Die with christ

Dear readers,
Today in Morning prayer a particular antiphon struchk out at me. It reads "If we have died with Christ, we beleive that we shall also live with Christ." -It does'nt have the citation-. That line really got me thinking. Every year, on good Friday especially, I meditate on Jesus's death. But I by no means die with him. Does this reading mean that we should all go out on good Friday and crucify ourselves? No.
But it does mean that we should try to die with christ. And if not in flesh but in heart and mind. If we really put ourselves, not at the foot of the cross, but on the cross with our Christ, then we are able to die with him. The grace of the cross surpasses time, that is why Jesus will never have to come save us again. He didn't just save those who were alive when he died but the power of the cross still applies to us today. And if we can contemplate his death and feel pained by it, knowing that he bore our sins as well, we can die with him as well. The morning prayer antiphons and readings are lenten ones, so it is no coincidence that it applies right now. So what will we do about it? God bless,
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Careful what you say

Dear readers,
Yesterday I was reminded of the power of words. I don't curse and I try my hardest to control what I say but now I feel convicted beyond that. When I get annoyed I naturally blurt out "stupid thing" so I will say "stupid dog" or "stupid book" or really just anything that annoys me. But yesterday as I was making a bed a sat up and knocked a cross off of the wall. I automatically blurted out "stupid cross." That is when it hit me. I quickly apologized to God but it doesn't matter. Of course the cross is far from stupid but that is just what I have programed myself to say. I remembered a wonderful Bible verse, one of my absolute favorites. It reads "If anyone does not fall short in speach, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us we also guide their whole bodies." James 3:2-3.
I am not thoroughly convinced tha tif I cut out everything wrong I say I will be perfect. But it definitely makes a difference speaking kindly and lovingly. I now am trying to monitor what I say even more carefully. "Let everything you say glorify God"-I am not quite sure where that is from. SO thank you all for reading! I am praying for You!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Palm sunday

Dear readers,
Yesterday, palm Sunday, was a really great experience. Mass was beautiful!! And afterwards my great uncle got married in the church! I was totally blessed by being able to go to a wonderful mass and being able to really get into palm Sunday. I remember being a little kid and dreading the gospel. But now it is definitely one of my favorite parts of the day! Being in Holy week is perfect for meditation on what Jesus did for our sins. Yesterday I really reflected on the crucifixion and the agony Jesus went through. I reflected on the women who mourned him. Imagine watching Jesus die. So many times we stare at a crucifix and think of nothing but what if we were at the foot of the real cross? What if we stood there as he carried his cross and weren't able to stop it? All of these things I am trying to meditate on. I don't have much time today! Sorry! But God bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Shoot with a Mission!

Dear readers,
Today was the annual fundraiser by FMC, shoot with a mission. It is a clay pigeon shoot where people come in teams of four and go out to the target stations to shoot the targets. Praise God we had a nice turn out with many wonderful people! I go the job of sitting at a station and pressing one of two buttons to fire the pigeons. It was a new experience for me, my ears are still ringing with gun shots and I am tense for flinching each time I heard one fired at my station. Sitting there for so long I realized I would never be ready to hear the shot. Because even though I sat there for over an hour I would still jump each time any person shot. All I could do was sit there, endure, and do my little job. And even though it was little it was the most important, without me pushing those little metal buttons they wouldn't have accomplished their mission. I feel that sometimes the same concept applies in my life. I am God's little stepping stone, and I will never be prepared for what he fires. All I can rely on is my own ability to do my job for as long as he needs me. God bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Have it together

Dear readers,
Wednesday night we had mission formation like we have weekly. My grandpa started off the night with sharing something he had on his heart and it inspired me so much I want to share it with you. He said he had been thinking a lot about our missionaries in the field. Right now no one really has any idea what they are doing. We have 11 missionaries in about 5 places and no one "has it together". As in has everything planned out. He made a wonderful point. The kind of people that "have it together" do nothing but sit around at home, do very little and what they are doing is getting it together. And ultimately what? You have it together, and then? When people look at the life of a missionary I am sure that no one thinks "wow that person has it together!" But that doesn't matter. Why? Because, more importantly than us having it together God does. I am not even going to pretend I know what will happen once I graduate high school, I am not even going to say I will go to college, because I truly don't know. For all I know I won't be alive by my next birthday, and so how will I make plans for 5 or 10 years in the future if I don't even have the promise of tomorrow. Think of all of the saints who spent a lot of time in prison, did they "have it together?" No! But God did and he worked wonders through their lives. I write this partially to give life to my thoughts/words. Once I have posted this comment each one of you will know that I, Alyse 14 year old missionary, give my life and the plan that accompanies it to God.
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse

Walking

Dear readers,
Two days ago I decided to "run" with my mom. She runs a mile and then walks a mile back. I threw on some excersise clothes and went with her. I discovered two things. The first, I will never ever run in the olympics and second I live in a beautiful place. I basically live in the middle of no where. But it is so pretty. I have gone on hat road at least 20 times before and I never noticed how beautiful it is. Foot and a half high flowers line the side of the road, the way the sun hits the trees looks like it came from a picture book and all of the houses are so cute and quaint looking. But when you are in a car going 60 miles an hour you don't notice these things. It goes by in a blur of color and you are probably so distracted by being in the car you might not notice the beautiful scenery.
So many times we get acustommed with our comfortable lives. We dont realize the value of having a bed or getting up and fiding our pantries full to the brim. We go to and from work or school and dont recognize the wonder that it is to have automobiles. And it is sad that sometimes it takes going out of your way, in my case being phisically out of shape, and slowing things down 1000 notches to get a grasp of reality again. Since then I have been trying to open my eyes to the beauty of nature and of company and I have been pleasantly surprised. You should try it too!
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse

Speaking

Dear readers,
Yesterday we went to talk with a 6th grade catechism class about missions. It was so blessed! There is nothing that pumps me up like missions does! It was so great to see their faces light up when we talked to them about everything that we do. It is so nice to be able to spread the mission of the church with those around you, especially if they want to hear it! It was a super blessed experience, they gathered a bunch of rosaries and prayer cards for people in General Cepeda. I pray that we lit the burning in their hearts for missions!
It was funny because I thought about planning what to say but then remembered the scripture that said let the spirit speak through you. So I basically stood up and gave my testimony. It was so blessed and I know that the spirit worked through that more than if I had ever planned anything on my own. I also ask yall to pray becuase public speaking really scares me. I have had the grace to get better with the past groups I have led, translating and encouraging testimonies. But still it is frightning. I pray that one day I will hav ehte courage to lead a teaching in one of the ranchos. Please pray that we get some more groups together this year! Well God Bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Thank you all for reading! I am praying for you!

Please Pray

Dear readers,
My great-grandfather is very sick. He is in the hospital in ICU and he might not get out. Either way I beg yall to please pray for him to be ready if God calls him to heaven! Also please pray for there to be peace in Mexico especially on the border. The group I was supposed to go down with cancelled, although General Cepeda is not in harm's way it is tragic to see a country suffering with violence! Also please pray for all of our missionaries in field and that more people would answer God's call to be missionaries! I am sorry this entry is so brief, and mildy depressing, but I am in a bit of a rush! God bless all of yall! You are all in my prayers!
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse

First Communion

Dear readers,
Yesterday was my brother's first Communion. It was so beautiful to see the joy that lit up his face! My uncle Simon started to cry with joy and my heart bursted with joy and love! But something that really touched my heart was what he said to me the day before. We were talking about his first Communion and I said "are you excited to receive Jesus?" He thought I said "Are you excited to see Jesus?" And he said something beautiful, he said "I have already seen Jesus before, but I will get to receive him."
I thought it was so beautiful how he acknowledged seeing Jesus's face in those around him. And afterwards he said how great it felt to have Jesus inside of him. I love being reminded of the delight it is to be able to receive holy Communion. I know that all of heaven was rejoicing with the small chapel in my little bitty home town! God bless all of you!
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse

Wedding

Dear readers,
Yesterday was my Uncle's wedding! We had loads of people there that were all so happy for my uncle and Brooke. When I saw Brooke walk down the aisle and my uncle break into tears of joy I couldn't help but let my cheeks spread as wide as they could go. I truly felt that all of heaven must have been rejoicing with us. In my favorite song there is a line that goes "and heaven meets earth like a sweet lover's kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest..." i truly felt that those words came alive. My uncle and Brooke have two of the biggest hearts of anyone I know and when they got married their hearts became one, now that is one huge heart! The whole night I can seriously say that their faces were glowing! I can only pray that my future spouse and I have such a beautiful display of an inwardly love! Please pray that they have a super happy and blessed life together! Also pray because they feel called to continue doing their mission work as a couple in one year. Praise God for the wonderful sacrament of marriage!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Back home

Dear readers,
I am so blessed with wonderful memories in my heart from this past week and a half. I had such a beautiful blessed time in General Cepeda!!! I am back early because my uncle's wedding is tomorrow, but the Steubenville group is still there to keep in your hearts and prayers! We had a safe ride back home. The Easter group is on a string but God willing I will make it back to my home in Mexico soon. I was so blessed with the groups, and I am sure at least two missionaries will come from them :)!!!! It is so nice to have the love of Christ in your heart in such a full way! Every time I go the burning for missions increases in my heart and I am sure eventually it will be totally consumed! I am so delighted with the thoughts of God's plans in my life! I know I can be totally at peace wherever he places me because he is the lord of the universe and still he loves me so much! Tomorrow is my Uncle's wedding, like I already said, so please pray for him and Brooke! I would also like to thank all of you for reading my blog! I hope I can minister to your hearts through this! I pray for all of you! God bless y'all!
Peace and Love in Christ Jesus!
Alyse

Windsheild wipers

Dear readers,
Today it drizzled a little bit in the morning so that when we got into our car to visit people our windshield was covered with tiny droplet of water. We started the engine and then clicked on our wipers. It started smudging the water all over the place and we couldn't see a thing. The whole world was a blur of colors and our windshield wipers screeched on contact with the glass. I thought of how sad it was to not be able to see the beautiful scenery, and that is when I decided to blog about it. God gives us beautiful lives, he really does. But then our sin starts to cover up our view, blurring the beauty that God offers us. And what happens if our prayer lives aren't new or strong enough?
They just cant clear it. It tries to do what it was fashioned or created for but if it isn't new or strong enough it just barely clears our view.
During this Lenten season I know I want to have good windshield wipers because lets face it, our lives our full of sin and unlike a gentle General Cepeda drizzle it is a full fledged storm. And the best ultimate way to clear our view is confession. The church asks everyone to confess at least once during lent and I second that request!
Thank you all for your prayers! General Cepeda is really great! Pray that God works miracles!
Peace and Love in Christ!
ALyse

Rancho Visits

Dear readers,
I would just like to give you an idea of one of the major ministries we do while we are here. General Cepeda has around 50 surrounding villages, they receive mass every other week, maybe. We go and read from scripture and remind them that they are not forgotten, that God has not abandoned them and that we haven't either. These people have faith beyond mine and i am thoroughly convinced way beyond a mustard seed. When we share our testimonies or the gospel of the week all eyes are fixed directly on us, with unwavering looks and understanding smiles. I stand up every night and translate for the English speaker's testimonies. I shake off my nervousness by being thoroughly convinced that I, Alyse Elizabeth 14 year old missionary, am doing the work of God, the work that Jesus left for you and I to accomplish. I can do nothing other than be a telephone between God and his people, and yet that is so much greater a work than I am worth to do. I remind myself that God doesn't call the qualified he qualifies the called. And I know if just a small message of Love and Forgiveness is passed on to them it is enough for me to get over myself, jump out of my comfort zone and be who God wants me to be.
Who am I? I ask myself. I am just a high-schooler, with amazing experiences no doubt, but it is just little Alyse. And yet I am beyond content to be that because I am doing His work!
Peace and Love in Christ Jesus,
Alyse

I love general cepeda

Dear readers,
The steubenville group just arrived. The Miami group just left. I had such a blessed time and during the group two young students were called to be missionaries!!! God is so good and I truly had an amazing time.
Lately I have been meditating on finding Jesus in each and every person who knocks on our door, and that is a lot of people!!! Jesus says whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do to me. I know when I get to heaven I do not want to be asked why I didnt feed, love, and care for Jesus while I was on earth. It is the most difficult to accomplish when you need to shower, are doing about 5 things and have already helped this person the day before. But not only is it serving God it is so rewarding. I do not go to sleep one night where I do not feel exausted because of serving so much! I encourage each and everyone of us to find Jesus in everyone especially those who are the hardest to love. Maybe they just need a word of afirmation or a hug and some encouragement! And we can never underestimate the power of a real smile.
Peace and Love in Christ,
ALyse
p.s please pray for all those who we have served and will serve last and this week!

Visits with the saints!

Dear readers,
I have been incredibly blessed to be able to visit living saints! Today I visited Dona Maria, she is a 62 year old woman who takes care of her house, took care of her aging mother, is one of the happiest women I have ever met and she has no legs. When she was 2 years old a sickness came and their familie's only option was amputation. She has the most beautiful smile, tends to her plants, her cat and dog, her husband, her birds, the cooking and she walks on her hands. She is one of the holiest, most humble, prayerful woman I have ever met! She is constatnly praying for us missionaries and all who visit her! Another woman I have had the blessing to meet is Dona Juanita. She is a beautiful woman who has a positive outlook on life and relies completely on God. SHe is 116 years old, that is not a typo, one-hundred-sixteen years old! She is cared for by her 2nd to youngest son who is 85. She sits in the sun, feeds her chickens and just recently stopped hand making her own tortillas. She always is wearing a colurful sweater and a leapord hat. She has the sweetest voice and always laughs. She is the oldest person in the world that I know of, but it cant be proved because they lost her birth certificate. Just recently the oldes recorded peron in the wolrd died, they were 114. Well I have to go!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse

Thanks to God

Dear readers,
This morning in morning prayer we gave the guys a chance to all thank the lord. One boy who is 9 years old, who's name is Alexi, thanked God in such a beautiful way! His thanks was so simple and beautiful that it makes me want to share it with all of you. He started off with thanking God for the stars and bright moon, he thanked God for his brothers, for nature and all of the animals. His thanks was so simple and was filled with things that I know I take for granted. Jesus said "let the children come to me" and I know why! Their simplicity is so holy and pure! I need to strive to be aware of the simple things in life that God gives us! Just being in General Cepeda where the people's beauty and faith is so simple and humble draws me back to God's infinite power and awesomeness! I hope we can all be drawn back to the child like faith that we must have in God!
Peace and Love in Christ!
ALyse

General Cepeda

Dear readers,
I arrived in Mexico yesterday. We had a wonderfully blessed easy trip! I am so excited about the big plans that God has for this trip. I ask everyone to please pray for everyone here on the trip and all the people we will have an effect on. I was blessed by the first reading today. When God speaks to Moses in such a miraculous way! I pray that we will be able to experience miracles while we are here, and I know God will not short change us. I have a very limited time on the computer but God bless all of you!
Paz y amor en Cristo!!!
Alyse

Blessed Time!

Dear Readers,
I just got back from visiting Franciscan University in Steubenville today! I had an abundantly blessed time and I met wonderful people! God really put everything in order for me to be able to attend 3 classes, a tour, mass and a househould prayer time! I loved my time there and God willing will be able to attend once I get out of highschool. While I was there I was immersed into the beautiful community and had a truly amazing experience. Please pray for everyone at the school that they may continue making it an awesome place of prayer and education. Also please pray for myself that if it is God's will that he would already start putting things in order to be able to go one day :)! Also please pray because very soon I will be going on an almost 2 week trip to my beloved General Cepeda! Thank you all for reading my blog!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
p.s. if I am not able to post much in Mexico I appologize in advance!