1/26/15

My current battle is to keep the door open. 

God has opened one big door filled with many opportunities for me.
Which consists of going to college, moving back home, pursuing some other dreams of mine.

 However, it never occurred to me that Satan would try to close this door directly on my face.

I am constantly having to fight to keep it open. This is totally a bipolar battle.
Everyday looks different. Sometimes it's a spiritual gun fight... other days it's a thumb war.
And why does it surprise me that Satan would want to keep me from going through that door?
Stupid girl.
You should remember that he's out to get you.

At first I considered all this as maybe a sign that God was telling me I heard Him wrong. That I shouldn't leave Life Action and continue teaching the kids.

Which would be confusing, because he was so clear a few months ago that my time here is coming to a close.
One thing I will always remember my mother taught me is that God is not a God of confusion.
Therefore, I am putting on my spiritual armor and fighting for my future.
Thankfully I know what the ending of this battle looks like.
As I think about life after Life Action and what I would like to do,
there are some dreams I'd like to pursue.
I've also never shared with you what those are...

At a young age I learned my love for fashion. Going to thrift shops with my mom. Finding great things in unexpected places. Creating something new with something old.

When I was twelve my mom bought me my first sewing machine at Penny's.
It's a light blue little powerful machine. I've crafted some fun things with it.
Not soon after that I picked up a camera (just like dad) and learned a love for photography.
Later in life I learned a love for blogging.

Now it's time to put them altogether.
At least I'm going to try.
I didn't know that until the other day. My likes and interests aren't necessarily something that I knew how to
I was watching a youtube video of a fashion blogger i've followed for years.
She discussed her love for fashion and sewing. How making a fashion line she sewed on her own, as well as fashion blogging is what got her through college. She lives in New York and has certainly made a living off of doing what she loves.

Whilst watching it, I realized, I myself have a lot of potential as a seamstress.

(This is a shirt I sewed for my brother this Christmas)

I also love blogging and fashion. For a long time I have loved all these things.
So I have decided to pursue all of these loves of mine.
I want to go to school for business, and while i'm there I can fashion blog, travel a little bit, try sewing some new projects and see how it turns out for me.
All the things I love, and I'm going to pursue it.
Thanks,
Marina.

It Could Be Your Turn

Three years ago Life Action headquarters had some of us team members be interviewed about traveling on the road as a promo video. I knew that it maybe would never go anywhere and could be shelved kind of a situation. However, apparently the video's been on Vimeo for awhile now and I saw it for the first time the other day! It was really fun for me to watch. God's brought me on the journey of a life time and maybe it's your turn.

There are always new opportunities out there just sometimes we don't know what they may be.

Maybe you just graduated and aren't sure if you want to go back to school or if you should take a break. Or maybe you want to travel and see America. If you want to try something different, meet a lot of new people, and grow spiritually then you should considering joining a road team.
Just ask me about it, or go online to lifeaction.org/onemission to read more about. 

Also, here's the video...
enjoy watching me from three years ago.

Tucked In...

Tucked in my bed at my new host home with three blankets, a heater, and hot rice bag under my covers. Tennessee's a stickler in the winter. 34 Degree's may not seem much, but for this Arizona girl it's a struggle. When I left home the temperature was in the glorious 70's range. 

For now, I'm getting by.

It feels amazing being back with my good friends, teaching the cutest kids, and just soaking up the bittersweet feeling of my last semester in Life Action.

Not much else has been going on. However, I will say that I love this Memphis, Bartlett, Arlington, Collierville area. May sound crazy to some people but I have now had four families I enjoy being with here. That's a lot. I consider it a blessing.

Fun facts: I got a ukulele for Christmas from a friend of mine. So, I've been practicing and I so enjoy playing it! Maybe one day I'll post a video of my amateur abilities.

Leading into this new year 2015, we as a team were challenged to pray for a word of the year. So I personally prayed and asked that God would show me what my word is. I thought trust would maybe be my word... but I wasn't sure. I kept praying and asked for some confirmation one night. The next morning I pulled out my Jesus Calling app for a quick devotion before I started my long Sunday. The title of the message that day was "Trust Me" then I knew that my word was trust.

This year I am being stretched to trust God with a lot of new changes in my life. I'm leaving a ministry that changed my life and made some solid life long friends. Moving back home, and starting college in the fall. I'm sure there are going to be a lot more "Trust Me" moments with God and it's going to take a lot of faith for me. I don't know about you, but when change comes, I cringe. Big change that is. So here I go into the rest of this year... learning to trust God more than I have had to before. Just a little scary.
 Until next time,
Marina

Bittersweet.

Hello everybody!

It's been a little while. I am usually very apt about having at least one post a month for the past two and a half years. However, the past couple months I have had some big changes come up and haven't quite found the way to tell you all. That plus timing. 

The current biggest change in my life is that come July, after three years of service in Life Action Ministries, God is calling me off the road and I will be moving back home to Phoenix! 

I was surprised at how early God was informing me about this. Usually I don't know until around February. However, this was made clear to me in October. 

God has also called me to start college in the Fall of 2015! 

I am in the process of applying to Grand Canyon University and am so excited about this opportunity.

A few weeks ago I took a tour of the campus, fell in love with it, and have had immense peace about everything since then. I am so excited for the opportunity I get to go to college. I thought when God had called me to Life Action I might not ever get the chance to go. You really never know how long He is going to keep you there. Leaving the ministry that has molded me into who I am, is one of the most bittersweet things that's every happened to me. 

My team has been there for me through some of the happiest and saddest moments of my life. Pouring God's love and grace on my lap when I needed it the most. A group of people I will never forget. They're also some of my biggest supporters, who are also excited for me! 

I am greatly going to miss them. Gladly though I will be able to treasure a few more months with them as the year ends in the summer. 

Right now I am home enjoying the last few days I have at home for break before I head back. This has been the longest break I have ever had. It's been so nice to relax, not have to travel every couple of weeks, and be able to spend time with my family. 

Thank you for being here, reading my blog. Whether you've read my post from the beginning or this is the first time you've read The Not-So-Secret Life I appreciate the support!
No worries though I will continue to be here, informing you of the random or cool things happening around me.
Happy New Year!
2015

16 Days

Where has the time gone?!

In a short 16 days I will be back in Phoenix, the homeland.

However, the past few weeks have been incredibly memorable. 

My roommate and I certainly loved our host family in Crestview, Florida.
We had a lot of fun together just hanging out or going to different places. Which would include them taking us on their boat, so fun!

We saw several dolphins, and walked on the beautiful white sands.

I also grew quit attached to my host parents pets, Beau, and Zoe.

 To say these two have been a huge blessing in my life would not do them justice.

I was very sad to leave. 

Even the kids at the church were a fun group.

They most certainly kept us on our feet the whole time!

And while we weren't teaching we went around doing touristy things like going to the Aviation Naval Museum.

On the way back we got a flat tire. Us girls made the most of it by getting out of the bus and playing games while we waited for the tire to get fixed... three hours later. 

All in all Crestview was amazing. 

Tomorrow starts the summit here in Lyons, Georgia. 

I'm very excited to be here and the church seems to be ready. They have been having many prayer meetings in excitement for the revival to begin, and talk about it often. 

So please keep us in your prayers, and I'll be home soon!

God Gave Me A Hat...

I've always admired the hat Zooey Deschanel wears in one of my favorite movies, Elf. Its a cream colored knit with a pom pom. However,  I've always been a little iffy about buying one and never decided to spend the money on it. The other day while in Target there was the most perfect hat. Almost exactly like the one worn in the movie. Running up to it I immediately put it on, and knew I wanted it.

Feeling tight on money, I knew it would be better for me to put it back and move on. Maybe ask for it for Christmas. Then I wondered if I had a gift card. Searching through my wallet, I found a Visa gift card for $25. The card had never worked the past few times I tried, those kind of gift cards can easily be a pain when it comes to having a pin number, or needing to know the exact balance on the card. So calling the number on the back I put in all the numbers and information it said the balance was $25! I had enough to pay for it (if the card worked this time). 

Still not sure if buying a hat was a proper use of the money (because it's a hat and almost all hats turn out to be a mistake), I called my mom. Mother knows best. 

Telling her of what had just happened and how I wasn't sure if I should buy it she replied by saying,

"I think that Jesus was saying He thinks the hat looks cute on you, and gave you some money to pay for it."

Sold, I happily got in line. God had given me a hat.

Remembering how He cares about the little things in my life made me feel so loved by Him. The little things do really matter and tend to go a long way.

Thanks God :)

Tomorrow we leave for Crestview, Florida. Not exactly ideal for hat weather, but hopefully since we are in the far northern part of Florida I'll get a chance to wear it.

I'm excited to get to our next church, we are expecting 50-60 kids in Happy Heart City. At least that's what they tell us. I've learned not to believe the numbers they tell me anymore because 9 times out of 10 they're wrong. Regardless I look forward to ministering to a new group and getting to know some more people. I love what I do, and I'm so often reminded of how my obedience to God brings blessing in my life.

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Matthew 7:9-11

The Freedom in Surrendering

This has been a very different but good summit. First, some of my lovely family came to visit me for a few days! This is the first time they have been able to come see while I have been traveling in the ministry. So I was very excited when I heard they had made plans to visit. 

My cute family. 

I had so much fun hanging out with them for a few days.

As far as the Summit goes we've been having a lot of growing times here for us as children's ministers. The size of the church is much smaller than we are use too. One of the services we only had one kid come. That was a first for me, but we just did everything like normal and did it to the best of our abilities.

Here's some of us dressed up for a skit we did on honesty.

We decided to hangout on the roof of the church because... we had a key. So, why not?

We've been taking a lot of Starbucks runs this summit. We love our coffee and Pumpkin Spice Lattes. 

I am also greatly looking forward to winter break this year. Life Action has decided it is too difficult and expensive to have another summit after Thanksgiving. Therefore, I get to go home for two weeks longer than normal. I will be home for thanksgiving and my 21st birthday! Which I haven't been able to be home for, in two years and I thought I wouldn't be there for a third year in a row. Not only will I be home for that time but, my good friend Karis is coming home with me for a week.

I'm so glad to be serving here in Life Action teaching children. Whether there are one hundred kids or just one, I know God can do anything. 

Last week I went through a very growing moment in my relationship with Jesus.
I'd been having a few very hard days, and in the middle of one of them I read Psalm 32:3. It said, "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long."
That so easily related to how I was feeling.
God was telling me I needed to surrender my desires at His feet and trust Him.
Once I obeyed him that "groaning all day" feeling was gone and it was like a flood of freedom had come over me.
My God truly loves me and wants what's best for me.

Thanks for reading and keeping up with the ministry!
Until next time,
Marina