Something to pray about

Hey guys...

Ramadan starts tomorrow.

Pray for the Muslims around the world especially in this month.

If you are unsure what Ramadan is, it is the month in which Mohammad the prophet of Allah according to Islam gained prophecies. We know these prophecies according to Mohammad as the Qur'an. He fasted this entire month, everyday until sundown, so Muslims carry on that ritual. They abstain from things like food, drink, cigarettes, and sexual relations until sundown.

I just ask that you pray that God will show them the right path, that maybe one day they will also pray in Jesus name.

All to God

A blindfold and a few steps later...

All I want to say is when I was ten I gave my life to Christ. I was ten and the words "giving my life" to Christ were not really as apparent as they are now that I am older. Literally to give it away, freely, willingly, intentionally, without inhibition. To make the conscious decision that this is a big deal and knowing that no matter what age you are. Looking back, that ten year old made a seemingly scary decision. Looking forward from where I stand now,

she still made a scary decision, but it's so worth it.

Following someone who tells you to put your blindfold on and start walking at the age of ten sounds like stranger danger to me. This would be the case if Jesus were a stranger. But, alas, he is no stranger. I like to think that Jesus, at a young age, had to actually make the decision to be the Christ. He was tempted yes? He was fully human as well as God yes? Something in me believes that Jesus had to look at what he knew he was to become and accept it (as he did) or deny it. I think Jesus had his free will as does any of us, which I think makes Jesus a Savior in more ways than one. But the point is, it must have been one scary decision.

This is a point in my life (again) where I relate to Jesus on this matter. Here and now I take comfort in knowing that he knows what I am through because he experienced it here on earth. This is my Savior. The one who knows that the decisions I make though hard, can be for his Kingdom. That ten year old girl all those years ago probably couldn't imagine the future before her at the age of 21. 

Luke 9:62 "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God."

My hand is firm on the plow.

Thank you for your prayers and continued prayers. Thank you for the love, and the prayers on behalf of these people here. Thank you.

All to God

In all Honesty..again

Well a lot has happen in the past few weeks, I suppose I want to share it in all honesty. Here we go.

1. In all honesty, there is a cat screeching outside right now and it's super annoying, especially at 11:30pm (or later), it's kind of a common occurrence.

2. Yes, I dressed up as a Gryffindor student for the opening show of Harry Potter 7 pt 2, and I might of had a wand....and I was honestly not proud of what I was wearing. Honestly I did it for my friend who I love.

3. Honestly, can't say I wasn't extremely excited when a Bosnian told me I spoke Bosnian well. I think the good Lord knew I needed some encouragement in that area. You could see I was being honest when I was describing how bashful I am at speaking this language.

4. Being a missionary is hard bet you didn't know that. Specially when you get a surprise facebook message about something big that happened back home.

5. Even after saying that, honestly, I really want to do something overseas for a year. I can't help that the Lord fashioned my heart to this kind of ministry.

6. Honestly, I've played Cities and Knights more, it's an ok game. It's good I took those few weeks to sit out and watch for a while.

7. Sometimes sitting outside in Bosnia reminds me of the beach...weird.

8. Honestly, I think I can learn this language, more and more pieces have started to fit together.

9. Really, I am excited to get back to school to finish out my college career, I really hope it's to finish my college career. I hope my last year can make someone's first year worth it.

10. I leave in two weeks. I leave....again...in two weeks. Another summer down. Honestly, I miss my family, I miss my friends, but goodness have recent events put things in perspective. Everyday (more than most in America) people die without knowing Christ, every...single..day. Honestly there's work to be done, and I am willing to do it.

There's my honesty for now. Thank you all for your prayers. I would ask now specifically, for a moment to shift some of your prayer time and pray for my family in the States. There has been loss in the family, pray for them as they go through everything that comes with loss. But by all means please do not forget to pray for these people and their spiritual well-beings, pray for them please. As always thanks for your prayers for me, they are felt everyday.

All to God

Like sand through the hour glass....

I have started and stopped writing two times now and I fully intend on writing YOU, my wonderful readers. A lot has been going on these past few weeks, goat roasts, village weddings, and soon a one night stay in Goražde a few hours away from here. Made new friends, and continuing with language classes.

These days are going by fast and soon I will be back in America with my much missed friends and family. With that said it is heavy on my heart that I am leaving. Relationships are starting to stick again, language is improving, not to mention it's hard to leave my missionary friends. It's like taking a fourth of a really interesting class and not finishing it. Having to stop learning (directly) language and culture is one of the most frustrating things. Leaving these relationships behind with merely the scaffolding attached is ridiculously hard.

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement through my time here and I hope you will continue for the rest of my time in Bosnia. I hope you will continue to pray for this place and it's people. You are all so good to me and have lifted me up while I have been here. I hope you do the same for the people here, the workers, and their work. Thanks for the blessing.

All to God

A rather significant confession

You know, when someone tells you that learning a new language is a humbling experience, I suppose you should listen. To know that the words that will come out of your mouth will sound foreign, weird, and sometimes downright wrong, can make one feel vulnerable and silly. To be around native people and to not be able to speak a word is humbling in itself, but when you have some of the necessary tools to say something but don't for fear of feeling rude and inhospitable might be a touch more humbling.

Hello my name is Emilie and I am a language perfectionist. I admit, dear readers, that when I try to use what I know it is hard for me to get the words out. This is caused by the facts that I pointed out when I was being honest when I wrote you last. Bosnian is a hard language to learn and it has 7 cases that I have not mastered yet. Also my vocabulary is not entirely extensive; I am how most would say, a baby in this language and I have not lost grip of reality to think that I should be fluent by now. No, I am surprised at how far I've come and the things I do know, but I am an impatient soul sometimes and feel the need to push forward when I am not ready yet.

However, I am aware of this weakness/stubbornness of mine. I will wish I never wrote this post later because  a few people who live in this household will read this and use it against me when I don't speak ;).  I guess sometimes I do just need a swift kick in the behind. Let's just say I've learned a lot about myself this trip to the old world.

Maybe I should make a bit more use of a rječnik to broaden that vocabulary a smidge. So there you have my confession of the day, my name is Emilie and I am a language perfectionist. It's like two sides pulling in opposite directions because on the one side I really, deeply want to speak and build better relationships with the people in their native tongue. But on the other there is this monstrous pull to not say anything because what might come out of my mouth might be completely wrong with a hint of ridiculous on the side.


Let me say, I understand how absolutely ridiculous all of this sounds. I am aware that this sounds completely cowardice. I am not writing these words with joy but with a heart of change I suppose. 


Well my friends I guess that is it for now and I will ask you to pray for this specific subject for me, that as I try to speak words, no matter how silly, will come out of my mouth. Thank you for your prayers up to this point and I am so glad that I can come to you with something specific knowing that it will be prayed for. As I've said before please continue to pray for this nation, it's believers and non-believers, it's workers and future workers. Also my friends another specific for your prayer time, pray for the churches established here, pray for strength in unity. Thank you for your prayers.


All to God

In all Honesty

Time for honesty hour from an American spending a summer in Bosnia. I do hope you enjoy, most of this is off the cuff and just flowing from my mind to my fingers all in one fluid(ish) motion.

1. Bosnia is a VERY beautiful place.
2. You would be jealous of the view from the balcony on this house in the day and at night

...Seriously this city is lit up (specially when a futbol, soccer, game is going on and the stadion is in use).

3. I am absolutely a terrible player of the game Cities and Knights, I have opted to never play it.
4. I love walking into town even on a hot day rather than riding in a car.
5. Food is better here than it is in America, I suppose you never would have guessed
6 Just to be on the safe side....BOSNIA IS NOT IN AFRICA, just a reminder

Not that that has anything to do with me being here..oh well..I digress..

7. We do not have to hide the fact that we are Christian, these people are hospitable and tolerant (which is a good and bad thing)
8. Most of the non-Christians I have met here have more of a Christ-like nature than some Christians I know.

Seriously, how many of us would say that we would offer foreigners things to drink when money is too short and we are barely making ends meet. Sometimes..even when we don't make ends meet.

9. Turkish toilets squatty potties are not the devil, if you know how to take a wiz without sitting on anything (ladies).
10. In some places you may have to pay to take a wiz..or number 2. One mark (about 70 cent, depending on the exchange rate) will get you into the potty just fine.
11. This language is a little crazy and may allow you to say words you might not even like to come close to saying, like Bihac (C with a V on it's head makes the CH sound making this word sound like this Bee-Ha-Ch)

Or Bec, same C with the same CH sound making this word sound like Bay-Ch. Or other places may make us think of American icons like the Dough Boy from Pillsbury in the town of Doboj, pronounced precisely the same as the icon himself.

12. As hard as it is to learn, it's fun to learn, and I am having a good time learning it, and my teacher, she's a good one.
13. The call of prayer goes off and I like the way it sounds. But it is also another reminder of the work that is still to be done here.
14. In all honesty...some people (most people) feed us WAAAAYYYY to much, not that I'm complaining, just being honest, (at least it's delicious...right?).
15. I've come to see that the kuma or maid/matron of honor for a Bosnian wedding has a ton more responsibilities than they do in the States. A little stressful, and expensive it seems to me.
16. I hate the language barrier, in all honesty..it's like I'm a mute person taking up space in a Bosnian home. But..to be fair...in all honesty, sometimes I choose not to speak because I'm someone who wants every word to be correct and every grammar rule put to good use. I suppose I should just open my mouth.

Well that's a little bit of honesty I suppose, at least for now. I'll put more "In all honesty" things up here. Just give it a little more time and more will arrive.

Well thanks friends for your prayers and encouragement. Thank you for all you do for me on my behalf. Another in all honesty comment, I would really appreciate it if you all would pray for this nation, these people, and the strongholds there are here. Thank you for everything.

All to God