You may have heard that I recently returned from the World Race which is a 9 month mission trip serving in 4 different countries. For my first 2 months, I was at a disabled school called Camp Hope in Ecuador where we helped the ladies feed, change, walk, massage, physical and sensory therapy for the kids and orphans who had cerebral palsy. Month 3 we were in Peru, we had four different ministries; one of the ministries we were located in the garbage dump and we did VBS and played floor ball 2x a week. Another was our woman’s bible study group that we did Monday nights. We had a sports ministry where we got to go sand dunning and play with the kids on the playground. We also had another VBS after school program. In Guatemala we had 2 classes a day where we taught English, art, a bible story and a sports day. During our 2 hour break for lunch we went around in the village and did house visits. This was by far my favourite because we got to go into people homes and hear their struggles and pray with them. In Cambodia I got to work in the hospital and my team also volunteered at a coffee shop. It was definitely a life-changing year both interpersonally and within the communities I was serving in.
Now, an incredible opportunity has opened up for me to continue this amazing journey through a program called CGA – the Center for Global Action, which is Adventures in Missions discipleship training school. I will be moving to Georgia in August to grow deeper in my relationship with God, develop further as a leader, and take the next step towards learning more about how to disciple people in Canada.
Around Christmas time I was starting to think of going back to school after the race, but I didn’t have a lot of peace about it. I was in/still am in a place of growth and wanting to be pushed more in my faith and I didn’t feel like going back to school was a good option for me yet. When I heard of this program I could do after the race, I just knew that that was what I was going to be doing next. Every time I thought about school or anything else after my mind always found its way back to CGA. Something happens when we dethrone comfort, consumerism, and contentment in our lives. Freedom, intimacy, and celebration are the gifts received when the true King takes His rightful place. However, His greatest gift of all is a heart to know Him. “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” (Jer. 24:7) And with that, the lies and the walls I’d built up in my heart regarding His character began tumbling down. He tenderly invited me to see who He was, and slowly in the process I became more aware of who I was as a result. He gave me eyes to find Kingdom on earth. Through CGA I will be digging deeper into my roots and breaking down my walls and learning how to empower myself better and then how to empower others to do the same. I want to learn how to foster a culture and atmosphere of worship and be a safe vessel where people feel comfortable to rest and be their true self.
Presently, I am very excited where God is leading me with CGA. I know it will be hard and difficult but the fruit that will come out will be so worth it. I believe you will be encouraged to hear what God is doing through the ministry and how you can partner with me to share the Gospel through prayer and financial support. It would be my privilege to visit or call with you and share more about the ministry vision and the journey God has been leading me on. If you would like to chat, below is my email and phone number and I would be more than happy to set up a time that we can meet together.
Blessings,
Ella Sitzler
(587)888-5257
