Meet Katie, a missionary in training that I mentored in 2007

Bethany's mentoring program was one of biggest blessings God has given me.

Love is very powerful when it communicated in a real way.
For my Birthday my mentor, Yvonne, remembered that my favorite flowers were roses. She hid roses all over campus with my name on them. I found them on my way to class, taped on the wall or on doors she knew I'd pass through. She left them on my desk and even in my student mail box. I found 40 roses all together that day. That blessed me so much, more than what words could ever say.One of the most healing aspects of what God was doing that year for me was knowing I was loved. Jesus used Yvonne Cadena to speak truth the my heart.
Her friendship and leadership has radically changed my life and brought healing to my heart.
Yvonne always showed me that she loved me, even in the daily things. She would be excited to see me, to talk, or just hang out. The Lord used the mentoring program to impact my life and ministry in many major ways, this is just one of them.

(God is so good! I should mention, I had help with the roses that day. This young woman is bursting with Christlikeness and will continue to bring encouragement and healing where ever God takes her to be a missionary. After her freshman year Katie went on internship to Garissa, Kenya with a team from Bethany College of Missions. BCOM internships last for 16 months.)

Here's a glimpse of the things God allowed her to be a part of in Africa.

We had an awesome opportunity a few weeks ago to work with a mobile clinic in Garissa. Two doctors come in from out of country to do medical work here. We had the chance to help them run the clinic. I got to take vital signs and distribute the medication to patients. It was a lot of hard work but also a blessing to do hands-on serving and give health care to this community for free.

" How the Mentoring Program Changed my Life"

The mentoring program at Bethany College of Missions was life changing for me.

At first I wasn't too sure about the whole thing.

But the time that Yvonne took to see how I was doing, was one of the greatest things that happened for me that year. Yvonne was an amazing mentor. She wasn't afraid of the things that we (really, I) needed to deal with. And if she was, she didn't show it.

Yvonne, along with the other mentors, helped me change and renew my thinking just by the life-of-sacrifice that they lived. It isn't easy to give up a year to say "I am going to devote a year to invest in this group. I am going to pour myself, give every last drop God allows me to give for them, so they don't have to go through some of the struggles that I went through." It is a life of self-sacrifice and vulnerability.

The only thing I regret, is not taking full advantage of it. Through the mentor program, the school and the leaders demonstrated,"We really do care about what is going on in your life!"

(Amanda's faith and resolve impresses me. Of all the students I've met, she is the most steady. I look forward to having her on the team to Austria. Her departure is in January.)

A Missionary?

Yes. All of my adult life has been "grooming" me for this opportunity to become a full blown missionary to another country. On the Right Side Bar, is a list of the way God got me started on this road.

The 411 on This Two Year Term

My role will be 2 fold:
1) Learn as much local dialect of German as possible, and reach out locally.
2) Oversee female college students interning for the first time overseas.

Much of why I accepted this role came from the Lord's work throughout my time leading a small group of female college students. They began their studies with Bethany College of Missions (BCOM) in 2007.

Bethany International has been around for 60 years. They connected BCOM to Stockerau, through two missionaries who minister there full-time. These missionaries will host me and the college students for two years. Everyone who has worked with them speak very highly of their hearts for God, the Church, and the Lost. I look forward to all I can learn from them!

Send me an e-mail or comment, if you have any gnawing questions for me.

His Very Own,
Yvonne

What is happening?

This is a tremendous time for our nation, families, faith! I have complete confidence in God's heart toward us all. But that's not easy. His heart is for our full allegiance, not to be an add on to our agenda. He remembers that we are "dust" and shows compassion.

A week ago someone leading a small group asked, "How has the financial shakiness of this week changed the way you connect with God? How has the economy's condition actually touched your life?" Some who are construction workers, shared how light their hours have become. A person in the electronics field was layed off. When it was my turn, I shared the general standoffish-ness of giving to a missionary, and with the economy's instability, there is even greater reluctance to offer a portion of one's income to missions. "So the boat is sinking...and you are not panicing?" And I said something to the effect of, "No...I have bad days, but overall, I really sense God's favor and a peace about the whole thing. I'll stay in this boat, until God says, 'Swim', but I'm not jumping ship."

I figure as long as the pet accessory stores stay open, and people have vacation homes, we have the resources to provide for ministries that are responding to His call. It's really uncomfortable for financial adjustments to be made. It's more than "uncomfortable" sometimes...especially for someone providing for a family.

In times when my faith was weak, my faith community stood in the gap for me. And for those in a struggle that looks unsurmountable, I am interceeding for you, your company, your children, and your faith. Keep the Faith. Be eager to do what is good.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation, has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness, and worldly passions, and to live self controlled upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people, that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
Titus 2:11-14

His Very Own,
Yvonne Cadena