The process of acclimating to the other side of the world :)

hello hello hello!

This has been a week of further adjusting and settling in! We've had further orientation then yesterday we got plugged into some different areas of ministry. I got to work alongside of Ulla and Hanna, who are two women missionaries on the OM (Operation Mobiliazation) team here in Austria. OM has a aid program that sends supplies and relief items to people in needy nations, especially in the eastern European nations. So yesterday I got to sort through and pack these items and get them ready to be sent out to the needy! It was exciting to be apart of helping meet tangible needs and living out what Jesus has commanded us to do! I really, really, really admire and enjoy these women from OM! They are incredible wives, mothers, Jesus-lovers and missionaries- I am pretty much ecstatic that I get to be on a team with them and learn from them over these next 16 months!

Today my teammate Jadah and I got to finish up sewing our living room furnishings. I made curtains from scratch! It was quite exciting, though tedious. I was grateful for my grandma Davis and the things she taught me about sewing; even though that was way back in 5th grade, I still remember them!

We have another week of getting acclimated and ironing out other details of our everyday lives, as well as serving alongside of OM in different ministry opportunities, then on Feb 9th we'll dive into language school! That's what we're going to focus on and hit hard for the next 3 months. I'm really looking forward to jumping in and also meeting new people in my class. The girls and I have been working hard to make our flat a nice place to be so we can invite new friends over!

Snow, Visas and Challenges

Snow today! Beautiful.

Still getting into the swing of things here... I'm feeling very adult-ish- budgeting, shopping and cooking, buying spices and trash bags, decorating our apartment, riding public transportation by myself. This is the most freedom I've ever had but also the most responsibility. I'm thankful for the previous years of training because though I still have more to learn, I feel equipped to be a good steward in these things! That's exciting. It is a bit overwhelming at times but I think soon things will become normal. :)

Today we are working on getting our visas so that we can stay in Austria! Please be in prayer about this as there are not many spots left to receive visas and nothing is guaranteed. We are just doing our best to meet all of the stipulations and through prayer, leave the rest up to God! We just found out this week that we must have Austrian health insurance in order to be considered for the visa, so we had to purchase additional insurance today for about $50 US dollars a month. This was not in our budget so I'd welcome you to join me in seeking God's provision for this. If you are interested in sponsoring this need, please contact me at mckenzie.conn@bcom.org.

Also, since being here my laptop has not been working. :( I had some problems with it before I left and thought they were all fixed, but it's now returning to its old ways and refuses to turn on. There's an IT guy who works for Operation Mobilization who will probably be able to take a look at it at the end of the week, so please pray that its able to get fixed! I'm thankful for teammates who have been willing to share theirs with me. :)

Tonight the team is diving into studying the book of Galatians! This is one of our classes for internship and I'm really excited to get into the Word with my team. We are all really enjoying one another and team life is going well! Currently all of us girls are making couch and chair covers and other aesthetic endeavors to make our apartment feel like home! It's quite exciting really. :) Stay tuned for pictures of the finished product! 

Orientation of my new nation!

Greetings from Vienna!

Click here to check out a video of my new apartment! I'm loving it! It's awesome to be in a community again. My team and I have been diving into orientation, covering a plethora of all the things that pertain to life here in Austria! On Monday, we explored downtown Vienna and invaded a cell phone shop to pick out our new "handy's" (what they call phones here). I've also discovered that the Viennese have laws about separating garbage and that on Saturday's after 12:15 PM until Monday morning, you can't mow your lawn or you get fined! All the shops are closed on Sundays too- these Austrians take resting and relaxing seriously! I love it!

I'm pretty tired but am adjusting to the new time zone and am sleeping great! I really love my team and the leadership who is here.

Team Austria with leaders, Robert and Ulla Suhonnen!

We're going to be able to be working closely with the Operation Mobilization team who is already here (there are five families). Today we got to hear the vision of what they're all about and the opportunities we will have to join in and even expand their outreach. I can't tell you how ecstatic I am to be here and to be apart of this ministry! This is what I've wanted to do my whole life and I'm so happy to be here!

Arrival to Indiana!

Hello All!

I've safely arrived to the land of Goshen, In to the house of my awesome boyfriend Jeff and his family! I had a good flight here yesterday although it was very sad and hard to say goodbye to my family for such a long time. I love them so much and have thoroughly enjoyed and been blessed by my time with them these past five months. It's awesome to grow in the Lord with them and partner with them in prayer and in seeking God together! I love them so much and will miss them dearly!

I have a strong sense of God's peace and sense His support in a vigorous way. It's awesome to be stepping out farther in my journey with Him and I'm excited for the things to come!

For these next few days I'll be enjoying spending time with Jeff and his family and preparing to depart for Vienna on Saturday! Please pray for God's preparation of our hearts and minds and that He would multiply grace and peace to us to know God more!

It's good to be in a place surrounded by white again-- reminds me of Denver. Love to all my family there- I'm loving you greatly in my heart!

Peace Runs Deep in Him

It's one of those moments when truth rips a seam in the sky and you wonder why you were all worried
afraid
unbelieving.

When all day long you'd been thinking how haphazard and out-of control life feels, then you find yourself in a place where everything fits together and the Author ushers your soul into communion with the firm pen in His hand and you understand

He is in control.

This is divine, this is real, when the fog lifts and the confusion is peeled

back

and deep in your soul you feel the presence of the Lord.

And you're humbled, and you're grateful-- despite my unbelief, complaint and distrust He remained faithful.

He remained kind.

And oh so gracefully, oh so kindly, He brought all this truth to mind.

Lord Jesus next time let me believe you, receive you, trust you. Thank you for your forgiveness today and your empowering grace for tomorrow.

"Shame on you, shame on me
Lord he took all our shame and pain, and set men free
And I’ve got that fire on the mountain
Fire in my soul
It’s been a long time coming, long time
And ready to go
I’m stepping out the door
Doing what feels right
Following my Lord, through the darkest night
And when the path gets narrow
I’ll follow him
And when the world comes down, around
I’ll follow him
He said, sing it on the mountain
Or in the valley low
He’s my God, and he never let me go
He said, sing it on the mountain
Or fight in valley low
Every mans going to see, and everyone will know
That peace runs deep in him
I said peace runs deep in him
Peace runs deep in him."

--Josh Garrels

:::One Thing:::

This past weekend I attended a four-day conference called One Thing in Kansas City. It was put on by the International House of Prayer and over 16,000 people attended! It was a deeply impacing conference that was focused on growing in intimacy and love for Jesus (the One Thing needed!) and growing in understanding of the Revelation of Jesus in the End Times.


I attended the conference with Ruth (a friend of my sister's), Chelsey (my sister :), my boyfriend Jeff (first time seeing him in 7 weeks! It was a happy day :), and my friend Megan. We had a great time participating in the event and discussing and praying together!

One of my favorite things about the conference was that it was incredibly diverse, and as a part of some of the sessions, the speaker took time to highlight different nationalities and nations and their parts in the Kingdom of God. Above is a picture of a Jewish rabbi praying in Hebrew for an Egyptian Arab! On the stage at one time there were Chinese, Arab, Jewish and Caucasian men and they all embraced and prayed for one another! It was deeply impacting to see the peace of Christ that surpasses all animosity.

Jeff and I also got to promote our college (Bethany College of Missions) together! It was fun to share with others and also see old friends and teachers from our past year at BCOM!

I was deeply impressed at the conference first of all with the love of God and in growing in loving Him with my all! Secondly I grew in sobriety and in urgency to be intentional about preparing for the coming of Jesus like 2 Peter speaks to us about. I want to be a person who speeds His coming and who is not offended by Him when He comes. My prayer for this year is to see everything in my life come into complete allegiance and agreement to Jesus! I've also begun the journey of seeking to understand the book of Revelation because God has revealed to us there what He is doing and what our part is. I'm excited to share more about what I learn as I grow in understanding this year! I'd really encourage you to seek the Lord on this topic as well.

Praise God for His zealous love for us and for the way He is preparing His Bride! May He give you power today to grasp the massive dimensions of His love.