Looking Ahead

I hope you've found great joy in Christ during this holiday season. I've enjoyed time with family and friends, celebrating all we've been blessed with in Christ and in one another. My time back home is moving as fast as my year in Africa did. I've found it difficult to process and challenging to keep up, but I've been blessed with a great deal of help. It's been a blessing to have a loving community surround me in this time of transition. To be completely honest, I've struggled to process my time in Africa, and transition smoothly into life back in the States. This, unfortunately has contributed to my lack of communication since arriving back in the States. I want to take this time to apologize for my lack of communication, as well as thank you for your continued patience as I process and celebrate the Lord's good work in my time abroad. I've had the privilege of participating in what Christ is doing in South Africa, and I now get to celebrate these great experiences with each of you. Now that I am somewhat settled back in to this life Stateside, I would love to meet up with you or have a phone conversation sometime soon.

For now, there are a few important details of my life that I would like to inform you of. I would like to share that after much prayer and consideration I've decided to not continue on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. I thoroughly enjoyed my intern year with CCC International, and would, without a doubt, serve with the organization in the future. I do however, feel called to pursue other ministry opportunities at this time. In working with Ukukhanya this year, I discovered that I have a deep passion for creating opportunities for Christian and Non-Christians to love and serve those in need, and meet Christ in the process. Learning these things about myself have led me to pursue ministry opportunities here in Denver, that would enable me to labor for the kingdom in this fashion. I can say with great confidence that the Lord has called me to love Him and serve His Kingdom here in Denver. As far as I am concerned, the Lord's call was clear for me to go to South Africa, and His call to come to Denver this year is as clear. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as I follow Christ in this time. Currently, I'm actively pursuing ministry opportunities that would require me to once again, raise my financial support. I promise to keep all of you informed and include you in my the decisions for what's next. I'm looking ahead with great anticipation and excitement for what Christ will have me do for the Kingdom!

Favorite pictures from the end of the year

Our last mont in South Africa was an extremely blessed time. We closed out an amazing year at UKZN and had the blessing of spending a week in Cape Town with the Pretoria team for a debrief conference. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our last weeks in SA.

Team photo at the top of Table Mountain

The team at the lighthouse at the Cape of Good Hope.. it was really windy.

Me on the Beach at Cape Point

The Durban Campus Crusade for Christ Staff Team

The UKZN Campus Movement!

Stories from the end of the year

At the end of the year I spent some intentional time with each of the girls I was blessed to disciple in my time at UKZN. The Lord truly blessed our times together. It was a time to reflect on what God's done in and through them over the school year. Also, to look ahead with hope for the next year. I challenged each girl to trust God for big things in their lives, and to continually reflect on His work. It was an honor and privilege to see Christ move in their hearts and change them in great ways over the year. I tell you all of this because one closing discipleship time was especially humbling for me. As a part of my final discipleship time with Jade and Jess, I asked both of them to write two letters. Both were to express their gratitude and appreciate for the changes they'd seen in their lives over the past 8 months. One letter was to God, and the other was a letter to each other. They were a vital part of each others growth of the year. They learned a great deal about community and the importance of walking through life with someone. The letters they wrote to Christ and to one another were incredible. They were so vulnerable. It was beautiful. With tears streaming down their cheeks they read their letter aloud to God and to each other. Their words on paper became a reality once they were said. It was amazing to sit back and listen... what a blessing it was to be present for this time. Jess insisted I share her letter with you. Here is the letter she wrote to Jade.

The first time I have ever been aware of God speaking to me was probably only two to three months ago. Amanda introduced that card with all those questions and explained that as friends and being in community we need to be able to confess our sins to one another. She went on to explain that we need to be vulnerable and open in order to grow. It brings back memories of the first time we both met Amanda when she did her talk on "Mental Toughness". Even though she was given the topic of "being tough" she concluded that in order to be strong we have to be weak. Mark 10:35-45 "...whoever wants to be first must be slave of all" "For even the

Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as ransom for many." From that point on it's quite clear now that God was trying to get through to me. But never the less I carried on with my life thinking I must have disappointed those other Americans who I thought were dying to help people become saved but "unfortunately" I already was...What closed minded thinking...God must have been pulling his hair out in frustration watching me...lol. Never the less, God got through to one of us and I am so thankful that it was my best friend, you Jade :) From that day, when we were both asked a series of questions about our faith, God started working in your life and I could see it, even though I didn't take it in. It was God's plan that you would seek him first, through Campus Crusade and Amanda, can you imagine if both of us had been like "yar yar we are Christians, we fine thanks" we both wouldn't be where we are today. Later, I kept thinking "wow I'm so glad God sent Amanda to show me the light..." meanwhile back at the ranch God was working through one of the closest people in my life, slowly but surely pulling me onto the right path. Don't get me wrong, God had been working through a lot of people to get through to me, especially Amanda. But the only time I became aware of it was when you became involved in Campus Crusade and with all walls broken down and completely vulnerable asked God to put you on the right path and asked Amanda to help you grow. Basically, you lead the way for me and I am beyond thankful for this, it you hadn't where would I be now... The concept of being weak and vulnerable before God really struck a chord in me that had been vibrating since the talk Amanda gave. I would find myself thinking, "I thought as Christians we are meant to be strong and steadfast? How am I suppose to be a steadfast Christian if I'm weak and vulnerable?" Then God gave me the answer, Psalm 51. The night my eyes were opened to what God wants for me was the same night I smsed you the verse. Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart..." This came to me because instead of just cruising through life I was pushed to make a decision on fasting and I didn't understand the sacrifice God wanted me to make. When we, as Christians, are pushed to these certain points in life is when God speaks to us. Not only did God give me the answers to "why I should be weak and vulnerable and why I should fast", he put all doubt out of my mind by confirming his word through Amanda. I asked Amanda to meet up so we could talk about the whole fasting thing and that I had decided to do the Daniel fast, and as we were talking she thought of a verse. The verse she turned to and read was Psalm 51:17. I was so overwhelmed at that point; it will be a feeling I will never forget. From that point on I truly believed and still do that I am one of the most vulnerable and weak people, and I love it! I praise God each and every day that he opened my eyes and heart to what He wants. I also thank God for working through you in the same way. We laugh A LOT together, but I never thought we would be able to cry together, and to have a friend like that is all thanks to God. It also makes things clear now why people think we sisters, because we really are sisters in Christ. As cliché as it sounds, no matter what, you will always be in my heart and be one of the closest people to me. I pray that God keeps working through you and Amanda, as He has been, and that he doesn't only reach me (which I know wont be the case!!) but that he uses you to touch many people’s lives and bring them to know our Savior Jesus Christ.

You are blessed and I love you lots

Jess

Safe and Sound

I've been home safe, with family and friends for just over a week now. It was a long journey home, but I feel the Lord's hand in helping me settle in back home. Please pray for my transition back home, as I am experiencing some reverse culture shock. Please pray that I turn to the Lord and depend on him in this time. Thank you. 

I would love to know I can be praying for all of you as we enter into the holiday season. I look forward to meeting with each of you to catch up on life and shares stories from the last year. You can expect to hear from me sometime soon. I'm truly looking forward to hearing how the Lord's worked in your lives over the last 11 or so months. Have a blessed week, and know that I am praying for you. 

Amanda 

Here is a video from our end of the year social. We invited everyone to celebrate all the Lord's done over the last year. We had an open mic, where anyone who had something to share could walk up and take time to thank God for his movement and work in their lives. It was an awesome time. One of my girls Bible studies decided to share something really cool with the group. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Last day

Today is my last full day in South Africa. Honestly, it doesn't feel real to me yet, that I am coming home. I'm sure as I step on the plane tomorrow, everything will start to sink in. The year has gone by so fast, and the Lord has done so many amazing things! The last few weeks have been incredible and I look forward to sharing everything with you when I get back. 

I will be without an internet connection or cell phone for the next two or three day. So, if you don't hear from me, I apologize, but will get back to you as soon as I get settled in. 

Please pray for safe travels home, and for a smooth transition back into life in Colorado. Thank you for your prayers and support. I am so excited to see all of you again soon and will keep each of you in my prayers. 

God Bless, 

Amanda Arias