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Work In Progress

Over the last 10 years of dating and marriage, my husband Casey and I have lived in 4 different countries, and with that comes lots of packing, unpacking, selling, and storing. Although we don’t have many material possessions stored away, one thing I refused to part with were my stacks and stacks of old journals I’ve accumulated over the years. I still remember that very first floral one I purchased from Target my freshmen year of college when I first started walking with the Lord.

I haven’t actually taken the time to sit down and count how many I have, but if I were to guess, there would be a couple boxes full of them, probably 40-50 in all. Over the last several years, as consecutive kiddos have filled our home, the journaling time has significantly dwindled, but I still cherish the moments where I’m able to pour out my heart to the Lord in this way.

There is something so special and humbling about looking back and seeing the way the Lord has continually answered prayer, time and time again. His faithfulness and kindness towards me are so evident as I pour over past requests and see the way His loving and gracious hand orchestrated countless details, situations, and experiences in ways I never could on my own.

However, the other day, as I was looking through an old journal from several years ago, I felt myself start to get discouraged. As I was reading about different sins and strongholds I was facing from years ago, frustration and annoyance welled up in me, as I realized these struggles from back then, are things I’m still battling with today. “Why Lord? Can’t I figure this out already??? I’ve been walking with you for almost 15 years now, and my flesh still battles the same temptations now as I do then?” All of these thoughts flooded my mind for quite a while, and yet God was gracious to remind me of His truth and goodness.

In a daily devotion I’m reading called New Morning Mercies, the author Paul Tripp, says this, “The reality is that if we followed Jesus for a thousand years, we would need His grace as much for the next day as we did the first day that we believed. We are not spiritually independent in any way. The opposite is true. Just as in the first moment we believed, we are ALWAYS completely DEPENDENT on the grace of the Savior for EVERY spiritual need.”

Does that mean I can just rest in my sin? To say “Well, its no use! I’ve always been this way, always struggled with this, so no point in continuing to battle this stronghold?” No, definitely not! I should always be seeking to surrender these persistent struggles to the Lord, taking action to fight against them, and aiming to look back and see proof of victory in these areas. God never wants me to be satisfied in my sin. BUT, at the same time, I’m realizing more and more that as we live life on this fallen earth, that the same temptation and struggles will always be there. And that is okay because it draws me to my knees. It makes me see that I am completely dependent on the grace of Jesus every. single. moment. It makes me so very grateful and thankful for God’s relentless and unending patience with me.

So as I pour through old journals, I can rejoice in my challenges and struggles because although I am forgetful and flaky, God is so very faithful. He will never give up on me. And I can look forward with anticipation, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

-Megan Herring, GEM Co-founder

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No Tournament, No Problem

Hey everyone! In case you don’t know me, I am Rachel Ellzey and I am GEM’s Sponsorship Coordinator. My title doesn’t really explain much of my job other than the fact that I coordinate the sponsorship program. I also manage all of GEM’s social media, communicate with donors and I’m in charge of fundraising events here in the States!

Over the past two years, our golf tournament fundraiser, The GEM Classic has become our biggest fundraiser of the year! It has been really cool watching this fundraiser grow since the first year in 2016!

The first year, everything was new. I was learning about golf tournaments in general as well as large fundraisers. Every part of the event felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants, uncertain of how everything would turn out. But God was in control! We had a solid turn out for the first year and raised a good amount of funds! We learned a ton of what to do better the next year, but overall we received good feedback. Thanks to Jesus!

The second year (as you may be able to guess) was even better! We had experience under our belts and grew the event significantly. We had more golfers come out, a professional band to play music and fancy trophies for our winners! We raised more money than the year before, and we knew God was all over it.

But year three… that’s when I felt we were really going to hit our strides. We learned so much from year one and two. I had a whole list of things I knew NOT to do and another list of things we needed to do in the future that we’d never done before. As I started planning this year’s tournament, I truly felt like I had it all together and that we were really going to host an impressive tournament that was going to help us raise significant funds for our students in Mexico.

Then mid-September came around and Hurricane Florence hit the east coast. Did I mention that GEM’s headquarters are in Wilmington, North Carolina? Yeah – it was hit pretty hard. Once the storm passed and all the city’s damages were being assessed, it became clear that we were not going to be able to host the GEM Classic come October 23rd. The course was still flooded and we had no way to know the condition it would be in once the water drained. So many of our supporters live in or around the Wilmington area, and we knew it would not be the right time to ask this community to give.

I was so confused. This was supposed to be the year. We were ready to put everything we learned over the past two years into action and host the best tournament ever. GEM was counting on those funds for various ministry needs. Why did this happen and how were we going to get by?

I really had to remind myself that anytime I am surprised by anything – God is not surprised. He knows everything that is going to happen and has a perfect plan and purpose for each detail. He gave us the idea to host an online fundraiser and be totally honest with all of our supporters. We decided to just tell everyone what was going on and explain the financial needs that we had due to the storm. To me, this was so unique. I love being a part of a non-profit ministry that isn’t afraid to just be transparent about our needs. And I love that we have supporters that genuinely care about what those needs are and that are eager to try and meet them! We had such an overwhelming response of love and concern, and God really used that to show me His steadfast love.

The online fundraiser that we did in place of the tournament lasted three weeks, and we were able to raise a little over $8,000 for GEM. What a huge praise!!! Nothing about this year’s fall fundraiser went according to plan (well, our plan) BUT God’s plan was always unfolding and He provided everything we needed as He always does. Even though we didn’t host an actual golf tournament this year, I still learned PLENTY that will be of great use when it comes to planning year 4. Hope to see you on the course next year!

-Rachel Ellzey, Sponsorship Coordinator

Rachel lives in Wilmington, North Carolina with her husband and their golden retriever, Chester, the best dog in the world. She loves baking, watching old reruns of Friends and going for family walks. If you have any questions about GEM or would like to talk about sponsoring a student, you can reach her HERE.

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Give Me Jesus

Sitting down to write this blog post, I feel like I have very little to offer. It has been a week where I have just felt like I have so little to give those around me, and if I am being honest, I feel like I have even less to offer God.

Last week was a really busy week. It was a week spent preparing for International Cultures Night, which went really well. However, it was a lot of work beforehand to get ready for that night. With how much work there was to do, I found myself cutting corners with my time with God each day.

Now, I know that might not seem like a big deal. How noticeable could it be? After all, it was only a week, right? Wrong. In moments where I neglected to run to God with my worries and stress, I was proclaiming to myself and others that I have got everything in the palm of my hands and that I did not need Jesus as much as I needed to complete my work. In reality, I was trying to control and maintain things that I was never given the authority to control, instead of relying on the God who has dominion over all.

It is ironic that during a week where I needed more of God, I chose to busy myself with working in order to check things off my list. Looking at last week, I feel so much like Martha in Luke 10, worrying about things that are not mine to worry about. Jesus said to Martha,

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42).

Martha was running around, “distracted with much serving” as Luke puts it. However, Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to his teaching, and Jesus says that Mary chose the good thing. Oh, how I need to just sit at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning from Him instead of distracting myself with good things. I wonder how often I miss out on knowing more of Jesus because I will not just stop and listen.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Right now, I choose to know Jesus more instead of distracting myself with what needs to be done because tomorrow will worry about itself. Today, I choose to sit and rest in my Lord because He is worthy of all of my time and affection. I encourage you to find time today to simply be still and know that He is God.

-Rachel Hill, GEM Missionary

If you’d like to support Rachel as she serves with GEM in Mexico, you can do so HERE. You can also contact her directly to talk further about what it means to be on her support team and find out how you can be praying for her!
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Missionary Teachers

“(Belief in) The priesthood of all believers means giving dignity to the Butcher, the Baker, and the Candlestick maker…praying for them like you would a missionary sent to Papa New Guinea.”          – Steve Garber

It’s been over two years now since my wife and I moved from Virginia to Mexico to teach with Global Education Ministries. I remember the moment that Kristen told me about this opportunity to move to Mexico to work at this school. One of my first thoughts and concerns was what I was going to do. Let’s be honest, the main reason we were being asked to move to Mexico was for Kristen to teach…and then maybe let’s see how Daniel could fit in as well. It turned out that I could help with some administrative stuff and help with some recruiting, which I enjoyed doing. But in addition to this, I was asked to teach an elective the first year. If you knew me as a young boy, you know that teaching is way outside of my comfort zone.

Last year, I was asked to teach Bible class to 8th-grade classes and I did. Now this year, I am teaching math and Bible. Now I would say that I am far from a qualified teacher, but God has used this in my life to show me how He works in common, everyday jobs. He has used these opportunities to remind me of my need of dependence upon Him. But more than what God has shown me, He has used me and allowed me to build relationships with my students and share about true life that is found in Jesus. It has led Kristen and I to having a strong bond with several of our students and their families.

I am not the biggest fan of teaching. In fact, it has been really hard for me. However, teaching has been a tool for what my soul truly longs for. Teaching has allowed me to build relationships beyond the walls of a small classroom Monday through Friday. It has given me the freedom to speak into these young boys and girls and share my life with them. My hope is that I don’t only become a better teacher or administrator, but that my love for Jesus exceeds the confines of my classroom and my desk to proclaim the goodness of my King. Whatever job that I have now or in the future is the avenue in which Christ will be shared.

Two weeks ago, we had a chapel for the middle school students and I had the privilege of sharing. I talked about our life and how it is a vapor. It is so short compared to eternity. I urged our students to love and treasure Jesus above all things in their lives. After this time, one of my students whom I had spent a lot of time with came to me and said that He feels far from God. We were able to talk about God and his goodness and that he doesn’t have to do a set of rules to be close to Jesus. I asked him what God was speaking to him about and he responded, “I want to follow Jesus. I want to live for Him.” The Holy Spirit had drawn him to the realization of his sin and the need for Jesus. THIS! This is why I am at this school. This is why we need Christians in every type of workplace to proclaim His goodness and grace. Do you have a normal job where you work 40 hours or more surrounded by people who may not know Jesus? Perfect. Jesus lived a normal life as a carpenter for 30 years. God is working in your context. Are you listening as He speaks?

-Daniel McDonald, GEM Missionary 
If you’d like to support Daniel and his wife, Kristen as they serve with GEM in Mexico, you can do so HERE. You can also contact them directly to talk further about what it means to be on their support-team and find out how you can be praying for them!
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Shelby says yes to Mexico!

It is amazing to reflect back on everything in your life and see how God has been orchestrating everything according to His perfect timing, how intricately He has pieced life together, and how He continues to unfold His perfect plan before you. Never could I have pictured life to have taken me where I am now but “to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ever ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) and God has certainly directed my curvy roads straight and has invited me into a life of surrender and obedience to Him. He is so sweet and so good all the time.

There are many reasons and events in my life (that I now am able to see) of which have all led up to my decision to follow God’s call for me to go to Mexico. When I was younger, God instilled a passion for travel and to experience different cultures across the nations. He then instilled the passion for education and using it as a tool for the sake of spreading the Gospel once I was a sophomore at Liberty University.

But if we’re talking about truly why I decided to move to Mexico, I think it stems back to all the simple “yes’s” made in my life that have ultimately prepared me for each “next thing.”  God has a way of always presenting opportunities in front of me where I know my faith will be challenged but ultimately strengthened… and in the end, He is molding me to look more and more like Him with every step: big or small.  But saying “yes” to God, even in the mundane and “simple things” sounds a lot easier said than done. He certainly equips the called and leaves room for grace.

Several years ago, Christine Caine came to speak at my school and shared her testimony of almost losing her life to cancer.  Right before undergoing surgery, not knowing the outcome, she prayed, “God, I hope I have done everything you have called me to do while here on earth, and I’m bringing home the people I was meant to bring.”

Like her, I also have had an experience where I’ve said similar words. In February 2017, I was in a car accident that I shouldn’t have walked away from.  My best friend and I decided to drive out to a nearby lake and on our way out, we rounded a curve a little too sharp that sent the vehicle out of control. The car went left of center at 55mph, hit a mound on the side of the road which sent the car airborne, and then flipped around 4 or 5 times. By the grace of God we walked away from the hospital that night with minimal injuries but according to law enforcement and paramedics, we were walking miracles.

I share this with you because just as God spared my spiritual life the day I decided to follow Jesus and accept His gift of Salvation, God ALSO spared my physical life the day of my accident so that I could continue on with life serving Him and making Him known to all those I encounter. “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).  At the end of the day, the ONLY thing that truly matters is whether or not I lived my life in reverence to the Lord, being obedient to all that He would call me to (no matter the difficulty), and inviting others along for the ride so that they also would choose to have a relationship with Christ.  And one day, I hope to be able to reach the gates of heaven and hear “well done thy good and faithful servant.” One day, I hope to say “I did everything that you, God, had called me to do and now I’m coming home with the people I was supposed to bring with me (perhaps even God used me as a vessel in their lives to share the Gift of Life and Salvation with them) …and wow what a big ole party we’ll throw for them and we’ll sing praises forevermore.

After my accident, God began working in my heart (in ways I didn’t even realize it at the time) and began to really show me what it meant to trust in Him. I haven’t mastered this at all and I feel like I’m revisiting this every day, but I simply began to just say “yes” to the things He would lay before me. Even things as “simple” as texting someone when they came to mind to let them know I was thinking and praying for them, or getting up and spending time with Jesus when I really felt like sleeping more, or being present in a conversation and not allowing my mind to drift.  When I began to be more intentional (though I have failed…many many times) with this cycle of “yes’s” I was able to see God work in huge ways in the end.

I learned about Global Education Ministries at a career fair that my school hosted. I was pretty dead set that I wanted to teach in the Lynchburg City Schools when a representative of GEM stopped me and asked if I had ever considered teaching in Mexico. To be honest, I thought “NOPE” but felt the Lord telling me “Shelby, just listen to what she has to share.” So I said, “Yes Lord, I will stay and listen.” Then it turned into “Yes Lord, I will sign up for an interview… but this is kinda crazy.” And then it turned into “yes, I will fill out an application,” “Yes, I will have that facetime interview,” “yes I will pray and seek the Lord and his guidance over where he is potentially leading me.” “Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes Lord.” When I said “yes” to the decision to join the ministry of GEM I had absolutely no doubt in my mind that this was in fact where God had been leading me because of incredible peace and discernment given by Him.

Life is beautiful and SUCH A HUGE GIFT. His plans are far greater than what I could have ever imagined for my life.  I am constantly reminding myself that this life isn’t about me, nor was it ever, nor will it ever be. It has always been about serving and loving God and sharing His goodness with everyone around me. I get to continue on with life now and make Him known. I’m so excited to be joining the ministry in Puerto in a few short months.

-Shelby Davis, GEM Missionary

If you’d like to support Shelby as she serves with GEM in Mexico, you can do so HERE. You can also contact her directly to talk further about what it means to be on her support team and find out how you can be praying for her!