God is doing exciting things!

I have been back in Costa Rica for a month and it has been a rollercoaster to get back into the routine of things. God has been faithful though and for Him all the glory because this is His. I have an exciting news and a testimony of God working, confirming and backing me up as I continue to serve Him.

If you have been following me for a while you know that I walk by faith trusting that God will provide for all my needs and He has. He has use many ways both expected and unexpected. He is always working so my needs are covered as well as the needs of my sister Rachel. We have been a team for a year now and we have shared a home which is a beautiful refuge, ministry as we are call to disciple youth, and also all of our financial support. Everything that has come through CTEN under her name has been to support both of us in the field and everything that has come to me informally on other ways has been as well to support both of us.

Before I went to Spain I was accepted into my own missions organization called Coalition Ministries which has a partnership with 11th Hour Worker Missionary Group. This is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides spiritual and financial accountability to those serving with the Coalition Ministries, providing supporters with a safe, secure, and tax-deductible way to continue supporting me. It is so great that the Lord has provided so that I can also receive funds towards our ministry, because Rachel and I will still continue to share our funds as we are a team and share ministry expenses.

My prayer card. How exciting.

Also my organization asked me if I could helped with short term mission team as I have experience with them and I am fluent in Spanish, English and French and they decided to for me to be the Short Term Mission Director, which is an honour and a privilege and I will serve until someone else can take the position because my main focus is discipling kids, youth and work with the poor. My organization is aware of this and agreed with this as well. So if you have any desire to come and be God's feet and hands in a short mission trip please let me know! I  praise the Lord because He is good and faithful. He walks with me and holds my hand and takes care of every detail.

God has provided for all my needs praise and glory to Him. I am also in need of more financial support and I have a budget of $1200 dollars a month to cover all of my expenses as I am ministering in the slums. This includes rent, utilities, food, healthcare, some savings for an emergency, travel expenses, ministry expense, transportation and tithing. 

If God has placed it on your heart to partner with His work here financially, please mail a check payable to 11^thHour Workers Missionary Group in the memo add “Coalition Ministries / Ana Marcos” with a separate note stating is for Ana Marcos and the address is  

7418 South Dixie Hwy

 West Palm Beach FL 

33405. 

All donations are used for both Rachel and I as we work as a team and share ministry expenses.

To all who have partner with me and Rachel in prayer, financially, giving advice and encouragement, giving us supplies and ideas Thank You!!! You are a blessing to me, to us. I am immeasurably grateful for for you. this is possible because of you and you are also ministering here in CR, in the slums, to the youth and kids. Again thank you for your support to advance the Kingdom of God!

In another topic regarding Spain and my trip. It was everything and more. It was good, fun, beautiful, sad, confusing and exhausting. I was able to have good conversations with my parents and I showed my heart to them and we were able to reconcile. I was able to see little ones and play, had dinners and lunch dates with other family members and had good times catching up. I was able to be a tourist with my parents and we went to London were I ate as much indian food as possible. Went to france with them and some other relatives and practice my french. I shared about my work and about my faith but I was very careful and asked God for wisdom because is not a topic that is treated well or with respect. Praying for them still and always!! Below some pictures.

Again thank you all that have been with me in this journey you are God's gift to me! Praying for you and for future partners and supporters. May God bless you abundantly!

Cristina and Juanamari

Carli my cut grumpy cousin! I am no kidding
his grumpyness is cute.

            

Asier, Iosu and Nerea
Hoping they can come visit!

The only aunt I have left!
But she is even healthier than I am
Praise the Lord!

Aitor. Please pray for Him I want to
see what God is going to do through Him once
he meets the Lord

Little Naia. She is coming to visit next April. Yay.
Ahe love animals and bugs
Hoping she does not want to see spiders.

Naia and Nere
Cannot wait for them to visit me.

  

My daddy with little Nere.
See it is his fault I love kids that much
He showed me how to love them.

Maria! Such  fun girl!

London, London, London
with my dad!

The Parlament

Buckingham Palace and my dad

Aahh the coast of France in Bayonne

Which way?

My dad and me in Biarritz France.

Trusting in His promises

He bought me that coat for the winter
He is the reason why I love snow!

When I was a little girl I used to think that he had all the answers to all questions in the world. There was no one that could measure up to him. I loved going out with him because it was always fun. I felt that together we would conquer the world. It was always me and him.

He would take me to museums, libraries, monuments. He held my hand and showed me the world. He was there every time I had the sniffles, every time I fell and scratch my knees. He taught me how to use skates, ride a bike, take a bus or train, how to drive a car. He took me to school everyday. He brought me to Costa Rica gave me a home and a dog. He went with me to pay my tuition for college and he was there when I graduated from university. One day I hope he will walk me down the aisle.

He would have giving me the world, the moon, the stars and the sun if so he could. He showed me how ants work, cut my nails and taught me how to swim. He went with me to every doctor's appointment, he bought all the books that I wanted and we would read them together, he would give me chocolate without my  mom knowing, he studied with me and help with my homework. He kissed me good night every night, gave me a hug before I would go to school. He would hold my hand every time a plain would take off so I wouldn't be scared. He would play the piano and teach me how to sing. He was the first to teach me how to love.

Her favourite picture of me.

She has always been an elegant woman. The kind of woman that would hold me so tight in hopes that I would never get hurt. She was always there when I was sick to give me natural remedies, medicine and massage my back. she would teach me how to be better at whatever I was doing. She taught me how to brush my teeth, how to comb my hair, how to tie my shoes and how to mix and match outfits, earrings, shoes and purses.

She bought my first lipstick showed me how to use mascara and eye-liner, bought my first pair of high heels and send me off to college. She would make sure that I ate all my meals, ate all of my veggies. She would pack my lunch for school, tucked me in bed, wash my hair when I was sick. She was the one that would kiss my finger when I had a booboo, she would give me a kleenex and a glass of water every time I cried.

She was there to hug me when my first boyfriend broke up with me, to encourage me when I thought I couldn't do another final at university because I was tired. She was the one who loved me first (after God of course). She longed for me, waited patiently for my arrival and held me in her arms telling me I was her little miracle. She was the one who taught me what love was about.

I am who I am because of them. I love the way i love because of them. If there is anyone in the world that I would hate to disappoint would be my parents. I am grateful to no content to God for giving me them and for choosing them as my earthly father and mother. If you have been following my blog you probably know that since I became a Christian my relationship with my parents has been a bumpy one. 

On March first I will be in Spain visiting my parents and the rest  of my 78 relatives for a whole month. Yes, my family is huge and aunts, uncles cousins, dogs and cats... we are all very close. I am expected for coffee, lunch dates, dinner parties, play dates with the little ones, for photo shoots, sight seeing, hugs kisses and tons of laughter I have not seen all of them in almost 4 years, at that time I was a different person. For starters I was not a Christian and they are not very supportive of me being one and much less of me being a missionary.

So I write this in the hopes that you will join me in prayer. I have been shifting my feelings for this trip. Honestly I am excited not only because I get to visit my family, kiss them and hug them but I get to share Jesus with them all. I get to share who my Saviour is, His love, His wonders, miracles and what He is doing both in my life and the lives of the people of Costa Rica.

Bilbao, Spain - Home

I want this trip to be about Him. I have been praying for me to be able to shine with Jesus' light. I want to be a living testimony of Him to them. They have already ask questions, hard ones I must say: -If God exists then why is there so much suffering in the world?-  -Why do you say that Jesus' sacrifice is true love? True love comes from being good with yourself.-  -Why would you care? is not like you are gaining anything for you to have a better life.- -Helping others is not your responsibility let others do it. You were not raised for this.- -There is no heaven, God did not create the world and if He exists He doesn't love us are you crazy?-

The last one is my favourite because I am crazy... crazy in love with Jesus. I want them to know the truth. I understand those questions, I was there once but I know the truth. I pray that they see Jesus in me and not me, that they will see His love, His mercy, His grace, His gift. I want to go and point them to the Cross, direct them to ask God to answer His questions. I want to plant seeds, His seeds. 

I am praying that the words that I speak will be His words. I pray that the Holy spirit will give me peace and wisdom, that he will guide my steps and prepare my arms to hold and embrace my family with His love. 

I am ready to go and tell them about what He has done in my life and that I am happy and safe in His will. I can't wait to go, even when I have those moments when I feel scared. I do feel excited, happy, encouraged, peaceful and I am ready to wear my heart for Him on my sleeve. I pray that my whole family will bow at His feet and proclaim Jesus' as King and Saviour, even if I do not see it, even when I might not know when.

I just hold on to Him, knowing what He has done, praising Him and thanking Him for all of what He has done, trusting that He has me in the palm of His hand and that He knows, He loves, He walks with me holding my hand and lighting my way. I fervently pray, I do, I pray and I hope in Him.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
   my hope comes from him.
 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
   he is my fortress, I will not be shaken" 
Psalm 62:5-6 

Not mine but His

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23 NLT

Today I have taken this Psalm and make it my personal prayer to God. I have been praying all morning as hard and loud as I can. I have lift up my arms to heaven and praise my Saviour for all that He has done. I feel spoiled by Him, He has been with me every single second of this journey and He does not let go, quite the contrary He reminds me that this is His.

As you may know Rachel and I are working at a different place. It is still a slum, in Heredia which is a different province and about 45 minutes car ride from where we use to live. Here, we are in charge of the discipleship program for kids and youth, we also help  with the women, we occasionally visit some homes and pray over people.

My friend and I "dancing"

I love kids, and everytime I am with them I understand a little bit better Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” They understand things so much better than adults. Basic concepts are just truths with no questions, no "but", no exceptions and no excuses.

I met little Joscelyn at the Christmas party when she saw us dancing and wanted to join, and really she did not wanted to quite dance but be held in my arms while I danced. A few days after I saw her at kids club and she just said: -Friend! Hi!- and gave me the biggest bear hug ever. A week ago I saw her playing with her toys and a few of her friends and she came to me and said: -Hi! Are we friends?- Me: -Hi! Yes of course we are friends!- J: Are you friends with Jesus?- Me: -Yes I am- J: -Can I be friends with Him too? Can we all be friends?- Me -Yes my darling He is your best friend and we can all be friends- She smiles and invites me to play with her and her friends on the side walk with some dolls. 

This is His doing not mine...

Hope!

He said: -You have a light!- He turns to my mom and says -Have you seen these pictures, her eyes are radiant, I have never seen you so happy and "shinny" before in your life Ana- My dad smiles at me and says that he is proud of me, that he does not understand but he sure knows I am doing well and good to human kind. God has been so faithful in His promises! We were skyping and when I hanged up the call I cried tears of joy. 

He is working in my daddy and that just makes me feel spoiled, because I am also so scared because I am going to Spain in March. I had and sometimes still have fears of going home and having to face disapproval, rejection, hatred, persecution and maybe having to hear my mom say that she is disappointed of me right to my face, but the work He is doing in my dad gave so much hope. I praise my God, my wonderful loving God, for all He is doing in my family.

This is His doing not mine...

Youth girlies

I was at one of the houses in the slum where two families live and the owner of the house introduces me to the other woman who is living with her and she says: -Ohhh I have heard of you. Are you the one that holds babies and loves on them?- I couldn't say anything because I was surprised at that statement because it is true. I just smiled at her and she said while she was giving me her baby: -Would you Hold my baby and pray for Him?- I held little Christopher and praised my Saviour for His life and the purpose He has for him.

After that I went to the youth bible study and the girls just opened up and told me that they did not really believe in God, that if they go to church it's because their moms make them go, that they think that God has way too many rules for them and that to please Him is really hard but they want to keep on coming and discusing about Him some more.

This is His doing not mine...

His children who come to Kid's club every Tuesday

 I had an important meeting last week, were God open a door and answer my prayer in an unexpected way and while we were in that meeting a missionary comes to me and says that He has a message from God to me. He and his wife pray over me and He said that God is pleased with me, that He knows that my heart is full of love, that He will use that love to heal others and pull them closer to Him. He said that I am right where I am supposed to be and that I need to not worry He will do His work through me.

This is infront of the community center were we work.

This is His doing not mine because as I wrote before I am  beautifully broken at the feet of my Saviour. Broken, full of imperfections and sin, inadequate, unworthy, not very patient, sometimes too vocal, too opinionated,, too doubtful and too confident on my strength. He decides I am worthy of His love. It is beautiful because He has given me so much all the time. My words do not give it any justice. He just overwhelms me with His love, grace, forgiveness, mercy and all I want to be is Her slave and serve Him. Yes I am a slave with true freedom because I chose to be His.

His grace is enough

A year has gone by and I could sit here and write pages of pages of things that have happened but instead here is my year in pictures. In 2011 we

Send friends off to their missions field. Stephanie went to Mexico City.

Grew older I became 28  years old and had friends who celebrated with me

Little Chloe came to fill our lifes with cuteness

When we brought her home.

She loved sleeping like that, all stretched out

She helps us coloured or watched.

Our friends got engaged and married.

Made new friends, some became sisters or brothers in my heart.

Rach, me and Steph!!! 

Rach, our Quinchito and me

Family from Canada came to vist and we went to the beach and had some adventures.

My Garbers

introducing Sebastian the crab

The Turners Missionaries in CR

We translated for short term mission teams that came to CR, medical teams and youth teams that did a VBS.

VBS

Medical team

John 3:16

We learn how to make sushi, we cooked and baked. 

Sweet Taylor taught us how!

Cheese biscuits my favorite yumm!

We prayed, had bible studies, talked about Jesus Christ, we praised Him, we served Him and each other, we laughed with kids, we held babies, we asked God questions, we shared our struggles as we gave them and continue giving them to God. All is for Him and to Him be all the Glory!

We had game night, hang out with friends, we had dinner, went to the movies, we were there for each other, we went out, we shared our testimonies, our lives. We grew together, we helped each other and loved each other.

eating out and enjoying a show

Game night

We said goodbyes and we wait patiently, or try. to say hello soon. We welcomed girlies in to our home and got to be part of their journey. One of those moments when they say we are a blessing but they have blessed us immensely. 

Shannon missionary serving in Honduras

Janae and Marcie

Nina who lights up the room with her beautiful smile

We hugged, we received blessing from unexpected people, strangers and others who have been there always.

Donation of brand new ministry supplies

Andrea my friend, sister, supporter, and more

Best of all God has been with us during the whole year guiding. loving, shaping, giving hope and forgiving. Thankful for the year that comes to an end and joyful for a new one both full of His grace, because that is enough!

To live and serve among the poor

beautiful

May the new year find you blessed beyond measure. Hoping that 2012 will be all you wanted and more, may God lead all of your steps and bless your socks off.