| “For the love of God constrains us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh, yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” I love those verses. Those last few are my life verses. That is, after all, what the name Michelle means: Ambassador of Christ; One who officially represents God. And God is forever good! Life has been weird and tricky the past few years, but God is always faithful! My Dad has now been in Colorado working for over a year, and we continue to wait on God’s timing in the sale of our house. Although we still do not know why or how God is leading, it is okay. I have enjoyed the precious year on the farm, doing as much as I possibly can before God calls me on to leave. There are many things in life I enjoy, however, they can be summed up into a few general particular PASSIONS of mine. Animals, photography, video, writing, missions, and communicating to name a few of them. The past 6 years I have followed my love of animals, which led me to Kopper Top, and the people I have encountered and fallen in love with along the way. I love animals and communications, and would be happy to follow both of them for the rest of my life. Yet continually, the doors for photography, writing, video, and missions have been slammed shut in my face, leaving me with one option left: my animals. However…this summer, God has been opening the doors and making it very clear to me that I can return to PERU!!! I am sooo excited about it. I have been longing to go back for two years…ever since I came back from the 8.0 earthquake trip But the doors had never opened. Until now. Now…now, it is so clear to me, and I am SO EXCITED to follow in God’s path and plan for my life! Darby is stoked about going as well, and very eager to capture the work of God on film (err, memory cards) Looking back on it all, and looking forward to it all, there is only one thing I can say: God is SO FAITHFUL and SO GOOD to me!!!!! He truly does give us the desires of our hearts, and align our passions and hearts with His! If you had asked me when I was 8, 10, 12, 16, even 18, if I would ever want to be a missionary, I would have responded with an emphatic, “Are you crazy?! No way!” But now…that is one of the biggest burning passions of my heart. GOD changed my heart, and I am so humbled and grateful to Him. God can change hearts. God can take a heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. I know He can. I have felt Him do it with my own heart. I am so excited and can hardly wait till this summer! I have met a lady who grew up in Ecuador and she is helping me brush up on/learn Spanish! I have been going to a Spanish church with her, and whew, is that taxing my memory and mind! Although I continually discover I know more than I think I do, which is encouraging…but I still have a long ways to go! My mom sent me to the bookstore with my sisters tonight to buy a gift for their friend’s birthday party (I was being lazy and didn’t really want to leave the house, but I did), and what did God put in my path but two Spanish CDs with hymns and choruses in Spanish!! I love Spanish…it is a beautiful language. And there are few more beautiful sounds than to listen to the nations worshipping God!! My God is good, and I will triumph in the works of His hands! May I ALWAYS be an ambassador for Him, whether here in the States or in other nations across the world! May the life I live reflect the FAITH that I believe!! Joyfully, Michelle PS. Despite my "traitorism" in using Facebook and Wordpress of late, my faithful old Xanga gets to bear the news of Peru first It may very well be it's last post (can't keep up with allll these sites!:-/.)
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But I flipped the radio on, and heard some of my favorite songs. Then I got hit with the coolest analogy! See, I was following Deborah, determined to stay with her…my eyes RIVETED on that red van like my life depended on her…I’d be lost without her if I lost sight of her! But how much more so I ought to RIVET my eyes on Christ and never let Him out of my sight! For without Him, and following His leading, I would be lost, and pretty much ruin my life:-/ It was a really cool analogy that hit home in me and struck a chord at that moment, and I will not forget it for a long while. I had NO idea where I was, I was just following Deborah. I didn’t know what she was doing or where she was going. I only knew that eventually, she would lead me home. So I trusted her and followed her. And so it is with God…I don’t understand what He’s doing, I don’t know exactly where He’s leading, or where I am, or WHY He is taking me a different route than I would have gone…but ultimately, He will lead me home. 
