There is so much going on in my mind, right now!!
I'll start with money things. Praise be to God, I received notice today that my district LWML has voted to give me the $500 I requested for my trip!! This means that I'm stilla bout $600 short of my goal, which is a total of $3,500. Please keep me in your prayers. God always provides, but it's still nerve-wracking not to know how I'm going to get there.
We had our mission meeting today! We talked about important things, and I'm realizing as I type this that we leave in just a little over a month - holy dear goodness. I'm so excited to go back! Reuniting with Karen and Pastor Reehl just reminded me of all the great times we had! My emotions took a dive when I started looking at pictures, which leads me into my next topic: terror.
I'm going back. All those awful situations that I've described, all those faces that I've worried over and prayed over, all that pain that I don't believe any human should go through, all the abuse and neglect that I had to work through last summer - I'm going back. And I'm scared. So very, very scared.
I love those people, I really do. But now I know so much more about what I'm going to see. I'm going to notice when babies aren't there anymore. I'm going to notice in the hospital which beds have different faces, and wonder what happened to the old ones.
I really am excited, and have no idea what God has planned. But please, please pray for me, for the people who I have met, for the people who I will meet. I only want the chance to spread God's love and His Word, but now I'm terrified of seeing change, of wondering if people are still alive, or looking at my babies like Anya and Alona and wondering if, once they're 18, if they'll have a life beyond the streets. I'm scared of going back to the hospital knowing the conditions that they live in. I'm scared of going to the orphanages for the kids who are disabled and knowing, as I reach out and hold hands or rub backs, that those kids have no future, and I'm going to walk away and come back happy and healthy. I know so much more about the future of those kids than I did going into it last year, and I have no idea how I'm going to handle it. By the grace of God, it will be with even more love and servitude than last year.
This year's going to be great, no doubt. But I will need my God to get me through, and I thank Him, because I know He will.
Blessings on all that you do!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
China and Russia Funds
It's crazy that I'm blogging about fundraising for Russia yet again! It's almost been a year, and I am so excited to get the process going again!
First things first: China.
I told you that I had the opportunity to apply for an all-expenses-paid mission trip to China. Concordia chose 10 applicants and 5 alternates. The alternates are both for the event of someone being unable to go and also if the school in Hong King decides that they would like more people to come and staff the summer camp.
Guys, I'm ONE OF THE ALTERNATES!!!
I'm so honored to be a part of this team, and even if I don't get to go, I feel so very, very blessed to be this close. Keep the team in your prayers, and I'll continue to update you on details. We'll be having our first meeting within the next week, and from there, who knows what God has planned! Keep us in your prayers, though, and pray that we can get our ball rolling and plans going! (Also, if it doesn't sound too self-centered, perhaps pray that China decided they need 5 more Americans to come and help out with the English camp!!) :D
Second, Russia! I was talking to my mom this morning (snow days in Nebraska make for some great mommy-daughter moments!) and she told me two awesome things:
1) There's a church in Lincoln who I sent my fundraising letter to, and they contacted me and told me they don't have an LWML, but that they would still share my information and look into ways which they can support me. Keep this in your prayers; I pray that they'll be a good resource for this trip, and that through their prayers (and hopefully monetary support,) I'll be able to connect with them and then share my experiences with them after the trip!
2) My church is using the Lenten potluck meal this Wednesday as a fundraiser for me! Praise God! I will never be able to commend my church family for all the support they give me! They have been such an amazing resource for prayer, for funds, and for spiritual growth. I am so thankful for them! Please pray that the dinner gets a good number in attendance, and that we can raise some significant funds for the trip!
That's all I have as far as updates on the mission front. I'm so excited for what's going on in my life right now! I have been thinking a lot recently how I don't have a clue what my future holds, and I'm loving it! God has left the gates of possibility wide open for me, and I'm standing in the doorway, clueless and trusting, and I believe that's right where He wants me. Thank you all for keeping me in your prayers as I journey and explore and discover more and more about God's people and how to best reach them with His Gospel.
Blessings on all that you do!
First things first: China.
I told you that I had the opportunity to apply for an all-expenses-paid mission trip to China. Concordia chose 10 applicants and 5 alternates. The alternates are both for the event of someone being unable to go and also if the school in Hong King decides that they would like more people to come and staff the summer camp.
Guys, I'm ONE OF THE ALTERNATES!!!
I'm so honored to be a part of this team, and even if I don't get to go, I feel so very, very blessed to be this close. Keep the team in your prayers, and I'll continue to update you on details. We'll be having our first meeting within the next week, and from there, who knows what God has planned! Keep us in your prayers, though, and pray that we can get our ball rolling and plans going! (Also, if it doesn't sound too self-centered, perhaps pray that China decided they need 5 more Americans to come and help out with the English camp!!) :D
Second, Russia! I was talking to my mom this morning (snow days in Nebraska make for some great mommy-daughter moments!) and she told me two awesome things:
1) There's a church in Lincoln who I sent my fundraising letter to, and they contacted me and told me they don't have an LWML, but that they would still share my information and look into ways which they can support me. Keep this in your prayers; I pray that they'll be a good resource for this trip, and that through their prayers (and hopefully monetary support,) I'll be able to connect with them and then share my experiences with them after the trip!
2) My church is using the Lenten potluck meal this Wednesday as a fundraiser for me! Praise God! I will never be able to commend my church family for all the support they give me! They have been such an amazing resource for prayer, for funds, and for spiritual growth. I am so thankful for them! Please pray that the dinner gets a good number in attendance, and that we can raise some significant funds for the trip!
That's all I have as far as updates on the mission front. I'm so excited for what's going on in my life right now! I have been thinking a lot recently how I don't have a clue what my future holds, and I'm loving it! God has left the gates of possibility wide open for me, and I'm standing in the doorway, clueless and trusting, and I believe that's right where He wants me. Thank you all for keeping me in your prayers as I journey and explore and discover more and more about God's people and how to best reach them with His Gospel.
Blessings on all that you do!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Getting the Ball Rolling
Well, it took me long enough, it seems, but I finally got my fundraising letters sent out!
I think I sent out about 30, one of them to the district LWML office. The only thing I can do now is to pray, pray and trust God that he will help me gather all the funds I need for this amazing experience.
On the subject of the China mission, I got things going on that, too! They had informational meetings last Wednesday and that's when we got all the information and the applications.
I found out that, not only is it an all-expenses-paid trip, but we also earn money while we're there! About the same as a full-time minimum wage job here in the states. THAT'S AMAZING!! I got my application in on Friday; they're all due this Thursday. There's an estimated 200 applicants, all who are just as passionate as I am about mission work, if not more so.
As much as I would adore going on this trip, I trust that the ten people who are chosen will be the ones that God would have go. They will be the ones who, hopefully, will be the most effective at spreading the Gospel and at teaching the English language to the students who they meet. That being said, though, I would really appreciate any prayers from anyone. I would love to go on this experience, but I know that all the applicants would love to go, as well. We find out mid-February who made it in and who didn't. I'll be sure to keep you updated on that!
Other than getting things moving in both the missions, there's isn't a whole lot else going on! Thank you again, for all your prayers! May God continue to bless every mission, be it a "backyard" mission or one that takes you overseas!
Blessings on all that you do!
I think I sent out about 30, one of them to the district LWML office. The only thing I can do now is to pray, pray and trust God that he will help me gather all the funds I need for this amazing experience.
On the subject of the China mission, I got things going on that, too! They had informational meetings last Wednesday and that's when we got all the information and the applications.
I found out that, not only is it an all-expenses-paid trip, but we also earn money while we're there! About the same as a full-time minimum wage job here in the states. THAT'S AMAZING!! I got my application in on Friday; they're all due this Thursday. There's an estimated 200 applicants, all who are just as passionate as I am about mission work, if not more so.
As much as I would adore going on this trip, I trust that the ten people who are chosen will be the ones that God would have go. They will be the ones who, hopefully, will be the most effective at spreading the Gospel and at teaching the English language to the students who they meet. That being said, though, I would really appreciate any prayers from anyone. I would love to go on this experience, but I know that all the applicants would love to go, as well. We find out mid-February who made it in and who didn't. I'll be sure to keep you updated on that!
Other than getting things moving in both the missions, there's isn't a whole lot else going on! Thank you again, for all your prayers! May God continue to bless every mission, be it a "backyard" mission or one that takes you overseas!
Blessings on all that you do!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Jesus is My Role-Model
As I read my chosen title for this entry, I feel silly. It seems obvious, doesn't it? That Jesus should be my role-model?
Allow me to start at the beginning, that you may understand the inspiration for this post, because I can by no means take credit.
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the 50th anniversary, to be exact. Concordia had a wonderful speaker, a man from the westside of Chicago named Pastor James Brooks. His message is so inspiring for anyone who has a passion for helping others. He works in an urban church in Lawndale, a suburb with few resources, so few that there's not even a grocery store in the community. The statistics there are some of the worst I've heard, considering the town is in America.
Can I take a moment to go on a tangent? America. What comes to your mind? For me, it's red, white, and blue, the Statue of Liberty, videos of waving presidents, nice cars, manicured lawns and nails, shopping malls, laughing teens, smiling babies, and happy couples. This is the picture of American that has been painted in my mind. Now come back, back to the reality. Come back to the unemployment that reaches 25% in some urban communities. Come back to the broken families, to the high rate of poor literacy, or total illiteracy among students and adults. Come back to the young and single mothers, the violence rates, the prison rates, the homicide rates. Come back to the danger of walking on the streets, the fear of going hungry, and the poverty rates.
I don't know where you or where you've been. I don't know your life story or experiences. Here's what I do know: my life has been nothing like that. I've lived in areas where kids play in the streets, where young girls can walk alone and unafraid, where nearly 100% of kids graduate high school, and where we can afford to go to Wal-Mart as often as we like. I am comfortable, happy, content, secure.
I know I've written before that the idea of living in Russia is scary to me; how incredibly selfish of me. This is where my post title comes into play. Jesus, my Savior and your's. This Son of God, perfect in every way, came down from heaven to be among us. He became flesh, and came to live in a world of injustice, hate, and fear. He came and became one of us, connected with us, built a relationship with us, loved us. He left heaven. I think I need to let that sink in. Jesus. Left. HEAVEN. To be with humans.
And I'm scared to go to Russia, to leave my familiar lifestyle. Lord, forgive my selfish nature!
Jesus did mission work right. That sounds obvious, but he didn't just come, give us hugs, and then leave. He equipped us for salvation. He gave us leaders: the disciples. He gave us lessons: his parables. He gave us resources: The Lord's Supper. He spent around 33 years making sure we were ready to live without his physical presence.
God's just amazing, and I see it more and more, every single day. Pastor Brooks reminded me of so many aspects of ministry today, including the need for missionaries to live among the people and how important it is to empower those who we reach out to. No matter how long I live in Russia, it won't be forever. Nobody lives on this earth forever. If we want to continue to insure that lives improve and God's saving Word is spread, we are called to make sure that the people we work with become leaders themselves.
That's why we do work in the orphanages. Those babies, who have nobody, who are growing up in a society without religion and where wives can be legally beat, they already have influence. They may not know it, but they are the leaders of Russia. They're the ones who are next in line to create a better society. That's my mission: to share God's potential for them! They have so much power, those little ones. So much opportunity to change their own lives and the lives of those around them. I can only pray that they continue to grow in Christ, and to share Him more and more as they grow up.
I need to apologize if this post comes across as scatter-brained. I'm actually (and this is just proof of how ADD I am sometimes...) writing this in my World Civ II notebook until I can type it out later this afternoon. (Sorry, Professor Phillips...)
I know I've said this several times, and I'll continue to say it, over and over: You are a gift. I don't care if you're reading this and I've never met you, You. Are. A. Gift. Whether or not you know it, you're constantly touching someone's life. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, (sorry, couldn't resist,) is everywhere. It's where you are, right now. If you're making friends with the new girl on your hall (shout out to my new friend Krysten!), if you're praying for the homeless man you pass on the street, if you support a child through Compassion International, if you drop off a can of soup at the food bank, etc., God's using you, no matter what.
To quote Pastor Brooks today: We are the light of the world. What good are we doing if we're staying in the well-lighted places? We need to go and seek out the dark places, and start to light those places.
I know this one was long, but thanks for reading, thanks for hoping, thanks for praying. You are a gift in my life, to say the least. :)
Blessings on all that you do!
Allow me to start at the beginning, that you may understand the inspiration for this post, because I can by no means take credit.
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the 50th anniversary, to be exact. Concordia had a wonderful speaker, a man from the westside of Chicago named Pastor James Brooks. His message is so inspiring for anyone who has a passion for helping others. He works in an urban church in Lawndale, a suburb with few resources, so few that there's not even a grocery store in the community. The statistics there are some of the worst I've heard, considering the town is in America.
Can I take a moment to go on a tangent? America. What comes to your mind? For me, it's red, white, and blue, the Statue of Liberty, videos of waving presidents, nice cars, manicured lawns and nails, shopping malls, laughing teens, smiling babies, and happy couples. This is the picture of American that has been painted in my mind. Now come back, back to the reality. Come back to the unemployment that reaches 25% in some urban communities. Come back to the broken families, to the high rate of poor literacy, or total illiteracy among students and adults. Come back to the young and single mothers, the violence rates, the prison rates, the homicide rates. Come back to the danger of walking on the streets, the fear of going hungry, and the poverty rates.
I don't know where you or where you've been. I don't know your life story or experiences. Here's what I do know: my life has been nothing like that. I've lived in areas where kids play in the streets, where young girls can walk alone and unafraid, where nearly 100% of kids graduate high school, and where we can afford to go to Wal-Mart as often as we like. I am comfortable, happy, content, secure.
I know I've written before that the idea of living in Russia is scary to me; how incredibly selfish of me. This is where my post title comes into play. Jesus, my Savior and your's. This Son of God, perfect in every way, came down from heaven to be among us. He became flesh, and came to live in a world of injustice, hate, and fear. He came and became one of us, connected with us, built a relationship with us, loved us. He left heaven. I think I need to let that sink in. Jesus. Left. HEAVEN. To be with humans.
And I'm scared to go to Russia, to leave my familiar lifestyle. Lord, forgive my selfish nature!
Jesus did mission work right. That sounds obvious, but he didn't just come, give us hugs, and then leave. He equipped us for salvation. He gave us leaders: the disciples. He gave us lessons: his parables. He gave us resources: The Lord's Supper. He spent around 33 years making sure we were ready to live without his physical presence.
God's just amazing, and I see it more and more, every single day. Pastor Brooks reminded me of so many aspects of ministry today, including the need for missionaries to live among the people and how important it is to empower those who we reach out to. No matter how long I live in Russia, it won't be forever. Nobody lives on this earth forever. If we want to continue to insure that lives improve and God's saving Word is spread, we are called to make sure that the people we work with become leaders themselves.
That's why we do work in the orphanages. Those babies, who have nobody, who are growing up in a society without religion and where wives can be legally beat, they already have influence. They may not know it, but they are the leaders of Russia. They're the ones who are next in line to create a better society. That's my mission: to share God's potential for them! They have so much power, those little ones. So much opportunity to change their own lives and the lives of those around them. I can only pray that they continue to grow in Christ, and to share Him more and more as they grow up.
I need to apologize if this post comes across as scatter-brained. I'm actually (and this is just proof of how ADD I am sometimes...) writing this in my World Civ II notebook until I can type it out later this afternoon. (Sorry, Professor Phillips...)
I know I've said this several times, and I'll continue to say it, over and over: You are a gift. I don't care if you're reading this and I've never met you, You. Are. A. Gift. Whether or not you know it, you're constantly touching someone's life. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, (sorry, couldn't resist,) is everywhere. It's where you are, right now. If you're making friends with the new girl on your hall (shout out to my new friend Krysten!), if you're praying for the homeless man you pass on the street, if you support a child through Compassion International, if you drop off a can of soup at the food bank, etc., God's using you, no matter what.
To quote Pastor Brooks today: We are the light of the world. What good are we doing if we're staying in the well-lighted places? We need to go and seek out the dark places, and start to light those places.
I know this one was long, but thanks for reading, thanks for hoping, thanks for praying. You are a gift in my life, to say the least. :)
Blessings on all that you do!
Friday, January 18, 2013
My Mission Might Have Grown
So, two posts in one day seems pretty rare, unless I'm trying to catch up on journal entries, but you guys had to know this!
My school is offering the opportunity to go to China on a 3-week mission trip starting in June! I would be teaching English to students in grades preschool-8th grade. The setting will be a summer camp designed to teach students how to speak English.
The best part is this: the trip is paid for. I could potentially be going to China on a pre-paid mission trip!! GUYS!! THIS IS AWESOME!!!
I'm so excited about this, I can't even express it. I'll need to pray about it, consider it, and then pray some more. As I'm doing this, I must ask a favor: please, please join me in prayer. This is a huge opportunity, and I don't know how many other students will be interested in it, but they're taking 10 students total.
Again, please keep this in your prayers. If it is God's will that I go, we will see this great trip come to fruition, and if not, then we will see him at work in some other great way. I'm just so excited, I can't really formulate any other thoughts!!
Blessings on all that you do!
My school is offering the opportunity to go to China on a 3-week mission trip starting in June! I would be teaching English to students in grades preschool-8th grade. The setting will be a summer camp designed to teach students how to speak English.
The best part is this: the trip is paid for. I could potentially be going to China on a pre-paid mission trip!! GUYS!! THIS IS AWESOME!!!
I'm so excited about this, I can't even express it. I'll need to pray about it, consider it, and then pray some more. As I'm doing this, I must ask a favor: please, please join me in prayer. This is a huge opportunity, and I don't know how many other students will be interested in it, but they're taking 10 students total.
Again, please keep this in your prayers. If it is God's will that I go, we will see this great trip come to fruition, and if not, then we will see him at work in some other great way. I'm just so excited, I can't really formulate any other thoughts!!
Blessings on all that you do!
A Poke from God
Greetings and blessings, dear friends!
Well, I have details for this year's trip! Things are on a roll again as I begin to prepare for Russia, Part 2. I received my itinerary for the trip, and things are a bit different this year. We're going to be starting in Latvia and traveling through the Baltic States before we go into Russia, and then we'll be leaving from there. So, in a sense, we'll kind of be doing it backwards, but that's only because the "forwards" way is the only way I've experienced it.
We're going to be leaving from Omaha on May 27th and flying through New Jersey (which is weird... Who routes through NJ??) and then going through Frankfurt, Germany, and finally landing in Riga. On the way back (and this is possibly one of the most exciting flights I'll have been on yet,) we're going to be flying through Munich. With a 9 hour lay-over, we've been told that we can possibly get out and walk around. IN GERMANY!!! This girl's pretty excited!
That being said, I have a really cool story to share with you guys. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm supposed to be a teacher, or if I'm supposed to be a missionary, or if I'm even supposed to be going back this year. But then God sends some pretty cool nudges my direction, and my faith in my decisions is renewed.
Story:
I'm part of an improv-acting troupe at Concordia, and I'm one of three students who helps to organize and teach the group. We had a professor at the school contact us about his daughter, who was adopted from Russia. She lived in the orphanage for a long time, and because of that, doesn't deal with conflict very well. She would prefer to run from it or fight out against it. Her dad thought that her coming to IMPROVables meetings and working with no script would help her learn to address conflict instead of burst out against it.
Last night was her first time to join us, and she's a very sweet girl, and very willing to participate. I enjoyed having her! The God moment came when she and her dad came in, and I introduced myself to her. There's a member of the troupe who has been the bridge of communication between the professor and the group of student leaders, so she also came to welcome our visitor to the group. As I was introducing myself to our new friend, the "bridge" was telling the professor how I've been on mission trips to Russia, and am planning on going again. This caught our friend's attention, and she asked if I had gone over for pleasure or to visit family, and when I told her I had been on mission trips to work in orphanages, she broke into a huge grin, probably the biggest I saw all night.
That's it, right there. That's why I go over to Russia, that's why I want to go back. I may never be able to understand the language that the kids use to communicate with me; I may only ever get to the point where I can look into their smiling faces and shining eyes and accept that as my proof that I'm doing something that affects them. But when that affirmation can be voiced in English, and can be talked about without a language barrier or a translator, it's a whole new level for me. Seeing that girl light up and understand that she and I had a connection, that we've seen the same things, that she would know exactly what I talk about as far as experiences, it was a wonderful, wonderful moment.
Thank you all for reading this, for supporting me, for praying for me. Cheers to Russia 2013! I pray these experiences will be just as rewarding as last year's, for all involved.
Blessings on all that you do!
Well, I have details for this year's trip! Things are on a roll again as I begin to prepare for Russia, Part 2. I received my itinerary for the trip, and things are a bit different this year. We're going to be starting in Latvia and traveling through the Baltic States before we go into Russia, and then we'll be leaving from there. So, in a sense, we'll kind of be doing it backwards, but that's only because the "forwards" way is the only way I've experienced it.
We're going to be leaving from Omaha on May 27th and flying through New Jersey (which is weird... Who routes through NJ??) and then going through Frankfurt, Germany, and finally landing in Riga. On the way back (and this is possibly one of the most exciting flights I'll have been on yet,) we're going to be flying through Munich. With a 9 hour lay-over, we've been told that we can possibly get out and walk around. IN GERMANY!!! This girl's pretty excited!
That being said, I have a really cool story to share with you guys. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm supposed to be a teacher, or if I'm supposed to be a missionary, or if I'm even supposed to be going back this year. But then God sends some pretty cool nudges my direction, and my faith in my decisions is renewed.
Story:
I'm part of an improv-acting troupe at Concordia, and I'm one of three students who helps to organize and teach the group. We had a professor at the school contact us about his daughter, who was adopted from Russia. She lived in the orphanage for a long time, and because of that, doesn't deal with conflict very well. She would prefer to run from it or fight out against it. Her dad thought that her coming to IMPROVables meetings and working with no script would help her learn to address conflict instead of burst out against it.
Last night was her first time to join us, and she's a very sweet girl, and very willing to participate. I enjoyed having her! The God moment came when she and her dad came in, and I introduced myself to her. There's a member of the troupe who has been the bridge of communication between the professor and the group of student leaders, so she also came to welcome our visitor to the group. As I was introducing myself to our new friend, the "bridge" was telling the professor how I've been on mission trips to Russia, and am planning on going again. This caught our friend's attention, and she asked if I had gone over for pleasure or to visit family, and when I told her I had been on mission trips to work in orphanages, she broke into a huge grin, probably the biggest I saw all night.
That's it, right there. That's why I go over to Russia, that's why I want to go back. I may never be able to understand the language that the kids use to communicate with me; I may only ever get to the point where I can look into their smiling faces and shining eyes and accept that as my proof that I'm doing something that affects them. But when that affirmation can be voiced in English, and can be talked about without a language barrier or a translator, it's a whole new level for me. Seeing that girl light up and understand that she and I had a connection, that we've seen the same things, that she would know exactly what I talk about as far as experiences, it was a wonderful, wonderful moment.
Thank you all for reading this, for supporting me, for praying for me. Cheers to Russia 2013! I pray these experiences will be just as rewarding as last year's, for all involved.
Blessings on all that you do!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Happy New Year!
Hello, friends! Happy and blessed New Year to everyone! It's hard to believe that it's already 2013, but I suppose I feel that way every time we reach another January 1st.
I apologize for my absence in writing as of recent. I have been very busy with my school life, and, honestly, nothing new has come up about Russia for several months! However, that has changed, and I have dates for my trip, I've started to write fundraising letters, and I'm back on the ball for trip number two!
This year, I will be traveling with Pastor John Reehl to the Saint Petersburg area, and we will also be visiting the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia). We leave on May 28th, and will be returning on June 12th.
Some people may be wondering why I want to go back, since it'll have been just a year when I return. At first, I wasn't sure that I was supposed to go back. Maybe I was just going back for myself, maybe it wasn't really God's plan to have me return. However, after prayer and consideration, I have decided to return, for many reasons.
First of all, I made many connections over there with so many different people. If I can actually learn a bit of the language before May, I hope to be able to deepen my conversations with these beloved individuals, maybe figure out correspondance, and, especially, strengthen my relationship with them in Christ.
Secondly, I'm considering full-time mission work in Russia. (That sounds scary to me, but at the same time, the scariness makes it seem more right, if that makes ANY sense.) If I'm going to be working in that culture and teaching the Word of God, I want to be more familiar with my possible future mission field. Last year was amazing, but I struggled to get past the initial culture shock and take everything in. I'm hoping that a second trip, especially one so close in date to the first one, will help me to gather more information, and to take in more fine details.
And third, if I'm going to be honest, I just really want to go back. My experience last year was fantastic! And if I have the opportunity to reach more people through a second trip, then I would very much like to use that opportunity to the best of God's glory.
That's about all I have that's new on the Russia trip. Prayers are always welcome, for successful fundraising, for open hearts and minds, for safe travels, for growing ministry, and for touched lives. Thank you, readers, for all you do for me, for reading my posts, for praying for me and the people who God will touch during these trips.
Just a final note, a request for your prayers: You may have heard that Putin, the president of Russia, recently signed a law that prohibits Americans from adopting children from the orphanages in Russia. Please pray for the kids over there! The conditions are already less than ideal, and as less children will be leaving the establishments, more will be packed in, or less will be taken in. Please, also pray that Putin stops there, and that we are continued to be allowed access into the orphanages on our trips.
Thank you so much, again, for all your prayers and support.
God bless you in all that you do!
I apologize for my absence in writing as of recent. I have been very busy with my school life, and, honestly, nothing new has come up about Russia for several months! However, that has changed, and I have dates for my trip, I've started to write fundraising letters, and I'm back on the ball for trip number two!
This year, I will be traveling with Pastor John Reehl to the Saint Petersburg area, and we will also be visiting the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia). We leave on May 28th, and will be returning on June 12th.
Some people may be wondering why I want to go back, since it'll have been just a year when I return. At first, I wasn't sure that I was supposed to go back. Maybe I was just going back for myself, maybe it wasn't really God's plan to have me return. However, after prayer and consideration, I have decided to return, for many reasons.
First of all, I made many connections over there with so many different people. If I can actually learn a bit of the language before May, I hope to be able to deepen my conversations with these beloved individuals, maybe figure out correspondance, and, especially, strengthen my relationship with them in Christ.
Secondly, I'm considering full-time mission work in Russia. (That sounds scary to me, but at the same time, the scariness makes it seem more right, if that makes ANY sense.) If I'm going to be working in that culture and teaching the Word of God, I want to be more familiar with my possible future mission field. Last year was amazing, but I struggled to get past the initial culture shock and take everything in. I'm hoping that a second trip, especially one so close in date to the first one, will help me to gather more information, and to take in more fine details.
And third, if I'm going to be honest, I just really want to go back. My experience last year was fantastic! And if I have the opportunity to reach more people through a second trip, then I would very much like to use that opportunity to the best of God's glory.
That's about all I have that's new on the Russia trip. Prayers are always welcome, for successful fundraising, for open hearts and minds, for safe travels, for growing ministry, and for touched lives. Thank you, readers, for all you do for me, for reading my posts, for praying for me and the people who God will touch during these trips.
Just a final note, a request for your prayers: You may have heard that Putin, the president of Russia, recently signed a law that prohibits Americans from adopting children from the orphanages in Russia. Please pray for the kids over there! The conditions are already less than ideal, and as less children will be leaving the establishments, more will be packed in, or less will be taken in. Please, also pray that Putin stops there, and that we are continued to be allowed access into the orphanages on our trips.
Thank you so much, again, for all your prayers and support.
God bless you in all that you do!
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