Got your attention?
The last couple of months being back in the US have been such a whirlwind of an re-entry. A tornado of business, excitement, adventure, humility, pride, change, familiarity, happiness, exhaustion, lethargy, depression,love and the list goes on in my little “topsy-turvy”world.
That video was made 2 years ago!? A lot has happened in the last 2 years and I can give ALL THE GLORY TO GOD for making it all happen!!
Needless to say, I would like to re-introduce myself. My name is Mary Bliz Ballesteros. I go by Mary-Bliz or just Bliz. I personally don’t like being called just Mary, but if you’ve been calling me that, it’s ok that is (part of) my name =) I’ve been living in the city of Brotherly love for the past 5 years. Technically 4 ish years, since I was away for about 11 months. These past few years living here have definitely reshaped my views on how I’ve treated others and how I allow others to treat me. In laymen’s terms as a girl who grew up in suburbia NJ, living and working in North Philly has helped me build some tough skin and learn “choice words” in protecting what’s mine. Which in the case of a young, single, minority, female is my integrity. I’ve grown to love the city, especially Philadelphia, and “coincidentally” being placed in a number of cities throughout my race has utilized my ability to keep it real and keep it moving! It gets messy at times and I’m not proud of some of the choices I’ve made, but being surrounded by a bunch of messy people that need Jesus (myself included) definitely fuel my passion for Jesus even more!
Prior to leaving the race I was working as a Strengthening Families Coordinator, working with other non-profit organizations, parents, children and youth to help empower families in a particular section of North Philadelphia aka a “social worker”. So I had a 9-5 job, worked plenty of weekends and week nights and was underpaid, but at least it was consistent. I was also pretty involved with a ministry called Younglives which serves teen moms and their kids. Not to mention being involved in my home church and and just having something to do all the time while also managing somewhat of a social life with friends and family. At the time that entailed an exuberant amount of drama and unnecessary spending money.
I mention all this to let you know what I said no to in order to say yes to the World Race. I said no to a crazy busy schedule to say yes to a crazy adventure! I’m still at a loss for words when it comes to describing how the whole 11 months went. I’m grateful for the experience and honestly have bi-polar emotions when people ask me about it. For the most part, I’m moving forward! I was going to talk about all of the hardships that I had. But then I felt like I would just be complaining…and we sure do get enough of that in real life, yet alone on social media. So instead of sharing with you my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad last couple of months, I want to share with you my awesome, fantastic, so good, very great last couple of months! Not to discount any of the struggles. Lord knows…and it sucks! Staring from ground zero with expenses, temptations, old bad habits, and people patterns…But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10).
These last few months I have been walking in the good works that God has prepared for me to do! So I truly believe that I have been being attacked by the schemes of Satan himself to pull me away from God’s love, grace and mercy! However, I am a saint, a member of the household of God. I am the household of God, His Spirit dwells within me!
Geez, even right now I’m being faced with tumultuous hardships that are stressing me out and tempting me to just give up…But as a workmanship of Christ, I was created to do good works through Him! Super long introduction to give y’all an update of what I’ve been up to and what’s next!
1. Looking for a better paying part-time job. Currently working at a restaurant as a hostess. Let’s just say this isn’t one of my spiritual gifts…lol but I’m grateful for the little bit of income!
2. I’ve been advertising my eggroll making skills and calling it Rolled with Love! Follow me on instagram @_rolledwithlove I’m catering traditional filipino lumpia (eggrolls) and specialty eggrolls i.e.-pumpkin/sweet potato pie and pionono (sweet plantain, ground beef and cheese) and more for any occasion!
3. I’m going back to school to pursue Physical Therapy! I’m starting off part-time next semester which starts January 16th!
4. A couple of co-workers and I from my previous job wrote up this business plan to start a maternity housing program in philly called Common Ground. Since coming home, I met with a couple people to start pursuing this. Honestly, not much has happened since then. So please pray for open doors, more people to share this dream and consistency in making this dream come alive.
5. I am in the process of joining Philly Younglives staff part-time and will talk more about it at number 6 😉
6. I am having a thank you dinner and update this Monday at Olney Chrisitian School from 7-9 PM and you are all invited to attend! Just let me know if you can make it so I know how much food to get. Tomorrow is the last day to RSVP!
