Patience
Life is always full of trials and tribulations, but how we handle them reveals our true character. For Lizzy, she showed she had tremendous patience.
God was able to reward her many times over because of her faith. She choose to be wise and built her house on the rock, not sand.
Chief Editor~ Ricky Jean
Alessandra: Tell me about yourself.
Lizzy: I’m twenty one years old. I’m a disciple. I’ve been a disciple for a little bit over a year now, and I am currently being sent out on my first mission team. I’m super excited to start making disciples. It’s a new transition for me, so I can’t say much else. It’s a lot of new changes. I’ll say that.
Alessandra: Where did you grow up?
Lizzy: I grew up in Texas. In a town an hour and a half away now. It’s Grand Prairie, TX. I lived there my entire life. My parents moved there from Mexico in the 90’s; and they had me and my brothers there.
Alessandra: Are you working and/or going to school?
Lizzy: I’m currently not in school, but I am working for the church. I’m a new Intern this year for the church! I’m very excited. It’s crazy because I get to do what I love every single day. It’s a good dream job, it feels like a blessing. I get to be a disciple everyday.
Alessandra: What are some of your hobbies or something you would consider unique about yourself?
Lizzy: I did start a small business after I got baptized. I really like painting, doing things with clay (like earrings), and when I was younger– like in elementary school…I would draw a lot, and I would design different outfits. I like drawing portraits, then I started painting portraits in college. I’ve had a few clients and different work. I’ve made stickers for different college students, like Texas A&M, Texas State, and Talcum State University.
I work based off of what design they are looking for and I create the designs. I either handpick them or do the graphic designs.
Alessandra: Tell me how you were met/invited to church?
Lizzy: Three years ago a sister met me on campus. I was walking back from the gym, and I would always have the same routine. I always came back around 12pm from the gym, and she stopped me and invited me to a bible talk discussion. I think at that point it conflicted with my schedule. I also wasn’t very active in my relationship with God. I was very lukewarm. I didn’t have a lot of discipline in my relationship with God.
I wasn’t really going to church as much, or even reading my Bible outside of church. I even struggled with feeling connected to God; which is weird for me because I went to the same church for like twenty something years. I was like “How could I be religious and not feel close to God?” She could see that, and decided for us to do a Bible study instead. So the first thing that we did was work with my schedule.
I like learning. I never had the opportunity to ever do a Bible study, or even learn from people around my age. I went to Women’s Midweek at the Dallas Fort Worth International Christian Church, and for me it was like culture shock. Just seeing so many young people and women worshiping God, and being in that environment. It wasn’t something I was used to growing up in my church. I wasn’t around a lot of young people, or around a lot of women really.
It was cool to see how everyone was family. I was eighteen when I started, but I didn’t make any effort. I wasn’t pushing for a relationship with God. I thought that I would still have time later in life to form a relationship. I was very lukewarm. The sister who reached out to me ended up falling away when I was three months old spiritually. But she always kept up with me. Even when I wasn’t studying the Bible. Even when I wasn’t interested.
I was living an hour away and then Covid happened. I wasn’t willing to make much of an effort, especially when it came to driving. She still kept up with me. She would text me during holidays to check in with me and see how I was doing. I saw her as someone that was very caring. It was something I didn’t see very often. During covid one of my goals was to go after my relationship with God.
I learned how to do Quiet Times from when I studied the Bible in 2019. In 2021 I reached out to her again. Her name is Norcissa. I told her how I was trying to be more consistent, but I was struggling. So she invited me to do the studies again. I was a little scared because I thought “Oh, it’s been a little while since I’ve done a Bible study. Go easy on me please.” So we did them. At that time I was so grateful because the leadership had changed in the church.
The Chavez’s came, and Tyler & Tahlia Jongsma came at that point. I had never met them before back in 2019. They were still in San Francisco; I met Tahlia, I met Alejandra, etc. I did Bible studies with them. It was different seeing new people in my life, because I was like “Well this isn’t who I was used to seeing.”
It was hard to give my heart at First. I was closed off. But once I opened myself up to the scriptures, and started trusting them to lead me and teach me; I ended up pushing through really making the decision to commit to all the Bible studies. And to learn. I had spent so much time outside the Kingdom I didn’t want to waste this opportunity to commit to God. I didn’t want to let that go to waste.
Alessandra: How has your relationship with God changed after getting baptized?
Lizzy: I grew up religious. I thought reading the Bible on your own time wasn’t necessary. I was like “ Who does that? That’s extra.” But now I see the need to be spiritually fit and healthy. You need to spiritually fill yourself up with the Word everyday. Praying everyday. I see him as a father that loves me, a father that cares for me. For me it wasn’t enough to just discipline me, and teach me, but to also encourage me.
Prior to becoming a disciple in the DFWICC I only had a fear of God. I didn’t have a love for him. Now my relationship feels loving and encouraging. I’m just very appreciative of this change, and now I have a better understanding of it.
Allessandra: What is something that has helped strengthen your love for God?
Lizzy: Continuously counting the cost and going back to the cross– anytime I feel like I took a big hit, or everything becomes too much to handle. My first year as a disciple I experienced physical loss with family members passing away. I’ve experienced a lot of changes since, and it does get very hard and difficult, especially emotionally. Plus on top of that I moved three times in a year.
It does get hard but I have to remember why I’m still doing this. That means counting the cost again. It means studying the cross again, and understanding my purpose. This is what has helped me the most to keep on going.
Alessandra: Which Bible story or book relates to you the most and why?
Lizzy: Rebecca from Genesis 24. When Abraham’s servant was going to find a wife for his son Isaac, he sent his servant out. The servant had to pray so specifically to God, that he would make his journey successful, so he could find the right person to marry Isaac. He’s very specific in his prayer and that taught me to be very specific; but God answers his prayer before he is even done praying. And it’s Rebecca.
Her family was very religious. Just like my family is very religious. When they met the servant they knew it was from God. They were like “Yes, we’re going to let her go with you, to this foreign land to marry this person. Even though they never met before.” It made sense to them. They saw God and how his hand was evident in this situation.
But then the next day when the servant wanted to go, the family changed their mind. They said “Well let her stay ten more days with us.” They wanted to prolong her call; and for myself I’ve always been very close with my family. When I was called to move into a household it was difficult. But I needed to understand this is what I had to do in order to grow spiritually.
In Genesis 24, the servant and Rebecca’s family asked her, “What do you want to do?” Her response was “I will go.” It’s very simple. And for herself she had a lot of courage, boldness, and confidence. She submitted to God’s calling for her, and for myself that’s something that I feel like God had me do multiple times. Whether it’s moving three times in a year or helping plant a campus ministry.
It’s continuous submission to God and seeing his hand and how it’s working. In whatever situation he has me in my life. Whatever new event he’s putting me through.
Alessandra: What do you love about the Kingdom?
Lizzy: I love the friendships here in the DFWICC. I love being able to have a lot of brothers and sisters. I only grew up having two brothers. Coming into the Kingdom we’re with each other all the time; we help each other out. Whether it’s like late night study sessions, or like that time I blew out a tire and a brother was there right away to help me out, or if it’s a sister that wants to make food with me or encourage me.
I really do value the friendships and relationships, because it goes beyond a superficial shallow relationship. This is actually the church, it’s the body, we suffer together. When someone is suffering I remember actually feeling that in my heart for the first time. I’ve experience relationships like this before. So I really do appreciate that.
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