Zambia!!!!

          Well, we’ve landed in Zambia! We are officially in Africa!! The things that I was feeling coming off that plane and taking my first step onto African soil was the most overwhelming feeling I’ve ever felt. To know that I am finally in the land that God has called me to, in the place He ordained for my summer, standing in the center of His land for me is an amazing feeling!! 

           Somehow, stepping onto that last plane, arriving here, and going through everything up to right now, feels like daja vue.  Watching the scenery go by on our way to our dorms, even in the dark, everything looked exactly like I had ever imagined. Nothing felt unusual, out of place, weird, or new to me. It all felt like this was normal, that this was how things are supposed to be. So I guess one could say, everything feels the way God wants them to feel.

         It is such a reassuring, calming, peaceful feeling that washes over me and floods my entire being, as I think back to my calling and then look at where I am today, and realize that I am in the first step to completing that call.  I am finally in the heart of God’s plan for me, as I am stepping out to start my fulfillment of His divine purpose! Tonight, as I sit here in Africa, I am following through with my commitment to God: completing my promise to go where he leads!!!

                  

                 “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”…..

                    ”Here am I! Send me.”       

        Isaiah 6:8

(for the record, this picture is not mine, it is the courtesy of Flickr. I was unable to get any pictures at the airport, but I wanted all of you to be able to see what we saw. I will hopefully have some of my own pictures to post in the next few weeks! )

To Zambia or bust!!!!!

          Well, I am on my last leg of the flight that will take me to Africa!!!!!  Even as I write, I am sitting in the plane, 3 1/2 hours away from South Africa. From there, we go straight to Zambia! We will land in Zambia at 8:30pm, and we’ll be to our lodgings by 11pm tomorrow night in Zambian time…which translates to 2pm in California time. Friday morning I will wake up in Africa!!!!
          Training went good. We learned all about the Zambian culture, including several new phrases in one of  the their languages, the proper ways of showing respect and so much more!!!! I have gotten to know my teammates, and am so excited to see what the Lord will do with us, in us, and through us!
           Right now, I am filled with such a  joy, and peace as I have never known before!!!!  I am so eager to be there, and have this calling fulfilled. The thought of serving my Lord in the pace that He has ordained for me, is more exciting then I have ever thought possible!!! 
             Listening to all the stories about how God brought each of us to this place, only confirm to me that He truly is in control of the situation, leading and guiding us in the way He would have us go. Directing us to the place and responsibilities He would have us go and do. God truly is in control, and this summer will be one crazy, amazing journey, as we learn more about our great God, as or faith grows, miracles are performed, and lives are changed..all by the power of God!!!
            It is with eager anticipation that I await the works that He will do,  and the wonders that He will perform in my life, and the lives of the others around me! Now  we go forth as 4 interns, 4 warriors for Christ, and 4 ambassadors for our King…all for the glory of God!!!!

              “….all the days ordained for me, were written in Your book, before one of them came to be.”

  Psalm 139:16

To Zambia on cake pops

    Well, I’m officially on my way to Africa. God did it. He is bringing me to Zambia on cake pops! I started to write on the way to Texas, but my laptop died and things have been so busy I haven’t had a chance to blog since I’ve been here. So, here it is 11:30 pm, and I’m sitting in Texas listening to a mix of thunder and “The power of our God” by Natalie Grant.  As I sit here listening, I am struck by how true the words are. I mean, I still cannot believe I m sitting in Texas on my first day of training, less then 36 hours away from being in Africa! To me it is crazy that God could bring me this far….from a dream, to reality. From leading me to go, to leading me there! It’s absolutely amazing! That truly is the power of our God!

     Never has spiritual warfare been more real to me then these past two weeks. For years I have been ecstatic to go follow my God, and do His work in Africa, yet now that I am 1 1/2 away from that ,I am suddenly filled with doubts. I know that is nothing more then warfare. I am still filled with peace, excitement, and joy at what I’m about to do, but I can honestly say it has not been easy. I have ever felt more lonely, sad, and frustrated then I am now.  Yet I know that this is what it will take to get me in God’s will and to get my walk where He wants it to be. One thing I keep having to remind myself of tonight is that ‘there are no goodbyes in Christ. Only farewells.” (Eric Liddell)

          So tonight, after a tearful good night to my family, I once more sought refuge in my Lord, and He has once more come near and comforted me. My peace and joy has been renewed. I can once more say I am  looking forward to what God has for me this summer. I know it is going to be an amazing, life changing experience. Thank you so much for all of you who have helped bring me here, and ensure that I could obey my Master and fulfill this call. For the glory of God!!

  “My sweet family, I love you guys and look forward to seeing you again! Thank you for always praying for me and supporting me. You guys have been wonderful throughout this whole process! Love you bunches!!!! <3<3”

“There are no goodbyes in Christ. Only farewells.”

Eric Liddell

 (I wrote this on the plane, but did not have internet to post it until today. )

The Final Countdown

      Well, this is my final week at home.  These next 4 days are my last days with my family. Early Friday morning, Mama and I will be heading to Texas, where I will check in for training on the 11 and 12, and Wednesday morning I will be on my way to Africa!

       As I write, I am listening to the laughter that comes so easy to my family, and thinking about how much I will miss that sound and the people that make it! Yet, I know that I will hear a laughter of a different kind; the laughter of children who previously did not know how to laugh. These will be the lives the Lord will touch through us this summer. That thought alone, is enough to make my heart glad that I am giving up one laughter for the other!

        Though my heart aches at the thought of going so far from my family, that fear  and apprehension is immediately replaced with all the joy and excitement that this heart can contain! It is truly my joy to honor and glorify my Lord, even if that means stepping out in faith and going so far away while I am still  this young and immature. Though I am naïve in the things of this world, I know that the Great Shepherd is guiding me through this life, daily bringing me to a greater sense of spiritual wisdom. What more could a creature of this world want, than to know that her Creator is giving her eternal riches beyond her greatest imagination? 

      It is with thoughts like this that my fears are put to rest, and my tears are dried up before they can run over. His invisible  hand has wiped those tears and settled those fears, so that they have no place in my life at such a time as this. God has truly captured my heart, taken control of my emotions, and once more ignited a holy flame within my being !! I am His and He is mine! Let His will be done with my life!!

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you hope and a future!’”

Jeremiah 29:11

Graduation…concept or reality?

         Having recently gone through my own graduation ceremony, the topic of graduation has been a heavy topic on my mind.  Already being a girl who likes to critique things, I immediately  began to ponder the “meaning” behind graduation ceremonies.  I mean, I know what the ceremony is for, but I still couldn't stop myself from evaluating what it represented. The more I got to thinking about it, the more I realized that graduation is not just a “1 time” event. It is so much more than that.

       To me, graduation is a common, every day occurrence, that happens in more then one situation. The essence of gradation is simply a learning experience in your every day life. Graduation is not just a ceremony, but an achievement. The realization that the graduate has succeeded at that which they were striving for, and working for. When we can grasp that concept, we will enter into a whole new relation ship with the Lord.

     Just as graduation is about honoring the graduate and recognizing their achievement, so too, is the meaning of life. Only, when we begin this graduation ceremony, we will not be standing before the  principle of the school, but the Leader and Master of our lives. These graduations, are simply signs of God along the way. Sometimes they are there to remind us that God loves us, and other times, that we are going the right way in our lives.  We need to watch,  listen, and obey. For life is filled with mini, unrecognizable graduations, all working toward the Grand Graduation Ceremony of the Lamb.

      The question is, how will we spend that ceremony? Are we living our lives in such a way, that every graduation works to glorify our King? When we stand before the throne of God, will we be counted worthy to partake in that ceremony, or will we be deemed unworthy?  The Marriage Feast of the Lamb is a celebration of the union between the church and Christ, but it is also the ceremony in which those who have walked worthy to be called ‘children of God’ will be honored for their faith, and obedient service to His will.

       We must never forget to recognize these seemingly small, insignificant accomplishments in our lives, and turn them in to praise for the One who led us here.  For that is the call of all of our lives. To walk worthy of our call as His children, to honor Him with our actions, to praise Him for our accomplishments, to glorify Him with our lives, and above all, serve Him with all that we are worth!!  For these, are the transcripts that will prove us worthy to participate in our Lord’s ceremony. 

            So, let us see to it, that we always remember our calling and live for that no-so-distant day, when we shall see our King and enter into eternity.  For what reward shall we receive, if we live not for our eternity, but for ourselves, ignoring these signs of God? It is only by surrendering to ourselves, and living out these graduations to honor our King, that we in turn, shall receive a place of honor in the glorious graduation ceremony of our King!

“Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference.”  

~Arie Pencovici

 

Another Milestone

      The Lord has brought me through yet another huge milestone in my life: my high school graduation. As of last Thursday, I am officially done with high school.  I know that God has been faithfully leading me through life, yearly leading to the doorstep of adulthood, but now, He has led me through that door and into adulthood.

       With graduation, I  have stepped out onto a new path. A path that is ultimately leading to Africa. I leave the past behind, and set my face towards the future. I can finally reach out and take hold of that which my Lord has for me. I can at last, set my feet and my thoughts toward making my Father’s dream come true.  I am free to go where He sends, and do what He wills with my life. 

    So begins my journey of a lifetime. Now I am finally, stepping out in obedient surrender to the call of my Master.  So begins, day 1 in this new chapter of my life.  The Lord has turned the page, and written the final sentence in my high school years, and has  started chapter 2 in this incredible tale; the story of my life. 

 “My steps are ordered by the Lord.”

Psalm 37:23

25 Days of God Epiphanies

          Well, it has been nearly a month since I last blogged, and a lot has happened in that time! These past 25 days, have been a real faith builder. 25 days filled with God epiphanies and wonders! Each day, He has truly been at work to to reveal Himself to me in various ways. Never in my life, have I seen God at work, as much as I have these past 25 days!! God truly is amazing!! Never have I loved Him more than I do now!! These past 25 days have only endeared this simple heart to that of my God! I have truly seen Him working miracles on my behalf, so that I can serve Him where He has called me!

         To start with, our yard sale was a huge success. God was truly present, directing each sale we made. The sale was a "make an offer" sale, so like all the rest of my fundraising, it was completely based on faith. We had many people that took advantage of us and gave us terrible offers, while others were more than generous. God had our backs the whole time, gently nudging people to give more, or to speak a word of encouragement and wisdom before they left. That sale was truly a God guided sale, one that was richly rewarded for the faith that was put into it. By God's grace, we raised over $400! God is good!

       Throughout the rest of the month, donations and responses to my support letters continued to pour in.  On the 29th, I finished my last cake pop order, and on May 1st, I finally sat down and counted the money myself, for the first time. This whole fundraising process, I have felt that God has been telling me not to count the money, so as to keep my faith solely based upon faith, and not numbers. Going through all of this, and trying to raise $6000 in three months, without knowing what I was up to, was a HUGE faith strengthener. I had to truly lean on Him, and look to Him whenever I started to stress or worry. But I can say without a doubt, that my faith was rewarded!
 
     When I counted that  money, I found that through God, I had raised over $6000!! I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't even count the money, my family had to! As I sat there watching them count it out, I was in tears at how He had worked. I knew He could perform a feat like that, but I never would have dreamed that He would do something like that...for me of all people. All I could do, and still can do, is praise Him, over and over! I feel like Abraham and Sarah, stepping out in faith to perform what many viewed as the "impossible".
 
      Even as I write, I am once more filled with awe at how He has worked. My mind is swarming with praise and wonder at His deeds. Spiritually, it brings me to my knees in worship. I am overwhelmed to see what He has done! It is hard for me to even find the words to describe how I feel right now, and how I have felt these past 25 days! I have truly seen just how great of a God I serve!! Seeing His work only makes me more dedicated to His work, more eager to serve Him, more enthusiastic to worship Him, more devoted to Him, and more firm in obeying His call and going where He sends me!! By the grace of God, I will do His work, and dedicate this simple life to serve my Maker, as long as He gives me life!!

 "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place...obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."   

 "Through faith also Sarah herself received strength...” 

    "By faith Enoch was taken from this life..."

  "By faith Noah... built an ark to save his family"^" 

       By faith Abraham... offered Isaac as a sacrifice". 

 "By faith.. Rahab...was not killed with those who were disobedient".

( Hebrews 11)

By faith...by faith...by faith!!! It's all by faith!!!

"Once we take a step of faith, God will act on our behalf!"