Lindsay Michelle

“Life is an adventure!” Those words continue to ring through my mind as I look back over the last few months. God has taken my hand and lead me on an adventure that includes good, bad, great, and ugly.

I am writing this e-mail to let you know I am currently back in the US. I arrived here in Tampa a couple weeks ago. I had to leave Mexico very quickly due to a difficult situation involving my safety.

Though leaving Mexico City was not as I planned, I trust that God works everything together for good. He did some incredible things during my time in Mexico City. Together, we were able to send 6 kids to youth camp, and provide an abundance of food to give to poor families. I also taught break-dancing classes to the youth, shared the Gospel on the streets, volunteered in the church youth group, shared the Word with the youth at a few churches, sang and shared at an indigenous prayer crusade in the mountains, and prayed with multiple people in multiple places.

I choose to celebrate these victories and learn from the difficulties!

What now?

I know that God is in control, and with Him ALL things are possible. I’m not giving up on the vision that God has placed inside my heart to reach Latin America and the world! My plan is to stay here in the U.S. for the next two months. After seeking wise counsel from my pastor, family, and best friend I am sure this is the right decision. I will be living in Florida and attending my home church.

During this time I will be focusing on spending time with God, working through the emotional stress caused by the situation I faced in Mexico, and becoming whole. I will also be working on administrative tasks for Impacto Juvenil. This will include meeting with supporters, organizing future trips, and preparing for the next step God desires Impacto Juvenil to take.

Please continue to pray that God makes His perfect will clear, and that doors continue to open that we might see lives changed!

I will continue to share my heart with all of you here on my blog. Please check-in often to listen as I share the lessons I am learning, and what God is up to in my life!

First, let me thank you for your e-mails and words of encouragement this last month. I’ve had many of you wanting to hear what’s going on, so I thought I’d let you in on the plans for this next month.

We started our Youth Break-Dance Classes about a month, and that’s been going great! We have had from 20-30 young people coming every week. It’s been an incredible opportunity to build relationships with them, and earn the right to speak into their lives. For many of them, it’s what they look forward to all week long!

We’re learning not only how to dance, but kids that are shy, and have no confidence, are learning to be confident in God and step out, even when they’re not comfortable. Each week we talk about individuality, God’s love, and how to learn to NEVER walk in fear. In just four short weeks, God is changing these kids. There are more smiles, more laughs, and more confidence in who they are in Christ. Wow!!

It has also been a blessing to partner with the “Adolocente” youth group, and continue these relationships.

I continue to be amazed that absolutely nothing has happened exactly according to plan. It amazes me that God knows us so well, that He changes things, according to HIS will, and HIS plan, and then just asks us to trust. The Lord keeps saying….”Lindsay, just love my people.”

People are what ministry is all about. It’s about the one. One life. One soul. Almost every day that I’ve been here, God has placed spiritually hungry people in my path, that are literally begging me to hear my testimony, which of course introduces them to the Gospel. I’ve been able to pray for healing with women in the metro, prayed for single moms on the buses, discussed philosophy with some punk rockers, and explained what an authentic relationship with God is all about, to a girl from Scotland, and cooked dinner for the widow neighbor. Building relationships with people and learning the heart-beat of this culture is priceless. Just loving people is so much fun!!!!

When things don’t go according to our plan, it means God’s doing something even greater!

Yesterday, my church, had a food drive, and thanks to all of you, we were able to buy two packed-to-overflowing carts full of rice, beans, soap, oil, baby wipes, noodles, and milk. We’re going to deliver the food this week to the poor of Mexico City!

This week, I will be in Aljaba. This is an intense Bible camp for young people. Impacto Juvenil sponsored 6 kids that didn’t have the financial resources to go! I will fill you in on how God changes their lives this week!

Thank you for your support! We’re feeding the hungry and impacting the lives of young people together!! May God continue to bless you in every area of your life, that YOU may continue to be a blessing to others!

http://www.youtube.com/v/eipzuz6dWlI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYqEGf202vc

This week I spent two days at Centro NOE. This is a wonderful ministry that was started by a small group of missionaries from the states almost sixteen years ago. After hearing about the fruit of NOE and the impact they are making on their community, Loren and I chose to take a trip and visit.

We spent time with the director, sat-in on a few classes, and of course asked lots and lots of questions. Centro NOE is a youth center in Morelia. They offer classes to the community, that are very similar to what we will offer with Impacto Juvenil Centers. In addition, they have a small rec center, basketball teams, workout area, music classes, and even small groups for parents as they wait.

Centro NOE is living proof that building relationships with kids and their families works. They have seen many teens start a relationship with Christ and are making a difference in the lives of hundreds each week. We will be implementing a few additional outreach programs than what they are currently using, and I am SURE we can do the same in Mexico City!

It was a great time to learn, get new ideas, and see how it actually works! Thank you Overcast family for your hospitality!

At the end of last week, I went to see the building that the church I’m working with just bought. The guys had breifly described the amount of work that is yet to be done, but I don’t think their words painted a clear picture. The new building is HUGE and there is a HUGE amount of construction still left to be done.

One thing that has been so incredible to see is how everyone, fifteen year old boys, all the way up to 65 year old grandpas are working together to make this happen. There are some young men who have even temporarily quite their jobs, cut all their spending, and are giving everything they have for the sake of building the church. It’s encouraging, and challenging to see such a self-sacrificing attitude.

After my tour of the church building, I was given a tour of the local neighborhood that surrounds the new church. There are literley thousands and thousands of small low-income housing apartments within walking distance. This area is known by parents that work in the local market, or sell things in the streets, and kids that are left alone if their mother works as well.

My mind drifted quickly to the opportunity to minister the the kids and families in the area. One of my prayers has been that God would lead us to the perfect area to reach the largest amount of people as quickly as possible. As we drove through these apartments, my eyes saw lots of trash, children running, dogs barking, youth leaving school with their back-packs, and moms returning from the market. My heart however, saw these young people coming to the youth center, a door-to-door outreach, a Sidewalk Sunday School program, and even a block party to kick things off!

I’m very excited! There is a lot of work to be done, and this is just one small “colonia” of many here in Mexico City, but praise be to God, we know where we’re going to start!!

We’re still trying to find a building to rent. Honestly, we need a lot more financial support base to be able to sign a lease. Please pray that God would allow us to find the perfect building, and that He would supernaturally provide every “peso” needed to touch these kids lives!

We’re off to a start….starting……just around the block.

  

I posted a few new pictures on myspace a couple days ago, and since then, the questions have poured in…”What in the world does that tattoo mean?”

So, here’s the story behind the tatoo……

Mexico City is on of the most dangerous cities in all of Latin America. It is known for it’s robberies, kidnapping, gang activity, drugs, and prositution. I have been told by many not to go, by others I will be robbed, and of course, thoughts even within my own mind, of “what the heck am I doing”?

All my life, I have struggled with random thoughts of fear. Since I was a child, I was awakened in the night with horrible night mares. I’ve struggled with thoughts like….What if I die? What if someone robs me today? What if someone breaks into my house? What if I have cancer? What if I fail? What if this…? What if that…?

Hebrews 2:15 says, “….Jesus came to free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” When I read this verse a few months ago something clicked in my heart. Jesus came to rid us of a fear of death. If we choose to be afraid of the future, or afraid of sickness, or ultimately death, we make a choice to be slaves to the enemy.

I have made a choice. I will not be held back by fear. I will not believe the lies of the enemy. I will not allow anything to rob me of God’s blessing on my life, nor to keep me from thousands of lives that will be changed by coming to Mexico City.

The Bible says, God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind!

The tattoo is Psalms 91:5. The actual words written on my wrist are “THOU SHALL NOT BE AFRAID”. It is from the original language the Bible was written in, Hebrew.

Please take a minute for yourself, and read Psalm 91. No matter what happens, no matter what situation we’re in, or what’s happening around us, God is our refuge. As believers we know He is in control, and NOTHING can happen to us outside of God’s will.

For me, my tattoo is a reminder to myself, and a declaration to all, that I am free from fear! Thank you Jesus!!!!

Maybe you need to make a declaration today that you won’t be held back by fear in your life. Try something new, do something different, we have nothing to fear!!!

Well, it’s official, I’m officially a resident of Mexico City!!

As I arrived last Thursday I was greeted by the youth pastor and a volunteer from the church. We loaded up my suitcases, headed toward the van, and as I walked outside of the airport doors the smell of Mexico filled my nose. Unless you’ve been here, you probably can’t understand, but there’s a very specific smell of Mexico City. One that warms my heart and let me know that I had arrived at my new home. It’s a smell of old cars, pollution, fresh bread, and tacos!!

The plan was that I would be staying with a very nice couple from the church, but I had prayed that God would make a way for me to stay with the pastors. What a great surprise!! I arrived and because of a date-change, wound up spending the night with them. Then, the next day, they invited me to stay in the house here for up to six months!! What a blessing. Ricardo and Liz have a beautiful home with three lovely children. My new Mexican family! Isn’t it great to see how God even works out the smallest details when you’re following him?!

I am sharing a room with a lovely young girl from Switzerland. She is 19, and has a passion to serve the Mexican community and learn more Spanish. What a blessing. She will also be living here for six months!

Some of you have asked about my health…well….I guess you can say I got my “welcome to Mexico”. On Sunday I ate some pizza, or an attempt to be pizza, and wound up throwing up all night and very weak the following couple days. Please pray God would give me a Mexican stomach…QUICKLY!!

On a ministry side of things, it will be going a little bit more slowly than expected. The church I’m working with purchased a new building! It’s incredible! However, it was scheduled to be finished in December, and will probably not be done for another month or two. That means all of the volunteers from the church are 100% dedicated to finishing that before starting any new projects.

In the mean time, I’ll be attending a youth conference in another state at the end of the month, and visiting NOE for a week. NOE is a youth center in Morelia, that is has been established for nearly 8 years. It was started by a couple from the States. It will be a great opportunity to learn from peoplethat are already doing what I dream of, and build relationships.

As Matt (NLC) says, “Celebrate the small things!”. So, I’m doing just that. I found the local market, unpacked my bags, purchased some much needed items, am getting to know the young people in the area, and building some great relationships with the pastors!

Most importantly, I need to spend time with Jesus, hear His voice, His heart-beat, and His wisdom for the road ahead. This journey will be a long one, so I believe He’s giving me time to make sure the foundation is strong!

Thanks for your prayers and support!

What a month! December has been CRAZY in all caps! I spent my last month in the states with friends and family.

We had Mexican Dessert Fundraising Fiestas in Clearwater and Fort Myers. It was such a blessing to see how many people came to support me, the vision of Impacto Juvenil, and just let me know you’re there! I know it’s by us all working together that we really are going to raise the money to open up our first Impacto Youth Center!!

Also, thanks to all of you that sent me off! We had a great evening of break-dancing, turkey burgers, ping-pong, and laughs at Ben’s house! You guys are awesome, and I couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend my last night in Fort Myers!

Pictures are worth a thousand words…so check it out! Glad you’re a part of the journey!!!!

PS. Don’t forget to check us out www.impactojuvenilministries.com

What an incredible week! I was given the privilege of hanging out with the staff, interns, and people from HPC for about five days. I was really looking forward to the trip as a time for learning, growing, and networking. It superceded every one of my expectations.

The staff is absolutely incredible. They are all very knowledgeable, hard workers, funny, compassionate, fun to be around, and dedicated to the vision of Pastor Dino and HPC.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was watching people from the church getting involved in impacting people that most are afraid to go to. On Friday evening, a small group of us set out to visit prostitutes, strip clubs, and Hooters girls, to give them a rose and let them know someone cares about them.

On Saturday morning, an entirely different group of people, bombarded the most ghetto neighborhoods with drinks, candy for kids, and flyers letting them know about a free Thanksgiving meal. We were given the opportunity to pray with some of the people.

There were hours everyday that I spent in meetings. This was my opportunity to spend asking many many questions to people are doing now, what I desire to do in Mexico. I met the lady over writing grants, the high school pastors, some interns at HPC, the leader of Children’s Cup, the Spanish campus pastor, and the three amazing women that work with all of the outreaches that HPC does in the community.

Each of these meetings produced great answers to questions, valuable documents, paperwork, and ideas that I was given to take with me.

I was also able to see a HUGE testimony of God’s faithfulness. HPC was just recently given a very large building. It was a personal encouragement to me, to see as I am faithful with little, and simply love His people, He will be faithful to provide everything we need to touch the lives of a hurting world in Latin America.

I love the concept of everything they do, “If you take care of the ones that no one wants, God will give you the ones that everyone wants.” Their purpose and goal is to love the unloveable, the murderers, the theives, the prostitutes, and the homeless. I can only imagine the prize that awaits them in heaven. Love fuels the vision. Love is the reason countless hours, and countless tears, and countless sacrifices are made, every week, for the sake of Baton Rouge knowing hope, and knowing Jesus!

How many angels have they entertained? How about you……?

Thank you Pastor Dino and ALL of HPC for an incredible week! You were all a blessing, and it was an honor to spend time with you. I’m so excited about our continued relationship and working together to impact Latin America!!

This trip has been an amazing one, and things are going great, however, a few things just aren’t working out the way I thought they would.

A few meetings that were scheduled, were canceled due to some last minute trips, one of the dessert nights was called off due to some family events, and a few other small things just aren’t flowing.

So, in the midst of the schedule changing chaos, I had to look into the motives of my heart.  I had two options.   One, I could get disappointed and wonder why things aren’t going the way I expected, or, two, I could see that God has something even better planned, and strap in for the ride. By God’s grace I chose the number two.

It was amazing to see how God has orchestrated every one of our steps. Many times things don’t go the way we want them to go, because God sees how we might be a blessing to someone else, at just the right moment, at just the right place.  He’s the plan changer!

Yesterday afternoon, I spent a long amount of time at the nursing home where my grandmother is living. I was showing her some pictures of missions work in Mexico and one of the nurses came to watch. She began asking some questions, and somehow, that lead into a conversation about God not judging, not choosing us based on our past, and how He loves each of us, and created us with purpose. This young nurse burst into tears as she remembered God’s love for her, and how He can use her.

Then, last night, we had a Chili Dinner at The Hanner’s house. The original plan was to have a fundraiser dessert night for Impacto Juvenil, but God had greater things planned. After some of the people started leaving, I sat down with a sweet young lady. She shared that she had been very sick, loosing sleep for weeks, had a miscarriage, and was struggling with fear. I had the opportunity to share of my own battle with fear, and pray with her and her husband. Her and her husband, looked up, and with tears in their eyes and said thank you.

I did nothing, but share my story, and pray for God’s freedom.  Your story has power.  Your smile has power.  Your listening ear has power.

See, it’s when we take our eyes off of what we need, what we want, and what we’ve planned, and put them on others when God has an opportunity to move.

So, the next time you’re plans get all messed up and things are turning out the way you think, take a look around because God just might be using you to touch someone’s life.

I’ve been traveling for the last week. I’ve seen S. Carolina, N. Carolina, Tennessee, and now Kentucky. The one thing I continue to be astounded by is God’s greatness! In Florida, we have beautiful beaches, but up here they have mountains….and cold weather!

There was time for a little fun on the 4-wheeler, some time for reading, visiting with friends, and time to be still before God, and listen to His voice.

As I glance to the top of these mountains, in all their majesty, I am forced to think of the God that has created them. I think of how He provides for every animal that lives on them, how He makes the leaves turn colors to simply display His creativity, and how He rooted them so deeply in the earth that they might stand high.

God has been speaking to me regarding this…. If He’s big enough to create these majestic mountains, then also big enough to provide for you and I!

He has done just that! This weekend I was able to share at Christian Assembly in Madisonville, KY. Pastor Roy let me share about what we’re doing in Mexico City, took up an offering for Impacto Juvenil, and even encouraged the church to sign up for monthly support! Many members of the church responded, and I am so grateful for their generosity.

God uses many people, all coming together, to make a great impact on the world. He does provide, He does supply, and He is faithful.

The last few days I was given the opportunity to be at Countryside Christian Center’s Missions Conference. It was a four day conference jam packed with blessings!

The pastor of CCC helped us to raise $5000 to pay for the sound system at our Impacto Juvenil Youth Center which we are planning on starting in 2008. Praise God! I know this is just the small beginning of God’s supernatural provision for this vision to reach the youth of Latin America. Thank you to CCC and all the people that were a part of this!

We also set-up a display table to let people know what we’re planning on doing with Impacto. This gave us the chance to put our vision in the hands of many through brochures. I also spoke one on one with many people that were interested in the ministry, giving them more details and contact information.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to converse with men and women that have traveled the world, started Bible schools and clinics, provided food and shelter to thousands, and even have been persecuted for their faith, and yet continued to share the message of Christ.

When you look into the heart of an entire world, many of which have never even heard the name of Jesus, and continue to live without hope, it suddenly makes the “important” things of life not so important at all. I heard one story of a man, that just two weeks ago was kidnapped along with his daughter, and told never to preach the Gospel in this area of Africa again. After much prayer he was released, but will not leave Africa because God told him to go, and he is willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of others. Wow! What a humbling attitude.

There was a wealth of wisdom, knowledge, and anointing represented in other missionaries and the speakers.  God spoke to my heart in many ways.  I gleaned many ideas, mission concepts, and enjoyed God’s presence.

Please pray for God’s voice to be ever clear, and my ears attentive to His very whisper.  We need miracles!!!….and we serve the God of miracles!!

 

After many hours of prayer, much wise counsel, and research, we’ve decided to move to Mexico City!!!

After a day in Mexico City, the answer was easy and obvious. There is something about Mexico City that has absolutely captivated my heart. We left a month ago, saying to the Lord, “Guide us and lead us where YOU desire.” He did just that.

As we walked throught the dark streets, and visited the garbage dumps where people live, I saw great opportunity for God’s reviving power to be displayed! I looked into eyes of desperate young people, children without education, gangsters, and prostitutes, and couldn’t resist the call to share the hope of Christ. This isn’t an area that anyone would WANT to move to, but someone has to, and it might as wel be me!!

It’s dark, it’s dangerous, and it’s ugly, but I am sure that God is going to use the foolish, dirty, ugly, things of Mexico City, to display His might and power.

We are going to be working with Conquistando Fronteras in Mexico City. The pastor there, Alejandro Escobedo, is the president of the local pastors association. The church was founded 13 years ago. These pastors have truly fought to see their city changed. This life-giving church, with hundreds of new converts is fruit of their work and dedication. They Spirit-filled, committed, and have a heart to serve and support Impacto Juvenil.

It is our honor to have such a spiritual covering in Mexico City.

The next four to six months will consist of fundraising. Please join with us, and believe God for a financial miracle, so we can begin work there as soon as possible. We need hundreds of thousands of dollars to be able to start the youth center the beginning of next year! We have a big God, and are believing for BIG miracles!!

I’d also like to thank so many of you that have been praying diligently for wisdom in this big decision. In addition, thanks to those of you that gave financially to make our research trip possible!

The last few days of my trip was amazing! We didn’t have to look very hard to find plenty of need within the city of Neza. On Friday night, we continued our attempt to capture video. As we strolled through the dark streets of Mexico City we saw prostitutes, and lots of them. Some were old, and some were pretty, and some just fourteen and fifteen year old babies, working for their pimp. Drugs and gangsters are just a part of a normal strol down any street at night. The surface looks dark, the city seems ugly, but underneath tough faces, are hearts longing for a touch of love.

We were able to meet with the pastors and youth pastors multiple times. Everytime I had a question for them, they somehow gave me the exact answer I was looking for. Before they even read the five page vision of Impacto Juvenil, they began telling me of the ministries they have dreamed of. As God would have it, they were ALL written as a part of what we want to do.

The people were incredible. There are eight young men that live at a house the church rents. Each of them were assisting us get information on renting property, setting up meetings, and getting other information we need. It was inredible to watch the entire body work together, to make something great happen for Jesus.

The church, Conquistando Fronteras, is well known in the community, has great relationships with other pastors, just puchased a new building, has produced three worship albums, and already has vision of reaching the physical needs of the community. What a blessing they have been!!!

Outside of researching this last weekend, we also had the opportunity for some ministry. There was a team of about 20 young people that hit the Metro (the train), preached, sang, shared testimonies, and prayed with people.

I personally shared with one elderly woman I sat next to. She shared a little of her story, then by the end of the conversation, as tears flowed from her eyes as she accepted Jesus as her savior.

I also shared the Gospel with a young man that confessed to being the “black sheep” of his family. He admitted his drug and alcohol addiction, yet said he didn’t believe in God. His face changed from hard and unbelieving, to soft and qustioning as God moved in his heart. He didn’t accept Christ at that time, but promised to read two chapters of the New Testament, and allowed us to pray for him. He was such a smart kid, but was just driving a bici-taxi to get his day’s drug dose. What potential.

We also went to the Basureros. This is located on the outskirts of the city. There are hundreds of people that have literally build their cardboard homes on top of the garbage. They search for treasures that they can resell everyday in the streets. The town was VERY closed, and almost hostel as we first arrived. We met with the leader of the “town”, and prayed with some people for healing. They welcomed us back upon our return to Mexico City.

I’m saddened to say we were not able to get pictures of as much as we would have liked to for security reasons.

God’s hand of favor and grace was evident in all the relationships we established not only inside the local churches, but with people in the streets. I believe this could be the beginning of a great impact on a city!

Sunday, before we left, the pastor of the church and I met for about twenty minutes. I asked him what his overall view was on the week we spent in Neza, and his desires for the future regarding a relationship with Conquistando Fronteras (the church) and Impacto Juvenil. He quickly let me know we are welcome in the city.

Overall, this trip was a HUGE success! Everything was completely different than what we planned or expected. THAT is the way of God! It was BETTER than what we could have hoped for.

Thank you to all of you that supported this trip in prayer or finances. We could NOT have done this without you!

Next Level Family…I love you!! It’s an honor to be our first missionary sent out. Thanks for your support! I couldn’t ask for a better church home!

Countryside Christian Center, Dick and Sharon, Lane and Becky….. May God bless you greatly!