Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 11/9/2011
These past 10 and some odd months, on the World Race, have stretched me in various ways and have forced me to wear many hats. Some have been hilarious, some mediocre, and others challenging like you don't even know! Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, My World Race Resume:
Optometrist
Pediatrician
Muralist/Artist
Masonry Worker
Retaining Wall/Slope Designer (Civil Engineering! What what!!)
Brick Maker
Construction Worker
Evangelist
Au Pair
English Teacher
Math Tutor
Party Coordinator
Professional Hitch-hiker
Finance Manager
Housekeeper
Fisherwoman
Surfing Instructor
Costume Designer
Makeup Artist
Hairdresser
Farmer/Horticulturist
Sheep Wrangler
Painter
Baker
Travel Agent
Spider/Frog Exterminator
Fruit Connoisseur
Well Inspector
The opposite of a Horse Whisperer
Child-development Specialist
Preacher
Chef
Personal Shopper
Shrink
Water Pump Engineer
Skincare Specialist
Security Guard
Banker
Prayer warrior
Foreign Currency Exchanger
Landfill Trash Sorter
Septic Tank Constructor
Digger
Manicurist
Personal Trainer
Seamstress
Food Critic/Guinea Pig (I ate an actual guinea pig)
Ice Cream Delivery Woman
Nurse
Professional Tent Setter-Upper
Peanut Schuker
Interior Decorator
Singer/Musician
Blogger (barely)
Jewelery Maker
Entrepreneur
Geography Teacher
Dancer
Thespian
Assistant Butcher
Pizza Maker
Muse
Photographer/Paparazzi
Beachcomber
Bible/Sunday School /VBS Teacher
Trekker/Hiker/Explorer
Student (of everything! Languages, culture, yoga, more about God, the bible, patience grace, etc.)
Interpreter
Interpreter to the Interpreter
Coffee Researcher (Researcher should be read "Addict")
Dishwasher
Florist
Re-modeler
Mentor
Mentee
Spelunker
Waitress/Food Distributor
Documenter
Biologist
Climber
Personal Assistant
Plumber
Swim Instructor
Activities Coordinator
Tour Guide
Cow Whisperer
Anthropologist
Confidant
Detective
Chaperone
Lab Rat
Snake Handler
Inventor
Pharmacist
Athlete/Soccer Player
Pillow (to many sleepy munchkins)
American Cultural Awareness Liaison to Foreign Children (Mainly in the form of Sesame Street, celebrating American holidays and Pizzokies.)
Taxi Cab Driver
Secretary
Missionary
Christian
Welp, that sums up my year. If I forgot anything, I will be sure to let you know.
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." -James 2:26
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." -1 Peter 4:10
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." 1 Corinthians 10:24
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching let him teach; if it is encouraging let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." -Romans 12:6-8
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" -Acts 20:35
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -Ephesians 2:10
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 6/15/2011
PTL, in fact, stands for Praise The Lord! And I have a praise report: I am fully funded!!! Yes, folks, no more dinero needed for my pretty little face to travel the world for Jesus. HOWEVER, there are a few people that are in need of some ends. If you feel lead to help out other world racers in need of funding, please visit the following profiles:
A special thanks to everyone that has been supporting me emotionally, spiritually and financially! And to Dave Paddison for his interpretation of PTL; Jesus loves you, man! =)
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 3/27/2011
This clearly hasn't been my month. Third day into being in Peru, my allergies kicked in, full force, complete with loogies, all day, every day. Drinking the "filtered" water was a bad idea and trying the guinea pig, though delicious, wasn't so kind... so much so that between nausea boughts, diaherrea, and vomitting, I laid on the cool, tile floor, hoping the forces twisting my intestines would eventually tire. Surfing produced a nice shiner on my left eye and then theres the lovely lice epidemic of 2011, the epidemic consisting of me and two others. Though its been no picnic, I have to choose joy and live this month enjoying what I can because I will never have this opportunity again. Grant it, one day I may come back to visit (or for future missionary work), but all the possibilities of growth are here and now, if I want them to be. All I have to do is choose joy.
AnD nOw FoR tHiS pUbLiC sErViCe AnNoUnCeMeNt.....HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So two of my teammates are in danger of going home... Meet Lamar Anderson and Denise Bavone.... http://lamaranderson.theworldrace.org/ and http://denisebavone.theworldrace.org/ , respectively.......Lamar is about $3,000 short and Denise is about $1,000 short of the DEADLINE THIS COMING WEEK, APRIL 1, 2011 for the $10,000 mark. Please please please spread the word, drop some change, light a few candles and pray! Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
P.P.S. Peter Cheang has awesome spiking skills in volleyball, to the point that he almost took out his own teammates.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 2/5/2011
The last saturday in the DR, I was bit on the face by a mosquito. Apparently the area next to my eye has great nutritional value and it swole up, quasi-moto style. Maybe that's a bit of a gross exaggeration, but it felt that way and made me feel a bit self-conscious. My right eye puffed up just enough so there wasn't a crow's feet in sight; great, instant botox, just what I always wanted. NOT. I'm about to turn 31 this June, and though I do think I have a wrinkle or two around the eyes, I feel more like a kid than anything. A five-year-old kid, to be exact. My energy levels are usually pretty high, as well as my love for exploring, shiny objects and climbing on things. I've never considered botox, but the month in the DR did bring out my issue with vanity. Aside from looking like I had been sucker punched in the face, my farmer's tan, inability to shave and lack of cute clothes has definitely been a struggle for me. My response to myself is always "It's okay, when I get home in 11 months, I'll go to the tanning bed and have all the skinny jeans I darn well please." Really? This is a HORRIBLE attitude to have! I'm not loved back home for a little black dress and golden tan. And that definitely wasn't the case in the DR. I learnt how to love myself for who I genuiely am and not what I look like, what I wear, or who I associate myself with. This was demonstrated through a beautiful grandma named Pura. Pura in english means Pure, and that's exactly how she loved me (and the rest of my team.) We had nothing to offer her, some of my team didn't speak spanish, we weren't dressed to the nines, but all she wanted to do was love us, hairy-legs, uneven tans and all. Though I do believe this is how I love others, this is definitely not how I love myself. I don't see myself beautiful when I'm two-toned and haven't had a pedicure. Pura demonstrated love to me in the way that God is constantly demonstrating His love for me; unconditional. He doesn't care what I look like, what I'm wearing or how well groomed my hair is. He loves me because I am valuable to Him. He knows every hair on my head, even the tangled ones.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 12/31/2010
I spent the afternoon, today, on the pier, talking to the surfers, but they couldn't hear me. It was more like I was talking to myself, really. "Take it! Take the wave! No! Not yet! Paddle, paddle, paddle!!! YESSSSS!!!!! Sweeeeet!!!!" Essentially, I was cheerleader, trying to direct and encourage the surfers, so stoked when they caught a wave and bummed when they wiped out. But they couldn't hear me. (Though at some point I shreeked loud enough to freak out one of them.) I realized, on the way home, how I just mimicked a nano-increment of what God does for me every single day of my life. He's constantly watching me, directing my steps, encouraging me, but the majority of the time, I'm floating around, not listening or unable to hear. And the moment I'm perfectly still, not huffing and puffing around, I can hear Him say "This is it! Go! Now!!!!!!...Right on, kid! Good job!" And when I don't listen, and I screw up, he's bummed, but still trying to direct me to catch the next great wave. God is my cheerleader, complete with pom poms in the form of friends, fam, rainbows, butterflies, hummingbirds, stingrays and mango mousse. The fact that He loves me so much and choose me before I was born, blows my mind! That I don't see myself as a saint, but He only sees my identity in Himself is so intense!!! Thank you for the cross, Jesus!! Thank you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqw1R1lBpR8&feature=related
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 12/26/2010
I've been thinking about possible fundraisers and the latest and greatest idea isn't too original, but I'm hoping it works.......Shave my head. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and considering I still need a few things, and there's fees to be paid at airports, why not? I mean, if the shaving does happen, I wouldn't have to worry about conditioner or lice. So my plan is to set up two accounts, one for the shaving, and one against it, and see which pot gets the most dinero. By January 3, 2011, at 11:59pm, I'll tally up the last of the donations and see whether or not I would have to shave my head, G.I. Jane style. What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? Start emailing people about the fundraiser? Let me know what you think. THANKS!!!
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 12/21/2010
...not in my arm!!! Today was "Vaccination Day", where I received a lovely round of tetnus/typhoid/yellow fever/hep A shots, and have yet to feel any of the side effects, with the exception of being a little loopier than usual. I marched up to the counter, post-pricking, and proceeded to spill out the contents of a donation jar, gifted to me by some of my closest friends, decorated with quirky,love-filled messages and flags from all 11 countries. Though the receptionist wasn't as ecstatic as I was about counting quarters, I melted knowing how much I am loved and cared for by so many. The days leading up to the second deadline were a nerve-racking, emotional rollercoaster, filled with words of encouragement, scripture, and a few good slaps in the face to get a hold of myself. God has blessed me with such a great network of family and friends, which have supported me immensely, financially, spiritually and emotionally. If you're reading this, THANK YOU!!!!
P.S. An update on my fundraising: I currently have a bit over $6,400 in my fundraising account, leaving me with only $7,900 to fundraise. I'm almost half-way there!!! Thank you Jesus!! THank you to EVERYONE that supported me!!!!! Soooooo awesome!!! =)
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 12/9/2010
Ok, so here's the breakdown...
I have to raise a total of $14,300.00 for my mission trip, and so far I only have $2,000.00. I met my first deadline of $1,000.00 for training camp, back in October, and now am fast approaching my second deadline, of $5,000 by December 15, 2010, to secure my airfare to the first destination. That means I need to raise $3,000 between now and December 15, 2010. Can you PLEASE help me???
This trip is my life's passion, where I'll be able to travel through the world, learning from other people, experiences and being able to reach out to others in love, compassion and grace. I want to be able to live at an orphanage, comfort a crying child and read them "Goldilocks & The Three Bears". I want to help a woman remember all the right reasons she's going through rehab and encourage her through her strife. I want to teach English to a little girl that has been pulled out of the human-trafficking industry and calm her feelings of being used. I want to be the hands and feet of Christ. Can you please help me???
If you would like to support me, please either:
click the "Support me!" tab on the left
-OR-
Please mail your tax-deductible contribution to:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Please write your check to Adventures In Missions, with my name, Rosa Cruz, in the memo.
For more information on my trip, please visit my blog at rosacruz.theworldrace.org. Please email me at ojosdgitana@hotmail.com or call me with any questions 714-222-7830.
Thank you for considering me!!
Rosa
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 12/2/2010
Starving sucks. I decided that I needed to fast for 72 hours, and pray against the spiritual warfare I feel I've been going through and for what we will face during our 11 month trip. Well, I only made it the first 48 hours before I passed out. Two days into it, I was sitting at bible study/small group feeling chills, my heart racing, my temperature started to rise and drop and I thought all the churning acid in my stomach was going to cause me to vomit. Throw in the feeling of everything moving ever so slightly, and I do say that I was about to pass out. For two days straight I survived on water and water alone; no food, no smoothies, no liquid diet. Just water. This was my choice, I was able to choose this fast and abstain from food. 24 hours was okay, felt a little hungry, drank alot of water, went to bed hungry. 48 hours, my stomach acid was making me feel sick all day, the nausea was horrible and the wanting to pass out wasn't fun at all. Now, how about the kids that do this on a daily basis, involuntarily? The families we're going to encounter that only eat maybe three times a week because that's all they can afford. The moms that don't find other means of putting food on the table, other than through prostitution? These are the people I'm going on this trip for. These are the people I want to help. These are the people I want to show God's love to and improve their quality of life by whatever means necessary. And these are definitely the people we should start praying for now, and asking God how we can bring them that love through tangible means. What an honor.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Rosa Cruz on 12/1/2010
(letter I wrote to myself & God, last night, at an epic prayer meeting....)
Give & it shall be given.
You want blessings, bless others.
Sow seeds, plant love, provisions, faith.
Don't look at your own heart, but Christ's heart. Go after Christ's heart.
Don't believe the debt, don't believe the lies, don't believe the heartache.
Believe that Christ has plans for you.
Believe that Christ loves you.
Believe that Christ has better ideas than you do.
Believe that He will carry you through.
Believe He is the best companion, the best lover, the best all.
Believe that He is your identity and that all you need is HIm.
Thank you Lord for your strength.
Thank you Lord for your blessings.
Thank you Lord for you love.
Thank you for your blessings.
Thank you for the challenges.
Thank you for the molding of me.
Thank you for gutting me of myself and filling me with you.
I love you.
(Scripture used during this moment: Jeremiah 29:11-13)
| |
|
Next 10 Articles >>
|
|
|
