What a glorious thing to be able to say, “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free, my God, my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace.” These are some of the lyrics from Chris Tomlin’s song Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone, and as I sing them my heart swells with joy that my Redeemer paid the price for my life with His life and has set me free.

At the same time though my heart breaks for I know that there are many who cannot sing of the redemption and freedom that Christ brings. They are still living in bondage as slaves to sin, they do not know, they cannot testify of the Savior’s love. They cannot sing the line before that says, “I once was lost, but now I’m found was blind, but now I see”.

Will you join me in prayer for those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, and seek to expand the reach of the gospel wherever you live?

"Ask God to break your heart
for the things that break His heart."

This is the question that I asked myself the other day as I was painting. When I was trying to figure out what to do after high school I was considering going to a Bible college where I could possibly get a Biblical counseling degree. I was totally interested in missions and headed that direction, but felt that Biblical counseling was something that I could use on the mission field. Everywhere I looked I always came to a dead end on a school that I felt comfortable with that offered what I was looking for, so I ended up going to New Tribes Bible Institute.

One of the schools that I was considering at the time just added a Biblical counseling major, so I was thinking, “Man, I wonder if I would have gone there if they would have had that major when I was checking into things years ago?” It was interesting to think of the different experiences I would have had and all the different people that I would have met, but when my thinking comes to and end it’s sweet to know that the Lord is in control of my life.

Although I was just painting one color and by no means am I an artist, I was thinking about how our lives are like a canvas that the Lord paints upon. He takes the blank canvas and begins to paint the picture of our lives from beginning to end. He blends the trials and pains of our life in with His goodness and grace and creates something beautiful and sweet from something that we thought was ugly and hard. He covers the hurts with His love and adds slashes of life and color through His sweet blessings. His is the greatest picture of all, and that is the one He creates through a life that is surrendered to Him.

Sometimes I try to paint my own picture, but the Lord gently (and sometimes not so gently) leads me back to where the paintbrush is in His hands and goes to work in my life. I’m so thankful for where I’ve been and all that the Lord has allowed me to experience, and I’m excited to see what the Lord paints next in my life.

Will you join me in handing the paintbrush to the master artist? 

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord and He delights in his way." – Psalm 37:23

Indonesia, where to begin . . . I don’t even know. I loved getting to experience the culture of Indonesia and think about the fact that some day I will get to come back learn the language and really live in that culture. The people were so warm and friendly, after I would give them a greeting they would start talking to me and then I was at a loss, the Indonesian that I knew was already all used up. I so badly wanted to talk with them, to sit down and hear about them and their lives . . . some day, some day I will be able too.

Throughout the trip I got to interact with MANY different missionaries. It was wonderful to hear their stories and hear about what the Lord had been teaching them. I was blown away by their love, encouragement, and desire to be real and transparent with me as they shared. It really was a challenge to me to be open with people and to actively share what the Lord is teaching me. It was also great to be able to pray with them and share my heart as well. It’s has been exciting being back in the states and hearing prayer request or news from Indonesia and being like, "I know them!!"

I was able to spend several days at a guest house and experience my possible future ministry, helping with various projects and learning more about what all running a guest house involves. I was truly blessed by the missionary lady who runs the guest house where I stayed and was so appreciative of all that she showed me. I was also able to help her by reworking and sewing some curtains, organizing, cleaning and helping with some bookwork. I was also able to invest in several different missionaries and their kids during this time.

While I stayed at the guest house the others in the team separated up and went to 2 different tribes. Both teams had impactful and life changing trips, some more dramatic than others, but the Lord taught both teams a lot. It was weird not being in the tribe with them, but I am so thankful for my time in the guest house. Being there by myself let me experience life as a single on the field as well as go through the emotions of people I love being in the tribe experiencing crazy things. It was a great time of drawing close to the Lord and being an encouragement to those around me. I’m not going to lie, it was hard, but oh so good!!

After spending a little over 2 weeks running non stop my team was able to take a break and debrief in Bali. This was such a good thing for our team, to have time to breathe, talk about what the Lord had taught us, and just to have fun together. The Lord taught me a lot about teamwork and I am so thankful for the encouragement of my team. I learned the value of honest, open, vulnerable communication and that as a team you need to be open and share, it’s super important and vital to a well functioning team. I was blessed to be part of an amazing team who love the Lord so much and are actively seeking to know Him. I think it is safe to say that none of us will ever be the same again, but we all learned valuable things that we will forever connect us.

Join with me in prayer as I head down to camp this coming week to counsel HS Girls Camp.  This is usually a great week of challenging HS girls to grow in their faith and teach them practical ways to serve.

• Pray that the girls’ hearts and eyes would be open to know Jesus like they have never known Him before.
• Pray that I will teach and share in a way that is applicable to where they are right now, and that my eyes woul be open to those who are hurting.
• Pray also that I will experience my Jesus in a dynamic way.

All for His glory!!

INDONESIA:
Capital: Jakarta
Official language: Indonesian
Population: 237 million
        (4th most populated country)
5.7% are Protestant

So why all this talk about Indonesia??   Because after much prayer and consideration I believe the Lord is leading me to run a guest house in INDONESIA.

I would be providing a home for missionary families who need to come to town from their interior locations for business or a break. Supporting the church planting efforts by providing an oasis of encouragement and rest.

There would also be the possibility that I would have a couple of Indonesian women helping me with the cooking and cleaning which would enable me to build relationships, and Lord willing, even disciple them. I am very excited about this aspect of the guest house ministry!!

It’s has been a busy month at MTC as I started my 2nd semester of training and got back into life in MO.  I am very much looking forward to all that the Lord has to teach me in this coming year and I am excited to continue following Him as He continues to lead me towards Indonesia.

Will you join with me in prayer as I learn more about guest housing and Indonesia? Pray that I will remain open to His leading not missing out on His desires for my life. Pray that I will also continue to serve Jesus and apply what I am learning wherever I am, remembering that I am His missionary at all times.

Oh how time flies . . . it seems like just yesterday I was bringing in 2008 with a party and some roman candles. Now New Year’s Eve is upon us and as I look back 2008 has been a crazy fun year. 

January – May
You could found me at home driving a school bus, working as a para-educator at the middle school and waitressing some nights and weekends. This kept me busy, but I enjoyed all the different experiences and different opportunities that I had to reach out to people. I also taught junior high Sunday school every other week, helped out with youth group and was involved with the high school girls. It was such a blessing to be able to work with young people in my church who were seeking to know God and serve Him. They were such an encouragement to my heart!!

Spring held times with friends, a trip to the zoo, a trip to Wisconsin to visit friends and many more good times. May also held two wedding for two dear friends of mine and those were great times to catch up with friends and to see the beauty of love. =) heehee

June – Mid August
What would summer be without Kansas Bible Camp . . . one of my favorite places!! I thank the Lord that He allowed me to spend my 9th summer on staff at KBC and my 3rd summer as girl staff leader.  What an incredible summer it was, challenging young women in their faith and watching them fall more in love with their Savior. Also to be a part of seeing kids come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior . . . what a blessed ministry of which to be a small part!!

End August –December
New Tribes Missionary Training Center . . . here I come!! I moved to MO and began my 1st semester of missionary training. It was a great semester of learning, being challenged, making new friends and getting to know my Jesus better.  It is such a blessing to be surrounded by people who have a passion about overseas mission work, specifically tribal church planting. It has also been incredible to learn some of the methodology behind what New Tribes does and I am excited to one day move overseas build relationships and learn culture and language, putting that methodology and more into practice. Although I know that I won’t be ready . . . I know that I have been and will continue to be equipped by this training. I also know that it isn’t my work, it is the Lord’s work and as long as I stick close to Him, He will work in and through me.

All in all it has been a great year!!  I look forward to all that the Lord has planned for me in 2009 and I’m excited for you to be a part of my life as well.

Trust Him and consider how you
are going to live for Him
and serve Him in 2009.