Bekah Phelps - break my heart for what breaks Yours

my testimony

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the 24 years of my life I have:

-been blessed with the most amazing, loving family, with whom I can laugh, cry, dance, share secrets, pray, travel, toast champagne, and snuggle. It is with my beloved family that I am truly myself and I love them more than life itself

-made life-long friends with whom the laughter never ends

-danced til dawn with my grandmother

-been madly and passionately in love with an amazing man. A man who laid the foundations of my faith by showing me God's love and even now, years later, he still carries a piece of my heart

-picnicked under the Eiffel Tower

-preached in Underground Churches & Bible studies in China

-gallivanted through the streets of Venice

-interceded for the broken and lost orphans of the world

-surfed perfect waves on black sand beaches in Costa Rica

-danced the night away in Vegas & Manhattan's 5^th Avenue

-survived a near fatal tonsillectomy, which caused the discovery of my deathly allergy to pain medicine

-helped take an African child off the streets and place them in an orphanage

-zip-lined 150ft above ground through Latin American jungles

-made friends with young prostitutes in the Red Light District of Manila

-preached a Christmas morning sermon to a congregation of addicts in Kenya

-prayed with bed-ridden AIDS patients in Nairobi

-snowboarded the foothills of the Himalayas

-been baptized in communist Hong Kong on Halloween morning

-bungee jumped into the Nile

-played futbol with abused children

-battled vicious worms & parasites in my intestinal tract in India

-ministered to single pregnant women in Budapest

-hiked to the top of Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala and roasted marshmallows over the flowing lava

-taught English to the forgotten children of the poorest prostitutes in Kolkata

No matter how amazing the rest of my life may be, how wonderful a marriage I may have, nor how large a ministry I may lead...nothing in my life could ever surpass the unconditional love of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus, who came to earth as a baby, led a sinless life, carried his cross up a hill, was then nailed to it, and died for me. His body was broken for me, a free gift from God. His blood poured out as a mercy offering for my sins. I do not deserve His love, for I am the worst of sinners, yet His grace covers me and washes me white as snow.

To my Father, my Savior, and my Lover: Thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for dwelling in my heart and having an active relationship with me. You are not like the false gods who demand offerings and chain me with laws. You are forgiving and loving and you swoon my heart. Thank you for saving me; for choosing to work in my life to glorify you despite my sinful past. You offered me the free gift of your salvation, which my works could never deserve. You have blessed my life beyond belief and there is nothing I could ever do to earn your love. Through all my sins, your blood still covers me. I confess you are creator of the universe and LORD of my life. I will serve you until my last breath. Humble my heart, God. Reveal yourself to me and lead me to your cross. Show me how to love like you have loved me.

No works or good deeds could ever repay your free gift. A gift that surpasses anything this world has to offer. A gift so precious I am not worthy of it. Thank you Lord of all creation, for loving me enough to sacrifice your son for me-a sinner.

Guatemala Video

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our month in Guatemala! (Kudos to Steph Connors, our creative genius!)

Top Ten!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Top Ten Nicaragua!

-The Youth! The teenagers that live at the La Quinta Youth Center are amazing. Many were taken away from their abusive parents and given a second chance at life at the center. They've overcome tragedy and are now rising up as leaders in Christ. Elvis, a 23 year old, was paralyzed in a horse back riding accident as a baby. Because the doctors said he would never walk, his parents left him on the doorstep of an orphanage. The orphanage later started to abuse and starve Elvis, but he never lost his faith. He kept praying to God and trying to walk. He finally succeeded! He is now a fully functioning young man serving the Lord with all his heart.

-Team NINJA! Crux has changed its name to NINJA (No Income, No Job, no Assets). Our sneaky stealth like qualities have come in handy in covert operations this month.

-Waterfights! Crux & Lunchbox had an ongoing water feud this month. Late one night, Juanita (who runs the center) surprised Crux with super-soaker water guns to attack Lunchbox. We raided the church during their team meeting and ambushed Lunchbox. They never knew what hit them. That's how ninjas roll.

-Attack of the Ants! Audrey and I shared a bunk bed and woke up every morning with ants in our beds, packs, clothes, toiletry kits...EVERYWHERE. The pesky insects bite and left us with swollen welts all over us. Of course, being racers we're used to it. It's only the 4903460298 time we've been swarmed by ants this year.

-Birthday Parties! Central America goes all out for birthday celebrations and we were blessed with 3 birthdays in one month. Balloons, games, streamers, cakes, and ice cream made for great fun.

-Barnyard Living! La Quinta is home to a variety of animals; it almost felt like we were at a zoo. We lived with Tulla the obnoxious pig, 3 sheep, 1 whiny goat, 2 dogs, and 9 puppies.

-Puppies! Speaking of puppies, everyone fell in love with the 9 little ones. We named them and Steph & Tangi have been bottle feeding the runt, after mama dog tried to kill him a few times. PeeWee is doing well and growing now that he's eating more! The others are Chubs (the fattest), Henrietta (playful), Pinto (the fighter), Albie (the slow one), Bella (the sleepy one), Honey (the cuddler), Confucius (the confused one), Rockstar (he plays hard & crashes hard).

-Operation; Catch the Chicken! Some of the girls went to a lady's house to help clean. She walked us over to this empty 30ft underground silo. At the bottom was a squawking chicken; he had fallen into it and she wanted us to rescue him. We tied ropes to the side of a bucket, dropped it down and the chicken ran away. Next, we dropped a feed sac hoping the chicken would jump into the bag...no such luck. We then decided to tie ropes around a giant dog cage and lower it down with food inside to lure him. Several attempts later, the chicken walked into the cage and we yanked it up, trapping him inside. We laughed the rest of the day knowing our friends in America were probably shopping, laying out, working in a snazzy corporate office...and we're trying to lure a chicken into a dog cage 30 feet underground. Welcome to the World Race.

-Casa de Goza! House of Joy. We visited this youth center for an evening of baseball, cartwheels, bible study, and a dance off. The kids were truly filled with joy and so much fun to hang out with.

-Surfing! We spent a day at Playa Remanso and enjoyed a day of surfing and swimming. I taught the girls the basics and by the end of the day they were catching waves and riding them to shore. One of the best days on the race. J We will hopefully surf more at Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica!

-Louisa! Braedon saw this lady from across the street and knew she had Kingdom inside her. A few of us visited her and she is a living testimony of relentless faith. She has 6 children, one of whom is mentally disabled, and have often hit hard times of starvation and unemployment. Amidst the poverty, she is incredibly gracious and praises God in the hard times and the good. We prayed for her and her family but she in turn poured into us and illustrated what an unshakable faith looks like.

Dan's 22nd! Dan celebrated his 22nd birthday and Mama VW treated both teams to a delicious dinner & pool party :) THANKS!

-Construction! We worked on a few houses-- digging latrines and filling potholes on the roads. Always fun getting dirty!

-Sunsets! Can't beat a Nicaraguan sunset

Cribs!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

a tour of the La Quinta Youth Center in Nicaragua!

puppies!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We have the privilege of living with 9 newborn puppies this month! They were too adorable to not share with you...so enjoy the footage :)

surf's up!

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After 10 months of secretly praying to surf on the Race, my dream came true! My dad taught me to surf when I was little and I've been addicted ever since. Crux & Lunchbox spent our day off traveling to Playa Remanso, a beach about an hour away. We rented surf boards from a local shop, and the owners happened to know a guy leaving on the January 2010 race. They knew all about the WR and have been reading blogs! Small world.

We arrived at the practically deserted beach and all we could see were peeling long lines of smaller waves with offshore winds which were ideal conditions for beginners. I was stoked; it's the first wave I've seen in almost a year! The water temperature sat at a cozy 79 degrees. There was a little rain, but that didn't stop our excitement. I spent the morning teaching Tangi and Cindy; both of them stood up after just a few tries! Braedon also paddled out but unfortunately was stung by a jellyfish within the first 15 minutes. He almost made Dan urinate on the sting, but it wasn't too bad. We ate a delicious lunch under one of the tiki huts on shore and spent the rest of the afternoon teaching Katie and Audrey and catching some rides myself. I enjoyed teaching the girls; it was awesome to see their smiles each time they stood up. The day was a success; everyone had a blast and Crux is now a team full of surfers. Maybe I should start a surfing ministry... ;-)

Nica Photos

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A glimpse of our month in Nicaragua!

Nica-wawa

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Greetings from Nicaragua!

G-Squad traveled for 48 hours through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and finally arrived in Nicaragua the other night. After a long stint on a hot, sweaty bus trapped at the border in Honduras, God opened the gates and we were able to escape all the turmoil going on there. (Please pray for that nation, the government is so corrupt and the people are truly suffering.)

Crux is working alongside Team Lunchbox in La Quinta, Nicaragua. We're scheduled to work in the slums/dumps and also with local churches and maybe some construction. I'm excited to have started the Race in the dumps and now I'm finishing in the dumps! I can't wait to love on all the people there. :-) The last week of August will be spent in Costa Rica for final debrief.

I can't believe this is the LAST month of the race! The year has flown by. I'll be greeted at the airport by family & friends on Sept 2...yes, the countdown has begun. While I have composed a list of foods for my parents to stock the kitchen with, I'm also trying very hard to stay focused and enjoy every last minute of this adventure God has called me to. God has given me more time recently to intercede and it has helped tremendously with my faith. Crux is ready to bring Kingdom and finish strong!

Please pray for the squad's re-entry to America. Culture shock and stress will be overwhelming and many, if not all of us, have to make important decisions concerning careers and our next step soon after arriving home. I thank everyone for their continued support and prayers! Blessings.

Allan Update!

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Story of Allan Wekesa (by Marisa Banas)

Street Child to Son

Seven months ago my life was changed by a little boy named Allan. When I found him he couldn't hold his head up due to the intoxicating gluethat he had just sniffed. He was a small underweight child who wore worn out, adult-sized clothes and an expression that pleaded for help. I took him off the streets, loved him the best way I knew how, and waited for God to open up a home for him. Every door slammed shut in our face until the last day when a miracle happened. I was given the name of a home that was only a couple hours away called The Challenge Farm. I was told that this home dramatically changed street kids lives.

We packed up the car, put all of Allan's six belongings inside and drove there in faith that they would take him in. When we arrived he was welcomed as if they had been waiting for him to come home. I have visited a lot of orphanages in the past year, but have never seen one as healthy and spiritually mature as this home.

My experience of taking Allan off the streets and then hearing about his progress on the Farm makes me feel like I did something right. Religion is a touchy subject for most. We can argue theology and challenge each other's lifestyles, but I have learned that if we do not have applicable love all of our religion and theology means absolutely nothing. I finally understand why God says that a pure and faultless religion is to take care of orphans and widows.

Cheri, the founder of Challenge Farm, has 103 children. All of them are now sponsored except for 17 boys. She needs us to respond. The sponsorship is $35 mo/$420 a year. I want to encourage you to have a garage sale or eat out one less time a month. I want to give you the opportunity to applicably love and change a boys life. You can do so by going to http://www.challenge-kenya.org/page11.aspx to pick out your child --the boy that you will feed, clothe and provide education for. Thank you so much for stepping up! You can also support by giving one-time donations. Her support dropped significantly in the fall due to the chaos that everyone experienced financially. Consequently she has had to make these dramatic changes to cope:

(an email from Cheri)

Children at Challenge Farm:

Used to get beef stew and fruit once a week- now it is once a month. They eat vegetables, corn and beans.
Rice which was served once a week has been eliminated.
Would get chai (milk, tea, and sugar) during morning school break. We have eliminated that except on weekends where they get chai and bread (which is donated) instead of porridge for breakfast.
All school activities not directly related to the classroom have been severely limited.
Salaries have been cut and positions eliminated.
Building of four classrooms has been stopped.

We need an additional $3000 dollars a month to operate at the previous level. We have 17 boys that still need to be sponsored which will bring in an additional $595 monthly.
Remember our kids don't get soda, candy, fast food, trips to the mall or movies. We just need the basics. Through Challenge Farm we are helping directly or indirectly 500 people to have a better life.

And Now...Allan's Story in His Own Words:

I was born 12 years ago in Nairobi. I have two younger sisters who I believe still live with my mother in Nairobi. We had a decent life. Dad was a police officer and mom was a housewife.

One day father left for work as usual but never came back. We waited for him but in vain. Life took a downward spiral. We couldn't afford a decent meal, or the rent.

My mother then took me to her brother's home in Kamusinde (In Bungoma District) and she went back to Nairobi. I was about 9 or 10 years old then. My uncle's wife made no pretense of taking care of me. She physically abused me so much that I frequently missed school because of the injuries. She denied me food and at one point as she herself put it- "got fed up" with me. She called my mother to come take me out of her house. I was glad because at her house I often slept outside and was getting sickly from the cold.

Mom came -but life had taken its toll on her and she was now very harsh and fretful. She was selling vegetables at the market and would be gone before I was up and came back very late at night , so I never had lunch. She was now very physically abusive and when I could not take it any longer, I ran away.

I went to Nairobi town and met Caleb (who now is my best friend) and after a couple of weeks we came to Kitale. We were both rescued some time later and taken to a center but we both didn't like it and ran away.

Caleb remained in Kitale but I went to Eldoret. That's where I learned about glue. I made friends and on Saturdays and Sundays we went to church. I've since forgotten which church it was, but we were always given tea and bread.

On one such Sunday, I met Marisa and her team. Marisa looked at my palm which had been hurt playing soccer. She took me to her home. She took care of
me then when she left, she left me at the care of my pastor's mother.

Marisa later came back and brought me to the Farm in 2008. At the Farm I was pleasantly surprised to find Caleb. I've made two more friends, Dan, who's in my class and Joseph Ejore, who's in Form One (freshman in High School). We talk about our former lives, the Farm, our future and we play together. In the dorm I share the same cubicle with Ejore.

(Allan's two bestfriends who still need sponsorship)

I'm learning to read and write and I can now write my name! I love the food (but Ejore tells me it was once better. I hope it gets better again) the clothes and the company. The farm has helped me get over the issue of glue. I have also forgiven my mother for mistreating me and I hope I can see her soon.

I thank Marisa for rescuing me and the Farm, too. When I'm grown up and I'm a pilot, I'll thank them my own way.

The first night I had Allan we had him draw so that he could communicate to us what he was thinking about.

He drew a helicopter. When we dropped him off at the farm we were floored to learn that Cheri's late husband flew a helicopter for missions purposes.

Allan and I dancing.

Allan's cubicle (room)

Dining Room

Allan's School (on the farm)

The farm

Grace (the director) taking us on the tour.

The girl's toilet. They are still raising money to finish the boys bathroom area.

Onesimus (who helped us find the farm) Grace (the director) Allan, and me with some really pretty hair. It's a hard knocks life being a "mom"--no time to do your hair.

Cribs!

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A tour of our living quarters in San Pedro, Guatemala!

Guate Eye Candy

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

we would like to submit this to awkwardfamilyphoto.com :)

Top Ten!

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Guatemala Top Ten!

(I will upload the Cribs video & more pics ASAP when I get better internet!)

-Worship in the park! The music caught the attention of everyone around and suddenly you saw more smiles.

-Construction, Construction, Construction! Whether carrying 600-20lb concrete blocks up a flight of stairs, or building arched windows, or making cement...Crux did it all! We now know all the tool names in Spanish.

-Kid's Programs! Spending 2 hours a day teaching little kids leap frog, sharks & minnows, and relays to exhaust them as quickly as possible.

-Fruit! Chocolate covered pineapple slices for 15cents (USD). You can't beat it!

-Taken! Watching the thriller Taken' and then walking home after dark through Antigua will cause a bit of paranoia of being kidnapped. I've never seen Braedon act so protective!

-Truck rides! Riding in the back of a pickup truck along the coast was our favorite mode of transportation.

-Toot-Toots! A 3-wheel mini taxi that is apparently equipped with the engine of a scooter, because Steph, Cindy, and Katie tried to take one home and had to get out of the taxi so it could make it up the hill.

-Benjamin's Testimony! We worked with Pastor Benjamin for 2 days in Panajachel and I've never heard a testimony like his before. It includes drugs, rape, adultery, attempted suicides, satanic worship, and cannibalism while being possessed by a demon. God's grace truly covers ALL sins as seen through Benjamin's life! Praises!

-Great Flood #2! Yes, we flooded yet another house in Panajachel. Somehow we hit a water line underground and flooded the house we were trying to renovate. No worries though, it was fixed before any major damage was done.

-Spanish Guitars! Pastor Antonio and his brothers played classical guitar & sang for us on our last night. Their melodic voices are beautiful!

-Cindy's Stitches! Cindy accidently ran into a street sign in Antigua and sliced her head open. She had to get 4 stitches, but luckily they were free. (God's favor!)

-Cooking! We cooked 3 meals a day for 10 people on only $12/day without a fridge or oven. Props to the master chefs, Steph & Cindy!

-Napoleon Dynamite! Braedon's alter ego is Napoleon and ironically Antonio's 11 year old son is named Pedro. They were 2 peas in a pod this month. Not only did they unknowingly dress alike, but they eat slowly and have the same sense of humor.

-Audrey's 24^th! Happy Birthday Audrey. We celebrated with deviled eggs & rice krispie treats. Unbeknownst to us, Guatemala birthday tradition includes the lighting to firecrackers. While eating our treats in the kitchen, minding our own business, Pastor lights firecrackers right outside of the window...at the exact moment Steph is lighting the gas stove. We hear loud bangs and see smoke and think the stove blew up. Everyone is screaming, I hit the deck, Audrey runs out of the room, and Katie pushes Cindy out of the way to escape. I thought we were being shot at. We finally calmed down once we found out it was a joke. We also realized Katie & Audrey have learned nothing about family on the Race...'when the going gets tough, every man for himself'!

-Pacaya Volcano! Hiking 5 hours over jagged volcanic glass to the top of an 8,000ft active volcano to toast marshmallows. One time was more than enough; I never need to hike another volcano again.

-Katie's Shoe Ministry! Katie gave her sneakers to Jeremiah (Antonio's brother who leads the construction) and her flip flops to a man in church. She now walks around barefoot or borrows our sandals. She has given away a total of 13 pairs of shoes on the race to people in need.

-Spanish Names! The family couldn't pronounce all of our names, so Braedon became Freddie', Katie was Jessica' and Audrey was Adrianna'.

-Katie's Jokes! Katie doesn't have a brother so she loves to pick on Braedon. We got the wild idea to pretend Cindy pierced Katie's ear, leaving a gushing wound of "blood" (ketchup). She screamed and ran into Braedon's room to trick him, thinking he would flip out and help her. He simply said, "You've got to be kidding me," and returned playing on the computer. Better luck next time Katie.

-Broken Spanish! Pastor asked Crux to sing a worship song in Spanish to his congregation. Only Cindy can speak Spanish, but we tried to learn the words. We're on stage in front of 150 people trying to sing this song in our off-beat; incorrect pitch, broken Spanish and I start thinking of how crazy we sound. Audrey must have had similar thoughts because at the exact same moment the two of us burst into a fit of uncontrollable giggles in the middle of the song! We can't stop laughing! Tears are streaming down our faces as we try to blurt out Spanish words through our laughter. All of the joy of the Lord, right?!

-Cliff-Jumping! The girls took a water taxi to San Marco and hiked through the jungle to find a cliff over Lake Atitlan. Gorgeous view and refreshing water!

-Creepy China Doll! Above my bed, is a creepy doll from China called "Lovely Baby Interest". The package has captions such as, "Want to play with me, I will give you a lot of surprised and pleased!" and "When I sing a song, pressing my mouth me will send out to have rhythm of the du-du voice". Baby Interest has made for plenty of laughs this month.

-Smelly Feet! Building a house is hard work and leaves one with stinky feet. Katie asked Audrey for a cookie and Auds said she had to smell her dirty, sweaty feet for the cookie...Katie actually did it. Welcome to the World Race.

-Accident-Prone! Our first day in San Pedro and Braedon broke a window carrying rocks up the stairs. Crux strikes again.

-Futbol Games! Cheering for Pastor as he played in the futbol league next to our house. He's pretty good, too!

-Colours! Little kids teaching me the colors in Spanish...azul, rojo,

-Ladies' Joy! Guatemalan women are so full of God's joy; it's contagious. I loved seeing them laugh, smile, and enjoy life.

-Quotable Quotes!

"Ya know, when Jesus took his disciples to Olive Garden"... Audrey trying to describe Jesus on the Mount of Olives.

"Tienas hombre?" (Got a man?)...Audrey trying to ask Pastor Do you have hunger' but confusing the word for hunger with man.

endless possibilities

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Crux arrived in San Pedro last Tuesday after a relaxing and gorgeous boat ride across Lake Atitlan. We're working and living with Pastor Antonio, a man of Mayan descent who ministers with his wife Kata and 11 year old son Pedro, to the nearby area of San Pablo.

Antonio's house is brand new (he moved in last week) and has 3 extra bedrooms which we've split between us. Braedon is grateful for his very own man cave' this month. We're blessed with a shower which has 2 water temperatures: freezing and scalding. The house is situated in the jungles of the mountain with lush green palm trees and overlooks the lake.

Our ministry this month varies. Some mornings we travel "Guatemalan style" in the back of a pickup truck to San Pablo where we play with kids, visit, and pray with the congregation. Other days we assist in the construction of the upstairs of our house. Antonio wants to convert the 2^nd floor into an area to house missionaries. We carried over 600 20lb cement blocks from the street, down the path, and up a flight of stairs the other morning. Its grueling work, but we're happy to help (and build muscle!) Nights are spent cooking for the family, learning Spanish, and worshiping on the roof under the stars...my favorite part of the day.

I'm convinced God has a purpose for us here because everywhere you turn there is a need. Whether is be surprising a shopkeeper and asking to learn phrases from their Mayan language, sitting with a little girl as she crochets hacky-sacks, helping Kata make supper, or singing worship songs in our broken Spanish to a church...the possibilities are endless. The Guatemalan people are so full of joy that Christ radiates from their faces. It's a beautiful revelation to discover God in every nook and cranny...and sometimes, I wish I could stay longer.

Support!

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Thank you to all of my supporters for helping me reach my goal!! I am amazed at how God has moved each of you to support international missions. You have advanced the Kingdom throughout the world and I am so grateful for it!

For those of you who would like to continue to support missions, my teammate Katie Duff is still in need of $1,200 to finish the race! She is an amazing woman of God who pours out love to every person she meets. Ive enjoyed growing alongside of her and learning how to find joy in every situation just as she does. Please consider supporting her so she can finish the year with Crux. Visit her blog at www.katieduff.theworldrace.org

Also, my dear friend from Longwood University, Heather Dodge, is leaving America on the August 2009 Squad. Her first stop is IRELAND! Heather and I met at Crossroads Christian Fellowship in college and she planted seeds in my spiritual life that led me to where I am today. She is taking a giant leap of faith to leave everything behind for a year and go to the nations. Ive seen her grow and mature in Christ the last few months as she prepares to launch. Please consider supporting Heather, as she still needs a few thousand dollars to complete the race. Follow along with Heather at www.heatherdodge.theworldrace.org

Thank you all! Blessings!

the second great flood

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Crux spent a couple days in Panajachel, Guatemala with Team Remnant working alongside Pastor Benjamin doing construction. We were renovating an old condemned building to turn into a hostel for missionaries. We tore apart the rusted roof, rotted furniture, old mattresses, and even an ancient brick stove. When Audrey got hold of the sledgehammer it turned into a total demolition day!

Of course, Crux being Crux... we ran into a small mishap. While destroying the stove, we may have knocked a water line loose. We looked down and saw we were standing in a bubbling pool of water that was quickly flooding the hostel! We scrambled to find buckets and tried to get as much water off the ground as we could, but it just kept coming. Within minutes, another leak sprung loose a few feet away! It was 4 girls, none of whom speak Spanish, and an empty flooding house. We were almost ankle deep in mud. Erin ran to the other job site to try and find Pastor, while the rest of us kept filling and dumping pails. While all of this is happening, the hose from a roof-top tank of water that connects to a sink faucet broke loose and started squirting everywhere! Finally a local man ran in and shut off the neighborhood's water line, stopping the flood. We cleaned what we could then decided it would be best if we just called it a day!

Pacaya Video

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Steph Connors' video of G & I Squads hiking up Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala. Enjoy :)

guatemalan garden

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Crux is ministering at Nuestros Ahijados School this week. It is a free school/clinic in Antigua that rescues children from child labor and the sex trade, feeds them, clothes them, and rehabilitates them from the horrors they've experienced. NA also has a homeless shelter and an infant hospital that strengthens malnourished babies in the surrounding area. Built on an old landfill, the grounds are gorgeous. Exotic plants, vines, and flowers cover the buildings. Fountains and waterfalls are built into the walls creating a peaceful white noise.

I have been specifically assisting a 2^nd grade class. I graded math problems, colored cartoon giraffes, and played games with them. The students taught me all the Crayola crayon names in Spanish (azul, verde, rojo, etc). Others have spent the night in the hospital feeding & watching the infants. They are fed every 2 hours and weighed twice a day.

(This is my favorite little-one!)

I adore this ministry! The children are incredibly sweet and helpful. It surprises me to see an abused child crawl into my lap so willing and hug me. They have so much love to give; I wish I could adopt them all. Our afternoons are spent worshiping in the town square. The kids stop selling their knick-knacks to snuggle with us and the vendors move closer to listen. Though we sing in English, people still stop and join. It's awesome to feel the mood of everyone lift while we sing praises. We may or may not be moving to another city in Guatemala next week... I will update soon!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me this year! I am grateful for your generous contributions and prayers. I am still in need of about $500 to finish the Race. If you would like to support me, please click on the "I Need Your Financial Support" button on the left. THANK YOU!

volcano eruption

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

G-Squad spent Sunday hiking Pacaya Volcano in Antigua, Guatemala. It was the hardest hike I've ever attempted in my life-- much more difficult than The Great Wall of China! We trekked over 4 miles in 5 hours to reach the summit of over 8,000ft high! Most of the hike consisted of us carefully navigating over cooled lava...which feels & looks like jagged glass. Did you know obsidian (cooled lava) was once used for cardiac surgery scapels? It's EXTREMELY sharp. Needless to say, everyone received cuts on their legs and hands. The higher we hiked, the stronger the wind, but the hotter it became too! You could feel heat radiating from the lava beneath your feet. Once at the top, we roasted marshmallows over the flowing lava. Delicious!

hiking up

flowing lava!

tasty :)

what a gorgeous view

steph is a brave girl

another volcano in the distance erupted!

running down the hill... this was a blast!

i love Crux

hola from Guatemala!

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

G-Squad left Europe and arrived in Antigua, Guatemala over 60 hours later. While it was a long travel period, God blessed us with a 12 hour layover in Boston! My best friend, Mary, was kind enough to fly to Boston and spend the day with me. We had a wonderful time on American soil.

Mary & I

the delicious crab cakes I ate at the harbor

Mary is a die-hard Yankees fan...

Antigua is a colorful city full of tourists. We are here for just a few days on a mini-debrief. We toured the markets and tasted sweetbread and tacos. Guatemalans are friendly and eager to assist us with anything. The houses are painted wild colors, vespas zoom across the cobblestone streets, and vendors sell exotic fruits and pastries. The June 2009 Squad is staying with us for a few days, as they are waiting to cross through Honduras to enter Nicaragua for their next ministry location. We've enjoyed ministering to them (they are the cute world race babies!) It's fun to pour into them since they are only on their 2nd month on the race, but we definitely need the energy boost from them!

I'm excited to experience a new culture and to find out what this month's ministry will entail. I know our team will have a great time in Central America-especially Cindy, who comes from a Mexican background and is fluent in Spanish. I'm ready to soak up everything I can these last 2 months! Please continue to pray for safe travels, to bring Kingdom to all those we encounter, and that we would push past all barriers so we can grow deeper in Christ.

Last Leg

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

G-Squad has finished up Europe and is heading to Central America tomorrow! Our first stop is Antigua, Guatemala. I cannot believe there are only 2 months left on the Race. Time has flown by and it has been an amazing adventure. God has taught me so much and I know there are things left to learn and growth to experience these last couple months.

With that said, I am so thankful to all of my supporters for making a difference in the nations.
With your help, orphans have been fed, street kids have found a home, battered women received love, the sick have been healed, and the lost found their Maker.

I am humbly asking each of you to pray about supporting me this last leg of the Race.

I need a little less than $600 to finish! If you feel the desire to support me, please click on my link: I Need Your Financial Support!

Again, I thank all of you for your love, prayers, and support this year. YOU have made a difference in the Kingdom --and it's more beautiful because of it.

Cribs!

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

a tour of Crux's flat in Budapest, Hungary

Hungarian Top Ten!

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Top Ten Hungary!

-Andrea! Her heart and God's love for her taught me volumes. She made my month.

-The Flood! Waking up to a flooded flat, a gas leak, and blowing up the microwave all in one day. Priceless!

-Fake-n-Bake! Cheap tanning salon across the street + 5 girls = lobsters. Crux girls visited a couple times and added some color to our faces just in time for summer J

-Miriam! The 2^nd oldest child of Ed & Susan. Miriam is a complete klutz and falls all the time, yet feels no pain. We thoroughly enjoyed laughing at her walk into walls and trip over her own feet.

-Sight-Seeing! Budapest is a gorgeous city, my favorite so far on the race. Ed took us out one day to all the major sights: the oldest Jewish Synagogue in Europe, the Citadella, Hero's Square, and a historic castle. It was a fun, sunny day of exploring.

-Dogs! We took the kids to a park each morning to burn off their excess energy and the park turned out to also be a dog park! I was like a kid in a candy shop playing and chasing all the dogs.

(this pup walked into the fountain, laid down, and refused to get out...maybe he thought it was a jacuzzi!)

-Braedon's New Addiction! Braedon bet me that he would read the Twilight series if I watched all the Rocky movies. Not only has he almost finished the first book, but he admitted, "I can't believe it's actually getting good!" He secretly loves it.

-Laundromat! We lived near a real laundromat and were able to have our clothes washed and DRYED IN A DRYER! We haven't used a dryer all year. They smelled so fresh & clean!

-Arribas! We found a delicious Mexican restaurant with free high speed wifi. We ate supper there every few days and it amazingly never got old.

-Shandar! One of the pregnancy centers volunteers, Shandar, surprised us with chocolate every night in our fridge. He knows the way to our hearts.

-The Idol! Sophie (the oldest child at 5 years) became obsessed with her balloon to the point that she refused to share it with her siblings or even let anyone else touch it. The balloon just happened to land on the grass and pop, sparking an immediate temper tantrum and Cindy joked that God popped Sophie's idol.

-Worship! Braedon led worship in our flat every morning. A great way to start each day!

-Cereal & Milk! We were blessed with a fridge this month and we all ate cereal and cold milk each morning. Not warm, whole milk that we got from the cow next door (like in Moldova) but cold, refreshing, processed, skim milk!

-Crying Children! We took the kids to the park each day and it never failed that at least one of the three would cry over something. Since the kids don't speak English and we don't speak Hungarian, we quickly realized that trying to convince a screaming child in a public park to follow you when you don't even speak their language looks very sketchy to onlookers.

-Bones! Thanks to Angi, Crux finished each day with an episode of our beloved Bones. How we love that Agent Booth :-)

Hungarian Eye Candy

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

a glimpse of our month in Budapest

(Holocaust Memorial: Nazi's made all the Jews line up at the water in dead winter to wait for boats to take them to Germany. The boats never came and hundreds froze to their death. These shoes represent those who lost their lives.)

(Katie & Sophie)

(weeping willow tree at Jewish Synagogue... engraved on each leaf is the name of a Holocaust victim from Budapest)

(our contact family: Ed & Susan with Tony, Miriam, Sophie, & Baby Joseph)

andrea

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One of the Pregnancy Center's volunteers, Andrea, shared her testimony with us.

This is her story.

A few years ago Andrea and her boyfriend got pregnant. He told her she must choose him or choose the baby- she couldn't have both. She struggled with the decision but chose the boyfriend and aborted the baby. A year later, she becomes pregnant again and the same boyfriend gave her the ultimatum once more. Andrea knew how badly she regretted the abortion and refused to make the same decision that caused her so much agony. But her boyfriend threatened to kick her out of their flat and she had no support from her parents who were also pushing for another abortion. Against all odds, she chose to have the baby. At 5 months pregnant, Andrea was single, lonely, and desperate. She saw an advertisement for the Crisis Pregnancy Center and made an appointment. Susan (our contact) ministered to her through counseling of how Jesus has forgiven her and still loves her. Susan also provided baby clothes, vitamins, and other basic necessities for new moms. Two months later, Andrea accepted Christ.

Andrea now has a beautiful daughter who is the light of her life. She shared this with us as tears streamed down her face. My heart broke- but not because I was interceding for her. At that very moment I connected with Andrea more than anyone else in the room (even my beloved Cruxies!) I understand the weight of that decision. I had no words; I simply sat at Andrea's feet and let my heart cry out for hers.

Andrea's story shows not only God's forgiveness but his love. God loves her just as much now as he did the moment the baby was being aborted. She is washed clean, white as snow in God's eyes. That is how BIG the love of the Father truly is. A love so grand, we can't even begin to wrap our heads around it! Andrea now seeks God with a humble and repentant heart and through this she radiates God's glory. His love and grace overcomes our deepest, darkest regrets so that he can pick us up, dust us off, and continue lead us down his path.

Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean

Wash me and I will be whiter than snow

-Psalm 51.7

consuming fire

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Budapest, Hungary and just experienced my first panic attack.

I will return to the States in 90 days. Of course I'm excited to walk on American soil, see my family, and experience the much-missed amenities of the first world, but I am returning to a mediocre life. I have no job, no car, no friends or family that could even begin to understand who I have become, no spirit-filled community to hold me accountable and teach me, no mentor, and an enormous college debt that will only increase with my desire to attend medical school.

In the middle of my panic attack (right about at the part where I could no longer breathe) Audrey interrupts to show me the F-Squad farewell video. I watched silently as tears streamed down my face. The panic was replaced with love. Each frame vividly illustrates God's people and how much he loves us. I thought back to all my race memories: holding HIV+ babies, sifting through trash of a shack built on a landfill, playing hop-scotch with the forgotten children of Indian prostitutes, and massaging the shoulders of an overworked and under-appreciated gypsy mother.

How can I stress over material items when I'm ministering in poverty-stricken nations? I must forget money and cars and the worldly possessions which Jesus so passionately warns us against. KINGDOM is all that matters; the overflow of God's love onto those in need. The question is not "What will I do when I return" but rather "How will I bring Kingdom the next 90 days?" I must trust, I must love, and I must stay dusty. So what if I don't have a car? I haven't driven in 9 months anyways. And if I can't find a job? He stirred the hearts of his people raising $14,000 and sent me around the world to minister for a year. He will show me what the next step is. What if I don't have an income? I've literally lived on $7 per day all year. How quickly I let doubt creep into my head. God is faithful and will never forsake me, how could I ever forget that?

God loves each of us so much that I can't even wrap my head around it. Once you taste his love, an uncontainable fire burns inside you. You feel as if you'll burst if you don't share that love with others. Each time you see his love and power unlock one's heart, you realize that we were created to live not in this world, but in Kingdom. It all comes down to love: the love of our Father, the love of our King, the love of our Savior.

we are receiving a kingdom that CANNOT be shaken

so let us be THANKFUL

and worship God with REVERENCE and AWE

for our God is a CONSUMING FIRE...

-Hebrews 12.28

splish splash w/ video!

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Crux is living in Budapest, Hungary helping a couple move their Crisis Pregnancy Center ministry from an old building into a gorgeous, newly renovated office. We finished the move last week and are now putting the finishing touches on the office, organizing, and leading prayer and worship each morning with the staff and clients.

Our contact, Ed, is a bit of a perfectionist who adores his new wooden floors. There are strict rules of what one can and cannot place on the floors in fear of scratches/dents in the wood (which is totally understandable since Ed wants the new office to as professional as possible).

But... there was a slight mishap Monday morning. Steph woke up early and sleepily stumbled her way through the living room and realized she was standing in 3 inches of water. A valve in the kitchen burst and flooded the entire flat! We jumped up and started cleaning immediately, scooping up buckets upon buckets of water. All of the boxes were soaked. Katie and Audrey tried to buy cleaning supplies, but it was a national holiday and ALL stores were closed. Ed was gone and we didn't have a working cell phone to call him. We were stuck in a flooded apartment in a foreign city. Luckily it only took a couple hours to clean. We watched a couple episodes of our beloved Bones and finally relaxed.

As we were leaving to wander the city later that afternoon, I smelled gas fumes in the office. Somehow, the flat had been leaking gas and we didn't realize it until then. We aired out the apartment and left before it poisoned us. Then, after supper the fumes disappeared and Audrey got the bright idea to boil an egg in the microwave, since we're lacking a stove this month. She put a whole raw egg into a bowl of water and cooked it for 10 minutes. (Mind you, the microwave is in the middle of the living room). About 9 minutes into it, the microwave exploded: the door flew open with a loud bang, smoke billowed out of it, and egg shot across the room, even landing in Cindy's hair! A hysterical fit of giggles quickly followed.

By the end of the day, the house flooded, we almost died of gas fumes, and we blew up Ed's microwave. All in a day's work!

Romania Video

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Check out the recap of our month in Viile Techii, Romania!

Creative genius- Audrey Powell

Romania Top Ten!

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Romania Top Ten!

-MEAT! We were blessed with protein everyday this month and boy, did we eat up!

-Cindy's Arrival! Cindy left Crux for the last week in Moldova to live with the Holy Banditz in Kiev, Ukraine. She met back up with us the first night in Romania and Audrey, Katie, and I had a surprise waiting for her. We dressed up as secret agents, hid in the house, and when she walked in the door we pounced, blindfolded her, and rushed her to our room. We pretended it was a top secret covert operation. It's amazing the things we do to entertain ourselves on the race. We missed her so much; it was great to have to her back.

-Amenities! Hot, running water, electricity, heat, a bathtub, sink, and toilet! We were living the high life this month.

-Bistrita! Bistrita was an hour bus ride away so we toured the city and went shopping. We ran into one of the villager's cousin, who is a drug dealer. He and his girlfriend were very hospitable though; showing us all over the city, eating with us at a delicious restaurant, and even helping us search for money changers. We spent the day ministering to them.

-VIVA! On the way to church, we stopped at Viva, an upscale gas station. It was like walking into America. Luckily they accepted Visa, so we stocked up on snack food. It's our favorite part of Sunday.

-Mother's Day! Making the Mother's Day Video was great fun. We laughed the whole way through, and I'm glad all the moms out there enjoyed it! Pampering the village mothers was one of my favorite experiences on the Race. I loved being able to show love through massages and feet washing. The women are so beautiful; I love their hearts.

-Pizza Nights! Our contact has a brick oven in the backyard and we made homemade pizzas a few times this month. They tasted better than Pizza Hut. We've been so spoiled with food this month.

-Corner Magazine! Down the street from our house is the magazine', another word for store. We'd walk each day for eggs, fruit, and ice cream. I'm sure we added quite an increase into their income with 28 racers visiting the store everyday.

-Fiesta, Fiesta! Each team tithed money so we could host a Mexican Fiesta Night for the village. We made 430 tortillas (I'll never look at another tortilla the same again), grilled 60 kilos of pork, and served each villager while a gypsy band entertained. The kids bobbed for apples, played pin the tail on the donkey and wacked at a piata. It was a success and a great way to share the love of Jesus.

-Fracker Pinata! We designed the piata after our contact, John. We figured he's the only other American here, and every villager recognizes him. The kids loved it.

-Lavender Fields! You may have seen the lavender fields during the James Taylor How sweet it is to be loved by you' clip in the Mother's Day Video. The hills are right behind our house and smell delicious! The kids help pick fresh flowers daily.

-Fishing! Katie's favorite Romanian memory was fishing with the locals. Technically, the lake they fish in is private, so they rigged a Gillette shaving cream bottle with fish hooks and threw it into the lake. They're able to leave it unattended and return later to gather their catch.

-Magic! Braedon's favorite moment was playing Magic the Gathering card game with Ben and Dennis. Brae loves fantasy and is trying to convince me to play Dungeons & Dragons. I told him I'd play when he reads the Twilight series ;-)

undercover gypsy

Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The women of the Viille Teche gypsy village in Romania astonish me. I have lived in 9 countries thus far on the race and it is never the men who impress me; it's always the women (not to say that I haven't come across some great men of God, but more women have left a lasting impression on me). Many are born into worlds where women are subservient and mistreated. They have a short childhood before they're married off at ages so young it would alarm many Americans. They are then expected to bear children, do all the chores, cooking, and child rearing. (Mind you, there are no microwaves, stoves, or running water in most places- it takes hours just to prepare a simple meal). Few are educated and even less have jobs. Unfortunately in many countries, abusive husbands are the norm.

Yet these women are incredibly strong! God's love radiates from them. They love their families so much, they serve ceaselessly without complaint. Their bodies endure hardships, stress, and sickness without ever receiving healing. They deserve a rest! A few of us girls decided to treat the moms in the village to a day of pampering on Mother's Day. We gave manicures, pedicures, and massages. They were so surprised and excited. One lady spent most of her pampering time in shock that anyone would ever take the time and effort to wash her feet. I loved blessing the ladies with a girly treat-they looked beautiful!

Tootsie- Our contact who has graciously opened her home to us. Tootsie is an outgoing young lady yet is mature beyond her years. She has a 2 year old son named Holden who is the apple of her eye. Tootsie is a faithful servant to her family and neighbors, never asking for anything in return. She has quite the fashion sense, I'm so envious of her cute clothes! Tootsie is always eager to learn more about God, so please pray He continues to reveal Himself to her in fun, new ways.

Rita- Mother of 6 kids and 2 grandkids. She's been married since she was 14 to an ex-abusive alcoholic who is now a follower of Christ and a powerful evangelist. Praise the Lord for his love that truly changes lives. Rita is quite the jokester, I always catch her giggling.

Carmen- Rita's younger sister who was married off at a young age to an extremely physically and sexually abusive man. He once broke her arm and because she never received medical care, it is a permanent sore spot. Rita and Carmen never thought they would see each other again, but by the grace of God Carmen left her husband and found Rita. She's been living with Rita for 6 years. When she first arrived in Viille Techii, she could not even look at a man. God has started to heal some of her wounds and now she can carry on short conversations with the boys. Carmen is pure and genuine, a bit shy, but I like that about her. Her smile lights up the room. She thoroughly enjoyed every minute of her pampering session! Please pray God continues to heal her heart.

Lilly- Rita's sister-in-law with 4 children. Lilly is the equivalent of a soccer mom. She's always on the go, chasing after children, cooking, cleaning... I've never seen her sit still! She has a good grasp on English and helps with translation. Lilly is such a loving mom, always kissing whatever child is in sight.

Sanda- I was immediately drawn to Sanda because I started interceding for her the moment we met. She became a Christian ten years ago but fell away from God when she became a prostitute. Though she has given up prostitution, she is consumed with guilt. She has asked for forgiveness everyday for years and I see the hunger in her eyes. She's so thirsty for God but feels much condemnation from the village. I believe she is scared to go to church because some of the villagers treat her as an outcast. As a single mom, she works twice as hard to provide for her son. Sanda attends our women's bible study and we've been teaching her about God's endless love and forgiveness. Please pray she continues to walk with her head held high, choose God amidst the village's ignorance, and that her neighbors will accept her as a sister in Christ.

Please pray for these amazing women of Christ! They are beautiful inside and out and I pray God continues to lavish his love on each of them.

Country Hop #9

Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

AIM has blessed the squad with a Pilgrimage ministry opportunity for month 9. Each team is to set up new contacts for future Race squads in a European country of our choice. Crux is headed to BUDAPEST, HUNGARY! We'll be working with a Dutch couple and their Crisis Pregnancy Center ministry; helping advertise, renovate their office, and counsel their clients.

Other teams are headed to Cologne, Germany, Bratislava, Slovakia, and the Black Sea. We are excited and looking forward to scouting out a new location. We head to Braslov, Romania Tuesday for debrief then onto Budapest! Please pray for safe travels and that we're able to touch the hearts of our host family & the women in the clinic.