Hola de Tijuana del Mar!

Hello from Tijuana by the Sea!

Greetings from an increasingly growing tired Kelsey Maxine.
It has been an intense, yet spectacular week! I'll post a photo album to my Facebook page about the last week to give a visual of the amazing journey God has invited me to be a part of!

After a tremendous three month training seminar in Kona, Hawai'i with Youth With A Mission, my focus has brought me to Mexico and, eventually, will lead me to the Dominican Republic. The leaders on my outreach team are Andrew and Faith Dutton (Australia/New Zealand), and Heidi Cartledge (Oregon, USA). Team Dutton is a package deal complete with three lovely, rambunctious children we know and love as Emily(8), Michael(6), and Elijah(4); as well as family friend, Elisa age 15 (England, UK), along to help Mama Faith with schoolwork and babysitting! Elisa fits right in with the eleven students from DTS 360, who, at this point, are so much more like brothers and sisters than just friends.

Aaron - 20 - Vancouver, Canada
Bryan - 24 - Virginia, USA
Cassie - 24 - Russia / Missionary from China
Calvin - 20 - Washington State, USA
Florimond - 23 - France
Josef - 23 - Sweden
Kyle - 19 - Colorado, USA
Sam - 19 - Los Angeles, California, USA
Sâmila (aka Sammy) - 18 - Brazil
Serena - 23 - Vancouver, Canada

After finishing classes the end of March, we had the opportunity to minister to our University of the Nations Ohana (Family) and Kona Community. Our class organized and hosted a Father-Daughter banquet, we completed the last week of our work duties, and put together a kid's program as the annual staff gathering brought hundreds of YWAMers and their children to the Kona base. Finishing it all up serving the meal at a beach side barbecue, Monday was a hectic day filled with packing and cleaning our dorm rooms. Leaving from the beloved "Flags" gathering, the other half of our DTS360 class sent us off with prayers, hugs, and words of encouragement. They would leave the following morning for Eastern Europe, (ie. the Ukraine).
Our overnight flight left Hawai'i around 9pm local time and got us to Los Angeles by around 6am Tuesday morning. A connection flight just under an hour landed us in San Diego where the gang piled onto a rented bus and crossed the border. We were blessed, particularly so, as we crossed into Mexico with no questions, no matter we collectively have passports from nine different nations.
Arrangements have been made for us to stay at another Youth With A Mission base for the time being. The students reside in two trailers on this breathtaking campus... currently under construction. The staff welcomed us with open arms and immediately invited us to the ministries they serve their community with. Juan and Krissy have been so generous with their time and humbly exhibit the servant attitude Jesus calls His believers to live.
Wednesday morning, a small group awoke at 5:45, drove to an orphanage ten minutes away and served breakfast. A large home for nearly twenty children and nineteen infants, we enjoyed meeting the kids and singing praise songs before they walked to school. Our team met and started to discuss the vision God is showing us for the short term and long term plans for Tijuana and Mexico. That night, Calvin and Kyle prepared soup, our entire group drove to downtown TJ and a handful of the team served the hot meal to the homeless with Krissy. Myself, with a smaller group, joined Juan in a prayer walk through the heartbreaking streets of the Red Light District.
Thursday morning, the boys drove to Ensenada to help Juan with the equipment for an event over the weekend while the girls rode with Krissy to the Juvenile Detention Center. We met with six young ladies, ages ranging from 14 to 22. I was intimidated, not knowing what to expect, but the girls came into the classroom exchanging hugs, kisses, and cheerful "Hola's!" After a time of praise and worship, my friend Serena and I each shared our testimonies. This led into a wonderful time where two girls opened up and shared their own tragic tales. Each of the girls had given her life to Christ while imprisoned and the joy of the Lord was eminent through their demeanor. On Thursday afternoon, the girls again joined a group from the base for an afternoon program called "The Walking Circle". Our lack of knowledge when it comes to the Spanish Language is frustrating and limits the ways in which we connect with the people here, *pero, quiero aprender hablar mas espanol; y si, lo hare! (*but, I want to learn to speak more Spanish; and yes, I will!) Later on Thursday, we began practicing a thirteen minute drama, a silent skit set to music in which we the present Gospel in modern day examples of bondage to sin.
Friday was another marvelous combination of great ministry. At this point, it is common for my teammates to be divided into groups or partners. My day consisted of working on the base in the kitchen and cleaning guest rooms, enjoying my quiet time with the Lord, and returning to the Juvenile prison, this time with only one female teammate, Cassie, and a larger group of guys as we met with the male prisoners. Slightly more challenging, I trust God is stirring in the hearts of many of the broken men. Upon our return, our leaders surprised us in taking us out to a neighborhood for real deal Mexican food and later, homeade Mexican ice cream. We had an amazing time congratulating our team on a week of hard work. Our evening was again consumed with practicing the "Enslaved" drama so it would be perfect for Saturday's performance.
A local church here put on a phenomenal community gathering today. We left the base close to 9am and arrived at the City Hall in Rosarito. For three hours we set up skate ramps, stereo equipment, and tents for games and delicious Mexican food. Throughout the course of the day, between 800-1,000 people walked through the family friendly parking lot. DTS360 put on performances of our drama, a circus exhibition, and choreographed dance. The language barrier was experienced at it's most devastating caliber as the Gospel was preached and people everywhere raised their hands, having accepted Christ, and waited for someone to lead them in prayer. Without a translator, many of us stood with families and just praised God for His faithfulness, praying quietly in thanksgiving.

It's been another long night; Sammy led a team in learning yet another drama- tomorrow morning is Sunday and we've got an hour and a half of time to fill for a children's program at a local church. For the next seven weeks, the ministries I have been introduced to will be opportunities to which nothing else compares. I appreciate your prayers during this time.

Missing you from Mexico,
Kels

----------------------------------------------------Kelsey y Larzon <3 Mexico 2011


Paz y Amor
Dios de bendiga!

The "Spiritual Gift" of Sharing Your Faith

One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven
by : Mark Cahill

"I don't have to go to Zimbabwe, I can just go to Subway!" Mark Cahill spoke concerning an evangelism opportunity in the parking lot of a popular dining spot. While reading Mark's book and listening to his powerful messages, a new perspective towards witnessing has emerged within my spirit. I sometimes forget that witnessing is not a presentation, but it is a conversation. So often I find I am too busy for the Lord's agenda. A comment Mark made reminded me to see the momentous signifigance in engaging in conversation with the Lord throughout the day, making sure you're never too rushed to speak at a Christian conference if God wants you to talk to your waitress at breakfast.

Mark Cahill, a fulltime evangelist from the southern states, does not sugar coat his desire to touch the lost. He imitates the nature of our Christ, so I confidently speak, aware of his humility, that Mark Cahill is annointed by our Awesome God to awaken the people of the United States of America. He graduated from Auburn University with a business degree and an honorable mention as an Academic All-American basketball player. Mark later committed his heart to Jesus Christ and asked God to put him in a place where he could touch as many lives as possible. Within the year, he became a teacher at a Christian high school. Content, Mark believed he was to be a teacher for the rest of his life. He continued to trust his Father and soon stepped into his true calling: to be a skilled witness for the Lord and lead others to the same destiny. Whether at music, art, or gay pride festivals; at restaurants, beaches, malls, or bar sections of towns, Mr. Cahill does not accept the lifestyles of modern day Christianity; and calls forth other believers to live as if they truly believe in whose name they profess. A previous student said of Mark, "he's still teaching, just in a much bigger classroom." Now, as one of the Nation's most diligent public speakers, he speaks to thousands of people each year at churches, retreats, conferences, camps, etc., equipping and challenging Christians to get out and reach the lost.

We talk about the things we love. Whether it be our family, our sports team, college, favorite musicians, or food, we have no problem encouraging others to go after the things that possess our hearts. In reference to evangelism, what is Mark's advice when it comes to becoming a better witnesser? Fall more in love with Jesus. What is the 'One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven'? Share your faith with a lost soul. Once we come to our eternal rest, we will never again have the opportunity to share the gospel with someone unaware of the love of the Heavenly Father. Mark stresses that you cannot find Christians in the Bible who were not sharing their faith, and that we have made witnessing an optional part of our faith.

Ray Comfort, another well-known evangelist, said of Mark Cahill, "He's the only man on earth who makes me feel lukewarm." To this statement, Mark has humbly replied numerous times, "Thou shalt not lie," and goes on to commend and bless Mr. Comfort's ministries. The passion and enthusiasm with which Mark shares his love for the Lord is contagious. This book was given to me by my high school principle, four years after I had graduated. Mr. Cahill had spoken to the school since my attending and my principle told me that the entire town saw transformation. The teenage students began to share their faith with taxi drivers, waitresses, they were even asked to leave gas stations and grocery stores for slipping tracts into beer cases and boldly speaking their testimonies in Christ Jesus. Both Mark and Ray are annointed in their ability to disciple and draw others to missions.

In reference to the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, Mark humors his audience, "I was really stuck as I read; nowhere did I see the gift of 'Bible reading'. Does the Bible tell you to read the Bible? Does it? 'I have hidden your word in my [heart] that I may not [sin] against you.' [Psalm 119:11, Deuteronomy 11:18] Reading your Bible is not a spiritual gift, it is an issue of obedience or [disobedience]. Make sure you know this book better than you know any text book you ever read, better than any newspaper or tv show for the rest of your entire life." Mark continued with this entertaining lesson of the 'spiritual gifts' to pray, to tithe, and to share your faith. [Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2] He quoted more scripture and stressed that all these points are issues of obedience of disobedience. When it came to the topic of tithing, Mark made mention of the American issue of welfare and government dependancy. Tithing, or lack thereof, holds the church back; if churches invested in community families, Christ could minister to them. Instead, the average tithe is listed at one to two percent, the broken families go to the government and the government can't give them Jesus Christ.

We live in an age where people want just enough Jesus to get them into Heaven, and nothing more. We have hardened our hearts and in turn are being sculpted by society. Mark shared a revelation he had concerning Lot from the book of Genesis. When Abram and Lot went up from Egypt and made the decision to separate, Genesis 13 says Lot chose for himself. The revelation was focused much around the selfishness in Lot's 'choosing for himself'. As time passed by, Abraham spent much time interceding for the city of Sodom as Lot simply sat at the gates. The Lord saw how great the sin had become in Sodom and Gomorrah and eventually spared Lot and his family amid the city's very destruction. As they left, Lot's wife turned back and became a pillar of salt; and when Lot lived in a cave with his daughters, they got him drunk and laid with their father. Mr. Cahill shed light on the surroundings in which Lot had raised his family; Lot sat at the gates of the city and was molded to the sin around him, to the point where his daughters found no shame in sleeping with their father. Mr. Cahill listed realities that one day could occur if believers today continue to 'sit at the gates'; imagine churches with padlocked doors, legal pedophilia, or how it soon could be a hate crime to say that somebody's going to die and go to hell if they don't know Jesus Christ. "The angels came to Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot was sitting at the gates. We are sitting- just sitting in our classrooms, just sitting at our coffee shops, just sitting at our malls. If you will not engage the culture, the culture will engage you. Satan says, 'thank you' and moves in for the kill."

I'm sick of sitting, being sculpted by society, and really appreciate the insight I have gained from Mark Cahill's messages. Whether it be YouTube videos of "survey" witnessing, his documented messages, or this phenomenal book, One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven, I expect God to speak EVERY TIME I open my Bible. An athlete by nature, Mark compared the joy of sharing the gospel to playing a team sport. A 50% effort? Coach would bench an athlete within minutes! It's time for this spirit to awaken and arise. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23