Frog Legs & the Flu.

Hey friends!!! I am so sorry I have not updated my blog as much this week. It has been a bit of a busy week. For the past two weeks people have been coming down with the flu, and I ended up getting some type of bug a week ago and have been trying to get rid of since last Sunday. I am so thankful that it was not the flu and I was able to get better within a week.

This past week we were learning about the Father heart of God. It was awesome!!!! We had an amazing speaker, who really helped me to understand God's heart. One thing that really stuck out to me was when I was talking to the speaker after class and He told me that because I was made in God's image I am creative. I had never really thought about it like that. It makes sense that if we were all made in His image that we would have some traits that He has.


After a rather intense week of class and sickness, I was so thankful for a quiet weekend full of new experiences. I was able to try spicy frog legs, had an at home spa day with my gluten free buddy, went on a hike, and enjoyed a lot of time with the Lord. It was a lovely weekend and I am eager to learn more this week.

I am so thankful for everyone’s prayers and support. It has been so needed and been such a blessing to know my friends, family, and strangers have been praying for me. I just found out that in one week my team will be heading to Seattle for mini outreach for a week. We will be doing street evangelism, possibly working with the homeless, as well as other little things through the week. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!God is going to do amazing things! Please be praying that we are safe and things fall into place for that trip.

Love you all dearly and I am beyond thankful for all the prayers and love. Please be praying that the sickness would end and people would stop getting sick. God is doing amazing things and I can not wait to update you all on the trip.


                                                   God Bless-
                                                    Charity

New Friendship and No Snow

                          Hello everyone! I am extremely thankful for a wonderful weekend. I had the chance to try out a new little church over here in Lakeside. There were about 20 people there, but I must say it was very good and I enjoyed trying a new church. I met a sweet older women that had extremely cute curls to match her sweet personality. Lakeside is very small, so I have enjoyed experiencing something new.

                         This was my very first weekend in Lakeside, so I had the chance to do some exploring with my new friend. We went to this pretty little Chapel for church, and then had a chance to explore nature for a few hours. It was so relaxing to just walk in God's creation. So many times I feel like I get so caught up in all my tasks that I need to do, that I forget to enjoy my Father's stunning creation. I loved to just walk and think about the blessings that had come my first week here. 

                         Before getting here I had prayed that God would bless me with friends. Sure enough God bless me with an incredible friend that is like my twin in a lot of ways!! DOES GOD PROVIDE OR WHAT?!?!?! It reminded me so much about what I had studied in my quiet time that week. God has a fathers heart and loves his children. He loves to bless us! I feel blessed to have my sweet new friend. God knew my heart and blessed me with not only a friend, but someone that is so much like me!! 

                        I was extremely excited that this weekend was warm, because I got to walk to church and enjoy the company of my new friend, but sadly there is barely any snow here. That is due to how warm it is, so it will rain, but thats it. Because it is my first winter, I have been excited to have some warmer days. This made for a very lovely first weekend, here in Montana. I am so thankful for everyones prayers, love, support, and letters. I have felt extremely bless and encouraged by everyone this week. Thank you guys so much!! I'm praying that you all have an amazing week, full of funny little moments.

                                                            Love,

                                                           Charity

Life is a test and a trust.

                           Hey guys!!!! Wow.. it has been a long, but amazing week! I'm coming to the end to my first week at YWAM and I have already learned so much. It's been so good to learn more about God and develop an even greater love for Him. Going into this new adventure I had a list of personal goals as well as things I had been praying for. One thing I had really been praying about and made a goal, was to grow my faith and trust in God, and not just when I felt like it. I found it can be so hard sometimes to give Him complete control, when it seems like He is taking you away from something you loved that wasn't bad.


                      About two months ago I felt God put Muslims and Thailand on my heart. I kept praying about it and it had continued to be on mu heart. I ended up buying everything I needed for outreach having hope and faith that I would be going to Thailand. I continued to feel God putting Red light districts on my heart and kept praying for the people and the possibility of God using me to love on people, who had been in sex trafficking.


                       When I had arrived in Montana I still prayed about Thailand and still felt like I was going to be able to go do my outreach there. Wednesday night we finally had a free night so a few of us went into town and went to a store and then to a church to meet my friends twin. As we were about to leave one of the Pastors said, "Are you Charity? I really feel like God is telling me something I need to tell you." As you can tell I was a bit surprised by the situation, but was intrigued to hear what He was going to say. "I feel like you've experienced a lot of major changes and I wanted to let you know God did that for your benefit not your harm and He did it to get closer to you. I feel like He is going to do big changes in your life this year and possibly change your original plans during the DTS and that He just wants you to trust Him."

                         After that I was extremely curious what that could mean, but I just gave that to the Lord. The next day was the big day, where we found out the choices of places where we can go. So there we sat listening to them announce that we could pick between Ukraine, Czech Republic, and Thailand. Because YWAM is so spirtit led, they had asked that we would go pray about it for 50 minutes and encouraged us to go where God called us.


                        As I walked upstairs I felt my heart sank. I honestly did not want God to tell me not to go to Thailand, especially after He put Thailand on my heart two months ago. I sat in my dorm and I knew in my heart God wanted me to put Thailand as my second choice, but I continued to pray. I felt Him telling me to put Czech Republic as my first and Thailand as my second and if I was going to be picked to go to Czech Republic that I was to give someone who was going to Thailand all the things I had gotten for the trip.


                       I was so confused at first. I didn't get why God would tell me that after putting Thailand on my heart, but I knew He had my best interest in mind and did what He told me to do. I felt so at peace with it and knew I trusted God and wanted to be used anywhere He called me to go. I felt so much joy knowing that I did what was right. Later that night at around 9:30, when I was doing art in the art room, one of the leaders came in and said she had been looking for me and needed to talk to me alone. There we were walking to the office and for whatever reason I was wondering if I did something wrong. When we got to the office she said, "After the staff all prayed about where God is leading everyone to go, we would like you to pray about going on the second one you put down. We truly feel like that is where God wants you to be and we would like you to go to Thailand instead of Czech Republic." Of course I was deeply shocked, but the first thing I thought of was what the pastor had said the night before. I truly believe God used that to test my heart and trust in Him.

                  I am so excited to see and write about all the God moments that we will have, while in Thailand.  This moment so much reminded me of something I learned with my family, during The Purpose Driven Life devotional. Life is a test and a trust. God uses things to deepen our trust in Him. I was excited to go to Czech Republic, but God used that to test my trust in him. I want to encourage you, if you are frustrated or confused about change that you do not understand give it to God. He loves you so deeply, and if you allow Him, He will use it to deepen your trust and relationship with him.



                                                           Lots of Love,
                                                             Charity

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart." ~ Proverbs 17:3

First Day.

Hey guys! Sorry in advanced if I only blog once or twice a week. It's been so busy here. I'm absolutely loving it. The more I learn about God the more I fall more and more in love with who he is. It's been such a learning experience. I'm getting used to the dorm life and absolutely loving my sweet roommates. I'm so thankful for the sweet people Gods had me meet through this adventure. 

Day one was more of an introduction to what we were going to be doing. I got the chance to check out the campus and meet all the other students. So thankful for God providing friends. Coming on the adventure made me a bit nervous, because I was so worried about how I was going to make friends. God is so loving and knew where my heart was at and blessed me with new friends.

Classes have been so good. Extremely deep and a ton to take in, but it's been great to be able to talk it through with a ton of other people. I am so excited to see all the amazing thing God will do through what we are learning and will be applying soon. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support! It means the world to me and it is so needed!!! I should be posting again tomorrow, but I just wanted to make sure I gave a small update. Love you all dearly!!!

Charity~

The Journey to Montana.

                This past week has been an adventure in and of itself. It has been a lovely week full of preparations for my journey to Montana. For those of you who have left for a longer period of time you know all the little things that must be done to be ready in time. For those like me, who have not, it is indeed an adventure in and of itself.

               As many of you know, or will soon find out, I love to read and write. This being said I couldn't very well go almost six months without bringing at least a few good books with me. While I have read all of these books more than once, I have personally found that every time I read it again I learn even more from it.

              Every time I have read these books I have been in a different place in life, thus I gain a totally different perspective based on where I am in life. I always look forward to rereading personal growth book with faith that God will point out something totally new to me. Wait for me, has to be one of my favorites. Yes, technically it is a purity book, but what I love is how many different perspectives it has within it, unlike most of the other purity books I have read.

           I highly suggest it no matter where you are in life. It is extremely thought provoking and real. It allows you to see so many different women's perspective on purity, which helps you to learn from young women who have done things God's way and young women that haven't. With those that had not, you get the chance to see how their faith and testimony was restored with God's grace and love. These are the main reason I enjoy it so much. It is not critical to those who have made mistakes, but encourages purity and shows why it is God's best for you to wait.

         It has been such a personal encouragement to me, because I am doing things God's way. I would like to personally encourage girls and women of any age and relationship status to do things God's way. He knows our deepest desires and knows our heart and wants nothing but the best for us. Will you wait for His best, or be like the rest of the world? Being a female, I personally have experienced the frustrating times that waiting does bring. Do not grow weary of doing what is right! Use this time to grow into an even deeper relationship with the one that holds your heart. Trust that God will provide in His timing! His timing is perfect. Enjoy this time in waiting. It is such a special time that you will never get back. Use it for the kingdom!!!!! Do what's right, come what may. Even if that means you stand out and people think you are odd. WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE DIFFERENT! Embrace that! Never be ashamed for doing what is right.

          And for those of you who may even have past regrets. Know that God loves you and treasures you. You are precious in His sight no matter what. Allow Him to comfort you and pour out His grace and love upon you. God will use you and your testimony for His kingdom! Know that He still wants the best for you and is faithful to light your path. You are loved and you are wanted by the creator of the universe. God makes beautiful things from messes. May you walk in the grace He has given you and use it to encourage others to do things His way.


                                                           Lots of Love,
                                                              Charity


Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,


Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.


Psalm 37:4        
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

1 Peter 5:7        
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

God Moments

               Happy new year!!! I am so thankful for all the incredible things God did in 2013. While it was not the easiest year, it was a year of growth and the end to a lot of things, but also a new beginning to some new adventures. My time had ended in Florida and God brought me to Pennsylvania. At the time I was just frustrated! Moving is hard as it is, but when you have an amazing job, your best friends, and Disney that you have to leave behind, it makes it a whole lot harder!!!! Despite that, I believe that this move has brought so much good.

             I have not lived here long, but its been so clear that this is exactly where God wants me to be! It was not until I made the choice to find the good in all of this that I was able to see all the amazing things about moving.


              Two years ago, after coming home from my first mission trip, I discovered I have an allergy to gluten. While it was not extremely difficult to have a gluten free diet in Orlando, it had limited me greatly on places I could go to eat with friends and family. The only place I could find anything gluten free was at our local grocery store, which had limited options. Three days after moving to Pennsylvania I had my seventeenth birthday. That was my first birthday that I knew I could not have a normal cake. NOT A SURPRISE TO GOD! It just so happens that there are a few gluten free bakeries near by, as well as farmers markets that sell a ton of gluten free food!

             God has a plan and a purpose, even if we do not see it right away. Its only through me moving that I got to experience so many new things. Our heavenly Father loves us so deeply and wants incredible things for us. Sometimes that requires facing rough situations that seem horrible in the moment. Giving Him my fears and frustration only deepened my faith and trust in him.

            After applying to thirty different places, God provided a job for me. Granted, it was a minimum wage job, which I had never had before, but it gave me the opportunity to share Gods love and light with so many more people. It gave me a deeper appreciation for all those people who have normal jobs. It gave me a chance to work in a place that tested my faith. Through that job, God blessed me with two very sweet and kind friends. They were the first friends I had made in Pennsylvania. While I no longer work there, I am thankful for the time I had there and the growth that it brought.

         2013 was full of new beginnings. After finding out I was no longer going to be going back to the Dominican Republic in January, I prayed and was seeking what to do next with my life. After praying for what seemed like months, I felt God telling me to go on a YWAM DTS. This led to even more praying. For reasons that were currently unknown to me, God put Lakeside, Montana on my heart. I am a Florida girl, so as it is I was nervous about a Pennsylvania winter. This being said, I was wonder why Montana of all places. This was the start to my journey to Montana. After I finished high school, I got my application in for the trip as soon as I could. You can imagine my excitement, when I found out just a few days after that that I had been accepted! We moved forward in faith that God would provide all the money and supplies needed for the trip, that would begin in three weeks. God moved the mountains and within two weeks provided $6,315 or the $7,500 needed.

         At the beginning of my journey to Montana, my mother had met someone who's cousin was also going to Lakeside, Montana for a YWAM DTS. Needless to say it was clearly a God thing! It turns out she was near my age and also graduated early! I was so thrilled to find out she only lived ten minutes away from me! Just this past Saturday I had the opportunity to go get coffee with her. That got me even more excited for this new adventure in Montana! She was so incredibly sweet and we got along so well. I am so thankful for this new and unique friendship God has brought my way.

        None of this would have happened if God had not moved me to Pennsylvania. I would like this to be an encouragement. No matter what kind of situation you might be in, take heart in knowing we serve a loving God. And while your situation may temporarily cause frustration, hurt, anger, or sadness, God will bring beauty to the situation. Through looking back at hard times, you can spot so many more God moments. May God bring you peace in the storms that life may throw your way. And may you stop to see all the little God moments that will happen during the storms.

                           These are my favorite God moments of 2013, what are yours? 

                                                             God Bless,
                                                              Charity

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Prov. 30:5