A New Thing

I tried a new thing today. I tried going on a walk and listening to the Bible. I've never been big on listening to a book or driving down the road hearing a book being read to me because I'd rather just sing or dance a little (safely) on long drives. Today I simply walked down a trail next to a field and just listened to someone tell me the stories.

I listened to the book of John and as I walked I imagined just being a person in the crowd, or the woman at the well who found the Messiah. I felt the "aha!" moment that the centurion had when his servant ran up to him and told him the hour that his son started to heal. I snickered at sarcasm that Jesus uses when he is addressing the religious leaders.

But it was when the narrator read the parts when Jesus was speaking to the crowds when he told them of the true followers, the ones who in those times were dead in a spiritual sense and how because of Jesus they would come alive. I imagined being a non-Jewish person back in that day and actually understanding what those words meant. Then I remembered that what Jesus was saying here has not stopped.

People who are spiritually dead come alive everyday around the world.

I think I really enjoy listening to the stories of the Bible, sometimes I think we have lost the art of oral story telling. It's like sitting on the "magic carpet" in the library classroom while the teacher reads us a story and we are all just taken by the words. Except this is a little different, this is real life, these are lessons and tools for this way of life. 

I'm glad I tried a new thing, even if it's a little thing. New things are good to try...you know unless the thing hurts you or others...that whole thing. Anyways, that's been my experience today. Anything you've done lately that has really been a cool thing? Tell me about it! No, really it'd be cool if ya told me about it :)

Tis all for now.

All to God

My Mind is a Small Town

Neurons are firing in my brain thinking about this...and that..and everything in between. All of that is happening behind tired eyes, ready for sleep, yet I can feel each barrel flash in my mind. If something external is impeding on sleep we tend to make the annoyance stop, but how do you do that when the internal part of you is that annoyance?

Don't worry this blog post is not about money, I'll let that rest for this one. It is almost midnight, and my body  is heavy and I liken the feeling on my skin to the sound of a faint lulling sound except, I feel it creeping on my skin....does that make sense? I know, I'm strange we already came to that realization pretty early in this relationship. I'm so sleepy.

My brain is like a small town with a big gossip story that everyone is just raving about. Think Edward Scissor hands type of town. It isn't being a very active listener when comes to discussing the differences between it and what my body wants...which is sleep. So here I am writing a nonsensical blog about the war between my mind and my body, I'm also allowing my mind to appease itself through an outlet.

It's what the internet is for....right?

I'm really trying hard to calm the math down (I get it, I used an Adventure Time term). Well, I hope you enjoyed reading about my internal struggle at hand. I hope you are having a much better time relaxing tonight than I am. Thanks for reading even when I tend to be a little crazy. You guys are sweet, beautiful, strawberries and I love you. I also would not mind eating some strawberries...ok, goodnight...or good day, depending on where you are in the world. Remember...

All to God (this is what you should remember.)

May. That is All.

May is finally almost over. It's been a quick month, mainly because it has been such a busy month. I've done a lot of celebrating with friends, and a lot of hanging out with cool people from different churches throughout the area here. I have done a TON of travelling by myself which caused for a lot of talking to myself, but nonetheless, wonderfulness waited at each destination.

A lot of good news has come out of May as far as my financial state in this entire journey through raising support. There is just a smidge more money that is left to raise as I said when I was unable to express how thankful I am for all the support that I have been given thus far from people I know very well to those I haven't even met.

I'll be writing more about it in my newsletter that many of you read. I hope that if you haven't already that you will go to this page, yes please consider clicking right here and maybe ponder helping me close the financial gap of $3,300. Scattered among many people this amount is not that much to come too and after coming so far and having so many people decide to come alongside me in this thing, it is in this moment that I cannot lose stamina because now is the time everyone, to move this effort to Europe.

May has been a great month, I'm tired, but a good tired. I've come so far but not without a team effort; we have come very far. As always thank you for your love and support, without a God who stirs the hearts of the willing I couldn't stand a chance. Thank so many of you for being the willing ones.

All to God

When Thank You Doesn't Feel Like Enough

I'm so sorry that you haven't heard from me in a while, as said in previous posts this month is a little crazy! The good news about all the crazy is that it's the good kind of crazy and I'll that that any day.

Anyway, I just wanted to talk about how when you have been given gifts and how just saying thank you to anyone who gave those gifts seems meager and a little out of place. I don't mean that the thanks is out of place but the absolute smallness it brings. I have been given many gifts this month, sacrificial, financial gifts and I say "thank you!" and it doesn't seem to be enough, I feel myself lacking in expressing my gratitude of which there is an abundance.

The overwhelming feeling that comes from these gifts is not just one of "Yes! I'm closer!" but 95% "God must be ready to use me for something because I'm not this incredible." I could never thank God enough FOR ANYTHING anyway, but I still praise him in my small mind and small soul. Everyone who I have encountered that has supported me financially or truly prayerfully throughout this support-raising endeavor has meant a monumental amount to me.

This road has had it's encouraging moments and also those moments where it seems I might not ever reach the goal. I still have a little left to raise but it is far less daunting than before. To have people believe in me and the work that will be done is humbling and encouraging because like I said before...I'm really not that great, but I have a great God leading me into this field for his great purposes. Though I might be a girl who is not the brightest crayon, the one who never won many great awards, the average and sometimes below average student who would try her best not to let distractions take hold, the one who was OK at sports but nothing special...

I KNOW

 I am the girl that God calls his daughter, I am one he has raised up to love him and go where he wants me to go, I am his willing heart, I am unafraid because of his power to overcome anything, I am in his peace, I am in his strength, I am cloaked with salvation able to share it with anyone, I am God's person...one of them at least. I am no better than the rest of humanity, but in God I am everything I need to be despite my imperfections, inhibitions, and insecurities.

It is humbling and causes me (along with many other instances in my life) to glorify God, because without his stirring in your hearts, without him giving you the faith that your money and your prayers are an investment for the Kingdom then why should you support me? This one small person, with so many flaws. It has been God from the start and it will be God when we reach the finish.

Thank you all for what you have done, it has been incredible to see the Lord move and use his timing perfectly.

All to God

SO CLOSE.

Mother's Day has even gifted those who do not have children. I say this because this support raising stage of ministry has kind of been like my baby; fussy at times, loving and cuddly at others. Today it is lovely and cuddly because today I found out that some support has been confirmed which only leaves me $10,000 more to raise.

Many will say "$10,000! You are comfortable with the fact that you have that much more to raise?!" Stick with me my little glass half empty people because I'm not great at math but here it is: I only need 100 people to give a financial ONE TIME gift of $100 and I will reach that financial goal.

That's it. That's all. $100 from 100 people and the gap is filled. Boom. Done. I am very excited about this, I am so close to financially being able to get out there because of all the wonderful people who have been so good to me. If you are reading this I hope you will prayerfully consider being one of these 100 that might fulfill this financial need.

If you do feel like this is something you would want to help with click here and find out how you can send in your gift. I am so blessed that many of you have helped and that God has brought you to work alongside me. I thank him for you, and all you have done. I thank God that he has opened the doors and shown me the avenues, his guidance is priceless.

Thank you all for your prayers and love.

All to God

Come With Me!

Hey guys, this is an update post. Also, a confessional post. I have all the social networks, yes you guessed it, facebook, twitter, tumblr, even a youtube channel.

Why Emilie? Why do you live in the cyber space?

I covered my bases, and I refuse to join anymore. I am gearing up to get to Europe and I want to take my friends and family and supporters with me, so while I can't physically, I will attempt to pack you in my bags and let you see it at least through the lens of a camera. Obviously you won't see everything but you will see some things and I'm excited about it. So here's how to check it out and join on in! Subscribe to my Youtube channel, follow me on Tumblr, and Twitter, friend me on Facebook. Also, keep reading these blog posts, and I love that you do! I explain myself better in writing anyway so it's here you will get the meat of the experience.

I feel it in my bones that this next year is going to be a good one, and I hope that you all will stay in the loop! 

All to God