Clear the Stage

You all need to go to youtube and listen to the song 'clear the stage' by Ross King.  It brought me to tears today.  Just listen to the words and allow God to speak to your heart through it.  I tried to post the link for you but for some reason its not working for me, so you'll have to take the initiative to check it out yourself.  Should be the third one down.  Its a great song!  Let me know what you think of it!

Missions Medina

A few days ago we had what they called a missions medina where we traveled around to different stations and got to see some of the customary dress, listen to music, try out instruments, look at pictures, and try some of the food from the various countries. Got a very small idea of what it would feel like to be a woman in this culture and just thought it would be a fun picture to post!

Mission Possible

So yesterday we did a 4 hour simulation called mission possible.  Once it was all over I was able to look back and appreciate it and learn from it and was able to say it was a lot of fun, but in the midst of it, it was a bit stressful.  There is no way I can convey to you exactly what took place or get you to feel the things we were feeling and experiencing but it went a little something like this:  I was with a team of 8 people from 6 different countries and our goal as a group was to reach the country of 'epohon' and to learn as much of the culture and the language as we could.  We were given a 'passport' and some 'money' and were sent out to acquire our visas.  It took me 3 tries before I could get my visa because as an american I had to have an invitation to enter the country.  I also had a bit of trouble because I had scribbled something out on my passport and was questioned about the reasoning for that.  I simply claimed that this was something that we all did in my country...that it was customary to scratch something out and they finally stamped my book and let me through:)  Next we had to get our 'plane ticket'  This part proved to be fairly easy for me.  Then we boarded our 'plane' (it was a bus) and were told to take the cloth on our headrests and blindfold ourselves because we were not allowed to see where we were going...interesting feeling!  Once we arrived at our destination, a couple guards came on board and checked everyone's passports and made us line up to prepare to make our way through customs and immigration.  When I reached the front of the line they asked to search my bag.  They questioned me about some things and then ended up pulling out a bag of 'crack' which someone must have planted on me sometime during the game.  So, needless to say they took me into custody and interrogated me for what seemed like forever.  It was a bit intimidating.  I was in a room by self with a couple of guards without much light and with lots of incense.  Once they found out that I was american I basically had to pay them off in order to be freed.  I considered myself lucky because some people actually got thrown into 'jail' for different things.  I finally was able to reach my destination and meet up with the rest of my team and we were taken to our host family.  We went into their 'house' and ate a meal with them and they spoke only in their language and we did the best we could to learn as much as possible.  I have to say I was a bit impressed with myself during this time with how much I was able to pick up on and communicate with them on.  After we had eaten the woman stood up and motioned to the rest of us girls to join her.  Her husband had turned on some music and we had to dance for the men while they continued to eat and talk with one another.  It was quite the experience.  Once it was all over we met together with a leader and spent some time debriefing as a group and sharing what went on in our heads through the whole thing and talked about what things we might actually encounter as we get ready to enter our host cultures.

Why Me?

“You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I can not attain to it.  Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them” (Ps. 139:5,6,16).  How comforting it is to know that God ordained these days for me before I was even formed.  He was behind me and He is before me preparing the way and preparing my heart for what only He knows is ahead.  What confidence I can have because of that.  I believe the Lord is going to reveal Himself to me and that I am going to see Him at work in ways I would not see if I were home.  I don’t think I will ever understand why He has chosen to use me in this way because I am not at all worthy to carry His name to the nations, but for some reason He has called me, and He will take the responsibility for making me capable to do His work.  It is all Him and nothing of me.  I am merely the vessel that He has chosen to act through.  I find it somewhat strange to think that this is my life now, and yet there’s something about it that feels so right.  I have left everyone I know and love behind and have found myself thrown into a world that I really know nothing of.  I am in a place of discovery…..discovering new countries, new people, new foods, new languages, new ways of thinking…..I am discovering and will continue to discover more of who God is and more of who I am and the desires that He has for me.  He is a God of unceasing wonders!

Mosbach, Germany

I don't have much time but I wanted to try to post a little something.  I have arrived safely in Mosbach and am almost totally adjusted to the time difference.  Thank you for all your prayers!  I am staying in a youth hostel that is about a 1.4 mile walk from 'the mill' (the main conference center).  I have 3 other girls in my room, one from Malaysia, one from England, and one from Holland.  Becca, you would love all the accents!  Its very beautiful here, a bit cold and snowy but nothing I'm not used to.  We went on a scavenger hunt in the actual town of Mosbach this afternoon.  Oddly enough my competitive side was overtaken by my curiosity and I got distracted with wandering around town and taking pictures rather than trying to find whatever it was I was supposed to find!  I felt like I was in a little snow globe village.  The architecture is very unique, different from anywhere else I've been.  The conference itself has been good so far, just getting started really but I am excited about joining the ship.  Pray pray pray on January 26th as that is the date the surveyor's are coming to inspect the ship and hopefully giving the passenger safety certification so that we can set sail within the first month of being there.  I believe the first stop that's scheduled is the UK, yah!  And after that rumors have it that we will either be sailing through the Caribbean or along the coast of Africa, I would be thrilled with either!  

Take Off

My adventure has begun.  Well, I suppose it started a while ago.  Its been a long process in getting this far but today its actually starting to feel real.  I am sitting in the Detroit airport waiting for my next flight, wishing I had a cup of coffee to sip on but not willing to give up my seat to go get one:)  I'm sitting in a nice comfy lounge chair in an area of the airport that happens to have free wifi.  Had a number of people see me off at the airport in Moline today.  Was tough to say goodbye but I am excited for what's ahead!  Next stop:  Frankfurt Germany where I will meet up with some of my fellow OM'ers and be directed where to go next.  This whole thing is as much a mystery to me as it is to you.  Feels kind of like one big scavenger hunt, except that I don't really know my final destination or how I will arrive there.  All I know is my next step, and that is boarding my plane with northwest airlines at 5:00pm today and unless some unknown event occurs I will be landing in Frankfort at about 7:30 tuesday morning!  Alright, now for the cup of coffee!

One Week!

Its hard to believe that one week from today I will be stepping on a plane to Germany with one bag, my backpack, and my guitar and not returning for the next 2 years, crazy! For those of you that may not yet be aware, I have joined Operation Mobilization and will be living and working on board one of their ships, the Logos Hope. Its been a long process to get me to this point and now that its finally here I have brief moments of panic when thinking about leaving all I know and love to venture into uncharted waters. There are so many unknowns, but then again that's what makes the whole thing that much more adventurous and exciting. I really feel confident that this is where the Lord wants me right now and He has done so many things to bring it all together in a way that only He could do. I pray that I can continue trusting Him to bring me safely to my destination and then wait in anticipation for all that I know He is going to teach me while I'm gone. What an awesome God we serve!