Since being in Mexico, I have learned so many things. I want to give you guys an update about our time here, but also how I am doing in every regard. Our day to day has primarily stayed consistent, which is convenient because it allows room for routine and habits to form. Three days a week we meet at 8 am for either a group Bible study or corporate worship. That has been an incredible piece that I wish we had during the first semester. It allows for so much growth as a body and also fellowship together, diving deep into the word and allowing the Holy Spirit to do what He wants to do. Everyday at 9 am we have a “life skills” class that falls under a very broad category. Today we talked about habits, and how we can intentionally choose consistency and showing up when motivation disappears. Our leaders, Tammy and Amanda, take the time to share with us practical life skills, or general practices that will help us look more like Christ. 

We do our classes in the morning, and I am taking some online classes through College of Athens. To be honest, because of some specific vision the Lord has revealed to me, I thought about dropping the classes at first. I am taking a world religions class so I decided to not drop it, because it is giving me more tools in my toolbelt, and I need to learn more about world religions. We have ministry in the afternoon and we have two groups of 13. At the beginning of this semester we knew we would be living at the orphanage, and we got to choose whether we did coffee ministry or a sustainable garden project. I wanted to learn more about coffee, more about Broken Rib, more ways that I can help impact the Kingdom and bring awareness to other Christians as well, so I chose the coffee ministry. 

We all help with the kids, and my group has 3 days a week for coffee and 2 with the kids. Our set time is 2-5 with them, so we set up “English classes,” because it is really important for them to learn English to succeed in their future. We have a reading class, music class, and sports. Of course I teach sports, and it was hard at the beginning to get them engaged or even to incorporate English into basketball or soccer. The Lord has been gracious to us and we have been able to gain their respect and have successful classes while learning and playing. 

Our coffee ministry has actually turned into Broken Rib Coffee College. We have spent our days learning the ins and outs of coffee; the harvesting, processing, roasting, and distributing. We have learned about business and marketing, and we have practiced sales and public speaking. We have done social media marketing and content creation, interviewing baristas and coffee shop owners. We have gone to a ton of local coffee shops to dive deeper, learn stories, gain connections, and expand our desire to use everything for the Kingdom. We have a final capstone project for the end of our time here at “college.” I chose to do a presentation on coffee impact. My main goal is to bring awareness. Bring awareness to Christians that everything we do can either further this world or the Kingdom, bring awareness to the generational poverty cycles that the coffee farmers are trapped in, and bring awareness to Casa Hogar Alegre. Casa Hogar is the orphanage here in Tuxtla that is actively, severely in the red. 

Casa Hogar is an organization that receives kids that are rescued by the government. They provide them a home, food, and the love of Jesus. They educate them, teach them how to do basic chores, and how to take care of one another. They learn how to live in a community the second they get here. They don’t have enough money to pay for overnight staff, so the older girls are left to take care of the babies. Many times they have to leave class and go take care of the babies when the staff leave. The government has tried to shut them down over and over and over again. Any chance, any excuse they get they blame Casa Hogar for something, and charge them absurd amounts of money to stay open. The devil isn’t even trying to hide any more. He is trying to steal, kill, and destroy but the name of Christ is bigger. The Lord gave one of my friends a vision the other night. Splotches of black all over the orphanage, the devil trying to destroy. We brought light, and like water color when we left the kids it left a blotch of light. 

During our team time the Lord reminded us that we needed to be praying out loud. Out loud with one another, but out loud with these kiddos. The enemy has no right, no power, and no hold over these kids. Casa Hogar is in the red financially and is in danger of having to shut down. So I asked myself earlier what can I do to help? Tangibly, for me it is to try and sell coffee. A large portion of the proceeds go towards this home, and if I can play a part in helping them stay open, I will do everything in my power. You guys can help by buying Broken Rib Coffee, or if you are feeling the Lord prompt you, you can donate to Casa Hogar. Your tithe money can be used for these kiddos, or you can join me in prayer. Prayer over these 100 kids, the orphanage, that they may have finances provided, and staff to help run it, and that the devil will go back to hell. 

Now, the special vision or revelation that I was talking about. In Italy I was filled with so much anxiety, feeling behind. Feeling like this was a gap year rather than my first year of college. I was looking into colleges but it gave me zero peace, negative peace if that is possible. I was rushing and my mom said to me, do you feel like the Lord is pushing you to do this. Of course my answer was no, and I am “behind” according to the world. Good thing I don’t give a rats behind about what the world says. So, okay, time to do what God wants me to do. But that was the thing, I had no idea. I was waiting, and I had to be patient, trusting that He would reveal it to me in His timing. I thought it might be journey school year 2, but I had no peace about that. Even though that was going to be my plan when I got here, I would want to keep doing this program for as long as I could. But I didn’t have any peace about it. We got to Mexico and I just felt like the Lord saying, “I have more for you.” 

What does that even mean? I could have gone to Journey School year 2 almost for free, and they are going to 6 countries in Asia and then Australia. I literally asked the Lord what could be more than that, what could He possibly have for me. But that was the thing, I desired more than this. I desired more, I wanted to do more, but I didn’t know yet. I was left waiting. Our first week of training camp me and a leader are sitting there, and Seth Barnes walks up to us. He looks at me and says, “Addy, you are a goer, so I am going to tell you this because I think you’ll like it.” I had no idea that what he was about to say next was what God has planned for my life since the beginning of time. Isn’t He so cool like that?

Seth goes on to explain a vision for next year. He says a group of five, and I immediately knew that this was the more God was talking about. He said a group of five, who are looking for more, extending this program into next year. He has the vision of us getting sponsored by companies or businesses for another year on the field, and in turn, doing an internship with them. I knew. This is what God wants. And then, Seth said Africa. Oh my heck the memories that flooded my brain and everything started to click. When I was younger, I knew I was going to Africa. My parents have gone like 5 times and I knew one day I would. I asked my mom to go when I was like 8. She came back with stories and I knew I would be there one day. Seth said Africa and I just about exploded. I knew it was Eswatini, and I didn’t even know that country existed. God is so so so so so good. He has given me little bits and pieces and then when they all come together I have nothing but a hallelujah. 

We are working on helping develop this whole program, and I know 100% that this is what the Lord wants me to do. He is opening doors. When I was a kid, my mom had a prophetic dream about us three girls. It was how we are going to impact the Kingdom and spread Jesus, and for me, everywhere I went there were pillars of fire all over the globe. I had randomly thought about that dream when I was talking about Africa. I was like, oh I wonder if this is a part of that vision for my life. Two minutes later my mom texted me and told me that the Lord told her to remind me of that dream. Wow.

So I am going to Africa this year. No, it’s not planned, no I don’t know who’s going with me, no I don’t know how or when or where. But I am going to Africa this year. Yay! The Lord has opened this door because of my obedience, because of my yes. He has taught me how to die to my flesh and live for Him daily. I have been experiencing life abundantly, the fruits of the spirit in magnitude. Nothing matters when you live for Christ, because my life is not my own. I live to seek the good of others, so why would I be offended? Everything I do is for Christ, and no it’s not hard because He gives me His strength. No, it’s not heavy because I don’t have to carry the weight. I am truly a vessel. A vessel who gets to laugh, and praise, and grow, and dance, and go to Africa! Yay!

Also, I am fully funded, and all I have to say is Hallelujah!! If you guys want to support me, or this mission, there are a couple of options. First, Casa Hogar Alegre is in financial need, so let me know if you want to directly support them! Another way is through buying Broken Rib Coffee, whose proceeds go towards this home, the coffee farmers, building houses in Northern Mexico for the homeless, and sending the kids to school. I can attach my link below if you want to order. A great way for long term impact is getting a subscription, but buying a bag also helps!! You can also support my brother on this trip, Ethan Sausen. He is me but in boy form. He loves Jesus and His heart is to look more like Him day in and day out. He is serving along side of me, but isn’t fully funded. 

Thank you guys. Thank you for everything. Thank you for wanting updates and praying, as well as directly impacting the Kingdom with your finances. Nothing is for personal gain, and I am so blessed to see that God will provide if He wants it to happen. I am sorry for it being 2 weeks since the last update, but man, God’s been busy. Until next time!