God’s Heart for Us

Hello everyone! my name is Immari Stanley (hello friends and family, especially mom and dad who are so excited to see this). i am a first timer this year in Guatemala, and it was a rollercoaster to get here. when i heard about it last year, i had never taken trip without my parents, i wasn’t interested in missions, and i did not want to go somewhere with people i didn’t “know”. boy did God change all of those things, and he started with my heart, without going into detail i had so many circumstances that required maturity, and for me, as well as my faith, to “age up”. he worked on the places in my heart i hadn’t realized were stuck. so through the first six months he made me able to be open to the idea of Guatemala, and by the time the first meeting came the enemy was at it again. this time through something much harder for me, as i struggled to see the right thing. for those of you who know me, i am a daughter, i love, love, love my parents. and i am quick to listen to their judgment, however God was showing me its okay to get the feelings and opinions of others, but it cannot influence immari, regardless of how hard it is, and so it was time to step into the first part of being a woman, and so mrs. Laura, our trip “mom” pressed Will (my bestfriend/boyfriend), to press me, and he did. and God provided, i asked him, “if this is for me, make a way”, and he did. so that is how i got here, and i came with expectation of worship, as the lord had shown me last week, he said to me i will give you your own song, and i didn’t tell anyone. the next day i worshipped and it was spontaneous and beautiful, and only now am i realizing that God said that, for this Monday night. i was in a counseling station during the day, and i felt insignificant, i wasn’t prepared, and it seemed like i just couldn’t tap into what God usually does with me, but i was so happy others were doing well, yet i left the town slightly discouraged, not in God, but in me. what did i do wrong? i made a mistake, i shouldn’t have come, i don’t belong here, etc. the enemy took my slight discouragement and attempted to beat me over the head with it, because i AM joining with God. i am walking in HIS WILL, and the enemy hates that. so i got back and chose to spend some alone time with God to see what HE says about me. i took out my little pink notebook and a pen, and God moved. i had written songs before, but i never liked them, i never was excited, i never felt like they were “good”, the issue was that Immari was writing the songs, and she wasn’t letting God. and when she let God, it was perfect. the Holy spirit read my heart and wrote down words to express, and to relate others. we came down to share all God had done, and i was delighted to hear all the amazing things God had said, and then was nudged to share as well, and so as i just did with you, i shared my discouragement and told of how God used worship to re-affirm, i needn’t worry because i was doing what he intended for me.  and so i was ready to sit down, and was asked to share the song, which made me nervous-at first. but then God took it all over, let me know it was him, and before i knew it, i was done, and God had given me peace. the song was not only for me, but for someone else who was helped and touched by me being vulnerable, and a specific lyric of the song was, “spirit fall fresh”, and it spoke to them, as they told me they are in that point in their walk. they gave me a big bear hug, and it brought tears to my eyes because if God does nothing else, if he brought me here to do just that, i am content. God allowed me to be apart of the effecting someone so deeply that it caused commotion in their heart, and stirred good things up, God things. The Holy Spirit took me and my situation of attack from the enemy, and made it and attack on satan’s attacks. and its amazing because that is so God! so for those who have made it this far, thank you so much! you have heard my heart, and for that i am grateful. i write this to tell you, that God does things every where, even if its not in our expectations, and sometimes when it is? he exceeds them. even if it isn’t what we have in mind. thank you for your prayers, for your love and support, and for your trust in God. We love you all so much, and we pray you have the sweetest dreams! goodnight everyone!