You are enough!!

So last night as I started my nightly devotion I could hear God’s voice so clear that it was hard to concentrate on reading my bible.

That’s right I admit it, sometimes I don’t want to deal with my junk so I try to block God out with His word. It never works but I’m pretty stubborn so I continue to try.

I felt him whispering “you are enough”. Now from previous encounters I have had with Him I knew this probably meant God wanted to do something in me.

Now I don’t know about you but sometimes when God is working on the inner women it just doesn’t feel good.  I knew that once this process started I was going to have to let him work it out in me.

So finally after about 20 minutes of not being able to concentrate I said, “Okay, I’m enough. Thank you for reminding me.” (Yep God knows the real Tesia and sometimes she has a smart mouth).

Now that he had my attention he began to take over my thought and emotions. He brought to me times that I have felt inadequate and He begin to heal those memories.

So by the time I was ready for bed he was practically screaming at me “YOU ARE ENOUGH”. At this I began to sob.

See for about 2 years now I have been carrying around the pain of being inadequate in comparison to other Christians. Last night God knew it was time for me to know that as his daughter I am enough. Nothing more defines who I am. My title is Child of God.

So I now say to you, you are enough!! God loves you just the way you are, even with your flaws. He has cast away you past and you are no longer defined by the mistakes you made.

Now it’s your turn. Instead of making someone feel inadequate let them know that “They are enough” just the way they are.

Glory to Glory

7 weeks. Yep that is 1 month and 3 weeks or 49 days. Not that long.

Every week I am here I am grow closer to my Savior. Every day he teaches me something new about who he is.

I can say he has taught me that he has a sense of humor. Not every minute of every day is ministry and downtown can be filled with any number of things from diarrhea to random Ghanians watching you do absolutely nothing. Or there is losing the pencil sharpener and ending up with a 10 ft pole in your room to get it from under the bed. Yep, every day is different  

Let's get that sharpener!!

I have learned that God is so concerned with the little things that matter to us, no matter how small. He cares that I only like to use one kind of toothpaste and that I would never want to live without cheese. Yes, even after living in Africa for 7 weeks I still care about those things too.

They don’t matter as much as they once did. He has taught me since being here that the things that I once thought to be small should be the big things. More than anything he is always the main thing.

This past week I have been helping teach nursery kids (2-5 years) at Mother Smith School. I have been completely blessed by the things I have learned and the simplicity of their life.

More than anything these children at such a young age value education and God. It’s amazing.

Being there this week I have learned that nothing is more important to Ghanaians than family.  Before the elder child goes to school they will drop off their younger sibling (on feet of course) and then go to their school which can sometimes be miles away. But they never seem angry or rushed by having to do this they are always joyful and before they leave they are sure everything is in order with their brother or sister.

Me with the kids at school

Here at the age of 2 kids learn the Lord’s Prayer and say it in school every morning. They also have a time of worship which starts even before they greet their teachers.

The teacher of this class, Joyce, is an amazing woman. She teaches about 20 kids (2-5 years) every day pretty much alone and you can tell she loves it.

It has been an amazing week to say the least. To be able to just be a part of the everyday life here is a blessing.

I as the days pass I feel more and more at home. I can ride down the streets here and know I am in place, sometimes I even forget I’m in Africa. Home is where the heart is right; I’ve never felt so at home. 

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I can honestly say that I now truly understand 2 Corinthians 3:18. Living in his glory and being transformed from one glory to another.  

Not easy...worth it.

Today marks 6 weeks. That’s one month and 2 weeks that I have been gone.

Every day is getting easier. Every day is getting harder.

It’s easier because this is slowly becoming my home. The people I see every day are becoming my friends and family. I am building a life on faith here in Ghana.

It’s harder because every day I’m here I am away from my family that much longer. Every day I have been a little longer without my favorite food or TV show.
God takes time to remind who I am today. And to be frank nowhere in who I am does he ever list wimp. I didn’t come to Africa for an easy life. I came to see lives changed.

“No one said it would be easy, they just said it would be worth it.”

Through the hard times and the easy I will remember who he has created me to be. And with all things aside I am strong because “I am my Father’s daughter.”

To see these children change the world!

Through the power outages and no water, I will remember my purpose. Through have 30 mosquito bites at once, I will remember the call upon my life. Through missing my friends and family and everything that is happening at home, I will remember that great works are being done here also.

To be real, no matter how much you love a place at some point it’s gonna suck (and Ghana is no exception to that rule).

So I have 4 months and 2 weeks left here in Ghana. Time is flying by and I’m sure I’ll wake up one day soon and wonder where it went. I am here on a journey to let these people know that they have hope. To show them there is a God in heaven who loves them more than anything. I am here to bring them the hope that was brought tom me in Pendleton High School almost 4 years ago. I am here to bring them Jesus.

My desire is nothing more than to see heaven open up on earth.

Ahhh…Where to being? Well I guess I will start here…I am 5 weeks. These have been some of the best and worst days of my life. When I say the worst day of my life I am not magnifying the daily struggles I face here, but the life of struggle the Ghanaian people live with. I have seen poverty that makes the poorest parts of America look rich, and I have seen little children in the midst of problem I couldn’t handle. I now understand why God said go unto all the nations. I am here to offer them hope where there was none before and peace that they have never know; I am here to offer them Jesus. Something that really struck home with me was not seeing many kids with disabilities. I learned it’s not because they aren’t born, it’s because they don’t live. Some of the people I love most in the world if born here in Africa would not be alive. That is a life changing realization.

Learning to appreciate the little things is a big part of being happy. I had a Sunday school teach write after I got saved who talked about God’s love notes to us and how he leaves them just when we need them. Every day I find this to be so true. Sometimes all it takes is a little rain to turn your whole day around.

I have however learned to do things I would have never dreamed of doing at home:

Bathe from a bucket. Make spaghetti sauce from tomatoes. Gone over a month without a flat iron. Walked through a forest with monkeys swinging over my head. Met people who actually lived in mud huts.

I can say I have had my share of frustrations so far. I have even I had times of questioning why I ever left America.

In 5 weeks my flesh has been crucified. Things that I thought mattered (AE Jeans, Make-up, Coach Purses) … don’t really matter.

So along came the question....what really matters. Love? Hope? Peace? Joy? Obedience? And as I pondered these thoughts I always come back to obedience.

Obedience- dutiful or submissive behavior

Dutiful behavior. Ahhh. Now we are getting somewhere. I have a duty to fulfill. So every day I’m here I strive to remember that I am here because I have been obedient and lives can only be changed through obedient servants.


”I don't see success as the goal. Obedience is the goal.”

-Jerry B. Jenkins

The grace to be his Beloved

"Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self."

As I sit here in this little room over 5000 miles away from home I realize that I have only gotten through this 3 week by grace. Although some of the things I have seen have been unreal and humbling I have come through with a greater understanding of who I am in Christ.
`Yesterday I got to experience a village in which they actually live in mud huts with grass tops, and the only water they have comes from a well. Although I was in this village to look at monkeys God brought to my attention that this is life for them and it’s not an easy life. I haven’t been here long and I cannot imagine ever being in such a situation it is so heart breaking.
One thing I have figured out in these 3 weeks is why I am here. I know God brought me here to minister and to reach people but I have always had the question of “why me?” Yesterday God revealed that I am here to come to the end of me. He has brought me to Ghana, West Africa to crucify Tesia and walk in the callings he has on my life. To think that he had to bring me so far to do it tells me I must be pretty stubborn, but it also shows me he knows I could handle this. I haven’t experienced any real culture shock at this point, I have actually received compliments on the way I carry myself as a missionary (which is very encouraging). I hiked 2 rather large places yesterday without complaint and went into the jungle where there were wild monkeys. As you all know I don’t do woods, hiking, or wild animals but the grace God has given me to face challenges here is unlike anything I have ever felt.
On another note I taught about 150 kids during 4 services this weekend and I have been asked to do children’s ministry every Sunday. I am teaching in the basement of the church with no supplies just a bible and an Ipod, but these children are so hungry for the word they sit, watch, and follow everything I do or say. Please join me in praying that God would provide finances for me to setup something more for these children. I would like to be able to give them coloring sheets or play games with them; most of them don’t even have a bible. If you want to give to help with this ministry you can give via pay pal or contact me for other ways.
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayer. As I am studying in Romans 10 I would is that you pray that I would continue to grow in Him.

Romans 11

04/02/13 9:53am
On my 12th day in Ghana, West Africa I have come to realize that everything is so different. It’s funny people can tell you how different it will be, but you can never really imagine a world outside of your own until you have experienced for yourself. I consider myself blessed that I am here with a family I am familiar with and they know what I am going through, I couldn’t imagine being in a different country only surrounded by people you don’t really know and that don’t speak your language. I have found out in these 12 days that to me the most difficult part of being a missionary is doing normal task ( like grocery shopping, washing dishes, even eating and cooking), when nothing about your surroundings is normal to you. Everything is an adjustment. My body is constantly adjusting to the smell, taste, and look of everything around me. Not all of my adjustments are bad. I am in my word like never before, so hungry for the voice of God. The culture here has been so humbling; it makes me thankful for everything I have. The people are extremely loving and helpful. And let’s not forget my absolute favorite part of life…kids. I know I am here because it’s the will of God and not out of self or flesh. My flesh is dying every day, but my spirit man is soaring. I know turning back is not an option because the word says in Romans 11 “The gifts of God are irrevocable”.
So as I move forward and continue to embark on this incredibly insane journey God has planned for me I invite you to come with me. Pray for not only me but the people I come in contact with every day. If God put a scripture or a word on your heart for me tell me. If you’re thinking of me let me know. I am so grateful that God picked me for this mission, but when he pick me he also pick you, my family and friends, to be my backbone and support. Thank you so much for you support and prayers.

Believe dreams come true...because they do every day!!!

Today I a get ready to go into work at a normal job I sit and ponder all the blessings God has bestowed upon me. I don't have this amazing car or work making great money, but I am in the process of my dream coming true and not many people can say that. My dream is to be in Africa making a difference in the lives of the forgotten, and it's so close I can feel it. Not many people even get close to living their dream...why? I guess to some people to live in a 3rd world country is not dreaming to big, but are all dreams based on monetary worth? What about the dream of having children to a barren woman, or the dream of hearing to a death person what value can be place on something that all the money in the world can't fix? Think about your dreams...what are they worth? will they live on after you? But more than anything believe that your dream in attainable. Believe dreams come true...because they do every day!!!!