Love Without Limits

Changing hearts: CCDA Conference 2011

2011-10-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

When your heart is to serve the lost and broken of the world, as Jesus has called us to do at Mission Adelante, it is easy to begin to believe that no one could really understand how challenging it can be. I am someone that is so motivated by encouragement and the blessing of being surrounded by people that do understand what we go through each day. I was so excited when Jarrett announced that our entire staff would be attending the 2011 Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference. It not only gave us a chance to bond as a staff, I was so inspired to be around three thousand other people with like-minded hearts that also served in an urban ministry context. We worshiped together, learned together, prayed for each other, and encouraged each other in the knowledge that we were not alone in the adventure that God had called us to.

One of the most potent moments of the conference for me was when one of the pastors shared his thoughts on the state of our public schools. He said, “The public schools are failing our kids but WE are failing our schools!” This statement affected me so deeply because as I look around at our children and how they struggle in our environment in KCK, one of their greatest needs is a strong education. This conference inspired me to dream a bit bigger about how I can actively help and support what our teachers are doing. We have begun to do this within our after school tutoring program (Leaders in Training) with coaches that are in communication with the schools and teachers of the children that they work with. Our goal is to help support the teachers with what they are already doing in the classroom. However, after seeing how much our children and schools need our prayers and action, I am committed to making this a priority as we move forward. Would you commit to praying with me for the children that we serve and specifically, their schools?

Changing hearts: CCDA Conference 2011

2011-10-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

Love without Limits: May 2011: What a difference a year makes...

2011-05-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

Our 2010-2011 LIT family and a little taste of the cuteness that I get to work with!

I will never forget the first day that I met Lorenzo. He was this little boy with an innocent disposition that you could often find with an angry scowl on his face. It was disconcerting to see so much anger in such a young boy. However, over the past three years, he has continued to come to the Outreach Bible Study, to memorize his verses, and to show these glimmers of spiritual depth in his questions that have helped us to see the leader hiding underneath.

Nevertheless, when the time came to invite the potential candidates for the 2010-2011 Leaders in Training Program, I was hesitant to take a chance on him. Fortunately, I work with an amazing team of volunteers that believed so strongly in Lorenzo’s potential leadership that we prayed and decided to invite him to enter LIT.

Looking back, there was a moment the first day of LIT when Lorenzo’s negative disposition came out. I pulled him aside and firmly explained that the way he was acting was unacceptable. I let him know that I saw the amazing person that he was inside and we wanted that Lorenzo to be part of our LIT family. That moment was so pivotal because from then on, he was a completely different child.

At first, we started to see his playfulness and servant-hearted attitude surface. He shared with me that although there was a large gang population at school and a great deal of pressure to join, he knew it was the wrong choice for him. Then, his mother came to me and shared that he had asked if they could begin praying together as a family before dinner.

The most powerful moment of the year came two weeks ago when Lorenzo shared with me that he was unsure if he had ever accepted Christ into his heart. I led him in prayer and as he opened his heart to the Lord, though my eyes were closed, I could hear the smile in his voice. Lorenzo didn’t need to hide anymore!

Cuba Training Trip

In the past year, Mission Adelante has formed a strong relationship with a sister church in Cuba. As Jarrett and Jason have shared stories with me, I learned about their amazing discipleship program and Christ-centered community. My heart has been burdened for the people of Cuba that undergo persecution and hardship on a daily basis. I am so excited to tell you that I have been invited to go to Cuba this June! During the seven days that we will be in Cuba, we will observe their discipleship model that combines intentional, everyday life with Christ as the focus of their hearts. I hope to learn a great deal about selflessness, fellowship, and service through this incredible blessing! Please pray for our hearts to be unified in Christ and our hands to serve the Lord as we travel June 29-July 5.

Prayer Requests:Prayer Requests

Praise the Lord for allowing us to finish our third year of LIT with 100% of the children finishing the year together for the first time!
For a safe summer for all the children and teens of our community.
Please pray for the Lord to have a powerful impact through our summer interns.

In Him,

Megan

Love without Limits: March: Gricelda's heart for the teens

2011-03-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

By: Gricelda Garcia: Teens Adelante and Kids Adelante volunteer

Living Life with Teens

I recently had the opportunity to join some of the teens for Winter Jam, a Christian music concert. I was truly excited to join them and prayed that the Lord would use the music and speakers to speak to their hearts. That night while I was driving home from the concert it was ME that felt God speaking. It wasn’t through anything I heard in the music or the speakers earlier that night, but rather through the simple questions of one of the teen girls. She had asked me if I had given an extra love offering and if I was going to sponsor a child through Holt International during the concert. Sadly, in that moment I responded quickly and didn’t think much about why she would ask me in the first place. On that drive home God brought those questions back to my mind and it hit me…she was looking at my example, of how I did or didn’t give sacrificially. My actions that night had the power to speak louder than the music.

That experience is one of the reasons I feel so humbled that God desires to use me to be part of His work in their lives, with my flaws and all. It’s amazing how simple that truly is. I don’t have to force conversations about God or “preach” at them… I can simply share my life with them and let God speak through my walk with Him.

Coming full circle

2011-02-01T13:51:00.001-08:00

I am sitting here as the wind is howling outside and inches of snow are accumulating on the buildings around me. It reminds me very distinctly of almost two years ago when I was snowed in at Christmas. I remember that time because I spent a great deal of that winter break praying and trying to discern what God's heart was for Teens Adelante, our teen Bible study. I was watching these children I had known for years grow in leaps and bounds spiritually right before my eyes. But they were stifled as all that we could offer them at that time was an older version of our children's Bible study. I will never forget that one of the teens, Iris, came to me and suggested a Bible study just for them. I remember crying out to God because I knew they needed Him in a different and more relational way.
I prayed for a space that the teens could have all to themselves each week. I prayed for the hearts of the teens to be opened to the power and simplicity of God's word. More then anything, I prayed for volunteers to be raised up to fight alongside me in the battle for the hearts and honestly, the lives, of these amazing young people.
It blows my mind that now, two years later, all of these prayers and more have been answered. I realized how much the lives of the teens had come full circle at our children's Bible study this past Thursday. These same teens that I had once fought with to sing and participate, had stepped up as volunteers, giving their own time, to be leaders to the children. I had to fight back tears many times that night because I was just SO proud of them and so in awe of God's great plans.
I think I forget sometimes that long before I ever knew and loved the teens, God made them. He formed them and set the course of their lives in motion. I have learned during this season of my life to be thankful for the privilege of being part of the journey with them. One of the greatest joys of my life will be watching His teens lead and guide the children of Mission Adelante to pursue Christ just as He has pursued them.

Shoal Creek blesses the kids of Mission Adelante!!

2011-01-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

Check out the slideshow below to see how the kids were blessed during the holiday season :) Happy New year!!

In Him,

Megan

http://www.vimeo.com/18066788

Love without Limits: December: A walk to remember

2010-12-13T14:36:00.000-08:00

This past week was the end of the trimester for our LIT kids. I knew I desired to do something special for them to remember the first half of the year. In our discipleship group at church, we have been reading through Genesis and I have been in awe of the intentionality and beauty of God's Creation. As I began to pray how we would spend our last Wednesday together as a team, the Lord placed it on my heart that the kids needed to SEE His creation, rather then just hear about how God made it.
So, Wednesday afternoon we packed the kids into our cars and went to a beautiful, serene place in KCK called Sanctuary of Hope. Each of the volunteers took one or two children and we did a prayer walk through the grounds. I asked the volunteers to pray over the kids, their families, and our community as we send the kids out on a five week break. I felt the Lord asking us to bathe them in prayer and His protection.
One of the most impactful moments for me happened as I was walking with one of the girls. I have often gone to Sanctuary of Hope for my own quiet time but I was curious how the Holy Spirit had potentially affected her. She told me that she could feel Jesus in that place and that being there made her feel very peaceful!
After the prayer time, we all came back and shared our highlights of the LIT year. The kids were so open and honest about the ways God is blessing them and how they feel close to each other. I am so thankful to be part of a ministry that really is making a difference in the live's of God's children!!

Princesses of the King!

2010-10-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

Princesses of the King!

Have you ever seen a young girl that has lost her sparkle? She's lost that infectious love for life and engaging smile that young girls just seem to possess. We often see young women in our community, worn down by constant disappointment and hardship, that stop believing their beauty and worth are found in God. They forget that they are "daughters of the King" and "His princesses."
Last weekend, I saw that special sparkle return and shine brighter then ever for three of our Leaders in Training girls. We are so blessed at Mission Adelante to have volunteers that desire to share their lives, time, hearts, and even weddings with our kids! Karlie and Adam, two volunteers that have served together at Kids Adelante, invited three of the young girls they have done Bible study with to be flower girls in their wedding. Karlie and Adam's relationship and fear of the Lord has been an amazing example to our kids of purity, faithfulness, and absolute joy.
It was an incredible experience for the girls as they wore beautiful white dresses and participated in the most sacred of days. They felt like princesses and I can't express how proud and honored I felt to be part of such a special day in the eyes of God with them.
Please pray with me that God will continue to redeem the worth of our young women and remind them that they don't need to belong to a guy, their friends, or even the world. They are HIS princesses!

"I lost my best friend!"

2010-08-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

It has been a rough few weeks at Mission Adelante. Our community has been rocked with death, separation, and incarceration. As each tragedy has hit our community, the children affected by hardship have responded in different ways. I would like to share with you the story of D.

D. is a big teddy bear of a guy. At thirteen years of age, he stands almost as tall as I do. D. has a hard, protective shell that, for as long as I have know him, has surrounded him. God has blessed me with being able to reach through that protective covering and unearth the beautiful heart underneath over these past few years.

A week ago, I received a phone call letting me know that his stepfather had been killed in a random act of violence in Mexico. His mother had frantically flown to Mexico to bury the man that she loved. D. and his younger sister were left behind with family friends but he was experiencing a great amount of grief. D.'s stepfather had been the man in his life and as he put it, "I lost my best friend."

I went with a few volunteers to see D. as soon as I received the news. We entered the situation with prayer because we knew in the past whenever tragedy had hit D., consuming anger towards God had always swiftly followed. I sat with him for a few moments and he began the barrage of questions asking why God hated him and why he was being punished so greatly. I had heard these questions many times before from him but this time God had chosen a different path.

God had asked me to step back and let David, a Teens Adelante volunteer, step in. How else could D. understand what true, Godly, male strength looked like unless it was from a man?
At the end of the night as I was saying goodbye to D., he looked me in the eye and told me something I have desperately prayed to hear him say. "Megan, I know God has a plan for everything, even this. And I know He's with me."

I can't express how much those few simple words rocked me! I had never heard him speak this way and I can see the light of God's love not just shining through but blasting through his heart. Please pray with us as we are grieving as a community but also holding fast to the promise of God's faithfulness. After all, "...He is our shield, the strength of our salvation, our stronghold." (Psalm18:2)

2010-06-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

Thankful For Answered Prayers!

A few days ago, I was reflecting back to when I did the internship 2 years ago. I remember what a struggle it was for me to accept that challenge because I knew in my heart that once I moved down to KCK, there was no turning back for me. I also remember that summer and how much I prayed for strong, Godly, men and women to walk alongside me with the teens of our community. I found favor with the teen girls and began a Purity Bible Study that we will be continuing this summer. We are going to be reading The Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free. I am so excited to go even deeper with the young women of Mission Adelante and allow them to to see the freedom that lies in Christ alone.
I am very excited that after MUCH prayer, God has also blessed us with some amazing, Godly men to lead the teen boys. This summer, the guys will be doing outdoor activities such as fishing, rock climbing, hiking, and camping with time allotted for discussion. The hope is that once the boys are out in nature and in touch with the creative side of God, they will open up and see God's great love for them. It will also be an opportunity for the boys to see that they have similar struggles but that they can lean on each other.
It's so beautiful to me that as I look around Mission Adelante, I see so many volunteers and donors that sacrifice their time, hearts, and prayers to glorify God everyday. The most touching thing to me personally is to know that I am not fighting alone for the hearts of the kids. There is an army of love that is fighting right alongside me!

2010-05-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

Life-changing doesn't even begin to describe it!

(Gricelda and Amalia at La Carpio) (Jennyfer and Zeidy, my students)

We all have those places in our past that are very significant to us because they shaped us in a very powerful way. Costa Rica, since my first exchange trip in 1998, has been that place for me. Each time I have returned, Costa Rica (and I) have been a little bit different. I was excited but nervous as I set out with seven other volunteers from Mission Adelante this past week to embark on my very first mission trip. It was the first time I would be serving the people of Costa Rica for the Kingdom of God!
While we were there, our team got to serve in some really incredible ways. One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to La Carpio, one of the roughest parts of Costa Rica. We got to teach a group of young teenage girls about the truth of Christ being the only way to salvation. The kids that we met at La Carpio deal with abuse, violence, gangs, drugs, and poverty in a way that would be shocking to us but is common to them. I sang a song with the girls that day about how God is calling out their name, knows what's in their hearts, and wants to forgive them. I can't express how moved my soul was to look these girls in the eye as I sang those words and watch genuine smiles of joy spread across their faces. They so desperately want to believe that God loves them and that they matter to their Creator. That experience marked me in a very real way and made my relationship with the teens of Mission Adelante that much more important.
One of the main focuses of our trip was to do an outreach to the community of Iglesia Berea, a church in San Francisco de Dos Rios. I was paired with Jennyfer and Zeidy, two very incredible and spunky women. As we tackled the infamous verb "to be" together, I found myself connecting with them in a really significant way. At the end of the first night that we had class, we prayed together as a group. I realized halfway through that Jennyfer had tears slipping down her cheeks. I grabbed her and Zeidy's hands, knowing that the Holy Spirit was really working in the hearts of the people we were serving. I will miss these two incredible friends but I know that God has joined our hearts in a powerful way.
The most unexpected blessing that occurred was how my heart was deepened for Mission Adelante. Costa Rica had always been this escape for me to a life where the Hispanic culture came alive. Living and serving everyday in Kansas City has made loving Hispanics a daily reality for me. This trip was the first time that I knew I was more excited to return back to my real life then to remain in Costa Rica! I ached for our community and was surprised that my heart for Mission could go any deeper. I feel unbelievably blessed that God not only gave me the incredible experience of Costa Rica but also revealed to me that He undoubtedly has me right where He wants me!

Thank you for all of the prayers, support, and encouragement that made the Costa Rica Mission Trip possible :)

Costa Rica......HERE I COME!!

2010-03-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy month couple of months here at Mission Adelante! One of the most exciting things that occurred is that I was offered the amazing opportunity to go on my very first Mission Trip to Costa Rica in May. I will be going with Mission Adelante for a total of 8 days to San Jose to reach out to the community of Iglesia Berea, a suburb of the capital city. While there, I will be helping to teach English as a Second Language, touring local ministries, and even getting to tour some of the sights.
Many of you know that I lived in Costa Rica in 2002 and that my heart was truly stirred for Hispanic people at that time. I can't express how EXCITED I am to return and give back to the place, people, and culture where my passion started. Since it's also my very first Mission trip, I am excited to share Christ and His perfect love with those that might not know Him. Please pray for our group as we go that our desire, strength, and wisdom would flow directly from the heart of God.

2010-02-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

(Agustin is in the middle)

When I first began serving at Mission Adelante, I met a boy named Agustin. I was so intimidated by him. Even though he was only 10 years old at the time, there was a hardness of heart that I had never encountered before. He just seemed so angry. However, I am the kind of person that relishes a challenge and made the decision that I would pray for his heart to be open to God. Over the years, Agustin and I have grown closer as he has felt the genuine love that the volunteers and staff have for him and his family. I have become especially fond of him as there have been moments when his walls crumbled and I got to see the beautiful heart inside of him.
A few months ago, I received the news that Agustin and his family were going to move. I have to be honest that it devastated me. I have seen Agustin grow in his faith over the past few years and I was worried with the impending move, that he would stop coming to Mission Adelante. However, as we launched the Teens Adelante Bible study, he was present! I have seen him take little kids under his wing and play with them as a big brother. This past Sunday, he showed up for our church service! He walked the mile and a half from his house to Mission Adelante by himself to attend.
I think one of the hardest parts about working with kids is the reality that sometimes I have to let go and let God. I am still holding out hope that Agustin and his family won't move. However, I know that as much as he might try to hide it, inside Agustin beats a heart for Christ. That a heart is something that God will always hold, no matter where Agustin might be.

Words of encouragment

2010-01-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

After much snow and ice, the sun has finally reappeared! Even though it was a few weeks ago, I wanted to share a story with you about how God has blessed me through the heart's of the kids on the Great Wolf Trip.
As the girls of LIT (Leaders in Training) are growing in their devotion to God, I have been really convicted about encouraging them to see both the internal and external beauty in each other. Often times, young girls can be ultra critical of each other and I prayed a great deal about a way to bridge that gap between them. As I prayed, my heart was stirred as God asked me to give the girls in my room the opportunity to share examples of God's inner and outer beauty that they see in each other. The idea was to have the four girls participate but when it got around to me, they insisted that they continue the encouragement.
One of the girls shared something about how she sees me that even now brings tears to my eyes. She told me that if God was on one side of a brick wall and I was on the other, that I would do whatever it took to get to God. I share that with you, although it was an intensely personal moment, because it marked me. Often times I wonder if I am doing everything I can to be the best example of God's love to these kids. In our lives, we are often so critical of ourselves that we don't see the amazing miracle of God's love in each of us. He restores us and He perfects because He is good!! I hope that we all take those opportunities to encourage each other when we can because that one comment from this young woman will be something I carry with me always.

In Him,

Publish Post

Megan

Prayer Requests:

Please pray as we are launching LIT, Kids Adelante, and the "New" Teens Adelante Bible Study over the next few weeks. I pray that God's wisdom, love, and flexibility would guide me through this exciting and busy time!

December Blog

2009-12-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

During the holidays, like most people, I always feel like there is a flurry of activity as I rush to accomplish everything before Christmas. As we are finishing up this trimester with Kids Adelante, the kids are learning about the resurrection of Jesus. It has been so neat to teach them about the gift of salvation that they have been given right before the celebration of the birth of our Savior.
Each group in Kids Adelante has presented this most important topic in their own unique way. However, the reactions of the kids have been incredible to witness as they hear about the persecution and redemption of Christ. Some of the kids have expressed outright anger as they have learned how Jesus was tortured and beaten. For many of the kids, this is the first time they realized that in order for true salvation to occur, there was a time of separation between God and Christ. Above all, I have seen children that have been taught this lesson in past trimesters, for the first time, really grasp how truly deep Christ's love is for them. What an amazing way for them to head into the holidays: understanding that Christ's passion and pursuit of them began as an infant in a manger!

Prayer requests:

For the staff and volunteers of Mission Adelante to finish out the trimester strongly.
For all of us to meditate this season on the love and gift of our Savior!

An Update Video from Megan McDermott

2009-11-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Mission Adelante! - Megan from Perception Funding on Vimeo.

This video has been graciously done and edited free of charge by Jonathan Klee of Perception Funding. Thank you to Jonathan and all of his efforts to help make such an incredible way to thank all of my donors!

2009-09-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

I can't believe the summer is over and it's time to start a whole new trimester! This is an especially exciting time for me as I launched LIT for the first time as well as Kids Adelante tonight. It has been a fun-filled summer full of Royal's games, Vacation Bible School Camps, Mission Adelante volunteer gatherings, the Purity Bile Study, and lots of quality of time with the kids.
I am excited that this weekend we will be taking some of the kids and their families to the Wizards game. The kids love soccer so it should be a great time to relax and catch up with the kids after a busy Launch night.
Sometimes I look around at Mission Adelante and I just stop, marveling at the fact that I am there. I think about all the little (and big) details that it took to bring me here and I feel so unbelievably loved. I pray that I always cherish where I am and continue to praise God for the many sacrifices it took to get me here!!

Vacation Bible School offers rich opportunities for spritual growth in the summer!

2009-07-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks, Kids Adelante has been blessed to have not one but three different VBS camps come. The groups offered fun activities, water balloon fights, skits, music, snacks, and above all else, a chance for the kids to grow in their faith.

The kids were taught about Peter and the choices he had to make as he pursued Jesus. They also learned about David and Goliath, Noah's Ark, and how to be part of "God's Team." The most moving part of the experience occurred on the last night of our most recent VBS. Two of the high school students got up and shared their testimony. The kids were rapt with attention and I loved that they got to see one of their peers share their heart for God. The night ended with the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet. As this profound message was shared, one of OUR kids had his feet washed by another boy.

The summer offers time for us to have extended weeks of spiritual depth with the kids. I have attached some pictures below. We of course played LOTS of soccer.......:)

Slumber party pics

2009-06-28T12:27:00.001-07:00

The 2nd Annual Slumber Party

2009-06-28T11:56:00.001-07:00

What can one say when 5 teenage girls descend on your house for an entire evening? IT WAS A BLAST! We ate wayyy too much, watched some scary movies, had a fashion show (compliments of Maria's closet), and finally passed out at 4:30 AM. I was looking around at each of these young, beautiful women as they ran around the condo like crazy people. I watched them as they tried on dresses and criticized their own petite bodies, then looked expectantly at us to be their real mirror. I was moved when I was told by the oldest, Iris, that ,"Of COURSE you will be a madrina at my quincinera!!" (That's like being a bridesmaid at a 15 year old's birthday party, a great honor) I laughed at their excitement at being out of the house for an evening and their protectiveness of each other. I was moved by their compassion for their friends and their great desire to help each other.

Most of all, I observed their issues with self-worth and the lies that they believe about themselves at such a young age. I was able to sit and talk with one of the girls about her options for the future and how her attitude can affect the opportunities she's afforded. I don't think that she realizes how much the younger girls look up to her. She told me after her conversation with me that she wanted to return to LIT (Leaders in Training) when she had previously said she had no interest. I am so excited at how God is revealing his love to His daughters! Hope you enjoy the pictures posted, even though I am still a novice blogger in relation to the picture feature!

My first real week!

2009-06-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

So I finished my first real week at Mission Adelante :) It has been a bit crazy as we had a VBS camp last week and another this week. I love it when we have VBS camps because they go out into the community and are able to invite a lot of kids to attend our events. They generate a lot of excitement and we always see the fruits of their labors by the end of the summer.

It has been really neat to me to see a family that moved, reconnect with Mission Adelante. The oldest daughter has always been very resistive to Mission Adelante but I see a desire in her to know God. I also see a little girl that has been let down one too many times and just doesn't have the energy to believe in people anymore. After every Kids Adelante event that she has attended, she always tells me she's not coming back. I always look at her and tell her I will pray that I see her soon.

Last night, as the VBS camp was leading a praise and worship song, I looked over and saw her with her hands raised, praising God. My eyes welled up with tears because of how MUCH I see God pursuing her and her family. God can always turn even the hardest heart soft with His loving and patient hands!! Praise God for what He is doing at Mission Adelante!

It's official :)

2009-06-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

So drum roll please...............I got my funding! I joined the staff of Mission Adelante as the full-time director of Kids Adelante! A generous donor is matching a portion of contributions made to support my ministry through the first 12 months at a ratio of 3:2. The battle isn't over yet(as it never is with fundraising) but I now have a big chunk of time to raise some support!

I had my first real "wake up call" this last week at a park near Mission Adelante. We had a local church come down to do a VBS with our kids Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The first 2 nights of the week, we experienced a lot of tension as we essentially "took over" the park. Some of the middle school kids that weren't part of our group tried to instigate a fight but with the help of our volunteers, a potentially scary situation was averted. This really opened my eyes to the danger and constant worry our kids have about watching their backs. I think growing up in the 'burbs has really desensitized me to alot of urban normalities. I was very torn about whatever it was safe to keep returning to this park with our kids for summer activities or if we should stay at Mission Adelante. I felt it was a double edged sword because we could either stay and potentially draw in even more of the neighborhood kids or return to Mission Adelante to protect our kids. We opted to hold our future VBS activities at Mission but I am still very committed to handing out fliers to the neighborhood kids that aren't involved with Mission Adelante. I don't want them to have to suffer because of the safety issue.

On a happier note, last night as we had at least 80 volunteers, Mission kids, and non-Mission kids playing together, I had such a moment of peace. The church had brought a sound system and as the sounds of Christian music filled the park, I was over joyed that God was making his presence very known. Children that had attended our VBS camps last year in the park but weren't part of Mission, came back this year! I was able to again invite them to our Thursday night Bible Study. I hope they come tonight!

Thank you to those of you that have kept up with my sporadic blog and have kept our kids in your prayers. The slumber party is next week......AHHHHHH :)

2009-04-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

It' s officially April! It's funny to me that it was 70 degrees today and it's supposed to snow tomorrow...ONLY in KC! It's been a whirlwind as Molly and I have been preparing for our silent auction. My new roommate (Maria) and I have also been hard at work looking for houses. Today, after installing light fixtures at Mission Adelante (I know, ME installing light fixtures), Maria and I looked at 4 different properties. It was a hard choice and we got down to 2 properties that we loved. One house was perfect for us in that it had a 2 car garage, a covered front porch, a security system, and it was in a beautiful historic part of KCK (Westheights) The other property was in a more quaint area (Strawberry Hill), had brightly colored walls, but it didn't have all the little extras that we had found in Westheights. After thinking about it for a little bit though, we realized that the second home was a HOME. It felt like a home because it wasn't perfect, it wasn't flashy, it had its own character, just like us. We want our community to feel at home when they are in ours and more importantly, we want our kids at Kids Adelante to feel comfortable in their second home :) Once it's official, I will post pictures. It feels good to know that I know where home will be. It's starting to feel like all of the craziness is coming together. Watch out KCK, here I come!!!!!

Reminders...

2009-03-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

God put a scripture on my heart this week as I have been struggling with my support raising frustrations. I am reminded of His great power and love for all of us, even in the face of (what seems to be) insurmountable tasks.

But as for me
I will always have hope
I will praise you more and more
My mouth will tell of Your righteousness
Of Your salvation all day long
Though I know not its measure
I will come and proclaim Your righteousness
Your mighty acts
O sovereign Lord
I will proclaim Your righteousness
Yours alone.

2009-01-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

I have been reflecting today on the amazing friends and family that I have been blessed with. I have 2 amazing parents that encourage and support me in everything I do, even when they are scared for me. I am blessed by brothers that love me in very special ways and even though they might not understand where I am going, they still support me along the way. I have AMAZING girlfriends that have stood by me and supported me in my dreams well past the limits that anyone should. To add to the blessings that God has given me, I now have a new roommate to live with when I move down to Kansas City.
I met Maria at Tango class a year ago and it was one of those friendships where we just clicked. We became fast friends and I have watched as God has slowly opened up her heart to His plans, His purpose, and His courage. When I was thinking about moving down to KCK, I knew that Maria was the only person I could imagine myself living with partially because of her being able to tolerate how nutty I can be and partially because she's the only other person I would trust with the girls.
These five girls from the pre-teen Bible study have become like little sisters to me. I fight for them in prayer, talk to them almost daily, and worry about them probably more than is healthy :) I knew that if the girls ever needed something and I wasn't there, Maria would be the one person I could trust to love them and guide them.
Maria will be coming on this trimester of Kids Adelante as a new volunteer. I am so excited to see what God does in this incredible woman and I am BLESSED to be able to walk with her over the next season of our lives. I am overjoyed to share our home together and that I get to live with someone that will understand my absolutely unconditional love for the children of Mission Adelante!!!

2008-12-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that another has passed so quickly! I am about to turn 29 in a few weeks and I have been reflecting back over the past few years of my life. I have been volunteering now at Mission Adelante for 2 years, which is just crazy because it does NOT feel that long. I log onto our website and see the faces of our kids; it makes me feel like what I am doing with them makes a difference.
I have been so encouraged in the few days that I have been home in St. Louis. It is still so humbling to me that people are interested in what God is doing through me. I sat up the other night and talked to my sister-in-law for three hours about Mission Adelante. She was that interested and her listening to me meant the world. I have had friends and family make very generous donations over the past few weeks and it still blows me away each and every time. I am blessed to have a GOD that is faithful and continues to bless me daily with the affirmation that He needs ME at Mission Adelante. I can't express how amazingly generous and loved I feel because of that!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and begin the new year with the knowledge that you are loved by the Creator of all!!! Merry Christmas and happy new year!!!

Pictures of Cookie Party and Group 2 of Bible Study

2008-12-12T20:27:00.000-08:00

2008-12-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Turkey Day!! It has been a whirlwind lately but I was able to spend my Turkey Day relaxing and seeing some old friends! I was telling a friend of mine today I feel like I am leading two different lives right now.....my "teacher" life and my Mission Adelante life. I love both but balance is definitely something God is impressing on me right now.
We only have two lessons left for Kids Adelante before our big end of the trimester party. It's weird to think a whole trimester has already passed. The kids are growing and learning so much about God and His faithfulness. In group a few weeks ago, to introduce Abraham, I asked the kids what they knew about Him. One of the girls volunteered in a very matter-of-fact tone that he is the Father of faith! I was so floored that we use that phrase all the time now. The kids have such wisdom that never ceases to humble me.
I have to be honest, there is a conversation tomorrow that's going to happen that is very heavy on my heart right now. One of the young girls has been experiencing some pretty significant issues right now. I don't feel that she's safe and I am going to sit down with her, her mom, and Jarrett within the next week. The kids don't have alot of people that fight for them and I know this will be significant for her to see us do this. I also know that she will react very negatively when she realizes that I broke her confidence. If loving her and showing her Christ fighting for her heart means that she doesn't like me very much, then the sacrifice is well worth it.
I will make sure to post some pictures of the upcoming gingerbread house decorating party and the end of the trimester party. Hope this finds you well!

And so it begins....

2008-11-07T19:53:00.000-08:00

It's official! The support letters are going out this week. There's a certain sense of excitement mixed with apprehension as I begin this process again. It's different now going down to Mission Adelante because it gets harder and harder to leave. I am often down in Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) 5 nights a week now. I have to come to think of it as home.

I have been so encouraged by my friends and family as God has invited me into this very exciting journey. I am sure it must seem scary to them that I would choose to leave the securities of the "world" behind but my friend Jael once taught me something very wise. She said that the worldly jobs and securities that we have can be taken away at anytime. However, if we trust in God and His awesome plans for our life, we have the ULTIMATE job security. That's why I have such peace about accepting the position of Director of Kids Adelante; I know God has called me to this. As Jarrett (Director of Mission Adelante ) says, "God always pays for what He asks for."

It has also been so beautiful to me to see how God has begun to open my heart to the women's ministry as well. I have had many moms come and ask ME for advice about their children. It seems a bit funny to me as I am not a mother myself. However, I think that they see the way that I love their children and I would hope they know that I would do anything for their family. I am just excited for God to continue to grow that heart in me because I feel very burdened for the women of Mission Adelante to see that their truest worth lies in God!

SO EXCITED

2008-10-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

To all my dear friends and family........I HAVE ACCEPTED THE POSITION AS DIRECTOR OF KIDS ADELANTE!! I am so beyond excited and blessed to see how God's amazing love has brought me full circle to His truest desire for me. I will begin in June and I can't wait to move down to the community! Thank you for your prayers and support!!!!!

2008-08-12T17:54:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe the summer is already over! It seems like I just began the internship and it has already ended. The end of the summer party was SO much fun but also rally difficult as I said my goodbyes to the kids/families. I think that the most difficult goodbyes were with the teens that I had spent so much time with. I have included a journal entry that I thought was particularly relevant. I wrote this before the internship even began and I feel that as the summer is coming to a close, it’s something God truly showed to me as wisdom.

I don’t think God is calling us to shelter or protect them. (the kids) I think God wants us to teach them how to rise up, how to stand in the midst of it all and how to cling to Jesus with everything they’ve got. This summer isn’t about protecting, it’s about equipping.

There was a teenage boy that I wrote about that is involved with a gang down in KCK and since he and his family don’t attend Mission Adelante activities, I decided to write the goodbye letters. I went to his house and I had the opportunity to read them my goodbyes, telling them how amazing and loved they are to God and I. I told him that when I had to leave, he would the hardest for me to say goodbye to because I worry so much about his safety. I am blessed because my community is only 15 minute away from my house. Therefore, it is easier to trust that God has everyone and also to know that if the kids would need me, I am not a continent away. That fact has given me a great deal of hope.
The other difficult goodbye was to my Bible study girls. These are some of the toughest girls you could ever meet, mainly because their attitudes are off the charts J God has shown such favor because He allowed me to break through those walls with them this summer. So, at our last Bible study, I had decided to do a few extra things. I decided to purchase purity rings for them and it was so beautiful to be able to share with them WHY God knows they are worth waiting for. I also decided to write them a song and we all pretty much lost it once I started playing it for them. I t was one of the most meaningful moments of my life because these young women are like little sisters to me and I can’t imagine who I would be in Christ without them.
I am going to continue to blog here and keep everyone updated on what’s going on with Mission Adelante. Thank you again for your prayers and love this summer and please know they made a difference.

2008-07-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

Well after a fun-filled week in Branson for our end of the summer retreat, we are all safely back in KCK. I went with Molly, Sofie, Jarrett, Kristen, all four of their kids, and another staff member, Jason. It was like taking a family vacation all over again except this time, we had our own rooms and a jacuzzi bath tub :) It was a great time to be able to process through this summer and look ahead to the next year. It's CRAZY to me to think that next week is our last week. It seems like I still have so much to do!!!!!
I decided to get the young women in the Bible study purity rings in the next few days. We have talked about it and I am excited to be able to give them something that will remind them of all the things that they learned this summer. I think that leaving them will undoubtedly be the hardest part about moving back to OP and simply trusting that God has got them.
I will continue to update this site over the course of the next year to let those of you that check this know what's going on in ministry and if I have decided anything about potential ministry commitments. I feel strongly that I have been asked to wait till the end of the summer to make any formal commitments about my future with Mission Adelnate but I am patiently waiting on God to reveal HIS plans for my calling. It's intensely difficult to have finally found what you feel you were created to do and then wait until God assures you of His plans. However, God's faithfulness is something that has given me immense comfort this summer. Thanks to all of you that have supported me with prayer this summer. I could not have done any of this without you :)

Pictures :)

2008-07-26T14:54:00.001-07:00

This a random compilation of pictures. From the top left and across/down, the 2 other interns drinking hot sauce (Sofie and Molly), me with my friend Evette from Costa Rica that lives in KCK, Evette's family and I, Molly (otherwise known as Hot Tamale), my Desiree, and some of the girls of the staff members.

2008-07-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to sing of God's praises and goodness to the family I have been writing about through my blog and through the Mission Adelante prayer requests. I have been praying alot for this particular family and even went to talk to a respected member of the Mission community to get a more cultural perspective. He expressed the best way to approach this family in a loving and Christ-centered way. But God used another context to break through the walls. For those of you that don't know, there was a family whose parents were being very resistive to us spending time with their kids. I have been very respectful of the family and in the past few weeks, I have been really giving this family up to God. We went to a neighborhood birthday party on Sunday evening where this family was also at. I think that once the mom saw my love for her kids and that I truly just wanted to spend time with them, something in her changed. So yesterday, I went by the house and on a whim, decided to ask if one of the kids could actually GO get ice cream with me (In the past, I had brought the ice cream to them so that I wouldn't take them off the property in the hopes that the mom would see my genuine efforts to love on her kids) Well yesterday, she let one of the kids come with me to get ice cream! Not only that, the mom also let three of the five kids come to the park last night to participate in some activities that we sponsored. To say I am encouraged is an understatement and I am so grateful for God's faithfulness and love.
On the flip side, it's been difficult because the two older boys in this particular family both admitted to me that they are part of a gang. One of them is only nine and described to me how he had been beaten very badly last year in order to gain entrance into the gang. I think the hardest part about working with these kids is loving them but not taking on all of the worry that comes with that. I didn't sleep very much last night because one of the boys confessed to me that he had to leave the activities early to meet up with his cousin (who is his link to the gang) I worry about him alot and feel really afraid to let go, trusting him up to God. However, I know that with this love comes great responsibility and trust to place my hopes for these kids on God's altar of grace. I have been really feeling like God is breaking my heart this summer so much to the point that imagining my life apart from our community is unbearable. If anyone that reads this could be praying for this family, that would mean a great deal :) Love you all!!!!

Update on Bible study girls

2008-07-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

I wanted to thank all of you that have been faithfully praying for the young girl I told you about that was dealing with inappropriate sexual advances from a much older man. She shared with me 2 weeks ago that the police came to her house and told her mother that this man is now in jail. She is so much more at peace and can feel safe in her own home again. The most beautiful part of this situation was that this eleven old girl had the courage to share with her peers at the Bible study the struggle that she has been through. It was incredible to step back and let THEM affirm her bravery and courage in such a scary situation. God has truly honored this study this summer and allowed seeds of wisdom to be planted in the hearts of these young girls.

2008-07-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a difficult week, since the 4th of July. I had a very stirring conversation with my friend Jael and she caused me to step back and look at God's plans for my life. It has been an interesting progression as the summer has unfolded..... The first few weeks, I was ready to fill out the application for Mission Adelante and move down here. Then, reality began to sink in and God started showing me what life in ministry would really entail. I have started to see how much pressure I have been putting on myself this summer to choose a path, while God was asking me to wait and be patient. Instead of getting caught up in the details of what my life would look like in the flow of this ministry, I neglected to ask God if this is what HE is calling me to. So now, I am in the process of waiting on God to reveal that to me. I am not sure if it will take the rest of the summer or ten years, but I want to make sure that if I enter this ministry, it is solely because God wills it. Added to all this is this intense love for our community and the quickly approaching reality that the summer will be over soon. It is absolutely heart wrenching to try and imagine a life that does not involve my community. Sure, I will come down for activities and for Kids Adelante but it's not the same as living here. I have thought to myself so many times this summer that if God wanted me to teach the rest of my life, He shouldn't have sent me down here this summer :) This process is teaching me how to trust in a new and all-encompassing way but I also know that God placed this desire in my heart for a reason. He will honor it, of that I am sure. As Jarrett told me this summer, "God always pays for what He orders." Bless all of you guys and thanks to those of you that read/check this. Your support this summer has been beyond encouraging in a time of great transition.

2008-07-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated 4th! I am back in KC after spending a great weekend at home. I was able to spend some good time with my family and I feel very thankful for that. I was also doing a LOT of listening as God is showing this summer isn't about making a decision about where my future will take me, rather then feeling pressured to make decisions about the future. God really desires for me to enjoy this summer for all it's worth. I am feeling really called into a time of restoration with God and I am VERY excited to pursue Him as I know He's pursuing me. I can't believe the summer is halfway over......time flies when you're having fun :)

Pictures!!!!

2008-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

My girls..... Our first dinner with a family!

Pool with Rene and Rogelio

2008-06-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Well today Thiago (another volunteer) and I are going to begin inviting some of the boys to an informal soccer game on Fridays. The gang recruitment between the ages of 10 and 12 in KCK is very high so Thiago decided to get involved as a positive, male, role model. This Saturday we also have our soccer clinic which should draw as many as 160 people from the community! My parents are coming too and I am super excited for them to see what God is doing through me here.

First day of the Bible study.....

2008-06-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

I have not written in a while and I apologize. It has been quite busy around here :) So on Friday, five pre-teens and I gathered to do our first Bible study on the book Every Young Woman's Battle. I had read the adult version of this and was deeply moved and changed by the honesty and truth presented in this book.
I think I was expecting the girls to be more reserved and embarrassed then they were. I was blown away by their insightful and (and VERY honest) questions. I shared with them some of the relationship struggles that I have been through because I felt that before I could ask them to be vulnerable with me, I would need to be vulnerable with them. It was so sweet because as I relayed past heart aches, they became protective and defense FOR me.
It was so amazing to me that the girls didn't want to take their binders home for fear that their parents might go through their personal responses. Instead, they chose to trust me and left the binders with me. I felt very honored that they would trust their hearts to me in that way.
As I am spending time with these beautiful young women, I am beginning to truly see the constant sexual temptation that they face. I would appreciate prayers for these young women as they are facing battles that most of us didn't even face until we were late into our teens. I would also appreciate prayer for one young woman. I pray that she would feel safe and open enough to share with the group some of the issues she opened up to me about. I really believe a great deal of healing would occur if she would share her story with her peers, her sisters in Christ.

Bigger than I expected

2008-06-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

The slumber party was WONDERFUL!! We had a blast with the girls and got about 3 hours of sleep which was a reminder of my younger days (and how I need more sleep to be a nice person!) I also had an amazing heart to heart with a few of the girls about issues that are going on in their lives. I have been praying that God would make it EVIDENT to me that He wants ME here and that HE NEEDS my GIFTS here. Friday night He made that abundantly clear to me. I find it so beautiful that God is taking the lessons of my past that I viewed as trash and turning it into treasure for these girls. I am so blessed that God is showing me where these girls are in bondage and how He is choosing to speak truth through me to them. There are so many lies that these girls are believing and I am so excited to dive headlong into where God is calling me to go with the Purity Bible study.

Prayers please

2008-06-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the slumber party for the girls I invited to participate in the Bible study. Please pray that the door would be blown WIDE open in our interactions tonight and that God would guide me in ALL my words and actions. If you have time, I would love to have some comments on here.........

2008-06-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Today was a much needed day of rest. I know some of you are feeling a little unloved because of the business of the schedule so I am going to try and post more frequently :) We went to a local arboretum with the other interns. I was able to have some "me time" which has been much harder to find in this environment that I thought it would be. I just got to drink in God's beauty and listen to what He wanted to share with me. There are alot of changes in my future and I truly feel that He is preparing me for them while encouraging me to follow Him. I have really been praying that God would show me the necessity of my presence here to serve Him.

Tomorrow is the slumber party for the pre-teens so any prayers you can send this way would be great. ALL of the moms were so thankful for this opportunity because they feel like their daughters won't talk to them about the questions they are having. I am hoping this Bible study on purity will give the girls a forum to share/talk about things they have experienced. I really see the purpose of the Bible study on God's end as a means to shine a VERY bright light into the dark places where these girls won't let anyone see.

2008-06-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

A fun day spent with some of my boys :) We went to the Palateria for ice cream (Edgar, Raul, Giancarlo, and I) and then went to the park to play soccer! I surprised them with my skills!! Plus Giancarlo and his mom are from Costa Rica so I was SUPER excited! Top left is Edgar, then Raul (his little brother), and Giancarlo is on the bottom.

Go for it!

2008-06-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Whew!! This week has flown by but it has been such an AMAZING week to begin. Molly and I have settled into our new digs at Mercy and Truth Medical Mission, a reformed building that was once a seminary. I have gotten to spend some one on one time with the kids this week and God has really placed the teens of this community on my heart. I am going to be beginning a Bible study on sexual purity with the girls because the reality is that Latina youth have the highest pregnancy rate in our country. I am praying that by sharing my heart and testimony with them, God will be evident in the decisions that they make in the future.
Last night also marked our first Kids' Adelante and we had a HUGE group of about 30-35 kids. Jarrett (my supervisor) asked me to help in leading the oldest group of 10-12 year olds. I have to confess I was nervous at first but things went really well. The kids were so involved!!!!They were engaged in the lesson and even offered up prayer requests at the end of the study. I was very encouraged because I can see that God is really going to work in this group this summer.
I am hoping that those of you that will read this regularly will partner with me in prayer as God shows me where He wants me to go. My heart for this week is really for the teens in KCK and prayers that the parents would be open to the Bible study on Sexual purity would be very appreciated. I am trusting that God will allow me to not step on any toes and really love on these girls. Thank you again so much for your prayers and love for me. I apologize in advance for any lack of communication but know that I am praying for all of you!!

Welcome to "Love without Limits"

2008-05-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to your new blogsite. You can use this to keep supporters informed about your internship with Mission Adelante. Please feel free to make any changes to the blog you desire including title. However, please leave the two Mission Adelante links I have built in.

Jarrett

Love Without Limits

Changing hearts: CCDA Conference 2011

Changing hearts: CCDA Conference 2011

Love without Limits: May 2011: What a difference a year makes...

Prayer Requests:Prayer Requests

Praise the Lord for allowing us to finish our third year of LIT with 100% of the children finishing the year together for the first time!For a safe summer for all the children and teens of our community.Please pray for the Lord to have a powerful impact through our summer interns.

Love without Limits: March: Gricelda's heart for the teens

Coming full circle

Shoal Creek blesses the kids of Mission Adelante!!

Love without Limits: December: A walk to remember

Princesses of the King!

"I lost my best friend!"

Costa Rica......HERE I COME!!

Words of encouragment

December Blog

An Update Video from Megan McDermott

Vacation Bible School offers rich opportunities for spritual growth in the summer!

Slumber party pics

The 2nd Annual Slumber Party

My first real week!

It's official :)

Reminders...

Pictures of Cookie Party and Group 2 of Bible Study

And so it begins....

SO EXCITED

Pictures :)

Update on Bible study girls

Pictures!!!!

First day of the Bible study.....

Bigger than I expected

Prayers please

Go for it!

Welcome to "Love without Limits"

Praise the Lord for allowing us to finish our third year of LIT with 100% of the children finishing the year together for the first time!
For a safe summer for all the children and teens of our community.
Please pray for the Lord to have a powerful impact through our summer interns.