On Monday, I drove from Cedar Rapids (where my boxes resided) to Chicago to put my belongings on the container, and then back home to Omaha. I left at 5am and walked into my apartment at 10:30 pm. What made the day more enjoyable was seeing my friend Stacy in Chicago for lunch and having coffee with Mike in Des Moines.
Things have been different being back in my empty apartment. I wanted to flip the chicken I was cooking and had no flipper. I can't open my cans because I don't have a can opener, and it didn't dawn on me until my chicken nuggets and french fries were done in the oven that I had no hot pad to pull them out. It's been a hoot to find new ways of doing things. :-) But in all honesty it's been nice not having a TV or the Internet. It has given me extra time to read books I've been wanting to read and delve into the scriptures more.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Faith Bible Church
Sunday, June 28th I was able to present at Faith Bible Church where I grew up. What a great time! I got to see my 4th grade teacher, old Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, kids I babysat that are all grown up, and a couple of my best friends I hadn't seen in years. I've never felt so at "home."
After my second presentation, a couple I did not know came up to me and introduced themselves and told me they would like to support me $50 a month! What in the world! Who would have guessed! An old youth leader said, "Of course we are going to support you!" Then, one of my high school friends dad said he'd like to help monthly. One lady I didn't even know slipped me some cash. I also get a large sum of money from the church. I thought, wow! 3 new donors and money from the church I can split up into monthly support! Then, Christy (one of my best friends and the one I was staying with) went to HyVee to grab something and we ran into my school secretary from elementary school and she TOO said she and her husband would like to help.
It's like the Lord bonked me on the head (as they do in the V8 commercials) and said, "What are you worried about? I have this all under control!" I'm at 100% of my set up costs and over 53% of my monthly. (I still have yet to find out how much 5 couples are supporting me.) Oh, the Lord is good to me!
After my second presentation, a couple I did not know came up to me and introduced themselves and told me they would like to support me $50 a month! What in the world! Who would have guessed! An old youth leader said, "Of course we are going to support you!" Then, one of my high school friends dad said he'd like to help monthly. One lady I didn't even know slipped me some cash. I also get a large sum of money from the church. I thought, wow! 3 new donors and money from the church I can split up into monthly support! Then, Christy (one of my best friends and the one I was staying with) went to HyVee to grab something and we ran into my school secretary from elementary school and she TOO said she and her husband would like to help.
It's like the Lord bonked me on the head (as they do in the V8 commercials) and said, "What are you worried about? I have this all under control!" I'm at 100% of my set up costs and over 53% of my monthly. (I still have yet to find out how much 5 couples are supporting me.) Oh, the Lord is good to me!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sully Community Church
On July 21st, I had the opportunity to go to Sully Community Church to speak about my trip druing the evening service. I was amazed when I walked through the door and saw 29...that's right 29 missionaries on their missionary board. What a mission minded church. They supported my parents while they were at camp.There was around 15 people there that night. I wasn't expecting much but during the offering they gave $675. What a blessing! God provides for me in such surprising ways. A few weeks ago, I worked so hard on this Rummage Sale and raised a little money. Here I was not lifting a finger, just sharing my passion about this ministry, and people opened their wallets and wanted to be apart of it. Then about a week ago, I open my donor report and there was an anonymous gift of $1500. I can't even believe it! I'm now at 89% of my set up costs and 50% of my monthly. God continues to do amazing things and open doors that I never thought He would.
Thank you Sully Community Church!!!
Rummage Sale
Sorry for the delay...I'm just now getting pictures up! May 28 and 29 was the Rummage Sale Fund Raiser. Many people donated items and I raised $310 that went towards my set up costs. Praise the Lord. Thanks to everyone who donated and a special thanks to the Bittners who let me use their house and to Dan who was there the entire time to help! Thanks guys!!!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
On the road again...
Well, tomorrow my boxes and I will be on the road again. They have taken quiet a journey from Omaha, NE to New London, WI. Now, I will be taking them to Cedar Rapids where they will stay with my friend Christy so I do not have to take them all the way back to Omaha again. When the papers are ready for me, I will drive back to Cedar Rapids, IA, pick them up, and take them to the container in Chicago. I can not wait until they are finally on the container and I can forget about them.
Tomorrow, I'm traveling to Sully, Iowa to give a presentation at Sully Community Church. There is a very kind and generous woman there I met at camp named Sandy Grey. I'm so thankful for all she has done for me so far! This church is so very kind. They supported my parents when they were raising support at camp. (My parents were the managers of East Iowa Bible Camp for 5 years.)
Monday, I meet with the Pastor and the head of the mission board of the church I grew up in. Please pray that the Lord's will will be done in both of these encounters.
Tomorrow, I'm traveling to Sully, Iowa to give a presentation at Sully Community Church. There is a very kind and generous woman there I met at camp named Sandy Grey. I'm so thankful for all she has done for me so far! This church is so very kind. They supported my parents when they were raising support at camp. (My parents were the managers of East Iowa Bible Camp for 5 years.)
Monday, I meet with the Pastor and the head of the mission board of the church I grew up in. Please pray that the Lord's will will be done in both of these encounters.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Packing and driving, driving and packing...
I'm so thankful for the past few days with my family. We celebrated my birthday and then celebrated Alex's birthday (my brother's fiance). I got to look at wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses in anticipation for Dustin and Alex's wedding.
But now, it's time to get back to preparations for Austria. I'm elbow deep in boxes. I've been living out of them...I've been moving them from place to place. I've been packing and repacking changing my mind a million times on what to take and what I can live without. Today was my trial run to see what all would fit into my car to drive to the container in Chicago. While I'm there I hope to start the process for my Visa. I hope to drive there early next week.
But before then, I have the opportunity to go to Sully to speak at a church there. This is the first church besides my home church that has said yes to allowing me to come! Praise the LORD!!! I'm so excited to share about the ministry there in Vienna and hopefully share my passion with them.
Reesa and I hope to leave in 45 days! I still have 55% of my support to raise in 45 days! It's coming down to the wire! Please pray for me as often as you think of me!
But now, it's time to get back to preparations for Austria. I'm elbow deep in boxes. I've been living out of them...I've been moving them from place to place. I've been packing and repacking changing my mind a million times on what to take and what I can live without. Today was my trial run to see what all would fit into my car to drive to the container in Chicago. While I'm there I hope to start the process for my Visa. I hope to drive there early next week.
But before then, I have the opportunity to go to Sully to speak at a church there. This is the first church besides my home church that has said yes to allowing me to come! Praise the LORD!!! I'm so excited to share about the ministry there in Vienna and hopefully share my passion with them.
Reesa and I hope to leave in 45 days! I still have 55% of my support to raise in 45 days! It's coming down to the wire! Please pray for me as often as you think of me!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Fear...
When I admitted I was scared, my friend Dan reminded me that courage isn't being brave with a lack of fear but being brave even when you are scared. This was encouraging because lately I have been fearful.
This week, my recruiter called and told me the school had not gotten the exemption that they needed. The school used to automatically get visas for everyone who worked at the school but not getting that exemption meant one of three things: the school would be shut down by the end of the week, the school would be open one more year with a limited number of visas, or the school would stay open but each person would apply for a visa individually. We prayed hard and the Lord granted us the last option. So, you would think that fear would have subsided.
However, now is the decision on whether or not to ship my things overseas. I'm at 41% of my monthly support. I've been raising support since Christmas. I've watched Reesa slowly grow in support and my support stay the same. Many questions fill my mind. Am I praying enough? Am I working hard enough on support? Is this truly where God wants me next year? If not where do I go next?
Along with this exemption issue the school found that they owed some back taxes which cost the school $10,000. This meant that our Pre-Field Orientation training was canceled. Although I was sad about that, I really could use the extra two weeks to support raise.
On top of all this, John Janet (my principal next year at Vienna Christian School) called to ask me how I felt about possibly teaching kindergarten/first or second grade general education next year. I was thrilled! I would love to! I'll work wherever they need me to! I just want to be there. Mr. Janet would teach one of my subjects so that I could get out and help those students who need my help. Where this wouldn't be my first choice, I would still be in the school giving advice to teachers who need it and getting a little bit of time with students with special needs. The school really needs me there.
But the one question that haunts me is, what do I do next to raise support? I guess the next step is calling individuals and asking for support. The thing that scares me most. Pray that God would give me boldness as I try this approach and wisdom on who to call. Pray that my faith and trust would be strengthened as I wait on Him.
This week, my recruiter called and told me the school had not gotten the exemption that they needed. The school used to automatically get visas for everyone who worked at the school but not getting that exemption meant one of three things: the school would be shut down by the end of the week, the school would be open one more year with a limited number of visas, or the school would stay open but each person would apply for a visa individually. We prayed hard and the Lord granted us the last option. So, you would think that fear would have subsided.
However, now is the decision on whether or not to ship my things overseas. I'm at 41% of my monthly support. I've been raising support since Christmas. I've watched Reesa slowly grow in support and my support stay the same. Many questions fill my mind. Am I praying enough? Am I working hard enough on support? Is this truly where God wants me next year? If not where do I go next?
Along with this exemption issue the school found that they owed some back taxes which cost the school $10,000. This meant that our Pre-Field Orientation training was canceled. Although I was sad about that, I really could use the extra two weeks to support raise.
On top of all this, John Janet (my principal next year at Vienna Christian School) called to ask me how I felt about possibly teaching kindergarten/first or second grade general education next year. I was thrilled! I would love to! I'll work wherever they need me to! I just want to be there. Mr. Janet would teach one of my subjects so that I could get out and help those students who need my help. Where this wouldn't be my first choice, I would still be in the school giving advice to teachers who need it and getting a little bit of time with students with special needs. The school really needs me there.
But the one question that haunts me is, what do I do next to raise support? I guess the next step is calling individuals and asking for support. The thing that scares me most. Pray that God would give me boldness as I try this approach and wisdom on who to call. Pray that my faith and trust would be strengthened as I wait on Him.
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