Fundraising.
7.31.2006
Today I checked my funds. I need at least 50% before I leave the country Sept. 4 and I have approximately $1,000 to date. People have begun asking how my fundraising is going and part of me was avoiding checking. If I didn't know, I wouldn't worry.
But this is a naive and unrealistic way to go about "trusting" God. I wasn't worried... Until I looked at it and thought about just how much $10,000 really is and how far I am from that.
"Do you trust Me?"
I have to.
One church down, 6 to go!
7.24.2006
(*whew!*)
This weekend I traveled to Waterloo, Iowa and spoke at the Nazarene Church. Speaking went really well, I was able to share my story during the offering and actually felt comfortable on stage and loved by the people listening. I hope that will continue as I visit other churches.
However, it was a very overwhelming weekend too. On top of being quite sleep deprived and exhausted from travel, I said goodbye to family and attempted to go through my old stuff and let go of some of the 16 years I spent there.
When my family left Iowa for missionary training in 2000, we didn't really know how to say good-bye, so 6 and a half years later I still haven't processed through it. But this was the weekend for it. What made it so hard was that no one I'd been in that house with was there to bounce off memories, good and bad, and talk through it. So I just cried. Hard. And hung on to Jesus for all I was worth.
Amazingly enough, He brought me through it. I walked around the neighborhood long enough to let my brain (being bombarded with emotion and memories) to quiet down and to actually let go and extend a "You are welcome in my old home" to the current residents there.
Part of going to the community at EuNC in Germany/Switzerland is anticipating God teaching me about openness and hospitality. It is almost inevitable as so many people (extention students, visitors, exchange students, etc.) walk on that campus from week to week. God has blessed that community with the ability to remain open and hospitable and I hope to grow in that openness myself. So this weekend was a reminder of that and a good thing as my moving on has begun.
Anticipating all of the change and good-byes yet to come makes me want to run and hide, but it is necessary to transitioning well. Pray that I will be able to do this with wisdom and as well as I can as God's grace goes before me!
This weekend I traveled to Waterloo, Iowa and spoke at the Nazarene Church. Speaking went really well, I was able to share my story during the offering and actually felt comfortable on stage and loved by the people listening. I hope that will continue as I visit other churches.
However, it was a very overwhelming weekend too. On top of being quite sleep deprived and exhausted from travel, I said goodbye to family and attempted to go through my old stuff and let go of some of the 16 years I spent there.
When my family left Iowa for missionary training in 2000, we didn't really know how to say good-bye, so 6 and a half years later I still haven't processed through it. But this was the weekend for it. What made it so hard was that no one I'd been in that house with was there to bounce off memories, good and bad, and talk through it. So I just cried. Hard. And hung on to Jesus for all I was worth.
Amazingly enough, He brought me through it. I walked around the neighborhood long enough to let my brain (being bombarded with emotion and memories) to quiet down and to actually let go and extend a "You are welcome in my old home" to the current residents there.
Part of going to the community at EuNC in Germany/Switzerland is anticipating God teaching me about openness and hospitality. It is almost inevitable as so many people (extention students, visitors, exchange students, etc.) walk on that campus from week to week. God has blessed that community with the ability to remain open and hospitable and I hope to grow in that openness myself. So this weekend was a reminder of that and a good thing as my moving on has begun.
Anticipating all of the change and good-byes yet to come makes me want to run and hide, but it is necessary to transitioning well. Pray that I will be able to do this with wisdom and as well as I can as God's grace goes before me!
a twist on my story...
7.13.2006
I find myself downsizing. Last Saturday it was a garage sale and next week I will store all but two suitcases and a carry-on full of essentials. (Essentials like clothes, shoes, pictures, and American peanut butter...) WOO HOO!
“Why?” you may ask.
This past May I planned a surprise post-graduation trip to see my dear friends at European Nazarene Bible College, where I studied fall of 2004. While the surprise was pulled off fabulously, there seemed to be another reason for my going there. I approached this with an open heart, realizing God had something for me there. The reunion and the reminder of the depth of His love would have been a great enough blessing, but He didn’t stop there.
My call to ministry has been a struggle ever since I named my two greatest passions. One is ministry/theology and the other is cross-cultural work. My experiences outside of the United States have shaped me, and a big part of my heart still beats internationally. But, I have never had peace about pursuing anything in that arena. Many friends and mentors kept telling me that God wanted to use my gifts and these passions, but I didn’t see Him doing that!
During my time in Europe, God pointed out that part of my heart and let me know that He did want to use all of me. He gave me back my heart along with the peace to pursue a position on the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene in Büsingen, Switzerland. Moreover, He has confirmed in many ways that this is where I need to be.
I’ve waited for over a year to be shown the next step! It has been a cycle of wondering, questioning, frustration, and experiencing rest only in the knowledge that I am safe in His hands. Truly, all I need to do is put my full weight on Him and jump into His arms – into the “God-space” as one of my best friends would say.
As of September 1, 2006, I will begin living and working for the church in Eurasia for at least the next year. Between now and then I am working part time, contacting churches and groups for fundraising (I’ll need $10,000/yr), and telling people my story. When I arrive in September, I will be the Southeastern Europe Communications Coordinator and help with print journalism in the new Eurasia Region Communications Center. The team of 6 (doing journalism, web design, recording, videography, and more) will join together to continue communicating what God is doing in the lives of people across Europe! I am excited to be a part of this God-adventure...
So, come along with me!
“Why?” you may ask.
This past May I planned a surprise post-graduation trip to see my dear friends at European Nazarene Bible College, where I studied fall of 2004. While the surprise was pulled off fabulously, there seemed to be another reason for my going there. I approached this with an open heart, realizing God had something for me there. The reunion and the reminder of the depth of His love would have been a great enough blessing, but He didn’t stop there.
My call to ministry has been a struggle ever since I named my two greatest passions. One is ministry/theology and the other is cross-cultural work. My experiences outside of the United States have shaped me, and a big part of my heart still beats internationally. But, I have never had peace about pursuing anything in that arena. Many friends and mentors kept telling me that God wanted to use my gifts and these passions, but I didn’t see Him doing that!
During my time in Europe, God pointed out that part of my heart and let me know that He did want to use all of me. He gave me back my heart along with the peace to pursue a position on the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene in Büsingen, Switzerland. Moreover, He has confirmed in many ways that this is where I need to be.
I’ve waited for over a year to be shown the next step! It has been a cycle of wondering, questioning, frustration, and experiencing rest only in the knowledge that I am safe in His hands. Truly, all I need to do is put my full weight on Him and jump into His arms – into the “God-space” as one of my best friends would say.
As of September 1, 2006, I will begin living and working for the church in Eurasia for at least the next year. Between now and then I am working part time, contacting churches and groups for fundraising (I’ll need $10,000/yr), and telling people my story. When I arrive in September, I will be the Southeastern Europe Communications Coordinator and help with print journalism in the new Eurasia Region Communications Center. The team of 6 (doing journalism, web design, recording, videography, and more) will join together to continue communicating what God is doing in the lives of people across Europe! I am excited to be a part of this God-adventure...
So, come along with me!
I promised myself I'd never blog.
I promised myself I'd never blog. Haha, it's funny the things that happen! But this is blogging for a different reason than just posting my random life on the internet ... I'm so glad to have you up on my life and it will make things SO much easier to communicate and keep up to date. Welcome!
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
~writer of Hebrews
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)