PRAYING OVER GOLD ;)!!

Finally sharing about the first amazing experience on Los Angeles Fashion Week Outreach!!!

I have to say that it was more than what I was expecting, in every way =). Let me be honest the first day I was extremely nervous, especially when Jessica announced that we (girls from the ministry Models for Christ MFC/YWAM) were going to be supervising the dressers on backstage!! I WAS LIKE, WHAT IN THE WORLD??!! I HAVE NOT BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS; YES I WAS A WARDROBE STYLIST BUT NEVER HAD DONE SOMETHING BIG LIKE THIS! HOW AM I GOING TO SUCCEED ON THIS TASK? OH GOD PLEASE SAVE ME!!!- LOL yeah that was my inside reaction, like you guys should know in the out-side of me remained calm and in posture ;). Jessica said to not panic and encouraged us with words of love and TRUTH, like if she could read my mind.. I knew it was the Lord speaking to me. Every morning before we head to backstage we met at a coffee shop and testified of the previous day and pray for the day. So we prayed the first day and Jessica directed us on what, when, how to do our task as Sprv. Dressers. (We were the experts). She also reminded us of the advantage we had to share the gospel, pray and love those around us with the authority God had placed us in =D. SO AWESOME!!!

While we were praying God reminded me of something; when I was working on the Fashion Industry it was so hard to get on backstage, I always dreamed of it but I didn't get the chance to do it and now He not only had brought me to a backstage but had placed me there with authority. HOW INCREDIBLY AWESOME IS THAT!!! I understood that my job was to do everything with EXCELLENCY  in a way that would represent the Lord.  –I immediately shared this thought to the rest of the girls, to give all the glory to God and realize how fortunate we were!

Day ONE, oh boy here we go with the thought of a BOLD and COURAGEOUS woman, hahaha I would lie if I said it was that easy to share the gospel and walk with those two focus that day. I was nervous, got intimidated, so many beautiful tall girls left and right, so many FASHONISTAS.. OH MY.. it was so hard to not feel; not pretty enough, short, fat and so on!! I did feel a little overwhelmed at the beginning of the day, but I stopped and asked God, please help me and teach me something MORE, something NEW!!! And soon enough He totally did, as I was looking around and praying I noticed so much arrogance, insecurity on those beautiful girls, but saddest lost of Identity in every possible way and God reminded me how beautiful I am before His eyes and how He rejoices when I appreciate the way He created me, to not compare myself to anyone else because He had made me unique and beautiful. Also He reminded me of the purpose I was there, which was to share His LOVE in many different ways to all the people who would cross my path during this week!! UUFF So I stood-up with my head up high and began to pursue my call =).

This is Nacy, she was the first model I got to dress =). As I was dressing her I was praying over her life and she said- “aww I feel the chills, I said- are you cold?! She responded- No but I don’t know why I got the chills out of the nowhere”!! I smiled at her, because I knew it was the Holy Spirit moving in her life!! ISN'T THIS COOL =D.

Second day, I was able to talk with few of the dressers about why I was there, and they wouldn’t say much just listen and smile lol, but it was so amazing how they would noticed the difference between our group of girls from MFC than the rest just simply because we had the love and joy of the Lord. One of the things I noticed too, is that people tend to not give compliments to each-other or serve one another such like; nice skirt, nice hair do, you look beautiful or let me bring a drink for you too, let me give you some of my snacks and so on.. it’s like is so hard for people to do that.. So on purpose my focus was to love everyone I could by serving them in any way or complimenting people around me!! Believed me they LOVED it and received it with a huge smile.. that’s including models and designers. There God showed me that there are many ways to share JESUS, HIS LOVE <3.

Third day went great =D!! No shyness in my system at all, I began to tell every Designer I worked with that I was praying for them and to every model.. they all appreciated and appreciated the work I was doing (even though some of them looked at me like if I was a little off, weird, crazy. KUKU LOL). One of the designers in specific, he was great and something very huge was happening that night during his show (for privacy purposes I cannot mention His name or what was the HUGE show about). I got to talk to him and he shared part of his life and success, after a while it was a chaos on backstage and he started to freak-out and stress-out, as soon as I noticed I told him, we are praying for you and your show will be very successful! He turned and smiled and thanked me. By the end of the show, when he walked back to backstage, I said congratulations your show was so GREAT and he hugged me and thanked me again with a HUGE SMILE!! I felt so proud of whom I am in Christ and it felt so amazing to be a vessel for the Kingdom of GOD, all the glory to HIM!!

Fourth day.. Go RED.. Celebrity Runway!! Hahahaha this day was terrifying/amazing!!

Beginning was great, got to minister for a while to one of the dressers, her curiosity and the joy she saw in our group, opened her heart to receive.. her words “I do noticed all you girls are always joyful, energetic, happy and nice”!! -just a bounces ;)..  BELIEVERS GET COURAGE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH MANY DON’T SAY MUCH, THEY ARE WATCHING US AND OUR DAILY LIFE, OUR TESTIMONY IS IMPACTING OTHERS!!

Uy but the evening came and got scared, my MODEL DIDN’T show up to the show.. Let’s talk about this. This was a celebrity show, so for the 3^rd show only celebrities were walking the runway and my celebrity never showed-up (won’t mention her name for privacy purposes either.) One of the leaders from Beauty Arise (Alissa- she is incredible =D), as soon as she noticed I was nervous and scared began to pray for me and it brought me so much peace. Once again I asked God, what do you want me to do?!!. Ha soon enough He spoke to me and said “Go help other dressers to dress their model (celebrity) and show them my love to the models and to the dressers, let the celebrities know how beautiful they are and that you are praying for them”…- Oh boy I got excited and was ready to obey… it was a truly blessing night, I met more celebrities and got to pray for them.. I was so amazed of how they would smile and thanked me because they were so nervous to walk the runway! I realized that everyone needs love, and loves to receive it, even if is only a compliment “YOU DID GREAT AND YOU LOOK GORGEOUS OR BEAUTIFUL, YOU ROCKED THAT DRESS ON THE RUNWAY”!!!

Here talking and got to pray for Caitlin =) MODEL

Fifth DAY!! Yay last day.. sad because I had met incredible people and time to say bye.. specially my new friends, sisters in Christ.. great thing I’ll get to see them in the future Fashion Shows.. may be next time at New York Fashion Week ;).

This day was awesome all of us were on fire!! Last day, last chance to do what we came to do.. SHINE OUT GOD’S LOVE!!! At one point during the day I space-out, everything was moving sooo fast, like if I was not there. I went two months back when I was in Costa Rica, serving in the lowest of human society soar to speak, on “Freedom Street”! This ministry focuses on Human Trafficking, rescuing girls from that (It was a life changing experience).  I prayed over these girls life, served them and love them with God’s love and NOW I was in the high-end of human society doing the same things. The vision God had given me was ALIVE!! Isn’t God WONDERFUL and FAITHFUL (I know is a glance of what is coming NEXT in my life)!!! This tells you something, doesn't it? GOD DOES NOT make preference of society, looks, education, titles,background, ethnicity, etc. He loves us equality and desires to have an Intimate Relationship with each one of us, SO PLEASE let's not make preferences in our life and don't look down to others =)......Then I came back from that moment and enjoyed that beautiful day with more joy and love than ever before, I WAS ON FIRED!! Oh my I got to serve one of the models by giving her my snacks, bringing her energy drinks and so on.. she looked surprised! Yey got to mention why I was there and got to share about the ministry Models for Christ-YWAM, best part she was interest and I gave her a flyer NOT ONLY THAT she asked for a few more flyers to share on her next show and got to pray with HER!! I was sooo blessed.

 This tells you something, doesn't it? GOD DOES NOT make preference of society, looks, education, titles, background, ethnicity, etc. He loves us equality and desires to have an Intimate Relationship with each one of us, SO PLEASE let's not make preferences in our life and don't look down to others =).

Amazing woman who is after God, Lauren.. God blessed with a new friendship!

There are many other stories that if I type it would become a whole book lol but one of the things I’d like to mention last is that God taught me to LOVE myself just the way I look, He loves me and He purposely created me the way I look (this is FOR YOU too); to get out of my own box and love other people to the next level. EVERYONE desires to be love and YOU can be the person who can bring encouragement and love to someone else. This blog is not about soul-mate love is about the love of a sister, brother or friend. Never think you shouldn’t compliment someone because they already know they look great or because they are going to act conceited about it, never think you shouldn’t serve someone because they are going feel superior than you or they won’t appreciate you. Because you never know how much a kind word or kind act can impact someone’s life for the best. Do to others what you desire to be done to you. Let the Love of God shine through You today! …………A man reaps what he sows.- Galatians 6:7

Looking forward to the next Fashion Week Outreach =D

Blessings\Lizbeth <3

God resurrects a dream into a beautiful living vision!

(But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you- Matt 6:33)

It was at a conference during my Discipleship Training School (DTS YWAM), when Jessica Hover shared her testimony and the ministry “Beauty Arise”. I can recall when she mentioned;-“God takes me to backstage Fashion Shows to minister models and share His love”.  As I was praying in my mind closing my eyes, God speaks to me and said -“Introduce yourself to Jessica and share to her the vision I gave you”. My inner reaction was like, God is this really you?.. she is going to think I am crazy!!! Soon enough I took courage and did as I was told.

Let’s go 5 years back…. For those who don’t know, I have a huge passion for Fashion Industry, I love to dress-up, heels, make-up (glow lol) jewelry (long earrings- big rings fake ones lol),I love to dress other people, making them feel special and beautiful, I love, love make-overs! So, about five years ago I was accepted into Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise (FIDM), it was a miracle to me going to that school. I majored on Visual Communications; this major opens doors to different fields in this industry like interior design, wedding planner, wardrobe stylist, Fashion Show coordinator or director and many more. My desire was to be a Fashion Show Director. After two months of attending school I was hired at BCBG MaxAzeria as a wardrobe stylist. I loved my job, all type of women would walked in with the hope of us finding the perfect outfit from head to toe for their special occasion such as; weddings, engagement parties, bridal-showers, Grammy's, Oscar’s, interviews, promotions and many more. I truly enjoyed when clients would leave the boutique with conference and a huge smile ready for their event. It was fun and I knew this would take me to my goal.

After 3 years of working with this designer I came to a cross-road. At this time I was serving the Lord as the Youth Leader full-time and my job began to be a challenge to life. My boss wanted me to start dressing-up different (less conservative), I came to realized that if I wanted to grow within the industry I had to change my morals, I had to socialize going to parties to get to know people in the industry but most important it was going to affect my walk and relationship with the Lord. Thanks to the Holy Spirit who gave me conviction I didn’t fall to any of that. I stood firm on the truth, on the word because more than anything else in my life I wanted to please God and bring Him all the glory and honor by the way I live my life. So here it came the moment of truth, I had to decide if I wanted to keep moving up in this Industry or if I was going to do whatever it would take to live my life worth of my King, Jesus. After praying, and going back and ford I had the answer.. (in between I really felt like some-how I could make a difference working in this industry, I felt like somehow I could bring the gospel, - I mean once during our speech class at FIDM I talked about Jesus!) This was in my mind day and night because it was so hard to give up something I had dreamed of since I was so young and the promotion was right before my eyes.- Was it really worth it?!! I asked to myself many times, I knew God wouldn’t break my free will and He will wait for me to choose Him. I mention all this so ya’ll know it was not an easy decision. Finally after a couple of weeks of praying and reading the word, I made a commitment to God, a life-time commitment, I made my decision. I told the Lord “ I choose YOU GOD, I rather earn crowns and be useful for Your kingdom, even if only one person gets saved than earning recognition, money, popularity here in this world, I love You and I choose You. Take me, use me, mold me, I want to be your vessel and I want to pursue You and I desire to be the woman You have created me to be”!!!  I have to tell you, is the second best decision I have ever made in my life. I said second because the first one was giving my life to Christ. Anyhow I took an offer I had at the bank, not knowing if I was going to like it because literally was completely different from what I had studied and worked for but I was willing to do what I had to do. To be honest I was scare of the job, I was intimidated but of course God like always came to the rescue and less than the expected I loved my new job, especially the work hours, they were perfect for the ministry. I was truly blessed.

About a year and half ago, God placed the desire in my heart to build a website to minister women using FASHION!! To help women of all ages to find their Identity in Christ, to really know their value and to learn about the true beauty that is precious to the Lord. He gave me this scripture 1 Peter 3:4 “You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God”  WOW I was overwhelmed yet didn’t know how to get it done nor what to do with this TRUTH. Days after the perfect quote came to mind, which I wrote that day, I knew it was God, “A beautiful face and a gorgeous attitude are the best accessories of a woman and a pure and sincere heart is her greatest outfit". – Than I knew God was going to do something GREAT, when and how??! No idea…

Last year around this time actually, March 2012 I made another decision that changed my life for the best, it was a very hard decision. God was leading me out of North Los Angeles, the church I served the Lord for 4 years and gave so much and grew so much. I loved the people, the youth but I knew God was leading me to something else. I was scared but I had the assurance that was God’s voice calling me to San Diego and I wanted to be obedient, so I packed, arranged everything and moved, it was bitter-sweet. I didn’t want to say good bye to wonderful people I loved but at the same time I was excited to follow God’s voice and see what He had next. Two months later I was praying to the Lord to show me what was next, that I knew there was a specific reason why He had brought me here, and yeah soon enough I met with a wonderful missionary woman of God, who I had met 5 years ago through an outreach week, Bonni Wilson!! Not knowing the surprise the Lord had for me =D!! Bonni introduced me to YWAM. If you have read my other blogs, ya know how I got there!!

On one of the YWAM conference is where I met Jessica Hover. The Holy Spirit guided me to introduce myself to her and share the vision God had given me over a year ago. I was frozen and little scare but I didn’t want to miss out just because of what I was feeling, I knew that if God was directing me to talk to her, was because He had something great in mind, and He sure had =)))!!! I was nervous, excited and more nervous lol.. so here Lizbeth is introducing herself and sharing the vision God gave her about true beauty hahaha I really thought in my mind “Jessica might think I am little kuku (crazy)” but to my surprise she didn't think that at all, in fact she invited me to the Fashion Week Los Angeles Outreach on March!!! And said that was so glad I spoke to her and that it was definitely God, to pursue what God had placed in my heart!! WOW didn't have words to describe how I felt that moment. God always knows best and wants best for us!! I am currently working on this project that later I will write a blog about it with more details.

(La Vibiana L.A, where the Fashion Show will take place <3)

Now here I am 5 months later, sitting on the air-mattress at the place where I will be staying for fashion week. I was warmly welcome by amazing Jessica and amazing people from the L.A YWAM base! I will be working Monday the 11^th to Friday the 15^th! I will write a blog of this week next weekend!!  Please keep us in your prayers, may the Lord use us in a mighty way to bring His love and word. Many get intimidated to introduce the gospel to high-end people, but we have chosen to be brave and love them and just with our testimony and love earn this industry for Christ!

Just to finish, this is a good time to share with ya’ll, that I will be a full-time missionary starting September. DTS was just the beginning and I had no idea of where God was going to take me next =D!! Just let God lead your life and He will take you to places you wouldn't imagine.

Blessings,

Lizbeth <3