I'm back!

Well, it's been quite awhile since I've written here! I've had the hankering to start blogging again, especially because, yet again, I'm living away from dear family and friends.

A lot has happened since I last wrote! I embarked on a long plane ride back to the USA and after 16 months away, finally set foot on my home turf. It was sure good to see family and friends again, but it was so strange to have what was once comfortable now foreign and what was once foreign, now comfortable! I found myself less friendly and open than before, as in Austria such behavior is looked upon skeptically and often not received. I discovered I was annoyed at noise and small talk; Austrians like to keep quiet, mind their own business (though you'll catch them staring at you from the corner of their eye), and go deep with a small circle of friends. It's truly amazing how much we are affected by culture! After a short break with my family and then with Jeff's family, I headed back to Minnesota to finish up school, primarily doing a lot of reflecting and sorting through what I'd learned throughout my time at Bethany and seeking to find my identity in the Kingdom of God rather than in Austrian or American culture. I think that will be a life-long process. :)

Besides school and reflecting, I spent my last 4 months in college planning for my wedding! It was an exciting but stressful time, and ended with a big bang- Jeff and I graduated from college one day and got married the next! Quite a weekend! It was so much fun though and Jeff and I were so happy to not have to wait any longer to get married. We went on a great honeymoon to Mexico then had fun at wedding receptions in each of our hometowns. We sensed God calling us to start our lives together back in Minnesota, so we journeyed on to see what He had for us there. He provided free housing for us to stay in for a month in downtown Minneapolis while we searched for jobs and an apartment. He was faithful to lead us in our search! Jeff's working for a demolition and remodeling company owned by a man from our church; I'm working at Panera Bread, which is walkable from our apartment.

Now we're mostly settled in (God provided furniture for us too!) and are working and enjoying being married. We love going to the church we went to as college students and it's fun having lots of friends around from school as well (lots of newlyweds!). How fun it is to have a home to host in!

So now you're all caught up. :) I'll be back again soon!

Gutenstein

I'm back again! This is the 4th time I've been up to Gutenstein, a retreat center in the Austrian Alps. Each time has been in a new season, so I'm loving it in the Spring! Blue sky, cool breeze, endless trails to explore and soak up the beauty of creation. 2 teammates and I are here for the weekend, cooking meals for a youth retreat. I really enjoy it!

Wow, I only have 2 weeks left in Austria! I can't believe it. Please pray for me and and my team, as there's lots that needs accomplished in these final days! Please pray that God gives us peace (and that we choose to abide in it!) and also provides for time to say goodbye to friends and favorite places and to have a good closure to this season of life. Right now it's feeling really stressful with lots to do and trying to figure out how to take everything home in 2 suitcases! ;)

See you soon!!

A Refreshing Retreat

This past week my team and I went to a small town in Germany for a retreat with the OM East team. It was so great! We went through the "Mark Experience" where each day we were divided into groups and each group had 6 chapters in Mark that we were to act out. On the final day, we acted it all out together in chronological order. Wow, it was so cool! I loved seeing the Bible come to life and be able to really put myself into the events that happened. It was awesome having young and old participating- it really came to life.

We also enjoyed great times of playing games together, an evening campfire, sauna time, ping-pong and much more! The part of Germany we were in was astoundingly beautiful and it was so refreshing to spend time with Jesus and with each other.

One of the nights we had an "Austrian night," and we all dressed up in Austrian attire!

This is Edwin, a Swiss missionary who heads up the Relief and Development part of OM and his outfit was my personal favorite!

Here is all of us girls in our Austrian attire!

And here's our tasty dinner that I got to help make: roasted beef, knodlen, and mixed vegetables. Tasty!

Now we're back in Austria, keeping busy and wrapping up our final weeks here. 3 weeks from today I'll be back in Texas!!!

ENGAGED!

Well, it's all over facbook but if you didn't know, Jeff and I are ENGAGED!! He proposed last Thursday night on a mountainside overlooking Vienna. :) Wow it's exciting! Here are some pictures. :) If you want to see more engagement photos, go here.



The next morning after he proposed we left to Hungary for a short outreach to the small town we did an English Camp in this summer. We helped remove the rubble of a torn down building so that the church can build a house of prayer there. We also had a great time being with the people of the town and fellowshipping over many good Hungarian meals. :) To see more pictures of our time in Hungary, check out my friend Lindy's photos.

Tomorrow we're off to Germany for an OM team retreat for a week! We'll also get to stop in Salzburg along the way and complete our Austrian experience- singing "The Hills are Alive" in the Alps. :) We all even got the traditional Austrian dress to wear!

Love to all! Headed back to the states in 4 WEEKS!

Time is Ticking Away

Wow, 6 weeks from today I'll be flying home!

Time seems to be flying by, and yet going so slow.

I've been feeling torn between desiring to stay here yet ready to come home and enter this next season of life. I've made such good relationships here and I'd like to continue them, plus, I really love Austria! Now that I understand the culture better (that stranger's coldness doesn't mean they aren't nice) and feel more connected, in a lot of ways it's a great place to live! Fresh fruit produce and amazing hearty bread... quaint and sylish cafe's everywhere and lots of holidays... beautiful surroundings and amazing gardens and architecture... the rest of Europe is at your fingertips to travel. Yet, the interesting circumstances of me being here continue to be uncomfortable, although better than in the beginning. :)

Being in a country where I understand everything that's going on sounds really nice! But I have come to really love German- it just takes extra effort.

Please pray for the endurance and patient endurance of Christ for the remaining time here. I've been feeling a deep weariness that I can't put my finger on, but please pray that God brings rest to it and teaches me to be content in every circumstance. Pray also for me and my team as we feel the sadness of such a short time left, yet also gladness to return home to friends and family. God still has a lot in store for us yet!

Sonnenschein und Ruhetag

"Sunshine and Days of Rest!"

That's what yesterday was, and it was grand. :)

My flatmates and I headed to the Danube river in Vienna to soak up the long-awaited sunshine and...

we flew a kite!Well, kind of. :) It was so windy that the kite was quite violent and didn't soar so well! But we laughed a lot.


Then... Jeff met me in Vienna and we went on a date. I love walking through the 1st district, cobblestone paths and beautiful architecture. It never gets old! I'm trying to soak it up while I can-- only 2 months left here!

We went to a cafe that looks over the city and did some sketching. :)

Then we took a night bike ride through the city! What an adventure! The city bikes are great- free for an hour!

Stopping for photos at a WWII monument. :)

Thanks God, for all the good you bring into our lives. :)

Tuesdays

We've had SUNSHINE recently! That's a delight after so much gray. This is actually a mosaic on the side of a house in Stockerau that I pass often on walks. I like it. :)

Life has more of a semblance of routine than it's ever had during this time in Austria. It's kind of nice. One of my favorite days now are Tuesdays, because I get to teach English and be around some great kids!

This is Silas and Eliah, two sons of a Swiss missionary family that are a part of OM. On Tuesdays I tutor them in English along with their sister. They're a lot of fun. :)

Yep, no one can resist this smile, especially in a cute bear costume! He was dressed up for faschingsdienstag, basically Austria's version of Mardi Gras.

On Tuesday mornings I get to go to the local kindergarten and assist an English teacher for an hour. It's so fun! There are 10 adorable kids and I've found I really enjoy teaching. I'm thankful for that opportunity.

These are the Keller girls, 3 lovely sisters from another Swiss family involved with OM here in Austria. I attend the same church as them and also enjoy helping out at their youth group on Wednesday nights. They're such special girls with beautiful heart's for Jesus. It's been cool to pray for them and encourage them, as Christian friends are a rare commodity.

It's crazy to think I only have 2 months left here! It's felt like such a very long time. Lately it's felt hard, being here. But I know God's plans are good and He has more grace to give along with the challenges. Please pray that He directs my heart into His love and encourages my spirit. I've had a lot of trouble sleeping lately and just resting in general, so please pray that God refreshes me and my team and gives us good rest.

Love to all!

"The police are here!"

Yesterday I woke up to the sound of German voices and of a walkie talkie, and to the sight of my roommates peaking out of our door. "What's going on?!"

"The police are here!"

That's quite a way to wake up on a Monday morning!

Shortly after, the police left and Lindy explained what was going on. She said the police would be back in 30 minutes and that we needed to get our passports and papers ready to show them. She said they were fairly friendly, but we were anxiously anticipating their return, wondering what it meant for the rest of our short future in Austria... would we have to leave again?

Thankfully Robert and another OM team member came and took charge of the whole process. The police returned, and we all stood in the hallway, having our passports and papers intricately examined.

It turned out they just wanted to make sure we were who we said we were, and that everything matched up with our papers and such. We just don't fit into any of their boxes so frankly they just don't know what to do with us! They can't figure out how we have money to stay here, since we're not allowed to work in Austria, and the thought of us having family members and supporters back home who sponsor us to be here is inconceivable to them. So I'd like to say another big thanks to you all for making it possible for me to be here, and for blowing the minds of Austrian police at your generosity! :)

Having their questions satisfied, the police left and everything is OK. So yet another praise that God provided for us to stay here in Austria!

Fun but full times!

Greetings from the very snowy land of Austria! I hear in TX things are quite cold too. :)

February's been a fun month so far. All of the university students have the whole month off, so it's been fun hanging out with friends!

Jeff and I got to experience ice skating at the "Rathaus"- a huge and beautiful civic building and center.

We went with our Austrian friends Julia and Mario. It's been a blessing to have Christian couples to hang out with, and for them too!

Times at Mercy House of Prayer continue to be very enriching and encouraging. I've been serving on Tuesday and Thursday nights, doing some cleaning, sometimes running the worship slides and eating up good times with Jesus. I've also been helping make some banners to decorate the prayer room. Here's the first one I've finished! "Gnade" means mercy, or grace.

I've also been enjoying some "Stilleziet"- quiet times in the mornings with Jesus. I love these flowers with our green curtains, watching the snow fall and soaking up the everlasting love that God has for me!

Hehe, this is a picture Lindy took of me on our walk around Stockerau. I found it symbolic with how God's also teaching me to shut my ears to the teachings of the world and of the devil and open up my heart to listen and believe what God says!

:: Faithful ::

Life has been quite full! A really good kind of full.

I've been feeling really connected relationally now- with my church, with people from MHOP, with Christine and her family, with my team. Praise God!

I look forward to going to church on Sundays. I love the warmth of the people there, the simplicity of the worship, and I find it cool that they don't have a pastor, but several elders who take turns preaching, and most of the congregation is involved in some sort of responsibility for the "Gemeinde" (fellowship/congregation). During the service there is always an open time for people to pray where they are, for whatever is on their heart. I like that everyone can participate. For the first time, I prayed out loud a simple prayer in German. My heart beat so fast, afraid of making a mistake in front of so many people, but I was really excited to be a part. It was so cool! Afterward several people told me they were so excited about it, and a friend told me that people at church feel very respected by me because I seek to communicate in their "Mutter Sprache" (Mother Tongue). Praise God! God has been so faithful to be faithful in me! When all I have is a desire to do good, but not the strength of wisdom to carry it out, God has led me, answered my weak prayers and connected me so well here with the Body of Christ. This is truly His doing!

Sunday afternoon Christine invited Jeff and I to join her, her husband, her son and her son's girlfriend for lunch at a Heuriger (a typical Austrian restaurant). It was so much fun! We laughed a lot and learned quite a few German jokes, as Christine's husband is quite the joking man. I'm so blessed by Christine's love, care, and joy in our friendship, and am so happy that she's invited me (and Jeff!) to connect with her family. Please continue to pray for this relationship. May God direct our conversations that the truth about Jesus and His Kingdom may be revealed, and that Christine would find true life, and her family too! They are so generous.

In feeling so connected here in Austria, I've actually been having the thoughts that I could live here! I think that's the way it goes- we're relational beings, so wherever we connect relationally, it just seems right to live in that place. God can make that happen anywhere, but please pray for me as time in Austria is growing short and the future awaits. Can't wait to see what God has! Hmmm, but it truly is good to enjoy the Lord and His faithfulness right here, right now.

Thankful

Wow, I had such a refreshing time with God today. He always comes at just the right time and gives you what you need! I was pleasantly surprised to find myself alone in our flat, and was thankful for the space and time God gave me to be with Him, to pray, to work things out that He's doing in my life.

It's been incredible reflecting on this last year and seeing all the ways God has come through. For real! This last year was one of the most challenging years I've ever had. I recently realized that I was bitter and angry towards God because I thought He had let me down and hadn't given me what I needed. But then I realized that He DID; I was just expecting Him to answer differently then I gave up on Him and got offended at Him right before He answered my prayer! It's been so refreshing to repent of my offense and unbelief and to have my heart flooded with the memories of how God answered prayers of all kinds. Some of them being...

Strenuous and tense relationship conflicts in my flat being resolved! God has brought so much healing, reconciliation and sincere love to our flat. Praise God!

Awesome relationships with people here in Austria. God has blessed me so much at my church with a wealth of awesome Godly girls my age! I have been so blessed by them and have loved being able to also encourage them. He's also blessed me with many families who invite me over for lunch after church. What great hosts and wonderful people! I love my friends here. They were somewhat long in coming, but God made it happen (and He helped overcome the language barrier too)!

Relationships outside of my church with people here. The local pool that I work out in has helped with that immensely! God has been faithful to bring people across my path for me to love and to be a witness about Jesus to.

Also concerning the pool, God has been helping me overcome my struggles with my self-image and has provided a healthy way for me to work out. I'm still a work in progress, but God has brought so much healing and truth to my insecurities and continues to set me free to be who I'm created to be!

My financial support has been continual and faithful throughout my whole time here. I have never had a lack! Praise God and thank you for being a part of that!

...and so many more things!!!

God truly is faithful. He is so patient, gracious and kind and endures with me and my weakness. He is so full of love and good-will. I'm so thankful that I get to know Him!

:::House Church:::

We had a very thought-provoking class this week; the title: Church Planting Movements. It was taught by a missionary to India and who shared on principles of the massive outbreak of Christianity in China. What a cool concept and strategy they have going on! The big idea of it is

training people to be trainers.

Sound strange? Instead of being a missionary and just winning people to Jesus, be a missionary, win people to Jesus then train them to train others, not only to win people to Jesus but to train those people to train others too! So it's this big organic movement where everything that is needed to sustain the life of the "cell" is there from the beginning. For instance, instead of having a linear perspective (becoming a Christian, getting baptized, being discipled, evangelizing after a long time, being in leadership...etc.), having an "organic" perspective. Let me elaborate on this...

It starts with a small group of people, maybe even all missionaries to begin with. They are committed to meeting together in a house (no extra finances, comfortable, being a Christian isn't seen as Sunday only thing, but penetrates your every day life) for church consisting of worship, fellowship, ministry, discipleship, evangelism/missions. These people are bold, being intentional to love and reach out to those they encounter during the week, and are prepared to share with anyone their story (testimony) and the gospel. Prayer is central to this, but they share and win people to Jesus, inviting them into their house church. Once it grows, they multiply and keep each church small, (better accountability and participation for and from all) and keep multiplying and reproducing.

You can't reproduce what you aren't.

I love this idea of church being our everyday lives, of the body of Christ living with vision and intentionality, of seeing the Holy Spirit work as everyone is sharing and stepping out to sow the seed.

I love the concept of house churches. It provides such a great atmosphere for all to be involved and participate (the smaller the group, the easier it is to be vulnerable!), that way there isn't one pastor who is overworked. I love the idea of everyone using the gifts the Holy Spirit has given and functioning as a body.

This class really fueled me up to take my ideas of "church" to God and let Him define them. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm looking forward to experiencing more and more the fullness of God through His church.

The servant of Abraham

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen 24) this morning. What a great romance, what divine provision, what consolation in great sorrow!

I learned several things from this story, but what impacted me the most today was about Abraham's servant who went to carry out the mission of finding Isaac a wife from the land of Abraham's relatives.

I love his eagerness to do good, his desire to please the Lord and his master, and his respect for God and his ways. I like how he asked God for specific things in order that he would know which woman was the right one. Then, "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold Rebekah came out...", doing exactly what the servant had asked of the Lord (Gen 24:45)! Here is part on an interesting commentary on this chapter by Matthew Henry:

"Those that would have good speed must pray for it.

This day, this affair.

We must, in all our ways, acknowledge God (Prov. 3:6). And, if we thus look up to God in every undertaking which we care about, we shall have the comfort of having done our duty,
whatever the issue may be.
It is our wisdom to follow providence and our folly to force it."

Today I enjoyed acknowledging God in all (maybe not all but more than usual! :) my ways...

...asking for people to talk to at the local pool as I worked out, since I hadn't connected with anyone there in a long time.

Two people initiated conversation with me!

...asking for connections with my teammates because I felt lonely.

I had dinner and a 2 hour conversation with Lindy then the
dudes on our team came to hang out. :)

Just little things, and sometimes God doesn't answer right away, and some prayers receive a no, but I'm learning that in SO MUCH God says, YES, and even better than that, the journey of

asking
seeking
knocking

is far more lively, enriching and fulfilling than the life of not

expecting
engaging
participating.

I'm thankful for the companionship of Christ. :)

Frohes Neues Jahr!

Happy New Year everyone! I sure had an interesting New Year's Eve- our team and some friends all went to the 1st district in Vienna to experience "Silvester in Wien" (New Year's Eve in Vienna). It's quite a popular destination for tourists (especially Italians!) so the streets were flooded with people, enjoying the fireworks, live music and food/drink stands.

Stephansplatz (the place where the main cathedral in Vienna is at the heart of the city) was like a war zone of fireworks! We were amazed how freely people were able to set off fireworks in the middle of downtown, among such historical buildings and so many people!

Other than celebrating with friends, this has been a good time for me of digging into knowing God. "The marathon pace" has really been on my heart-- not setting huge spiritual goals only to fall short, but rather with consistency, faithfulness and at a medium-pace seek the Lord in an intentional way. My biggest desire is to KNOW GOD! Not just knowledge about God, but to truly know Him.
The more we seek Him the more we find Him, and the more we find Him the more we love Him.

I want God's values to be my values, God's emotions my emotions, God's ways my ways. His Kingdom is all that will remain in the end. I want my life to be ruled by Jesus now! I've realized this takes a lifetime, being conformed into the image of Christ, but I truly believe this lifestyle is a lifetime well spent.

It's been cool getting vision and motivation from God, through prayer, for these next 4 months in Austria. I have a growing passion to invest in intercession at Mercy House of Prayer and to serve the leadership there as much as I can. I'm also looking forward to tutoring 3 missionary kids in English once a week and continuing with the girl's small group and youth group.

"I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father, as my harbour,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails."

Please pray that I would have a tender heart to the Lord, responding to His direction, filled with His Spirit that He might reveal His love, joy, peace and righteousness to all I encounter.

Blessings on your new year!