With No Strings Attached

"One of the most powerful sermons I ever heard closed with these challenging words, “Why should we come to Jesus Christ?  Not for our own benefit.  We should honor and serve and love and give our lives to Jesus Christ even if we were to go to hell at the end of the road…because He is worthy!”  (Paris Reidhead, Ten Shekels and a Shirt, www.sermonindex.org) Christ loved us without expecting us to love Him in return.  As He lay dying on the Cross, those He had come to save were mocking and spitting in His face.  Can we love Him the way He loved us?  Can we surrender everything to Him without expecting anything in return?I have discovered throughout my life that our Lord cares very deeply about the dreams and desires of our heart, and He takes great joy in meeting them in His own perfect time and way.  Surrendering to Him is not drudgery, but delight.  As we abide in Him, He changes and shapes the desires of our heart to match with His desires for us, as it says in Psalm 37:4.  Following His pattern doesn’t leave us with a second-rate version of life on this earth, but a far more glorious, beautiful, and fulfilled one.  And yet, even though having the specific desires of our heart fulfilled is very often a byproduct of surrender to Christ, it cannot be our reason for pouring out our all upon His precious feet.  Our reason must be passionate love for Him, with no strings attached." -Devotions with Leslie Ludy "No Strings Attached"

While doing my quiet time the other morning I read this blog devotional. It made me stop and think. It made me think so much that it is just now that I have been able to gather my actual thoughts and apply this to my life. I got to thinking about my own personal life and how many times I do a check list "for" Christ in order to get whatever I expect from Him in exchange. VAIN or USELESS works. Instead of doing out of love for, or because He is worthy, I do for selfish gain.  Just like the devotional says,  Surrender to God is not drudgery, but delight. My prayer for myself is that I would pour out my all at my Saviors precious feet because of my passionate love for Him, expecting nothing in return. WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

God meant it for GOOD

I don’t know about you, but when I am going through a trial there is always a day or two, and sadly sometimes more where whenever someone tells me anything biblical- I get this little attitude. Not to sound prideful, but I grew up in the church and have been growing in my walk with Christ consistently for sometime now. I know what the Bible says, but there is a time when all my fleshly attributes within me come out and honestly I don’t care what the Bible says. I want someone to just understand that I am hurting. I want someone to recognize that and let me work through things on my own. Hopefully sooner than later, I find myself running to the Lord. I find peace from the fact that He is in complete control and I don’t need to worry about it, comfort resting in His arms, and most of the time even understanding after seeing my trial in the light of Christ Word.  So why don’t I turn to Him first?  Why don’t I think on these very truths the moment I enter a trail? These are questions I don’t have really have answers to. All I can say is I am a sinful human. I think I know more than Christ. I think I can solve my own problems. These are lies Satan gets me to believe. These are areas I need to work on.

So yesterday morning, I was doing my devotions and I was convicted and comforted at the same time.

_{“Do you remember how Joseph’s brothers plotted his demise? Because of his brothers’ jealousy, Joseph was sold to be a slave in Egypt, There in the house of Potiphar, he was falsely accused and put in prison for two years. It was enough to make any normal man bitter at God. Joseph had done what was right; he had been faithful to his God, and suffered because of it. He seemed the victim of the whims and plots of men. And yet, during all this time Joseph did nothing to dishonor God. Joseph knew The Most High God, El Elyon, stood in the shadows, ruling over all, watching and waiting. Whether or not he understood, Joseph knew that God has a purpose in it all. How can I say that? Because of what Joseph said to his brothers when they found themselves standing before him as the appointed ruler over all of Egypt (Genesis 42:6). “And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life… And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt… And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 45: 5,7-8; 50:20)”}

While reading this I was convicted. The next time I start to murmur or complain, I need to stop. Run to my El Elyon, trust in His name and give thanks. WOW. What a challenge.  No, the trial I was faced with wasn’t as big as Joseph. I wasn’t sold by my sisters, although sometimes they want to; I wasn’t put in to prison. I was just having a bad day. I felt a little depressed because of a change that I thought was too hard for me, although I knew I was right where God wanted me. I should have honored God with my actions and thoughts. I should have found comfort in the very fact that my God is The Most High God, El Elyon. He stands ruling over all. I know God meant it for good. And I failed to praise Him for it.

Then today I was doing my devotions and I was reading from Psalm 142.

_{The setting for Psalm 142 finds David completely overwhelmed by his circumstances. He had fled alone from King Saul who was set upon killing him. Refuge was denied him by the king of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15) and he was now hiding in a cave (1 Samuel 22:1). From the glorious days of being anointed Israel's next king by Samuel and then being acclaimed as a national hero by the country, David had been reduced to hiding in a dark cave, pursued and rejected. Soon David came to the depths of personal despair and he pours out his heart in prayer to the LORD. This is the subject of David's opening prayer (vv. 1-4); an abundance of foes (vv. 1-3) and an absence of friends (v. 4). It is evident that the LORD heard David's plea for in the second half of the psalm (vv. 5-7) David is again on top of his circumstances. To gain his victory over his own despair, David says he had to realize four things:}

             _{1]   V. 5a: God truly was David's refuge.}

             _{2]   V. 5b: God truly was David's "portion" (i.e., inheritance), that is, God's friendship was really what David wanted    out of life.}

             _{3]   V. 6: God truly was David's only source of strength against powerful enemies.}

             _{4]   V. 6-7: God truly was David's Deliverer. God had rescued David out of the "prison" of his despair.}

_{Be sure to see how trusting prayer brought David from despair to victory over circumstances. Complaining to the LORD about his troubles (v. 2) changes by means of further reflection in prayer before God (often this is the quiet, listening aspect of one's prayer!) to praising God's name (v. 7). Notice the contrasts in David's outlook: "Refuge failed me" (v. 4) becomes "Thou are my refuge" (v. 5). "No man cared for my soul" (v. 4) becomes "for thou shalt deal bountifully with me" (v. 7).}

_{David's prayer didn't motivate God to immediate action. Instead, David's prayer changed David's thinking; despair became victorious hope as David remembered who God truly was! Have the hard things of life brought you to despair your situation? Take time to consider that God is your refuge, portion, strength, and Deliverer! Have you ever tried living in a cave? It's one thing to be there for a campout, but to use it as a place of refuge when there is no other place to go is something different. Have you ever felt like you're in a cave and asked God to find you a way out? When we are overwhelmed by circumstances, it's easy to think God is obligated to provide a way out. But often, He lets us taste the bitterness of hardship. We learn to trust and rely on God most when we struggle and can't make it on our own. As verse 5 says, He becomes our refuge.}

I am so thankful for these passages and how they challenged me. I am learning so much. The first half of my blog, where it is talking about Joseph came from Kay Arthur’s Devotional titled, “LORD, I want to know you” and the second half, talking about David, came from the Word of Life Quiet Time Commentary. Check it out at  http://quiettimediary.com/

"Ashley, I saw your facebook status- are you alright?"

Whenever you say something, weather it be actual spoken words, written as a Facebook status, a twitter update, or even if you write something in the privacy of your own journal. There is some sort of truth behind those words. "There is always some truth behind "just okay". Knowledge behind "i dont know". Emotion behind "i don't care" and pain behind "it's okay"…"  This was my Facebook status the other day, and today I followed it with this one…"I hate feeling unimportant to people that are important to me". Both of these were actually stolen from a girl I follow on twitter. I wasn't trying to see how many people really care about me, or receive a little pity party [and as you read this… this statement still holds true, i'm just being real]. But naturally when someone puts a status up like those you should expect that kind of response. So why didn't I? Because I wasn't thinking about the quotes, I just liked them so I copied them. Once people began to comment I took a look at the quote again and I allowed them to sink in.


So today, recently, this past week… I have been feeling a little discouraged. My blog lately has been consumed with changes I have been challenged with since being home. [And rightfully so, since this blog is basically an update on my life.] So here is the latest challenge… which let me remind you only clicked in my brain a couple of hours ago. Meaning this is fresh, raw emotion.


I have been with Word of Life since before I even graduated high school. It has been my life, the Word of Life family has been my family away from home. The way the Word of Life ministries run and function have been molded into my brain. The living arrangements have become normal to me. And with that I hit my biggest issue. 


Off and on for the past 5 years I have lived with round about 4 or more people in a room and sometimes anywhere from 15 - 20 people in a dorm/hall. COLLEGE LIFE. It didn't take long for my bubbly, outgoing personality to adjust to having so many people involved in my every waking moment of life. Sure there were times it was difficult and I needed space [even I blogged about that in Hungary]. Looking back for the most part it was easy. It slowly became normal. With this kind of setting, you have your inner circle, you have your roommates- who you would die for [kind of like sisters], you have your larger group of acquaintances, and then you have the whole student body [which at a small school its easy to know and have a personal relationship with just about everyone], and then of course you have all the staff.

Well, this is what happened you take me, bubbly and outgoing, out of this kind of environment. June, July and August, I had a job, had many vacations/trips. I was busy. I was still getting use to being home, so it was all good. Then come September, where I don't have a job. Don't get me wrong being lazy has its perks, but sooner or later it's going to get old. Then you have to realize I am use to having a ton of people who are always with me, and if I get frustrated at them; I still have another 10 or so people to comfort me and spend time with. I am not saying anything bad about my friends I have here at home. [[I have enjoyed every minute with you [i'm being serious], and yes, you know who you are.]] But take me away from those people who understand Word of Life "life" and I automatically feel a little lonely. Then take away the busyness of life, and not even give me a routine…by now I'm already close to breaking point. Bless me with awesome people who love and care for me. Who teach me, challenge, and walk beside me, but I forgot to mention were all in different stages of life. And once again- I'm not saying this is bad, but it is different than what I am use to. So, I take the advice of some and try to broaden my group of friends here at home. I have contacted some of my closes friends from high school, but give me a break it is has been 5 almost 6 years- things change!! I don't really want to visit other churches to meet people [which I have tried] for the fear of feeling like I will slowly be pulled away from my own home church, which is awesome!!!

So how does the following Facebook status tie into this?!?! There are many people who are important to me, all around the world. And when life gets hard, or challenging all I want to do is go back to what's normal what's easy. WORD OF LIFE. Not necessarily the ministry or the location, but the people. Someone once said to me recently "what's easy isn't always right". I know that. I know that God has me here for a purpose. I am actually pretty content here. I love it, but it doesn't change the fact that it is hard. And with that you have to understand that I, as is everyone, are going to have ups and downs, happy and sad day, encouraged and discouraged. Today is just one of those days and I will be okay.

Remind Me Who I Am

I just wanted to share this video. Maybe it will be of some encouragement you.

Remind Me Who I Am- Jason Gray

an honest peek

Memories. Past. Future. Passions. Lack of Passion. Burden Hearts. Broken Hearts. Excitement. Life. Just Living. Change. Challenge. Growth. Word of Life Bible Institute. Hungary. Home. Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute. Fellowship Baptist Church. 1 Year. Forever. Love. Lack of Love. Missions. Ministry. Family. FBC teens. Friendship. Lack of Friends. Uncertainty. Doubt. Fear. Boldness. 23. Just a number. A defining number. Faithfulness. If only. Where. When. Content. Never settle.


And these words are only the beginning of a very long list. 


My mind and my heart often hold so many thoughts and feelings that never get expressed. Maybe this is because I don't want to open up because I don't want to make myself vulnerable to the world. Or maybe, it is this way because they are just that... Thoughts and feelings- not so much a reality. 


As a 23 year old I have lived a lot of life. Well, compared to most people my age. I have lived in many places, and had a chance to be apart of many things that people twice my age may never even thought of. Seeing so much of this wicked world has burden my heart and even broke my heart at times. Some of this is caused because of my own insecurities, blindness or naiveness. Or is it because I am passionate about what God is doing and I am torn in where He wants me. Not knowing where God wants me makes all these thoughts just a tad bit more confusing. Not to mention trying to keep emotions out of the picture. These are my thoughts and feelings.


God is doing great things in Hungary. I was blessed to talk to my boss from Hungary. The Bible Institute has double the amount of students, and many big changes have and are taking place. It burdens my heart to think that God is doing great and mighty things there and I am not directly involved. Sitting on the sidelines in another country is very hard to do. But at the same time, It makes me so happy that without me, God is doing a work beyond imaginable there. I am so thankful to be able to pray on the Hungary Teams behalf and to praise God in the work there. But this makes my heart ache a little.


Home is hard, as I knew it would be. But honestly I wasn't prepared for this. Don't get me wrong! I am enjoying my time here. I love that I am able to be apart of my local church. Oh how I have missed sitting under the preaching and teaching of my Pastor. I have missed the sunday afternoon fellowships around the lunch table. I have missed my family. The direct, close guidance from my parents. And so much more… I have taken so much for granted. My greatest fear about returning home is a reality. And it's no ones fault, but my own. My walk with the Lord has been challenged and lacking. I want to have sweet time in His word, alone. I know this is the center of all of my problems. So hopefully next time I post I can give an update on what I am learning and what God is teaching me through His Word, not just through the physical trials of moving home, but for now here is an honest peek inside my mind and heart!!

Hey! Do you remember me??

Makalah and I before church

Hey! Do you remember me? Don't worry if you do not, I wont have any hard feelings. I know that I have lacked in the area of keeping up with my blog. I had every intention of doing so once things at home seemed to settle down. And well I would like to blame shift for a moment and say life still hasn't settled down, but that would be a slight lie. This summer has been hot, uncomfortable, and busy, life altering, fun, long, and the list could go on and on. But I want to save time and share a little bit about my summer.

Once I go into the routine of things here at home it was time for our family vacation. Which was a lot of fun, very relaxing, and for the most part drama free.  A few weeks later was the youth mission trip. It was amazing. We went to VA and ran a children’s day camp. It was a blessing to be able to serve beside the youth and see their passion to learn and teach others. 

Since then I took a bittersweet trip to New York. I was able to see all of my friends and get some needed encouragement, but also reassurance. You may ask re!!assurance about what? But when my family found out I was going to visit they got scared I would be offered a job and knowing me I would take it and leave home once more. In the back of my mind I agreed with them, I was hoping I would miss the ministry and the people, but honestly God reassured me of where He has me right now. He has brought me home to my family, my home church. Yes, this comes with it's blessing, but also it has it's trials as well. 

I have gained a close friend, a best friend! And if you have read my blogs before you know that this is an  answer to prayers. I knew that when I came home, all my close friends would be scattered around the world and that thought alone scared me. I need the accountability, the encouragement so much. God has truly blessed me.

Right now I am in limbo. My first summer job has ended, and I am awaiting my fall job to begin. It is awesome to see how the Lord has provided every need. Youth Group starts next Wednesday which i am so stoked for!!!! I have also joined a ministry called Bridge Builders. The main goal is to build bridges between the Church and the community through service projects. I was nominated to be a member of the Missionary Committee as well. I am very excited to see what the Lord does in my life through these ministries. 

I know this was a quick over view of things to come, but I promise it is my goal to write every other week. Hopefully I wont let you down. 

Please continue to pray for me as i adjust here at home, and begin my new job. 

Am I really someone worth dying for?

I heard this sone today. I hope these lyrics minister to your heart, because it sure does mine. 

Someone Worth Dying For by: MIKESCHAIR

"You might be the wife, waiting up at night

You might be the man, struggling to provide

Feeling like it's hopeless

Maybe you're the son who chose a broken road

Maybe you're the girl thinking you'll end up alone

Praying God can you hear me?

Oh God are you listening?

Am I more than flesh and bone? Am I really something beautiful?

Yeah I wanna believe, I wanna believe that

I'm not just some wandering soul

That you don't see and you don't know

And I wanna believe, Jesus help me believe that I

Am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free

But you think you're the one that grace could never reach

So you just keep asking, oh what everybody's asking...

Am I more than flesh and bone? Am I really something beautiful?

Yeah I wanna believe, I wanna believe that

I'm not just some wandering soul

That you don't see and you don't know

Yeah I wanna believe, Jesus help me believe that I

Am someone worth dying for

You're worth it, you can't earn it

Yeah the cross has proven that you're sacred and blameless

Your life has purpose

And you are more than flesh and bone,

Can't you see you're something beautiful

Yes you gotta believe, you gotta believe

He wants you to see, He wants you to see

That you're not just some wandering soul

That can't be seen and can't be known

Yeah you gotta believe, you gotta believe that you are by 

Someone worth dying for, oho

You're someone worth dying for, oho

You're someone worth dying for.

well it's been awhile...

well it's been awhile… i have been home for almost 3 weeks and i cannot not believe where time has went. so much has taken place. i arrive safe and sounds after 2 pretty easy flights june 2. leaving Hungary wasn't as hard as i thought it would be, but saying my goodbyes just days before took a toll on my heart. i have grown to love each one of our students and it is so different not having the people i once saw everyday in my life. 

Ethan and Kaylee [wet from
 swimming in our clothes]

Kaylee and Kyla playing dress up

since being home i have started my summer job. i have an amazing job. the 3 kids i keep are beautiful. there is ethan. the oldest [10 years old] and the only boy! he is very handsome. he loves to make others laugh and be a little dare devil. he is a great big brother and loves helping and playing with his sisters. then there is kyla, who is 5 and beautiful. she has a great imagination and is all girl. lastly there is kaylee [age 4]. she is a sweetheart who loves anyone to play with her and be tickled. she is super cute but loves to get dirty and have have fun. they are are well behaved, respectful, and so much fun. we have made home made play-dough and a slip and slide, we have spent many hours in the pool, and took trips to the park and thats not the end of it… we still have 2 more months. 

My sisters and I going cake testing
for our parents party!!

my sisters an i also threw my a surprise 25th anniversary party. this was very hard and quiet stressful, but none-the-less we had so much fun and it was a great turn out. we got to give my parents a gift card to book themselves a cruise and this is something thing they have been waiting to do for a long time, so hopefully they will go sometime soon!! but that wasn't even the best part. my favorite part is watching them renew their vows.

be looking forward to my post about our family vacation and missions trip coming up. God is going to do great things during this time that i am home, i am sure of it. But to be completely honest with my readers… i need your prayers. i am very use to having very strict accountability. i no longer have that [so to speak], so please pray that i will have the motivation to stay in the Word. my friend Summer and I are starting up another Bible study and i am looking forward to continue getting involved in my home church. we shall see what God has planned.

"Wednesday"

I stole this picture from a student, but
I did point out the clouds to her, so she could get a picture. 

Wednesday is exactly in the middle of the week. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday is separated from Thursday Friday and Saturday by WEDNESDAY. I know this seem's so dumb to even think about, but because this is the last week for the students; today just symbolizes how quickly the week is going. My day today started out pretty full, but slowly meetings got canceled, cut short, or rescheduled and now my day is looking empty, but it is already 11am. I am sure the rest of the week will be a bit of a blur. 

Saturday is the long awaited graduation day. I have such mixed emotions. This past week I began to list all of my "last" here in Hungary and that is fun because home is coming so quickly. I am so happy about going home, and starting the next phase of my life that goodbye just seems easy, until yesterday that is. I shed my first tear of this whole goodbye  process. I wasn't expecting to, not yesterday or even saturday, but it happened. 

The girls threw me a surprise party during girls devotions. Something I wasn't expecting at all. I even met with Monca earlier in the day to discuss what we were going to do because the guest speaker wasn't able to make it, but, as I later found out it was already planned. 

I was so kindly waiting for my mentee, Nicole, as she got out of a meeting, forgot her Bible, had to go to the bathroom, stopped to talk to people along the way, and then we finally made it to the Castle and I had to still run by the mailboxes. We were pushing it… I the Asst. Dean of Women was late to girls devotions. Little did I know it was all planned distractions. When we walked in I heard everyone yell surprise and then I continued to sit in confusion. 

At my surprise party and still looking a
little confused about what going on.

Honestly, it wasn't until I got asked to leave the room with 2 other people for a game that I then found out it was a mixture of things: Surprise- early birthday party [since I wouldn't be here then]  mixed with a goodbye/thank you. We shared testimonies about what God has taught us this year and then enjoyed snacks before dinner. :) 

I am so blessed to be surrounded by these people who I have been able to learn from, be challenged by, and make life long friendships with. It is such a blessing to have been able to be here in Hungary this year and serve along side of brothers and sisters in Christ who have the same passion for the Word of God and ministry. 

This year I have learned lots of important lessons, and have been able to practice, live out and revisit past lessons which have already been learned. 

I am looking forward to sharing all about these soon after graduation, but for now please pray for Word of Life Hungary. 

-Pray for students as they are finishing classes and turning in all their assignments.

-Friday is the final cleaning and packing. And don't forget the scheduled fellowships. Pray that we have sweet conversations and make many memories.

-Saturday 11am is graduation! Pray that the program will run smoothly and that the students will feel appreciated for all their hard work.

-And after our banquet lunch everyone is free to go! Please be in much prayer as student leave,  safety as they travel home. 

-Also each student will be participating in 8 weeks of summer ministry. So pray as they continue to serve God all over the world.

-Lastly pray as yours truly-me- begins to wrap up and finish my responsibilities here. I fly home June 2, but hopefully you will hear from me again before then.

Much love and thankfulness to each of you for your prayers! 

...but a vapor

Ever since Kinga, one of the leaders for the missions reality trip shared her testimony one thought has been in my head- Life is a vapor. We spend so much of our time waiting and wasting it on things that do not matter. Kinga shared a story about how in her house she has an empty picture frame hanging on the wall. [[I may not get the exact details, but here is the main gist.]] She never knew what she wanted to place inside of this frame. And when people came over to visit it was always a conversation starter. One time when someone asked about the empty picture frame, her husband responded that it is just a good reminder that many times God does little things in our lives and we don't exactly understand why, but that is because we don't see the big picture. He is the only one who can see the WHOLE picture. To finish the story she now has this quote painted on the wall inside this frame: "As it turns out… now is the moment you have been waiting for." Think about for just a moment. We spend our time worrying and thinking about what is going to happen when were living in the mist of the very thing we have been waiting for. Sadly we miss it because our focus is else where. 

Then today in my James study we looked at verse 14 which says, "You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes." This has been such a good reminder for me that life is short. Who knows when our time is up. I need to be living every moment as if it were my last. What am i doing to make a difference in this world with the time that Christ has given me? I want my life to count, not just for something, but for the Kingdom of God and for His glory. This is my prayer not only for myself, but you as well. Like the saying goes, "Only one life 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last."  

Missions Reality Update

As I mentioned in my video update, this past week we had the soccer marathon, a team from the 2nd year class from Word of Life NY came and the class trip. I don't have much of an update about the soccer marathon, but I know that it went well and we had 12 teams come and play. The Gospel was clearly preached during half time.  The class trip turned out amazing. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and a fabulous dinner on a boat. But may main focus of this post is to tell you all about Missions Reality...

The goal was to give the Missions Reality team a real taste of what it is like to be a missionary. Last minute opportunities or ministering with little preparation, having little or no sleep, and a very busy schedule.  God did such an amazing work in many peoples lives, not just those we were ministering too, but in our very own heart.

This was my 3 time participating in a Missions Reality team.  Each trip I had different responsibilities and God worked in very different way. My first trip as a student to South Africa was where God personally showed me the needs of others. Then my second trip as a staff leader to Hungary God burden me with the Gospel. I have so much to share and there are so many people right at my fingertips who need to hear. This past week was my third trip. I guess you could consider me as a host. I was able to tag along and serve in whatever way possible. Serve the kids we were ministering to, but also the team as well.

The week was pack full of different ministry opportunities. We went to 2 orphanages, 3 schools to teach English, sports rally, a Bible club, work day, helped counsel students after Born Again to a Living Hope drama presentation, did park ministry, and even had a day filled with sightseeing.

For me personally, I was encouraged by the team. It was such a blessing to be around other Americans, to do something different than my daily responsibilities, to share the love of God with children, to answers questions about my life here in Hungary. Another blessing with to put my little Hungarian into practice. I was able to help the team ask the children their names, how old there were, and even what they wanted painted on their faces, or what balloon animal they wanted. I am by no means perfect, but I was able to communicate and that was a big encouragement to me personally. It showed my that my studies, and classes were not in vain. What a reward?!?!

God has really just showed me what it means to be selfless and willing to serve in whatever way needed. Many times I want the spot light, maybe I don't show it outwardly, but in my heart I know it is something I struggle with. Once again with this trip I am reminded that it is not about me. I am so glad God is consistent in showing me area's I need to work on.

Thank you so much from your prayers. Be looking out for more updates as my time here is ending very fast!

Video Update

36

Every morning when I glance at my planner, I see a number. Today the number is 36, tomorrow it will be 35. On May 1 it will be 32. I am sure by now you noticed it's a countdown. On somedays I am very thankful for this and other times it saddens me. Today, I have mixed feelings. I am so excited to go home, but I realize that my time with the girls, my friends, and coworkers is coming to an end. 


This year has brought many smiles and tears. Many memories make my heart smile, and others still make it hurt a little. There is always a beginning and an end. Such is life!!! I have learned so much from those God has placed in my life this year. From my room mates, students, and coworkers all alike. I would like to personally thank each one of you, but that would take too long. Please know you are loved and will be missed. Each of you hold a dear spot in my hearts and have played a role in the many lessons God has taught me this year.


To say the least… God has taught me the following: 
-He is faithful 
-How to live by faith
-Humility: helping me realize I need to apologize and ask forgiveness. 
-Selflessness: to put others needs before my own
-Grin and bear it- to smile even when it hurts or I don't feel like it. 
-Testimony: my daily, boring life is a testimony.
-Prayer: Many situations have caused me to run to the Lord in prayer. God has used this to teach me that even when I didn't know what to say, He knows my heart. 


But above all I still come back to faith. When my faith is weak, My God is and will always remain faithful. God was faithful and taught me so much this year. 


I am sure all of these lessons were just PART 1 out of a LIFE TIME SERIES. He used so many different avenues to do so. Therefore, this year has been an adventure. One that is passing by quickly and I can gladly say with "no complaints". I am not saying it has been easy and that I have loved everyone moment of it or that I couldn't have done better.   But this year has been one that has taught me so much and if it wasn't for those lessons I would arrive home the same person I was when I left. “It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace." 


So thank you for investing in my life! 

a little adventure teaches much

For all of you reading this you know I am all about the random spontaneous adventures. Well, last night after dinner, my roommate Katie and I wanted something sweet- in particular ICE CREAM. I asked around… but we didn't have much luck, so when your desperate you will take desperate measures. We searched for 2 bikes with every intention of going to the restaurant in the village for desert. 

Once we found two bikes we were on our way. Well, half way there I realized its Monday and the restaurant is closed, so we continue with hopes that the sweet shop, bakery, or a store were open. Deep down I knew they weren't because it was already 7pm and everything closes mad early here. 

So, as we were heading back to campus with our dreams of ice cream crushed we met up with the 2 Dan's. They had helped us on campus find 2 bikes before the left to go on a nice little bike ride themselves. [and if you are reading this…"Thanks again guys!!"] Well, we shared with them our hopes of ice cream and one of them mentioned about going to Megan's house. We discussed it a little because we knew we were chancing it by even going, but also going uninvited. 

When we stopped in front of her gate outside her house we tried yelling her name, calling her cell, and when we thought all hope was lost, she walked outside. As she was in the mist of laughing she said, "What are you guys up too?" We tried to nonchalantly mention we wanted ice cream. Low and behold Megan had ice cream. She did tell us it was sugar free, but with enough toppings you couldn't taste a difference. 

When she opened the gate, we sat outside on her picnic table and had a great time of fellowship. Once it got dark we headed inside to wash the dishes, which led to coffee, and sitting around talking, lots of laughing, and a very special, secret, sort of exclusive contract.  It was a great night. Just what my soul needed, and extra dose of laughter and friendship. 

I say all this because last night I realized something. Something I have always known and even witnessed many times before. But what an awesome picture of the Body of Christ. I love living so closely and ministering along side of such Godly people who selflessly sacrifice of their time, food, and agenda, and so much more. God has truly blessed me with having many families all around the world. I can think of many people who have done things just like this for me.  Big or small…they touch my heart in a special way that just lets me know that I am loved. 

Just a special little shout out:

-Thank you to Megan for opening your home and sharing your food with all of us, but especially thank you for your friendship and your Godly example to us.

-Thank you Daniel Robert Koontz and Dan Vanderkooi for helping us find bikes, and for sharing many laughs with us. 

-Thank you Katie for desiring ice cream and being willing to go on a little adventure with me. 

I love you all and I am very blessed to have you in my life. Did I communicated well in this post?   :D

Czech Spring Break Trip 2011

Here are a few pictures I promised from my Spring Break trip to the Czech Republic. I hope you enjoy! To see more feel free to go to my Facebook page.

The next few pictures are of the ministry we had teaching English:

Sight Seeing in Brno:

We also got to attend a special Bible Club meeting in which we went bowling:

We went to see the caves as well. Beautiful place and a wonderful time of fellowship with many laughs:

My favorite part of the trip: Prague!!!

We had a wonderful time encouraging and ministering along side the staff in the Czech. The fellowship and sightsee was awesome as well. Thank you for your prayers for this Spring Break. God sure answered them.