New Beginnings

God has done so much in my life over the past couple days. Since the airport, i have been feeling God telling me to be patient, and to wait through those tough circumstances that the devil was putting us through. We met pastor Paul's kids, and I don't think I have seen such joy and such happiness In any other children! From the second they met us they were sitting on our laps, and giving us hugs, and for me that was such a blessing!! We went to their house and we had the idea to clean their kitchen, which turned into cleaning their whole house when she was gone. It's amazing how the littlest things we do can bless someone so much without us realizing it! She was so grateful and God brought our team closer because of that day! The next day, during our devotions, some of the girls in our group got together and were talking about the way we have been acting so far in the missions trip. The result was of these actions creates broken relationships and tension between the two groups. We were crying, and praying for each other, and we were able to mend the friendships between the girls in the small group that we had created. For me, I needed to ask forgiveness from a girl in the other group. I was scared about rejection from her, and was praying all day at the pastors house to be given the right words to say. Later in the day, we had a time of worship and praying back at the church in Gallup. God spoke right through me and I didn't realize what was happening until we both all of a sudden broke down in tears. I am so happy to say that God was right in the middle of that conversation and he spoke RIGHT through me!! When I was sitting on the pew in the church, I was thinking about forgiveness and how nobody better deserved it than my father. The realization of how much I missed him hit me like a ton of bricks and I fell to the floor in a pile of tears. So much emotion that I had held back was coming up and demanding to come out. I went over to Gail and she prayed for me and I just had this overwhelming sense of peace that I've never experienced in my life!! I am proud to say that I miss my father, because there will be that one day that he will, through Christ only, come back and realize that he has left two amazing daughters and an amazing woman of Christ behind. GOD gave me this realization and I was so happy that I had the opportunity to experience this!!! 

And happy birthday to the most amazing mother/woman of Christ in my life!! I love you so much mom and I miss you so much!! 2 sleeps!!! :))) 

Mandi Betts