Shalom friends,
My heart is heavy with sadness as this week was the last week for community outreach in the garden and teaching ESL. :`( This week I've been tearful and trying to finish strong, however, it's hard. Besides being sad that I'll be leaving soon, I've been struggling with thoughts that has me be anxious and somewhat panic concerning home life and college. These thoughts have been a distraction in that I'm questioning how I'll get work, spending time with my family, paying my semester bill, wondering if I'll be able to go back to school, and getting internship requirement done in time (book reading and papers) in less than a month. I've been learning to surrender in faith that God is sovereign and he is the provider. All I need to do is trust which is a constant reminder to myself because I'm a simple minded human being. I think I've said enough distressful stuff about myself, now onto the week's events that have happened.
On Saturday, we welcomed our last STM team and we are treasuring every moment with them. It's been a joy to have STMs because they truly do bring a heart for God and a willingness to serve. I love being able to interact with many of the STMs because I learn so much from them and receive their enthusiasm and excitement to experience a mission life. Their passion overflows and transfers in me to become more passionate for God and what he is going to do. I love seeing them experience the culture and the people because they remind me of me when I first met the refugees and they just give me that excitement and amazement again. I love the refugees even more because of that.
This week I had a chance to experience a Burmese house church that was amazing. Even though I did not understand the language, there was something about being gathered as a body of Christ and worshipping him. I didn't even think of the difference in culture but worshipped along. The presence of God was truly evident. The scene and thought I had was this is a bit of heaven because God is an ethnic God who created people groups and different languages. This experience gave me a glimpse of what heaven is going to look, sound, and feel like. I was over joyed at God allowing me to experience this opportunity.
Then Mon through Thurs we did our garden outreach and ESL which was so good, even though I knew it would be the last. It was good to see and visit my Nepali and Burmese family in the morning and on Thurs. telling them good-bye was hard because seeing their faces just put a sadness on my heart. It's difficult to leave and I realized that living a missionary life is hard and there will be good-byes but the memories, experiences, and new friends make it worth being a missionary. I had the opportunity to pray for Bloom (Nepali) and Mary Lin and Elizabeth (Burmese) which was great because the Spirit led and I know that it was an impact on their lives that is going to last forever. Then, Morgan and I took our ESL student out for frozen yogurt and shopping on our last day of ESL. We wanted her to have fun and just hang out together and I'm glad we did that for her. I had an opportunity to visit with another Nepali family with Jake and Morgan and it was a relaxing and enjoyable time. We got to pray with them before we left and I know that us pouring into their lives has been a big impact on them.
It truly has been an amazing, incredible, and God led experience for me. Every day I'm blessed to have chosen GFM as my internship because I never thought I'd love being in a team, leading STM, visiting refugees, and trying new foods and putting myself out there. God has truly given me a heart for missions and serving him with everything I have. My prayer that I hope to continue is being a leader and initiating in different situations and opportunities. I want to be more outgoing and be adventurous because I have seen how fun I have just doing it. I want to thank you all for supporting me in prayer and through financial giving. Truly, I could not have done this without God and without your willingness to support me. May God bless you as you continue to serve Him. Blessings to you all.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Nearing the end of the journey
Shalom friends,
This past week has been a bit different in that three of the four days I was in the community and teaching ESL. It has been difficult for me because I have been going through a lot of thoughts and just feeling a sense of lost. It's hard to describe and even if I tried I would not make sense. However, it was good to spend time with the refugees and being able to connect more. On July 4th, I had an amazing time celebrating the holiday in the garden with the refugees and eating more international foods and just getting to know people. It was so neat to see everyone gather and hang out. It was probably the best 4th I ever had and then continuing the celebration with my team was the cherry on top. ;)
For the past two weeks, Morgan and I have been teaching English to a 17 year old Congo girl, who is very bright. We had the opportunity to bake cookies with her, which was fun. Then we had the chance to do some singing with her and I'm excited to continue the singing and be able to just connect with her that way.
On Thursday, my team and I went camping, which was my first time. So here are some new things that I experienced: pitching a tent and sleeping in it, swimming in the lake at night, cooking over the fire with pots and pans, and tubing down the river. I'm not an over venturous girl but it was so much fun and I loved spending every moment of it with my team. I felt like I was growing closer and closer to them. They mean so much to me and truly team building, relating, and bonding has definitely changed my perspective as to how a team interacts with each other.
Some prayer requests:
This past week has been a bit different in that three of the four days I was in the community and teaching ESL. It has been difficult for me because I have been going through a lot of thoughts and just feeling a sense of lost. It's hard to describe and even if I tried I would not make sense. However, it was good to spend time with the refugees and being able to connect more. On July 4th, I had an amazing time celebrating the holiday in the garden with the refugees and eating more international foods and just getting to know people. It was so neat to see everyone gather and hang out. It was probably the best 4th I ever had and then continuing the celebration with my team was the cherry on top. ;)
For the past two weeks, Morgan and I have been teaching English to a 17 year old Congo girl, who is very bright. We had the opportunity to bake cookies with her, which was fun. Then we had the chance to do some singing with her and I'm excited to continue the singing and be able to just connect with her that way.
On Thursday, my team and I went camping, which was my first time. So here are some new things that I experienced: pitching a tent and sleeping in it, swimming in the lake at night, cooking over the fire with pots and pans, and tubing down the river. I'm not an over venturous girl but it was so much fun and I loved spending every moment of it with my team. I felt like I was growing closer and closer to them. They mean so much to me and truly team building, relating, and bonding has definitely changed my perspective as to how a team interacts with each other.
Some prayer requests:
- Being okay to cry and show emotion as I say good-bye to my refugee families
- Truly making the best of every opportunity and finishing strong with the short termers and with each other
- Safe travels back home on July 22
Friday, July 4, 2014
Celebrate everyday for it's a gift from God
Shalom friends,
This week has been amazing for God is truly working through lives of the refugees and even through my team. I'm so blessed by my team and the STM team because there is a heart for community and growth for God's kingdom to come. I can't emphasize enough the power of God this week. God has brought opportunities for my team to grow and become better leaders for our STM team and with each other. In the garden, we have led Discovery Bible Studies which God's presence was evident and the testimonies shared about God's faithfulness and sovereignty were amazing. I'm always encouraged by them, and I find myself processing God's character and sovereignty through every story that is told. If I could give a statement to describe this week, it would be: team effort through God's sovereigns hand. Truly God has been noticed and adored through everything we have done. I just give him praise, honor, glory, and credit for providing teaching moments.
I have a few highlights that I want to share with you. First, the joy I had to exercise my leadership ability and walk with confidence that God was going to bring opportunities for me and my team to learn. God had placed on my heart to visit this young girl I had met a week ago and I looked forward to knowing her more. When my team and I arrived at her home, I found out they are Hindu (pray for them) but she was a Believer. We met her three sisters, her father, and her grandmother, as well as their care giver. It was awkward at first, but we began to ask questions about their life and if they like being in America. The oldest girl, who I connected easily, did not like America as much as Nepal. She asked questions about God and if dragons were real. They had been watching a TV show that had fairies, magic, and mystical creatures, which I noticed an influence in these girls lives (pray for more of a yearning for God). These girls are so precious but needing a mentor in their lives to help them grow and mature in their walk with God. Their father, mother, and grandmother are Hindu but they are slightly open to Christianity. Their father is very kind, hospitable, and easy to talk to. There is such respect and honor within this family and they have in some ways "adopted" my team as part of their family. I mean God's hand in that is incredible!!! Sadly they are moving at the end of July to Ohio (pray for safety and people willing to hel them to move) for a job opportunity and to live with the father's brother. My hope and desire is to keep in touch with this family. The oldest girl wants me to come and live with them. =) (Since I live in PA I'm a bit close to Ohio) Don't worry I'm not moving ;) .
The other highlight of my week is truly trusting God and KNOWING his sovereignty in my life as well as my team's life. I was in a minor car accident and through it I had complete peace and truly felt God's arms around me. He comforted me as I was hurting and he comforted the Jessee family. I can truly say that God has given me an increase of faith and courage to trust him through any life happenings. I was frightened, shaken, and in awe of how precious life is and knowing that I have no control in my life or in the lives of others. No doubt that God is more than able to save and protect and have a purpose through this blows my mind and I'm just standing in complete joy that he cares for me. I serve an amazing God and please get to know him more because he cares for you too. My prayer is for ALL to know God and experience is glory and love the way I do. You will find yourself loving him more and more when he does something extravagant in your life.
Some prayer requests:
This week has been amazing for God is truly working through lives of the refugees and even through my team. I'm so blessed by my team and the STM team because there is a heart for community and growth for God's kingdom to come. I can't emphasize enough the power of God this week. God has brought opportunities for my team to grow and become better leaders for our STM team and with each other. In the garden, we have led Discovery Bible Studies which God's presence was evident and the testimonies shared about God's faithfulness and sovereignty were amazing. I'm always encouraged by them, and I find myself processing God's character and sovereignty through every story that is told. If I could give a statement to describe this week, it would be: team effort through God's sovereigns hand. Truly God has been noticed and adored through everything we have done. I just give him praise, honor, glory, and credit for providing teaching moments.
I have a few highlights that I want to share with you. First, the joy I had to exercise my leadership ability and walk with confidence that God was going to bring opportunities for me and my team to learn. God had placed on my heart to visit this young girl I had met a week ago and I looked forward to knowing her more. When my team and I arrived at her home, I found out they are Hindu (pray for them) but she was a Believer. We met her three sisters, her father, and her grandmother, as well as their care giver. It was awkward at first, but we began to ask questions about their life and if they like being in America. The oldest girl, who I connected easily, did not like America as much as Nepal. She asked questions about God and if dragons were real. They had been watching a TV show that had fairies, magic, and mystical creatures, which I noticed an influence in these girls lives (pray for more of a yearning for God). These girls are so precious but needing a mentor in their lives to help them grow and mature in their walk with God. Their father, mother, and grandmother are Hindu but they are slightly open to Christianity. Their father is very kind, hospitable, and easy to talk to. There is such respect and honor within this family and they have in some ways "adopted" my team as part of their family. I mean God's hand in that is incredible!!! Sadly they are moving at the end of July to Ohio (pray for safety and people willing to hel them to move) for a job opportunity and to live with the father's brother. My hope and desire is to keep in touch with this family. The oldest girl wants me to come and live with them. =) (Since I live in PA I'm a bit close to Ohio) Don't worry I'm not moving ;) .
The other highlight of my week is truly trusting God and KNOWING his sovereignty in my life as well as my team's life. I was in a minor car accident and through it I had complete peace and truly felt God's arms around me. He comforted me as I was hurting and he comforted the Jessee family. I can truly say that God has given me an increase of faith and courage to trust him through any life happenings. I was frightened, shaken, and in awe of how precious life is and knowing that I have no control in my life or in the lives of others. No doubt that God is more than able to save and protect and have a purpose through this blows my mind and I'm just standing in complete joy that he cares for me. I serve an amazing God and please get to know him more because he cares for you too. My prayer is for ALL to know God and experience is glory and love the way I do. You will find yourself loving him more and more when he does something extravagant in your life.
Some prayer requests:
- The car accident plays in my mind over and over, just for God to heal that
- The Hindu family to accept Christ and for the girls to have a godly mentor in their lives
- Adjustment when going back home (July 22) and to learn to be content wherever I am
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