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