Posted in G42 by Theresa Duffy on 5/7/2012
Hola from
Mijas! This has
been the hardest blog yet for me to write, because I don't know the
right words to use!
I need
help.
G42
Leadership Academy is the launching pad of my ministry, but really of
my life. It is building a solid Biblical foundation in my life. The
transformation is dramatic; I get it. I really get it. The
authority, the unconditional love, the GRACE, new covenant realities.
My
ultimate goal is to work with woman & children rescued from sex
trafficking in Mumbai (hopefully with Bombay Teen Challenge). G42 is
equipping me with everything to make that goal a reality.
I need help
with the hear & now.
I need to
support raise $4,000 by June 1st to cover the rest of
tuition, a flight home (anyone have flyer miles they'd want to
donate?!), and living expenses.
I have a
job lined up for when I get home this summer, and in the fall I'll be
attending St. Elizabeth's College of Nursing! Way excited for the
future.
My support
account is: http://www.gofundme.com/dhlf0 Many blessings, thanks & love, Theresa
How cool is this! all sand!!
My friend Bethany & I at the overlook by our house.
Dave teaching up a storm!
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Posted in G42 by Theresa Duffy on 3/10/2012
Soul's Food*
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone. To have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But to a Christian, God says no. Not until you're satisfied and fulfilled and content, unreservedly to me alone. I do love you my child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me, exclusive of any other desires or longings. 
I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction of knowing that I am. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait. Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things that others have gotten or that I've given them. Don't look around at the things that you think you want. Just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you.
And when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any would ever dream of. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, until you are both satisfied exclusively with me and the life I have planned for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and thus is perfect love. I am working even this minute, to have both of you ready at the same time. And dear child, I want you to have the most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your own relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection that I offer you with Myself. Know that I love you. I am almighty God. Believe and be satisfied.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
* I found Soul's Food hanging on our refrigerator at our ministry in Thailand.
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Posted in G42 by Theresa Duffy on 1/29/2012
hike that overlooks Mijas
My street
Beautiful Old Church
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Posted in G42 by Theresa Duffy on 1/27/2012
I want a Hobby Lobby Life.
I want a beautiful house decorated for each Holiday. I want cute clothes, a Nissan Pathfinder, and to not think about how much food the cost of my Starbucks Peppermint Mocha could provide third world families with.
I want to not know. Not care. Not think about what Sarah from Nepal would do if she saw an automated hand towel dispenser. Not think about the dying woman I held in my arms in Tanzania while her 10 yr old daughter was feet away. Not get angry at the fact that SHE WAS DYING ON A HOSPITAL FLOOR.
Except I do. I crave cute clothes. More than anything right now. But their price tags? uuggghh A $20 shirt!?! that could feed, school & provide medical treatment for a child for a month.
I want to not care about ignoring the whisper, 'there's more, and you know it' Except I do. Because this love, it wrecked me. This grace, it gave me freedom.
And now that I know, I am responsible. I will stand before God and he will ask me, What did you do with all I gave you?
It could have been me you know. I could have been born to a family so desperate for money they sold me to a brothel. But I was born into an amazing family. Raised with love. Given a future.
My heart, it hurts. Like, physically hurts. For the children being sold into slavery. For the teens, & the adults. Who are beat, starved, abused, given drugs, and forced into sex 9-10 times a day with people they don't know. For the men & woman who run brothels. For those that buy the children. My heart hurts.
I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
It is not okay with me that RIGHT NOW as I type this there are children being sold, trafficked, locked in cages, starved, drugged up & beat up to have sex. Because to me, a 6 year old should be worried about learning how to ride a bicycle, not about how many men they will have to serve tonight.
I'm going to do something about it.
Long Term Goal: Rescuing woman from red light district of Mumbai, India. Specifically: getting all the children in school & providing jobs for the woman.
Dude, I have no idea how to do that.
Short term: going back to the States to work and pay off all student loans. (^me when I pay off all my loans!)
The last hoorah, the FINAL knotch on my belt. From January - June 2012. I'm in Mijas, Spain right now. Getting my world rocked. International teachers. Learning entrepreneurial business skills with intense spiritual mentoring to build my life, business & ministry on. International networking. Developing business plans to make my dream of opening a shelter/school/business in Mumbai a REALITY.
To stay here, I have to support raise. Which is really hard for me.I have put ALL my personal funds into my G42 account. yet still need to raise $7,000 Covers tuition/housing/living expenses
I would love the opportunity to continue my G42 learning. So I can rescue children. And while here, I am working under organizations like MATTOO and the Genesis Academy for Christian Entrepreneurs.
Want to partner with me? Prayer & Faith: on earth as it is in Heaven.
or make checks payable to G42 ('Theresa Duffy' on memo line) and mail to: G42 P.O. Box 130611 Houston, TX 77219-0611
Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU.
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Posted in General Posts by Theresa Duffy on 10/19/2011
Wow, how do I even begin to say THANK YOU
Thank YOU for your support, your prayers, your financial donations, your encouraging blog comments & e-mails, the fundraisers, your patience with skype phone calls when half of it was 'can you hear me now?'
Thank You for everything.
Thank you for investing in me and partnering with me as I traveled to 19 different countries, took 22 plane rides, played with the orphans in Nepal, loved the men & woman on Bangla Road in Thailand, built a church in India, feed the homeless in Malaysia, worked at an English camp in Ukraine, preached in Kenya, taught English classes in Cambodia, worked with the physically disabled in Tanzania, jail ministry in the Philippines, and so much more.
There are so many stories of adventure, crazy travel days, the healings, the miracles and lives transformed that I would love to share with you.
This Saturday, October 22nd at 6 PM I will be hosting a World Race Testimony Night at Southside Alliance Church in Elmira, NY.
If you are in the Elmira area and can come, I would love to see you! Come hear the stories & see pictures and fun souvenirs bought back from the trip (child care will be provided for the little ones :).
I'll be traveling near the holidays to meet up with family & friends to see them & share stories, so if you want to get together send me an e-mail at tduffy10@elmira.edu I would love to see you!
Love, Theresa
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Posted in General Posts by Theresa Duffy on 9/13/2011
September 13, 2010 Today I will board 4 different planes that will take me from Albany, New York to Manila, Philippines. I am saying good bye to family, friends, comfort, personal space, familiarity and embracing this incredible journey around the world with people I don't know that well yet.
Look among the nations and see, wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. Habakkuk 1:5
A work...
REDEEMED
Building friendships with my English students in Cambodia and watching their eyes light up with joy as they carry a conversation with "a real American!"
Watching unknown prejudices surface and be destroyed with love while serving the homeless in Malaysia.
Realizing I have more in common with woman who work the bars that I ever could have imagined.
Despite the genocide, seeing the hope that is pulsing through Rwanda with this generation.
Reaching the end of my ability to love and stepping into God's endless ability and discovering the joy in children who live on the streets.
Seeing God perform miracles on the streets of Tanzania.
Learning from children at the orphanage in Nepal what living in community really looks like.
Seeing God do so many miracles and work in so many ways in India I am left completely speechless and humbled.
Jumping on a trampoline with an 11 year old Romanian girl while she told me about last night's Hannah Montana episode and the new Justin Bieber poster she just hung in her room. You would hardly be able to guess her story that brought her to the children's home.
Doing a complete "Ask the Lord" month in Ukraine and watching God provide housing, transportation and countless ministry opportunities.
September 13, 2011 Today I'm looking at the pictures around my office in awe of the journey I have taken. I get a text message from a teammate and smile, knowing that even though we aren't living together anymore we aRe still connected. My calendar is quickly filling up with youth ministry events and tonight I'm having dinner with new friends, and I smile knowing this next season of life is going to be absolutely incredible.
Team United at training camp. July 2010.
Team United at final debrief. July 2011.
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Posted in General Posts by Theresa Duffy on 9/6/2011
What do I pack for the Race?
You're going on the Race! Sweet
I wish I'd taken these blogs seriously and actually believed what alumni racers were suggesting. Please note this is my opinion and every route is different, this is just what I would recommend.
Gear
Backpack: I had a Kelty 4750 Coyote and loved it. Although I'd totally go with a rolling suitcase (you're laughing now, by the end of the Race you'll be saying the same thing)
Get a good day pack, but the larger it is the more junk you tend to carry, so be practical.
Airporter! Get one!! It will save your backpack's life. 
Sleeping Pad: I went with the Big Agnes. Great, but kinda felt like an overpaid pool raft. If I did it all over again, I'd HIGHLY recommend the Therm-a-Rest ProLite. (make sure to get a repair kit just in case).
Sleeping Bag: one that compresses small & is comfortable. do not stress about getting sub zero or anything like that. I had a polyester slumberjack one and loved it. one of my teammate's sent his home month 1 and was fine the entire race without one. a lot of people used a sleeping bag liner ( http://www.rei.com/product/695429/sea-to-summit-silk-travel-sleeping-bag-liner-traveler) way more than their actual sleeping bag. i bought a top bed sheet with me, used it 1 month.
Pillow: Compressible Therm-a-Rest Pillow is cash money.
Tent: oh tents. Used mine 2 weeks the entire year. Would have found a teammate at training camp and went halvies on one (beware teams will probably change at some point and then you'll have to figure something out). I got the Kelty Grand Mesa and loved it. 
Towl: I would go with the Sea to Summit Tek Towl. I got the MSR Quick Dry which worked well, but completely felt like a paper towel.  you do NOT need a water purifier. another item people sent home.
Stuff Sacks: I bought a bunch and packed everything in them, which made my life super easy and would highly recommend getting them. 
Electronics LABEL EVERYTHING especially ipod chords!
Had an Acer Netbook, loved it. Served me well. Netbooks (unless you have a Mac and want to do serious video editing on the Race) are the way to go. Bring a computer case.  Camera: had a Cannon SX 210. The best point and shoot out there with an incredible zoom which came in handy on our African Safari :) And has video camera. Get a good case for whatever camera you decide to bring. 
Speakers. Like these: one of the best things you'll bring. HIGHLY recommend. in fact, just go buy them (iHome).
ipod: your key to alone time on the race.
Adapters: a universal adapter works fine. You don't need a voltage converter. threw mine out half way because it was too heavy and never needed it. A lot of people used the Targus World Power Travel Adapter and loved it.
Clothing
Girls: dry fit capris. Go buy 2 pairs now, thank me later. I ended the race with none of the clothes I started with, they get gross fast. Don't go crazy with the REI Quick Dry clothing. You'll want your normal clothes. Pack a nice outfit for days off. Everyone differs with how many shirts/bottoms they'd bring. A week's worth of clothes and you'll be fine. Girl's make sure you have at least 1 skirt that goes to your knees; HIGHLY recommend a pair of leggings. Know that in countries with clothing rules, you'll be able to buy the local clothing (which fits the rules) and you'll probably get treated with more respect for adapting their culture (happened to us when we bought fabric wraps that went to our ankles in Tanzania).
Sweatshirt, rain jacket, sweat pants are a must.
Bring a package of underwear with you and do not open it until month 7. It'll be better than Christmas for you; you'll be this excited, promise. 
Shoes
Chacos. Loved mine. Not for everyone though (1 teammate sent her's home). Wear them at home before launch, if you wear them bring 'em. If not, save the weight.
Pair of Flip Flops: lived in 'em. Buy a legit sturdy pair that won't give out.
Sneakers: got the most use on my runs.
Randoms
Dry Shampoo. Save it for Africa, Nepal/India. Totally not necessary, but sure made things nicer. Headlamp, with change of batteries. Get a good one, this baby will save your life multiple times. Power surge WITH ipod charger on the side & you'll be the cool kid in the neighborhood. Mosquito net: our contacts provided them in every country it was needed.
Bug Spray, bring a bottle with you.
Sharpies
Multipurpose tool
I bought colored paper & markers month 3 and got a TON of use out of them. Highly recommend.
Passport photos: use this website. Looks sketch but it's not. Cheap, fast and reliable :)
A pair of work gloves wouldn't be a bad idea, but not totally necessary.
Clothes line and clothes pins. Worth their weight in gold.
One girl bought a hair straightener with her and all I'm gonna say is, we loved her for it.
watch with a light & alarm.
external hard drive is a good idea, but not necessary. would definitely bring a thumb drive, especially if you are team leader, fiance, or logistics.
toiletries: bring one of each and know that you can get everything overseas. The only thing I'd recommend is for girls to stock up on tampons (ESPECIALLY before going into Africa, Nepal or India).
ear plugs and an eye mask!! definite! can not tell you how grateful you will be for having those 2 items with you.
Books: Redeeming Love was a popular one on R Squad. Bring 1 or 2 and trade with people, and bring some lighthearted ones (Confessions of a Shopaholic, read during India and loved it). One of my favorite reads this year was The Happy Intercessor by Benni Johnson (cheesy title, but wicked good). Crazy Love by Francis Chan is legit.
Monopoly Deal game cards. R Squad favorite.
Medicine:
Cipro & Amoxyclin. Make sure you have a few rounds of this before leaving home.
I took Doxy for malaria.
Would highly recommend vitamins (took Centrum One a Day). 
Bring the basic tylenol, advil type of stuff, and know that you can get some really great drugs at pharmacies overseas for like 10 cents.
While overseas buy a round of flagyl and take it after India (kills whatever cipro doesn't).
Could Medicine. Figured I'd get all these funky weird diseases (didn't) and bought meds for that, and none for colds (which I got twice). Pack some NyQuil.
Most helpful thing I could tell you: When I sent out support letters, I included a page that said, "if you'd rather support me through a gift, I am in need of the following" and listed gear needed. I did not pay for a single piece of gear for my trip. My friend registered at REI and did a gear shower before going.
Sharpie your name on everything!!
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at tduffy10@elmira.edu :) I'd love to answer them!
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Posted in General Posts by Theresa Duffy on 7/24/2011
by Theresa Duffy & Jordan Wheeler
Throughout the year we've been bombarded by the constant presence of beggars. From newborns to grandparents, we've been approached thousands of times in every country we've been to. We've been asked for money for tuition, food, water, drugs, cigarettes, even our watches.
The first four months of our Race challenged our patience and tested our grace towards those begging. By the time we arrived in Africa and became the immediate daily target of the poor, we developed a conditioned response of a bold, "no!"
As we've progressed through the world and the months have gone by, one thing sticks out in my mind. It's not the woman holding the baby in my face as I try to walk by, it's not the teenager relentlessly tugging at my shirt and repeating the same foreign words over and over that catches my eye; it's the small child silently standing in the background holding a ball.
When that child approaches and asks the simple question, "do you want to play?" we tend to drop everything at that moment and play.
Isn't that like us and our Father?
How much of our conversations with our Father are centered around us asking and telling Him what we need?
Are we tugging God's shirt or are we holding out our football with eager eyes?
Our Father is happy to give us all we ask for, but perhaps what we really need is to spend an afternoon playing catch.
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Posted in General Posts by Theresa Duffy on 7/23/2011
I've tried for months to write this blog. I've watched the cursor blink on the empty word document, trying to come up with the words to tell this story. My story. A way too personal, raw, real, story of a journey within a journey.
For 9 months I lived in places that didn't have mirrors. The only mirror was the one inside my makeup compact. God took away my ability to see myself through my own eyes. Every once in a while we'd spend a night or two at a hotel where we'd see an actual reflection and God would allow me a glimpse of the transformation that was occurring.
I never really knew I had this problem. I was always pretty self confident. I always thought of myself as beautiful and while I had a positive outlook towards myself, I still saw others as more..... whatever. More beautiful, more talented, more likely to have the desired boyfriend, more fun to be around... Comparison beneath the skin.
I didn't even know I was doing it, and I definitely had no idea how much it was affecting my relationships. Month 5 debrief Michael Hindes talked with us about breaking out of prisons. Mine? Spirit of Comparison. Who was I comparing myself to - one of the people I am closest to on the Race. Talk about crazy.
One late night in Kenya, sitting in the kitchen pantry (only private spot we could find in a house with 12 people!) two of my teammates asked me questions that forced me to do some deep soul searching. 4 months of soul searching to be exact.
That night in Kenya God spoke to me in a dream. He showed me people from high school and said to me, "how you see yourself has affected the relationships you've had with others."
2 weeks later and I'm in a van with my team headed to a hostel in Nairobi for a few days. As African flat lands and far distant mountains romance my eyes, my heart is praying about why I keep thinking back to Thailand bar ministry. I think these insecurities were always there deep down, Thailand just brought them out. Why God? Because you ministered to men your age that month. And you had this feeling of competing with the woman around you. Feeling like you had to compete with what you were offering them verses what they were seeing in front of them in the moment. Woah, okay God. Days go by and all I can do is pray. God break me of this spirit of comparison.
Month 8: Nepal. One night we're talking about relationships and someone says something to me to which I respond, "Actually, I've never had a boyfriend." And my next thought is, "because you're not beautiful enough." I sat there shocked and filled with sadness that I could even think that about myself.
Month 9: India. 6 am runs everyday (I'm training for a half marathon!). We've got about a 1/2 mile left of the run and I think, "I need some motivation to keep running." "Keep running so you'll lose weight and become beautiful." "No, I don't need to lose weight. I'm already beautiful." I realize what's just happened and I almost break into a joyful dance right there. Instead of reacting to a lie with sadness, I immediately reacted with truth.
For so long I'd seen myself as beautiful, but always compared myself to other people. That I was beautiful but not beautiful enough. That I was funny but not funny enough. That I was whatever but not whatever enough.
God took away my mirrors and took away my ability to see myself through human eyes. And in doing so, He has lead me on an incredible journey. Where in serving others, in loving in the hardest places, I have learned to not only unconditionally love others but to unconditionally love myself. Truth that's not just something that I've read a million times, words I've spoken a million times, but a truth so real it pulses with the blood through my veins. Who I am as a reflection of God's heart on Earth: beautiful, precious, valued, strong, princess, beloved, graceful, fearfully & wonderfully made, wonderful, chosen, compassionate, redeemed, daughter.
Month 10: Romania. Living in a house with a full length mirror. And I love the reflection.
What's the one thing we do before leaving the house - check the mirror one more time. What if instead of asking ourselves "do I look good" we were asking God "how am I" before leaving. Before walking into the world we check ourselves in front of the Father.
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Posted in General Posts by Theresa Duffy on 7/23/2011
One of the biggest (and most pleasant!) surprises about the World Race is the community of other missionaries we have met along the way.
My team & I have been insanely blessed with people who have taken us in, loved us, fed us, and laughed at our sometimes barbaric ways. There was Andrew & Abby, my teammate's friends from Florida who are serving in Kenya as long term missionaries. There were the doctors from Nepal on the short term mission trip who gave us tons of free stuff. And there have been tons of random other people we've run into along the way.
Meet Ellen & Todd:
With a passion for Mexican food on par with my passion for black tea & all things minty flavored, my teammates Heidi & Jordan spent an afternoon navigating the hectic streets of Kathmandu for a Mexican restaurant we got word of. Alas, they arrived at the Lazy Gringo - an Arizonian Mexican Restaurant co owed by Ellen & Todd. This amazing couple has been serving in Nepal for over 10 years in the restaurant business, hair salon business, and volunteering at refugee camps.
Ellen & Todd quickly became our mom & dad of Nepal: having us over to their house many, many times for homemade dinners, fixing our computers, letting us use their laundry machine & take hot showers. They took us to church with them, they showed us around Kathmandu, but most importantly they opened up their home to 4 strangers who they called their kids by the end of the month. They loved us, spent time with us, and encouraged us. Fun Fact: Ellen & Todd are moving to Mongolia in 2012 to serve as missionaries there!
Meet Andy & Monica:
Andy & Monica moved to Ukraine on June 29th. A week later we met them at the English Bible Camp. One day during lunch Andy spoke the magic words to us, "so, Monica and I were wondering if you guys would like to move in with us." We were looking for a place to go after camp, and their apartment sounded amazing! We've been able to spend the rest of the month at an incredibly beautiful house. They have 3 adorable kids who are a ton of fun to play with, and they all put up with our crazy birthday shenanigans & happy dancing at the sight of wifi and a washing machine. Join us praying for this family as they learn the Russian language and begin to build the discipleship school they came here for.
Thank you to all the families and people we have met along the way that have had us over for dinner, that have showed us around town, that have loved us and welcomed us into their homes.
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