Take your daughter to work day!

As a full-time missionary, every day is “take your daughter to work” day. J I get the privilege of following my Father and not only watching Him work, but also taking part in it.

My papi and I enjoying Ice Cream! (91)

I remember as a child going with my father, David, to his job as a Metropolitan Transportation Authority station clerk. I was too young to see over the counter, but he would sit me on his high stool and proudly introduce me to the patrons that visited the booth. Some times he would give me a stack of bills to count and I felt SO important and helpful. I realize now, as an adult, that he probably already counted that money before giving it to his 9-year-old child, but I still felt so special!

Recently the Father invited me into His work with the national organization of Cru. I’m currently the female director of Jersey Metro Cru working with various campus movements across the state.

Bottom row, third from left, surrounded by lovers of Jesus!

An invitation to our headquarters in Orlando was the last thing I expected. In August, the national director of the campus ministry of Cru invited me along with several other ethnic minority leaders across the nation to bring a new perspective to the strategic planning process. Each day that we met, we bathed our time in prayer, listened to the Holy Spirit for guidance, and shared with each other where we would love to see our movements go.

I was so honored to be invited to take part of such a significant time in Christian history with the world’s largest, non-church based, Christian organization discussing how to invite 1 million Christians to multiply their faith by 2020 across the U.S.A!

Recently my 7-year-old niece and 4-year-old nephew joined me at a Missions Conference at their home church in NYC. They were so excited to help me serve God by handing out business cards to the room full of missionaries Calvary Baptist has supported for 75 years! LOL

Isn’t this true of our relationship with our heavenly Father? Every day, the ONE in charge of the world is inviting us to join His work in people’s lives. And although sometimes it may seem we are just handing out everystudent.com cards… still, what an honor! Thanks for helping me take part! 

Education and IBS

These letters may be confusing to you if you're not up on the Campus Crusade for Christ lingo. :) Starting this past Monday, I am taking 4 weeks of seminary courses with the Institute of Biblical Studies (IBS) by Cru.

Eliza graduating Monroe College

Last month, my sister graduated from Monroe College with her Culinary Certification as a pastry chef one week after my father graduated from New York School of the Bible with his advanced education certificate in Biblical Studies! :) Even Gia, my 5 year old niece, is ready to read and will start in an advanced Kindergarten class this Fall! So proud of my family seeking to be good stewards of the time, money and skills God has given them.

My 5 yr old niece, Gia, READS!

One way I'm trying to do the same thing this summer is through IBS. Experienced full-time staff and professors from other seminaries around the United States put together various courses that Christians going into full-time ministry typically study and create them as a two week summer class for the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ around the world! - IBS. Next week I will be finishing my first two courses in Biblical Interpretation and Old Testament Survey.

Dad graduating from NYSB with Liberty U.

So far I've really enjoyed them both. Biblical interpretation is something I've learned growing up in a Reformed Baptist Church and with a father who loves "choppin' up" the scriptures. Although it's something I have a heavy background in, it's great to receive organized instruction and learn specific methods of how to best dissect the Word of God. It's also really encouraging to learn the terms to describe the scripture within it's historical, narrative and redemptive context.

Growing up in a Reformed Baptist Church, I knew the importance of properly dividing the Word and so I was slightly intimidated when I found out my professor for "Old Testament Survey" would be Dr. Futato from Reformed Theological Seminary. His lectures are wonderfully detailed and designed for hearers of all backgrounds but I KNOW his exam will NOT be easy. He is a God-fearing man, excited about the knowledge of the scriptures as it pertains to our living to glorify God; he reminds me a lot of my father. I just hope and pray to be able to retain the massive text we have to read and his daily 3 hour lectures! : /

Please continue to pray for me as I study to discern God's Word properly and return with greater ammunition for the spiritual battles on campus in NJ. Please also pray for me to finish raising the support I need to pay for these courses, dorm-life and meal plans.