Sunday, July 10, 2011
Road Trip Reflection
The two weeks spent on the road were really lovely. It was a lot of time to myself, which I have learned is so important for my transition back to the states, especially this time with all the change that I have come home to. There was also a lot of time with people that I love. It was so special to get to catch up with people. To share stories of what my life has looked like the past four years. To hear stories of what God has done in the lives of others since we've been apart. The reverse culture shock was especially interesting this time because I was getting to see so many different parts of the U.S. from the Bible Belt to the Corn Husker State. In conclusion, America is a beautiful country full of beautiful people who are hurting and in need of freedom just as much as the poverty stricken people groups in third world cultures. My prayer for my time here in America is that I wouldn't lose sight of that, and that He would be able to use me here while I am here to be love to people around me.
The Mile High City!
The drive from Nebraska to Denver was pretty long. There's not a lot to see in between, so I was happy when I finally arrived in the Mile High City. Denver is one of my favorite places. It is so diverse and full of amazing places to eat and shop. The purpose of my visit, though, was to see Grandma Judy. The next day we went to breakfast and she took me shopping. It was a lovely day with my spoiling Grandma.
I also got to hang out with Alex, my sister Abby's fiance. He just recently moved to Colorado Springs for a PT job. Abby will be moving there after the wedding. We went and had some of the best Mexican food I've had since I've been home.
Worlds collided again when I got to have breakfast with Emily and Joel. I taught with the two of them in Indonesia. Joel is from Denver and Emily was there visiting him and his family. It was a great visit and nice to get to share some of the reverse culture shock experiences.
This was the last leg of my journey as I headed to Albuquerque, NM for the first sister wedding. The drive to Albuquerque was really long and not very pretty. I did get a chance to stop over at Focus on the Family as well as the city of Trinidad, CO which happens to be the sex change capital of America. (Never thought all of that would ever be in the same sentence)
I was so happy to make it to Albuquerque where I got to stay with more relatives: my dad's cousin Debbie Armerding and her husband Jonathan. It had been so long since the last time I saw them. We had a lovely Italian dinner and talked about our Asian travels. Their oldest son Cole was in China for the last year and they went to visit him in March. Emily arrived that night and so began the weddingness for the weekend.
I also got to hang out with Alex, my sister Abby's fiance. He just recently moved to Colorado Springs for a PT job. Abby will be moving there after the wedding. We went and had some of the best Mexican food I've had since I've been home.
Worlds collided again when I got to have breakfast with Emily and Joel. I taught with the two of them in Indonesia. Joel is from Denver and Emily was there visiting him and his family. It was a great visit and nice to get to share some of the reverse culture shock experiences.
This was the last leg of my journey as I headed to Albuquerque, NM for the first sister wedding. The drive to Albuquerque was really long and not very pretty. I did get a chance to stop over at Focus on the Family as well as the city of Trinidad, CO which happens to be the sex change capital of America. (Never thought all of that would ever be in the same sentence)
I was so happy to make it to Albuquerque where I got to stay with more relatives: my dad's cousin Debbie Armerding and her husband Jonathan. It had been so long since the last time I saw them. We had a lovely Italian dinner and talked about our Asian travels. Their oldest son Cole was in China for the last year and they went to visit him in March. Emily arrived that night and so began the weddingness for the weekend.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Prerequisite: Adventure
From Kansas City I was on my way to Broken Bow, Nebraska to see a bunch of family that I hadn't seen since I was a baby. The road trip had gone so smoothly so far; I should have known that I couldn't make it the whole way without some kind of Griswold adventure....
I had heard that I-29 was closed because of the Missouri River flooding, so when I plugged the address into the GPS I made sure that I wouldn't be taking I-29. Unfortunately, maps and directions aren't really my thing, so I didn't realize that I-435 and I-29 were the same thing. I found this out too late when I kept seeing the blinking road signs telling me that the interstate would close soon and I would need to take a detour. I assumed that taking their suggested detour would lead me to the right place, but it didn't. When I made it Maryville, I said a little prayer and plugged the address into the GPS again. It took me on a couple back roads and I was feeling good about it. That was until I came to another road closure. The country road I was on was closed due to a bridge being repaired. This was when I discovered the Detour button on the GPS. When I pressed it, it took me down a dirt road...that turned into a "dirt road" and then turned into something that I wasn't sure was even a road. In the middle of that thought I came upon a tractor that was making the dirt road I was on. At that point the adventure was still comical. Little did I know that it was only the beginning and that the detour button would end up being my best friend. A pretty good chunk of I-29 was closed which led to taking all kinds of backroads and me asking the question, "Where the heck am I?!" Finally, after about 2 hours of detours I finally made it to I-80 which would take me to Nebraska.
I was so happy to make it to Broken Bow safely and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. My mom had flown in the day before and we stayed in a Bed and Breakfast. It was a lovely place fit with themed bedrooms and lots of knick knacks. The room we stayed in was called the Angel Room. It was chock full o' angels including angel pull chains on the fan. The only channel available at the bed and breakfast was the Hallmark Channel so we enjoyed some Golden Girls and Frasier during our down time.
It was such a blessing to get to catch up with family. I am related to some pretty incredible people! The weekend was full of funny stories, good food and enjoying the great outdoors. It was also a relief to learn that my passion for coffee, introvertedness, and other quirks are genetic.
I hope that I get up to Nebraska again in the near future. Family is such a special thing. Despite some of the drama that comes with it, there's so much room for grace and unconditional love. I am truly blessed.
I had heard that I-29 was closed because of the Missouri River flooding, so when I plugged the address into the GPS I made sure that I wouldn't be taking I-29. Unfortunately, maps and directions aren't really my thing, so I didn't realize that I-435 and I-29 were the same thing. I found this out too late when I kept seeing the blinking road signs telling me that the interstate would close soon and I would need to take a detour. I assumed that taking their suggested detour would lead me to the right place, but it didn't. When I made it Maryville, I said a little prayer and plugged the address into the GPS again. It took me on a couple back roads and I was feeling good about it. That was until I came to another road closure. The country road I was on was closed due to a bridge being repaired. This was when I discovered the Detour button on the GPS. When I pressed it, it took me down a dirt road...that turned into a "dirt road" and then turned into something that I wasn't sure was even a road. In the middle of that thought I came upon a tractor that was making the dirt road I was on. At that point the adventure was still comical. Little did I know that it was only the beginning and that the detour button would end up being my best friend. A pretty good chunk of I-29 was closed which led to taking all kinds of backroads and me asking the question, "Where the heck am I?!" Finally, after about 2 hours of detours I finally made it to I-80 which would take me to Nebraska.
I was so happy to make it to Broken Bow safely and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. My mom had flown in the day before and we stayed in a Bed and Breakfast. It was a lovely place fit with themed bedrooms and lots of knick knacks. The room we stayed in was called the Angel Room. It was chock full o' angels including angel pull chains on the fan. The only channel available at the bed and breakfast was the Hallmark Channel so we enjoyed some Golden Girls and Frasier during our down time.
It was such a blessing to get to catch up with family. I am related to some pretty incredible people! The weekend was full of funny stories, good food and enjoying the great outdoors. It was also a relief to learn that my passion for coffee, introvertedness, and other quirks are genetic.
I hope that I get up to Nebraska again in the near future. Family is such a special thing. Despite some of the drama that comes with it, there's so much room for grace and unconditional love. I am truly blessed.
Good Ol' Missoura
The next leg of my journey took me to the great state of Missouri. First stop...St. Louis to see Sierra, my closest friend from Cottey College. She's doing some summer missions work with a church in St. Louis. It was a short visit, but, like always, we picked up right where we left off. We drove to the tiny town of Vandalia where I stayed that night. The last time I was in Vandalia was for Easter my second year at Cottey. Talk about a walk down memory lane. It was such a blessing to be able to reflect with Sierra about where the Lord has brought us. Neither of us are where we thought we'd be, but He has certainly done more than we could have imagined. Throughout my travels it's been incredible to recognize His provision of brothers and sisters in Christ who are a huge part of my support system.
The next day I drove to the other tiny town of Huntsville, Missouri to see my friend Aaron and his family. Aaron and I went to Indonesia at the same time. For three years, I heard all kinds of stories about this little town and its quirks, so it was so fun to get to see it all. His family is amazing and made me feel like part of the family immediately. There just aren't words to describe what it's like to meet someone from my Indonesia Life in America. Once again, though, it was as if no time had passed at all.
Memory lane continued when I headed to Kansas City to see a dear friend from my Cottey years. Kali and I were R.A.'s together, Spanish speakers and coffee lovers. She is married now with a cute one year old and another on the way. So, a lot has changed, but I thoroughly enjoyed sharing stories of God's provision and orchestration of where we are today. That night I stayed with her inlaws...one of the more random accomodations of my trip, but it turned out to be a divine appointment when I got to meet Kali's sister in law. She just got engaged, so we got to talk about wedding craziness and everything that comes with committing to someone and their family. I was able to be an encouragement to her and made a new friend in the process.
Going back to the places where I've been was a weird feeling. I couldn't help but think of that song by Sara Groves, "Painting Pictures of Egypt."
The places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned
My time in Missouri while I was going to Cottey was only the beginning of God preparing me for something big. I love looking back and seeing how He's continued to write my story further shaping my life into someone that portrays who He is.
The next day I drove to the other tiny town of Huntsville, Missouri to see my friend Aaron and his family. Aaron and I went to Indonesia at the same time. For three years, I heard all kinds of stories about this little town and its quirks, so it was so fun to get to see it all. His family is amazing and made me feel like part of the family immediately. There just aren't words to describe what it's like to meet someone from my Indonesia Life in America. Once again, though, it was as if no time had passed at all.
Memory lane continued when I headed to Kansas City to see a dear friend from my Cottey years. Kali and I were R.A.'s together, Spanish speakers and coffee lovers. She is married now with a cute one year old and another on the way. So, a lot has changed, but I thoroughly enjoyed sharing stories of God's provision and orchestration of where we are today. That night I stayed with her inlaws...one of the more random accomodations of my trip, but it turned out to be a divine appointment when I got to meet Kali's sister in law. She just got engaged, so we got to talk about wedding craziness and everything that comes with committing to someone and their family. I was able to be an encouragement to her and made a new friend in the process.
Going back to the places where I've been was a weird feeling. I couldn't help but think of that song by Sara Groves, "Painting Pictures of Egypt."
The places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned
My time in Missouri while I was going to Cottey was only the beginning of God preparing me for something big. I love looking back and seeing how He's continued to write my story further shaping my life into someone that portrays who He is.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Worlds Colliding Wedding Style
Worlds collided when I made it to Hampton, Georgia to see my good friend Billy who I met in Indonesia. He was taking language school in Bandung along with his friend Kyle when I met them in August and it was such a blessing to have them as friends this past year. Billy was an excellent host and I really enjoyed the city of Atlanta. I think it would be safe to say that in the top five priorities in Billy's life, Chick-fil-a and all that it encompasses has landed a spot somewhere in there. For eight months I was educated on the menu, history and other important facts of Chick-fil-a...it started in Atlanta, there are several different restaurants that are part of the company including a pizza restaurant, the Dwarf House, and Truett's. I was quite excited to finally get to try this thing that I had heard so much about. We went to Truett's the first night I was there and I thoroughly enjoyed my Spicy Chicken Sandwich. I was also thankful that the "Chick-fil-a expert" was with me, because there were far too many choices on that menu for me to make a decision on my own!
This whole road trip idea started when I decided that I wanted to honor my dear friend Bryn, the music teacher from BAIS, by going to his wedding on the 18th of June. This last year was a huge year of firsts for him including flying, teaching, riding a motorbike and getting engaged:) His wife, Courtney, will be teaching 3rd Grade next year at BAIS. They have a pretty spectacular story, and I am so excited for them and their next adventure. They got married in Cookeville, Tennessee, so Billy and I drove up there through some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. So, worlds collided once again when I got to see Bryn in his home state marry a dear sister in Christ who'll be experiencing her first year of teaching at BAIS in the fall. One of the coolest parts of the wedding was the Indonesian elements that they included. The bridesmaids, groomsmen, and Bryn wore Batik, which is the traditional style fabric used to make formal clothing. When Courtney walked down the aisle in her traditional while wedding dress, it was symbolic of her not only committing her life to love and serve alongside Bryn, but it was also symbolic of her committment to take that step of faith and go where God has called her...Indonesia. It was not only a wedding, but also a commissioning for them as they head to Indonesia. It was a privilege to get to sing a song in Indonesian for the commissioning portion of their wedding.
It's an incredible thing to see how God brings people into your life for a season and how brothers and sisters in Christ can become instant friends. I am truly blessed.
This whole road trip idea started when I decided that I wanted to honor my dear friend Bryn, the music teacher from BAIS, by going to his wedding on the 18th of June. This last year was a huge year of firsts for him including flying, teaching, riding a motorbike and getting engaged:) His wife, Courtney, will be teaching 3rd Grade next year at BAIS. They have a pretty spectacular story, and I am so excited for them and their next adventure. They got married in Cookeville, Tennessee, so Billy and I drove up there through some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. So, worlds collided once again when I got to see Bryn in his home state marry a dear sister in Christ who'll be experiencing her first year of teaching at BAIS in the fall. One of the coolest parts of the wedding was the Indonesian elements that they included. The bridesmaids, groomsmen, and Bryn wore Batik, which is the traditional style fabric used to make formal clothing. When Courtney walked down the aisle in her traditional while wedding dress, it was symbolic of her not only committing her life to love and serve alongside Bryn, but it was also symbolic of her committment to take that step of faith and go where God has called her...Indonesia. It was not only a wedding, but also a commissioning for them as they head to Indonesia. It was a privilege to get to sing a song in Indonesian for the commissioning portion of their wedding.
It's an incredible thing to see how God brings people into your life for a season and how brothers and sisters in Christ can become instant friends. I am truly blessed.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Sister Time in Texas and Some Culture Shock
The day began with one of my favorite things...Continental Breakfast! The coffee was less than mediocre, so I made a quick stop at Starbucks before getting on the road. I am using my parents GPS thing, which is the only reason that I have made it to any of the destinations. One of the drawbacks is that it chooses the route for you and it may not always be the shortest. It took me through some backroads to Tyler, which made it farther, but really pretty and very country:) I got to spend the evening with my sister Emily, who, since the last time I saw her a year ago, has graduated college, gotten a job, an apartment, a boyfriend and a ring on her left hand. Needless to say, it kind of felt like we were meeting each other for the first time. It was a lovely time of delicious food and lots of catching up. I am so proud of her and can't wait to be a part of her wedding in 16 days.
Some culture shock moments I have experienced include the size of American portions and important consumer items that I was not aware of. Emily took me to this amazing custard place in Tyler where we got enough ice cream to feed four people. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing...and I ate the whole thing! I went into a Walmart this morning and couldn't help but snap a picture of one of the items listed on one of the signs. So funny.
After all that ranting and raving about the stupid traffic in Indonesia, it was kind of humorous, but mostly annoying to be moving about four miles an hour on Interstate 20 in Louisiana for about an hour today. Ridiculous.
I did end up making it to Monroe, Louisiana where I stopped at the Biedenharn Museum. Joe Biedenharn was the guy who came up with the idea to put Coca Cola in glass bottles. His daughter Emy-Lou had a pretty impressive collection of Bibles and traveled around Europe for 11 years while she was an opera singer. I caught the very last tour of the day with a cute little old lady. It was really beautiful.
My trip ended up in Jackson, Mississippi...yep the same one from the Johnny Cash song. Mississippi is a great state. Very friendly. Driving across the Mississippi River was one of the highlights yesterday. I also couldn't help but think about my fifth graders as I drove through Vicksburg, MS. We had a good time during our Civil War Unit this year and Vicksburg was where a major Union Victory occurred.
Today I am headed to Hampton, Georgia to see my good friend Billy. I am anxiously anticipating all of the Chick-fil-a we will be eating. Billy is a Chick-fil-a connosieur and I am confident that he will introduce me to all things southern.
Some culture shock moments I have experienced include the size of American portions and important consumer items that I was not aware of. Emily took me to this amazing custard place in Tyler where we got enough ice cream to feed four people. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing...and I ate the whole thing! I went into a Walmart this morning and couldn't help but snap a picture of one of the items listed on one of the signs. So funny.
After all that ranting and raving about the stupid traffic in Indonesia, it was kind of humorous, but mostly annoying to be moving about four miles an hour on Interstate 20 in Louisiana for about an hour today. Ridiculous.
I did end up making it to Monroe, Louisiana where I stopped at the Biedenharn Museum. Joe Biedenharn was the guy who came up with the idea to put Coca Cola in glass bottles. His daughter Emy-Lou had a pretty impressive collection of Bibles and traveled around Europe for 11 years while she was an opera singer. I caught the very last tour of the day with a cute little old lady. It was really beautiful.
My trip ended up in Jackson, Mississippi...yep the same one from the Johnny Cash song. Mississippi is a great state. Very friendly. Driving across the Mississippi River was one of the highlights yesterday. I also couldn't help but think about my fifth graders as I drove through Vicksburg, MS. We had a good time during our Civil War Unit this year and Vicksburg was where a major Union Victory occurred.
Today I am headed to Hampton, Georgia to see my good friend Billy. I am anxiously anticipating all of the Chick-fil-a we will be eating. Billy is a Chick-fil-a connosieur and I am confident that he will introduce me to all things southern.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Let the Road Trippage Blogging Begin!
I must admit, this road trip is coming at a very good time. There's a lot going on here. A lot of good things that I couldn't be happier about. But, those amazing things combined with the craziness of reentering this country after shutting down the Indonesia chaper makes for a very large plate of transition that I certainly can't handle on my own. So, my prayer is that the next 17 days include some good food, good friends, words of Truth, and wisdom and clarity about what the next six months are going to look like.
Today was a super blessing. My mom and I drove from Flagstaff to Albuquerque together. The plan was to rent a car in Albuquerque since that's where the wedding is and where my road trip will end up in July. It was so cool to get to catch up with my mom and hear about how God's been using her.
Once in Albuquerque, I got to meet Kevin, my sister's fiance. He is in the Air Force and gave us a tour of the base which included getting to go into one of the training planes. It was pretty awesome, and I am happy to report that I completely approve:)
Once we picked up the car at the rental place, I was off to Amarillo. It's so weird to drive here. It didn't take too long to get used to driving on the correct side of the road. Every time there is a slow person in the left hand lane, it takes everything in me not to start honking at them...that doesn't really fly here in America. I also don't quite know how to handle all the open space...I miss the warungs, Tambalbans and bensin sellers. I do, however, LOVE that there's no traffic or potholes! I made it safely to Amarillo and got to see some cool things along the way, including these graffittied cars that are buried in the ground...crazy.
Today was a super blessing. My mom and I drove from Flagstaff to Albuquerque together. The plan was to rent a car in Albuquerque since that's where the wedding is and where my road trip will end up in July. It was so cool to get to catch up with my mom and hear about how God's been using her.
Once in Albuquerque, I got to meet Kevin, my sister's fiance. He is in the Air Force and gave us a tour of the base which included getting to go into one of the training planes. It was pretty awesome, and I am happy to report that I completely approve:)
Once we picked up the car at the rental place, I was off to Amarillo. It's so weird to drive here. It didn't take too long to get used to driving on the correct side of the road. Every time there is a slow person in the left hand lane, it takes everything in me not to start honking at them...that doesn't really fly here in America. I also don't quite know how to handle all the open space...I miss the warungs, Tambalbans and bensin sellers. I do, however, LOVE that there's no traffic or potholes! I made it safely to Amarillo and got to see some cool things along the way, including these graffittied cars that are buried in the ground...crazy. 
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
R.A.F.T.- ing
Well, there's nothing like a graduation to make you realize that the end really is near.
Wednesday afternoon was the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2011, oh how I love them! During my first year here when I taught this class P.E., even though they kind of drove me crazy, I thought it would be pretty awesome if I were able to stay long enough to see them graduate...and here I am watching them graduate and getting ready to say goodbye to this place along with them...On June 11th, I board a plane with a one-way ticket back to America.
I've been refusing to count down the days, but when it's down to single digits, there's just no denying it. The truth is, I don't know how to leave here, I don't know how to tell this place goodbye. I've been trying to be intentional with people and tackle the art of farewell in small bites, but it still feels like an overwhelming task.
At the very same time, I am filled with anticipation as I think about what the next year holds. Weddings, reunions, grocery stores with an abundance of cereal options, new friends, new adventures. Oh man, how does one manage all these emotions and looming changes?!
The answer: By His grace alone and with a little help from...a lovely model that I learned at our Pre-Field Orientation.
Join me as I build my RAFT...
R (reconcile)--As one who struggles with pride and justification, this is not something that I am very great at. Fortunately, since I first arrived I've been learning the beauty of speaking and receiving the truth in love and keeping short accounts with others in this community. Along the way, I've said to much, not said enough, offended, insulted and miscommunicated. One group that I will need to make sure to reconcile with are my beloved 5th graders. It's been a hard year and, especially in this last quarter, each Bible Class has felt like an intervention. In reconciling with them I want to make sure that they leave my class knowing that underneath all the lectures, mean teacher voice moments and minutes taken away from free time was a deep love and desire to see them become the young men and women God has created them to be.
While in the process of reconciliation, I realized there are some aspects of Indonesia that need reconciliation...
1. The Rain--I have a deep disdain for the rain in this country. It ruins my plans, my shoes, my hair and my ability to safely drive my motorbike. The other night, though, I went on a run and within 5 minutes it started to pour. There was nothing left to do but embrace it. I finished my run and then just stood in the rain soaking it in. In that moment, I do believe that rain and I reconciled.
2. Traffic--The closer I get to the end, the greater my hatred grows for the traffic in this town. In the last month, I have found myself literally screaming aloud at the ridiculousness of driving habits. On a motorbike, it's not easy to be subtle in that. I am not sure what it's going to look like to reconcile with traffic, perhaps I will have to pray for those that make me crazy.
Lord, thank you for the ultimate demonstration of reconciliation through the death of your Son. I ask that you'd grant me the humility, grace and words to reconcile with those that I've wronged. Help me to spend the last few days loving fiercely on the people in this country.
A (affirm)--Indonesia, God has used you to break, pound and grind me down to one who fears her King, listens for His voice and is able to recognize and participate in His grace. You've given me eyes to see the beauty in differences and opportunities that have stretched me farther than I thought I was capable of. Thank you for Sambal, sate kambing, rambutan, and kopi susu. Thank you for motorbikes, outlet stores and cream baths. Thank you for KARAOKE, endless amounts of restaurants, and random adventures. You've frustrated me and made me laugh, burdened me and made me cry. There will always be a place in my heart for Indonesia.
Wednesday afternoon was the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2011, oh how I love them! During my first year here when I taught this class P.E., even though they kind of drove me crazy, I thought it would be pretty awesome if I were able to stay long enough to see them graduate...and here I am watching them graduate and getting ready to say goodbye to this place along with them...On June 11th, I board a plane with a one-way ticket back to America.
I've been refusing to count down the days, but when it's down to single digits, there's just no denying it. The truth is, I don't know how to leave here, I don't know how to tell this place goodbye. I've been trying to be intentional with people and tackle the art of farewell in small bites, but it still feels like an overwhelming task.
At the very same time, I am filled with anticipation as I think about what the next year holds. Weddings, reunions, grocery stores with an abundance of cereal options, new friends, new adventures. Oh man, how does one manage all these emotions and looming changes?!
The answer: By His grace alone and with a little help from...a lovely model that I learned at our Pre-Field Orientation.
Join me as I build my RAFT...
R (reconcile)--As one who struggles with pride and justification, this is not something that I am very great at. Fortunately, since I first arrived I've been learning the beauty of speaking and receiving the truth in love and keeping short accounts with others in this community. Along the way, I've said to much, not said enough, offended, insulted and miscommunicated. One group that I will need to make sure to reconcile with are my beloved 5th graders. It's been a hard year and, especially in this last quarter, each Bible Class has felt like an intervention. In reconciling with them I want to make sure that they leave my class knowing that underneath all the lectures, mean teacher voice moments and minutes taken away from free time was a deep love and desire to see them become the young men and women God has created them to be.
While in the process of reconciliation, I realized there are some aspects of Indonesia that need reconciliation...
1. The Rain--I have a deep disdain for the rain in this country. It ruins my plans, my shoes, my hair and my ability to safely drive my motorbike. The other night, though, I went on a run and within 5 minutes it started to pour. There was nothing left to do but embrace it. I finished my run and then just stood in the rain soaking it in. In that moment, I do believe that rain and I reconciled.
2. Traffic--The closer I get to the end, the greater my hatred grows for the traffic in this town. In the last month, I have found myself literally screaming aloud at the ridiculousness of driving habits. On a motorbike, it's not easy to be subtle in that. I am not sure what it's going to look like to reconcile with traffic, perhaps I will have to pray for those that make me crazy.
Lord, thank you for the ultimate demonstration of reconciliation through the death of your Son. I ask that you'd grant me the humility, grace and words to reconcile with those that I've wronged. Help me to spend the last few days loving fiercely on the people in this country.
A (affirm)--Indonesia, God has used you to break, pound and grind me down to one who fears her King, listens for His voice and is able to recognize and participate in His grace. You've given me eyes to see the beauty in differences and opportunities that have stretched me farther than I thought I was capable of. Thank you for Sambal, sate kambing, rambutan, and kopi susu. Thank you for motorbikes, outlet stores and cream baths. Thank you for KARAOKE, endless amounts of restaurants, and random adventures. You've frustrated me and made me laugh, burdened me and made me cry. There will always be a place in my heart for Indonesia.
F (farewell)--This is my least favorite part of this RAFTing thing, because it usually includes tears. I always think of that moment at the airport after I've said goodbye to my family, but I can still see them as I wait in line for security. Me turning around and waving every 30 seconds looking like a mess as I take my shoes off or pull my laptop out of the case. Ugh, I hate that.
But alas, it must happen. For me, I think my final farewell to Indonesia will be as I take off in the plane looking down through tear-filled eyes at the red-orange tiled rooves and palm trees...exactly how our first hello went.T (Think Destination)--This stage results in a combination of excitement, sadness, and anxiety. I am so excited to get to spend some solid time in Flagstaff, one of my most favorite places in the world, with some of the most important people in my life. I can't wait to reconnect with and love on people. I am also super excited to participate in the celebration of both my sisters getting married, but I struggle to fully grasp all the changes I will face in the next three months. On top of that, I can't help but be anxious for what it's going to mean for me to be an adult in America. Last summer was hard enough when I learned that I could just stick my checks in the ATM to make a deposit...that was CrAzY! Oh man, do they even use checks anymore in America?! I have a feeling I am going to feel like an alien on a new planet for a while, but it's even more difficult when you look like someone who should know how the system works!! Que sera sera. I am sure it will result in some hilariously blog-worthy stories.
But, America is not the only destination I am thinking of these days...In January I will be participating in a six month internship with Word Made Flesh in Bangkok, Thailand with the couple that I met back in January. It's so neat to see how this opportunity is a beautiful combination of all the things that God has put on my heart in the last year and a half. The internship will include ministering to prostitutes in the bars of the Red Light District as well as street kids and their families. Tim and Amy are hoping to create a small resource/learning center to help minister to the needs of those families which is where my education background comes in a bit. There are a lot of details that I am still unsure about including living situation and exact cost, but I am definitely "thinking destination" as I look forward to what He has in store for this next season.
Wow, the RAFT is built and there's one week until I board that plane. Once again, relying on my own strength will result in utter failure, so I turn to Psalm 55:22 "Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."
Thank you for joining me on this Indonesian teaching adventure. It was by your prayers that the last four years have been so full of His goodness, power and provision. I am forever grateful.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Beauty of...
...hearing with my eyes open.
"I want to hear from God...hear His voice, hear Him speak."
Here's a couple stories...evidence that God still speaks.
One of the best parts about this job is getting to not only love on the little ones, but also on the high schoolers. Along with my roommate, I lead a girls Bible study. Almost every week, we don't really know what we're going to talk about until moments beforehand. About a month ago it was just me leading. I had had a rough week dealing with some relational drama and learning not to seek total satisfaction in human relationships. I felt like I was in no place to lead a Bible Study, but asked Him to be there and to speak. He ended up giving me the boldness to share my story and struggle with the girls and it turned out to be an incredible discussion and a time of healing for my heart as He would bring random Scripture to my mind as well as speak words of truth through the girls. Turns out we all struggle with that:)
I got to go back to Central Java at the end of January with the same guys I went with over Christmas Break. We got to meet and chat with a large group of high school and college students again. This time, God put some really incredible girls in my group...kindred spirits for sure! Although we came from different backgrounds and religions, it was beautiful to see Him weave our stories together. One of the guys that I came with shared some Scripture about sowing seeds and how we sow seeds with every word we speak...good and bad...and that those seeds reap good and bad just the same. This sparked an amazing conversation about the consequences of our actions and what happens when we reap the harvest of bad seeds. We talked about redemption, which is a word I've been chewing on since December, and then got to talk about hope and where it comes from and that there's a source of hope that never runs out. Our time came to a close, but we could have continued talking for days. It was really hard to leave, but I pray that God allows the seeds that were planted that day to grow into "oaks of righteousness planted for His glory!"
It's refreshing to share these stories with you because it occurred to me as I was writing this post how quickly I lose sight of Him. It's been a rough week in the fifth grade as the hormones are raging and Spring Break is next week. Weary would be a good word to describe my current state. It will be by His grace alone that we all make it to Spring Break alive. I've been consumed with the busyness of the month and the craziness in my classroom that it has turned my focus inward in an attempt to manage the chaos. Reflecting and putting these stories into words has cleared up my vision a bit and reminded me of the power that I can tap into if I choose to...the peace that surpasses all understanding...the thoughts and ways that are higher than mine...that's the beauty of hearing with my eyes open.
Next week is Spring Break...my first Indonesian Spring Break that I am not going to the islands. It's hard to not be going with the team, but I see now part of the reason for that decision. God's provided me with some time to sit alone with Him. With two and a half months left here in Indonesia, there is much to process. I need to spend some intentional time thinking through what the end of this season is going to look like and what I need to do to finish well. My prayer is that this next week provides concentrated time of hearing His voice and resting in His truth.
Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
Hosea 6:3
I got to go back to Central Java at the end of January with the same guys I went with over Christmas Break. We got to meet and chat with a large group of high school and college students again. This time, God put some really incredible girls in my group...kindred spirits for sure! Although we came from different backgrounds and religions, it was beautiful to see Him weave our stories together. One of the guys that I came with shared some Scripture about sowing seeds and how we sow seeds with every word we speak...good and bad...and that those seeds reap good and bad just the same. This sparked an amazing conversation about the consequences of our actions and what happens when we reap the harvest of bad seeds. We talked about redemption, which is a word I've been chewing on since December, and then got to talk about hope and where it comes from and that there's a source of hope that never runs out. Our time came to a close, but we could have continued talking for days. It was really hard to leave, but I pray that God allows the seeds that were planted that day to grow into "oaks of righteousness planted for His glory!"
It's refreshing to share these stories with you because it occurred to me as I was writing this post how quickly I lose sight of Him. It's been a rough week in the fifth grade as the hormones are raging and Spring Break is next week. Weary would be a good word to describe my current state. It will be by His grace alone that we all make it to Spring Break alive. I've been consumed with the busyness of the month and the craziness in my classroom that it has turned my focus inward in an attempt to manage the chaos. Reflecting and putting these stories into words has cleared up my vision a bit and reminded me of the power that I can tap into if I choose to...the peace that surpasses all understanding...the thoughts and ways that are higher than mine...that's the beauty of hearing with my eyes open.
Next week is Spring Break...my first Indonesian Spring Break that I am not going to the islands. It's hard to not be going with the team, but I see now part of the reason for that decision. God's provided me with some time to sit alone with Him. With two and a half months left here in Indonesia, there is much to process. I need to spend some intentional time thinking through what the end of this season is going to look like and what I need to do to finish well. My prayer is that this next week provides concentrated time of hearing His voice and resting in His truth.
Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
Hosea 6:3
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Provided, Protected, Connected
I am certain that I have not totally processed through the fullness of my three-day adventure to Bangkok, Thailand and I don't have words enough to explain just what He did last week. But I know that several people were lifting me up and I wanted to let you know that those prayers were received and answered in HUGE ways, just as I expected. He provided peace, courage and strength. He was my protection as a solo traveler. And, He connected me with some incredible people.
Let's rewind a bit, so as to display the awesomeness of His creative orchestration:
I began doing some research on human trafficking back in July and August, looking specifically for organizations that I could possibly work with. I was given a magazine from a particular organization that had articles written by workers from teams all around the world. My heart resonated with their stories and the mission statement and through a random series of small world connections I was all of the sudden in communication with some people that worked in Bolivia and Thailand. In the meantime, I had contacted Night Light, a different organization in Bangkok that worked directly with women in prostitution and was invited to come for a tour of their program. So then I decided to email theteam in Thailand to make the most of my potential trip there...hoping to kill a couple birds with one stone. I didn't hear back from them, and started to think that maybe it wasn't going to happen. I tried one more time, praying that if I was supposed to go on this trip, I would hear back from them within the week. Within two days, I got an email explaining that none of my other emails had been received and that if it wasn't too late, they would love to have me come and see what they do. All of the sudden I was in the process of buying a ticket to Bangkok during the first week of January with both anxiety and excitement in my heart wondering what He was going to do.
The first legs of the trip were extremely smooth. I made it to Bangkok, made it through immigration, to a taxi and to the guest house all in one piece. The next day, there was nothing on the agenda until 7pm. Despite my doubts of whether or not I could handle being a solo traveler, I grabbed the Bangkok Sky Train map and was determined to do some site seeing. Site seeing turned out to be mall hopping and people watching, but that was okay with me:) My only touristy goal for the three day adventure was to eat as much authentic Pad Thai as I could...success. Although, I realized that no one does it quite like Pato...
Anyways...
That evening, I was invited to attend "Beggars Society," which is a monthly gathering of workers in Bangkok to raise awareness about what He's doing among the poor there. The guest speaker for this particular evening happened to be the woman who started Night Light, one of the ministries I had come to Bangkok to visit. It was an incredible night full of small world connections, including a girl whose brother works in Nevada, MO and knows about Cottey College and a couple girls who have had the privilege of staying at the famous Jungle Inn on the island of Sumatra. It was such a blessing to be around people with the same heart. I was encouraged and blown away at God's timing and connections. I got to hang out with them afterward and the evening went pretty late. I knew that I had to catch the sky train before midnight and headed out around 11pm. The guest house was located on the other side of town about an hour away, so I had a long trip ahead of me and hadn't been back to the guest house since that morning. When I got to my last stop, I wasn't exactly confident on how to get back to the guest house, but headed in the first direction that felt right...I then came across a pack of dogs lying in the middle of the sidewalk. We don't really have dogs here in Indo, so I was a little more than worried about having to cross their path. I figured, tip-toeing would be the best strategy...and similar to what I imagine happened in the lions den, they didn't even notice me:) Unfortunately, after I made it past them, I realized that I was definitely going the wrong way and needed to turn around. So, I took a deep breath, and tip-toed back through the pack of wild canines...this time, they got a little more excited and the tip-toeing became trotting, which became running. At that point, the dogs got really excited and started to chase after me. One of them nipped at my leg and that's when I knew I was in trouble. But then, like a guardian angel in bull dog form, out of no where came a big dog barking and cutting off the attackers and saving my life! Shaken and scared to death I made it across the street where I found a friendly taxi driver to take me back to the guest house. Praise God!
The next day, I was pretty overwhelmed with a spirit of fear from the night before and had to spend some time surrendering that to Him. But, by His strength, I headed out into the big city once again to have coffee with one of the people I had met the night before--the wife of the couple who works with one of the organizations I am interested in possibly working with. It was a really great time. We clicked right off the bat and it was so awesome to hear what God had been doing in their ministry and the dreams they have for different programs in the future. They minister specifically to street kids who work in prostitution and their families. They would like to start a center where they can help educate, train and counsel these families to equip them to get off the streets and out of prostitution. Right now, it is just the two of them, so there is a clear need for additional team members. She was excited to offer me the opportunity to join them in the near future! I am in the process of praying through this and getting more information on the logistics of what that would look like. Praise God!
The next day, I was scheduled for a tour of Night Light at 10:30am. Night Light works specifically with prostitutes in the bars in one of the red light districts in Bangkok. They go into the bars and build relationships with the girls, the bar owners and the brothel managers. They encourage the girls to leave prostitution by providing them with an alternative way to make money. They have a jewelry business where the girls work and are able to make money for their families. At the same time they share Truth with them, provide pastoral counseling and a daycare for their children. It is an incredible ministry and is very well established. Night Light also does a lot of work with trafficked women who have been brought over the border from different countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. They work with the Anti-Trafficking office there in Bangkok to help the girls get back to their home countries. Again, I was so blown away by stories of God's provision, protection and redemption. There were several people on the tour with me who became immediate friends. We all happened to be in the same place in life...at the end of a chapter, but not really sure what the future might hold. We were from all over the world...England, Australia, South Korea, America...but all have a heart to see the oppressed set free. It was so cool to see God orchestrate these divine appointments. Praise Him!
That evening I returned to Indonesia, still unsure of exactly what the future holds, but so full...full of peace, full of excitement, full of assurance in His plan...whatever it happens to be. My Bangkok adventure was only three days and I went into it not having any idea what to expect. But, as I mentioned in my last post, I prayed to see Him in a BIG way and He was faithful.
Now, of course, my tendency still remains to fret and try and come up with a plan to figure out what to do, but He continues to whisper "Wait Molly. I am still working. Just, wait for me."
So, WAIT is the word for 2011 and in the meantime, I will put my hope in His Word.
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1
Make me to know your ways , O LORD; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope;
my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. They are being received and answered. What a Mighty God we serve!
Let's rewind a bit, so as to display the awesomeness of His creative orchestration:
I began doing some research on human trafficking back in July and August, looking specifically for organizations that I could possibly work with. I was given a magazine from a particular organization that had articles written by workers from teams all around the world. My heart resonated with their stories and the mission statement and through a random series of small world connections I was all of the sudden in communication with some people that worked in Bolivia and Thailand. In the meantime, I had contacted Night Light, a different organization in Bangkok that worked directly with women in prostitution and was invited to come for a tour of their program. So then I decided to email the
The first legs of the trip were extremely smooth. I made it to Bangkok, made it through immigration, to a taxi and to the guest house all in one piece. The next day, there was nothing on the agenda until 7pm. Despite my doubts of whether or not I could handle being a solo traveler, I grabbed the Bangkok Sky Train map and was determined to do some site seeing. Site seeing turned out to be mall hopping and people watching, but that was okay with me:) My only touristy goal for the three day adventure was to eat as much authentic Pad Thai as I could...success. Although, I realized that no one does it quite like Pato...
Anyways...
That evening, I was invited to attend "Beggars Society," which is a monthly gathering of workers in Bangkok to raise awareness about what He's doing among the poor there. The guest speaker for this particular evening happened to be the woman who started Night Light, one of the ministries I had come to Bangkok to visit. It was an incredible night full of small world connections, including a girl whose brother works in Nevada, MO and knows about Cottey College and a couple girls who have had the privilege of staying at the famous Jungle Inn on the island of Sumatra. It was such a blessing to be around people with the same heart. I was encouraged and blown away at God's timing and connections. I got to hang out with them afterward and the evening went pretty late. I knew that I had to catch the sky train before midnight and headed out around 11pm. The guest house was located on the other side of town about an hour away, so I had a long trip ahead of me and hadn't been back to the guest house since that morning. When I got to my last stop, I wasn't exactly confident on how to get back to the guest house, but headed in the first direction that felt right...I then came across a pack of dogs lying in the middle of the sidewalk. We don't really have dogs here in Indo, so I was a little more than worried about having to cross their path. I figured, tip-toeing would be the best strategy...and similar to what I imagine happened in the lions den, they didn't even notice me:) Unfortunately, after I made it past them, I realized that I was definitely going the wrong way and needed to turn around. So, I took a deep breath, and tip-toed back through the pack of wild canines...this time, they got a little more excited and the tip-toeing became trotting, which became running. At that point, the dogs got really excited and started to chase after me. One of them nipped at my leg and that's when I knew I was in trouble. But then, like a guardian angel in bull dog form, out of no where came a big dog barking and cutting off the attackers and saving my life! Shaken and scared to death I made it across the street where I found a friendly taxi driver to take me back to the guest house. Praise God!
The next day, I was pretty overwhelmed with a spirit of fear from the night before and had to spend some time surrendering that to Him. But, by His strength, I headed out into the big city once again to have coffee with one of the people I had met the night before--the wife of the couple who works with one of the organizations I am interested in possibly working with. It was a really great time. We clicked right off the bat and it was so awesome to hear what God had been doing in their ministry and the dreams they have for different programs in the future. They minister specifically to street kids who work in prostitution and their families. They would like to start a center where they can help educate, train and counsel these families to equip them to get off the streets and out of prostitution. Right now, it is just the two of them, so there is a clear need for additional team members. She was excited to offer me the opportunity to join them in the near future! I am in the process of praying through this and getting more information on the logistics of what that would look like. Praise God!
The next day, I was scheduled for a tour of Night Light at 10:30am. Night Light works specifically with prostitutes in the bars in one of the red light districts in Bangkok. They go into the bars and build relationships with the girls, the bar owners and the brothel managers. They encourage the girls to leave prostitution by providing them with an alternative way to make money. They have a jewelry business where the girls work and are able to make money for their families. At the same time they share Truth with them, provide pastoral counseling and a daycare for their children. It is an incredible ministry and is very well established. Night Light also does a lot of work with trafficked women who have been brought over the border from different countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. They work with the Anti-Trafficking office there in Bangkok to help the girls get back to their home countries. Again, I was so blown away by stories of God's provision, protection and redemption. There were several people on the tour with me who became immediate friends. We all happened to be in the same place in life...at the end of a chapter, but not really sure what the future might hold. We were from all over the world...England, Australia, South Korea, America...but all have a heart to see the oppressed set free. It was so cool to see God orchestrate these divine appointments. Praise Him!
That evening I returned to Indonesia, still unsure of exactly what the future holds, but so full...full of peace, full of excitement, full of assurance in His plan...whatever it happens to be. My Bangkok adventure was only three days and I went into it not having any idea what to expect. But, as I mentioned in my last post, I prayed to see Him in a BIG way and He was faithful.
Now, of course, my tendency still remains to fret and try and come up with a plan to figure out what to do, but He continues to whisper "Wait Molly. I am still working. Just, wait for me."
So, WAIT is the word for 2011 and in the meantime, I will put my hope in His Word.
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1
Make me to know your ways , O LORD; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope;
my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. They are being received and answered. What a Mighty God we serve!
Monday, January 3, 2011
A New Year that holds BIG Possibilities
The other night, I was listening to someone talk about New Year's Resolutions and that the reason most of us fail to accomplish them is because they are based on our own expectations and desired results and not on God's.
At the beginning of 2010, I was bound and determined to update this blog more frequently...alas, it did not happen. Let me assure you though, that does not mean there were not countless blog-worthy stories...In fact, in the time between the last post and now, He has taught me that my expectations and desires don't really matter that much and that the plans He has are much more beautiful and exciting than I could ever imagine.
My last post was a story from the Sea Tribe Trip that I went on in April. On that trip, there was a stirring in my heart to seek what the Lord might have next for me...after the 2010-2011 school year. BAIS has been my home for three and a half years now. He has established a place for me here, shaping and molding me into a totally new version of myself. He's blessed me with an incredible support system of brothers and sisters that sharpen and challenge me in every conversation we have. He's totally rocked my world! With that being said, you can imagine I was a bit taken aback when He said that this year would be my last. Despite what He's taught me about His faithfulness and how He knows the big picture, I still try to put Him in a box and couldn't help but ask, "Really? Are you sure? I am pretty sure that teaching kids is all I've got..."
Over the next several months, He continued to provide a peace that I still can't quite describe about the thought of me leaving here. At the same time, He was pressing some other things on my heart. One of those things being Human Trafficking and possibly working with trafficked women and children. I started doing some research and reading up on what He's doing in this part of the world through ministries that help prevent, prosecute, rescue and rehabilitate. He continued placing people in my path who had connections to various ministries and my pool of contacts continued to grow. Literally every time I would mention this to anyone, they would tell me of someone they know who is working with a ministry like this somewhere in Asia. I had several contacts in Thailand, Cambodia and India, so I decided that I was going to use my vacation time to explore some of these options. Emphasis on the I part of that sentence...I had grand plans for me to go to all these places and figure out what I was going to do next. When the doors started to close on those endeavors, discouragement set in and I started to question Him again. He reminded me that He hasn't left me or forsaken me, that His plans and His timing is perfect and that I just needed to wait. I surrendered my desires, plans and control and trusted that He was going to do what He wanted...I now see that His plan was to address that doubt that I mentioned earlier...that teaching is all I've got...
At the beginning of December, I was able to go on a short trip with some teachers to visit an island in the Riau that we visited a couple years ago on a Sea Tribe trip. The elementary school there got the lowest test scores out of all the elementary schools in that area and they are spending the next year working on getting them up. We were asked to bring our knowledge and experience to the teachers in a two day workshop. We were also asked to revamp their library and teach them how to use their resources. It was an incredible experience to be able to use and share the giftings that He's given us to bless this school and demonstrate His love to them. Not only were we able to give them some practical tools and creative strategies to use in their classroom, but we also got to rock it HGTV style and redecorate their library. Through this experience, I learned the creativity with which He uses the giftings of His children.
At the beginning of 2010, I was bound and determined to update this blog more frequently...alas, it did not happen. Let me assure you though, that does not mean there were not countless blog-worthy stories...In fact, in the time between the last post and now, He has taught me that my expectations and desires don't really matter that much and that the plans He has are much more beautiful and exciting than I could ever imagine.
My last post was a story from the Sea Tribe Trip that I went on in April. On that trip, there was a stirring in my heart to seek what the Lord might have next for me...after the 2010-2011 school year. BAIS has been my home for three and a half years now. He has established a place for me here, shaping and molding me into a totally new version of myself. He's blessed me with an incredible support system of brothers and sisters that sharpen and challenge me in every conversation we have. He's totally rocked my world! With that being said, you can imagine I was a bit taken aback when He said that this year would be my last. Despite what He's taught me about His faithfulness and how He knows the big picture, I still try to put Him in a box and couldn't help but ask, "Really? Are you sure? I am pretty sure that teaching kids is all I've got..."
Over the next several months, He continued to provide a peace that I still can't quite describe about the thought of me leaving here. At the same time, He was pressing some other things on my heart. One of those things being Human Trafficking and possibly working with trafficked women and children. I started doing some research and reading up on what He's doing in this part of the world through ministries that help prevent, prosecute, rescue and rehabilitate. He continued placing people in my path who had connections to various ministries and my pool of contacts continued to grow. Literally every time I would mention this to anyone, they would tell me of someone they know who is working with a ministry like this somewhere in Asia. I had several contacts in Thailand, Cambodia and India, so I decided that I was going to use my vacation time to explore some of these options. Emphasis on the I part of that sentence...I had grand plans for me to go to all these places and figure out what I was going to do next. When the doors started to close on those endeavors, discouragement set in and I started to question Him again. He reminded me that He hasn't left me or forsaken me, that His plans and His timing is perfect and that I just needed to wait. I surrendered my desires, plans and control and trusted that He was going to do what He wanted...I now see that His plan was to address that doubt that I mentioned earlier...that teaching is all I've got...
At the beginning of December, I was able to go on a short trip with some teachers to visit an island in the Riau that we visited a couple years ago on a Sea Tribe trip. The elementary school there got the lowest test scores out of all the elementary schools in that area and they are spending the next year working on getting them up. We were asked to bring our knowledge and experience to the teachers in a two day workshop. We were also asked to revamp their library and teach them how to use their resources. It was an incredible experience to be able to use and share the giftings that He's given us to bless this school and demonstrate His love to them. Not only were we able to give them some practical tools and creative strategies to use in their classroom, but we also got to rock it HGTV style and redecorate their library. Through this experience, I learned the creativity with which He uses the giftings of His children.
This past week, I went to Central Java with some friends of mine who've been speaking and ministering to Indonesian churches all over the country. The plan was to spend some time with high school and college students, practicing their English and sharing stories with them of America with the ultimate goal and sharing the Truth with them. We met with small groups for three days and He worked in HUGE ways. I love how He works outside my comfort zone. Throughout the three days, I was able to go pretty deep with the students in my group, talking about friendship, forgiveness, heaven and ultimately giving them the opportunity to accept JC. It was unbelievable how He worked through me. Again, I learned that the gifts He's given me can be used in any capacity, all that's required of me in surrender and complete reliance on Him.
Today, I am hopping a plane to Bangkok, Thailand. Yeah, turns out not all of the doors closed. I will be visiting a couple ministries there that work with trafficked women and children. I am going by myself and expecting nothing but big things from Him.
So, He knows the big picture. He knows what this year holds and although He's not filling me in on exactly what it is, He continues to provide evidence of His faithfulness and sovereignty. In the meantime, I will walk with Him and follow wherever He leads praying for eyes to see and ears to hear where that might be.
I could come up with all kinds of New Year's Resolutions to figure out my future and plan it out, but that would all be in vain, because it would be based on what I want. Instead, I will choose to wait on Him, expecting BIG things for 2011.
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