Lisa's Summer Adventure Journal #37

Hurricane Ernesto:

hurricane shutters, extra water, forecast watching .... rain, wind...

our first tropical storm, ooooo.

(so much for a Miami tan! haha, oh well. family is better.)

"coincidences"

I don't really believe in coincidences. No, I am convinced that God wants to work and show Himself in the details of our lives.

Take this last weekend for instance. Thursday night I all of a sudden realized that I was breaking out in hives and we concluded it was an allergic reaction (which I've never had a day in my life!). Unfortunately, I decided to "test" out the only new thing that I had eaten that day and on Friday night I found myself in the ER because the hives were back and worse than before.

Crazy that a few days earlier, I found out that Mary, the former missionary that I am staying with this month, had a speaking engagement scheduled for the same week. Oddly enough, we realized that we were both headed to Springfield, MO. Same weekend, same services, and the same hotel! (Coincidence? Not likely.)

After I was in the ER, they put me on some super drowsy medicine that I couldn't have driven 3 hours with ... but I didn't have to because Mary already was driving. So not only was I able to go because I had a ride, I had company and some encouragement over the weekend even though I really wasn't feeling well.

God is so good!! Putting that all together was COOL.

Funds Update #2

i called Mission Corps today and they gave me the update...

*drum roll*

officially, i have a little over $3,000 in my account.

That's not half, but two great things:

first, i have a church sending in what will bring me over half (!),

and they are about a week behind in finances at MC,

which means that more is enroute to my account.

Go God!! i have half. i can go Sept. 4!!

awesome.

"missionary"

The word "missionary" just has so many connotations in the church -- so I'm really resisting calling myself one. While, technically, it's true, I'm feel that it's just 'Lisa Koster acting out of who she is' rather than doing something outrageously great. Really, we are called to be like Christ wherever we go. So whether that makes us all missionaries or all just disciples, the distinction doesn't really matter. Still, I'm not sure why it bothers me... maybe I should let what is just be.

Speaking yesterday went so well. I got up early, travelled almost straight south to Baxter Springs, Kansas, and spoke at the Nazarene church there. As soon as I stepped into the building I felt comfortable and so welcomed. This tiny church has as many kids as adults (amazing!) and I was able to tell the kids about Haiti and then share in the service my story and what God has been doing in my life over the last few months.

Amazing thing #1: I had no anxiety.

Praise Jesus... the stress and anxiety has been high the last month and to feel comfortable was really foreign. I was actually afraid of feeling TOO confident ... but the night before I listened to one of my favorite Shaun Groves songs ("Jesus") and was really challenged to look at each one of these as Jesus. Speaking to Jesus isn't like speaking to a stranger... and these people weren't strangers. I loved every minute of it!

Amazing thing#2: I got to bless their kids.

Henri Nouwen talks about blessing people and I've never been given that chance before. But blessing their children before our Father fit so well with what I talked about -- God's place and plan for each of His children's lives and creating us all differently to fill places in the Kingdom. SO cool to pray for them specifically.

Amazing thing #3: I have a friend who picks locks.

Yeah, this is totally random (but those of you who know me aren't surprised...) but in the last 4 days I've locked my keys in the car TWICE. I don't have a spare, I don't have a Slim Jim, and I don't have $50 extra dollars to pay some kid to come out and unlock it in 2 seconds.

The first day, triple A helped. Today, I was stuck. So, I just got frustrated at myself. Where is my brain?! However, my dear friend got a hanger and tried to unlock my side door: no success. Then she tried the trunk and... POP! We were in!

Her words: "At least living on the streets does something for ya!" (ah haha!)

Thanks, God, for your funny blessings.

Story

My self, my ideas, my emotions, my will ... everything is being stretched this summer.

But this past Sunday I was blessed amidst the stretching. To have people who know you well bless you aloud is an incredible gift. To have people who don't know you affirm God's hand in your life is amazing. And then to be overwhelmed with encouragement, support, strength, and love from His body is almost too much for one Sunday.

Two churches and two talks in one day pushed me hard yesterday. I didn't realize how tense and exhausted I was until I was finished and heading back home.

But God was in it. I was able to share from my heart -- that has been my prayer. So often, in anxiety (some reasonable and some not) my mind starts imagining all of the bad things that could happen and then it is all I can do to keep calm.

Psalm 16:8 stuck out to me this week, so instead of going up to the platform alone and scared to death, I grabbed ahold of Truth and went with Him. "I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me."

Something that I keep noticing is how God uses my story. It hasn't been any life-changing response but just leaves people thinking. Even today a friend messaged me and told me that he was reminded and encouraged in his own life. In his own journey alongside God. And "Wow, that's encouraging" has been the response I keep hearing. (Yes, God, point us back to You!)

Interestingly enough, I read this last week in my devos and was really struck by what Henri Nouwen said about story:

"One of the remarkable qualities of the story is that it creates space. We can dwell in a story, walk around, find our own place. The story confronts but does not oppress; the story inspires but does not manipulate. The story invites us to an encounter, a dialog, a mutual sharing. A story that guides is a story that opens a door and offers us space in which to search and boundaries to help us find what we seek, but it does not tell us what to do or how to do it. The story brings us into touch with the vision and so guides us. Wiesel writes, 'God made man because he loves stories.' As long as we have stories to tell to each other there is hope. As long as we can remind each other of the lives of men and women in whom the love of God becomes manifest, there is a reason to move forward to new land in which new stories are hidden."

Hm.

Hope in the Church

"Hope is what this community must do because it is God's community invited to be in God's pilgrimage..."
~Walter Brueggemann

blessings...

I'm sitting here thinking about how many blessings have come my way this summer so far... let me list a few.

1. a consistent, well-paid, but temporary job

2. a good place to stay for a whole month in transition

3. so many chances to intentionally share what God is doing in my life and point to Him for it

4. a way to encourage people

5. the love and support of so many people

6. affirmation in community (Church)

7. good reasons to be VERY excited to go to Miami and see the fam. (the fam, the food, the sun, relaxing, packing finished, swimming, tanning, etc.)

8. the God-situation before me facing me daily and requiring trust.

(Why do I have a tendancy to focus on what's NOT exactly right? Oh, personalities. :-)

Hey, thanks God.