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Monday, May 22, 2006

Direction

My one year here is fastly approaching its end and over the past several months I have been praying about the direction that God would lead me and what my next steps were going to be with Josiah Venture and in ministry as a whole.
During my time in the states, Bryan was brought into my life and now we both have begun to pray about where we will go and what we will do in the future. It's funny how one moment you pray for the Lord to guide YOU and the next you are praying for the Lord to guide US. I am not sure what that means and how God will use us and I will admit, part of me fears/feared the reality that my time overseas may be coming to an end and I don't know what that looks like or even if I am ready or even want to return to the states.
Even when I started the process in my move here last year, God was faithful the whole time and guided every step of my way. So why would this time around be any different? Sometimes I think it might be because now there is two of us involved, which I know is my selfish way of thinking.
This weekend I began to really seek God and pray for his guidance in these decisions that Bryan and I will be making. He lead me to two verses...
Acts 17:26
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live"
and
Isaiah 30:21
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "this is the way; walk in it."

How comforting it is to hear the Lord tell me that he knows the EXACT time and place where we will live and that we should follow him. Sometimes I feel like I want to pray for what I WANT and not necessarily God's WILL for my life. But it is true that the Lord will grant you the desires of your heart (be it that they are in His will) and that He wants what is best for us...so if His will is what is best for us, then wouldn't it make sense to just pray for His will in our life? UGH!! That is where trusting God comes into play.
I think he made it clear to me this weekend that he knows the time and place of where he wants us and to walk in His will and he will guide us every step of the way.
I am excited about finishing up my summer here in Slovakia...embracing the season and the people over the next few months and I am also excited about the adventure the Lord is going to take me on after the summer is over.
Living in God's will doing what He calls us to do is almost like a roller coaster ride...thrilling, exciting, scary, nervousness, moments of tears, heart feeling like it is going to come out of your chest and wondering is this ride going to be safe but all together worth it in the end because I have no idea where this ride will go, but my God, who designed it, built it, runs it, and strapped me securely into my seat knows perfectly. Because He is good and trustworthy I have nothing to fear and because my desire is that the purpose of my life will be to make His name Famous I am going to continue to live for God's will/purpose in my life.

George Bush aka America

It is such a great feeling to be back here!

This weekend was a weekend diving back into Slovakia and it's culture. I had an amazing weekend in Kukova...lots of Slovak food, and I mean LOTS, time with kids playing futbol (soccer and don't worry, I watched the whole time) and eating Zmirzlina (ice cream), and church on Sunday morning.
I really missed these families while I was in the states. They have really accepted me into their homes and made me feel like one in the family. I can honestly say I found forever friends and family in Kukova. What a blessing from God.



  
Here is a funny story from the weekend that I think you all will enjoy. While I was watching the kids play soccer, I was also talking to someone on the bench...and yes I was speaking English.
Well, notice the young boy holding my Slovnik pictured below...he heard me and kept looking at me, he continue to gain a bit of confidence and kept inching closer and closer until he was literally sitting next to me. He did not speak any English but was very curious. He asked me (in Slovak of course) “Are you American?” and this was how the funniest part of our conversation went in Slovak...
L: “yes”
Young boy: “Where”
L: “USA”
Young boy: “are you from NEW MEXICO”
**I am thinking...humm? USA/NEW MEXICO..what? Why would he ask me if I am from New Mexico??
L: (slightly laughing) “No I am American, from the USA. Do you know where Georgia is?”

Expecting him to say no, he got excited and said “YES, GEORGE BUSH!”






Hahahahaha! That was the last thing I was expecting to hear from this young boy. It was quite funny. Well the doors were opened and other kids joined us. I got to spend the next 2 hours talking to these kids. It was really great!

We just never know the relationships that God will bring into our lives. I have found that each and everyone of mine are unique and special.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Always ask what you are contributing to...

Do you remember a few posts ago about the kids graduating and asking for money....well, it probably helps to find out EXACTLY what the money goes towards before you contribute.

I found out yesterday that the money I gave to the kids...goes to a big drunk fest at the end of the year. All the kids put the money together and go out and get drunk! Yes it is true, I just contributed to a drunk fest and had no idea.

As we all say around here...LOST IN TRANSLATION!

Monday, May 15, 2006

"Whatever"

As I was walking back from the grocery store I was afraid my bags were gonna rip because I forgot my backpack and had to carry them in the plastic bags they give you and well....I got more then I planned on getting and it was a bit heavy..."whatever"
I kept stopping along the way readjusting my bags, setting them down to re-grip so I don't lose anything and as I was doing all this I kept looking around me and telling myself, this is just the way of life here...."whatever", I kept telling myself this is not convenient and it would be nice to have a car but in the same breath I would say man it's gorgeous outside, this is such a nice walk and I really love my life here...."whatever" funny how I can have both thoughts in the same moment?!
During my walk home, that believe it or not I was honestly enjoying, a song came on my ipod that fit so perfect the moment I was experiencing and realized God was speaking to me...

"Whatever"
Steven Curtis Chapman

I made a list wrote down from a to z
All the ways I thought that you could best use me
Told all my strengths and my abilities
I formed a plan it seemed to make good sense
I laid it out for you so sure youd be convinced
I made my case presented my defense
But then I read the letter that you sent me
It said that all you really want from me is just

Whatever whatever you say
Whatever I will obey
Whatever lord have your way
cause you are my God whatever

So strike a match set fire to the list
Of all my good intentions all my preconceived ideas
I want to do your will no matter what it is
Give me faith to follow where you lead me
Oh lord give me the courage and the strength to do

I am not my own
I am yours and yours alone
You have bought me with your blood
Lord to you and you alone do I belong
And so whatever


I looked around me and said "WHATEVER" God...you have me hear for WHATEVER and that is what im going to do..WHATEVER, even if this bag rips and my groceries fall in the street, I will be okay. I trust you, you sent me here, and you will be with me every step of the way.

It is such a great feeling to let go and let God do all the work. He takes you on such amazing adventures to places you never thought you would go....I don't mean just physically. Spiritually this has been such an incredible journey.

I am excited for WHATEVER God has in my life...I am ready!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the special women in my life! I love you all and want you to know how very special you are to me and that you are thought of on this special day.

I hope you all have a day as special as you are! You deserve it.

Psalm 24:1-2

Have you ever just had those days that are so frustrating all you keep saying is, “I just want to go home!” ? Well, Saturday was that day for me. I got to the train station in the morning to purchase a ticket back to Presov. I know how to do this and what to say…obviously something got lost in translation b/c not only was my train late, but when I finally got on the train, somehow I was missing a ticket that I needed and I was not in the right car. I tried to explain to the conductor where I was going. Finally, I paid more money and he gave me some slip, it may be a receipt or seat assignment, I was not really sure. All I know was I have now paid more for a ticket (he probably just pocketed the money, haha) and made my way to some seat, not even sure if it was mine. I asked these men next to me, but they did not speak English so I just sat down and smiled and said “Dakujem” (Thank you in English).
Exhausted and thinking about only wanting to get back to my flat...I got out my computer and figured I would listen to some music and return some emails.
Then I found myself lost in the world outside the train windows and I could not help but stare at the world that surrounded me.
The mountains here still have snow at the tops of them, unbelievable. It




looks like a painting with these bright green grassy fields in the forefront. There might be a small village of some sort or some sheep or cows, or just a field that goes on forever and looks like it reaches the foot of the mountains. Today the sky is so blue and clear, it almost doesn’t look real.
Psalm 24:1-2 “The earth is the Lord’s, and EVERYTHING in it. The WORLD and ALL its PEOPLE belong to him. 2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.” I find that to be so true…I realized that my mere LITTLE problem is very much that...LITTLE! As I look at the peak of the Tatry Mountains all I can think is that I just want to be up at the top on the edge with my arms wide open shouting to the Lord just how incredible he is. We are surrounded by speechless beauty that we don’t always stop and look to appreciate what the Lord has created to such detail around us…all the way to the little yellow flowers that pop up in between the gobs of weeds, or the way the trees blow to the sound of the wind.


Take a moment today and embrace the beauty around you...sit still and breathe it in. It is worth it!

Graduation time again...



The way you know it is gradutaion time here is when you hear all the noise in the streets (picture above). When students are about to graduate from highschool, tradition here is to walk with your class through the streets and sing, twirl the noise makers and carry a sign with pictues all the students in your class that are graduating (their graduating classes are much smaller then ours in the states so they can fit their whole class on one big poster board). It is also a good idea to make sure you have change on you b/c some of them will come up to you and you are supposed to give them money to go towards their senior class and they in turn will give you a piece of candy.

Friday, as I was walking through the streets I got stopped several times. I made them speak English before I would give them money. It is fun and neat to watch them shout with excitement through the streets! I am not sure how well that would go over in the States since most of our graduating classes have close to 1000 people in them. Although it would be interesting to see.

STARBUCKS...is it really that serious?

I am not sure why we American's freak out everytime we see a Starbucks...I mean isn't Europe supposed to have some of the finest coffee and tea???

Well my friend Amy and I drove to Vienna, Austria to pick up our other friend, Kenric. We sent him an SMS (text message for those who call it that...) to bring us a STARBUCKS coffee when he came out because there is one inside for passangers as they get on and off the planes. Funny how we know where all the Starbucks are around here...like which countries have them and which ones don't.

So this is Amy and I excited about our latte's from Starbucks!

Thursday, May 11, 2006

YEAH I am back

I arrived in Slovakia on May 3rd...I got here just in time for our spring conference in Czech Republic. Ironic how I broke my leg in November in Czech and returned to the same place this past week. I was so excited to return. I had mixed emotions knowing that I was leaving family and friends (and a FIANCE') but also was ready to return to my ministry here in Slovakia. When I arrived in the NY airport waiting for my connecting flight to Czech, I heard all this Czech language around me and began to grin. I loved it. I knew I was close to home.
Our conference focused on spring renewal and renewing our spirits. It was a great conference and much needed. I think we all need to be revitalized and ready for a fresh start. It was a great time to catch up with the JV family and hear about their lives and share with them what the Lord has been doing in mine since I was MIA for 5 months. I got to know several more of the women in JV and found our conversations to be precious. What a blessing working for JV is...the people among this team are so amazing and fun to work with. Even only being part of the team for a short time it was nice to know that I was missed and thought of. So many people expressed their concern and love for me when I returned. It was comforting to know I am among some of the most Godly people I know. I love my JV family.

Once I returned to Slovakia at the end of the week I had this refreshing weight lifted off me. It felt like I was were I was supposed to be. I grinned from ear to ear when I pulled up to my flat and things were familiar again... the life that I was adjusting to and that the Lord put me in was all back in front of me again.

Over the next couple of week I will be moving into a new flat for the summer. I will be right in the center of town. So it will be a bit more convenient. The place I am moving into is not an actual flat but a small dormitory type room. It will be perfect and comfortable for the summer.
Once I get moved in I will get some pictures of my new place.

Camp starts in about a month so we are on CAMP MODE and busier than ever. More to come...

MACs for dummies

Okay so I have been on line for over an hour now to try and update my webpage...Macs are supposed to be the easiest computer to operate and very user friendly especially for those of us who are what you call "computer illiterate" or in my case, my computers hate me!

I knew that Mac came out with a new webpage program called iWeb and it is synced to all your programs and really easy. Well I have yet to figure out how to use it and thought I could still use the old .mac homepage until I figured it out. Well folks, I am not so sure that is the case because it will not let me do that.

I hope you can be patient with me while I figure out what I am supposed to do. I want to post new pictuers and keep you updated with all the people I meet...but first things first, gotta figure out this new program. Hopefully it will not take too long and it will be ready in no time.

A time of relfection

Hey all! I feel like the last two blogs have been a sad display of me not keeping you updated as promised. I am so sorry for the delay in updates but I am here to say that I am back on top of things and ready to roll.

I had a wonderful time with family and friends in the states and really seeking the Lord in many areas of my life. I questioned many times why the Lord sent me home with such an intricate break in my leg (operation and all) and could not figure out why after he just sent me to Slovakia why he would turn around and send me home for 5 months of recovery???? I have learned in the process that it is the Lord's will and not ours...

The verse Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message) came to mind during my visit home:
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

He proved this to me over and over during my time at home whether it was through conversations or places the Lord led me. During my time home I got a lot of time with my immediate family and cherished every minute of it. It was precious time with each one individually and together. I always love time with my family and the fellowship we have. I had a hard time letting them be servents in my life as I like to do everything on my own. So many people stepped up to the plate to help me get around while I was on crutches for many months. I am thankful for the relationships the Lord has put into my life and thankful for the new ones that developed while I was home in the states and would not have happened if the Lord did not send me there. One of these relationships in particular happens to be a man named Bryan Barton. During our time together we became very drawn to each other and really felt the Lord's hands molding our relationship into something much more than either of us expected...with that being said, I am ENGAGED! Yes, it is true! I would love to share with you more, so please feel free to email me.



Also while home I got to be a part of my brothers wedding in Pensecola, Florida. It was gorgeous and the perfect wedding for he and Misty (my new sister in law). We had so much fun celebrating their special day. As an odler sister (younger to him...he's the boss in our relationship) it was refreshing to see my brother enter into a new phase of life full of so much joy. He is my best friend and brother and I could not have asked for a better couple to unite then them.



As you can see the Lord's' hands were in many relationships during my time at home. I am glad I trusted him to return for my recovery.

Thank you all for continuing to support me prayerfully and financially. This would not be possible with out each one of you.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Czech circus....was that bear really doing that???

Have you ever been to a circus? Okay well maybe I should ask more specificallly...have you ever been to a Czech circus??? WOAH!!! What an adventure. I promise it is a sight you will not ever forget! Let me explain our day. We were at our JV Spring conference and they decided to take one of those days and turn it into a family fun day. So we loaded up on some buses and headed out (none of us knew where we were going).

This is where we ended up....


I think they were open specifically for us because we were the only people there and it was the smallest circus I had ever seen in my life. As we entered through the front we were about 10 steps away from the "big" tent where it all happens....and boy did it.
Right when we entered there was a cotton candy machine to the left and a popcorn machine to the right then we walked in and grabbed a seat...basically front row.

Then the circus began....and the lights came on (all 2 of them). Bare with me here because I do not know if I can even begin to explain this to the glory that it deserves. If I remember correctly our circus in the states is mainly people (clowns), right? A few lions and stuff but more clowns running around in firetrucks and little cars and acrobats hanging from the tent....well this circus ring was big enough for 4 camels...yes i said CAMELS, 4 black bears (2 were babies), 4 small monkies, 6 small dogs, 4 horses (2 were ponies), a motorcyle, a lady running the show and one clown. Oh and not at the same time...one group at a time. So you can imagine the size of the tent...we almost filled it up. I think we might have been the biggest crowd they have had, seriously!

So the bears come out and they walked in circles, no big deal they did things I have never seen bears do....Amy and I swear they are trained to sit in the back and drink tea. Honestly it looked like it could have been people in bear costumes...but it wasn't. We could not stop laughing. Then the horses come out with monkies riding them, yes they were riding the ponies, side saddle and all. It was amazing! If that was not all, we had four syncronized camels come out and walk in some crazy order and all together. It was amazing...have you ever seen a camel up close? Well the are DIRTY and not so clean looking. They told us we could ride the camel if we paid so much in Cz krowns...haha, I would not ride that dirty thing! The clown kept coming out in between acts and they even let Dan Hash, one of our missionaries in Poland, translate. He was wearing the suit and all (I will get more pictures for you all later). So as you can see it was a pretty intimate circus. The lady running the show must have been told to be a bit more "modest" for us...not sure if she knew what that meant but she was wearing a read suit (pants and jacket) but the jacket was unbuttoned half way and all she had on was a black bra...WOAH!!!! A bit of a shocker. Supposedly it is worse then that but we asked them nicely to "cover up". Interesting how things are done around here.

Well as you can see it was an afternoon filled with laughs (and this is nothing compared to if you saw it in person).
My stomach hurt so bad. We all had a great time and an interesting experience. You should go to a Czech circus if you ever get a chance...trust me, it's worth it.