I leave for Argentina in the morning. (You probably didn't know since I hardly talk about it...wait...)
I feel excited, nervous, expectant, happy, worried...lots of things! I have so much on my mind that I cannot really articulate at the moment. You will have to wait until I get home and can process a bit.
Specific prayer requests:
1. Safety in travel for ourselves and our luggage :). I would LOVE for our luggage to make it there with us.
2. That I would be open for God to use me in the way that He wants to (and not be confined to my own ideas of how He has used me in the past).
3. That He would speak to me. That He would give me eyes to see and hears to hear.
4. That I would have the confidence and faith to step out.
5. That I would be able to translate for Pastor Bobby without anyone getting injured. :)
See you on the flip side!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Blessed
I am so blessed. God never ceases to amaze me and surprise me. He is so faithful and good and persistant. I think He is altogether Yummy.
Recently I was really struggling with Him with some things regarding my future, my calling, and these trips to Argentina. I had pretty much given up on the October trip, since our first payment deadline was in a couple of weeks and I was still short on the first trip. I was having a battle in myself between my intellect (what is smart, reasonable, and responsible) and my intuition (knowledge in my spirit that something is going on). I finally cried out to Him that I needed Him to INTERVENE and to speak to me.
Oh goodness. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. I think He was on the edge of His seat waiting for me to ask. That day, out of the blue, everyone I was in contact with had something to say about my name ("wait, what does that have to do with anything...oh, her name is Destiny...I get it.") People who have known me for years and are over the novelty of it. God was just stirring in me the fact that I am created with a specific destiny. My name is no accident. It is a part of who I am and what He is doing with me.
Then, very unexpectedly, I received a very generous donation in mail towards my trips that fully paid off my first trip and put me well on my way for the second. I cried. I went into the accounting office and cried. I cried in a box. I cried with a fox. I was SO GRATEFUL how the Lord not only provided, but spoke to my heart and affirmed, "Yes, Desteni, you are not imagining this. You are following me. I am doing real things in your life."
And if that were not enough, He has decided to speak to me constantly. Now, I believe that God is always trying to communicate with us, but I mean speaking to me in a particular way. For example, I had three people pray over me VERBATIM the exact same prayer. "Lord, give Desteni the HOPE and the FAITH to be able to reach her DESTINY." It wasn't on topic. And we weren't even praying over one another. People just took it upon themselves to pray for me.
And you know what else I love? He has been speaking correction to me. Areas of my heart that still need to be dealt with in order to make me a trustworthy vessel. Wish it could be done overnight, but I love walking it out with Him.
Please refer to my Prayer Requests on the side if you'd like to be a part of my prayer team. I feel like it is a very key time for me and I would appreciate people advocating for me in prayer.
If you'd like to help financially (I still need about $1400 to fund the rest of the October trip), please send checks made to City of Grace (with Desteni-Argentina in the memo) to 655 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85203 ATTN: Outreach.
Thanks.
"That's all I gotta say about that..."
Recently I was really struggling with Him with some things regarding my future, my calling, and these trips to Argentina. I had pretty much given up on the October trip, since our first payment deadline was in a couple of weeks and I was still short on the first trip. I was having a battle in myself between my intellect (what is smart, reasonable, and responsible) and my intuition (knowledge in my spirit that something is going on). I finally cried out to Him that I needed Him to INTERVENE and to speak to me.
Oh goodness. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. I think He was on the edge of His seat waiting for me to ask. That day, out of the blue, everyone I was in contact with had something to say about my name ("wait, what does that have to do with anything...oh, her name is Destiny...I get it.") People who have known me for years and are over the novelty of it. God was just stirring in me the fact that I am created with a specific destiny. My name is no accident. It is a part of who I am and what He is doing with me.
Then, very unexpectedly, I received a very generous donation in mail towards my trips that fully paid off my first trip and put me well on my way for the second. I cried. I went into the accounting office and cried. I cried in a box. I cried with a fox. I was SO GRATEFUL how the Lord not only provided, but spoke to my heart and affirmed, "Yes, Desteni, you are not imagining this. You are following me. I am doing real things in your life."
And if that were not enough, He has decided to speak to me constantly. Now, I believe that God is always trying to communicate with us, but I mean speaking to me in a particular way. For example, I had three people pray over me VERBATIM the exact same prayer. "Lord, give Desteni the HOPE and the FAITH to be able to reach her DESTINY." It wasn't on topic. And we weren't even praying over one another. People just took it upon themselves to pray for me.
And you know what else I love? He has been speaking correction to me. Areas of my heart that still need to be dealt with in order to make me a trustworthy vessel. Wish it could be done overnight, but I love walking it out with Him.
Please refer to my Prayer Requests on the side if you'd like to be a part of my prayer team. I feel like it is a very key time for me and I would appreciate people advocating for me in prayer.
If you'd like to help financially (I still need about $1400 to fund the rest of the October trip), please send checks made to City of Grace (with Desteni-Argentina in the memo) to 655 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85203 ATTN: Outreach.
Thanks.
"That's all I gotta say about that..."
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Awakening to Desire
Desire is a dangerous thing. Desire opens you up for a whole world of vulnerability, risk, and potential disappointment. Desire will either take you on an adventure of faith and trust or burn your spirit.
I have spent the majority of my life avoiding desire. If I do not want and if I do not have any expectation of abundance, I cannot be disappointed. I am a master at "getting by". At staying safe.
Have I experienced the amazing generosity of God? Absolutely. How could I ever forget my experience in Spain, and living 100% in faith for every single meal for an entire month, never knowing where our next meal was going to come from? I will never forget how He not only met my physical needs, but also gave me the desires of my heart. I will never forget how He was IN MY FACE, challenging me with, "You cannot possibly even ASK for more than what I am willing to give you." Yet so often I find myself like ground that is so dry that it is unable to absorb the rainfall.
My prayer for myself right now, is that I would become incredible at receiving. In every area of my life. That I would make room for desire and allow God to either wow me in providing, or to help me see the bigger picture in not providing and allow Him to comfort me. I just long for my heart to be such a fertile place.
I have been invited to go to Argentina not once, but twice this year. In July, they are reopening the art school for underprivileged children after having lost their beloved leader in her battle with cancer early this year. I am not sure what my specific role will be. I believe that God wants to use me, though, in ways He has used me before. And I still believe that I am to go on the October trip as well.
Going once was stretching to my faith. Not going to lie. After being home for two years, I do not have my support base as I did before. Going twice? I am having to conquer some big fears of allowing myself to want it, then not being provided for. Of being disappointed. I am going to go for it though, and see what the Lord would do with it. I am going to put myself in a position of vulnerability and see what amazing things He has for me, either in going on both, or in blessing my heart with some greater lesson.
If you would like to help me go, I am going to need to raise about $3000 above what I have already raised. Checks can be made out to City of Grace, with Desteni-Argentina in the memo and sent to:
City of Grace
655 E University Drive
Mesa, AZ 85203
ATTN: Outreach
I have already been incredibly blessed by a handful of people who have already come alongside me. And I am realizing that I am equally as grateful for the words of encouragement that have come in as I am with the financial gifts. So if you want to pray for me and send a word of encouragement, that would be amazing! You can send it to the same address and it will get to me.
In the Journey Together,
Desteni
I have spent the majority of my life avoiding desire. If I do not want and if I do not have any expectation of abundance, I cannot be disappointed. I am a master at "getting by". At staying safe.
Have I experienced the amazing generosity of God? Absolutely. How could I ever forget my experience in Spain, and living 100% in faith for every single meal for an entire month, never knowing where our next meal was going to come from? I will never forget how He not only met my physical needs, but also gave me the desires of my heart. I will never forget how He was IN MY FACE, challenging me with, "You cannot possibly even ASK for more than what I am willing to give you." Yet so often I find myself like ground that is so dry that it is unable to absorb the rainfall.
My prayer for myself right now, is that I would become incredible at receiving. In every area of my life. That I would make room for desire and allow God to either wow me in providing, or to help me see the bigger picture in not providing and allow Him to comfort me. I just long for my heart to be such a fertile place.
I have been invited to go to Argentina not once, but twice this year. In July, they are reopening the art school for underprivileged children after having lost their beloved leader in her battle with cancer early this year. I am not sure what my specific role will be. I believe that God wants to use me, though, in ways He has used me before. And I still believe that I am to go on the October trip as well.
Going once was stretching to my faith. Not going to lie. After being home for two years, I do not have my support base as I did before. Going twice? I am having to conquer some big fears of allowing myself to want it, then not being provided for. Of being disappointed. I am going to go for it though, and see what the Lord would do with it. I am going to put myself in a position of vulnerability and see what amazing things He has for me, either in going on both, or in blessing my heart with some greater lesson.
If you would like to help me go, I am going to need to raise about $3000 above what I have already raised. Checks can be made out to City of Grace, with Desteni-Argentina in the memo and sent to:
City of Grace
655 E University Drive
Mesa, AZ 85203
ATTN: Outreach
I have already been incredibly blessed by a handful of people who have already come alongside me. And I am realizing that I am equally as grateful for the words of encouragement that have come in as I am with the financial gifts. So if you want to pray for me and send a word of encouragement, that would be amazing! You can send it to the same address and it will get to me.
In the Journey Together,
Desteni
Monday, April 5, 2010
My Own Resurrection
"My lover spoke and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come...Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.'" Song of Songs 2:10-13
Word that I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to hear...YES, Desteni, this is what I want for you.
Around New Year, God confirmed in my heart that yes, missions are a part of my DNA. I am most alive, most fulfilled, most effective, when I am serving in missions. I began to pray about the place, the timing, etc. I still love Colombia, so I presented God with my plan to work on the island of Bocachica with Karen and Jorge. My answer was consistent...wait. Don't worry about your future. Don't fret about tomorrow. Your future is in my hands. I would try my best to surrender for the day, and in the morning I'd get the same word. (I am a fast learner, Folks!)
I didn't "get it" until I went to coffee with a friend of mine. She was sharing with me her own journey, and how God called her to "give up her love of Guatemala". I burst into tears. Full on crying in the coffee shop as I listened to her talk. She continued to share how she would always love Guatemala, but she was holding onto it in her OWN love. God totally convicted me that I was holding onto Colombia with my own love. It was as if I was trying to manipulate God to send me back through loving Colombia enough. I finally surrendered. I cannot receive the good things He has for me if I insist on what it looks like. I took on the attitude of, "if this is what He wants, great, if not, I am going to serve in the way that He chooses with gratitude".
Soon after, out of nowhere, He began to stir in me a desire to go on our church's mission trip to Argentina. This made NO SENSE to me. (Still doesn't make a whole lot of sense!) First, I am not huge into short term stuff. If I am going to fly across the world, I want to be there for awhile. Second, it is a CONSTRUCTION team. I don't even need to elaborate why that is not a great fit for me...but I will. "Aleah, can you open this Gatorade bottle for me?" And third, I don't have any long term plans of going. But in my surrendered state, I began to seek the Lord on it.
Little by little, He began confirming that YES this IS what He wants for me. I was given the green light by my directors and the team leader a couple of days ago.
I can't even explain what it means to me. Seriously, I don't care what it is. He could have told me that He was sending me to the local Taco Bell to serve. I am just SO touched and excited that He has spoken to me about it. That He is leading me with something other than WAIT.
He has even started to stir in me some of my giftings that have been on loving "hold" during this season.
I am just so touched to be seeing the first fruits of the Spring after a long, cold winter. I am thankful that my season of resurrection is beginning.
If you would like to help me go on this trip, I am asking people to participate in what I am calling 17.20.6.
I am looking for 17 people to support me $20 a month for the next 6 months. (I was going to say that it comes from a certain verse in the Bible and come up with something totally random. But when I went to look up verses in 17:26, they were totally encouraging and appropriate like 1 Chron 17:26 O Lord, you are God! You have promised these good things to your servant).
Anyway, if you'd like to be one of the 17, please send checks made out to City of Grace with Desteni-Argentina in the memo to
City of Grace
655 E University Drive
Mesa, AZ
ATTN: Outreach
And obviously, if you want to help with a one time gift or a different amount, I am not going to send it back to you and send you hate mail.
I will be posting prayer request as the process continues. I am excited for what God is doing and know that nothing of significance happens w/o prayer!
Thanks for going on this journey with me.
Word that I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to hear...YES, Desteni, this is what I want for you.
Around New Year, God confirmed in my heart that yes, missions are a part of my DNA. I am most alive, most fulfilled, most effective, when I am serving in missions. I began to pray about the place, the timing, etc. I still love Colombia, so I presented God with my plan to work on the island of Bocachica with Karen and Jorge. My answer was consistent...wait. Don't worry about your future. Don't fret about tomorrow. Your future is in my hands. I would try my best to surrender for the day, and in the morning I'd get the same word. (I am a fast learner, Folks!)
I didn't "get it" until I went to coffee with a friend of mine. She was sharing with me her own journey, and how God called her to "give up her love of Guatemala". I burst into tears. Full on crying in the coffee shop as I listened to her talk. She continued to share how she would always love Guatemala, but she was holding onto it in her OWN love. God totally convicted me that I was holding onto Colombia with my own love. It was as if I was trying to manipulate God to send me back through loving Colombia enough. I finally surrendered. I cannot receive the good things He has for me if I insist on what it looks like. I took on the attitude of, "if this is what He wants, great, if not, I am going to serve in the way that He chooses with gratitude".
Soon after, out of nowhere, He began to stir in me a desire to go on our church's mission trip to Argentina. This made NO SENSE to me. (Still doesn't make a whole lot of sense!) First, I am not huge into short term stuff. If I am going to fly across the world, I want to be there for awhile. Second, it is a CONSTRUCTION team. I don't even need to elaborate why that is not a great fit for me...but I will. "Aleah, can you open this Gatorade bottle for me?" And third, I don't have any long term plans of going. But in my surrendered state, I began to seek the Lord on it.
Little by little, He began confirming that YES this IS what He wants for me. I was given the green light by my directors and the team leader a couple of days ago.
I can't even explain what it means to me. Seriously, I don't care what it is. He could have told me that He was sending me to the local Taco Bell to serve. I am just SO touched and excited that He has spoken to me about it. That He is leading me with something other than WAIT.
He has even started to stir in me some of my giftings that have been on loving "hold" during this season.
I am just so touched to be seeing the first fruits of the Spring after a long, cold winter. I am thankful that my season of resurrection is beginning.
If you would like to help me go on this trip, I am asking people to participate in what I am calling 17.20.6.
I am looking for 17 people to support me $20 a month for the next 6 months. (I was going to say that it comes from a certain verse in the Bible and come up with something totally random. But when I went to look up verses in 17:26, they were totally encouraging and appropriate like 1 Chron 17:26 O Lord, you are God! You have promised these good things to your servant).
Anyway, if you'd like to be one of the 17, please send checks made out to City of Grace with Desteni-Argentina in the memo to
City of Grace
655 E University Drive
Mesa, AZ
ATTN: Outreach
And obviously, if you want to help with a one time gift or a different amount, I am not going to send it back to you and send you hate mail.
I will be posting prayer request as the process continues. I am excited for what God is doing and know that nothing of significance happens w/o prayer!
Thanks for going on this journey with me.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Season of Gratitude
So, I am sure most people have given up on my blog since I pretty much stopped writing in it upon return from Colombia. I am seeing something go around though and I have been inspired to participate. I want to spend this season writing about things for which I am grateful.
Today, I am grateful that God brought me into recovery programs. I had been living my life as a reaction to my fear and pain. And each day, I am learning to face my fears and take responsibility for all of my actions. I feel more centered and grounded than I ever have in my life, and I am excited to see what the Lord has for me once I am out of "the desert".
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