I don't have a lot of time right now, but I wanted to give you all an update on MTS. Laura came in safe and sound on Saturday night. She went to Spencer First Baptist on Sunday morning and we attended MTS orientation together that night. She's an absolute sweetheart - we could not have asked for a better houseguest! She's preparing to leave for the Ukraine, and I love hearing more and more of her story and seeing how God has rewarded her obedience to Him.
The first full day of MTS was yesterday. I won't give you the full rundown, but I'll just point out a couple of things. Our class is small: 4 married couples and 5 single ladies (one girl comes to class with her parents, so it turns out I'm next-to-youngest in our class by a month ;) ). The teaching is very practical - advanced [for me], but relevant and pertinent. These guys know their stuff! My favorite sessions so far have been one D. Easter (the founder) gave on our dependence on the Holy Spirit and how we go absolutely nowhere without His power (good reminder) and one by Mr. Mullendore (director of a missions board out of Tennessee). He talked about the difference between a burden and a calling and what that means to ministry.
All in all, yesterday was intense. But I'm looking forward to the rest of the week and can't wait to see what else God has for me to learn. Thank you all for your prayers!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Video Testimony
I was asked to give my missions testimony (this far) at church on March 10. Here's the link if anyone's interested in watching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EUo3Z9FBlc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EUo3Z9FBlc
Thursday, March 21, 2013
MTS 3
Firstly, I wanted to clarify that there are 4 single ladies going to Missionary Training School this year. Somehow I was misinformed. :3
Secondly, I picked up an air mattress from my cousin today. Thanks for the offers!
Also, I talked to Laura today! She's from Pennsylvania and she'll be staying with us next week. I can't wait to meet her!! Please pray for her safety as she drives out here, and that we will both be blessed and learn lots next week.
I read this verse this morning and had a wonderful time of remembering the Lord's goodness to me and worshiping Him because of it. I hope it blesses you as it did me. (I'm including it in both NIV and KJV 'cause I love them both. :) )
Psalm 13:6
"I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me."
"I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
Secondly, I picked up an air mattress from my cousin today. Thanks for the offers!
Also, I talked to Laura today! She's from Pennsylvania and she'll be staying with us next week. I can't wait to meet her!! Please pray for her safety as she drives out here, and that we will both be blessed and learn lots next week.
I read this verse this morning and had a wonderful time of remembering the Lord's goodness to me and worshiping Him because of it. I hope it blesses you as it did me. (I'm including it in both NIV and KJV 'cause I love them both. :) )
Psalm 13:6
"I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me."
"I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
Monday, March 18, 2013
MTS 2
We found out over the weekend that we are going to be hosting another of the Missionary Training School students next week. We don't know much about her, other than that she's a 24-year-old single lady, and that there is one other single-lady student besides the two of us. Like I said earlier, the School is intended for missionary families, so the three of us are setting a record this year! :) I'm so looking forward to meeting both of them and getting to hear their stories.
That being said, does anyone have (or know anyone who has) a single/twin air mattress I could borrow for that week?
That being said, does anyone have (or know anyone who has) a single/twin air mattress I could borrow for that week?
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sites
Forgot that I wanted to share a couple of links with you all:
First, you can check out MTS here: http://gsbmministries.org/about/missionary-training-school/ There's a sample brochure, plus a schedule of the classes I'll be taking.
Also, I was thinking about the Spain trip this morning and wanted to share with you all a map of the country: https://www.google.com/search?q=torremolinos+spain+map&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4TSNO_enUS464US464&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zdxFUe7SPJTF4APvjYCoDw&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=641#imgrc=iISEfi8kxWjntM%3A%3BL02tAVIeMaDg8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.world-guides.com%252Fimages%252Fspain%252Fspain_map.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.seville.world-guides.com%252Fmap.html%3B450%3B340 I'll be staying in Torremolinos, which is in the south near where Spain touches Morocco. And here's a link to the hotel where the All-Africa Field Forum will be held: http://www.hotels.com/ho126982/gran-hotel-cervantes-torremolinos-spain/
It's gonna be a rough trip...... ;)
First, you can check out MTS here: http://gsbmministries.org/about/missionary-training-school/ There's a sample brochure, plus a schedule of the classes I'll be taking.
Also, I was thinking about the Spain trip this morning and wanted to share with you all a map of the country: https://www.google.com/search?q=torremolinos+spain+map&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4TSNO_enUS464US464&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zdxFUe7SPJTF4APvjYCoDw&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=641#imgrc=iISEfi8kxWjntM%3A%3BL02tAVIeMaDg8M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.world-guides.com%252Fimages%252Fspain%252Fspain_map.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.seville.world-guides.com%252Fmap.html%3B450%3B340 I'll be staying in Torremolinos, which is in the south near where Spain touches Morocco. And here's a link to the hotel where the All-Africa Field Forum will be held: http://www.hotels.com/ho126982/gran-hotel-cervantes-torremolinos-spain/
It's gonna be a rough trip...... ;)
MTS
March 25-29 I'll be at Missionary Training School, a production of Good Shepherd Baptist Missions out of Alabama. Every year the GSBM team comes up to Spencer to teach the School, hosted by Spencer First Baptist Church. My mama's dear friend thought of me as she was preparing to volunteer at the School this year - so thankful for the Holy Spirit as He prompted her heart to get me into classes this year. I sent in my application this week and am so looking forward to learning about the nuts-and-bolts of missions work. It's geared toward career missionaries and their families, so it's a little more serious than what I'm doing right now. However, I know I'll appreciate the exposure. And you never know when the info could come in handy! :) So classes will be 7:30-5:30 every day, and I think they're held at the old Homerville school (if I'm not mistaken).
I'd appreciate your prayers as I get ready to learn and meet missionaries from all walks of life. Definitely looking forward to it!!
I'd appreciate your prayers as I get ready to learn and meet missionaries from all walks of life. Definitely looking forward to it!!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Story - part 2
That Thursday (Valentine's Day!), after I had the audacity to offer this dare to the Lord of heaven and Earth, I went about my day. After work I went to church for worship team practice and youth group. As I was setting up my guitar for practice, I noticed an envelope with my name on it taped to the pulpit. I stuck it in my folder, figuring it was information on Mali Ms. Faith had left there for me.
I opened the envelope after I got home that night. Inside was an application for a US passport and a check for $100 - my next step! I was flabbergasted. God had taken me up on my dare.
God had spoken to me.
Like in a for-real, tangible, I'm-actually-holding-His-directions-in-my-hand way.
I cried myself to sleep that night, I was so full of joy at the goodness of my Lord. I fully believe He would have given me that next step at that time regardless of anything I would have said or done. But He allowed me to test Him to prove how faithful He is, how He listens to me, how much He loves me.
(The passport I needed in order to get to Mali cost $135. He had so graciously provided the first $100 - all I needed was $35 more. When I was first told I was going to Mali I had mentally dedicated some money I was saving for something else to the trip. I pulled the jar down that Thurs. night, even though I knew I didn't need to count it. Including the money I had added to it from getting paid that day before I went to church, the jar contained $36.29. Is God not good or what?!)
So. At that point I knew I was leaving the country. That was what the Lord told me. I filled out the form and sent it off on Feb. 21. I just got my passport yesterday - less than 2 weeks!
But while my birth certificate was being processed in D.C., I put my feelers out again. I called Jean Viers again until I talked to her. If Mali settles down, the Shelby church will be going in January or February of next year. Whenever they go, I'll be with them. :) She gave me plenty of good information - the go-ahead for shots, cost, prayers, etc.
Next January/February is a long time away. Mama suggested that I look into a shorter, smaller missions trip in the meantime. At the direction of the savvy Amy Myers I emailed Dian Harner.
Bob and Dian Harner are the Missions Mobilizers of our district of the C&MA. I just wrote them asking to be informed whenever they had any trips in the works, in case it worked out that I could go. Mrs. Harner wrote me back with several wonderful ideas. She suggested I join the CD 100, a group of young people from the Central District who are serious about missions as a career or feel the call and need help channelling their passion. I'm in the process of filling out the application right now and will hopefully be sending that off within the next week.
She also told me about a trip to Spain during the All-Africa Field Forum. From what I can gather, the CMA missionaries from Africa will come up to Spain for this conference. They wanted kids from the CD 100 to come do childcare during for this week in November. However, since it's in Nov., most of the CD 100 members are not able to go due to being in school. Would I be interested, even thought I'm not yet a member? (um, yeah! I'm graduating! I have all the time in the world! My life is wide open! This is Godsend #1 in this trip.) This trip will be a great opportunity, says Mrs. Harner, to rub shoulders with the missionaries stationed in Africa - to learn about what they do and to possibly go back with them. (Are you even remotely kidding me?! That's where I want to end up anyway! Godsend #2, folks!)
Needless to say, God told me to go to Spain Nov. 16-23. As of now I'm filling out profiles, recruiting pray-ers, and writing out testimonies.
Now for those of you who read missionary biographies, this may sound like everything else you've ever read. (Our God, thankfully, is really in the business of doing this sort of thing.) But I never, ever, EVER expected I'd be able to tell this story about myself. I feel like I'm living someone else's life - like my life totally began again when He first called me to this journey! It still hasn't quite sunk in - that I'm really going to do this. And yet it's the most real thing that's ever happened. Nothing has ever been so definite. His voice is so clear. I feel like a little kid! I wake up every day excited to see what He's going to say next.
The next several months will be chaotic and joyful and miraculous and challenging. Thanks for reading the back story . . . I'm so grateful to be making this journey with each of you.
I opened the envelope after I got home that night. Inside was an application for a US passport and a check for $100 - my next step! I was flabbergasted. God had taken me up on my dare.
God had spoken to me.
Like in a for-real, tangible, I'm-actually-holding-His-directions-in-my-hand way.
I cried myself to sleep that night, I was so full of joy at the goodness of my Lord. I fully believe He would have given me that next step at that time regardless of anything I would have said or done. But He allowed me to test Him to prove how faithful He is, how He listens to me, how much He loves me.
(The passport I needed in order to get to Mali cost $135. He had so graciously provided the first $100 - all I needed was $35 more. When I was first told I was going to Mali I had mentally dedicated some money I was saving for something else to the trip. I pulled the jar down that Thurs. night, even though I knew I didn't need to count it. Including the money I had added to it from getting paid that day before I went to church, the jar contained $36.29. Is God not good or what?!)
So. At that point I knew I was leaving the country. That was what the Lord told me. I filled out the form and sent it off on Feb. 21. I just got my passport yesterday - less than 2 weeks!
But while my birth certificate was being processed in D.C., I put my feelers out again. I called Jean Viers again until I talked to her. If Mali settles down, the Shelby church will be going in January or February of next year. Whenever they go, I'll be with them. :) She gave me plenty of good information - the go-ahead for shots, cost, prayers, etc.
Next January/February is a long time away. Mama suggested that I look into a shorter, smaller missions trip in the meantime. At the direction of the savvy Amy Myers I emailed Dian Harner.
Bob and Dian Harner are the Missions Mobilizers of our district of the C&MA. I just wrote them asking to be informed whenever they had any trips in the works, in case it worked out that I could go. Mrs. Harner wrote me back with several wonderful ideas. She suggested I join the CD 100, a group of young people from the Central District who are serious about missions as a career or feel the call and need help channelling their passion. I'm in the process of filling out the application right now and will hopefully be sending that off within the next week.
She also told me about a trip to Spain during the All-Africa Field Forum. From what I can gather, the CMA missionaries from Africa will come up to Spain for this conference. They wanted kids from the CD 100 to come do childcare during for this week in November. However, since it's in Nov., most of the CD 100 members are not able to go due to being in school. Would I be interested, even thought I'm not yet a member? (um, yeah! I'm graduating! I have all the time in the world! My life is wide open! This is Godsend #1 in this trip.) This trip will be a great opportunity, says Mrs. Harner, to rub shoulders with the missionaries stationed in Africa - to learn about what they do and to possibly go back with them. (Are you even remotely kidding me?! That's where I want to end up anyway! Godsend #2, folks!)
Needless to say, God told me to go to Spain Nov. 16-23. As of now I'm filling out profiles, recruiting pray-ers, and writing out testimonies.
Now for those of you who read missionary biographies, this may sound like everything else you've ever read. (Our God, thankfully, is really in the business of doing this sort of thing.) But I never, ever, EVER expected I'd be able to tell this story about myself. I feel like I'm living someone else's life - like my life totally began again when He first called me to this journey! It still hasn't quite sunk in - that I'm really going to do this. And yet it's the most real thing that's ever happened. Nothing has ever been so definite. His voice is so clear. I feel like a little kid! I wake up every day excited to see what He's going to say next.
The next several months will be chaotic and joyful and miraculous and challenging. Thanks for reading the back story . . . I'm so grateful to be making this journey with each of you.
The Story - part 1
Most of you probably don't know the story that has brought me to this point - the point, that is, at which missions is enough of a possibility for me that I'm writing about it on the internet. :3 And I guess it would kind of be a good thing to know if I'm going to tell you all about my adventures. So here's the scoop!
From the time I was 14 I knew I wasn't going to go to college. Mama suggested the idea of missions as an alternative. At that point I thought it was a neat idea, but I had no clue how to get started.
Fast-forward to the second half of my senior year. I had more of an idea of what I would do with my life after graduation but was open to opportunities. I still toyed around with the idea of missions work. It seemed more feasible now - we're members of a Christian and Missionary Alliance church, and missions is what we do best! But I had no idea where I would go or what I would do.
Our church has assisted others in the Alliance (especially the church in Shelby, Ohio) to build a women and children's hospital in Mali, Africa. A couple of ladies from that church have gone there several times to work on/at the hospital and minister to the people. A girl our pastor's wife taught in Sunday school is the director of the nursing program there. The father-in-law of our youth group leader did the electrical work in the hospital when it was built 8 years ago. And the Care and Concern ladies from our church roll bandages and collect hats, booties, blankets, and onesies for the babies born there - I've sent some that I've knitted. Last spring we helped to pack a shipping container full of baby goodies and medical supplies to send. So there are connections all over the place.
Well, one day (Jan. 24, 2013, to be exact), we were praying in church for the Mali hospital. Ms. Faith Garrett related a phone conversation she had had with one of the Shelby ladies(Jean Viers) about how chaotic the country was what with all the uprisings lately. We were praying specifically for Jessica Schaeffer, the nursing director. All the missionaries, including Jessica, had been forced to evacuate the hospital to Burkina Faso for their own safety. It's pretty scary, and we were all concerned since we have helped with this hospital and know the people involved.
As we were praying, my mouth dropped open. Mali. It hit me like a thunderclap - that was where I was supposed to go. Why hadn't I thought of it before?
Of course, it seems ridiculous. The country was in the middle of a revolution - and still is. The career missionaries weren't even allowed to be there. But I was supposed to go. I just knew it.
That was the first time God spoke to me. I didn't realize that aha! moment as His voice at first. But the weeks that followed showed me that that's exactly what that moment was.
The next Monday I called Jean Viers and left her a message asking her to call me back. I also emailed Jessica to see exactly what was going on and what I would need to do in order to get a trip. (Providentially, she was our missionary of the month - we were supposed to pray for her as a church through all of January, so her email address was in the bulletin for weeks!) In another couple of days she wrote back. She and a small portion of the staff were back in Mali, but only medical personnel were being permitted over the borders. There was no telling when things would settle down - I should pursue other options.
I knew I was supposed to go to Mali. But how was I going to get in? This seemed like an awfully strange time for God to tell me to go there. By Thursday I still hadn't heard from Jean, and the news from Jessica was pretty disheartening. During my devotions on Thursday morning I told God all about it. I wasn't feeling desperate. I had done what He had told me to do, and I was at a dead-end. I had simply run out of steps.
I "happened" to read Proverbs 16:3, which says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." I've read that verse approximately 7 bazillion times. But I had never taken it so seriously.
I did something I'd never done before. I recommitted to the Lord the plans He had given me, then I challenged Him.
I dared God.
I told him I had done what He'd told me to do. But it seemed impossible for these plans to work. If He wanted me to go to Mali, He'd have to do the next thing. He'd have to work a miracle to get me there. Go ahead, Lord. Show me what You can do.
Ladies and gentlemen, we serve a faithful God Who delights in doing good to His children. I would have never, ever in a million years guessed what He would do next.
From the time I was 14 I knew I wasn't going to go to college. Mama suggested the idea of missions as an alternative. At that point I thought it was a neat idea, but I had no clue how to get started.
Fast-forward to the second half of my senior year. I had more of an idea of what I would do with my life after graduation but was open to opportunities. I still toyed around with the idea of missions work. It seemed more feasible now - we're members of a Christian and Missionary Alliance church, and missions is what we do best! But I had no idea where I would go or what I would do.
Our church has assisted others in the Alliance (especially the church in Shelby, Ohio) to build a women and children's hospital in Mali, Africa. A couple of ladies from that church have gone there several times to work on/at the hospital and minister to the people. A girl our pastor's wife taught in Sunday school is the director of the nursing program there. The father-in-law of our youth group leader did the electrical work in the hospital when it was built 8 years ago. And the Care and Concern ladies from our church roll bandages and collect hats, booties, blankets, and onesies for the babies born there - I've sent some that I've knitted. Last spring we helped to pack a shipping container full of baby goodies and medical supplies to send. So there are connections all over the place.
Well, one day (Jan. 24, 2013, to be exact), we were praying in church for the Mali hospital. Ms. Faith Garrett related a phone conversation she had had with one of the Shelby ladies(Jean Viers) about how chaotic the country was what with all the uprisings lately. We were praying specifically for Jessica Schaeffer, the nursing director. All the missionaries, including Jessica, had been forced to evacuate the hospital to Burkina Faso for their own safety. It's pretty scary, and we were all concerned since we have helped with this hospital and know the people involved.
As we were praying, my mouth dropped open. Mali. It hit me like a thunderclap - that was where I was supposed to go. Why hadn't I thought of it before?
Of course, it seems ridiculous. The country was in the middle of a revolution - and still is. The career missionaries weren't even allowed to be there. But I was supposed to go. I just knew it.
That was the first time God spoke to me. I didn't realize that aha! moment as His voice at first. But the weeks that followed showed me that that's exactly what that moment was.
The next Monday I called Jean Viers and left her a message asking her to call me back. I also emailed Jessica to see exactly what was going on and what I would need to do in order to get a trip. (Providentially, she was our missionary of the month - we were supposed to pray for her as a church through all of January, so her email address was in the bulletin for weeks!) In another couple of days she wrote back. She and a small portion of the staff were back in Mali, but only medical personnel were being permitted over the borders. There was no telling when things would settle down - I should pursue other options.
I knew I was supposed to go to Mali. But how was I going to get in? This seemed like an awfully strange time for God to tell me to go there. By Thursday I still hadn't heard from Jean, and the news from Jessica was pretty disheartening. During my devotions on Thursday morning I told God all about it. I wasn't feeling desperate. I had done what He had told me to do, and I was at a dead-end. I had simply run out of steps.
I "happened" to read Proverbs 16:3, which says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." I've read that verse approximately 7 bazillion times. But I had never taken it so seriously.
I did something I'd never done before. I recommitted to the Lord the plans He had given me, then I challenged Him.
I dared God.
I told him I had done what He'd told me to do. But it seemed impossible for these plans to work. If He wanted me to go to Mali, He'd have to do the next thing. He'd have to work a miracle to get me there. Go ahead, Lord. Show me what You can do.
Ladies and gentlemen, we serve a faithful God Who delights in doing good to His children. I would have never, ever in a million years guessed what He would do next.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Well, I've finally started blogging . . .
. . . and I actually have something to blog about! I'm graduating high school this year. Since I'm not going to college I've been investigating long short-term missions trips. This blog will be dedicated to my adventures - but, firstly, to the amazing circumstances that brought me this far. God has been talking to me in an incredibly clear fashion in the past couple of months, and I'd love for you all to share in these experiences. So buckle up, because I'm going to tell some stories I thought I'd never be telling about myself!
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