Team India T-Minus 19 days!

(From Left to right) Emily Thompson, Jessica Clark, Keaton Tyndall, Kristine Tran, Natalie Anna, Gaby Espejo, Me, Jessica De La Paz, and Lauren Belieff.

We have been praying and paying (God pays for everything, really) for this trip since September. It's been a roller coaster of a semester for all of us. As we enter into a time of rest during break, pray with us to remain focused on God's Word through prayer and fasting. And most importantly, that the people of India would receive the love and salvation through Christ; the only thing that we can share with them that will have an eternal effect. Please keep our team covered with prayers. Thank you! :)

Thank you Jesus for being the provider, once again. John 14:13-14.
God bless you all!

Bangalore, India

HERE WE GO!!
January 7th - 21st, 2011 marks our mission trip to Bangalore, India.
My best friend Kristine is going too! What a sweet God we serve! We're going with a team of 8 amazing girls from Biola University. Our goal is to minister God’s love to orphans, women, and those suffering under human trafficking. This is something that's been on mine and Kristine's hearts for the past two years. How faithful and wonderful is God! Seriously, I still can't believe we're going. So we will be working closely with the Dalit(broken) people through an org. called Dalit Freedom Network. The cost is $3,200 each person and $32,000 for our whole team. This is actually one of my favorite parts because I love seeing who God chooses to provide through. No sweat, His will = His bill!

Keep us in your prayers :)

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood" Isaiah 58:6-7.

SMU @ Biola University

Hello again!
Just wanted to give a little update in my life in terms of overseas missions. So this past Wednesday I started the Fall semester at Biola University. Let me say, I am very impressed and inspired by this college. Before hand, I had NO idea what to expect. I never had a desire to go to Bible college and that just so happens to be where God called me.

The only things I knew were...
1) I desperately want to know God more.
2) I want to serve Him through mission trips.
3) I'm going to be a (traveling) nurse.

On Thursday, the Lord revealed why I'm at Biola.

1) Biola is a Bible college. Every Biolan has to minor in Bible, which means every Biolan will be more educated in God's Word.
2)"The Student Missionary Union (SMU) is the largest student-led missions organization in the United States."
3) Biola has a really great nursing program.

Talk about endless mission opportunities! And all 3 points tie into each other..Thank You Jesus! Biola's mission trips go out every winter and summer break. They're all student-led and also, we get to pick the location. Pray that the Holy Spirit will place a specific country on my heart again. Thank you! :)

♫ Ba ba mbguini hakuna kama we we ♫

The song in my title is a catchy one that most of us learned. It translates: Father there is none like You.

Waking up and realizing I have to leave this place makes me want to cry.
Lindsey lost her passport this morning and we had to get out of the Crater from 9 AM. It was 8:10 AM and we saw her running out or it would more like flying out with her passport! hahaha we made it "by the skin of our teeth."

I spent a lot of time prepping for this trip; 2 months in fact. Jana mentioned in a devotion time that we need to prep ourselves to leave the trip. After spending time with God and making sure my heart is settled, I'm happy to announce my readiness to go back home. I have been abundantly blessed with a life changing adventure that many people don't get to experience. I have met passionate, Godly people from all over the world who have come to serve God with me. Each individual on this trip has impacted me in ways I can't even explain. I'm humbled and in awe of what I've seen. I have an extended family in Tanzania now. I'm coming back to California with a deeper love for people. My patience is stretched...only because of God! And although it's harder to tell people about Jesus here(mainly because almost everyone knows who He is), I'm seeking the same miracles that happened in Africa to happen here.

My prayer request before leaving was for me to have more of God's vision for people, like the Brandon Heath song, "Give me your eyes."

I've seen:
-miracles
-God's love for people
-the remarkably beautiful country of Tanzania
-extreme poverty
-the most affectionate and loving people
-HOPE

This journey has ended but I look forward to the many mission trips ahead of me. Thank you for reading, praying, and/or thinking of my team and Tanzania. Thanks especially to my family, best friend, church family, and friends who have supported me prayerfully, financially, or through precious words of encouragement. "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers" Ephesians 1:16. This trip has been one of the biggest highlights of my life. It's been a canopy of blessings.

You can find the rest of my pictures at http://www.facebook.com/lizzy.bui

Safari!

SAFARI TIME!!!!!!!!! I had the most jaw dropping time in the Ngorongoro Crater. Seriously, how detailed is God with His creation! Everywhere I looked was vastness of beauty..God's creations are stunning.

The Crater..that's where we headed!

Here are the multitudes of animals we saw...it's a bit different without bars in front of them! Mama elephant + Baby elephant.

I think this is an Antelope...that's what my friend, Kim-erin @ http://livingeventfully.blogspot.com said!

THAT'S A STRAIGHT UP WILDABEAST!

Sweet shot of an ostrich. Would not want to race one.

Zebras are one of my absolute favorites. Look at unique they are!

Don't know what this thing is...kinda freaky looking.

GIRAFFE!!!!

CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP!

Oh, Tanzania.

I took this picture and said, "THIS PICTURE DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE!"

Kicking back from the Serena hotel with my worn out TOMS.

I can get pretty used to this.

AHHHH, a bed without a mosquito net?!?! This is the good life! God really treated us out after this mission trip. We got an amazing deal on the Safari trip and hotel room.

The tribe Maasai performing!

This little girl was all covered up next door and wouldn't come out. We all prayed for her. NOW look at her..she was playing carefree and her face improved tremendously.

LOVE!