http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org Tamara Herbst First Year Missionary - en-us Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:41:10 GMT 30 http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=the-unexpected http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=the-unexpected I am so sad to be writing this blog. Due to an emergency in Brad's family I will be leaving Mexico 10 days early. I am sad to be leaving early, but after spending some time in prayer I truly believe that this is what God wants me to be doing right now. My team is in support of me leaving, which is a blessing from God. Our ministries are coming to an end, and tomorrow I will have a chance to say a final good bye' before leaving. I pray that none of my supporters may in any way be disappointed by my leaving early. This is an opportunity for me to support and serve Brad's family. I would appreciate all and any prayer during this time. Specifically pray that his family's eyes be open to the love that God has for them and to seek Him as their comforter.   I will be in touch soon. Sat, 3 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=trustin-in-god http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=trustin-in-god               This morning, during my time with God, He said "O you of little faith" to me. A little harsh, but very true and very much what I needed to hear. I have been doing a fair amount of worrying lately. Worrying about the families I will soon be saying good by to, worrying about going home, finding a job, and whether or not I will be able to pay my rent.             While reading over Matthew 6:25-34 God did not only remind me that I need to be trusting in Him and in His provision, but showed me how little my faith is. A thought hit me, "Do I want God to say O you of little faith' or do I want Him do smile down upon me, proud of who I am in Him.' Of course I want Him to smile.             My worrying and my reliance on myself takes all the glory away from Him and all that He can do, has done, and will cont Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=prayer-requests http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=prayer-requests               We are entering our last weeks of ministering! I need your help. Please keep us in your prayers and please, please pray for the families we have been ministering to. I can't imagine how I am going to say Good bye'. You see it is pretty close to impossible to keep in touch with these families once we leave. They have no address to receive mail by. Many have no phone. Even if I come back here, if they move (which is not unusual) there will be no way to track them down.             I am very sad to be leaving them and I am definitely having to trust God with all of this. I am praying that He will continue to grow in their lives and become real to them beyond all imagination. I am also praying that He will give us the words to share with them in these final visits. I fear that many of them know about Him, but do not know Him. We have been attempting to demonst Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=worship http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=worship The Lord is faithful and good! He has been teaching me many lessons. But right now I want to share a story with you.             Last week my parents came to visit. I was able to spend some much needed time off with them and they were able to see what I do here. I am grateful that we had that opportunity. It was an answer to prayer.             Their first night my parents were in Mexico we went to church. My parents do not know Spanish and so they were relying on me to translate. During the worship I was not able or really wanting to translate the songs for them. However, at one point a song came on that I knew in English. I told my mom what song it was and she and I began singing along in English. Other than a few of my team mates the rest of the church was singing in Spanish.             As we worshiped all the word Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=written-april-7 http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=written-april-7             "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:6-9                         I have been meaning to write this blog for four days now. I even sat down to do it twice before now. Needless to say, we have been ver Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=gods-angels http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=gods-angels I am so thankful to be back in Mexico. Although there have been a lot of changes, the ministry is still here. This week the hospital has fallen very close to my heart. I love all of the people that we meet there and I am sometimes saddened that I may never see them again. Often times their situations seem almost hopeless. (This is the part that makes me excited) During their times of hopelessness we are able to be their hope. We walk in to the hospital knowing that Christ is with us. He loves us, and he loves them. Our job as Christians is to share that love with them. Let me share a few stories with you. On Wednesday we went to the hospital, Jenny, Lauren, and I. This time we also had a visitor with us, Jenny's mom Mellissa. After visiting a couple wings we found where God wanted us to be. Timidly we entered a room that had three full beds and each patient had a visitor. This room was full to the max. The wonderful part was that they all wanted to talk to us. After overcoming the aw Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=what-a-week http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=what-a-week This has been a busy and fruitful week! There was a group of around 60 teenagers, leaders, and translators that joined us for a week of missions. The group built two houses, visited the hospital, jail, Youth Detention Center, and did street ministry. We were able to join them in these ministries. Let me tell you, I learned so much!             Looking back it was a joy to work with this team, although it didn't always feel like it. I learned important lessons about leadership, about short term missions, and especially about the power of prayer. It is amazing; the relationships that were built in one week, the number of people that heard of God's love, and the affect that the week had on the youth.             Leading this showed me a side of missions I have never seen. I have always been on the doing end, rather than the setting up end of missions. It also made me think back Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=mexico-otra-vez http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=mexico-otra-vez             How can I describe it? Amazing, right, fun, fulfilling, challenging perhaps God's will? This is how being back in Mexico feels to me. I know that this is where God wants me. I am so happy to be back! I am loving being with my original team again. They are such a blessing to me and they still continue to teach me about God, even after all this time.             I have also had the opportunity to return to my colonia and to the hospital. There are many changes and I have yet to see quit a few people, but God is at work here. The amazing part about it is that He is using me. The fact that I am able to admit that He is using ME is a minor miracle in itself. I would have never said that in September and here I am knowing and believing that it is not only that He can but that He will!             There have been man Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=yo-fui-yo-fui http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=yo-fui-yo-fui     As I am writing this, I am sitting in an airport in Santo Domingo awaiting my flight back to the U.S. From there I will be headed to Mexico. I cannot even explain the emotions inside of me. You see, I love my team in Mexico, I love the ministries. I have been waiting and dreaming about returning there to finish the year that God has called me to. But after spending seven weeks in the Dominican Republic, I feel as though I am also a part of the DR team. The people and ministries there are also heavy on my heart.             God has been mind blowingly awesome! I have three families: one in Mexico, one in the Dominican Republic and one in Nebraska. How many people get an opportunity to build such amazing relationships? I truly feel blessed.             I am a little sad about leaving one to be with another, but I know that God's got it all covered. As I look Wed, 5 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=join-the-awakening-discipleship-missions http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=join-the-awakening-discipleship-missions Awaken to the Adventure Disciples aren't born; they're made. It's a process that takes time, discipline, and God. In reality, it looks more like waking up than attending a class. As part of The Awakening, you can undergo a discipleship program like no other, experiencing four months of intense training in another country to prepare you for the ministry that awaits you for the rest of the year.Join The Awakening Your mornings will be spent in training and your afternoons ministering in local communities, activating what you've learned. In the context of experiential learning, you will be discipled by mentors who want to see you grow deeply in your faith. You will be part of a community of other individuals who share your passion and desire to come alive in Christ. This time will challenge and stretch you in new ways, and you will never be the same.Become a part of The Awakening in either Latin America or Africa and discover your role in the kingdom of God Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=bringing-great-things-chocolate-ship-cookies-ers-and-god-to-the-dr http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=bringing-great-things-chocolate-ship-cookies-ers-and-god-to-the-dr Tonight Emily and I had a dinner guest! We invited a friend over earlier this week, but we were not sure that she would come. If she did come it was most likely that she would come late. We both wondered how long we would be waiting for her.         We were both very wrong. Chavela showed up on time and eager to spend some time with us. We had dinner and decided to show her a great American custom: chocolate chip cookies! It turns out that very few Dominicans make cookies in their home, especially chocolate chip ones. She was amazed by the entire process and we had a great time making (and eating) them.         After cooking she  taught us a Dominican card game and in turn we taught her one of the best American card games of all time: ERS (Egyptian Rat Slap, if any of you don't know how to play this game I suggest you seek help in this matter as soon as possible.)         Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=what-is-real-and-what-is-not http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=what-is-real-and-what-is-not What is real and what is not? Emotions are real, but are they valid? What I mean by this is that what I feel is real, but is whatever is causing the emotion real?  Lately, due to outside forces, I have had emotions of being disrespected, that I do not deserve to be treated well, that I am stupid, that the only thing about me worthy of being recognized is my body, that I am incapable of doing anything of any significance, and very, very unloved. I let these outside forces over rule all the good that is pouring into me right now, and I dwelled on them. These emotions were very real, but did the actions and words spoken to me, to make me feel this way, have any validity? Absolutely not!         God does not see me this way. God sees me as His child, whom He loves. He has called me to a mission, because He has a plan to use me. I have a purpose in life, because of Him. My heavenly Father thinks that I am beautiful. He knows that I am far from per Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=what-a-beautiful-place-to-worship http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=what-a-beautiful-place-to-worship             Yesterday I had the opportunity to hike a nearby trail that follows a river though some mountains. It was quite the adventure! We took a bus to a town called  El Pelor and walked through the town to reach the trail.             It was awesome! The view was amazing, and nature was flourishing! (I know that's hard to imagine during the middle of winter while it's snowing outside and below zero) The weather was perfect. It got a little hot around mid-day, but that's to be expected.             Once we reached a part in the trail where it crosses the river we decided to stop and have lunch. It was an amazing view and we took advantage of it to the fullest! I put on my headphones, walked a little ways off, and began singing out my heart to the Lord! I was able to cry out His name and tell Him how much I love Mon, 4 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=church-in-the-dominican-republic http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=church-in-the-dominican-republic               Last Friday night I had my first real Dominican church experience. It was new and different in many ways. First of all we went to a small church that is led by a close friend of Miguel and Kristen's. This pastora has a tendency to ask visitor to speak, so Miguel asked me to prepare something ahead of time.             God walked me through the process of putting a message together and I loved the process and time spent with Him. Going to the church I didn't really know what to expect, but I assumed it was something like church in Mexico. Wrong! The church was so much louder with people shouting Gloria! I loved worship! I am a rhythm based person and the music' consisted solely of percussion instruments and singing. The clapping was so loud that you could barely hear the voices! And for once I was not the only one dancing! I was actually out-danced by a num Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=soaking-up-the-word http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=soaking-up-the-word             The DR team has been going through some changes this week and it has affected our schedule for the week. Due to this I have had extra time to spend studying the bible. It has been great! In one day I studied for over six hours! I don't think that I have ever had such desire to read and learn and really study. For those of you that know me well, you know how amazing this is because normally I really despise studying.             Since coming here God has continually showed me things that I need to work on, at the same time He has been showing me how much He loves me. It balances out to me feeling great, but knowing that there is so much more that I can know and, do and, become.             I have also come realize that I love it here! I also love it in Mexico! I do not think that it is b Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=heythis-isnt-mexico http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=heythis-isnt-mexico   I'm in the Dominican Republic! "How did that happen?" you ask. Well, let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time there was a FYM team in the D.R. This was and is a team of four wonderful followers of Christ. They had two leaders that just had a brand new baby girl! Yay for babies! They also had a boys RA. Wanting the best for the FYMers the leaders thought that it may be beneficial for there to be a girls RA.             This is where I come in. I was asked to consider joining the Dominican Republic team for a short time as the girls RA. It was somewhat ironic because last semester I felt that God was calling me to be more of a leader and I had been trying to find out what that may look like. After praying about it, I realized that this is what God was asking me to do. Why? I don't know the answer to that. One thing that I have learned is that I do not need to understand why God is asking me to do something; I just n Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=written-week-of-thanksgiving http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=written-week-of-thanksgiving             The Lord is amazing! His love and grace blow my mind over and over again. This past semester has been jam packed of His works. The doors have been opened here and hearing and growing in the word of God. Personally, I have learned so much and grown in my relationship with God. My team has been unified and moved. The people of Mexico are noticing that there is something different about us and they are yearning to have what we have!             The hospital is so close to my heart now that the days we can not go I am saddened. It is so difficult every time that we walk through the doors, but EVERY SINGLE time God uses our obedience to make something happen. Our goal each time is simply to do whatever God calls us to. To treat the people in the hospital as though they are Christ, doing whatever we can for them.   Matthew 25:35-36   "For I was hungry a Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=saying-adios http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=saying-adios Yesterday we visited our families for the last time o the semester. We went to say 'goodbye' and it was one of the hardest things I have had to do here. These families have been such a blessing to me! I look forward to going home and seeing my family and friends, but I know that I will miss Mexico and the friends and family that I now have here. Knowing that I am returning in a month eases the pain a little. God is teaching me to release them into His hands and to trust Him. After all, He cares for them much more than I do. Please look at my text on each of these pictures. Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=holiday-week http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=holiday-week Thanks Giving week; a big celebration, right? Well, not so much in Mexico... but the 20th of November is their day for celebrating their Revolution and let me tell you, they go all out! Last Friday we were in a parade! In it, not just watching! Some of my team interns at a school that participated in the parade and they invited us to join them. Then on Tuesday there was an even bigger parade. Every school participated and the parade lasted many hours. I had wonderful pictures I wanted to post, but I forgot my camara, so the pictures will have to wait....sorry. Anyway, through all the frustrations with the language, being away from home, and a few days of not feeling well, God has still been pouring out His love and encouragement on me. Thank you so much for your prayers, I will write more next time and hopefully remember my camara! Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=change http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=change        This past week was definitely a change of pace. We spent the week working construction on the church we attend, live in, eat in. spend our lives. It was nice getting out of the normal routine of things and seeing the progress happen before our eyes.               I have been thinking about how I miss home, but on the flip side of that how much I love the things here (most things). When you live in community you get to know each other very quickly. I feel as though I have known many of my teammates for much longer than the two months that it has actually been.  I have also been building relationships here that will be very difficult for me to leave when the time comes.                      I would appreciate prayer in the areas of wisdom with these relationships, and a boldness to Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=change1 http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=change1        This past week was definitely a change of pace. We spent the week working construction on the church we attend, live in, eat in. spend our lives. It was nice getting out of the normal routine of things and seeing the progress happen before our eyes.               I have been thinking about how I miss home, but on the flip side of that how much I love the things here (most things). When you live in community you get to know each other very quickly. I feel as though I have known many of my teammates for much longer than the two months that it has actually been.  I have also been building relationships here that will be very difficult for me to leave when the time comes.                      I would appreciate prayer in the areas of wisdom with these relationships, and a boldness to Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=answered-prayer http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=answered-prayer        This past week was an interesting one. Tuesday and Wednesday were difficult days, both in the hospital and in Libertad (the name of the neighborhood I live in, and that my team ministers to.) By the time that Thursday rolled around I was frustrated and not really looking forward to heading out to spend the afternoon in Libertad.                                  We headed out anyway. Things got off to a rocky start, so we decided that maybe we should spend some of our time simply in prayer for the people of our neighborhood, the needs that they have, and the spiritual warfare that is being fought. After a while we decided to begin walking again, praying in our minds as we went. Suddenly we look up and see Graciela. This is a woman that we have been ministering to for a few weeks now. However Tue, 6 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=new-hospital-experience http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=new-hospital-experience Lately, when we go to the hospital we have been visiting the pediatric wing. The children are very receptive to us, depending on how sick they are of course. But their parents are even more welcoming. As soon as they learn that we are missionaries they ask us to pray for their children! It seems as though it is easier for them to ask for prayer, or to see that there is a need for prayer when it is their children that are in pain rather than themselves. Everyday before we walk into the hospital we pray. One of the things that we pray for is that God would give us direction, showing us who to speak with and what to say. Last Wednesday we went to the pediatric wing and a nurse stopped us. She told us to go to rooms 4, 5, and 6. (Room four has six patients in it.) We went into room four first and began talking to the families. The nurse came in and pointed out a woman and told us we needed to speak with her. This woman was talking to a doctor at first and then she fell asleep. We conti Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=mis-nios http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=mis-nios     This past week and a half I have grown very close to some little girls that live near the church. They are adorable and they understand my Spanish! Yet they are so in need it breaks my heart. They life with their mom and two older brothers, their mom works from the time they get out of school until three or so in the morning, every day. They have no supervision during this time. It is clear that these girls need love, because they adore the attention we give them. They have so many needs. It is not unusual for them to go a day without food. The older girl, Carla age 7, told me last night that they do not have a blanket on their bed. The younger one, Crystal age 6, broke her only pair shoes and now either wears no shoes or a pair of her sisters which are too big. Yet they have so much love and joy!   This is a picture of us together. Taking pictures turned into a game, because they wanted to see what they looked like on my digital. They all laugh so muchI will kee Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=new-relationships http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=new-relationships I am so excited at the relationships that are being built. It has taken sometimes, but there are so many friendships that are growing. Of course between my team and I but also with the locals here. For example there are some little girls that are neighbors of ours. Every time they see me walking up the street they come running! I know that they crave the attention and love that they are receiving from our team, but it is so much more. We are able to give and abundance of love because of the love that Christ has given to us. Three times a week we head out with the purpose of visiting the people in our neighborhood and every night I go for a walk with a teammate of mine to see who we can meet on the street. Obviously we are careful, but we want to be where the people are. The past few weeks have felt so successful just because we are getting to know more and more people! Soon I will be able to post some more pictures. Thank you again for the prayer and support! Keep the prayers com Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=ice-cream-success http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=ice-cream-success           One of my biggest daily frustrations is the language. Yesterday, on my day off, I went to the store with a friend and I successfully ordered ice cream in Spanish! We're talking good ice cream here. I had 3 scoops (all different flavors mind you), in a waffle cone, with sprinkles on top! While I was eating my ice cream I decided that even though I can't say everything in Spanish I can at least do the important tasks, like my ice cream.                                                                                I think that the language barrier is Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=el-lodo http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=el-lodo Life is so busy here that we are always on the move! That is of course, except for when it down pours Tuesday we got more rain. The colonia, or neighborhood in English, that we live in has dirt roads. Not to mention there is no drainage system in Mexico. So, when it rains there is a lot of water in the streets, which makes it very, very difficult to get around.  For example, this picture looks like a lovely stream that the kids are playing in. In reality it is our street! I took this picture from our parking lot! This is now one of the dryest points of the neighborhood. Half a week later and there are still puddles almost up to my knees! But don't you worry, we are having a fabulous time learning how to walk though the mud, or lodo, without loosing or breaking a shoe! I am very thankful for my rain boots. Thank you to all of you for your prayers and support! I know that I am not alone, and in moments when I feel weak God has filled me up again. Until next week, Dios te Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=broken-hearted-for-the-broken http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=broken-hearted-for-the-broken If someone had told me that I would be going to Mexico to visit people in a hospital I would have said, unlikely'. If they told me that I would be singing to these people, and even attempting some songs in Spanish I would have said, "Yeah Right. There is no way I would sing in a hospital." I would have been wrong. This past week, when we visited the hospital, God sent us to a woman that is very broken; physically she has a broken pelvis, broken and dislocated arm, and deep bruises up and down her body, emotionally she is the mother of a 12 year old and a 5 month old and is now unable to care for them. This is simply the beginning for her. We first met her on Wednesday. She had been in a car accident on Saturday. She is in need of an operation, but they will not treat her yet. She was not on medication, she didn't even have a blanket or pillow. When we went to her she welcomed us. She shared her story through heart felt tears. In the car accident the other victim was injured even mor Mon, 8 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=open-doors http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=open-doors This past week I have spent a lot of time in prayer; asking God about what he wants me to do here. To my surprise He made it evident that I should do my internship at the hospital! This is definitely out of my comfort zone, and yet I am excited to see what God has in store. From day 1,God has been opening doors to make things possible. We were able to enter the hospital with ease. (In Mexican hospitals there are guards at the door, and often times they will let only one family member, for a patient, in at time. There is a big process that goes in to gaining permission to be able to regularly enter.) Yet for us, we were able to walk right in. My leader talked to the head nurse about the types of things we could do. (There are three of us working in the hospital.) She said she did not want us doing anything other that talking and praying with the patients. We have her full support!             Our first official day there was o Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=first-church-experience http://tamaraherbst.myadventures.org/?filename=first-church-experience I can't believe that I am finally writing from Mexico! This is the first chance that I have had to be on a computer. For this point on I should be able to update my blog every week. Training camp was intense, but a lot of fun. God definitely used this time to teach me a lot of lessons. I want to tell you all about an amazing experience that I had. Last night was my first time to attend church here. The church sends out vans to pick up people from different neighborhoods, when the vans returned the people spilled out of them and immediately came over to greet us! The children were ready to pray and everyone was so welcoming. Many people have told me that this church and it's interns are responsible for their relationships with Christ and they know that this new group of interns (including me) will be doing a lot of good work here. Church began with worship. I was surprised and very excited that I was able to understand most of the songs. Worship is a little different here, there ar Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT