For a large portion of my life, I struggled with finding my identity in relationships with people rather than as a daughter of my Lord and Savior. God has been teaching me about His deep love for me and has been showing me how He knows me deeply and intimately. I am fully known by my Heavenly Father (Psalm 139)” -Emily Gaudian
“Genesis 28:12 talks about a dream Jacob had. So I'm not impressed by Satan because I am a house of God with a ladder coming down from it that provides angelic activities in the moments needed. Better put, I am an open heaven. Faith moves heaven and in return heaven moves earth”.
-Colton Dunn
“I am seeing clearly. God has been showing me many things about myself, others and His great love for me. I feel like I see His will in my life and what God wants me to do very clearly. The Lord is continually sanctifying me, and allowing me to see as He does.” -Robert Neal Montgomery
“My whole life I have defined God by the men and relationships in my life. I have so easily fallen in love with other things and not my daddy upstairs. For the first time I am putting the most important man in my life first … I am falling in LOVE with my savior and becoming HIS BRIDE …. For how can I become the women he wants me to be and share love with someone else if I can't first love him. He is like no man that will ever cross my path, that my God is so big that he wants me to walk this crazy life with him hand in hand. I am his bride, forever.” – Breanne Coe
“I've always been good at blocking out memories I didn't want to deal with. I've always felt that the mistakes I've made are too big to deal with. When I look back on the things I've done, I see a mess. On this trip I've faced my past and I've come to the realization that it doesn't matter what I've done. God meets me where I am and loves me despite how big of a mess I think I've made. He doesn't see a mess when he looks at me. He sees me as beautiful and pure. He accepts me exactly how I am.” – Kirsten Vlasic <3
"I have finally allowed God to break chains that have been holding me back. Chains of my past, of what people think about me, even of my family. I am finding MY identity in CHRIST… not letting anything else define me. God is transforming me. God has given me freedom." – Dorothy Keiper
“Beautiful. It's self explanitory. I AM BEAUTIFUL!” -Nikki Hiers
“I've learned this trip that I am His disciple doing the best work possible. Since I am a follower of Christ, I have the authority to preach the Gospel and invite the Holy Spirit to move in people's lives and perform miracles, just as Jesus gave his apostles that power and authority. Matthew 27:19-20 says, 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'” -Allegra (Allie) Forwith
“The devil is always telling us lies and convincing us that we don't know enough about the Bible to tell people about Jesus, but that's just because he doesn't want anymore believers. That is a lie from the enemy, and I have learned on this trip that I am fully equipped to go out and spread the gospel. At the beginning of the trip, I would always keep quiet and would let my other teammates who knew the Bible really well do the talking. Then I started praying and God began providing me with words to speak and Bible verses. Hebrews 13: 20-21 says, 'may the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.'” -Taylore Lantz
“I am a sinful person by nature. I often make the wrong choice and I have regrets from my past. I was spiritually dead before I became a Christian. But when Christ paid the price for me, I became a new creation. I don't have to have burdens anymore because, I am alive in the Lord. Ephesians 5:14 says, 'Wake up, O sleeper. Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.'” -Emily Chambers
“I am capable. Throughout my life there have been times when I've been asked to speak in front of people, and I”ve always thought I couldn't do it because I wouldn't know what to speak and wouldn't have the right words. I have now learned, and still learning, that I am capable to speak in front of people because of God and it's Him who will give me the words.” – Paulina Reimer
“Restored. My God is a God of restoration. He takes what's been broken and bruised and makes it new. My creator takes my past – all of the decisions I've made and the hurt I've experienced and wipes the slate clean. He doesn't hold those things against me because He is a good father. My heart is no longer neglected and damaged. He took those things from me – bringing me restoration!! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Ahh God is so good! – Kristin Ivaldi <3
“I have struggled with faith within myself my whole life. I tell myself that I cannot do something, when in reality I have all the strength I need through Christ. I have discovered just how strong I am through my journey here in Kenya, and God has placed me here to show me just how much inner strength I do have. (Isaiah 41:10)” -Ashlee Paul
“I was homeless, but meow I am adopted by a purrrfect family!” -Nora the cat
