September 24-26

How this weekend changed my life. I turned 25 on September 24th, thank you everyone for your birthday wishes. This weekend I went to a retreat at my church. The retreat was called 'Encuentro' and it has truly changed who I'am and I will share why.

Friday: We listened to a speaker and ate dinner together.
Saturday: We listened to various speakers, prayed together, ate together and experienced the Holy Spirit. Most of Saturday, I spent crying or on my knees praying as the Holy Spirit was cleansing me from pain, anxiety and fears I had in my life. At one point, I felt like the Sinful Woman Forgiven in Luke 7:36-38, " And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee`s house, brought in alabaster flask of fragant oil, and stood at His feet behind him weeping, and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and annointed them with fragant oil."
Sunday: Again, I spent the day in repentance, listening to speakers and experiencing the Holy Spirit cleanse me with the blood of Jesus Christ.

I have been a Christian my entire life and have been involved in church and ministry and I have never experienced Jesus Christ the way I did this weekend. I have committed my heart to Him, I no longer want to live for my own accomplishment and glory. I don't want to live in fear of this world, I have a GOOD GOD, who loves me and desires the best for me. I know now, I'm completely 100% sure that my purpose on earth is to be a servant to God, to his people and live a life of glory for HIS sake.

I will never forget this weekend and I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me, but I know that it is good and I know that He will always be with me. I re-committed all that I'am to my Savior, the Love of my life and my Best Friend, Jesus Christ.

I hope you can have this same experience in your life. Jesus LOVES you so much and He desires you, turn to Him and let Him change your life. I love you and so does my Heavenly Father. God Bless you.

Desert Oasis & Nazca Lines & The university of Agriculture in Molina (Ica, Nazca and Lima)

Hi blog followers. I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, I have been a little busy.I decided to write this blog in categories: work/family & friends/fun/what I have learned or am I learning.

Work: Since June, I have worked with American groups who come to Peru to do social work as well as tourism. My role consisted of planning activities, translating and making sure everything with the group went smoothly. Some of the activities that the groups did was build a part of a wall for a dining hall in the poor community of Independencia. This work consisted of hard labor and I learned how to mix concrete by hand. While we were in Independencia we also slept on the floor with the YMCA offices. We also took the groups to a orphanage in Lima to play with children. There was a little boy named Mauricio who reminded me of my nephew Luca and I wished I could have taken Mauricio home with me.

Family & Friends: My host family is very kind to me. Manuel, my host-father is a ship surveyor in the port of Callao. He is also a very good cook, this week he made pescado sudado with fish, tomato, onion and tomato sauce, it was delicious. I love the fish here. My host mom works at a bank and she is awesome as well. I also have a host brother, who just got married and a older sister who is married and a sister who is the same age as me. They have embraced me into their family and I truly feel like I'm apart of their family. I also have my church family is awesome. Every weekend, I look foward to go to church. On Saturday night, I go to the youth group (ages range from 14-30) and Sunday morning service starts from 10:30 to 1, small group is from 6-8. The church is called Casa de Oracion. It is such a blessing to worship in another language and hear the same Word of God in another language at a church in another country.

Fun: I was able to accompany one of the American groups to Ica (which is three hours south of Lima). In Ica we saw the Nazca Lines, which are large figures in the dessert that can only be seen by the sky or elevation. The figures that I saw where a tree and a hand. We drove through the Pan-American highway to get there. In Ica we also went to ballestas islands where there were seals and various types of birds. My favorite part of this trip was going to the desert and doing dune buggy and sand-boarding in the desert. We also slept in the desert..brr..it was really cold. Something that I love about Peru, is that there is ALWAYS something to celebrate...dia de pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken), fiestas patrias (Independence days) or the day of a saint...we just celebrate Fiestas Patrias and during these days there we did not work...I celebrated at Plaza de Bandera with my family, went to the zoo with my church family and rafting with my friends from work.

Lessons learned: I will begin with what I'm learning about God. God is so creative, this beautiful and diverse country that he created is evidence of how great and creative God is. I´ve also grown so much closer to God, when I feel lonely, angry or frusterated, I turn to Him. I rely on Him everyday to give me strength and being here has made me realize how dependent I´m on him and truly how much He is in control. My spanish has improved tremendously! I love days when I get better and better at speaking. I´m also learning about myself..learning how to be more patient, to communicate better- not only in Spanish but in general, communicate better. There are days and moments when I long for home- and I use that time to turn to God and seek his guidance and enjoy the blessing and opportunity he has given me to be here.

Ok- thanks for reading! I will try to take more pictures and update more frequently. Take care and Dios te bendiga!

Fotos

Women who Fear the Lord by Jen Smidt (Mars Hill Church)

“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Prov. 31:30).

As I think back to the woman I was in college, this verse painfully yet accurately describes me. Operating on wit and outward appearances, I managed to convince myself and others I had it all together. But I was deceived. I was drowning in my sin with no idea what my lack of fearing the Lord had to do with my desolate heart.

Fear of the Lord is one of those Bible phrases that we throw around with very little grounding in the substance of our daily lives. It is defined as reverent awe or deep respect. Sounds great, but what does that look like day in and day out? If a woman deeply respects God, how does she live her daily life?

•First and foremost, she has a correct understanding of the character of God.
•She has searched the Scriptures for God’s definition of God and believes it.
•She has studied what God has revealed about Himself and relies upon this Truth rather than her experience of God.
•She accepts His holiness and His justice as completely good.
•She trusts in His mercy, grace, and compassion to deal with her sin and redeem her.
•She believes that His kindness is what leads her to repentance and as such, would never presume upon the riches of His grace by taking her sin lightly (Romans 2).
OUCH. There it is–the reason I blatantly and boldly lived a life of self-indulgence and sin despite the fact that I called myself a “Christian.” I pridefully and foolishly took advantage of the cross by saying to God, “thanks for your sacrifice, but I got it from here. Love that forgiveness thing! When I’m done having fun, I’ll be back with my long list of sins that I’ll need you to take care of.” In short, I was not a woman who feared the Lord.



But God has helped me become a woman who fears Him–a repentant woman who is deeply grateful for and moved by the cross of Christ. This does not mean being afraid to go near our Awesome and Mighty God:

•It means being terrified to be far from Him.
•It means resting in the safety and peace of His loving arms and not straying from that place of protection.
•It means running from the temptation to satisfy our needy hearts with someone or something other than Him.
•It means He alone is the influence in our lives, giving us wisdom to navigate each day (Proverbs 3:7, Prov 9:10).
•It means valuing what He values in a woman: a submissive heart, a gentle and quiet spirit, and a posture of worship.

Facebook Fast

Hi everyone! Just in case you were wondering if I deleted you as a friend from facebook, I decided to fast from facebook until September 1 because I felt that it was distracting me from God and making relationships here. You can email me at felice.chavez@gmail.com if you would like to contact me. Also, thank you for your prayers. This past week I went to a small group and this Sunday I was invited to a church that is walking distance from my house. I'm also getting more accustomed to life here. Thank you for your prayers and supplication on my behalf.

I miss him!!!

http://qik.com/video/3490b517903a451fb18e419c10ee3f72

Adjustments

I'm still adjusting to life down here and it has not been easy.

I enjoy walking to and from work everyday. Yesterday, I walked to the Metro to buy ingredients for the dinner I was going to make for my family and had to walk a couple of blocks with bags of groceries, I considered it my workout for the day. I cooked spinach, mushroom, green onion, cheese and turkey omelets with a side of shredded olluco (a small potato from Peru) and fresh salsa. It turned out really well. Cooking has been very helpful- I love doing it and I get to introduce my family to a sometimes new and healthy meal. Next week I think I'm going to make a chicken tortilla soup and taco salad. Cooking dinner is the highlight of my Monday. Soccer is the highlight of my Wednesday.

I badly miss Church and small group and the amazing fellowship of Christian brothers and sisters that I had in San Diego. I still haven't been able to go to a church service, since I'm still trying to figure out transportation details. There is a Calvary Chapel church down here that I would like to go to. I really want to make it there- I desperately need the Christian fellowship. I've had to rely on God so much these past couple of weeks. Life away from everything that was comfortable- independence, a car, Church, small group, family and friends, being able to clearly communicate has not been easy. Communication and being misunderstood has been very challenging for me, these past couple of weeks have been trying. If you read this, please think of me in prayer.

Humble Christians

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/trial/humble-christians

Week 1

Wow! What a week. I have 30 minutes to write a blog. I'm going to my host families grandpa's birthday party tonight. I feel like I have been here for a month already. I've done so much...I started working pretty much on Tuesday..Wednesday was more work..Thursday I got to go to a meeting at the US Embassy for work...that was awesome! Today, was by far the best day of the week. I was able to go to Independencia, one of the poorest parts of Lima...all of my trips to Mexico through Tijuana House Building Ministry and Viidaii...everything I read could have not have prepared me for what I saw and experienced today. I can't describe it all in the next 20 minutes that I have. I'm still trying to process everything in my head. Anyway, I will be working there..hopefully 4 days a week..working with a doctor who runs the medical clinic and does pretty much all of the public health/health promotion in this area. I'm so excited...his project focus that is coming up is children under 5 and physical screenings, I'm so excited to work with him. The medical clinic that he had was so small. Anyway, I have to go soon. Another memory...on the car ride to Independencia was speaking Spanish with a German..that was a new experience for me. I'm so glad that I have Spanish speaking ability is helping so much with forming relationships and getting work done. I do miss home as well, but prayer and keeping busy is helping. I know that I'm never alone. Ciao.

16 Days

I cried today. I've cried a lot lately. When I was a baby and first learned how to walk, I cried then too. I cry when things in my life change-even if it is for the better. I will probably be like my grandma who cries at everything, I'm smiling now just thinking about how she could turn any normal conversation into a emotional conversation because she will start crying about something. I love my family...I really do. So I have 16 days left here and I'm trying to be prepared as possible. This week I have my tetanus shot on Monday and I have to go to the doctor on Wednesday for some medical stuff. I have so much to do! I need to make a list. Next weekend I'm visiting my grandmother and going to the Strawberry Festival in Oxnard (that is where I was born). I also need to start moving stuff into my parents house. The 24th will be here in no time.

Follow You Lyrics by Leeland

You lived among the least of these

The weary and the weak

And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.



All my needs you have supplied.

When I was dead you gave me life.

How could I not give it away so freely?



And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.

Follow you into the world.

Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.

Follow you into the World.



Use my hands, use my feet

To make your kingdom come

Through the corners of the earth

Until your work is done

'Cause Faith without works is dead

And on the cross your blood was she'd

So how could I not give it away so freely?



And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.

Follow you into the world.

Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.

Follow you into the World.

(X2)



I give all myself.

I give all myself

I give all myself... to you.



And I give all myself.

Yes, I give all myself.

And I give all myself... to you.



And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken

Follow you into the world.

Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.

Follow you into the World.

Practice Posting Photos

Bienvenidos!

Psalm 121: 7-8, "The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Hi! Welcome to my blog! This will be my first blog for my upcoming life adventure: I just accepted a volunteer placement at a YMCA in Lima, Peru for one year. Nervous, excited and anxious are all adjectives that describe how I feel right now. First things first...the testimony of my life. Growing up, my mom was an awesome example of what it means to be a godly selfless woman. Although not at all perfect, her love, self-sacrifice, forgiveness and sense of humor are all traits that I hope I have inherited from her. Growing up a Christian was awesome, however my life hasn't always been easy. When I was in college at Point Loma Nazarene University, I went through a very low point in my life. During my senior year of college I broke up with my boyfriend of two and a half years and tore my left Anterior Crucial Ligament. I felt so alone and so sad. I was also very insecure in myself and anxious. My heart was broken by the boy I thought I was going to marry. I tore my ACL at soccer training camp and I was out for the whole soccer season. I had played soccer since I was five years old and it was such a huge part of my life. Prior to this, I had a identity life crisis and it was a challenge for me to relate to people at Point Loma. I never felt so alone and isolated in my life. After graduating, God had used my friends (Marissa and Jamie Dungca)to invite me to a small group in Santee (shout out to Tuesday night Santee small group). Gradually, God began to work on my heart and transform me into the person I am right now.I continued to go to the small group and I experienced the love of Jesus through their lives. Then God gave me a mentor who taught me how to speak to people. God placed it on my heart to serve his church, so that is what I did. At small group, I would spend time with people, meet their needs and serve them. I wanted to do more because I loved them. I wanted to grow so much in my walk with the Lord and I prayed to him for a life like David and Joseph from the Old Testament. I told him that I didn't want to waste my youth but wanted to bless him and be blessed by Him. I wanted to build a foundation for my life so that I could become the godly woman that he had intended for me to become. I can't fully explain in words how grateful I'm to God for the life that he has given me. To know what it feels like to be so alone...that only God was there with me when I would cry myself to sleep...to know that He was there when there was no one in the world who could meet my needs..I'm eternally grateful..and for that I give him my life. Not only because he comforted me in what seemed like the most depressing point of my young life, but he protects, leads, guides and loves me. Isaiah 58:11, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I want to tell you that he loves you, he desires you, he created you, he has died for your sins. God's love towards us is so great and is so free. My prayer for each person in my life is that they could have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My life is not perfect, in fact, this season has been a little stressful with school and work and other life issues. There is so much that I know God needs to work on me: my pride (a big issue I think everyone deals with), my selfishness, my sin...I will never be fully mature until I'm united with him in heaven. So in this life journey, he has brought me here, to go down to South America and use all of the education and opportunities that I have to help a community. This has been my dream for the past couple of years and it has finally become a reality. I'm going to miss all of the beautiful and loving people that God has placed in my life. I'm going to miss my family, church, classmates and abundant life here in San Diego, but I want to be challenged y quiero hablar espanol perfectamente! That is all for now, good night family and friends. I love you and pray for each of you often.Please keep me in your prayers.