My name is Denise Nicole. I am the daughter of the Most High God who formed me in my mothers womb and birthed 28 years ago; the daughter of two loving parents Margie and Reverend Daniel Escamilla. I am the youngest sibling to two older sisters, Pauline and Mindy who LOVE their little sis 🙂 AND the mother of the calmest and most loving Chihuahua in the world, Mateo. I served in the United States Military for almost 8 years with 3 overseas tours to Iraq and Afghanistan as a combat medic. I loved my job. I loved what I did. I have many great memories as I served in the greatest Army in the world. But that rather LARGE chapter in my life ended 3 months ago, when I hung my boots and went to find my quest in full dedication to the ministry of the Lord. I recently moved to Hawaii less than a month ago to fulfill a lifetime calling to become a missionary. I am in God’s “preparation phase” to becoming a full fledge ambassador for Christ and patiently waiting for His provision to unfold in the vision He has set for me!! Hallelujah 🙂 So, prior to moving to Hawaii, I was accepted into an inter-denominational Christian ministry to go to 11 countries in 11 months: El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Nepal, and India. Crazy I know!! This organization Adventures in Missions is a Christian ministry that sends thousands of people on mission trips every year. With a focus on prayer and discipleship, our goal is to see lives radically transformed by God. It is a stretching journey to serve "the least of these" while amongst real and raw communities. It’s a challenge to have His children abandon all worldly possessions and traditional lifestyles in exchange for an understanding that it's not about you; it's about the Kingdom!! Some of the things I will be doing is: having theopportunity to care for widows and orphans in times of distress, visiting hospitals and working with local churches to encourage a remnant of believers who are persecuted for their religion; bring God's love through slum ministry, door-to-door evangelism, construct outreaches to children, minister to gangs, youth, and protect the innocent who are prey to human traffickers and sex tourism. These are only a few of many things we will be doing. How incredible is that!! To go minister into the entire world and offer HOPE and the LOVE of Christ 🙂 but here is where the dirt meets the road. Here is my humbleness. Here is my reality and here is my truth. The total cost of my trip is $15,500 with support deadlines of $3,500 by October 2nd, $6,500 by December 18th, $11,000 by April 1st, and $15,500 by July 1st. Currently I have a balance of $829, which leaves $2,671 to raise in just 5 days for the October 2nd deadline!! Impossible, right?? Not with God. I have trusted Him with my entire life, why would I stop now?? I am believing that I can be FULLY funded by launch (January). Many times God allows time for prayers to be answered to build our faith and understanding in Him. But He loves us and this is what we know. It says in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” This is my craving. This is what I was created to do. Uncertainty is nonexistent. Doubt is an illusion. There is nothing in my soul that beats for and desires anything else but to go into the very ends of the earth proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. I love the Lord with all of my heart. He is the maker of the universe and I am His bride. Where He goes, I go. What He says, I say. What He prays, I pray. I will only do, what I see Him do. I will only say, what I hear Him speak and I will only move, when I feel Him lead. If you will, imagine the millions who have NEVER heard of the gospel. All the lives who have never heard of the name JESUS. They’ve never had anyone tell them that there is a God who LOVES them. That there is a God who offers HOPE and SALVATION. That there is a God that can be WHATEVER they NEED HIM TO BE. Help make this possible. Help towards the ministry in sending me as the tool that is going equipped and in faith to be used by God to touch the lives of these people. I cannot do this alone but I can do it thru you. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
Join with me on this journey!!
El Salvador
El Salvador is the third largest economy in the region after Costa Rica and Panama and the smallest country (in land mass) in the Americas. A coup d’etat in 1979 led to civil war from 1980-1992 in this country. Oscar Romero, a Catholic bishop well-known known for supporting liberation theology, advocating for social justice in El Salvador, and protesting the government’s persecution of the church was assassinated in 1980 while conducting mass. Much of the country’s revenue comes from remittances. In a land whose name translates to "The Savior", you’ll be the signs that point to the one true Savior – not a better political system or economy – Jesus Christ.
Honduras
"Hondo" comes from the Spanish word for depth and there's lots of depth to Honduras. It's home to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, whose ruins are still stand. Honduras is mostly mountainous and the weather's as tropical as it gets. What really runs deep in Honduras are its needs. Honduras is the third poorest in the region, after Haiti and Nicaragua. Like her neighbors, Honduras has had her of share political/military troubles, e.g., the six-month constitutional crisis in 2009. There's a need to reach out to the youth, not just to keep them out of trouble (e.g., gangs) but for them to know their worth and that they're loved.
Nicaragua
This location is always a World Race favorite. It's a country full of wonderfully warm and caring people, and participants always leave having had a powerful experience. However, hopelessness, addictions, destitution, and poverty still plague the many lives of Nicaragua. There are orphans who have grown up without knowing the love of a parent and families who get by each day by scrounging scraps from the city dump where they have made their homes. In Nicaragua, you'll have the opportunity to bring God's love through slum ministry, door-to-door outreach, outreach to children, and more.
Thailand
According to the CIA, the kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and 0.7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city-where you, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes-or in the countryside-where you may serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
Cambodia
Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. It later became a Buddhist complex a century later, and today, just over 96% of Cambodia is Buddhist. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point, and destination of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the hope you can bring.
Malaysia
Enter a world entrenched in Islam. A people within the thriving metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysians still live in ignorance of the Good News of Jesus Christ. As you delve into this culture of works-based religion, strong self-discipline, and uncanny faith, you will have the unique opportunity to deliver hope and point the people to their Redeemer.
Tanzania
Tanzania has a one-third split between Christianity, Islam, and indigenous religious groups. This diversity creates a colorful landscape of people and beliefs. Whether you are doing open-air crusades, door-to-door evangelism or visiting hospitals and orphanages the people of this diverse country will capture your heart.
Rwanda
Many who hear "Rwanda" immediately think, "genocide" – it was 16 years ago when 800,000 people were killed over the course of about three months. According to the U.S. State Department, Rwanda (once colonized by France) has the highest population density in sub-Saharan Africa; and like much of sub-Saharan Africa, this nation also is fighting hard against HIV/AIDS. This nation played a part of the genesis of this human rights organization and inspired this song; as you help bring healing to a country still recovering from this deep wound, God may birth a dream or vision in you…
Uganda
Once a kingdom and British protectorate, for most of the later half of the 20th century, Uganda was under military rule, first under Idi Amin, the subject of the film The Last King of Scotland. Much of northern Uganda was also troubled by the Lord's Resistance Army, which heavily recruited child soldiers. Referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is diverse in topography and wildlife. You may find yourself in the north partnering with ministries that are bringing still-needed healing and reconciliation or in the south working with churches to evangelize and disciple the next generation of Kingdom workers.
Nepal
Home to Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, Nepal literally sits on top of the world. In addition to adventurous experiences you will have here, you may also visit widows and orphans in their times of distress and protect the innocent who are prey to human traffickers. This month of your World Race experience will submerge you in a culture that is desperate for an encounter with the living God.
India
With nearly a sixth of the world's population within its borders, India is a country bursting with people and culture. Home to a diverse array of beliefs from Hinduism to Islam, to a blend of folk religions and other faiths, it is a country of pluralism with twenty-nine languages spoken by over a million native speakers, multiple religions, cuisine, socio-economic classes, and political parties. India's struggles with poverty and crimes of human trafficking, forced prostitution, religious persecution, and more. You might work with local churches to encourage believers and most likely be challenged by their testimonies. Your presence'll bring hope and truth to those that society deems "untouchable."
God Bless!! =)
