Tuesday, May 29, 2018

A Testimony of Wanting to be Loved Fighting Emotional Encounters with Faith




A Testimony of Wanting to be Loved 
Fighting Emotional Encounters with Faith


This is Luz she is 13 years old. While we were back in Chachapoyas this time to study spanish for two weeks in our down time we were able to get to know this young lady. 

Luz lives with Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. She is one of 28 girls that have been blessed to have a fresh start in life. 

Her mother was shot and killed in front of her when she was only 6 years old. Her father tried his best to raise her and your two older siblings. After many years of trying he felt it was best that her two older siblings be sent to their grandmothers house to live. The grandmother could not afford to take in all three so Luz being the youngest was sent to live 15 Hours away with the Sisters in Chachapoyas. 

Luz and my daughter Julianna began their friendship the last time we were visiting with the Sisters back in March, but this time the Lord made it clear why this friendship between the two of them was so important to Gods plan.  On the first day back,  Julianna got a glimpse of Luz’s arm.  Later that night Julianna told me what she had seen and asked me to speak to her about the cuts on her arm. 

The next day, a bit nervous to share about my personal testimony of our Lord. Even a bit worried how I was even going to start the conversation with Luz.  I turned to the bible for comfort and understanding. I read and reflected on the passage found in 2 Timothy 1:8 

St. Paul’s example and his own advice: 
“Do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord” 

Even though I am embarrassed of my past. I felt compelled to share my testimony with this young lady.  I felt that she needed to hear that she is not alone and that God loves her. 
So the next morning both Julianna, my daughter and I sat down with her. I was so amazed by this young ladies strength as she began to tell me of her broken heart and the loss of her mother and how she has  always felt so out of place in the world. After a few minutes with her I began to tell her my testimony.  About how I felt so broken, unloved and unwanted until I fully allowed Jesus to enter into my heart. I spoke about how many times I allowed the world to rate my worth. I told her how I use to turn to self harm in hopes to take the pain away that others had afflicted on me.




I will never forget the look on her face as she lifted up her sleeve to show me her pain that she has been dealing with in silence. Luz began to pour her heart out and started explaining how she is just wanting to be loved and each time she tries she just gets hurt even more. She asked me how I was able to overcome the silence of cutting. She was so eager to know how Christ was able to love me more than any human on this earth could ever. 

The remainder of our time in Chachapoyas we spent together was in front of Jesus.  Something that I learned very late in my life to do. To Fight emotional encounters with faith. We looked up scripture together, Reading about how God feels about each one of us and how much our lives are worth to Him.  We practiced together how to give all of our troubles, heart breaks, anxiety, depression and insult to the Lord. 
We read together about Saint Paul and the struggles he had in his life.
 In the book of 2 Corinthians 11:23-29
What Saint Paul experienced in his life
 as a follower of Christ.

“Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Fives times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?”

We talked a lot about why God made us in the 1st place. I have always loved the simplicity of the old Baltimore Catechism: 
We were made 
To Know Him, To Love Him,
 To Serve Him and to make Him Known. 

It was wonderful to hear Julianna my daughter chime in and explain what this mean for our lives here on earth to Luz. To have a 16 year old testify to the purpose of why God created us, meant a lot to this beautiful 13 year old. 

I am certain that Luz has a very long road ahead of her, as she continues to fight against the worlds temptations, desires and wants. But she is a very strong young lady and very capable of fighting off Satan’s attacks. We plan to keep in touch with her and with the Sisters where she is staying. Providing we can afford to make the 8 hour bus trip to see her. We pray that we will have another chance to visit with her. 

Please keep Luz in your prayers. She desperately needs each and every one of our prayers.  I personally pray that she will allow God to love her. That she will feel complete and know her worth. 

Saint Paul we thank you for your example of a true faithful servant who endured many hardships and much cruelty as you served as a Disciple of Christ. Your ability to remain faithful, strong and to overcome emotional struggles and the hatred of others is a testimony that has saved many including Luz and myself. Thank you for your testimony. Saint Paul please pray for us. Amen



Thank you to all of our financial and prayerful mission partners . It is because of your sacrifices we were able to become a friend to Luz. Its because of you she was able to hear testimony of God’s great Love for us and to know her worth. 











Karen Del Castillo
Catholic Missionary

Contact us with your prayer intentions, follow our blog, or make a donation at the following links.


Sunday, May 20, 2018

God’s Grace is Sufficient - An Update on Love Until it Hurts

  God’s Grace is sufficient - An Update on Love Until it Hurts



 I wanted to thank each one of you for your recent prayers.
 I feel its important for each of you to know 
what really can come from prayers. 
So much strength courage and love we have gained: We have been very blessed in such a wonderful way, because you have been merciful enough to pray for us.  
In return all the gifts we have received we are able to share with those we live among.  






 Our little friend Denison is feeling the 
rewards of each one of your prayers as well.
He seems to have figured out we are nice
 and would like to be friends. 
It's so wonderful to know that when we open the door he politely asks if he can enter.
 That he no longer greets us with a kick or a punch. 
He knows that we welcome him and that he can come sit at our table and color or just simply talk to us. More so he seems to be super happy when he comes while I am cooking. He seems to always be hungry. We offer him food and water and without hesitation he always accepts our offer.  


I must beg each of you still to pray for me. At times when we are running low on donations and food is scares and I am worried about how I am going to feed my own children until we receive another donation, I tend to hesitate offering Dennison food.

 I pray that God continues to reshape and mold me into his likeness. When my head hits the pillow at night I recall the times I hesitated to be like Christ; to love as he did. 

However I am thankful that in my hesitation Jesus steps right in and handles my unbelief and my lack of faith. He is quickly there to help me when I stumble and when I worry. He is quick to take my hand and show me his mercy, grace and kindness. 

In the book of 2 Corinthians 12:9 Saint Paul writes 

“My grace is sufficient for you,
 for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 


God made this wonderful promise to Paul, and I must remember that the same promise that God made to Paul he makes for each one of us.

And yes I mean all of us.  As a single mom having raised four children two which are since grown and with my two youngest we are serving as Lay Catholic Missionaries in a 3rd world country, it’s unbelievable to me how hard headed and quickly I can forget Gods promise. 

I often find myself trying to depend on myself and my own resources, strength and intelligence. At times I find myself believing that its, I who must provided. That its I that needs to figure it all out. In reality its simple that I need to do is fall on my knees: to praise and adore Christ for all he has done for us. For all he will continue to do for us.   Understanding that I do not need to rely on myself for our needs, that in my weakness he will provide all that I need. 
  
So my friends I continue to ask each of you for prayers that I may continue to grow in the likeness of Christ. More so that I will not hesitate to boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ power may rest upon me. 


Please rest in knowing that we are constantly praying for each of you. Please allow us to receive Gods graces by praying for your intentions. Please send us your special prayer intentions. And thank you to those of you whom have already sent in yours. 

Karen Del Castillo
Catholic Missionary

Contact us with your prayer intentions, follow our blog, or make a donation at the following links.