http://annemilligan.myadventures.org Adventures In Missions - en-us Sun, 6 Jul 2008 15:34:11 GMT 30 http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=not-superwoman-after-all http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=not-superwoman-after-all      Preparations for this summer's ministry have begun to consume most of my days here in Mexico. The detailsmany things I "should" have been working on months agothreaten to overwhelm me. I begin to dread the footsteps in the hall outside my office, the list of phone calls to make, and the emails that pile up in my inbox. I am trapped behind my desk. Others notice it. They hesitate to "bother" me. And then I become frustrated that I would ever make anyone feel as though the Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=checks-and-balances http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=checks-and-balances      Earlier this spring I found myself in a bit of a financial tight spot due to some poor planning on my part. As I watched Jesus bail me out and cover my debts once again, I began questioning for the ?th time whether or not I am just being frivolous with this whole living on support thing. If I have the capacity to go out and earn an honest living, is it irresponsible of me to remain dependant on the benevolence of others just so I can live out the dream that I believe God Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=the-shadow-of-faith http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=the-shadow-of-faith      On Sunday evening I went out to visit Pastor Jesus Blanco Martinez and worship with his church,Fe, Victoria y Amor. I brought American youth groups there for four weeks over the summer while working as a project facilitator at the Gateway. Each week the Americans crowded into the tiny church to worship, usually spilling out into the street, and served alongside Pastor Jesus to reach out to his colonia.      At Fe, Victoria y Amor the door of the chur Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=counting-the-cost http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=counting-the-cost "Beware of the pleasant view of the Fatherhood of GodGod is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive usThe only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemyForgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormo Thu, 1 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=el-portal http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=el-portal      Two weeks ago today, the Gateway was swarming with people. Over 300 participants and staff were gathered on the property for the final day of ministry in Johnson's Ferry Baptist Church's annual visit to Matamoros, Mexico. We spent weeks preparing for the arrival of the group from Marietta, Ga. and we worked to put the Gateway back in order after they left. For those of us who live here year-round, it can be easy to feel that they intrude on our solitude and overrun our h Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=hope http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=hope Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3      Sitting in church on Sunday, I labeled this verse in my Bible as the most hopeful verse in Scripture. And so it has been often, in my experience. Here in Mexico my nearly automatic response to the frequent, friendly inquiry, "Como estas?" (How are you?), has become "Bendecida"blessed. Last week, however, the question more often drew an uncertain and unconvincing "Bien" (good) from my heavy Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=its-a-wonderful-life http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=its-a-wonderful-life      When I came to Mexico it was not to save lost souls. I came to save my own soul. And it is surely being savedeven or especially from myself. Bonds are being cut. Death comes to that which needs to die, promising new life in its wake. And I am reminded that freedom is often won on a battlefield and that the battle is not always pretty, that salvation was purchased by the blood of the cross.      The last month and a half has been immensely challengin Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=learning-to-love http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=learning-to-love Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.      Throughout my whole life, my dad has told me to guard my heart. It is a part of almost every letter he writes me (and there are many), it is often in his emails, and it is usually spoken when he tells me goodbye. Somehow I have always inferred that this directive is in reference to my relationships with the opposite sex. And I'm pretty sure that it is, at least for the most part.   Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=abundant-life http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=abundant-life      I'm back. And glad to be back. Not just glad, but immensely grateful for the life I am being given the opportunity to live. Yes, I am busy. The pace of my life does not slow down when I cross the border. And yes, being out of town for three weeks means that there is catching up to do. But my heart still aches, swollen by the beauty that threatens to burst it, when I stand on my back porch and behold the painted Mexican sky over the tall grasses teasing in the wind at sun Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=words http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=words      I am a writer. Whether I want to be or not. Probably not a great writer. But as I scan the lengthy blogs that I have posted this fall, I know that there is no avoiding this fact. I am not at all implying that length qualifies as good writing. After a brief stint writing for newspapers, I am well aware that this is not the case. I simply note that when I face the task of writing something, whether it be an email or an article for publication, I feel compelled to write. I Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=what-if http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=what-if      Thursday I woke up and turned on the TV to a local Texas station headlining the story of the mall shooting in Nebraska that left eight dead. My heart sank and my thoughts ran back to the Virginia Tech shooting that so recently shook the nation. One more reminder that even in the United States, we are not really "safe." Not in our airports, not in our schools, not in our shopping malls.      Later, I crossed the border from Mexico into Texas on a Sat, 8 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=the-glory-of-it-all http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=the-glory-of-it-all      Thanksgiving came and went at the Gateway, bringing even more charm to my ejido with the white Christmas lights that now grace the eaves of Nena's tienda and many of the houses. For me, the holiday weekend was a gift that brought friends from far away, more ability to relax than I hoped for, a great football game to yell at on TV, and a grateful heart. It was the refreshment that I needed to finish the year here strong. I found myself giving thanks simply for the grace t Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=the-forecast http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=the-forecast     Yesterday when I showed up at Carmen's house for our weekly Bible study, I found her taking small jackets, sweat pants, and other warm clothes off her clothes line. "They are for Josue'," She said, indicating her three year-old. "Because it will be cold tomorrow."     I took this information in, remembering the morning weather report I watched on an American station that said we would have highs in the 80s all week, and I wondered who would turn out to be right Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=fish-stories http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=fish-stories This week I have been carrying something in my heart that God spoke to me at the Gateway in 2006, just before the first summer project. I came down here that summer empty, dry, and dead inside after spending five months in what felt like an endless spiritual night. My soul had lost purpose, direction, and above all hope. So I came to the Gateway to lead a work crew, ready to WORKhoping to lose myself in the workand wondering what on earth I could offer those kids as a spiritual leader. As our Thu, 8 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=psalm-84 http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=psalm-84 How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!        Incredibly, our great and mysterious God has chosen human beings to be His habitation. He has made our bodies to be His temple. His Spirit dwells within those who have been washed in the blood of Jesus, and with the Psalmist I exclaim, "How lovely!" I am lovely because the Spirit of the Living God dwells within me. But more than this, I see the beauty of His dwelling place in the believers who surround me on a Thu, 1 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=good-news http://annemilligan.myadventures.org/?filename=good-news      Yesterday afternoon I went to Carmen's house. She invited me in the back door and I sat down at the kitchen table where we have been studying the Bible together for the last six weeks. As she wiped off the table she said, "Anna, I have good news for you." She proceeded to tell me that on Sunday her husband went with her to see a movie at the church in our ejido and after the movie he broke down in tears and accepted Christ. My heart rejoiced and I shook my head in Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT