Tangerine Laughter

Unraveling

2011-02-02T09:25:00.001-08:00

A ball of yarn, rolling down a hill
Your gravity unwinds my philosophies and perspectives, my mindsets and my notions.

Unraveled, exposed, in need of a Creator to make sense of my frayed ends and loosened form.

Your imagination is not my own. Your intentions differ from mine. Your heart is pure. Your knowledge, complete.

And I-
I am ever afflicted by the magnetic mask of pride, falsely believing I know it all.

I don't.

Unravel me.

I'm back!

2010-11-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

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

2010-04-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-03-25T04:14:00.001-07:00

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

2010-03-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

"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

2010-02-25T13:10:00.000-08:00

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!"

2010-02-16T06:31:00.001-08:00

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!

2010-02-11T14:51:00.001-08:00

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 ::

2010-02-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

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:::

2010-01-22T07:54:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

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!

Weinachten (Christmas!)

2009-12-16T13:15:00.001-08:00

Alas, I fear I have spent too much time at the Christkindlmarkt (Christmas markets!) and not enough blogging! It's truly been magical here, and I've been drinking it up! See what I mean?....

Other than enjoying the festive Christmas season, I've also really been enjoying CHRIST. Wow, what a difference He makes. These have been an intense last few months for me-- God has really been purifying the way I relate to and love people. Living in community sure does expose a lot! It's been hard, uncomfortable, painful, but today in our Church Planting class, I realized that this is God's plan for discipleship! Praise God that He is discipling me, growing me and conforming me more to the image of Christ. Some things I've been learning...

Is it more important to be RIGHT or to LOVE?

The only way to not be anxious: "I must carry all the care and trouble and the circumstances to the living God, and then wait upon Him until I get sight of my God undertaking and taking complete charge." --Andrew Murray

Assumptions are no good, and when you're interacting with people very different than you, it's important to over-communicate!

May God give us all broken and contrite hearts. May we continue to surrender our entire lives into His hands that we might truly live. May He direct our hearts into His love, that we may truly live for what He intended us for.

Love to you all!

Kaiser Smarren

2009-11-19T07:24:00.000-08:00

I got to try a new Austrian dish today! It's called, "Kaiser Smarren." It's very similar to pancakes, but cut into pieces and oh so tasty!

This is my friend Christine who made me this delightful dish!

I've had the privilege of going to her house every Thursday for lunch and I practice my German with her and she practices her English. It's so fun! She also teaches me to cook, so when I come home, I'll have a whole heap of Austrian recipes for you to try! :)

She's a great cook :)

Pray for me as I meet with her weekly, not only that I can grow in German and in gaining a better understanding of the Austrian culture, but also that Christine would experience the real and relevant love of God through me.

*Much love!

Schönbrunn

2009-11-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

An Austrian palace to explore with my best friend!

Jeffrey :)

Fall is so beautiful!

The colors, the crisp air, holiday's just around the corner...

Please pray for Jeff and I as we continue to walk in God's ways here in Austria, and also as we consider what the future may have in store... :)

I like this boy a whole lot.

Ich freue mich auf das Treffen!

2009-11-05T06:31:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful time yesterday meeting with my friend from the pool, Christine! It works so good because she wants to learn English and I want to learn German. We went to a shopping center and looked at different items and learned their words in the others language. As Christmas (Weihnachten in German) time is coming, I got to learn about some of their Christmas traditions and the things they celebrate. In Austria, the big day for them is Christmas Eve- that's when they get all of their presents and have family dinners and such. They also have several other folklore tradions throughout December that originate from the ancient culture in Europe.

One of them is celebrated on December 5th, called Krampus. This is a German word meaning, "claw" and is represented by a demon who accompanies Saint Nicholas. Instead of giving gifts to good children, the Krampus gives warnings and punishments to the bad children. Kind of scary! But hey, so is Halloween (which actually has only been celebrated in Austria for the past 6 years).

On that happy note, after learning about Christmas traditions from the decorations we saw in the stores, Christine took me to her house for lunch. We had a great time, talking in English and German about all sorts of things. She said next time we'll exchange family recipes and she'll teach me to cook an Austrian cake. :) She told me that she was so happy when she met me at the pool, and thought that my eyes were so shiny and bright and full of light. Pray that she discovers that this comes from Jesus and that she finds a living knowledge of Him!

I think we will meet together every Thursday, and she's excited to teach me to knit and sew and things like that too. Praise God! Such an answer to prayer for an Austrian friend. :)

Stift Klosterneuburg

2009-10-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, our team had an awesome opportunity to experience what we've been learning in class (We've been taking a "Local Area Religions and Christianity" class from a missionary who has been here over 40 years!):

we got to visit Stift Klosterneuburg, a very old and large Roman Catholic monastery located just outside of Vienna.
Even though its huge, it's only 1/4 as large as Leopold III intended it to be! This is a drawing of the original plan:

Beautiful grounds!
An amazing painted ceiling.

It was so great! A priest named Daniel gave us a special tour and he was great- definitely seemed like a Jesus-loving believer. :) He was very honest and had an awesome perspective about Christianity and really knew the heart behind all of the symbols and traditions of his faith. It was so cool to see firsthand what we've been learning in class.

The picture below is a treasure to the monastery: the Verdun Alter, an amazing etched story board depicting the Types and Ante-Types of the Bible. Daniel did an amazing job of going through each one and describing the stories it depicted.

They even had some multi-colored priestly garments on sale for only 245,000 euro!

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. The monastery is only 30 minutes away, so we're looking forward to keeping in touch with the priests there and learning from all they have to offer. It was some great fellowship with them as well, and really interesting to hear of the different ways people love Jesus.

First graphics project!

2009-10-13T03:32:00.000-07:00

Whew, it was a busy weekend! Jeff and I got to help out my church by making a "Geschenkkatalog" (gift catalog) for their new building project. It was 79 pages of different items people could tear out and donate money towards. It was quite a project, but thanks to Jeff's stellar Adobe skills it turned out quite nice! It was a challenge because it was all in German but I learned so much about the new programs and am excited for future endeavors. :) Here is the cover:

I didn't do the background (got it from an awesome free Christian graphics site: http://www.creativemyk.com/) but I hope to learn to make things like it. :) Thanks again to all who helped get this wonderful mac for me! It's been a great help and tool!

God is as faithful as the Seasons are to change!

2009-10-13T02:58:00.000-07:00

Herbst ist heir (Fall is here)!

It's getting quite chilly, but I'm enjoying the turning leaves and the fall festivities of Austria! It's harvest season so there's much talk of grape picking and all the restaurants are filled with "Sturm"- half-fermented grape juice and "Kurbis-suppe" (pumpkin soup). My favorite sight so far was when I passed a big group of people outside, sitting at a big table placed right by their field, enjoying good food and Sturm in the early evening.

Another favorite time last week was "Lange Nacht Der Museen"- the Long Night of the Museum. All the museum's in Austria were open until 1 am and you could visit as many as you wanted with the purchase of only one ticket! Me and a few teammates had a great time.

The armor display was my personal favorite. :)

God has been so good! This has also been a great time of connecting with more Austrians and God has provided for new friends! Below is a picture of some of them. I have been hanging out with my friend Lia (on the far left) often at our favorite cafe in Stockerau. It's so great because she speaks excellent English and is a believer, so we're able to relate in a really meaningful way. It's also great because she always asks how my German is going then we speak in German for quite a while and she helps me with different questions I have or with pronunciation. She is so patient!

The girl on my right is name Corrina, and I have become friends with her and her family through the Stockerau church. I went to their house for lunch after church and it was awesome getting to practice German and also be able to answer their questions about what I'm passionate about and how I'm interested in being involved in their church. They hooked me up with some graphics projects to start working on and said they'd be thinking how else I can help. They also invited Jeff and I to join their family skiing after Christmas!

Another fun thing for me is pilates! Last night quite a few teammates joined me and we had a great time!

I think the boys especially had fun. :)

Water Aeorobics, Kristallnacht... and much more :)

2009-10-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

I have recently undertaken the glorious endeavor of... swimming! We have an awesome "Wellnessoasis" right up the street from our apartment so I've started to swim laps and such for exercise.

In case you were wondering, scenes like this:

also occur in Austria! :)

I beheld such a sight as I swam laps nearby, and as I was treading water the lady teaching the class invited me to join them (all in German) next time: "Die erste mal ist gratis!" (the first time is free :). She soon realized that I wasn't a native speaker and then got really excited about me teaching her English and her teaching me German! And so, this Thursday I'm going to go have coffee with her! Her name is Christine and she also lives in Stockerau.

Haha, so there is a somewhat comical example of how God is continuing to be faithful and connect me with people here! Since returning from a lot of travel, things have been somewhat slow in jumping back in here, but God is definitely leading. Today I spent most of the day at Mercy House of Prayer, participating in the prayer watch then helping Vicki (the leader of MHOP) with some cleaning. We've been praying a lot for the Jewish people, especially as the Feast of Booths is going on right now! Today Vicki also took Emily, Jadah and I (we will all be working part time with MHOP) to see the Jewish district of town, and the synagogues that were destroyed during Kristallnacht. It's sobering to think of what happened just about 70 years ago, and then to see that there are so many policemen and cameras in that area to protect the Jews. Antisemitism is still a very real thing, and many Jews still live in Vienna.

I would appreciate your prayers as I seek to build relationships here and also start getting involved in the youth group at the Stockerau Gemeinde (church). I will be meeting with the leaders of my church on Monday, so please pray that God leads me into the good works He has prepared in advance for me to do!

*Grace and Peace

A Weekend in Hungary

2009-09-29T04:10:00.000-07:00

I never dreamed I'd find my name on a flier in a small Hungarian town! But this past weekend, not only my name was there but I was as well (with my 3 teammates too)!

Haha, we do look a little lost. :)

We were asked to return to our beloved town of Litér to do a weekend English/Bible outreach hosted by the local school. It's only a 2 1/2 hour drive (and a beautiful one at that) and we were more than happy to make the trip and see the kids and friends that we'd made from the summer.

They were so excited to see us!

Jeff became a human jungle gym as usual. :)

On Saturday we each had a class of kids for 2 hours in the morning. I was with the 9-12 year old's along with the English teacher of the school and the local pastor. We took them through the story of the Good Samaritan in different ways, using both English and Hungarian. Then we put together a modern skit to present to the parents that afternoon!

Instead of "robbers," we had gangsters. :)

After presenting the skits, we had a sort of "family fun day" and played all sorts of relay race games among other things with the kids and their families. Quite a few turned out and it was so fun! At the end we roasted this traditional Hungarian bread coated with sugar on an open fire and Lindy gave her testimony. It was a good evening of connecting with the people.

I really enjoyed talking throughout the day to the English teacher who I worked with. She's in her 20's and is not a Christian. She said the kids have been talking about us ever since school started! They told her that I was very kind so she said she was excited to meet me. She had lots of questions and really wanted to meet again in the future. We're friends on facebook so be praying as I continue to connect with her! She's a neat lady. :)

On Sunday, I got to share my testimony in church. A lot of the town came because they heard the Americans were there. :) I got really nervous during church and felt out of practice in public speaking, and part way through my testimony I went blank! The translator was so kind and calm and I was able to pick back up and I think it turned out quite well. I'm glad the Hungarians got to see that I'm quite human too. :) A lot of them came up after wards and thanked me for sharing- I'm thankful for the opportunity!

After church, we were invited to one of our favorite family's houses (the Halmy family) for a huge feast! Many other families were there and we had a grand time of delicious Hungarian food and drinks and deserts and lots of great fellowship. Many of them speak good English, but for the others that don't we both get to practice our German (with lots of laughs!). They taught us a Hungarian song then they eagerly learned an English one as well. They are such incredible hosts and we love them so much!

Here's the Halmy family, waving to us goodbye. "Christmas?! New Years?!" They asked? :) We'll see when it is, but I do hope and think we'll get to see them again before we head back to the states. I'm so thankful God has given us a taste of truly connecting with a community and being so well received there! Pray for the town of Litér! God is awakening their hearts and has established a beautiful community there. I have learned so much from them!

Team Retreat in Croatia

2009-09-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

I am now half-way through my internship! Our team took a week-long retreat to the shores of Croatia to debrief our first half and to prepare for the next half. Paul and Teresa Hartford, the Director of Global Internship and his wife, flew out to be with us.

We stayed at a cute pension, called "Tinka's," seen below:

In the mornings, we had some great times of devotions and worship and then had some classes concerning interpersonal relationships. We talked about living in community, conflict resolution, expectations and things of the like. It was so helpful! It was great to have our experiences articulated and to learn how to do things better in the future.

In the afternoons we enjoyed talking and hanging out at the beach and we spent a day exploring the town of Zadar, home to the awesome Sea Organs of Zadar! There's not much unusual about it to the eye, but under the strand by the water, there are organs below and as the waves crash against them they make the most marvelous sounds! I enjoyed sitting by them. :) We also had a great hike in the mountains!

Jeff and I got some time with just Paul and Teresa and it was good to share with them how our experience has been together and get their input and encouragement for our relationship. We're so thankful that we haven't had any big problems and that God has made a way for us to be together on this internship and to be in unity with one another and the team. We'd appreciate your prayers as we continue to grow in our relationship.

We had some fun with the team, taking pictures with the sunset. :)

I think we all left Croatia encouraged and ready to press in for these next 7 months. This is a fun time! We've worked hard to get established here in Austria and now that we are better connected here and to one another, I think we're set up to enjoy the rhythm God has prepared. Though I know challenges will come, I think we're better equipped to face them.

Traveling the Land... Almost over

2009-09-14T05:53:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful two weeks of vacation I had with my parents and Jeff and his mom!

It was so refreshing and delightful to get some quality time with my parents and we enjoyed traveling throughout Vienna, Austria, France and Prague, Czech Republic. If you'd like to check out an album of pictures of our journey, go here.

We got to meet up with a past foreign exchange student, Emmanuelle and stay with her parents in a quaint town North of Paris. We got a true taste of French life, especially as Emmanuelle's mom was the president of tourism in the area!
Did you know that there is a piece of American land in France? I didn't! There's a monument remembering the American troops who came to help out France. Jeff and I were happy to be "home," if only for a moment. :)

I'm so thankful for the time to catch up with my parents. I was quite sad to see them go, though. It was a great break, though my feet are sure tired from all the walking!

Today is the first day of our 3rd term! Time has flown by, especially with such a busy summer. We were supposed to have a week of class, however our teacher had a bike accident so is in the hospital. So I'll be spending some time at Mercy House of Prayer this week and gearing up for our team retreat in Croatia. The Director of Global Internship and his wife will be flying out to debrief our first half of internship with us.

Then... we're going back to Hungary for a weekend! The pastor from the first camp we went to requested us back for a weekend camp. What an awesome opportunity! So right after Croatia, Jake, Lindy, Jeff and I will drive over to help out with that. Then, Lord willing, we'll be in Austria! I'm looking forward to classes, time at MHOP, teaching English for some kids in Stockerau and helping out with the youth group at my local church... and many more God- appointments.

*love!

Last Two Weeks in Hungary

2009-08-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

This is called the Bus for Life

It's a traveling library and evangelism tool that we parked in a town square of a town called Kishkunmasja. We helped a pastor named Attila with a big outreach to the community.

We got our faces painted and passed out fliers to invite the community to a kids program and to the services in the evenings.

These are my fellow clown friends :)

In the evenings we also got to do some drama presentations.

Then we got to eat an awesome Hungarian dinner that they provided.

And as a group we painted a backdrop for the stage!

Then we went to a famous lake called Balaton. There was a huge Christian conference there and we helped out a fairly famous Hungarian (famous in Christian circles :) named Danny Kish (he's one of 14 kids who are all following Jesus and making a big difference in Hungary!) with a beach outreach in the afternoons.

We pulled up the bus on the beach and unloaded games galore!

Cool parachute

slip n' slide!

And much more. :) Although it was challenging to talk to people because of the language, the kids who joined us had a lot of fun and thankfully there were also many Hungarian helpers who got to speak with the people.

We also got to see some of our friends from our first camp in Liter!

And now our time in Hungary is over.

I would say it was a time of inward transformation amidst a flexible frenzy of outreaches. :)

Lots of love given and received.

Lots of new perspectives.

Lots of love and peace in my heart as I return to Austria.

Lots of excitement in my heart as I wait to see my parents tomorrow!

Two week break, here I come. :)

Hungarian BBQ!

2009-08-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

So the last day of our time in Cegled, we got to go to a traditional Hungarian BBQ in one of the church family's gardens.

You first get some fat, put it on a skewer and roast it over the fire, dripping the juice from the fat on your delicious Hungarian bread. You also roast an onion, and after you have patiently roasted, you throw it all on the bread along with some tomatoes for an incredibly tasty sandwhich, Hungarian style!

Here's our team roasting away.

We also got to eat some amazing fruit, freshly picked from their garden!
Lindy with the plumbs

Me with some grapes

Jake with a pear

To top off the evening, we got to go hear one of our student's parents play live music at a restaurant! We had a fun dance party. :)

It's been awesome getting to taste so much Hungarian culture!

I have a visa!!!

2009-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

This is somewhat old news, but I realized I hadn't posted a blog about it yet!!! Myself and my whole team now have visas that will enable us to stay in Austria for the remainder of our time here. Praise God! Thanks so much for your prayers- they were powerful and effective. :) God has really used our visa situation for the good- He sent us to Hungary this summer for a win/win situation: OM Hungary needed more help to enable them to serve churches in their summer camps and we needed visas- both have been a success!

This past week we were in yet another Hungarian town serving a reformed church. We were English teachers for a week long English and Bible camp. I got to teach the older group of 13-16 year olds along with my teammate Jake. They were a really creative bunch so we got to do a lot of cool crafts and drawings!

There was a group of 4 teens that called me their own and were sure to save a place for me at every meal. They were full of smiles and eager to test out their bank of English questions (and just as eager to teach me Hungarian words). The week was a challenging one, as it was hard to teach effectively and to know how to share Jesus with the students and we were all quite tired, but when one of my male students cried on the last day, saying he would miss us teachers so much, I was thankful to see that God was able to communicate love through us after all.

I think my favorite part of the week was actually getting to interact with the cook for the camp. She was very sick and was the only one cooking when there were supposed to be other helpers (there were about 50 kids at the camp), and as Hungarians are sticklers to their snack times, she had a lot of meals to prepare! She was also having some difficulties with one of her sons. God really laid her on my heart so I prayed for her through the week and tried to encourage her, thank her, and help out as much as I could. When we left today she gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek and with moist eyes said, "you're a good girl."

Thanks so much for your prayers! I'm so thankful that God is using us to serve His Body in Hungary, even in our weakness!

We have a few days of rest now. :) Praise the Lord. :)

Teachin' English in Erd

2009-08-02T03:08:00.000-07:00

These are my students!

This is my evening class. I taught it along with my teammate Lindy and we had an awesome translator...

his name is zőlt! He is also the pastor of the church that hosts the English camp.

This is my morning class! They were a great bunch of students, eager to learn and they really enjoyed their time.

On Friday evening, our last day, we had a Square dance party! We made a lot of food and then taught them to dance! We had a great time.

English camp in Erd

2009-07-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

I've discovered I quite like to teach! This week my teammate Lindy and I are teaching the beginner's level of English to local Hungarians. The two week course is put on by the local church here in Erd. Our classes are quite small: 3 students in the morning and 3 in the evening! The pastor of the church is our translator, and we've all been having a good time. In the morning all of our students speak German, so during the breaks we've been able to get to know them and practice our Deutsch! They are great students- hungry to learn and quick to laugh. In Hungary, it's said that you won't get old if you keep learning, so half of our students are actually over the age of 60! Lazslo is one of my favorites because he reminds me of my Grandpa Conn- quick to tease with a twinkle in his eye and an easy laugh. On Friday evening after our last class all of the students (there are 8 classes total, our team of 8 plus another girl teaching them all) were invited to a game night. I got to talk to Lazslo and his wife and see pictures from their weekend trip to Austria. :)

Twice a week we have chapel after class, which is optional for the students to come to. The majority have come! We play a song before then someone gives a testimony. Jeff and Jake gave theirs this week, each an awesome and unique sharing of the Gospel. The students have been very receptive and we heard that the security guard commented that he really needs to consider the message that was presented because, as he's been watching us all week, he knows that what was preached is true because we live it! That was encouraging to hear.

I'm so thankful that God has been at work and that this week went well, because honestly we've all been very tired! Yesterday we had a great day of much needed rest, and we're really blessed by having Robert, Ulla and their son Josef come to see us (and cook us an awesome breakfast!).

Tomorrow we will start again. The hardest thing for us has been planning, as after 2 1/2 hours in the morning we're really ready to rest after lunch to be ready for our evening class, but we've had to spend a lot of time planning. I would appreciate your prayers for strength, joy and a good attitude and creativity for our lesson plans! As we're functioning as a large group of teachers with one car, I'd also appreciate your prayers for patience!

love to all!

English Camp in Liter, Hungary

2009-07-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

Some snapshots of our awesome week in Liter, Hungary, helping out with "The Way" English camp. This was put on by a Calvinist church in Liter and four of us on the Global Internship joined some Hungarian OM missionaries and a guy from London to help out. We had a great time! Though there was a language barrier for most of us, we all saw how God really expressed His love through us at this camp.

Here is the group of kids at morning devotions. We taught them songs and memory verses.

Someone got a hold of my camera (my eyes didn't make it open :)! These are some of the girls I really enjoyed being with this week. Most of them are about 12 years old and sought me out for hugs and to teach me Hungarian words. :)

This is Emese (pronounced Emehsha)! She was in the group of kindergartners I helped teach English to.

I thought she was pretty darn cute. :)

In the late afternoons we had different activities for the kids, and one day we took them horse back riding! This is Sabi and Luca (pronounced Lutsa) who were also in my group. I taught them both to wink and quite enjoyed their cheek kisses and smiles and hugs all week!

These are the girls cheering on the boys as they played soccer. Lindy and I taught them the wave. :)

This is Kinga. She's a feisty little one who's very generous in sharing her cookies but is quite determined to have her own way. I found out later that her parents divorced 2 years ago and it sounds like things have been hard for her. But when we said goodbye today she ran and gave me a big hug and held me awhile. I pray she experienced the love of God this week and that He will lead her deeper into His love!

So that was a quick summary of our week! So many more stories of amazing Hungarian hospitality and good times. :) Though this was an intense week, it was such a worthwhile expense of energy. :)

Tomorrow we will go to church and go sailing (!) then we'll head back to Erd, Hungary to begin 2 weeks of English teaching on Monday! So that's week 2 of our summer... stay tuned for more. :)

*love

Whew!

2009-07-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been an intense but awesome week so far! As one of my teammates said to me, I'm in my element: 12 hours a day (non-stop!) with adorable Hungarian kids!

There's about 45 kids at this camp, ranging from age 5-16. I'm with the youngest group, teaching English in the mornings with an Hungarian amazing lady named Gigi. The kids are so little you can't keep their attention for too long, but with all the kisses and hugs and delighted smiles I'm getting, I think they're having a good time. :)

Well, we're headed out for the day again-- I hope to post again soon with more details and lots of pictures!

Please pray that God fills us with His strength and love to pour out on these kids and that He helps us to focus the eyes of our hearts on Him.

On the Go

2009-07-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Arrived in Hungary yesterday. Here's a sampling of how we kept ourselves occupied during the car ride (thanks to my new fantastic mac!!!)

This past week our team cooked at a teen camp in Gutenstein and I think it really brought us together! Everyone worked hard and we had a lot of fun together, and the campers raved that they'd never had that great of food at a camp (most priase due to Ulla, our Sweedish cook leader).

Now me and three teammates and a guy from London are joining OM missionaries to help at a kids camp about an hour and a half away. I'll keep you posted as much as I can!

Please pray that God fills us with His Spirit and connects us with the kids we're playing sports with and teaching English to. Pray that God gives us strength and flexibility and hearts that are eager to serve Him.

*Much love!

Gutenstein Time

2009-07-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

'Tis the eve of "die Anfang auf Sommer"... the beginning of summer! We leave bright and early tomorrow to head South of Vienna for a week long of helping at Camp Gutenstein.

Today was my last Sunday at die Stockerau Gemeinde, as we will be gone all summer. We had an outdoor service! It was lovely to be outside! There's a girl here from Switzerland helping out OM so she came to church as well. She helped me with translating parts of the service and I enjoyed talking to her afterwards as well. I'm understanding more and more each week! It's exciting for a once foreign language to become more comfortable and familiar.

After the service I joined 4 other young adult girls for their cell group meeting. They've asked me to be a part of it for this next year! As they don't have a college group leader, they've decided to take initiative to help one another love and follow Jesus. Today we had a picnic, taking a cozy shelter under a tree as rain and thunder came and went. Surprisingly it was quite cozy and we had a great time! We were all sharing what's been on our hearts and praying for one another. I was really blessed and encouraged by their prayers for me and how friendly, open and considerate they've been to me- truly an answer to prayer! I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better during the time we have left in Austria.

Well... ich muste gehen zu schlafen (I need to go to sleep!)... until next time!

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

2009-07-01T03:20:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed my weekend, mostly spent with the Stockerau church! On Friday night and Saturday morning I got to go help them move out of their old building (carrying chairs, scraps of wood and even a time machine down 7 flights of stairs!). There's nothing like working along side of someone to get to know them, and I was also thankful that I could serve them in this transition time of moving buildings. Then Friday evening I went over to hang out with the Keller girls (3 teens of OM missionaries here who are awesome!) and watched a movie with them.

Sunday was so fun! It was the last service in the old building and there was a spirit of excitement and celebration. Everything was moved out, so people brought lawn chairs or sat on the floor! The two elders who led the service were almost giddy and enthusiastically led us in a song with a 3 part round. I like these people. :) Very sincere and quick to laugh.

That evening I was invited to a family's house for a fellowship night with a few other families from the church. It was a beautiful home! A girl named Lia was excited to pick me up and take me home and I really enjoyed her friendliness! She's on of four children in an Austrian family and is currently a kindergarten teacher. She spent a year in Egypt as a missionary and is so fun! There were quite a few other youth there, so I got to hang out with them and learn some Austrian games. Overall it was a great evening, although there were times of discomfort because of not being fluent in German and some of my own insecurities (the daughter of the house was Miss Austria in their beauty pageant! Lia and I talked on the way home about being ourselves no matter where we are, and not being intimidated by others. You can pray for me about that too!)

This week we've been enjoying an Ephesians class/Bible study, preparing our lesson plans to teach English in Hungary and picking cherries from Robert and Ulla's garden (then making pies and jam!!).

Pickin'

Pittin'

Enjoyin'!

(photos by Emily Ona :)

Stockerau Gemeinde (church)

2009-06-23T11:53:00.001-07:00

I'm encouraged!

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Two things are burning on my heart this evening:

1. To keep the first thing first: loving God with my all, staying connected to and knowing Him as first, utmost and constant importance in my life (the first part of Ephesians 2 talks about how we were dead in our sins before God raised us to life in Christ because He loves us; our works flow out of LIFE in Christ which we've received by grace through faith!)

2. To walk in the good works God has planned for me to do!

Will you join me in prayer that I would understand and know the good works God has planned for me? Tonight I met with OM missionary Hanna Keller and heard about opportunities and needs from Stockerau Church that I can be a part of when I return from Hungary. Here are the options I'm praying about:

Helping lead a peer group of 5 girls, ages 14-18. This would be discipleship ministry and really investing into these girls' lives.
Being a part of a House Group of young adult girls. This would be more like peer discipleship in encouraging and growing with girls my age who live in Stockerau.
Being a part of establishing and planning a monthly outreach to the youth in the Stockerau community (creating a coffee shop atmosphere at the church)
Helping kids learn English
Helping with a Scouts group (similar to Awana or Girl Scouts on a smaller scale, put on by the church)
Helping out with a Christmas musical that the children of the church will be performing (possibly designing sets and costumes)
Meeting with a special needs girl from the church once a week to give her some quality time that helps her function better (and to just love on her!)

Please pray that God reveals to me how much He wants me to be a part of and also that He fills me with His Spirit and presence and counsel to know how to best disciple and minister and encourage and strengthen the Body in Stockerau.

Hanna said that there are so many believers who are unsure of their callings or of their place in the church. Austrian culture in general is very negative so kids receive little encouragement in school. Austrians are really thirsty to be encouraged and are in need of a strengthening of their self esteem and of their identity in Christ. I would love to breathe this encouragement from the Lord all over them!

Thank you for your prayers. :)

Hungary

2009-06-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

Back from Budapest; the trip was a success! It took quite a while, but thanks to OM Hungary we were able to apply for our visas (big thanks to Atilla, a Hungarian missionary and native Hungarian speaker who helped us with all our documents) and should hear the results in the next month or two.

Besides filling out paperwork and waiting in lines, we spent time with Terry and Rebecca, OM missionaries who have been there for 18 years and they prepared us for the camps we'll be working at this summer. Primarily we'll be teaching English, to both children and adults and we'll also be heading up some kids sports camps. It's going to be a full summer!

Hungarian coffee! This is Joselynn, who just so happens to be from Colorado! She and her sister are spending time in Hungary teaching English as well as sight-seeing around Europe. They came and joined us in Vienna for a couple days too and we had a great time hanging out with them! It was nice to have the comfort of some Americans to hang out with. :)

The bridge in Budapest. Such an incredible city with awesome architecture!

Jeffrey (who's become quite the mountain man :) made friends with this statue. Hehe :)

The Bridge again!

The guys. :) Our team is so blessed to have these three wise and Jesus-loving dudes!

Super cool spot! I was quite attracted to the chunky black swirly light posts in contrast to the white stone. :)

Me and Jeffries on the car ride back. He's my best friend!

Diese Wochenende :::this weekend:::

2009-06-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Some highlights of the weekend...

::: 1 :::

Jeff and I joined a small group of 9 young adults from CIG church in Vienna that meets every Saturday in Vienna for the summer. Yesterday was our first meeting and it was great! It was hosted at our leader's flat, Rob (American) and Isabella (Austrian) and we had a great time getting to know everyone. The theme of our time is "Equipped" with the endeavor to find and act out of the calling we have for the building up and expanding of the Body of Christ. It's a great group and I'm really excited for it (not to mention that Rob has a motorcycle that he said Jeff could borrow)! Yay for new friends and a Christ-centered community.

::: 2 :::

Jeff and I then visited a garden/animal place in the middle of the city owned by a Christian man, Martin, who wants people to experience God in nature. He's a landscaper by profession so turned his land into a masterpiece for example! You can check it out here. Jeff had to leave for church, but I stayed and talked awhile (in German!) to Martin and some other visitors over rhubarba (rhubarb!) cake and coffe. They were so friendly, kind and generous and it was fun to experience a part of their lives.

::: 3 :::

Today I got to go swimming at the pool with Lindy and Judika (a fellow missionary from Germany). Then Lindy and I went to get Kebab's (a very popular Turkish food that's similar to a Gyro and is European fast-food!) and met an elderly Austrian man on a park bench. He was friendly and talked to us in German for over an hour-- the best part: we understood the whole thing!! Yay. :) He lives in Stockerau so we can go and visit him!

Tomorrow.... we leave for Hungary to apply for visas! Team trip in the team van. :) We'll be back Thursday! Until then...

Auf Wiedersehen!

Travel the Land

2009-06-12T05:04:00.000-07:00

Exciting Days to come!

This Monday our team leaves for Hungary for four days to apply for our visas and to get an orientation of the city. We will return there for 2 months on July 11th to help out OM Hungary with their summer camps. I'm so excited for this!

(Hungary)

As I've been reflecting on my time so far in Austria, there are things I wish I would've done differently, especially after taking the Cultural Anthropology class. I feel like I would do so much better another time around! At first I was discouraged about this, but then I was encouraged because that's the point of Global Internship! This is the time to get out there and try and make mistakes (not purposefully of course) and learn from them, and that's what is happening! So that to say, I'm excited for a fresh start in a new country to put these things I've learned into practice (I've also been talking to Jesus about what I wish I would've done differently and have asked Him to redeem them because there's more in store for this time in Austria!)

In between these two trips to Hungary, I will have two weeks free, which I'm planning on spending time at MHOP, learning German (I'm currently reading through the Chronicles of Narnia auf Deutsch!), and doing small service projects either here in Stockerau or in Vienna. I'm also excited to research some about Hungary and prepare for our time there.

At the beginning of July our team will spend a week serving at a teen camp in Gutenstein, Austria. There will be up to 100 students there from all over Europe! I'm really excited for this time, and am also excited to help out Ulla in the kitchen and learn from her awesome cooking!

Please pray that I would have eyes to see what God is doing and ears to hear Him. Pray that I learn what He desires to teach me!

Berthold

2009-06-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

Today I went to buy coffee for our flat at a new place: a small backerei/konditorei (bakery, coffee and cake-like place :) that's just down the street from us called Berthold. It reminded me a little of Mugz (in an Austrian sort of way)! The lady at the counter, named Ingeborg, who doesn't speak without a warm smile and cheerful laugh, was quite friendly so I decided to sit and stay awhile. There was an elderly woman finishing up her Kaffee and Kuchen (coffee and cake) and so I got to converse with them. Ingeborg was excited that I was learning German and said she could help me with it if I could help her with English! I enjoyed talking to them for awhile and was encouraged when they said I'm speak good German for only four months. I have a long way to go though! Right now I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia auf Deutsch. :)

I really want to be a part of this town called Stockerau. I'm going to try to visit Berthold more regularly- what better atmosphere to meet new people, practice German and grow relationships?

I'm excited because I met 3 new girls at church on Sunday who are all 21, fun, Christians and live in Stockerau! I'm hoping to host a party for them and the other Christian young adults in Stockerau so we can all get to know them better.

Pray that God connects me more and more here and grows the relationships I've made!

Vielen Dank (Many thanks)!

Cultural Anthropology

2009-06-06T01:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we finished up a week of an intensive course of Cultural Anthropology. It was great! Professor Paul Strand, who travels the world training up nationals to create their own missionary schools, flew out from Bethany in MN to spend the week with us. We had 6 hours of class a day and a few hours of reflective and interactive homework a night. I feel like I see things from a whole new perspective after this week!

One lecture that really stood out to me was called Forms and Meanings. Paul shared stories from all over the world about the various ways that people acomplish things necessary for life. Every culture is vastly different from another, based off of the weather, resources available and values of the people. For instance, while we use electric heating to keep warm in the winter, some of the Chinese use saunas before they go to bed and basically cook themselves then crawl into blankets in their unheated apartments and keep warm all night!

What I realized from this is #1, we all grow up learning and assuming that our way is the best way, even the only way to do things. #2 This is not true! Just because its different doesn't mean its bad. Therefore, instead of making judgments about things I've never seen or experienced before, ask questions and really seek to understand why people do things the way they do, because there is a reason!

I feel like I've come away from this class with a much greater and deeper appreciation for people, individuals, differences and creativity.

I'm excited to practice the principles I learned in this class and I'm really thankful for the vision, inspiration and encouragement I received from this week. Mr. Strand is an incredibly wise man with a humble heart and loving countenance. He was such a blessing to our team!

My computer

2009-06-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to my computer!

The display on my laptop went out when I first arrived here, so thankfully OM has an enormous monitor that I've been hooking up to my laptop since then! Jeffrey was so kind to carry it out to the family room one time so that I could be with everyone. :)

But now my laptop has been working off and on and we will be traveling to Hungary for a month and a half and I won't be able to bring this massive monitor with me!

I made this need for a laptop known and also expressed a desire of my heart for a mac book, as I have borrowed use of photoshop and illustrator and a mac has incredible artistic capabilities! I'm hoping to use this for ministry both now and in the future. And now, praise God, so far $1,250 has been raised towards this new laptop!!! It would be possible to get a macbook with this, however $249 more is need for a 3 year warranty and $50 for shipping.

If you are interested in helping out with this, you can contact Pastor John Lockhart at 281-342-8664 or john@fbcrichmond.net.

God is so great and has already provided for so much- way beyond I could've imagined! I am so thankful!

Mercy House of Prayer

2009-06-03T08:59:00.001-07:00

Hello hello!

Last week we were getting back into things here in Stockerau after traveling quite a bit. I got to spend quite a bit of time at Mercy House of Prayer (http://mhop.speaklife.at/)! And here's why...

After much prayer these past few months concerning where God had for me to plug in ministry wise, I met with the leaders of MHOP, Brandi and Vicki (two Texas ladies!) and expressed my interest with them about being a part of the House of Prayer in Vienna! They were extremely excited! I am quite excited myself!

I find my interest in this very interesting!

When I first heard about 24/7 houses of prayer and International House of Prayer, I was a little hesitant and guarded. Honestly I think I thought it sounded kind of boring and like something that's for other people but not for me. But over these past few years, especially during my year in Minnesota in how our school was so connected to Bethany House of Prayer, my attitude towards this has drastically changed and it's become something very dear to my heart.

My primary ambition in life: to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and to love my neighbor as myself! I'm passionate about seeing everything in my life come into agreement and alliegence to Jesus. I want to know Him. I want to be like Him. I want to be one with Him.

How does this happen?

By beholding His beauty. By gazing at Him. By being with Him.

A chapter of the Bible that has really impacte my heart is Matthew 25, concerning the 10 virgins. When the Bridegroom comes, 5 were prepared and had oil, but 5 didn't.

I want to be ready when Jesus comes back. I want to have the oil that comes from the inside, that comes from fellowshiping with God and His Spirit. And from that place of knowing God, I want to minister to others.

I really feel that God has ordained for me to be a part of Mercy House of Prayer this year, not only to grow in intimacy with God, but also to devote myself to prayer and intercession for the city of Vienna, for the church, and for the world. What I am sensing the most from God is that He wants me to partner with HIm in prayer, because without Him we can do nothing. I want to be apart of shifting things in the spiritual realm, which then impacts the physical.

Praise God for His direction and I'm so excited! More to come about what that means practically in my life, but I wanted to share with you the direction God has given me thus far.

In addition to MHOP, I've been attending church at the Austrian church here in Stockerau, and am praying about how to be apart of ministry there. I would appreciate your prayers in this as well!

A little bit of discouragement

2009-05-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

It's so pretty out. I was reminded of the first months here, how dreary and gray it was and it seemed like it would never end.

But it did. The dullness has turned into blue sky and vibrant colors!

'Tis the season in Austria for BBQ's, Garden gatherings, motorcycle rides, hanging out with friends and getting ready for "Urlaub" (vacation). Most people leave for the summer, so people are in and out and all about.

I went to the church in Stockerau today. It's nice because it's so close. Everyone's really friendly and kind, and I enjoy singing songs in German. I caught vocab words and such in the sermon, but it's still hard to understand the whole thing. I was invited over to a family's house for lunch so that was cool. They are originally from Berlin but came to Austria to work as "tentmakers" and support OM here. They are incredibly mission minded and were so hospitable. It's cool because they only live 5 minutes away! They have a daughter who is my age and works with the youth group at the church and is a student in Vienna studying French. She spent a year as a missionary in Africa! I was encouraged to think of all the families living in Stockerau who love Jesus.

It was really great having lunch with them today but it was hard too. They all speak English but were trying to help with my German and they are much more comfortable in that language too. I'm thankful for the help, but I was really tired after being in a German context for a full 4 hours! It was hard to be friendly and express myself in German today. There's some girls I'd really love to be friends with but the langauge is hard and I feel discouraged today. It's funny how the atmosphere can look so similar to America and the people are white, but the subtle differences of culture make it shocking inside. It's hard to feel uncomfortable.

So today, I could use pray for perseverance and encouragement! I'm feeling somewhat useless and not very effective. Jesus, help me to lay ahold of this time and persevere, even if there isn't fruit in this present time.

Otto

2009-05-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Today I met an elderly man named Otto. He owns a ceramic store here in Stockerau that's been in business for over 100 years. But he's closing it down...

because he just lost his best friend, his wife of 63 years, Helga.

And I just met him today, but in responding to my simple but concerned questions, he wept and turned away.

He can't eat.

He's alone.

He doesn't know how to keep going in life with this loss.

I invited him to join our team for breakfast but he's busy closing down his store. Please pray that if it's God's will, He makes a way to establish a connection with Otto and that myself and my team can bring the comfort of God to him!

Poland Update

2009-05-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

Our week in Poland was a very worthwhile time. I feel like I got a lot of exposure to ministry and the daily lives of missionaries.

Some highlights:

The student festival. This is a secular event that is for Polish college students and is primarily about the bountiful beer taps and live concerts, however they also have booths set up of different college groups, etc. Sienna church had two booths (the only Christian ones!):

An AIDS experience booth, which is an interactive story about a college student who finds out he has AIDS. This then creates a platform to talk to the participants about AIDS and also share with them about Jesus.
A very creative evangelistic booth: they had really cool water bottles they gave away that had the Gospel message on the label; they had a table set up with cool stencils and paint and painted things on peoples shirts and sweatshirts; they had signs that people wore that said, "I was once dry like a raisin; do you thirst like I did?" and the young adults from the church walked around and genuinely started conversations with people and established relationships.

I was so impressed by the young adults at the booth! They were super creative, cool, had awesome graphics and so genuinely shared about Jesus to everyone they saw. It was awesome to see evangelism done in a relevant way that was full of life. I got to absorb all this happen, as I was mostly hindered by the language barrier, but I did get to have some conversations in English and helped out with the AIDS experience booth.

Below is a video clip of one such conversation with a Polish guy named Bart. I think you will find it as amusing as I did. :)

Another highlight was getting to talk with Robert and Ulla and see their lives in action on a day to day basis. I learned a lot about setting boundaries, communicating clearly, being hospitable, and loving deeply.

All in all it was a great trip in so many ways!

Now I'm back in Vienna! We're getting back into the swing of things, celebrating birthdays (like my wonderful boyfriend Jeff's!) and joining Austria in its many BBQ's and summer festivities!

I'd appreciate your prayers that God really directs my heart and brings confirmation and peace as to the ministry He wants me to join in these coming weeks and months.

Love to all!

AIDS Link

2009-05-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

The outreach we're doing in Poland is centered upon raising awareness about AIDS and using it as an avenue to share about Jesus. Robert and Ulla are apart of an organization called AIDSlink, which is an international program that educates about AIDS. We've come along with them to help out with the seminars and outreaches.

Robert has an incredible testimony about the virus, as he was infected with through a blood transfusion back in the 80's. This week he has been sharing his testimony in two avenues:

To students in secular schools
To the church, to raise awareness and to equip it to minister to this need

Each time Robert shared his testimony been so powerful! On Tuesday we visited a school and he had the student's captivated (which according to the principle was a very rare thing!) and the message was well-received. Praise God for this!

Below is a video clip of the AIDS training that Robert and Ulla led to a group at the church.

As far as how I've been able to help out, check out this short clip of me explaining about "the AIDS Experience."

Poland!

2009-05-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

Day 1... Monday morning we left at 5 am and drove to Poland! Beautiful country, made complete with the new sounds of a different language and the sights of new landscape. It's incredible how much can change if you just travel 8 hours!

We had to make a pit stop to experience some Polish sausage...Incredible!!!

Upon our arrival, we met up with Donna and Arek, who are missionaries with OM in a small, unreached town in Kutno, Poland. It was cool to hear their stories over an incredible Chinese meal (Donna is Korean :) and about the slow and hard but rewarding ministry of planting a church among the Poles. They primarily have been reaching out to acoholics and their church has been growing due to the powerful lifestyle changes of Poles who have found freedom from their addictions in Christ. I am SO thankful for these many valuable experiences to see firsthand the lives of missionaries and get a greater understanding of what God is doing all over.

Below is the view of a Catholic church from the rented room of the church plant (the only Evangelical church in the area) that Arek is the pastor of. Catholicism in Poland, like in most of Europe, is the predominant religion, however it's mostly ritualistic and actually makes evangelizing more difficult because people are not aware of their need for Jesus.

Polish people are incredible hosts! We all stayed the night at a Polish police officer's house (from Arek's church) and not only was it incredibly well kept, but he made us homemade bread for breakfast and gave us cologne and perfume for gifts as we left! I've found the Polish people overall incredibly friendly and hospitable.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Celebrating all you great moms out there, especially a certain Mrs. Liz Conn. :) I LOVE YOU! This video is for you!

I'm having a party for you here in Stockerau, preparing to go to POLAND!

Wahoo...we leave tomorrow morning at 5 am. This is Robert Suhonnen, our site leader who, along with his wife Ulla, will be taking Jadah, Emily, Jeff and I for a week of outreach to Poland. He's great! This is him showing us where we'll be going during our prep/prayer meeting.

We'll be going to different schools to share about HIV/AIDS, but primarily and utmostly about JESUS! We'll be working along side of Sienna Church in Poland and the OM team there. Here's the flier that they have been advertising with:

Here's our schedule:

	DAILY SCHEDULE	Morning	Afternoon / evening
Day 1	11/05 (Monday)	arrival	orientation / preparation / rest
Day 2	12/05 (Tuesday)	2 school meeting (08:00- 11:30 Kutno)	evulation / 18:00 orientation with volunteers from "Sienna" church
Day 3	13/05 (Wednesday)	3 school meetings (Warsaw)	workshop in church (17:00-19:00) + AIDS EXPERIENCE
Day 4	14/05 (Thursday)	1 school meeting (Warsaw)	workshop in church (17:00-19:00) + AIDS EXPERIENCE
Day 5	15/05 (Friday)		AIDS EXPERIENCE
Day 6	16/05 (Saturday)	Juwenalia (Students festival) - Warsaw	Students festival & AIDS EXPERIENCE for Sienna youth meeting
Day 7	17/05 (Sunday)	Sunday service in Warsaw	AIDS EXPERIENCE
Day 8	18/05 (Monday)	departure

Thanks for your prayers! Hopefully I'll be able to keep you posted during the week, but if not, I'll share about it after we return home!

*Grace and peace and lots of love,

Kenzie

:::hisNAMEisJEFFREY:::

2009-05-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

As of today, I've been in a relationship with this wonderful man

for 1 year!

It's been grand. :) And challenging and maturing and growing and wonderful. :) He's the most servant-hearted, considerate, kind, gentle, and strong and has such solid character! It's been a really awesome journey of getting to know him better and being known by him. :)

We had a great date today! Got to experience Vienna on a beautiful spring day, and boy was it a happening place! We biked and walked throughout the city, had some Viennese coffee, enjoyed a park and a nice restaurant for dinner.

The best part was the company. :)

Please continue to pray for Jeff and I, as we grow in our relationships with God and with one another. We're really pressing in to lay a hold of all that God has for this internship and really want to honor the Lord in all we do! Pray that God would strengthen us in this and use us to spread the love of Jesus to our team and to Austria and to one another. I think God has a lot more to teach us and reveal to us, so pray that we would walk in the things He has in store!

It's sure good to have a friend like Jeff in a foreign country. :)

Bosnia!

2009-05-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

Back from Bosnia!

It was a great trip. Let me share a bit of what it was like...

Coffee, coffee, coffee! It's an integral part of the culture to say the least, and boy is it good!

This is our team at a Persian style cafe.

This is the fountain in the old city. It's said that if you drink from it you'll be sure to come back. I wouldn't mind that happening... :)

The old city, Sarajevo. It's an interesting mixture of Muslims, Orthodox and Roman Catholicism. There are Evangelical churches, however the pastors have been Christians for under 1o years!

Lots of open markets with fresh produce!

We got an incredible history lesson while in Bosnia and one of the best parts was visiting this tunnel. During the war, the Bosnians created this underground tunnel to transport supplies into the city, which was completely surrounded and assaulted by Serbian forces. Though the war has ended, anger and bitterness between the two people groups remains. In fact, it is said:

"There is no peace in Bosnia, only a lack of violence."

I was deeply moved from hearing about the tragedy of the war and the terrible things people experienced-- people that are my age and are now trying to live a normal life. There is such a huge need for reconciliation, healing and rehabilitation for the people. There is certainly a broken spirit about the country.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to experience this part of the world. It was a great trip and I hope to one day go back! But even if I don't, I'll keep Bosnia in my heart and in my prayers.

A Bosnian Adventure

2009-05-03T01:03:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Bosnia!

What a journey to get here: 14 hour bus ride through the night, made complete by Bosnian chatter and laughter the whole way through. :) Surprisingly, after spending the past 3 months in a "colder culture" I found the warmth of the Bosnians refreshing, even if it did hinder my sleep. :)

My weary teammates :)

My stupendous teammate, friend and seat-buddy: Lindy.

So 14 hours and 1 1/2 hours of sleep later, my team and I find myself in the very interesting country of Bosnia! Rich in lush mountains, produce stands and concrete, Bosnia has a unique beauty that is visibly scarred by the turmoil of war and the after-effects of communism.

It's been incredible to stay with the OM team here and hear and see what life is like for the people of Bosnia. This is the Brazilian Claudia, the leader of the OM team there. Lindy and I get to stay with her and it's so great!

It's been a really rich experience so far, made complete with a Bosnian BBQ. They sure do love meat here! The morning we arrived (with an empty sleep tank :) was May 1st, a national holiday, so we headed off to join the OM team and a Bosnian church for an evangelistic outreach at a local park. Jeff and Jake some how got assigned to be the BBQers at the BBQ! They d id a great job, but found out that Bosn ians BBQ quite a bit differently here: instead of neatly putting the meat on the grill, they dump boxes full of chicken and sausage on the grill and slather it with grease. I could feel that meal the rest of the day, but boy was it good!

More stories and pictures to come! Tod ay we're headed to downtown Sarajevo to explore then to church tonight. I really like this place.

The Speal!

2009-04-29T08:42:00.001-07:00

Hello hello!

Life is busy and full of changes!

Tomorrow after language school my team and I head to the bus station for a 13 hour bus ride to Bosnia. We will stay for four days...
1. Because we have to leave the EU since we've been here for 90 days
2. To check out the Operation Mobilization team there and survey what ministry they do there
3. Eat lots of good Bosnian food!

We will return on Monday and finish up our last week of language school and then on Friday head to Prague to celebrate one of our teammates birthdays! It's super cheap to travel around the EU, so we decided to take advantage of that.

On May 11th-19th, I will be going to Poland with three of my teammates and Robert and Ulla to do outreaches in schools. We'll be working with AIDSlink, and AIDS awareness program. I'm really excited about this! More info to come!

In the middle of June, we will go to Hungary for a week to apply for our Hungarian visas. We will return to ministry then head back to Hungary for the month of July and most of August (potentially) to help the OM team there with the many youth camps they have going on.

At the end of August, we have our two week break and my parents are coming to see me (and Europe, to celebrate their big 25th annaversary!!) :)

Then comes September, and we'll jump into ministry full time!

Please continue to pray that God guides me into the ministry that He has for me here!

Love to you all and I'll be back soon with pictures from Bosnia!

--Kenzie

Good News!!!

2009-04-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

Visa update!

Cory, our team leader, and Robert, our Team Supervisor just got back tonight from Hungary where they met with another OM Team about the possibility of us getting a visa from Hungary. Since Hungary is inside of the EU, we could still stay in Austria with a Hungarian visa.

And the word is... it's too good to be true! There are no laws against people getting a visa in Hungary and then not living there, and there hasn't been a single American who has applied for a Hungarian visa and has been denied. So, though nothing is final yet, our team will go to Budapest, Hungary for a few days in the middle of June to apply for our visas and then, hopefully, we will receive visas a month later! At this point we are planning on going to Hungary again for the month of July to help out with different youth camps that the OM team puts on. There's an empty house they have that hasn't sold yet that we will be able to stay in! Then after serving there, we will be able to return to Vienna to stay. :)

Thank you for your prayers! Like I said, it's not guaranteed, but its looking really promising. :) God is good!

Shining Bright among Red Lights

2009-04-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

This world

we live in

so dark.

The abnormal and dysfunctional have become normal functions.

In God's established way, order, He rested and said, "It is good."

But now man is in unrest and has rebelled against God's established way and order, and in the brokenness, in the darkness man says, "It is good."

But it is not good.

It's a crazy phenomenon to taste of God's heart, to learn His ways and to love them, to embrace truth and to believe it, and then to see with my physical eyes what is completely backward to it.

It hurts. Its hard. Its complicated.

Last night Ulla took us girls to where the prostitutes are in Vienna. I was seeing Proverbs 7 before my very eyes, girl after girl on street corner after street corner, the city alive with traffic of wayward men, boys, teens...

But some, even many of these women have no choice. I saw with my own eyes Nigerian women who were abducted from their homes, their families, pronounced with a curse from their Vodoo tribes and sent away to Europe with no rights, no money, no papers, no choice. Women of value who are forced, day after day, to sell something that should never be sold.

Ulla and other missionaries go out to girls such as these. They give them tea and chocolate and talk with them, love them, care about them.

I want to love these girls. I want to be their friend. I want to offer them hope. I want to share joy with them. I want to give them flowers. I want to show them that there's another way. I want to stand in the gap for them, oh Jesus that you would deliver

justice.

Please pray. There is such a huge need. There is such an incredible opportunity. But this is the Devil's bedroom, this is the land of darkness. Has God fashioned me for this? Has He put in me what it would take to shine in places such as these? Is this what He wants for me during my time in Austria? Please pray. I am willing, I am wanting, but I am aware that this isn't fun and games, and that the only help is the presence and power of God. This is land and work that I can only go to and engage in if it is of the Lord's will- there's no middle ground. Please pray that God directs my paths.

Visa Update

2009-04-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Still no news about our visas.

The weekend of May 1st our team will take a trip to Bosnia (Operation Mobilization has a base there so we will be staying with them) as we must exit the EU since we've been here 3 months.

We can then legally come back for 3 months, and if we don't get visas by then, we will have to exit the EU until January, when we can come back legally for 2, 3 month periods.

Please pray that God makes a way for us to get our visas!!! As I connect more and more, and especially consider ministry with the prostitutes, I'm seeing the incredible value of uninterrupted time here, as time builds trust. May God's will be done, but I really have a burden to continue to press in and ask God to make a way!

Connecting

2009-04-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Today was so great!
God has been really faithful to connect me and I'm experiencing Him leading me into the ministry and relationships He has for me here. It's really exciting! I feel like my gears are synchronizing with the "machine" of the Body of Christ and Kingdom of God. It feels good. :)
After language school Jeff and I checked out some city bikes (their free for the first hour!) and rode around Vienna. We found ourselves in Stadt park and had a good time talking there. It's so great to be outside!

Then I met up with a friend at Starbucks I met at the retreat we went on in March with the college students from a church in Vienna. Her name is Z and she's from South Africa and is so full of life! She's here with two other missionaries planting a church, so it was so great to share stories and connect about what God is showing us about Austria and what He wants to do here. I'm really excited to be her friend!

After a great time with Z, I took the trains to go to a prayer meeting for Herzwerk, a Christian organization here that ministers to prostitutes. God's really been stirring in my heart about this ministry. This problem is so rampant, so full of darkness, brokenness and bondage. This ministry is such an incredible opportunity to build relationships with the women enslaved in this work and share with them about Jesus. Please be praying for God's continued direction and clarity for me, as I'm continuing to get more information about this ministry and consider if this is the ministry thatGod has brought in store for me to be apart of. I'm praying about coupling this ministry with the Houses of Prayer here in Vienna. I really have a heart to partner with God in sowing and preparing the way for God to work.

Now I'm super sleepy but excited! Love to you all. :)

House of Prayer

2009-04-18T04:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I visited a House of Prayer in Vienna that one of my teammates found on the internet (check out jesusfreaks.at). I spoke with Klaus and Mona, the couple who are heading up the house of prayer and have also planted a church. They call themselves Jesus Freaks and the style of the House of Prayer as well of the church is very laid back, fluid, and creative. I liked it!

The vision of the House of Prayer is to pray for unity among the churches in Vienna and to one day have it open 24\7 with people taking shifts so that prayer will be going on all the time. They´ve set up different stations in the prayer room with creative ideas of how to pray. For instance, there is a corner that has a canvas with broken glass on it that says, brokennes brings about unknown beauty and then there´s a really soft rug to sit on, letting you feel the comfort of God as you pour out your brokenness to him. And the cool thing is that Klaus and Mona are all about others coming with creativity to mold and shape the prayer room and add new things! They´re just looking for more help.

I´m interested in this house of prayer. God has been teaching me a lot about prayer and I´m inspired to really sow seeds in prayer with faith, knowing that God will answer. Someone shared a story about Billy Graham the other day, how all of the work and preparation for ministry is in prayer.

Will you join me in seeking God if He wants me to serve in some capacity at this House of Prayer during my time here? I really want to spend this time strategically and in a way that will best advance God´s Kingdom. Please be in prayer that God will connect me with the people and ministries here that are most strategic for His Kingdom and glory!

I´m learning so much! God´s been really faithful to connect me with more and more people so I feel like I´m gaining ground here! Lots more to share but I´ll save it for another post.

Love to you all!

Frohe Ostern!

2009-04-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

"What is the way to an Austrians heart?"

My new Austrian friend Yasmin paused thoughtfully and responded: "I don't know really... maybe love. They have everything they want-- wealth, security, but they're grumpy and pessimistic... happiness I think is what they want, and joy. Life is so routine and mundane here- they want something interesting, something optimistic."

(Yasmin and I today at a park in Vienna)

I've been considering a lot why God has me here-- wanting to discover His mission that I might walk with Him to fulfill it. He keeps bringing me back over and over and over that the mission is...

Jesus....worship of Him in spirit and in truth.

Out of all the things Jesus could have prayed for in His final time with His disciples, he chose to pray that they would "be one, as We are one" and this not only for those 12 disciples, but also for "those who will believe in Jesus through their word"...Jesus prayed this for us.

It is in this unity, this oneness with Jesus and the Father and the Spirit that every pleasing act of faith, every demonstration of love, every good work and fruit is birthed, for it is "no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Austrians need joy. Austrians need love. Austrians need GOD because these things belong to God and cannot be found outside of God, not even in a girl like me... unless I KNOW HIM and am FOUND IN HIM, not having a righteousness or a joy or a love of my own, but rather that is BY FAITH.

"Apart from Me you can do nothing...the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine...by this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples" --Jesus

Spring is here. I'm praying for spring in my heart, spring in my life, that I too might abide in the Vine, that my life would be an offering of fragrant blossoms and fruit unto the glory and praise of God.

Encounters

2009-04-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Team Austria has been undergoing the season of sickness. :( One of my teammates has been battling bronchitis for the past five days... another one got very sick during German class today, so much so that the staff of the Deutsche Academie called the ambulance (healthcare is different here-- there isn't a charge for things like that, thankfully!). It was quite an interesting afternoon! Both girls are doing better now and are being well taken care of. The rest of the team has all had some sickness like the flu or something- sick enough to not be able to go to class. So far Jeff and I are the only ones who haven't been sick, but I must say we've really enjoyed taking care of those who have been. :)

God's really been working in my heart this week about loving my team. I've had to repent and change my mind about some ways I've been living, and God has met me in that and changed my heart! I'm very thankful, and have really been enjoying time with the team this week.

We hosted a party our here in Stockerau last Saturday and 14 new friends of ours from a church in Vienna came out to join us! It was fun!

I've also enjoyed connecting with...

***a Chinese couple that I met at German school

***an Austrian named Yasmin who I met at a church I visited (she hosted me for a traditional Austrian breakfast yesterday!)

***neighbors of ours (now that the weather is getting nicer, people are outside a lot more!)

***new faces I meet on the trains or subways

Please continue to pray that God connects me with the people that He desires!

Well, I think it's time to get some sleep! Tomorrow is my last day of my second month of German school. On Friday our team will join the OM (Operation Mobilization) Team for a week retreat in Germany! We will get to visit a concentration camp on the way there, so that will be very interesting. Other than that, we're still in the process of trying to get visas and seeking God on what He has for us during our time here. To be continued...

thanks for your prayers and love! Blessings on your day. :)

Visa, Visa, I need a Visa!

2009-03-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

"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

2009-03-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-03-05T07:11:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

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!

Life in Deutsch

2009-02-26T11:38:00.001-08:00

Guten Abend! (Good Evening!)

I've been wrestling through German this week, learning the past tense, different forms of verbs and about the whole concept of time. I really enjoy my class and my awesome teacher, Frau Doller (pictured in middle).

She is a native Austrian, is 24 and really cares about us a lot! I really appreciate how she enunciates and repeats things and most of the class is interactive. She speaks only in German but is very careful to make sure we all understand. Most of the class is interactive: when we learn a new concept, she'll ask us questions using the concept and we respond. It's great! Please pray for me as I continue to study and understand. Language is so critical and I really want to communicate effectively to the people here! Also pray for the different students I meet- On Monday I'm going out to coffe with a girl from the Czech Republic and our team is having a student from Britian over to our house for dinner on Wednesday. Pray for God's grace and love as I make new friends and that I will be a loving and truthful witness of Jesus Christ.

This is my class (3 Americans, 3 Turks, 1 from Thailand, 1 from Romania (not pictured)! We dressed up for "Fashing"- the big "party day" before Lent begins. It's a really big deal here- there's parades all over a nd all the people who work in retail dress up in costumes. We just had a little fun in our class, but unfortunately for the rest of the country, this is a day where everything goes- basically where you binge on everything wrong and then repent on Ash Wednesday and then go into 40 days of fasting different things. Please pray for the Austrians at this time, as religion is more of a focus and topic of conversation. Pray that they would hear and experience the relevance of the Gospel of Christ!

No word on our visa situation...please continue to pray that all 8 of us would be approved to stay in Austria for the duration of our Global Internship! There are places outside of the EU that we can go (the Operation Mobilization team has many contacts), but I do believe God has called us to Vienna will keep us here!

*love

The Underground

2009-02-16T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hallo. :)

It's cold. Wet. Snowy. And my brain is overloaded with German!

Last Friday I went to a cultural event with my school, the Deutschakademie, to tour the "underground of Vienna." I went with a group of 20 students (most of whom were in the upper classes of German) and that was probably the largest range of cultures and people I have ever been with! At one point I was speaking with a girl from France partially in French, partially in German and then a guy from Britian translated some with his Brittish accent! Then a man from Panama and another from Iran joined the conversation-- quite interesting!!!

We first got a short history lesson of what we were going to go tour (which was mostly in German, so I really didn't understand a whole lot!) then we got to go see what we learned about!

Most of our time was spent at Michaelerkirche, one of the oldest cathedrals in Austria, dating back to 1220! It was stunning!

After touring the sanctuary, we then went underground to the crypts! Quite interesting...upon entering the basement we were notified that we were walking on layers and layers of bones and dirt! Old and ornate caskets lined the halls, some of them open revealing mummified bodies of ancient people who once walked the earth. I realized I don't think about death too often, but in being overtly confronted by it, I was intrigued by the question...."where are their spirit's now?" Such a strange thing, death is. Sobering and empowering to live with the true and real perspective in mind: eternity with God.

Ich bin mude!

2009-02-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Hallo!

Day 3 of "Deutsch Academie." My head's swimming a bit but I'm getting the hang of it! I have class from 12-3 (so that's 4-7 AM CTS!) and by the time hour 3 hits it gets pretty intense. For those of you early birds, I'd appreciate your prayers for that time! There are 10 people in the class: 4 from Turkey, 1 from Thailand, 1 from Singapore, 1 from Romania and then two of my teammates and myself. It's really cool! I'm enjoying getting to know my classmates and also my teacher. She's great!

Other than school, I've been trying to adjust to a new routine. Something that a teammate of mine shared with the team as we met last night was that he really sensed that God was saying for us to "stop resisting grace" and "let go of your understanding of how things should work." I feel very aware that God is so much bigger than the plans, agenda and expectations I have. I'm wrestling and struggle to find the ryhthm of how to live my life. There's still so much that I don't know, but the one thing that I know for sure is that I want to be about the One Thing: loving God with my all. It seems like things get harder and messier before they get better, but I won't be disuaded! Please pray for the leading of the Spirit and that I would be filled with the knowledge of God. I want to know Him and His ways and give Him what He desires the most: my love.

Until next time... Auf weidersehen (goodbye and take care!) :)

The Phenomenon of the Wiener Cafe

2009-02-07T15:41:00.000-08:00

Question: what is something intriguing about Vienna that shows up often in varied ways and is something I could document during my time here?

Answer: Cafe's!

Austria is known for its coffee, it's relational and laid back culture (people take coffee break seriously here- at 10:30 on the dot everyone drops their work for a 15 min-30 min enjoyable coffee break; often the same happens in the afternoon) and its sumptuous delicate deserts. As I encounter these wonderful places during my time here in Austria, I thought I would share them with you!

May I introduce you to

What a lovely place! It's located in the Innerstradt (inner city) of Vienna by the Stephansdom (one of the tallest cathedrals in the world that is oh, so beautiful!) and has been around since 1911! It has an elegant yet casual feel with a 50's flavor. I found a short review on it that, from my firsthand experience there tonight, described it more than adequately well:

"Solemn-looking waiters sport classic bow-tie garb at this expansive cafe on the Ring. Still, in spite of a few old school traits, Pruckel is not one of the stiffest stars in the Viennese firmament. The much-loved cafe attracts a vaguely arty clientele who look like they're pondering some conceptual conundrum."

I got the "Special Pruckel Eiskaffe" which was fabulous! It was espresso, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream with a waifer cookie on top. I was very pleased. :) Even the "frou frou" coffee here isn't as sweet as in the US (they also don't have artificial sweeteners here) but it has a rich flavor that I really appreciate.

I highly reccommend this cute cafe and look forward to returning (hopefully with some new friends from language school that starts on Monday!). Check out Cafe Pruckel's website here.

I hope you're enjoying your coffe today as well. :)

:::thus ends review number ONE of the Phenomenon of the Wiener:::

...until next time :)

*love

A Sampling of My time in Austria so far...

2009-02-06T10:26:00.001-08:00

This is Linz! It's the 3rd largest town in Austria and is about 2 hours away from Vienna. My team and I spent the day here, visiting the Operation Mobilization team that is based there and learning from them about the Austrian culture. We also got a tour of the city, which is beautiful! Hitler actually grew up outside the town of Linz, and when he came to power this city was one of the first that he renovated.

Team time! We meet together on Tuesday nights for dinner, Bible study and prayer. We had an awesome time of communion together this night as well.

House-mates! The girls have a flat, then Judika (far right) lives in the upstairs of the house and Gordon and Judie Holiday (left of Judika) live in the basement. Judika is an artist from Germany and the Holiday's are from Australia. They're great!

Spending some time at our site leaders house: Robert and Ulla Suhonnen. What an incredible couple! They've done an excellent job of welcoming us into the country, teaching us the ropes (from where to shop to how to separate your trash to the spiritual climate) and being amazing hosts! We enjoyed time in their beautiful backyard eating moose and Norwegian cheese. :) They also have a sauna, which has quickly become a team favorite place to relax!

Street art! On Sunday's there are lots of street artists and performers downtown. Fun fun!

The Weisel! This is a fast train that we take into Vienna. I ride trains many times a day!

A cool castle that you can see outside the window of the OM office. It's so cool to be in a place that's been inhabited for so long and has such a rich history.

Our house! I like it. :)

That's all for now!

Suzie Homemaker

2009-02-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

I'm really enjoying my time in Austria!

Yesterday I had a wonderfully restful day-- took the train to Vienna Christian Center for church and was challenged with the topic of FAITH. Faith is like a muscle that needs working and exertion and challenges in order to grow. I'm ready to lean into this workout!

I got to spend the rest of the afternoon in a cafe, journaling reading and processing the time I've had here so far with God. The snow was falling out the window and I was filled with delight with the Lord, with life and with how God has brought me here! He truly is a God who does immmeasurably above and beyond all we could ever ask for or imagine!

Later on, my dear friend and teammate Emily joined me and we shared what's been going on in our lives and had a really awesome time of prayer and listening to God, then praying into what we heard Him tell us. God is so alive!

Today after some devotions at the OM base with the team, my teammate Nicole and I headed back to our flat to start a day of ministering to our team through cleaning the house and making dinner! It's been a good day. :)

Please keep in prayer for the visas for our team. We've submitted all our documents and done all we can do, so now we just pray and wait on the Lord! Please pray for the officials who will be considering our requests to stay in the country for an extended amount of time and that God would give us favor.

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

2009-01-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-27T04:25:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-14T08:14:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

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:::

2009-01-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

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.

Preparation

2008-11-22T16:19:00.000-08:00

It's an interesting season, being home, working at a coffee shop and raising support. It's preparation in many ways! It's hard to believe December is almost here, and after that comes January, which means, time to travel to VIENNA! I'm about at 70% of my total budget so it's becoming more and more of a reality!

Currently, I'm still working a lot at Mugz and loving it! It's awesome how God is using that as a place to meet people. Today I started painting a lady's house whom I meet at Mugz. It's cool to be able to have an art outlet! I'm also getting ready to have a table at a big craft show at the local country club. I'll be personalizing Christmas plates and other gift items for the holidays.

Yesterday I got a german poetry book from my dad- it's so cool! It's love poems to God, and one side is in German and the other is in English. It will be a cool avenue to connect with people in Austria. I'm so excited to learn the language and to meet new people!

Denver

2008-11-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

I sure love Colorado. It's been good being back here with family and friends, reminiscing about old times and hand-crafting new memories. A special someone came and surprised me this week: Jeffrey Beiler! He was driving a van up from CA to IN and CO happened to be on the way. :) I'm thankful for the time I've been able to have with him.

Tonight I got to hang out with four of my Austrian Teammates. It was really awesome to connect with them and share our hearts from these past few months raising support at our homes. It's been challenging for all of us, so it was strengthening to meet together to support one another and pray. God really has some amazing things in store for Austria! I found out tonight that there's a woman who lives in the apartment we'll be housed out of who has an art ministry, so I'm excited to see what opportunities God might have for me in that avenue. I've become more and more passionate about art and so I'm looking forward to how God will use that.

I'm not at a little over 60% of my support-raising goal! Austria is on the way! I'm so thankful for all of you! November 30th is my 100% deadline. I am confident in God's ability to care for me and provide for the ministry He's called me to. He continues to show Himself faithful in so many ways.

Hurricane Ike

2008-10-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

We went through our first hurricane! Took lots of preparation! Kiellor was at work and Colin's at school, so I got the pleasure of helping my dad board up the windows. :) I actually enjoyed it!

I miss the good ole' woodshop days, so it was fun to have a saw in my hand again!

Haha, exposed by Andy...due to time constraints I didn't get a chance at the saw after all, only got to pose with it for a picture. :)

The big ole' neighborhood dog.

Awesome thing about hurricanes: they bring people together! Our whole neighborhood was out and about preparing, and since school and work got called off, we got to spend a lot of time together.

The sky was incredible!

Then it got a little ominous....

Then a little scary!
I went inside and made an "ike cake" to share with the neighbors. What else is there to do?!

Thankfully we all made it through unscathed, though many others were far less fortunate. We lost power for two days, didn't get much sleep the night of the storm (boy it was loud!), and the roads were obstructed for awhile with branches, but life got back to normal pretty quick and we're thankful that we didn't have any permanent damage (except for a broken window that got hit with a rock while I was mowing...before the hurricane hit. Isn't life ironic?) :)

Our church offices, however, lost their roof!

My dad's office was in pretty bad shape.Thankfully not much was ruined and insurance is sure a good thing!

Garage Sale!

2008-10-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

If you live in Houston and would like to donate anything to my garage sale or come help out, let me know!

Home away from Home

2008-10-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

In less than four months, this will be my new residence!!! This is the house that my teammates, mentors and I will be living in for our time in AUSTRIA. It's divided into four apartments and our missionary supervisor's, Robert and Ulla Suhonnen, live just down the street.

But this is my home now,

and I'm enjoying the time I've been having with these lovely people!My brother Kiellor (who works at Quiznos which is next door to Mugz! We have a trade route for sandwiches and coffee :)

My parents :)

And tonight, I get to see these two!!! Colin is at the Honor Academy in Tyler, TX and Chelsey is finishing up her last year at Texas Women's University in Denton, TX so their both coming home for the weekend!

And some time soon this fine gentleman from Indiana is coming to see me! Can't wait! :)

Filling my Cup

2008-09-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

I went for a run this morning. I love the peace that engulfs the atmosphere, as if all of creation is eager with quiet anticipation for a new day. With the rising sun comes a living promise that God's mercies are new for this day; hope permeates my being as light penetrates the newly awakened world.

I'm learning how to rest in God.

I'm learning how to live in the present and live one day at a time.

As I daily fill my soul with truth and experience the fellowship that comes from conversing with the Living God, I'm coming to truly believe and live that He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He'll do! Such rest and peace comes from trusting God. I'm daily blessed and thankful for the ways that His character is displayed in my life-- from divine encounters with people to a $25 Walmart card that some kind unknown person left in my wallet to toothless baby smiles from a little girl accross the counter at Mugz. God sure does know how to care for me. :) What a relief to know that not only do I not have to clutter my mind with obsessive thoughts about what I'm going to do during the day and how I'm going to do it, etc., etc. but I'm COMMANDED not to! I tell Jesus my worries instead and let thanksgiving well up in my heart.

"trust and obey...there is no other way."

That about sums up the current aspiring life of McKenzie Conn.

May you all enjoy the rest, peace and joy that comes from our Father who knows what we need!

Faith

2008-09-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyday I'm hit more with the realization that life is hard. But with every revelation of difficulty, the Holy Spirit is right there to present hope, to offer grace, to paint a picture for me of what matters, of what is true.

I was talking the other day with my boyfriend, Jeff about how as I go about the day, doing the different things required, my soul will get hit with a disatisfaction... there's something more. I realized that these times of discontent happen when I lost my focus from Jesus and am not remaining in him. Jeff and I were talking about our ways of trying to remind ourselves to abide in God and stay in constant communion with Him throughout the day...and we both felt frustrated with the results! Things become commonplace so easily; routines and plans lose their true meaning as I just go through the motions.

Why is it so hard, we wondered?

Then I realized that it's about f a i t h.

And the grain of our culture is so totally opposite of faith. We live in a realm saturated with instant gratification, materialism and all sorts of ways to meet our every whim, desire and need right NOW. On top of that, we are so full of visual messages- we can see, touch, feel everythign. But faith means wait... faith means believing in what we cannot see. Faith REQUIRES patience, waiting, persevering, trusting, standing firm, delayed gratification.

It was cool because after I hung up with Jeff, I just so happened to be in Hebrews 11 for my Bible reading plan. :) I'm not exactly sure what it's going to look like, living by faith, but I'm chewing on Hebrews and I'm thankful for the constant presence of my good friend, the Holy Spirit. I love learning, so I'm so glad He likes to teach me all throughout the day!

So there's some throughts for the day. :)

On another note, I did indeed get a job at a coffee shop, called Mugz. I love it! It's fast-paced, efficient, and customer oriented. I'm still learning the ropes, but I love my co-workers and manager and am so blessed by how God set it all up for me!

Other than working, I've been renovating my room (which will be the guest room when I leave), keeping in touch with friends and my boyfriend (we're two weeks into four months apart! God's been teaching us a whole lot, so though I miss him, I'm thankful for this time), and spending time with family and being involved at Christ Chapel. I sent out an update letter this week, so I hope you enjoy it! I'll keep you posted on further developments. :)

Much love, and may God empower you to walk by faith and not by sight today!

Home Sweet Home

2008-08-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Texas!

After wrapping things up at BCOM for this first year, I got back to Houston with my family late Tuesday night and have been unpacking and unraveling here at home. I'm excited for these next four months! I'm looking forward to plugging back in with Christ Chapel (my home church), finding outlets for :::creativity::: and artistic endeavors, hopefully getting a job at a local coffee shop (I have my interview tomorrow!), and seeking potential partners to support me as a missionary through Bethany International Ministries in my upcoming adventure to Austria!

I'll keep ya'll posted, but I just wanted to say a big "howdy" from Texas. :) I must say it's good to be home!

Texas in the Windshield

2008-08-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

Just about two years ago I saw home fade away in the rearview mirror, and now, an Honor Academy internship and 1 year at BCOM later, Richmond, Texas is soon to show up in the windshield; I'm quite excited!

This year at BCOM has been one of the most enriching, fulfilling, satisfying, and deepening years of my life. God has tilled the soil of my heart and I feel chalk full of seeds! I'm excited to watch them grow and bear fruit that will last. God has been so faithful to keep me for Himself and I've been greatly encouraged to see prayers that I've been praying since I was twelve start coming into fulfilment!

These last two weeks at BCOM are filled with...

1. Quite invigorating and unpredictable classes with Tony Hedrick on the topic of apologetics. He's an awesome artist who says things as they are and is about the most non-religious follower of Jesus that I know. :) It's quite refreshing.

2. Time with Jeffrey Beiler! We've almost been dating for 3 months and I have been so blessed by his friendship. This past week we enjoyed horseback riding, painting, running (he's a challenging but encouraging running-buddy :), and a fancy night out to the Cheesecake Factory with two other couples from BCOM. I'll be making a pit-stop to his house in Indiana after we graduate, and from there I'll head home with my family! It will be sad to say goodbye for four months, but we're both excited for what God has during this next season and for the challenge of growing closer together while being a part.

3. Friends, friends, friends. I've been so blessed by Godly friendships of all kinds this year! Some of my favorites...my friend Emily Ona whom I'm currently at Panera bread with (we enjoy hazelnut coffee, cinnamon rolls and good conversation together:)...my teacher, Nita Steiner, a missionary veteran who has Jeff and I over for Brazilian food and offers up many a faith-filled prayer on my behalf...my lovely roommate Heather Hall whom I have enjoyed growing with and fighting through the hard times on our knees together. We went to an adorable Nepalese restaurant this past weekend and were both encouraged as we reminisced of what God has done in our lives over chicken and curry. :)...and last but not least, Lindy Beamesderfer, a spontaneous but disciplined lady who walks with Jesus and loves life, people, and juice. She's been a very enjoyable friend, and I look forward to continuing our friendship as we'll be teammates in AUSTRIA!

I'm getting more and more excited to invade Vienna here in just a few short months. I'm really excited for this upcoming time of preparation and planning and am excited to see a lot of you all very soon!

If you could be praying for me this week for God's direction, inspiration and creativity as I prepare for this next season at home. If you could also pray that God would give me a steadfast spirit to sustain me, and for great endurance and perseverance to remain in the Lord!

Love to you all!

-McKenzie

The Truth and Nothing but the Truth

2008-06-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

It's a great day to be alive!

Summer is here, and after a prolonged winter, we're enjoying spring weather up here in Minnesota. I've been enjoying...

daily bike rides and walks in the glorious back 40 acres of the BCOM campus

weekend picnics, enjoying the outdoors with good friends

creating and innovating and experimenting with making videos (I'm currently working on one with my Global Internship team to express our upcoming trip to Vienna, Austria!) and other artistic endeavors (spray paint has become my new favorite art form :)

Hanging out and getting to know Jeff Beiler. :)

Currently I'm taking a class called Biblical Worldview, and I'm learning about prominent worldviews in our day today and how they came to be. We've been focusing on post-modernism and naturalism, and I'm enjoying growing in understanding in these philosophies and testing them against the truth. I've really been enjoying the fact that truth is TRUTH-- you can test it, question it, and poke at is as much as you want and it will still be true. As I do this, I'm finding out what in my life has been built on the firm foundation of Christ, and what has been built on the shaky sand of worldly beliefs. It's invigorating to know and understand more of God, and in that getting insight into how reality works. I'm so thankful for this class because I know it's going to benefit me greatly as I journey to the greatly post-modern world of Europe...

exciting news on that note! Jeffrey has joined the team to come to Austria! Please pray for us as we continue to get to know one another and seek the Kingdom of God in our lives. Please also pray for unity within the 15 of us going to Austria and that God would continue to speak to us about His plans for us during our 16 months overseas together.

By the end of June I will need to have 25% of my budget for my 16 months in Austria. The total amount for the Internship is $29,161.63 (this includes all expenses) so 25% is $7,290.40. If God is leading you to support me financially, you can make a check out to Bethany International Ministries (please don't include my name on the check) and send it to:

McKenzie Conn
6820 Auto Club Road, Suite A
Bloomington, MN 55438

Thank you for your time and consideration!

*love

Jeffrey Lyle Beiler!

2008-05-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

This is Jeffrey! He's a very good friend and we are :::together:::

I've never had a boyfriend before, so this is a new experience for me, but I'm finding that it's natural and good! It's incredible having him as such a good friend. It's cool that we've both come from similar backgrounds, went through the Honor Academy together last year and now are sitting under the same teaching and experiencing the same things here at BCOM. It's exciting having a friend who has the same values as I do: loving God, loving people, serving, giving, learning, growing, changing...

It's fun to walk this life with him. We've been praying together and have the awesome opportunity of having quite a few incredible, Godly couples here on campus who are willing and delighting in investing in us and our relationship! We're excited to seek out more counsel about how to walk uprightly and wisely in this season of life and do the will of the Father.

A big thing we're praying through right now is concerning our Global Internships. Currently, Jeff is on a team (of which he's the only guy!) to go to Indonesia, and I am on a team going to Austria. Our internships are 16 months long, plus a previous 4 months of home-based support raising. That would mean that we'd be apart for almost 20 months! We've come to the conclusion that with the direction that we feel God is leading us in our relationship, it'd be wise and beneficial for us to be on the same team, so we're praying about where that will be. Please pray that God would clarify His will to us both so that we can walk in it!

Ministry Week!

2008-05-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

Ministry Week!

As a part of the training here at BCOM, all of the students participated in a week devoted to living out what we've learned and are training for: being missionaries! We broke into 4 teams, stayed at four different churches, and hit the streets of the Philips neighborhood, seeking to do the will of the Father by building relationships and sharing Jesus through our lives and words.

I had the privilege of leading one of the four groups with my good friend Jeffrey Beiler under the leadership of our awesome Pastor: Norris Rose!

Here's my and my good friend Lindy. We went together during the day to take door to door surveys of the neighborhood we were in, asking the people what the needs in the community were and how the church could help meet those needs. It also opened the door to share with them about Jesus!

This is my awesome team during lunch. We grew really close together during the week as we worshipped and sought God together in the mornings and afternoons and shared with each other what God was doing during the meal times. We had a lot of fun too!

Here's a team going out to take surveys of the Philips Neighborhood.

Here's my awesome teammate, Warren. He has a cool beard and a hilarious laugh so I thought I'd share his coolness with you!

Every evening for dinner we went to a local soup kitchen to hang out and hear the stories of the people who are at a rehabilitation center to get their lives back on track. We made some cool friends and we're mutually encouraged by the people we met there! These two gentlemen were gracious to serve us food!

Here is our wonderful Pastor Rose! We had a great time meeting with him over coffee in the mornings and he did far more than encourage us for the days ministry: he shared his life with us. He's full of wisdom and graciously shared it with us (often with a great laugh!)

Here's part of our team at the park. We did sidewalk chalk and brought along some balls and frisbees to play with the people there. We had a good time!
Here's a woman named Victory that we met at the park. She was incredibly strung out on drugs and was barely coherent. Here I was embracing here and praying for her.

The girls!

Lake Street=Base camp. Met a lot of people and had some awesome conversations here.

Team Solid Rock!

I got to play the drums a little bit during one of our team times :)

Pastor Rose and myself- what a blessing he was!

Ministry Week!

2008-04-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hi Family! We (the BCOM students) have an exciting week coming up for us! Tomorrow the freshman class will be heading to downtown Minneapolis to divide and conquer for the Kingdom! We split into four groups and each group will be staying with a different church for the week. We'll be helping out at the church and then dividing yet again to go conquer two by two:

Walking by the Spirit

Asking God what's on His heart for the afternoon and what He has planned for us to do

Listening

Obeying!

I'm excited for divine encounters and to sow into others what has been so richly sowed into me. God is alive! I'm excited to be a part of His expanding Kingdom. Please pray for us as we seek to touch heaven, bring it to earth, and give it away. We've prayed to the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into the field, and we are being sent!

Stay tuned for updates...!

The Lord bless you and keep you and may He make His face shine upon you and give you peace.

God is Here

2008-03-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

God is here

:::right now:::

Today I'm searching what it is to seek God with all of my heart.

For if He is my only and ultimate pursuit, I will find Him. And if I find Him, I have everything.

He's here, He's found me, I've found Him...but there's so much more to find.

There's so much more.

2008-03-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

Today I enjoyed an easter egg hunt and a celebratory dance party in honor of the risen Jesus. :) On Thursday's we meet in small groups, but today all of the female small groups joined together in the church. One of the mentors taught about the resurrection in Jesus, bringing up that during Easter we so often focus on His death-- but He's alive! We served each other communion and celebrated His resurrection.

The Body of Christ is so powerful. And so messy. But how it ministered to my heart to have a sister look at me with sparkly eyes and offer me a representation of Jesus. This morning I was reading in John 17, where Jesus prays for His disciples and then for all believers. Out of all that He could pray for, He prayed again and again that "they may be one as We are one" -- that Jesus would dwell in us as the Father dwells in Him. Oh that the Body would be joined together under the Head of Jesus Christ!

On another note, it's been really cool to be apart of the Admissions department here at BCOM. We're hosting a campus visit weekend next week of which I've been a part of putting together. We've been improving the aesthetics of the campus in preparation for that, so I've also been able to offer creativity and help in that process- it's been fun! I look forward to posting pictures soon. We've had tripple the applications for this next August as we've ever had, so it's really exciting to see this school grow! I'm SO thankful and delighted to be here and apart of what God is doing!

2008-03-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

I’m learning what Jesus’ yoke is.

I’m learning what boundaries are…how to say no, how to say yes and to fulfill my yes, fully engaged, with all of my heart.

I’m learning how much I depend upon myself to love God, to follow Him, to figure out and control my life...I'm learning the soul's sigh of relief when it realizes that God is God and I am not.

I’m learning what it means to let go.

I’m learning to rest in God.

I’m learning how big God is, how sovereign He is, how good He is, how gracious He is.

I'm tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.

I always wondered if knowing God could truly be good, even enjoyable. I wondered if I could actually feel something for Him. I'd read the Psalms and be baffled that David could be so ardent and consumed in his love for God.

For me, being a Christian was more often than not burdensome, exhausting, full of obligation and even harsh.

I'm so glad that following Jesus isn't like that.

Because His yoke is easy and His Kingdom is of righteousness and joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.

I like this God I follow. In fact, I love Him. I enjoy Him. And He likes and enjoys me.

Rain or shine, He will never leave. And His presence is all I need. For real.

"Are you saved?"

2007-11-05T16:01:00.000-08:00

During my time here at BCOM, I've been enjoying the unique experience of giving plasma. Enjoying, you may ask? Yes! Though needles don't really bother me, that's not really the extent of my enjoyment, rather it's in the unique and diverse people I meet there, in the luxury of getting off campus for awhile (as nice as it is, I really like a change of scenery!), and hanging out with my other friends who also give.

This past Sunday afternoon I went for my fifth time (yay for $50!!!) and was seated next to a guy dressed in the usual "gangsta garb" and who had a hood over his mouth (he looked kinda sick-- or at least like he wasn't enjoying giving plasma:). I smiled and said hi, asking him if he was okay but he didn't really seem to want to talk. So I got all hooked up and was about half way through the process when the same guy looked over at me and asked,

"Are you saved?"

Hey, I'll take that question any day!!!

"Yes, I am."
"For how long?" he intently asked.
"About fifteen years. Are you?"
He squirmed and gave a sort of painful smile then said no.
"I just saw the Bible you was reading and I was kinda curious. You know how those people downtown pass out all those, those...what do you call them?"
"Tracks?"
"Yeah, tracks-- they darn ALWAYS give them to me!"

He went on to tell me how God kept coming up in his life and how he was struggling with it. He knew that if he decided to be saved his life would have to change a lot. "I'd have to give up smoking, 'coz I smoke. I'd have to give up drinking, 'coz I drink. I'd have to give up sinning, 'coz, yeah, I sin. That'd be really hard. Really, really hard."

This guy was really counting the cost.

I could tell he'd really been thinking about it a lot, and he seemed in such a good place! His heart was soft and he was open, but it was very difficult for him. He asked where I went to church and said he hadn't been in a really long time. "I'm a little scared, ya kno'? I'm a sinner." I invited him to come to my church and verified that, yes, it is hard, but guess what? It's worth it!!!

And to sum it all up, his name is Mr. McKenzie, and the look on his face when I told him my name showed me that God used that too. The Hound of Heaven, the Jealous Lover, the Longing Father is after this man! PLEASE remember him in your prayers!!! God gave me a glimpse of the glory He would receive in this man's life, and family, we need to fight for this friend that our God is pursuing! Prayer is powerful, so on behalf of God's Kingdom may we beseech the Father for Mr. McKenzie's salvation.

P.S. Last week I sat next to another "gangsta'" named Chris. He's a student at a local university and was the loudest guy in the whole plasma place. hehe. He thought my name was pretty cool and told me that his "homeboy's" last name was McKenzie, and I'm pretty sure that the guy I met on Sunday was him!! God placed Chris on my heart to pray for, so please remember him as well! Salvation in Jesus' name!

Incomplacent Contentment

2007-11-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

Today these eyes of mine beheld their first Minnesota snow flakes!!! They were just little flurries, but hey, it counts!

Even as winter rolls in, God continues to warm my heart as He sancifies me with His loving refiner's fire. Every week presents a new challege that builds on the old, and lately God has been teaching my heart who I am in Christ. This past week was a powerful one spiritually as God revealed to me all the idols that have been in my life. Many of these idols were deceiving, as they were good and praiseworthy things (like going on missions trips, giving gifts to people, playing sports...) but God showed me that I was using them to define who I was, and therefore was worshipping them and esteeming them above God. So what a powerful thing it was to confess, repent and renounce each of these idols as the Spirit led and then declare that my identity was no longer found in them, but in Jesus Christ alone! Though I didn't feel a whole lot, I know that much happened in the spiritual realm, and that day I realized that for the first time in my life I could say that Jesus was Lord of my life, that I worshipped Him alone, that I was in right-standing with God and was exactly where He wanted me to be. That was (and continues to be) so freeing! I feel as though finally I am ceasing my striving and resting in the place that God has me, all the while hungering and seeking after more. I believe I have found contentment and not complacency. I would really appreciate your prayers regarding revelation in my heart about who God says I am! If I'm not defined by being an athlete, an artist, a pastor's daughter, or a missionary (and so on), then what am I defined by? And more importantly, WHO am I defined by? And who really is that Who? :)

Thank you for your prayers!!!

--Kenzie

The Journey Towards Love

2007-10-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

It is a LOVELY day in Bloomington, MN!
Vibrant blue october sky, the remnant of golden leaves lifting their arms up to the sun, and a graceful breeze that dips itself gently through the trees all add to my delight in the Creator of all today!

Life continues to be FULL but incredibly good. I am ever thankful for this season of rest and growth. We just finished a one week course on Old Testament Poetry and Literature taught by an incredible woman of God who is full of wisdom, honesty, and has a lifetime experience of pursuing God. The goal of the course was to "awaken the student's heart to strong desire for God through an understanding of His emotions and desires, especially as revealed in the Old Testament poetry and literature." God has certainly used this class, among other things, as tools to do just that in my heart! Every day I'm realizing that God is crumbling faulty mindsets off of the foundation in my life.

The most profound recently has been in the area of perfectionism and how I believe God to view my failures and my humanity. Though I have not completely grasped this yet, I'm growing to believe that God really doesn't want perfection, He just wants ME, and that perhaps He truly is like a Father, a Master Artist who's painting a masterpiece and is delighted that His little girl wants to join in. He gives me a paintbrush, guiding my hand, and even if the canvas is brown in the end for lack of my knowledge of color, He is enamored that I try. And when I spill the paint all over myself, He is not full of wrath, but like a patient and compassionate Father He wipes the color off my nose and smiles, knowing that I'm a little girl but simultaneously seeing that one day, I too shall paint a masterpiece, giving the world a glimpse of the image of Christ.

What a wonder has been done in my heart now that I'm soaking in the truth that with one look of my eye I have ravished His heart; that God not only loves me but likes me.

I am setting my heart on a pilgrimage: to love the LORD my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my strength. The end. :)