I’ve decided to do a spotlight on people that have influenced me, whether it be on the trip or back home. The person I can thank for me even being on this trip is Maggie Jaruzel. Maggie is a woman that fears the Lord, is so beautiful its ridiculous and has encouraged me immensely in my walk.
We met when I was 15 through a mission trip to Jamaica. She became my spiritual mother and mentor. It’s been 11 years and here I am on another mission trip and I have her to thank. She called me in April to tell me about the trip. She told me that the Lord woke her up to pray for me and that there was a call on my life. We prayed and asked God if I should apply, and a day later she paid my application fee when I had no money. She prayed with me through the application process and was rooting for me all the way. When I went to training camp she prayed for me and was there to hear all the stories when I came back. She was there when I was support raising and when I wanted to quit, she prayed and encouraged me to stay focused. When I saw all the obstacles to me leaving for a year, she listened and prayed for a solution. When I had to move back home, I stayed with her and we saw all the miracles unfold. She helped me figure out a plan to pay my debt while I was gone, including my school loans. Before I left for the trip, we prayed and she spoke words of life and encouragement to me. I had to raise about 15,000 for the year and her two matching grants helped me reach my trip goals. She told me that the Lord asked her to invest in people and she knows the Lord wants her to invest in me. She has been so generous to me and my family and I’m a changed person because of her. She truly has invested in me in so many ways and I thank God for her!
The biggest thing that she has taught me is obedience. She loves Jesus so much and it is so evident. The experiences God has given her to share the Gospel, love the poor and see the world is life-giving. When the Lord speaks to her, she listens and obeys even if it sounds crazy. I am inspired by her life and walk with the Lord. I thank God for such a beautiful role-model in my life. I thank God that she is my spiritual mom and that she loves me like her own. Maggie truly believes that God moves, shakes and speaks to her for even just one person that she can love, invest in and reach out to.
I see the beauty of the verse in Matthew 18:12 ” What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing than any of these little ones should be lost. “
Each month before we get into a new country, ministry and town, I ask the Lord for just one person. I ask Him for one person that I can learn from, love and share hope with. Each month he provides me with at least one person and see the beauty in the ONE.
Thank you Maggie for loving me like you love Jesus and being an example of faith that I need to live up to the calling God has on my life. You are beautiful because you’re more like Jesus with each new day and I can’t wait to come home and see you face to face. Thanks for all your support and prayers, I am grateful for YOU!!!
(Pictures of her to come!!!!)
