Livin' life, lovin' God - Photos

I love how God works! He's always bringing people into your life at certain times for certain reasons. I'm so excited to be engaged and to be marrying this man that God has placed in my life! Josh has moved down from Oklahoma, after 23.5 hours of driving and is now staying at the missionary apartment at our church. We're looking at getting married in August and hopefully getting to the field in January. After attending a friend's wedding, we checked out a venue, The Sandbar Restaurant, in Anna Maria Island, FL for the wedding. We took one look at it and fell in love with it. It's right on the beach and we'd be able to have the beach wedding we've been dreaming of. We'll hopefully be booking it soon and getting a definite date down!

On my trip to Oklahoma, Josh and I went to the zoo with Aaron, his brother, and Stacey, his sister-in-law, the day after we got engaged. It was great getting to spend time with them again. We drove down to Dallas and Josh graduated from Southwestern and everything went well. Then, I came back to Orlando and the service at Life Assembly went great! Pastor Duke Matlock said they would give me a love offering of $500 and pledge $100 in monthly support which is wonderful news!

I'm obviously not leaving at the end of May, but after Josh and I get married, we will finish raising our budgets and then head to El Salvador for a few years to learn from Brother Don and Mrs. Terri. We know we need to learn about missions and gain the experience from the organization they already have and we both have an incredible heart for El Salvador and the children and youth there. Josh is already an ordained minister and we know we want to be missionaries and spend all of our days sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing the love of our Lord with all the world. We don't know exactly where we'll go after El Salvador, but we already have some opportunities in Brazil and the Ukraine and there are several other places that God has laid on our hearts to go one day.

We'll both be leaving at the end of this month to go to Uruguay on a two week mission trip with his home church Capital Hill Assembly of God in Oklahoma City. We're both thrilled for the opportunity to work in a new country we've never been to before and it will be our first experience doing missions together. I've never been to South America and I'm excited to experience it! If you would like to donate towards this trip, please send checks to:

Patti Sears

909 SW 12th

Moore, OK 73160

Going to the chapel... - Photo

And we're gonna get married! Josh and I are engaged! Here's the story as posted on Facebook:

As of Saturday night, I am the soon to be Mrs. Sears! Josh is graduating with his Masters but for his last paper, he wrote about creationism which I read. He then sent me a package with a card for me to open everyday until we saw eachother again, knowing I was coming back on Saturday. Each card was centered around this creation theme, starting with Genesis 1:1 and continued with the theme each day until Saturday when I stepped off the plane he gave me a card that had the creation of Adam and Eve.We went out for dinner and went for a walk afterwards at the Oklahoma City Botanical Gardens. We walked around for a while, then he suddenly stopped and said, "You know God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden." "Yeah?" I replied. "And here we are in the garden," he said. Then he gets down on one knee and I yelled, "SHUT UP!" (thinking it was a joke). He pulled out a ring in a box and asked if I would marry him to which I quickly replied yes!

Anyhow, it's been a whirlwind romance which we believe to be God ordained and are just super excited to share our lives and our ministry together! We're not positive as to all the details yet, but he will soon be moving to Florida. We're going to Uruguay for two weeks on a short term trip at the end of May. We haven't set dates for the wedding quite yet. Just wanted to share the good news! :)

Oh, how time flies! - Photo

It seems like life has been SO busy lately! Since the last time I posted, I went to visit Josh in Oklahoma. I met his parents and his brother and sister-in-law (who crack me up, by the way). It was awesome and I miss him SO much! This is definitely a God-ordained relationship and it feels like we've known eachother forever. We've prayed and fasted about it and we think we're going to get married. Now the question is when. Right now, he's a missionary associate to the Ukraine and I'm headed to El Salvador. Please be in prayer with us about this. We are seeking God's will over our lives and His timing over our relationship.

This past weekend I had two services at two different churches over in Tampa thanks to a friend of mine from El Salvador, Carlos Valle. They were both Spanish services and I was super nervous because I hadn't used my Spanish since last summer really. After a few bumps along the way, I got to share about the need in El Salvador and share a passion for missions. In the second service, they also let me go in and share with the youth. I talked about Speed the Light and how they can help support missionaries and the missions programs right now by giving to Speed the Light (see my earlier post about STL and what they do). Carlos also gave me some airtime on two local Christian radio stations to share about the need in El Salvador, King's Castle Ministries, and what I'll be doing there. Two programs were in Spanish and one was in English. It was really neat to be given that opportunity to speak to a ton of people that I've never met! Anyhow, over $200 was raised and I pray that hundreds of people have caught the vision of missions "right here and right now."

I leave Saturday for Oklahoma. Josh is graduating from Southwestern Assemblies of God University with his masters degree in Theology. So I'm headed first to Oklahoma to spend time with him and his family and then we're driving down to Dallas for his graduation. I'll fly back on the 3rd because I have a service at Life Assembly of God in Kissimmee on May 4th.

Please be in prayer for Josh as he is in Colorado and Utah this week speaking at churches and raising funds as well as going to District Council. Please pray that God will annoint his lips as he preaches and give him favor in the eyes of others. Also, pray for me for safe travels and for the service on the 4th. I appreciate all of your prayers!

Josh came to town! - Photos

This last week Josh, my boyfriend, was in town. It was a little strange at first, being that I haven't seen him since October. We have talked on the phone every night for hours for a while now, but this was the first time to see him in person since we started to date.

He came in on Saturday and left on Wednesday. While he was here, we celebrated Easter, went to the Orlando Science Center, and got to see "Horton Hears a Who," which was hysterical! We also got to share some good quality time together and everyone here, including friends and family met Josh and got to see how wonderful he is! :)

We had a wonderful time! So much so, that he didn't want to leave but neither of us could afford the extra cost for him to stay until this weekend. So, we got online and Allegiant Air has some amazing deals if you are flying in and out of smaller airports. We found a deal where I can fly up next week for only $100 roundtrip. It will be the first time that I will meet most of his family. I met his mom and his aunt back in October when they came for our commissioning. I'm really excited to go back up and spend some more time with Josh and get to know his family!

One man's junk is another man's treasure - Photo

I just held a garage sale/outreach at my church this Saturday. We had free water, a bounce house and face painting for the kids (although many BIG kids used it too), sold hotdogs and sodas, and a ton of families brought all their unneeded items to sell. 10% of all proceeds went towards meeting my goal and 100% of proceeds from the food and drinks sale as well. The youth raised over $250 doing a car wash for their puppet/drama ministry. It was a great day and we raised a ton of money! We raised approximately $330 towards getting me to El Salvador. I sold a ton of clothes, games, dishes, and other items I had collected through the past couple years that I just can't afford to take with me. It would be cheaper to buy them in El Salvador than to try to ship what I already have in suitcases.

We also gave salvation bookmarks to all the people that came out and thought it would be a good way to promote ourselves within our own community. People don't typically just walk into a church because they are afraid to. If you make friends with them first and they can see Christ through the way you live and serve, then they are more likely to feel comfortable enough to come to a church service. We can't expect people to come to the church, the church needs to go to the people. After all, isn't that what Jesus did? Did he wait in the temple and expect people to come to him? No. In fact, he went out and sought people to help and to teach, but he did this first by befriending them.

Anyhow, it was a great time had by all and we are looking forward to doing another yard sale soon and probably even a Fall Festival in early October. I'm really excited for my church and the things the Lord has in store for us all!

Let's go play in the SNOW! - Photos

So, I just got back from a ski trip to Blowing Rock, NC with my family. It was a great to share some time with my Uncle Bill, Aunt Mary, and cousin Tarah! This was my first time skiing and only second time ever seeing snow. Yes, I know...I'm 24 and going skiing for the first time. However, Tarah was sweet enough to stay on the bunny slope with me the whole time. My first time on skis was....interesting. I got into them great, then as soon as I started to move, BOOM! Yeah, I landed on my booty and couldn't get up until a ski instructor came by and put one ski over the top of my two skis and helped me up, a trick that came in handy that day! :) Of course, the first day everytime I got off the ski lift, I fell on my face. It was fun though. AND the first time I started down the slope, I almost Sonny Bono'ed it! I was yelling "PIZZA!" which if you try to slow down and point toward eachother (like a pizza slice) you're supposed to slow down. I didn't. :) I came inches from a tree to the face. When I finally caught my breath, I looked back to see my aunt and my cousin cackling at me! It was a good time.

I finally got the hang of skiing and could make it down the bunny slope without falling and the next day could even make it off the lift without falling. I felt accomplished! Tarah and I decided to give tubing a try one morning. It was so warm that we had to take off many of our layers and I went tubing in just some pants and a tank top. It was a ton of fun though! We had races and even bulldozed through a few people. Ooops.

Also, I officially started to date a guy I met in October at Pre-field Orientation. His name is Josh Sears and he's worked with King's Castle before. I met him through a mutual friend, Jacob. They had worked together as interns in 2002 and of course Jacob and I have worked together the past couple of years. The three of us hung out all the time while in Springfield and Josh and I have kept in contact since then. Anyhow, we just made it official right before this trip! He's a man of God and you can check out his website and ministry here.

Here are some of the pictures from that trip:

When God repeats things...Listen up! It must be important.

So, God's been stirring a lot of things in me the past 6 months or so. I have noticed a repetition of certain ideas and sayings that God's been whispering into my heart.

• The power of children and youth to the ministry.
• The ripple effect of ministry.
• The need for outreaches to the children and youth here in the US.
• The importance of speaking kind, encouraging, and loving words to others around us everyday.
• The importance of showing God's love through our actions moreso than just words.
• The fact that we may be someone's only connection to Jesus.
• That we are such a blessed people here because we are free to worship Jesus and share Him with everyone else around us.

God's been bringing these themes to mind time and time again and I've been noticing it just about everytime I start to share about God, go to church, or speak with friends. I'm willing, ready, and eager to do what God has set out for me. Not only overseas, but here where I am right now. I want to be the shining light in the darkness when I am at work, at the grocery store, in line at the bank, etc. If I feel the leading of the Holy Spirit to say something to someone, I want to follow that because if I don't, who will? There may not be anyone else there to speak those words to that person. So, if I look silly or feel silly, it's probably a good thing, as long as I approach it with boldness and confidence that the Lord has given me!

These are just some of the things that the Lord has put in my heart. The list could probably go on and on. I know I haven't really talked about all of the things, but I'm sure I will as they come up again. What are some of the things that have been recurring themes in your life?

Please pray for the upcoming outreach we have at my church. It's really just a community event, but I want to get a chance to form relationships with those that are right around our church so that we can be the living hands and feet of Jesus as we love on them. Only then, once they see the difference in us, will they be willing to listen to what we have to say. Church is for the lost. It's not just a place of fellowship and growth. Of course that's an important function of the church once people do come to know Christ because they must be discipled. However, the MISSION of the church should be outreach and reaching the lost for Christ. That's the only way to change the world.

Again I say, MISSIONS is the heartcry of God. It's about reaching them right where they are at and long ago God the Father set up a system to use US to do that. What an amazing God that uses the broken and imperfect to reach others for Him!

Can't sleep but I like it!

So, many of you are probably wondering why I am writing this at 6 a.m. in the morning. No, I didn't go to bed and wake up ridiculously early because I felt the need to share, but instead I have been engulfed and absolutely consumed in reading Enrichment Journal magazine.

As a Missionary Associate, we receive electronic versions of several publications that the Assemblies of God produce. I'll be the first to admit that I rarely read them. In fact, due to pure lack of time, I'm lucky if I even glance through it and browse an article or two. However, after the amazing month I have had speaking at churches and just being in awe of how God can and IS using me, then having the Holy Spirit move in a mighty way through our bible study tonight, when I came across the email that said the publication was up and ready to be downloaded, I decided to take the time to log in and see just what was in there that God wanted to speak to me tonight.

Since about 1 a.m. this morning, I have been pouring over just the first few pages of this ezine, one that I had never yet taken the time to read, and getting SO excited about the outreach opportunities that God wants to do right here in my own community, through my own little church in the upcoming weeks and months.

Now, let me take you back to December. I had sat down with my best friend, Courtney, and her husband, Bradd, and asked if they had ever thought about getting together and just sharing about God and what He's speaking to us. As I just threw that tidbit into conversation, both Bradd and Courtney were eager to tell me that God had really laid a burden on their hearts to start a Bible study with all of our friends; a place where we could come and share about what God's speaking to us, and pray, support and encourage eachother in our walks with Christ. They also have hearts for missions and outreach and wanted to incorporate that into the Bible study as well. You see, we have a great group of Christian friends, yet most of the time we never took advantage of that fact. Rarely did we ask someone to pray for us, ask to be accountable to one another, nor take the time to encourage another good friend.

Although it took some time to get started, we now come together every Friday night to talk about what God has done that week, our failings and achievements, and to focus on how to be an effective Christian, that is, an effective tool in God's hand right now, where we are in life. The twenties are such a transitional stage in life and many times we find ourselves waiting to get to "the next level" or to be on a foreign mission field before we decide to evangelize and be fully what we are called to be. I know I have found myself a few times feeling like a lackluster shell of the person that I am in El Salvador while here in the states. I have at times felt like I didn't have an outlet to minister to people on the same level as I do during the summers and it left me feeling empty and just longing to return to my full purpose and call.

Anyhow, this Bible study has been not only an encouragement and a springboard for sharing about spiritual things amongst good (and some newer) friends of mine, but it has also been a place that God is ministering mightly to us and through us. God has been using my friends to minister to me and me to minister to my friends. He has put the words in our mouths and the thoughts in our minds, even when we don't know what it is we are saying. I think I am just reveling at how God wants to use us, even with all of our faults and brokeness. He's an awesome God!

On top of that, I just found out that I will be putting together a community outreach/fundraiser for my church on March 15th. We were planning on doing a yard sale to help raise funds for missions and children's programs. Then, after talking to several people, I had the idea of making it a community event and it looks like we might bring in local businesses, have games and food available, and possibly even a blood bank bus come out! I'm really excited to help organize this event, but I don't have much time. I really want the main focus to be the community and forming relationships with them. They are our mission field right here outside our front door!

This is the reason for my excitement. I started reading in this magazine about how much our communities need us and how all we really need to do is reach out to them! We can't expect them to come banging down our doors. We have to go OUT to them, reach them where they are at, fulfill their real and physical needs, form relationships, and only then can we expect them to want to step into a church building. The articles shared shocking statistic after shocking statistic about how America is now the third most unreached nations. THIRD! At first I was astonished and thought, "How can that be?" Then, I started to think about who I was growing up and what I knew about Jesus: VERY little. I would even say embarrassingly little. How much less is it with the children and youth nowadays?

It has encouraged me to pray hard for the lost here. I know I am called to El Salvador, but while I am here in the states, you can bet I will do everything I can to reach as many lost in the states and as I speak at churches, continue to spread the fire and passion for missions HERE and abroad! As those of you that have heard me speak and know my heart, you know that I absolutely believe that missions begins at home. However, I have to say that a new fire was lit under me tonight and I am EXCITED and ANSY with anticipation to see what God will be doing over the next several months through my Bible study group, through the community outreach, and through me!

Please continue to pray for me, but I'm begging you to pray for the lost here in the US and then go out and minister to them. Befriend them. Make an eternal difference in their lives! I've caught the vision of the ripple effect that God is creating, starting with just one person, one church, one community!

Now, even though my spirit is eager and couldn't feel more alive right now, my body is tired. I hope to hear spectacular reports back from you about what God is doing in your life, your church, and your community. Good night...or maybe I should say Good morning. :)

He is showing His glory! - Photo

So, today was a GREAT day! Actually, let me go back. Last week, someone unexpectedly walked up to me and gave me a check for $2,200. When I saw the check, I started to cry because of the faithfulness of God. He knows that my target date is coming up in May. He knows His plans for me. He knows I have been working hard and taking every open door He has placed in front of me and now He is opening even more opportunities. He is speaking into the hearts of those around me and they are obeying!

So, Friday I spoke to Kristen, the girl at headquarters that takes care of my account and gives me updates and she sent me an update so I would know where I stood as I prepared to share with City Church today. I talked to Pastor Eugene and he told me about how last month they had a missionary come through and the church was able to bless them with $1,5o0 and he just thought it would be so cool if they could try to get 10% of my remaining cash budget, to which I quickly agreed. I was in need of $12,ooo still in my cash budget and $1,200 would be SUCH an incredible blessing!

I got to share a little in the first adult service, where they prayed for me then quickly rushed over to share with the kids (some pictured to the left) while doing a fun little game. They loved having the opportunity to hear from a real person on the field and showed such genuine interest in helping out the kids of El Salvador.

The second service was in a very similar fashion as we showed my video and the pastor had some interview questions for me. Then, after the service was over and all was said and done, Pastor Eugene called me into his office to meet with the leadership team. There he revealed that between the two services, God was faithful, touched the hearts of his congregation, and had given $3000! That's over double what we were praying and hoping for! It was 25% of what was left of my general cash budget. PRAISE GOD!

You see, when God is in control, faithful, and grips the hearts of those around you, the returns are going to be much higher than we would ever expect or dream for. He is so faithful and worthy of our praise! Won't you join with me to sing praises of His glory today?

In about a week and a half, He has brought in over $5,ooo. I only have about $8,000 to raise for my cash budget and about $1,750 in monthly support. God is so good!

This is just the start to an incredibly busy month for me. I have an adult small group I'm speaking to Saturday, my church dedication on Sunday. Then, the 13th I have the entire Wednesday night service at a church for missions emphasis week. The 17th, I'll be speaking to the middle school group about giving to Speed the Light (STL) and helping missionaries even now. Then, the last weekend I'm hoping to be up in Bonifay, FL in the panhandle to visit a fellow intern and hopefully be sharing with a church there as well. Please be in prayer for the anointing to flow from my lips and from my hands and that lives are changed. I want others here in Central Florida to catch the fire for missions; the heartbeat of God!

Now it's time for rest. Until soon!

Sometimes He amazes me!

The last two weeks have been something else. Last Thursday, I went to the Speed the Light (STL) lunch for our section and got to catch up with old friends, youth pastors, and got to meet Tom Greene, as he was the guest speaker.

I got to hear not only about how our own youth and children are getting involved in missions by fundraising and tithing to STL, but also about what our missionaries are able to do through their compassionate giving! It made me think back to previous summers at King's Castle and all that we do with STL equipment.

All of the fender sound systems, at least 6 evangelism trucks, most of the communications equipment, Brother Don's vehicle, the Kenyon's vehicle, and a mule used in Nicaragua were all bought with STL giving. That's just what I know about. I'm sure there's more. Through the North American's youth giving, people are able to hear the gospel in schools, street corners, churches, and anywhere and everywhere we set up a sound system. Through their giving, they can come down on missions trips and help SHARE the gospel. Through their giving, we are able to capture on tape, edit a video, and send these youth back to the United States filled with a passion for missions and a video to share about their week in El Salvador. Through their giving, we are able to go into the roughest terrained areas, where cars can't make it, but mules can to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of their giving, missionaries are able to get to one side of the country for one event, and still make it to the other side of the country for another event the same day! Through their giving, we are able to spread the gospel on every street we drive through with the evangelism trucks that are required to be playing evangelism material everywhere they are taken. Tracts are given out at stop lights, to people on buses as they pass by, and the everlasting Word is being shared by loud speakers as they pass through the streets! PRAISE GOD FOR STL! If it weren't for our youth hearing the voice of God, giving faithfully and generously to missions, where would we, as missionaries, be?

Needless to say, God has really been speaking to me about the power and faith of the youth and children the last few months. It's just so awesome to see the faith of youth and the power that that faith has!

Praise God, I have continually been picking up support from one place or another and booking churches here and there to share my passion about missions with those around me and to hopefully get me to El Salvador in May. Just about my entire February is booked up and super busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm just thrilled to have the chance to share with others what has been so deeply penetrated in me.

Please continue to pray with me as I speak to churches, kids, youth groups, etc. to share my heart. Pray for annointing to flow from my mouth. Pray that my words are a blessing and just what someone needs to hear that day. Pray that my funds come in quickly, as time is growing short. Please pray that I get even more opportunities to speak and that my schedule quickly fills up before I leave. Pray for the World Warriors, that God is raising up the specific people he wants on the team and opening the doors for them to come, that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and filled with annointing, that they will be changing the lives of those around them, and that they themselves be changed into what God is pleased with! Please let me know what I can be praying for you, so that I can stand in agreement with you.

There is more that I would like to share about World Warriors, but time is short and I need to be going. I will write soon with my thoughts, hopes, desires, and asperations for World Warriors this summer, 2008! Until then...

Be Blessed!

In His service until He returns,
Lisa Casady