Trusting.....

English Camp is an intense experience, but it is amazing to watch God work! Yesterday I heard of 3 boys who accepted Christ the night before - PTL! We pray that this is only the beginning of how God will work this summer....

Even my own life is a bit of a roller coaster...I'm learning to trust God in new ways, especially in terms of finances. It's definitely stretching me, but I know it's for my best.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there be any hurtful way in me,

And lead me in the everlasting way.

Psalm 139:23&24

Sink or Swim?

So you know the analogy of teaching someone to swim by throwing them in the deep end, and they either sink or swim? That's kind of what happened today with me and driving. I have basically no experience driving a stick, and then you have the differences of German roads, signs, km/hr instead of mph, etc. One of the JT guys had given me a driving lesson the other day, but we were on the back back roads and we didn't do any practicing of reverse. SO...today was the big grocery shopping day for the camps, and there weren't enough drivers, so I had to drive. Many Germans probably wondered how I got my driving license, but we got to Marzell and back safely. Reverse and getting into first gear are not any where near smooth, but once I'm moving I'm fine. :) I will learn, I will learn....

It's all about You, Jesus

And all this is for You

For Your glory and your fame

It's not about me

As if You should do things my way

You alone are God

And I surrender to your ways

Jesus, lover of my soul

All consuming fire is in Your gaze

Jesus, I want you to know

I will follow you all my days

For no one else in history is like you

And history itself belongs to you

Alpha and Omega, You have loved me

And I will share eternity with You

We sang this song in church on Sunday, and it was such an encouragement to me. It echoes what I want the cry of my heart to be, and the reason I am here...

...and the reason I have made it through this past year, and this past month. Looking back, I realize how CrAzY this past year was, and that it was only by the grace of God I got through it, and got through it well. And this past month - what a whirlwind! (...sorry - I intended to post more often but it didn't happen...) I finished up at WSU, went home to NY, went to Winnipeg for Orientation, and then safely arrived in Germany (where I will be for the next 15 months:).

I got off the plane last Monday and jumped into English Camp preparations - our first group of staff arrive next Sunday the 8th and the first group of campers arrive the 12th. Today we put together the extra bunk beds that we put in the dorm - it's like putting a giant puzzle together - figuring out which pieces fit together. Those of you who have been here before know that it can be a headache at times, but things went pretty smoothly today - PTL!

I'm going to head home and eat dinner now. Hopefully I'll keep this updated more regularly, as well as post some pics of my new home and this summer's camps!

Cause For Rejoicing!

I have been reminded recently to praise God for the many "little" things He does in my life, but this is a BIG thing to be thankful for!:

"Congratulations! Your MA portfolio passed. You may pick up the hard copy from me at your convenience. Also, your TESOL portfolio is a pass."

That's an email I received yesterday from the English Dept. that caused me to breathe a sigh of relief and say a prayer of thanks!!! That's a big milestone on the way to finishing my Master's!

Things are winding down with school. Today is the last day of classes. The list of things I have left to do: one self-assessment essay, one research paper, a stack of student portfolios to grade, and final grades to calculate. In non-school things, I need to pack up this chapter of my life and figure out how to say good-bye - my roots here in Ohio are deeper than I previously realized or would have admitted. As much as I'm anxious to get home to NY to spend time with my family, I need and want to make sure that I spend time with and say good-bye to people here. By God's grace, I'm moving through this transition phase one step at a time.

Excited about the unknown

This has been an emotional week, but it's ending on a higher note. Even though I don't know exacting what the next year will hold and I am a bit (ok, maybe more than a bit at times) apprehensive about the transitions, I am excited about what God has in store for me. I know that He is faithful and that His plans are so much better than mine - I just need to be faithful to follow and obey.

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Cor. 2:9

Four years ago, even one year ago, I wouldn't have guessed that this is where I would be headed. I am thankful for God's leading and am excited to see what He has in store for me in this next adventure!

Also, God continues to provide financially - my support is currently at 48%!!

"Redeeming the time..." & Provision

One month from today, I will say good-bye to my family and get on an airplane. I will spend a week at orientation, and then fly directly from there to Germany. One month. I must admit the thought brings tears to my eyes. Three weeks of that month will be spent finishing my Master's Degree (there's a mountain of schoolwork I have to finish between now and then.) and wrapping up my Ohio life. Even though I always knew I wouldn't stay in Ohio forever, I'm realizing that my roots here are deeper than I previously realized or admitted. So I'm trying to "redeem the time" - make the most of the time I have left in the States....to finish school well but yet also make sure I spent time with family & friends and say good-bye adequately (but how does one do that?)....



Last weekend I went home to NY for my brother's college graduation. It was a wonderful time with family, but I was also reminded of God's provision. My car hit a blown-out tire that was in the highway (that's the short version of the story), but I am continually thankful for His provision - the situation could have been SO much worse.



Another example of God's provision in my life is how my support is coming in...I'm currently at 31%. I am most thankful for how God uses people to provide for my needs. I need to be at 75% before I can leave, but I am confident that God will provide, and I know that if He doesn't, then He has a better plan in mind. But moreso, I'm just trusting Him to provide.

The "lasts" have begun...

• To you, it's a black binder sitting on beige carpet. To me, it represents A LOT of work, and a milestone (hopefully) completed (unless I get it back for revision). What is it? My graduate portfolio and independent paper. It was due this past Wednesday; a feat that would not have been accomplished without the encouragement and prayers of many of you, and I MUST give a BIG thank you (or, GRACIAS, rather:) to my friend Sofia, who saved my sanity on Tuesday night and helped me realize I could do this! (Don't worry - we celebrated with chocolate ice cream on Wed. evening!)

• It has hit me this weekend that my time in OH will be over before I know it - I'm down to about a month left here. I'm starting that list of "lasts"...seeing & hanging out with people for the last time, etc. My sis and I hung out in OH for the last time on Fri....being in the same state as her this year has been a HUGE blessing, and something I will miss next year. CU graduation was this weekend, and I had some friends in town for that. I've seen them for the last time (for at least a year and a half or so...)
• I want to make the most of these lasts - to see people and hang out, to make the most of every moment, but yet finish school well. I'd much rather spend time with people than with books, but I must be diligent in my responsibilities!