenging me to do this year.

I probably had the best birthday yesterday in years. most of you know that i don't like birthdays very much because they are usually bad hahah..but yesterday, it SNOWED! and that was probably the highlight of my day! I also got to have a party with some college students and my other team mates. I had CAKE and it was home made with a million candles and it was amazing because it showed me that people cared for me =) I know that's so cheesy but really...usually birthdays are celebrated by your family members but here I am in Gunnison, Colorado with people I've only known for a week and yet, they embraced me and made me cake! it's amazing!

I was also supposed to be baptized yesterday in the Gunnison River but it was too cold so that will come some time in the summer. I am so excited to make a public confession of my faith and I'm so glad I've waited after my 21st year to make this decision. I am ready.

On Wednesday, I led worship for the youth and absolutely loved it. I played the guitar for 3 songs that I've never done on the guitar before so that was definately God working. I think I'll stick to the piano in the future hahah. I also got to have some interesting conversations with some kids. Youth here means 6th grade -12th grade but mostly 6th grade which is right up my alley. Praise God! This is where I saw God piecing parts of my life together. In the past, I worked at a sushi place called Miyako's. I didn't really enjoy working there but I knew I was put there for a reason. There were no believers working there so I thought it would be a good opportunity to share. One of the hostesses I worked with was in Middle school/high school and she practiced Wicca. I was the only other person who knew she practiced Wicca besides her best friend. That was God opening the door for me to share, so I thought. But really, it was God teaching me about how to face people who believe in other things.

The youth here are not your everyday church-going Christians. They are from rough backgrounds. Most of them do not truly believe in Christ. Their parents are either non believers or are abusive or neglective. A church van goes around to pick them up so you can see how their parents don't really care if they go to church or not. Well, one of the girls I met this week, through Divine appointment, told me that she practiced Wicca.

From my previous experience, I had researched about Wicca from websites and so on so I kinda know what I'm up against. This particular girl I can sense, just wants to feel like she belongs and that she's cool. A definite identity crisis here. However, I am so blessed to have met here and talked with her. I am going to pursue this friendship. Please pray that God will open doors for me to share with her about God and to really show her what Wicca is about and how it is from Satan.

That's this week's update so far! I am teaching 3rd-5th this Sunday and am really excited. As for today and tomorrow, we are having "THE GREAT GIVEAWAY" at church. It is like a huge yard sale but everything is FREE!!!! Isn't that amazing? THis is what the church should be doing!! Offering up everything for FREE! Just as Acts says that all the believers had everything in common. They shared everything and even sold all that they had! God provides!

Have a wonderful week!