Help me with my Photography!

These past couple weeks have been full of some of the sweetest moments and some pretty tough ones. Being in another country, away from family, over the holidays has never been easy for me. I deeply love my family and our family traditions for the holiday seasons has always been something that has brought me a lot of joy. So being away from my family during this season wasn't the easiest on my emotions.
On the other end of that... I was just telling God about they way I was feeling about how much I miss my family. And almost everyday since then God has shown me how he has given me another family here in Mexico. We don't have all the normal traditions but there are certainly lives changing! The YWAM Tijuana campus pulled together and we put on a thanksgiving dinner for the homeless of Zona Norte. It was incredible as 500 homeless men, women and children sat down and enjoyed a thanksgiving meal they otherwise would never of had.
It was beautiful as a man who used to live on the streets of Tijuana gave a testimony of how God turned his life around and is now a pastor. After he gave his testimony many stood up and asked God to become part of their lives too. I was filled with so much joy as I watched all these men and women sitting down to a meal to be served and instead of them waiting in line for the food WE were waiting in line to serve them.

So now Christmas time is around the corner and I'm coming home for Christmas and New Years! I'm very excited to come home and see my friends and family.
I would like to ask for your help while I'm home. My sister in law had this brilliant idea of how I could raise some financial support while I'm home.....
Family Portraits for "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" greeting cards. If you have procrastinated pictures for this let me help you! I love taking photos and I'm always looking for those who love to have their pictures taken.
I'm home from the 18th of December till the 3rd of Janurary. If there is a date in there that would work for you let me know! I would love to meet with your family, share a little bit about my missions work and have a blast taking your pictures.

Prayer Requests
1) The people of Zona Norte who gave their lives to Christ would continue to see Him and search for Him

Mario of Zona Norte

Hey Friends! I just wanted to share a quick story about something that really touched my heart the other week while doing ministry in the Red Light District of Tijuana.

The picture above is a man name Mario that lives on the streets of Zona Norte. He comes to the park every Wednesday when our group gives out soup.
This one week we had a guy from our ministry share a message and play worship before we served the soup to the homeless. Mario and I were just chatting before this started and I found that not only did he have a physical disability that caused him to need a walker but he also has a speech impediment that makes it hard for him to speak. Only about 3 words of a sentence are clear.
When worship started we stopped talking to listen. As I was standing next to him I noticed that he knew the worship songs and was doing his best to sing along. It amazed me as I watched this man who could barely put two words together, and not really even sing, give his best to worship God.
So I think, do I, who lives in a beautiful place, eats food everyday, and am in very good health give my best to worship God like this man who has nothing compared to me. Too often I don't.
Later on Mario and I prayed together and the only thing he asked me to pray for was that God would forgive him. I wonder if that is what I would ask from God if I didn't even have a home to call my own and was begging for food on a daily basis.

Mario challenged me in how much I really give in worship God and what I truly should be seeking when I've already been given all I need to survive.

Joy instead of mourning

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me in any way during my time here in Mexico.

These past couple weeks have been full of meetings, classes, studying, grading, working, ministry and tons of little details that fill in the gaps of time.
Usually during times like this I get tired and grouchy. But I really believe that God is fulfilling the verse that he gave me for this season of my life in Mexico
Isaiah 61:1-3 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

Before I left for Mexico I asked God for a verse to dwell on and think about as I go through my year here. I believe that God has been so faithful to turn mourning into joy, in myself and to the people that I am able to encounter. 

Doing what God has called me to has filled me in inexpressible joy even though it is tiring. People have come up to me and told me that they can see that I am growing in joy and peace. They say that because of the work that God is doing in me they see my ministry is becoming fruitful. I believe that a lot of that joy has been present because of the prayers of my friends and family. Prayer is such a vital part to the ministry I am doing here and without I would wilt. 

So thank so much for praying for me. 

Prayer requests: 

Increased joy and peace 

Healing from sickness (there is a flu going around the missionary base) 

Ocean Breeze and Mariachi Band

The ocean breeze and sounds of a mariachi band drifting through my window are a few of the sensory things that I usually experience on a normal day in Tijuana, Mexico. I live an extremely blessed life. As I revel in my  peaceful surroundings, I'm also searching for answers to questions that I and others have about the bible. Sometimes I get worried that I won't ever be able to amply explain and teach others the exciting things I have found in studying the bible. But as I keep studying and plugging away at it, I realize that if I am searching out truth and truly being humble about what I find, God will work through me whether I can't create a great power point or if I can't eloquently communicate my work. Gods word will not return void. (Isaiah 55:11)


My days have recently been filled with classes on the inductive method with the book of Genesis and personal study on the book of Exodus. I'm preparing a teaching on the Plagues, the Passover and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart (Exodus 5-13). The subjects are packed with so much meaning and are pivotal in the history of the Hebrews. I'm excited to study them and then be able to share them with the CSBS class.
I feel extremely blessed this week with the prayer and support that has been coming in. I can't thank everyone enough for their encouragement and willingness to make it possible for me to teach the bible here in Mexico.

Weekly Prayer Requests....

• Wisdom on how to present my teaching/ confidence and understanding for any questions the students might have. 
• Peace 

Thank you for reading!

Preparation

Hello Friends!
So much has happened in my first week of being back in Mexico that it has actually felt like I've been here longer than a week! My week has been full of preparation for the CSBS that is starting on the 16th. It's exciting to get back into the inductive method of studying the Bible and learning how to guide the students in the best way that we can.
Already we are welcoming students to the base and helping them get settled into their new living spaces. It's so exciting to have students from the US, Mexico and Norway joining us for this school. As a staff we have taken time to pray for each individual student and the school as a whole. During our time of prayer we are all feeling like this is going to be a school of personal transformation that people will be able to use to bring unity to the body of Christ.

I have one prayer request for this week...
1) There are two students from Ghana, Africa that are struggling to get their visas in time for the school. Please join us in prayer for God to pull these visa's through for the students so they can follow their passion for learning more from the Bible and experience the life changing power of the Gospel.

Another year in mexico (short version)

In a week I leave Michigan to go back to Mexico. While being home I've had the chance to relax, work and travel to Canada for a week to visit friends from my DTS and also to photograph the wedding of two of my friends. You can see the photographs from the wedding here . My time home has gone by very quickly and I'm sad to leave my family but very excited to see what this next school year will bring.
If my newsletter was too long to read, that's ok. Here is the short version...

I'm going back to mexico to keep working with the CSBS. I will be on staff with the school, my responsibilities will be grading, mentoring and teaching students the bible. I learned so much about the faithfulness and grace of God than I ever knew before and I'm so excited to be able to see the transformation that is going to happen in each students lives.
On the side of working with the school I also will be working with a ministry that serves in the red light district of Tijuana. There we serve soup in a park to the homeless while a smaller group does a prayer walk through Zona Norte. God is moving in powerful ways in the city of Tijuana and it's amazing to be a part of this ministry.
I have been blessed by so many of my friends and family's support in this. Though I am still in need of monthly monetary support. I know that as I am preparing for a year of ministry oversees, having a strong base of supporters is vital to my ministry in Tijuana, Mexico. Starting in September and lasting through July (10 months), I am in need of both spiritual and monetary support. Financially, I am in need of $500-600 of support per month, which covers all of my expenses in Mexico. At the moment I have been blessed with funds enough to get me through the first couple months of living.

                If you are interested in being my supporter there is a donation button on the right of this page. I'm seeking monthly and one time supporters. If you would like more information you can send me an email at nicole.hope35@gmail.com. I hope to be able to send out weekly prayer request and monthly updates during my stay in Mexico.

Thanks for reading friends!
Nicole 

Going back to Mexico!

Dear Friends and Family

I’m writing this letter to share what I have been doing for the last nine months and what the next step in my life is going to be.

                For the past year I have been a part of Youth With a Mission’s Chronological School of Biblical Studies, or YWAM’s CSBS for short. It’s a nine month school were we inductively studied each book of the bible in the order that the books were written. It was a very busy and crazy time of studying the entire Bible book by book. The last semester we studied the New Testament and it was incredible to see the whole story of the Bible really come together and see God’s faithfulness and sovereignty highlighted throughout all the books. These nine months have been the some of the most heart wrenching but also the sweetest months I’ve ever spent with God. God had been changing my heart and building up a passion for His word in me.  It was exciting and exhausting and I wouldn’t trade that time for anything in the world.

                After completing the Chronological School of Biblical, I’ve been invited to join the next year’s staff of CSBS in Tijuana, Mexico. My passion for the bible and a desire to go deeper in the word is what has driven me to join the CSBS staff  next year. It’s going to come with a lot of responsibility but I know that I’m up to that task. I will be teaching two books a semester, a total of six books. My first book will be Ruth, one of my favorites. I can't wait to show the students the amazing story of redemption that God shows through the characters in Ruth! Other parts of being a staff member for the CSBS will include grading the students work, helping them improve their homework, and helping them go deeper in what they are learning. There will be an aspect of discipling the students through all that they are learning in the bible. Discipleship is something that I’m very excited about. During my time of going through the bible I found I had a lot of questions about God and lots of issues in my heart that I had to work through. My leaders were there to help me wrestle with those things. I am excited to work with students and help them wrestle with the hard questions and the hard things that God brings to light as you study his word.

                This past year I became involved in the ministry where a group of fellow YWAMers and I reach out to the homeless and the people on the streets of Tijuana’s red light district, called Zona Norte. Every Wednesday we serve soup in a park to the homeless while a smaller group does a prayer walk through the streets.. After repeated prayer walks as a group, many along the street are beginning to recognize us and allowing us to pray over them. We come into contact with all sorts of people, including other US citizens who are there for the heartbreaking things the red light district has to offer. I hope to become even more involved in this ministry when I return.

                God has blessed me with an amazing support base throughout this past year, both financially and spiritually. I know that as I am preparing for a year of ministry oversees, having a strong base of supporters is vital to my ministry in Tijuana, Mexico. I ask for you to take time in prayer to consider joining me as a supporter in this upcoming year. Starting in September and lasting through July, I am in need of both spiritual and monetary support. I am responsible for discipling students, teaching books, and hope to be involved again in Zona Norte. Financially, I am in need of $500 of support per month, which covers all of my expenses in Mexico.

                If you are interested in being my supporter there is a donation button on the right of this page. If you would like more information you can send me an email at nicole.hope35@gmail.com. I hope to be able to send out weekly prayer request and monthly updates during my stay in Mexico.

                I would love to share more of my vision for teaching the word of God; so, if time allows I would love to meet with you before I head out again in September. God is doing amazing things in Mexico and I cannot wait to be a part of His work there! It would be such a huge blessing if you came alongside me and sent me out on this mission that God has given me. I hope to see you soon!

In Christ’s Love,

Nicole

Children of a family for whom the CSBS '12 built a house 

Transitions

Hello!
I must apologize for not doing the best job of giving out consistent updates. It's something I hope to get better at soon.

Well life here in Mexico is moving right along.There are only 2 weeks left of the CSBS, and then I graduate with 7 other students in June 22nd! Needless to say, we are are very excited to have made it through these exhausting 9 months of bible study. We have all learned so much and there has been a passion developed in all of us for the word of God.
Also, I have moved into a small flat that is right next to the base here with another friend. It has been such a huge blessing to have a small place to call my own. Right before we moved there my roommate's dog gave birth to puppies. When my roommate got the dog she had been a street dog and very malnourished, so only 2 of the puppies have made it. It is a miracle that the dog and 2 of the puppies are doing so well.
To celebrate celebrating moving into my house here in mexico, as my roomy and I went out to eat taco's in the city. We were sitting outside, eating our taco's and chatting about how much we loved living in mexico and how amazing it is here. Two seconds later someone ran by and snatched my purse right off the table! By the time I realized what had happened the man was already across the street and there wasn't a chance that someone could of gotten it. Thank God right before I left I had taken out some of the important things that I had in there. The poor guy probably thought that he was going to get loads of money from the american girl only to find that the purse was basically empty. The only thing I could do at that moment was laugh at the irony of the whole situation and just move on. Viva la Mexico
It's been a busy, full, and wonderfully exciting week!

So, right after graduation one other student and I from the school are going to be working 2 more weeks where we will constantly be preparing teachings and taking every opportunity we have to teach in the community. This is going to be a 2 week time of training on how to teach us how to teach the books of the bible next year in the school. We were given the chance to be trained on how to prepare and teach books and since I get nervous when I have to speak in front of people, I took the option to be given some extra help in learning how to do that. There are 5 out of the 8 students that are planning on staffing and teaching in the CSBS next year, and we all are very excited to work in the CSBS and pass on the knowledge that we have gained!

After those two weeks I plan on going home for a short period to see family and catch up with friends. I actually will be traveling to Canada for a week to take photos for my friends wedding that is taking place at the YWAM base I did my DTS. It will be such a great time of reuniting with my DTS friends.

Well my friends, I hope this update finds you well, I must get back to my homework now.

Love, Nicole

Our Puppies curled up into a heart