The rest of the verdict.

In the event of learning that I am going to Bosnia, after a few days of waiting, I've found out what I will be doing. I don't know in detail but I know the general aspect of what I will do. It said that I should expect to work with teaching people English, humanitarian aid, and sports camp. I am extremely excited about all of the above.

I've done two out of the three. I've helped teach people English and usually they are very interested in it and enthusiastic about it. It's really sweet when you see people so engaged in what they want to learn and they are so passionate about it even if it is something like learning English. It's such a way to build relationships and friendships.

I have worked at a sports camp at a YMCA and I did get some joy out of it. When you are actually playing with the kids and not babysitting them it is an awesome job. So sports camp abroad...yes please. A fantastic way to see what kids are interested in "across the pond" and build relationships with them and see their potential and drive. With sports camp you never know who you will influence either good or bad. You never know who you will inspire with just a little optimism.

The one I haven't done much with is humanitarian aid. I know right? sad but true. I am thoroughly excited about it. There is so much we could do that I have no idea what they plan to let us do. I so excited to see people in need and actually do more than normal or anything at all! I'm excited about it all and I know it may a roller coaster of emotions trying to raise the money and actually getting there and going through everything, but if it's meant to be and I believe it is then it is so incredibly worth it.

Also things like language learning and relationship building will happen but thats general things that any missionary long or short term needs to do. I have always been interested in learning different languages and hopefully I'll know how to sustain a full conversation in that language by the end of it.

All of this will take a lot of prayer and preparation all of which I am willing to do.

Woop!

Peace.

Stories told of old

Tonight at the youth group service we read and talked about Samson. I like this story I think it is definately one of the greats. Samson's mother was one of the five women to whom an angel of God appeared to tell them who were barren that they would conceive a child. Before I go any further, I think that that is awesome. I mean obviously you would be a woman pleasing to God so you are chosen to carry such a gift that would impact the world in His name.

I like this story because it shows so much how God is above the worldly law and he always will be. Samson did not really adhere to the Nazirite law, he touched a dead being, he married outside of the Nazirites. However it does say that he married outside of his people which was in accordance with what God had planned. This is a very good view of how God is under no rule and only His people are to be ruled in accordance of the Father. I love this, and under the new covenant the law is inside of us, it is our morality, it is our right from wrong. God is the ruler of all things and no law is greater than Him, and how could it be? He made the people who gave the laws to the people!

Also, tonight my sister Annie read a story out of a Max Lucado book. Fictional as it was, it seemed like it could've happed. It was about what "happened" in heaven just before Jesus was conceived. It was from the perspective of Gabriel. Gabriel had been called into the throne room where God was and he shielded himself with his wings because of the immaculate light that shone around Him. God then spoke to Gabriel and he told him to take what was in his hand and put it around his neck. It dangled from His hand and it was a vile connected to a necklace. Gabriel placed it around his neck, and soon after Gabriel heard a voice behind him that made him stiffen. He turned and he saw it was Lucifer. Lucifer spoke to God and said, "and what are you planning to send to earth this time?" in a snide tone. God spoke and said, "I am sending the second gift."Satan then retorted, "Another gift? I remember the first one quite well and I was well pleased in it. I overturn everything you do! When Eve was given the choice between you and me she plucked the fruit from the tree. I was there when David watched Bathsheba bathing! Everything you send out I overturn!" Then God's voice thundered and said, "These are my CHILDREN you speak of!" Satan then said, "So what do you intend to do? You would not go so far." God continued, "I will become flesh, I will feel what my creatures feel, I will see what they see, I will become one of them. For sin I will bring forgiveness, for death I will give them LIFE!" Then Satan cocked his head to the side, a bit slouched over and somewhat defeated. He straightened up, which was his prideful way and stretched out his bony, withered wings and went away.

Now again this is fictional and definately not word for word, and it is missing some details but this is the gist. God defends us from evil, and I thought it was pretty cool when the story says that God says, "These are my CHILDREN you speak of!" It's like he was on the verge of giving Satan a verbal beat down.

So God defends us from evil, and no law limits God. Thats pretty cool.

Peace.

The verdict is in!

I know where I'm going this summer for my internship. I'm going to Bosnia. I'm still processing the fact that in about five months I will be boarding a plane to go on my first missions trip overseas to Bosnia. Never did Bosnia ever cross my mind as a place to go to be a missionary, but I'm so excited!

I really feel like this is going to be an experience, I've never done anything like this before. Though I'm really nervous about raising the money, actually going, getting around ok and not offending anyone of another culture, I know everything will work out like it should. I know that God is in control of everything and I have to let go of my control.

I don't know what I'll be doing yet, but whatever it is I'm sure it'll be sweet. I'll know more about that soon. It's almost time to start raising support, which is another step closer to this journey and another step closer to doing this for the rest of my life. It's going to be an interesting road to travel, glad I don't have to travel it alone.

Peace.

National Missionary Convention

This past weekend I attended my second missionary convention in Peoria Illinois. It was pretty much amazing, it always gives me a sense of "yes, this is it." It continually made my calling that much louder. God is doing some pretty sweet things through some pretty awesome people and I can't wait to work side by side with them. It made me realize my short-comings, what I need to improve, and how awesome God is.

It's all the more clear to me as days pass how much God wants us to join him, and I am so excited that me and God want the same thing. It's gonna be a great day when the gates open for us and we are blind no more to His mysteries. I mean really, we will SEE God, we will SEE Jesus, how insane is that? Each one of us gets to take part in that, my mission is that of what Jesus commands of us and to see all my brothers and sisters in heaven.

Missions is such a commitment and it is trying and so stressful, however it is SO rewarding. I am so excited that I will start soon, doing things cross culturally for Christ. I am a mess, I am financially unstable, a wanderer, in debt, stressed about school, and the list goes on. Although so much is happening to me and there are some harsh realities that I am facing I know that God is there, and he is doing his part, but I must do mine. I am excited to go to the ends of the earth and do God's work.

Peace and Prayers

Just Two

So I need two more references for my application for my internship overseas this summer, then it's time to start raising support. While it seems that I am just sitting here stagnant for the time being I am making a newsletter and things like that to start sharing a bit of my life with people and telling them whats going on.

So much is going to happen in the next six months that I know that God is going to guide me through. I just hope that I can keep up with the pace of raising support, schoolwork, possibly a job, and a social life. It's gonna be crazy but I know that if I rely on God he will deliver me through it.

The National Missionary Convention is this weekend and I'm so excited to be closer to the missionaries and learn a lot. I am excited about the workshops, I am stoked about the speakers, and the fellowship with my classmates and people I don't know. It's going to be an amazing experience. Thanks for your prayers.

Peace.

Summer

So this summer I am trying to go on a missions trip. I am trying to go with an organization called Team Expansion, and I'm pretty stoked about what God has in store. However I don't know where I'll be going but I know it will be where God wants me to be for the summer.

I know that I need to raise 2,000 dollars before March and then turn in the remaining 2,400 by May. I cannot start support raising until about December 1st and it kind of makes me nervous. I know God is in control but this fleshy self tends to freak out from time to time. I feel God wants to show me something this summer and I'm totally open to it, whatever it is. I have never been on an overseas missions trip before so this will be my first one, never been on a plane, never bought a passport, it's all new.

I know where my passion is and I know God is calling me, but I still need prayers, many many prayers. May God's will be done

Peace.