Final Letter!

Hello Friends! I am finally updating my final news on the trip to Mexico! It has been two months since we have returned. It seems like it was only yesterday that our team was standing in the mountains of San Andres, breathing in the air of God's beauty and getting a glimpse of part of God's kingdom. I have been pondering over what I wanted to share with you. As a group, we encountered so many amazing people who love Christ and want to make HIM known! Here are a few high lights from the trip. 

*Spending four days painting the inside of La Lluvia Café. Getting to know the people who are employed at the cafe and hearing their stories. 

*Having the Christian English group come to the cafe and helping them to learn English. It was so awesome to spend time with them and get to know each of them a little bit. What was even more cool was that we got to teach them our language! 

*I brought 8 English Bibles with me to Mexico. When I put them into my suitcase, I was not sure what I was going to do with them. God knew! I was able to give them to the students who were their to learn English! What a blessing that was! 

*Spending time with Katia and Miguel, who own and operate the cafe. Seeing their hearts for the Lord and the ministry they are carrying out by running the cafe to reach those who do not know the Lord. They have sacrificed so much to make this not only a business, but a place for the Lord to be made known to all who walk in the cafes door. 

*Going up into the mountains of San Andres and meeting the amazing community of people who live their. They are a small group of Christians who have a heart to reach all who are lost in the area they live. 

*Helping to start the foundation of the church they are building in San Andres.

*Going into the homes of the people of San Andres and hearing their stories and praying for them. During that time, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so powerfully. A woman named Erica comes to mind, please pray for her. 

*The children's ministry was amazing! We were able to speak to around 60 children about the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what my trip leader, John Pederson, had to say about the children' ministry that we did...

"Watching Sarah and her team bring so much life and joy to the children on the basketball court (concha) through so many great activities.  The final day when Pastor  “Josué" (Joshua) shared the Good News through the colors was powerful and precious.  I still have the picture of that attentive group…soaking in the timeless message of the Gospel engrained in my memory."

*Your financial blessings provided us SO much for this trip!!! We had money for...

1. Many paint supplies
2. Construction materials
3. Food and water
4. Children's Ministry supplies 
5. Air fare, and vehicle services 
6. Gifts to buy to give to our hosts
7. Extra donations were given to Katia and Miguel
8. TO BLESS MANY!!!

*And your prayers were felt throughout the trip! Thank you for your prayers!

WOW!!! Thank you for helping this team make it possible to go on this trip to Mexico! The people were so warm and loving. They were so grateful for us to come and minister to them. They continually thanked us. And they ministered to us in so many ways, as well! THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

Love in Him,

Sarah Olson

****My next blog will be full of photos from the trip****

Back Home

Hi Everyone! It has been two weeks since I wrote my last blog. The trip went very well! I have been in recovery mode since I have returned on Sunday, the 16th. I wanted to let you know I am doing well and starting to feel like myself again. I will be posting photos soon and sharing stories with each photo. Please stay tuned! Thank you for your prayers!

Hello....

Hi tp everyone who is reading this blog! We are all sore and tired, but doing well.We have been painting from morning until late at night. I will post photos when I get back home. It has been good, but hard. I have enjoyed spending time with Katia and getting to know some of the cutomers that have come through the door. All of our team has great servant hearts and attitudes. We had a christian english speaking group come into the cafe and we were able to spend time with them. They are learning english so they had good practice with us. It was a cool experience and a lot of fun! Tomorrow we will leave to San Andres, up to the mountains. We will be their through Saturday. We will be doing construction work. As far as I know we will be laying a foundation for a building for ministry. We will also be doing children's ministry with around 70 children in the late afternoon, every day we are their. Please pray for our continued health. I have had a sore throat all day and one of the guys, Stephen has a bad back. Please pray we will keep our eyes focused on Jesus and keep working for him and his kingdom. I will try to write again on Saturday. Thank you for your prayers:)

We are in Guadalajara!

Hello friends and family. We arrived into Guadalajara late last night. Mostly because custome took over two hours to get through! We are all doing well and we are healthy. Today was spent as a day of rest. We went to church and then to the teenage Sunday school. We gave testimonies and spent some time hanging out with the youth. They shared with use that most of them are the only Christians in their class. After we were with the youth, the administrator invited us to his house for lunch and we enjoyed spending the rest of the day their. I got to know his daughter as she speaks english and we had some wonderful conversations about faith and life. We have been treated very well as the Mexicans are very hospitable. They have fed us delicious food and they greet you and say good bye to you with a kiss (on the cheek) and a hug. I have been blessed with many kisses and hugs so far:) Tomorrow we will spend time painting the walla of the cafe that Katia and Miguel minister out of. I would share more but it is bed time. I will try to update again on Tuesday. Love and prayers to all! Thank you for your prayer:)

On the plane to Fort Worth right now. It's amazing what technology can do. You can now use wifi while you are high in the sky! After Fort Worth, we arrive in Guadalajara at 8:30 tonight. Prayer requests... that our teams eyes, minds, and hearts will be open to God's will every moment we are in Mexico.  That we will stay healthy. For our hosts, Katia and Miguel and their boys. They have been sick with colds. For the people that God has already planned for us to meet. That their hearts will be ready to meet Jesus and learn more about HIM.
Pray for healing that is needed among the people. My heart is full and ready. Thank you for your prayers and love. I will post more when I am able. GOD BLESS.

Miguel and Katia

Hello all! I wanted to tell you a little about the hosts we are going to be staying with while in Guadalajara. I have posted a photo of Miguel and Katia. They live in Guadalajara with their two sons. They do a ministry out of a small art cafe, mainly with university students. They also serve in many other capacities of ministry. I first met Miguel and Katia when I went to Haiti in 2012. They are wonderful people who serve the Lord in so many ways! Please pray for Miguel and Katia as they receive our team, very soon! Thank you all for your prayers and your love. I can already tell God will do great things for HIS kingdom in Mexico:)

Learning songs in Spanish

I have been learning songs in spanish to sing with the children in Guadalajara. Remember Lord I lift your name on high and I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart? Those are just a couple that I will be doing. I chose songs with actions so they are more fun for the kids! I can't believe I only have 13 more days until we go! Thank you to all who have prayed and gave money for the trip. You have blessed the team and me so much! Please continue to pray as we go on this trip! Thank you:)

Incredibly Blessed!!!

Today I got a phone call from a generous man who wanted to donate $750.00 to the missions trip! He and his wife are such wonderful people! I feel overwhelmingly blessed and grateful! This donation will go to do so much for the people we are going to be ministering to in Guadalajara. I am now fully funded! Amen! Thank you to all who have given financially. Thank you to all who are prayer warriors. Praise God!

Please Help :)

Fact: a little over half of the population of Mexico are children. Children who are living in poverty. Children who need to learn about Christ. We are preparing a Bible times to have with the children when we go to Mexico. Please pray that God will be used during this time. Pray for the hearts of the children who will attend the Bible time. Pray that they will receive the Lord and start a relationship with HIM. I am asking for donations of small toys to take with me to give to the children as gifts. They can be anything the size of a McDonalds happy meal toy. Please let me know if you would like to help out and give a toy! Thank you for praying and thank you for your support!

Blessings to all:)

In Him,

Sarah 

Praising God!

I have been so amazed and blessed by people who want to contribute to my trip financially. How amazing are the hearts of those that are trusting in the Lord. Thank you so much for your love and support! I am also very humbled by prayer. I have had so many wonderful people send me messages, call me, give me a hug, and let me know they are praying for me.

Things to pray for...

1. The community of Guadalajara
2. The hearts of the team members that are going
3. The hosts that receive us, Katia and Miguel
4. Our focus to be on God and HIS mission

Finances

Hi friends! So far I have raised $70.00 for my trip. That is a big blessing to me! I may have some online donations that I am not aware of yet. If you would like to donate online, you can go to https://secure.bethanyinternational.org/donate/index.php 

Just type my name in the "missionary box." I appreciate all the support I can get! Also, please message me if you do give, so I can send you a thank you! Hope everyone has a blessed weekend of rest! 

Love to all His children,

Sarah