Visa, Visa, I need a Visa!

We got word as a team today that our visa's will be removed from the process if we cannot prove that we have 1,400 Euro/month for the time we are here. Each of us has raised roughly 900 Euro/month so please join us in prayer for God's solution to this! (We are not in need of 1,400/month- 900/month has been quite sufficient, but the government here wants to make sure we will not be a drain to the economy).

We have until the end of April before we would be required to leave the country (and the EU) for a certain amount of time before we could return without a visa. There are places that OM (Operation Mobilization) has for us to go, but there is a lot that would go into a change such as that. God is sovereign and has His hand in this- please join us in seeking Him for His will to be done!

I've really been enjoying the friends I'm making here! Today after German class, my teammates Lindy, Jake and I went out to a cafe with two new Chinese friends who are in a German class next to ours. We had a great time! And as we didn't speak Chinese and they didn't speak English, we all got some good practice for our German (which is an answer to prayer for me!) I would appreciate your prayers that God would continue to open doors and relationships and that I would grow in my German capabilities!

*love :)

L O V E

I am learning what it is to

L
O
V
E.

I am learning what it is to

W
A
L
K

in the Spirit.

I've been brought back to the simple but profound and life-changing truth:

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

If I don't love today, I gain nothing. If I accomplish a hundred tasks, feed the poor, learn German really well and make a really good dinner for the team but don't have love...

I am

N
O
T
H
I
N
G.

So I am seeking,

simply,

deeply,

profoundly,

challengingly,

to love.

And that, my dear friends, is what I would greatly appreciate your prayers for. :)

May God direct your heart today into His love and into the perseverance/patience of Christ.

A Day in Austria

Today was ::::::splendid:::::::

Woke up around 7:30 and said goodbye to Jeff before he left for his morning German class.

Made coffee and had Musli (Austrian granola :) while reading a bit of Francine Rivers', Voice of the Wind Series (my favorite!). I've been enjoying being with Jesus while I go about my normal routine...I'm learning that washing the dishes is no less sacred than raising my hands in worship...

God is looking for FAITH. God is looking for LOVE. God is looking for FELLOWSHIP.

And I am a temple in which God lives, and in my heart, all the time, I can be with Him, love Him, talk to Him, fellowship with Him.

How wonderful!

He makes the mundane significant. He makes the casual supernatural. He makes the routine satisfying...for He is the fullness of God who fills everything in every way.

I dove into 2 Cor 5 today, which is about the ministry of reconciliation. www.blueletterbible.org- an awesome Biblical resource with a concordance of the Hebrew and Greek words. How powerful it is to discover the original and intended meaning of the words I so often casually skim over! How deep is the Word of God!

10:55 AM- rode my bike through Stockerau to get to the train station. Enjoyed a 30 min train ride with 3 of m teammates.

12-3: intense German class! So good though...working on the past-tense and pronunciation today.

3 PM: Went for an adventure! Didn't know where I was going-- just wanted to explore and get to know Vienna more and scout out the land with eyes of faith. Bought an orange Gerber daisy from a flower shop. Asked Jesus to show me who to give it to. Found myself at the **Rathaus**- The beautiful Parliament building with an incredible park/garden in front. A woman was sitting on a bench, shamelessly enjoying the beauty of the place. I gave her the flower and made a friend! She was delighted! She's half-Austrian/ half English and is a delightful person. She gave me a "scent"-- refreshing tangerine! She then helped me get to know the area and recommended a cafe for me to study at...


4 PM: Waded through a German newspaper and did my German homework over a good cup of coffee and an omelet at Cafe Eiles, an original Wiener (Viennese) cafe that is over 100 years old! :)

6 PM: Met up with Jeff, Emily (my teammate) and her boyfriend Dave for a special night out: $4 tickets (balcony standing tickets :) to the Vienna opera to see a ballet of Romeo and Juliet! It was beautiful!

Now I'm home...trying not to wake my roommates and getting ready for a new day tomorrow.

Please continue to pray that I will grow in understanding and ability in the German language and for a greater development of friendships and contacts here in Vienna! Please also pray that God would guide me as to what church I am to be a part of and what ministry emphasis He has for me in the coming months.

Much love to you all!

The God who Changes

"Machen wir eine pause," exclaims my German teacher. Ahhh, break time! Today I was more tired then usual and was grateful for the 15 minutes to let my brain rest. Today most of us (there are 8 students total, all very international) just remained in our seats around our rounded rectangle table and listened to the bustling city of Vienna waft through the slightly opened window. Then...

"I've been wanting to ask you for a long time...why did you choose to study the Bible?" asked Anna with eyes full of deep curiosity. I was surprised by her question so clarified what she was asking. Sure enough, it was as direct and meant in just the way she asked it! I paused and smiled, deeply satisfied not only by her curiosity but also for the opportunity to be refreshed in rememberance of why I do study the Bible.

"I've experienced the God who wrote the Bible in a very personal way, so I want to know more about Him. The Bible shows and teaches me about the way the world was made, how I was made, and most wonderfully, who God is. It makes so much sense and is so right."

Anna took in my answer. Then, with even more intensity, she asked, "Did it change you?"

I smiled even bigger and found my eyes welling up, "Yes. Yes, very much- every day."

The tears came because today I woke up a broken and weary person, still struggling to walk daily in the freedom that Christ purchased for me, still endowed with my wayward humanity. Ah but the tears came because today God says His banner over me is love! In my weakness, He loves. In my brokennes, He has mercy.

And Anna His love and His mercy is for you too! Please pray for Anna- that God would make His light shine in her heart and reveal the image of the glory of God that is in the face of Christ! Please pray also for me- that God would lead me in how to love and be a friend to Anna.

Refugees

It was a full day!

Woke up to SUNSHINE (finally!) and had a good morning with a good breakfast and a good time with God. He is teaching me about what it means for me to walk in the Spirit and what it means to walk in the flesh. It's more familiar for me to read those words in the Bible but it's felt vague or unfamiliar to my every-day life, as in knowing with clarity and confidence when I'm walking in the Spirit and when I'm not. It's so simple! That doesn't mean it's easy, but it is simple. Yesterday I realized that if I love people all day and if I spend my moments loving and adoring and being with Jesus in my heart, then I win! I've succeeded for the day! And not I, but Christ in me. How freeing that is!

At 11, I made my way to the train station to head into Vienna for German class. It takes about 45 minutes to travel there. Class was good but challenging! It's been exciting to read through newspapers or paragraphs in my German book and be able to get the gist of it! I was encouraged today that I have been learning and that I am growing in understanding and speaking this language. Please continue to pray that I really grasp it! I'm looking for more opportunities to speak and practice it!

After school, Jeff and I hopped on a train and headed to a different district in Vienna to meet up with Greta and Jeff Simon, who are missionaries here in Vienna. We met up with them last week over coffee to swap stories about how we got here and what we're doing here, and today we got to see their apartment then headed south of Vienna to participate in one of the refugee outreaches they were apart of.

Vienna has the greatest number of immigrant applications out of any other European country, mostly because it's closest to the eastern nations that are so desperately seeking refuge outside of their own country. Most of them are Turks, Serbians, Kurds, Afghans or Iranians, but there are countless others from many other nations. They come to Vienna in dire circumstances, many from war-torn countries, others from grave poverty, others from oppressive governments.

The place we went to tonight is called the Oasis, and they have an assortment of outreaches to refugees who are temporarily staying in their town (most in a place called "The Logger" which houses over 15,000 people!). Tonight there were about 40 men (they are praying for women and children to come!), primarily Afghans, who came for a time of short worship, a message and some coffee, tea and snacks. Most of them are not believers. Jeff and I got to help serve coffee and then talk and hang out with the people afterwards. We learned some Farse and had fun interacting with the people and the workers of Oasis.

I was really struck tonight by the fact that the only legal job for these refugees (until their "case" is heard and they find out if they can legally stay in Vienna or if they'll get deported home) is prostitution. Human trafficking is massive in Vienna- a sickening death-sentence to thousands of people.

Please pray for me as I continue to learn about the needs here in Vienna and as I seek God on how He would have me express God and his love here.

An African Encounter

So today Jeff and I set out to visit a new church in Vienna. While on the train, an African woman with her two boys sat next to us. We said hello and she was very friendly so we chatted for a while. We asked where she was going and she said, "to church!" She invited us to join her when she found out we were Christians as well. Jeff and I looked at each other, why not? It was cool, because I had just prayed that God would guide our steps and connect us with the people He wanted us to be connected with, so I was expectant for Him to lead us today, although I hadn't thought His leading would be so soon!

We told her we'd like to join them so we did! A few stops and a five minute walk later, we found ourselves to be the only two white people at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Chapel of His Glory Parish, Vienna. :) I really enjoyed those three hours that were spent there! It reminded me of the two months I spent in Africa and in Haiti combined. After being surrounded by a reserved, quiet, Caucasian European culture, it was very unique to be immersed in an African culture! It was refreshing! I enjoyed singing loudly and dancing a little- their bold and vibrant expression of worship and confession of truth was invigorating to join.

They were incredibly friendly and welcoming- had us stand up during the service and over 20 people got up from their seats to welcome us and greet us, then at the end of the service the pastor had us come up to the front and he prayed for us. And what made the service extra wonderful was watching all of those beautiful babies with their mammas! One little guy was dressed to the hilt in a big white suit, toddling down the aisle and dancing. I think I'll always have a special place in my heart for African babies. :)

I'd appreciate you're continued prayers that I would have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand so that I can walk in the good works and the ways God has prepared in advance for me! I'd also appreciate your prayers for the peace of Christ to rule in my heart- I've really been wrestling with anxiety about how to spend the time I have and in who I am. It's interesting how so much insecurity can come up when you go somewhere new! Please pray that God would deepen my security in Him.

Love to you all!!

Today was the last day of Deutsch Kurse A1! Moving onto "A2" on Monday, so I will have a new class and a new teacher. Today we had regular class for the first hour and a half, then we were presented with a Sacher Torte (a famous chocolate cake from Vienna!) since we won 3rd place at the photo contest (see pictures in a previous post about Fashing- the big party before Lent starts)! After enjoying a "stuck" (piece) of cake, we all went to a cafe to hang out and speak German to each other for our last 1 1/2 together! It's been a good class and we all really enjoyed one another. We're planning to get together on a Saturday in a few weeks to tour some more of Vienna!

I had a great meeting with Robert and Ulla, our Internship supervisors, this morning. They are so encouraging and in some ways have embraced us 8 interns as their children! They have been incredibly encouraging, supportive and helpful in this time of adjusting. They have many connections so it's really cool how they've been facilitating our time here. I enjoyed sharing about what's been going on in my life this last week and we talked about the ministry possibilities for the next coming months. I'm so excited! Some opportunities I'm praying about:

• Working with prostitutes from Eastern Europe, Austria and Africa in Vienna (Ulla is a big part of this ministry)
• Being a part of Aidslink- an AIDS program Robert and Ulla have, in which they travel to different places and educate teens on AIDS. In April, 4 of the interns will be able to join them on a trip to Poland to speak and share in different high school and a massive youth conference
• Being a part of Mercy House of Prayer (MHOP) in Vienna. This is a new prayer ministry that's raising up from the grassroots and is formatted similar to IHOP.
• Working with refugees. Next Wednesday I will meet with Greta and here husband Jeff, missionaries from the states (who have contact with Christ Chapel!) and get to hear about their ministries to the refugees here in Vienna.
• Being a part of coffee house evangelism. There's a group of awesome college students that I've met up with and they meet weekly with different assortments of people to talk about life.

I would love it if you join me in prayer that God would guide my steps and connect me with what would bring Him the most glory!

Got to go to dinner! Real quick, good news: it's looking like we're going to get our visas! Please keep that in prayer, but progress has been made and I'm on the list to recieve a visa!

Grace and peace.

Comfort from God's love

Today, I experienced the faithfulness of God.

I woke up in a familiar state of anxiety. My mind was yet again un-rested, for it was made for a day's journey and a night's rest, however dark and light has become one running track of which my brain is on a marathon.

I woke up weary.

I woke up discouraged.

This weekend, through times of prayer and conversations with my teammates, I caught a hold of more vision for this time in Austria, however following the inspiration I was greeted with more opposition and more oppression.

In previous missions experiences overseas I had experienced changes in the spiritual climate, but I have never been more aware of that phenomenon than I am now, after an elongated six weeks in a country filled with unbelief and apathy.

"God, you have to help me today! I need rest! I need help! I don't know how to stay engaged, aware, awake in this sleepy, confusing and subtly but surely oppressive country."

I got up with nothing to offer but a weary body and soul and I made my way to German class, discouraged.

We had a substitute teacher today, and as I sat down and settled into the beginning moments of class I remember distinctly feeling refreshed. That's strange. Usually I feel strained here. Today feels different. What is it?

My quest to figure it out was overlapped by straining to comprehend the "Dativ' form of the German language. Then break time came, and I asked the substitute if he liked teaching. He said kind of...

"...but I really love teaching the Bible."

Ha! I almost cried! That's what it was! It's incredible how the presence of Jesus in one man can change the whole spiritual atmosphere. Even though he was only teaching German, the life of Jesus was flowing from him. Ahhh, so refreshing. That was just the encouragement I needed.

The substitute's name is Ares and he and his wife are youth ministers in Wien! He invited us to his church and to lunch at his house this Sunday. Praise God for His divine direction- only He could've done that!