Hey guys,
I pray you have all been doing well this month! March was a busy month for me, but it was a great opportunity for me to work on learning how to balance my studies with social responsibilities and relationships. I am by nature a very driven person, so it can be all too easy for me to hyper-focus and become completely obsessed with my end goal. I found it really tempting to hide at a café and spend 10 hours per day 7 days a week just doing school and getting ahead with homework. I still put in a lot of time and got plenty far ahead, but I also spent valuable time with my family, friends and doing ministry with my home church.
I did complete a couple of courses but I also started a whole bunch of new ones. One of the courses that I started at the beginning of March was all about money management and learning life-long financial responsibility. I had taken courses on money and resource management before, but this one was especially statistics-based and logistical. At first the course felt a little stiff, but it didn't take long for me to realize just how practical the lessons were, and interesting! I learned a lot about being a good steward of what God entrusts to us, using resources wisely, and being frugal.
I also really enjoyed Easter this March. I love Easter because it is all about Jesus dying for us, then raising up from the grave, conquering death and sin and making a way for us to spend eternity with Him. Along with the hope it brings, it is also incredibly encouraging to me, reminding me that challenges may get in my way, but with God nothing is impossible.
You may remember that I mentioned previously that one of my teammates took a break from Chazak to get married. This April I got to go to his wedding with the rest of my team. Our former teammate, the groom, was very considerate, planning the date of his wedding around our insane Chazak schedule so that we could all make it and providing us with a place to stay And then it was back to training the next day! For the next bit, our training focuses heavily on survival and rescue. We've been sleeping outside a lot lately and earned our FUNSAR and NASAR II certifications. Other upcoming subjects include: navigation, Bible, finances and leadership in a business setting. Now that home-study is officially over I will miss seeing my family but I am also excited to be back with my team.
I do have one large current need to discuss I have not yet fully paid for this semester of Chazak and there is still another semester left this year. I have been praying diligently, and I believe with all of my heart that this is where God wants me to be, but I lack the finances to continue the program. The Chazak leadership has been extremely helpful and patient with me, and they have given me an extension so that I can continue my training for now, but I need to pay for my current semester by the end of April. Every time I pray I feel God telling me that He called me here for a reason and that I need to trust Him. I am doing my very best to trust Him through all of this, but I also know that I cannot do this alone. Honestly, I hate asking for financial help, but I would really appreciate you praying about supporting me. If I am unable to come up with the funds, I will have to postpone my training until I have worked and earned enough to continue, which would also mean having to start over with a different team. I am so bonded with this team which looks out for me and challenges me to grow; I can't imagine continuing without them!
My specific needs are $3,000 by the end of April and $5,000 by the end of May to pay for the final semester of this year.
That is my biggest practical need right now, but I also need prayer that God will give me wisdom on how to proceed and strength to do what He has called me to.
Thank you all so much, I have really appreciated all of the support, prayer, and encouragement you all have given me, it means the world to me. I look forward to telling you all about the training in April.
If anyone has any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to contact me at this email and I will do my best to give a timely answer. I look forward to hearing from you, have a blessed week!
If you would like to send me a one-time gift or partner with me financially on a monthly basis you can do so by sending your gift to me directly via Paypal at this link:
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ermyandmila
Or you can make a tax deductible donation at borderlandsinternational.org. Just be sure to note “Mila Sanchez” when given the option to add a note. To go that route just follow this link:
https://give.cornerstone.cc/lovestrainingground